This is officially one of my favorite books of all time. Thank you so much to the publishers for allowing me to read it before it is published again, I tore through this book.
I often find fantasy books either fall flat with their political and social messaging, or there is a glaring absence of any kind of messaging where one is appropriate. This, like Babel of RF Kuang, hits the nail on the head with both its fantasy elements and its extremely poignant, shocking and well-written political message.
This book is NECESSARY, especially right now as we bear witness to another genocide being supported by those in power. The narratives around colonization, exploitation, dehumanization and the lengths we go to numb ourselves to all of these things could not be more carefully woven through a fantastic and all-encompassing fantastical world which sweeps you off your feet. The characters each embody important aspects of our current era, and truly feel human in every way that is important.
I URGE you to pick up this book in any way you can, and tell your friends because this is soon to be a modern classic.
Review will be posted soon on TikTok to @bkrbooks

I was so excited to read this book because I've heard great things about M.L. Wang. This book did not disappoint. Thank you for the ARC!

The book is incredible. Hands down one of the most thought provoking, stand alone fantasy stories I have ever read. Wang had created a world that’s complex, with beautiful world building that manages to draw the reader in and show them how it mirrors our own ways of life. The discussions of religion, race, social class, misogyny, and power have left me reeling since finishing the last page.

The story itself is captivating: Sciona is a female mage in a world where only men study magic, but she’s smart and on the path to become a high mage, the highest ranking magic practice in their world. She has spent her entire life on her studies and magic and is eager to break the mold as the first female highmage. She lives in the world of Tiran where magic provides its citizens modern comforts (electricity, plumbing, transportation) and she is working to figure out a method to extend the barrier of the city that protects all of Tiran.

Thomil is a Kwen man who sought refuge in Tiran, giving up his family and livelihood to make it past the barrier. He makes ends meet as janitor but becomes her assistant by accident. The two build an unlikely partnership as they work on Scions’s project and she is delighted that Thomil is able to question her methods and help her dig deeper to achieve her goals. They two ultimately work well together and uncover some secrets about their world and magic that change things forever.

I won’t get too much more into the plot because I really think it is best uncovered as you read, but know there are dark themes at play and it will have your mind bending to figure out what exactly is happening behind the scenes. I saw myself in Sciona, wanting to believe in the science and her studies, wanting to believe in the goodness of people and ultimately was not surprised with how the story played out.

Vibes:
Unique magic system
Dark academia
Strong character development
Female rage

Content warnings: abuse, sexual assault, racism, misogyny, violence, gore

This might be the best book I’ve read so far this year. “Blood Over Bright Haven” isn’t just a book; it’s also a commentary on morality.

M.L. Wang paints a vivid picture of what it’s like to live in a society that values the few over the many. Throughout the book, you’ll start to question what it means to be a good person. Not just that—you’ll start to question what it means to be human.

The main character is inherently flawed, which is my favorite type of character to read about. Her character development is incredible. She’s constantly unlearning the societal biases that were taught to her as she’s presented with information that contradicts what she always believed to be true. It’s just marvelous character work from Wang.

The magic system is one of the most complex I’ve ever read. It’s unique and unlike anything I’ve ever seen in a fantasy book. It’s analytical and rooted in scientific realism and reasoning. Wang does a great job describing it to the reader.

“Blood Over Bright Haven” isn’t just an amazing piece of literature; it’s also thought-provoking and will have you questioning everything you thought you knew.

Everyone NEEDS to read this book!

Thank you so much to Del Rey and Random House Publishing Group for gifting me an ARC of this book before its official release.

Blood Over Bright Haven: A Poetic Review

In Tiran’s grasp, where shadows dwell,
A tale unfolds, both dark and swell.
Sciona, an orphan, dreams take flight,
In search of magic, she seeks the light.

With ambition fierce, through trials she’ll tread,
High Magistry’s call, a path she must thread.
But fate intervenes, with a twist of the plot,
A janitor named Thomil—her partner, though not.

Together they navigate secrets of old,
In a world of ambition, where hearts turn cold.
Through echoes of tragedy, morality's fight,
They wrestle with darkness, in search of the light.

An industrial utopia, both wondrous and grim,
Where knowledge is power, and shadows grow dim.
Dark academia whispers, in corridors vast,
As they unravel the future, and confront the past.

Wang weaves her words with a lyrical grace,
Each sentence a brushstroke, a haunting embrace.
With vivid depictions, emotions laid bare,
The struggles of Sciona linger in air.

In the depths of ambition, where dreams intertwine,
Morality dances on a delicate line.
Blood over Bright Haven, a tale rich and deep,
A gripping addiction, a story to keep.

So delve into pages where shadows entwine,
In a world filled with magic, where destinies shine.
For those who seek darkness, and mysteries crave,
M.L. Wang’s creation is a journey to save.

Transparently, I went into this book thinking that it was going to play out a lot differently than it did. However, I am NOT upset about it. Think magical realism in kind of a dystopian society but not....because this was clearly to be framed to model a sort of mid-century time frame. Honestly, the time frame was a bit ambiguous but I'm guessing what the estimate could be.

This was a story of social hierarchies. It was a story about how society is set up to truly benefit only one of those social levels. It was a story about selfishness, and ego, and thinking (or not thinking) about others.

This is not a story about a girl who is selfless and fearless, and always has the best intentions. Our FMC is flawed, through and through. But you love her. Because she grows. She's egotistical, mean, fanatical, defensive, and reckless, but she never does any of it because she is evil. She wants to leave her mark on the world.

The magic system in this world is heavy and dense. It's scientific and there is a lot of time spent describing it in immaculate detail that blew me away. Essentially, think of the magic system like the magic was performed by code and there are 100 people in this world that write the code. It was truly fascinating to watch this world build and unfold.

This story is nothing what I expected it to be, and I couldn't be more glad for it. The feelings that this brought forth were thought provoking and uneasy, but they are good.

I would recommend this book!

Blood Over Bright Haven is a well written and highly regarded book. The story follows Thomil and Sciona working together to solve a vile problem that nobody seems to care about. They team up and have to work through their differences with each other in order to succeed. Sciona is the first woman in a decade to be tested and allowed into the high magistry. She is a strong, motivated woman, who will not let any man stop her from achieving her goals. Thomil is a man trying to recover and build a new life in a city who does want him there. He is determined to be the best man for his niece and Tribe.

I really enjoyed taking my time with this read, slowly learning about Sciona and Thomil. This is a heavily feminist and female focused book. The quote “a woman in a man’s world” kept running through my head so much while reading this. There were times though where the characters would constantly bring up that she is “a woman in a man’s world”.. It felt repetitive and unnecessary because as the reader you know and understand the hardship Sciona is going through. I was starting to get annoyed because it seemed like half way through the story focused in on her having to constantly remind us that she is better than the me. I wish it was just a bit more subtle and not the main focus of the plot.

I felt like this also suffered from not being long enough. I could read a prequel novel about Thomil and his Tribe before they decided to endure the crossing. I could read a sequel novel about what happened after the ending of Blood Over Bright Haven. I just wanted so much more than this book gave, but I still appreciate everything that M.L. Wang was able to create in just one book. This is the second book I’ve read from M.L. Wang and I think that her stories are so strong and gripping. Her ability to create such unique and intriguing plots is truly remarkable.

I recommend this book to just about anyone who is looking for a standalone fantasy that is slightly grim dark but still heartwarming. The setting is dark academia and perfect for a chilly fall day.

Final rating: 3.5 stars ✨

I always have mixed/complicated feelings with fantasy novels that discuss colonialism or include colonialism as part of the novel’s theme. Babel by RF Kuang, for instance, is undoubtedly a brilliant novel, but by the end I feel unsettled and thinky - like I need to immediately reread the book and reevaluate all of the points made. This is what happened with Blood Over Bright Haven. There’s no doubt that ML Wang is a fantastic writer, and there were several quotes that made me pause and think before I continued reading. I feel like I need more time to set this book sit and marinate in my brain - but that’s also a sign that the author is doing something right, in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the arc!

M.L. Wang has delivered yet another breathtaking masterpiece with Blood Over Bright Haven. This novel is an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, blending intricate world-building, morally complex characters, and razor-sharp political intrigue. The plot is rich with unexpected twists, and the stakes feel real on every page. Wang’s writing is vivid and immersive, with beautifully crafted prose that balances action, magic, and deeply personal moments.

What truly stands out are the characters—they are flawed and deeply human, and their struggles resonate long after you turn the last page. Their dynamic relationships, particularly the tension between loyalty and betrayal, will keep you on edge and make you question where your sympathies lie.

The magic system is wonderfully detailed, but the way it weaves seamlessly into the political landscape elevates it beyond typical fantasy fare. The themes of power, sacrifice, and the cost of ambition hit hard, and Wang doesn’t shy away from examining the darker side of human nature.
In short, Blood Over Bright Haven is a spellbinding, thought-provoking read that fantasy lovers can’t afford to miss. M.L. Wang has once again proven herself a master of the genre. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of the traditionally published version of this novel.

5 Stars

I’m not sure how to feel. There’s a strange mix of awe, nausea, wonder, heartbreak. This was amazing. This was devastating.

Who are we as people? Are humans, at their core, good, and will they do their best to do good, or are we selfish by nature? Are we okay with turning away from suffering in the name of our own small comforts? I feel like I’ve always known the answer, no matter how pessimistic it may seem. Knowing this did not make this story sit any easier with me.

I have a hard time with questions left unanswered and possibility left unexplored, but I can’t give this any less than 5 stars. The conclusion of this story is open ended and there’s so much to think about, to contemplate. It’s definitely not a happy ending, and I’m hesitant to call it hopeful, but at the same time I don’t know how it could be anything but that.

I’ll be thinking about this for years to come.

I just love M.L. Wang - she can do no wrong in my eyes. Her prose is just exceptional and the way she knows when to give the reader more information versus allowing them to come to the conclusion on their own is bar none. Blood Over Bright Haven was very thought-provoking and explored wonderful themes around corruption, complicity, morality, greed, misogyny, racism, sacrifice, and more in a very easy to understand way. Sciona's character development was beautiful to read and I think Wang made character and plot-ending decisions that many authors would shy away from because it's not a "typical" fantasy ending. For the other Sword of Kaigen lovers out there (potential spoiler alert), in many ways Blood Over Bright Haven fills the gap of what could have been Mamoru's story if he had the opportunity to exploit the corruption he learned of. Really loved this story - rating 4.5 stars.

This book is well written and is a book I could not put down. This is the first book by this author that O have read and all I can say is wow!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Fantasy

~ Girl Power
~ Oppression
~ Magic + Mystery
~ 2 Worlds Collide
~ Poor FMC Rise To Power

The story follows Sciona Freynan, a talented woman attempting a challenging exam in a male-dominated society where women are not traditionally considered for high-ranking positions in magic. It explores Sciona's journey, ambitions, struggles, and determination to break barriers and prove herself in a world facing significant obstacles and societal expectations. The story delves into themes of perseverance, ambition, gender roles, and societal norms. It evolves around Sciona's pursuit of High Magistry and the challenges she must overcome to achieve her goals. In her journey to pursue her goals, she makes Thomil, a Kwen, her assistant which is frowned upon in her society. But they discover something that no one in the society knows and it could break down the caste system society forever.

What I Loved:
The fantasy was on point in this book, I loved the characters and how they became intertwined and in a common goal to save society and demolish what is the oppression of a people from another land. It truly reminded me of the story of the Native American people and how they were oppressed because they were just being themselves. The worldbuilding in this book was incredible and had me wondering what Bright Haven looks like. I loved so much mystery in this book because Sciona reminded me of a detective in the story always looking for answers and similar to myself. I think any ambitious woman could see a little of her in herself.

Recommended Read: YES!!!! It will be released on Oct 29! Just in time for the witchy season!

Special thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Electronic Advanced Reader Copy (E-ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest, and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

Oofta. This was a rather stressful read, at least the last, like, 70% or so. I feel like I don’t want to say too much about the plot that isn’t already covered by the synopsis, except that it’s very… on the nose. Sciona is kind of a neat female protagonist, she reminds me of Alanna from Tamora Pierce’s Tortall books, if Alanna had directed her energy towards becoming a mage instead of a knight. The world-building reminds me a bit of Tamora Pierce’s stuff as well, or Game of Thrones, which I haven’t read or seen but heard a lot about. Purely tone-wise, this is a great read for anyone who enjoyed R F Kuang’s Babel or The Poppy War. It’s very dark and not very hopeful. Even the end felt fairly grim. So, you know, be prepared for that.

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey Books for the opportunity to read this ARC of Blood Over Bright Haven in exchange for an honest review.

This book was incredible. From the start it grips you and brings you right into the action. Entire communities running from a blight that will completely destroy and eradicate all forms of life. M.L Wang delivers a very entertaining stand alone dark fantasy. Blood Over Bright Haven is set in an almost steampunk/industrial type city, where politicians and the Magistry run the entire territory. Magic is harnessed with the use of these machines and essentially programed to do what the mage wills of it. This book was intense. I can't say I loved the characters but because of my dislike it kept the book quite captivating. Our fmc Sciona is not likeable, she is selfish, egotistical, competitive and rather rude. I can see why she is this way though, Tiran is a predominantly male dominated city, and being an intellectual and a woman the opportunities for her to rise in the system are extremely limited. If not for her ambition and her mentor she would have never had a chance. We find that through her journey as a Highmage she discovers much more of the inner workings of the Magistry and a secret that ultimately changes everything she thought she knew. I was blown away by the plot twists and incredible character development M.L. Wang delivers. This story was dark, and touches on gender inequality, racism, colonialism, sexism, and religious disaffiliation. The romance in this book was very minimal, and that was ok. I didn't feel like it was needed at all to be honest. Sciona seems like a very Asexual person and the little bit of romance or romantic themes that there were felt a bit forced. But as it wasn't a major theme or even subplot really, I did not mind. All in all I really enjoyed this book. 5/5 stars definitely a worth while read.

This was my first book by this author and it was so good, it will stick with me forever!
This story follows the main character Sciona who is in the process of trying to become the first female high mage and since none before her have ever been accepted the pressure is really on her to get in. The society that she lives in is in a dome where everything happens to be ran by magic. You also have people that are beyond the dome that are seen as less intelligent and they make up this city’s work and labor force. Of course sciona ends up being so good they have to accept her in so she does everything to prove that she can be just as influential and intelligent as all of the other male high mages. But she can be very infuriating because she’s so stubborn! Check trigger warnings because it is a little rough at times since it’s is a dark academia!

Tragically beautiful in a way that I didn’t expect. This book explored the depths of humanity, guilt, and hope. It was incredible.

Throughout the entire reading experience, I had the impression that I was listening to thoughtful discussions that are difficult to have in real life but are nevertheless important. I firmly believe that everyone ought to read this tale. Entering the magic is challenging. It's similar to coding, if I had to sum it up. It's an incredible plot, though, if you can get past the minor difficulty of comprehending the magic system. The thing that most interested me, I believe, was how this book made me care about a particular group of people as a whole and what they stood for rather than just the people themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with the ARC for this book for my honest review.

My Rating - 5/5

tl;dr - Best standalone novel I've ever read.

When reading fantasy, I usually prefer brig, sprawling epics that take place in huge worlds. This is difficult to capture in standalone novels so I wasn't sure what to expect with Blood Over Bright Haven.

It's a masterpiece.

The character development is maybe the best I've seen in fantasy. The setting and magic system are extremely well thought out. And the plot had me wanting to be reading this book all day, every day. Most impressively is probably how M.L. Wang weaves in deep themes with everything else.

Sciona, our main character, is cold and indifferent towards others. She cares more about her own knowledge and power than...well, anything. Her rational and scientific mind isn't enough for her to not follow the rest of society's xenophobia issues, which makes her a flawed character that is difficult to root for at first. But this complex character package is explained with her trauma, abandonment and thirst for revenge. The growth she undergoes is a joy to watch unfold throughout the story.

The supporting characters are great too and undergo actual change, which was refreshing to see in a standalone.

M.L. Wang showcases a complex magic system that, as someone who writes code professionally, was extremely interesting and well thought out. It's deep enough that you feel confused and never completely understand it, giving it that mystifying sense. But explained well enough that shows how tightly it's tied to this in universe science.

Finally, the themes...this is where Blood Over Bright Haven really shines. The book is hard to read at times - the world is full of xenophobia, oppression, misogyny and racism. It also goes deep in exploring intent vs. impact while delving into the depths of the darkness of human nature.

I have nothing bad to say about this book. It wasn't what I expected but it was better than I thought it would be, and that's after taking into account it was my most anticipated book this year.

This was just as impressive as Wang's other novel that I'd read, if not more. The magic system was intriguing, the world complex and intricately built. The academia setting was a bonus. It was easy for me to fall in love with this book and its characters and I know that many readers agreed. I can't wait to see what Wang has coming. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!