An amazing magic system, very well written and paced, and amazing dark academia vibes! The characters were written well with complexity to hold a readers attention.

First, a massive thanks to NetGalley & Random House for an e-Arc of Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang.

Blood Over Bright Haven is set in the magical city of Tiran, the last refuge from the blight—an evil force that randomly and gruesomely destroys living things. The story centers on Sciona, Tiran's first female high mage, as she wrestles with deeply ingrained sexism and delves into the mysteries surrounding the blight. Then we have Thomil, our second MC in a way, who is Sciona’s new appointed assistant & is following his own agenda.

“Truth over delusion. Growth over comfort. God over all”

I found the book highly engaging. The character work was extremely well done. For instance, Sciona, who challenges systemic sexism, is driven more by ambition and ego than anything else. She frequently makes mistakes, disregards others, mistreats her family, and starts out with her own prejudices. Despite that, she’s exceptionally well-written, & the story's themes remain clear and powerful.

“Because good people can turn desperate when the horrors are upon them—especially people whose culture of plenty has left them with no systems to cope with scarcity or cataclysm. Good people will turn monstrous when it’s down to their survival or someone else’s.”

The prose is exceptional throughout. Every chapter is well-crafted, with natural dialogue and sentences that are just beautiful. The magic system was fantastic (if you like coding).

I found this simply to be a masterpiece standalone story.

“It’s much easier to tell yourself you’re a good person than it is to actually be one.”

Guess I’ll be reading The Sword of Kaigen now.

🩸Blood Over Bright Haven By: M.L. Wang💡 is an incredible, thought provoking, spiral inducing, standalone fantasy novel that didn’t give me a second to fucking breathe. This book took me on a fucking ride. During the book we follow two main characters Sciona and Thomil… Miss Sciona is SOMETHING ELSE. The amount of cringing I did while reading because of her…off the charts. And Thomil, my sweet sweet Thomil. He is so good, and patient, and just, and smart and everything to me. They have to work on a project together and Sciona starts putting together some puzzle pieces about their world… I’d recommend going into it not knowing too much about the story so you hopefully get a wild reading experience like I did. It is such a train wreck in the best way. I truly loved it. It is also left me feeling strange sense of hope. IF YOU READ IT LET’S TALK ABOUT IT.

I really wanted to like this book. But the first quarter of it was so.. strangely paced and we didn’t really get to know the characters, we saw their thoughts but not their emotions all that much, we much more see train of thought, which is helpful and we can infer the feelings, but is difficult for me personally to get into, The sexism seems strange and half cocked. I think this is a super interesting premise and a super interesting story but the execution was lack luster. It was ok, and thats the best and the worst I can say. I may try again with a physical copy because I want to love this.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Blood Over Bright Haven* by M. L. Wang is an absolute masterpiece! I didn’t think anything could top *The Sword of Kaigen*, but this book has exceeded all my expectations. Sciona’s journey to becoming the first woman admitted to the High Magistry is a gripping tale of determination, resilience, and the fight against deeply ingrained prejudice. The world-building is rich and immersive, pulling you into the intricate workings of magic and the societal structures that maintain power.

The dynamic between Sciona and her mysterious assistant is captivating, evolving from a tense partnership to something much deeper as they uncover secrets that could reshape their world. Their story is filled with twists, emotional depth, and an ancient mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. This book is now my new holy grail, and I am so grateful for the chance to read this ARC. Thank you, M. L. Wang, for crafting such a phenomenal story!
#BloodOverBrightHaven #NetGalley

This is my first M. L. Wang book, and it will certainly not be my last!

Sciona Freynan is the first female Highmage in the history of Tiran, and she is determined to make sure that no one can doubt her qualifications, even if it means accepting the mockery of her male colleagues when they assign her a janitor, Thomil, for a lab assistant. Working alongside Thomil, a refugee from outside of the walls of Tiran where the Blight has ravaged the land, Sciona discovers a terrible secret that will unravel the very foundations of their society. The question is: what will she do when the weight of knowledge becomes too much to bear?

To put it simply, Blood Over Bright Haven is a feminist gaslamp dark academia fantasy, but that's not quite a sufficient description. From the very first chapter, Wang sets the stage for a tense, gripping story. Blood Over Bright Haven is a story of magic, which in this world is essentially coding on a typewriter, but it is mostly a story about the institutions that people create to keep themselves comfortable. Sciona made the perfect protagonist, as someone both oppressed and privileged in this society. She is deeply flawed, which makes her character arc all the more compelling and nuanced. It is a remarkable journey to watch her unpack all of the societal propaganda she has been raised with, complemented by Thomil's jaded perspective as a second-class citizen of the city she loves. Their rocky relationship develops into something really special as the book progresses, tested by so many circumstances beyond their control, and it was just the right amount of yearning for my tastes.

I also have to talk about how solid the writing was. I loved how cleverly each part of the book was structured, and how the world itself was specifically shaped to add to the themes. It felt like witnessing a finely tuned piece of clockwork at work. The story keeps moving even as the tension twists tighter and tighter around my heart. I'll definitely be rereading this sometime soon so that I can enjoy all of that clever craftsmanship again.

This was an incredible book. There were so many things I loved about it. The story follows the first woman highmage and her assistant, a man belonging to the Kwen, a race that is oppressed within the city of Tiran. Both these characters, Sciona and Thomil, are very compelling. Getting into Sciona’s shoes and feeling what she was feeling happened seamlessly for me while reading because the book really draws you into her head. The magic system is very scientific and refreshing to read about. I also loved the real-world applicable commentary in the book. It tackles the idea of layers of oppression, colonization, and revolution very well. For people who liked books like Babel by R.F Kuang, this has a similar feel in its commentary on colonial power. The prose was often unexpectedly beautiful, there would be scenes or thoughts characters were having and then one line would suddenly slam into me with its emotional impact. It was also a page turner and I finished it very quickly.

DNF at 50%

This book would be a good fit for readers who like detailed world-building on how magic works. Readers looking for more action and less academia will likely find the first quarter of the book slow. I found it too easy to put down.

I loved Thomil. He was clever, adaptable, and not afraid to push back. But I struggled to root for Sciona.

Despite her annoying, prejudiced colleagues, Sciona pressed on with energy. I was very hopeful when Thomil and Sciona began to compare their histories, revealing secrets and horrors that changed everything they thought they knew. But when the cause of the Blight was revealed, Sciona was so narrow-minded and bigoted, yelling about her god and the Kwen “savages” that all I could do was cringe.

When she then initiated an experiment that killed someone, her first feeling was of being “powerless” and despite her subsequent shock, horror, and regret, I couldn’t stomach her conversation with her mentor that focused on absolving her. Her despair and suicide attempt was so immediate and quickly written, that I struggled to empathize with her. She was focused solely on her own hurt—and I know in my head that’s realistic and I wanted to feel compassion—but I felt myself wishing for her to think about someone else’s pain, the losses the Kwen have suffered, and I wanted her to consider doing something helpful, even if just to make amends with Thomil.

Thomil also experienced suicidal ideation and yet his reaction to the truth was very complex. The scene with him reacting to the news and explaining everything to his niece was powerful.

Unfortunately, the next POV swap back to Sciona showed her entire focus was still on her own feelings and I just couldn’t continue. I hope she eventually transformed herself and upended the misogynistic, racist religion of her people and stopped the killing of the Kwen, but by the midpoint I was too disengaged to continue with the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC.

Brutal and unflinching, yet peppered with so many pure, tender moments. Beautifully written. Somehow both otherworldly and alarmingly close to home. Incredibly cool magic system and worldbuilding so clear it feels tangible. Everything is done well in this book. Everything.

This read really made me reflect and stretched my feelings to the max. I lost count of the number of times I gasped or clapped a hand over my mouth. Wang shocked me in ways few other authors have. Very eager to check out their other work now.

This is getting trad pubbed in two months and I'm so stoked for more people to experience this author!! I still think about this book many months after finishing it.

After Sword of Kaigen, I didn't think Wang could get any better and, while this may not be better, it is definitely on par with her first outing. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will continue to follow Wang. Also, I LOVE that they have no written two standalone novels vs. a triilogy (or more). Series' are great, but sometimes a good standalone is even better.

Is it better to be safe and broken or dead?

A la Lessons in Chemistry but make it fantasy, a woman rises to highmage status but deals with incredible barriers due to her gender.

Wow. So many things to discuss in this review. Am I even worthy of writing it? I haven’t read a stunning fantasy since last year’s Babel, and I hope this one gets the attention it deserves.

So not only does Wang treat us to an incredibly rich magic system based on our world’s computer programming, she develops a rich religious and cultural background. At first I was merely stunned by the attention to detail in crafting a fantasy, but as the story progresses and you watch our FMC battle sexism in her quest to break glass ceilings, it becomes apparent that she’s suffering from this fantasy world’s white feminism. It is truly a treat to watch her awaken to her own privilege as this book tackles xenophobia, as well as classicism and elitism. Much like Babel, what begins as a magical jaunt into a fantasyland becomes a compelling social commentary.

The love crumbles between our MCs didn’t hurt either. I’m such a sucker.

I’m really pleased that this is getting a rerelease in trad publishing. If you’re a fantasy reader, this should without a doubt be on your list.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: None
POV: Dual 3rd Past

M. L. Wang has absolutely no loyalty except to the vow that she has made to write a story worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blood Over Bright Haven is about a 27 year-old female mage fighting her way to the top of the male-dominated magical hierarchy in the technologically advanced city of Tiran. The people of Tiran are a deeply religious, sexist and racist due to the religious texts that were written by the Founding Mages that created the city three hundred years ago. Wang does an excellent job of addressing these themes throughout the book as well as themes of societal impact, legacy, survival, family, and love. Wang's story is equally emotionally touching as it is thought-provoking.

This is the first book that has ever microplaned my heart into dust in the very first chapter. Wang has the superior ability to write characters that sink their teeth into you within the space of a paragraph. She weaves the values of family, community, and love into each character and rips your heart out by taking away everything those characters hold dear. Her writing style makes for a story that touches your soul with it's honesty.

The second chapter drew out the complete opposite emotions in me. Even though the synopsis of this book told me what would happen, I was smiling and my heart beamed for Sciona's accomplishment. I should have despised Sciona for her ego and selfishness, and I did wrinkle my nose at her in the beginning. Sciona aware of her faults like her inability to remember someone's name if they are insignificant. However, she does not feel guilty about them. She has one drive: to be the first female highmage and be accepted into the boy's club, AKA the High Magistry. I believe any ambitious woman in the world be able to relate to her, and it's for this reason that despite her glaring faults I do have a soft spot for our FMC.

I also enjoyed the magic system. Wang cleverly combines aspects of science and coding. Mages use a spellograph, which is similar to a typewriter. It has a circular coil on top that is activated through a sourcing spell and holds a greyscale moving image of the Otherrealm, a alternate realm which provides energy to power spells. Mages have to compose spells on the spellograph in two parts: the action spell which describes the object and the action that it will take, and the sourcing spell which activates the coil and allows the mage to choose specific levels of energy for their spell. The magic system is a bit unwieldy at first, however Wang does an excellent job of easing you into it and cleverly explains it in more detail throughout the first half of the book without dumping all the information on you in a nonsensical way. I haven't come across another magic system that combines religion and science in it's structure, and in doing so perfectly supports the plot and themes of the story.

I can not wait to devour M. L. Wang's next book, whatever and whenever it may come to be. Between Blood Over Bright Haven and Sword of Kaigen, Wang has secured her spot in my top three favorite authors.

This was one of the coolest magic systems I’ve ever read about, and I appreciated the level of detail that made me feel like I truly understood it. I really enjoyed the main character and all her strengths and flaws, and the overall atmosphere was incredibly immersive. The darker aspects and the unique presentation of gore really gave it that extra kick for me as I’m a big horror fan. I devoured this book in a day and a half.

This book had me gripped from beginning to end. It covers themes such as classism, racism, sexism, oppression, and discrimination. It’s one of those fantasy books that will have you drawing comparisons to real life.

Aside from the powerful messages and themes, the book offers a unique magic system, a brilliant and brave FMC, and strong character development.

I don’t think I’ll ever stop thinking about this book and its themes. I highly recommend it for dark academia lovers, fantasy enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys emotionally packed reads.

I loved the worldbuilding in this! This story sets up a complex world and uses the characters and setting to comment on class structure, prejudice, and academia in the real world. I loved the main character, Sciona, but I wish her character had a little more depth, as well as the side characters. This is a very plot-driven book. I know this is meant to function as a standalone, but I loved the idea of the incredibly unique magic system that I hope the author revisits the world at some point.

ARC Review. 4 Stars! This was everything I was hoping that Babel would be. I am an avid Dark Academia reader and this definitely hit the mark.

Stunning in scope but heavy on all fronts.

Was this an easy read? Uh, that is a big NO.
However, Wang won me over with The Sword of Kaigen, and though that story is an entirely different beast, this was no less impactful.

Here, Sciona is the lone woman to have ever achieved highmage status in a world that thinks very little of a female’s place in anything other than nurturing the home. She is ready to impress, and no one is going to stop her. When she “jokingly” gets saddled with a janitor for an assistant, what Sciona and Thomil discover in the search for bettering the city of Tiran will change not only themselves, but everyone else’s belief system and their place in the world.

Be prepared to encounter a bunch of hot topics - misogyny, racism, oppression, prejudice, bigotry, religion, overpopulation and dwindling resources are just to name a few.

It’s best not to discuss too many details so one can be equally affected as Sciona and Thomil were. You will be challenged. You will be struck by an ingeniously complex magic system that relies heavily on religious justification. You will be impressed with a totally original world and its varied peoples that inhabit it and how close it mirrors our own dark history.

Overall, I think if you are a fan of Wang, or if you want to take a chance on something different, this author doesn’t shy away from tough subject matter. Again, so very far from being an easy read, but like The Sword of Kaigen, the truth is devastating and tragic, and there are plenty who will fight with their whole being to maintain the status quo, who will hide behind a system that doesn't want to upset their divine given entitlement, but because of a select few, there is a chance for something better. This author won’t sugarcoat things nor give you a perfect HEA, and the result is a moving tale that will make you ponder one’s own humanity and question what is just, fair, and kind. There is triumph, there is the start of change, and most of all, there is hope.

Just like Sciona and Thomil can never unsee or unknow what they find, I too was affected the same way and won’t soon forget.

Thank you to the author and Del Rey via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review posted to GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208430658-blood-over-bright-haven

This was actually my first ML Wang book, and now I can’t wait to read her other books! There is so much to love here. The character development was very well done, and the atmosphere was captured impeccably. I loved the magic system, the setting and honestly everything about it. Will definitely recommend to my bookclubs and friends. Can’t wait to listen to the audio when it is released!

This was an amazing story of finding a purpose in a place that makes you feel like you don't belong. With her assistant, they discover a great secret while also navigating their new relationship and figuring out what that means.

Blood over bright haven blew me away. So many important topics are brought up dragging you deep into the story with racism, imperialism and supremacy. Throughly addicting and I highly recommend this to everyone who enjoys a rich fantasy adventure. New favorite author right here.

You follow along with Sciona and Thomil. Sciona is trying to break out becoming the first female high mage. However after testing and proving herself to all she is not treated with the respect she deserves and is saddled with a lowly assistant the janitor Thomil.

This book was absolutely amazing and I can't recommend it enough. Just do yourself a favor and read it. Soon you too will find a new favorite author. 10/10.