Believe the hype: M. L. Wang is a formidable writer. I can’t wait to read her other standalone fantasy book, The Sword of Kaigen, the next time I want an epic story with memorable characters and themes that will stick with me long after I’ve finished reading.

Our protagonist is Sciona Freynan, a hard-working, incredibly driven and obsessive mage who is determined to be the first woman ever allowed the title of Highmage of the Magic Ministry. Her city of Tiran runs on magic, for everything from the running water faucets and electric kettles of its kitchens, to the border that surrounds and keeps its citizens safe from dangerously cold deaths. Sciona lives and breathes the spell work that makes all these things possible and she strives to learn as much as possible about how to make it better (and in the process, make a name for herself). But when she digs too deep and discovers its true cost, how will she live with herself? What will be her legacy?

Through reading this, I’ve discovered that I love books that deal with characters going through existential crises of having their entire worldviews and beliefs rocked and changed. To have everything you ever thought you knew about the world and your place in it wiped away to reveal the wriggling truth underneath. I also really enjoyed how Sciona was never portrayed as a perfect person; she is incredibly flawed and makes countless mistakes, some of which are unforgivable, and yet she keeps going and learning and just trying. No one in this story fits in a clearly marked box and it made them all the more real. The magic system was also very intriguing and reminded me of computer coding and writing scripts, except with old timey typewriters called spellographs hooked up to coils and energy banks.

There are messages about sexism, classicism, colonialism, and immigration that are all relevant to our own world and history. It goes to dark places, and the characters’ reactions and decisions never felt false or forced. It was all very visceral and made me think a lot about what’s happening at our own borders. This was a powerful read; I highly recommend it.

Wow just wow. This book was beyond amazing. The dynamics on it were phenomenal. I like how this develops and the whole set up of the Main Characters. The setting was perfection and the goods vs wrong theme loved it. So good .

"The worthwhile run is never the short one. You know we’re not running from oblivion. We’re running toward hope."

Sciona Freynan has just accomplished her lifelong goal: she’s become the first female high mage in Tiranish history. However, accomplishing her goal doesn’t mean that the obstacles in her path have changed. Sciona must deal with the sexism and insults her new colleagues throw her way. This includes a Kwen janitor being appointed as her assistant for a massive project presentation. As she and Thomil, her new assistant, begin working on her proposal for a massive magical undertaking, they begin to make unsettling discoveries about Tiranish magic that threaten to upset the high magistry and the entire city of Tiran.

"Thomil said that a woman was weighed at the gates of Heaven by her actions and their impact. Well, Sciona was going to leave an impact. Whatever happened next, whether it led to Hell or Heaven, she was going to have a hand in directing it. Sick or sound, good or evil, she was still Sciona Freynan. And Sciona Freynan didn’t slow down. Sciona Freynan would be remembered."

Oh, where to begin with this book, this near perfect masterpiece. I loved this. It captivated from page one, even as I had to put the book down in preemptive horror and grief at times.

First, the magic system. I loved this magic system, which takes a very computer science/coding approach to magic. The mages use magic typewriters, called spellographs, to create their complex spell webs and map energy. I’m aware that there’s one or two other books/series that take a more technological approach to magic, but this is the first one I’ve read. The magic here was innovative, and Wang did a wonderful job explaining all the details and intricacies of it without it ever veering too close to info-dumping. Not only does the reader understand the magic, but more importantly, they know that Sciona really does know her stuff. She feels like the ambitious, high-level magical researcher that she’s described as.

Second, the characters. Sciona is likable only sometimes, but that doesn’t make her a less compelling character. Sciona is likely one of my favorite female protagonists ever, as she falls into none of the typical FMC characterizations that especially plague fantasy. She is arrogant and ambitious, selfish and egocentric, magically powerful but physically weak. Sciona is flawed and occasionally quite frustrating, as she is a person whose injustice begins and ends with gender discrimination. Her growth as a character over the course of the four hundred-some pages of this book was such a fantastic journey, while still feeling incredibly natural to Sciona. Even in her growth, Sciona stumbles and struggles, but she ultimately becomes a better person and opens her eyes to the system of broader injustices and discrimination around her, including her own role in it. Thomil, of course, is amazing. His bravery, his resilience, his commitment to the survival of his tribe, even after it is reduced to him and his niece.

As a side note, I found the minor romance between Sciona and Thomil devastatingly perfect. These are not enemies to lovers, but I also don’t see them as a stereotypical gross colonizer-colonized. This romance only occurs after Sciona has begun to confront her prejudices and decides to effectively blow up her life to atone for her wrongs, despite the attraction that was alluded to previously between them. This is also a very minor romance, and it never takes over or away from the story.

Third, this was so obviously a novel where the author trusted the reader to pick up on the subtext. The major plot twist was hinted at from the very first pages as M.L. Wang established that there was something wrong with this seemingly great magic city. If you saw it coming, that was because you were supposed to. I don’t think this twist was bad just because you could see it coming, just as I don’t think it’s bad writing to understand about halfway through that there’s no way this is ending well. This is a tragedy in motion, and it becomes increasingly obvious that there is no clean way to fix this. This is no clean-cut plot where everything is miraculously fixed with a few minor character deaths, this is a bloodbath with an ambiguous ending. I also loved the occasional tongue-in-cheek symbolism, like Sciona literally shattering the ceiling during her exam in the first few chapters, which I could only view as a reference to the glass ceiling metaphor.

"Sciona was proof that hope did not have to mean living to the end of the story; for Kwen like Thomil, how could it?... Maeva had understood that: that it was worth dying at the border of salvation if you could push your love before you over the finish line."

Finally, I want to talk about the themes of this book. This is a novel dealing with institutionalized discrimination, capitalism, racism, imperialism, power, and sacrifice. This is a lot of social commentary, and it’s happening all the time. M. L. Wang does not oversimplify the oppression or supremacy she writes about. There is no escaping it. Every page is going to remind you about some sort of injustice or oppression happening in this society, no matter how many times it tempts with some lovely industrial fantasy imagery.

Yet, overall, it is ultimately a novel about hope. Despite the blood and gore, and the deaths of over half of the named cast through the course of this book, this is not a grimdark fantasy no matter how bleak it gets. These are characters willing to sacrifice everything to make a better world, just for the sheer hope of it all. This is about love and family, and how these are things worth living and dying and sacrificing for. I think this is what made it so devastating. There are also really interesting conversations about ethics, morality, and religion, which I found really hard-hitting, especially the discussion of intentions vs. consequences, which becomes a recurring theme of the novel.

This book restored my faith in the fantasy genre after having my first two DNFs of the year both be fantasy. I really cannot praise the worldbuilding, characterization, magic system, and themes enough. I could give a TED talk about everything I love in this book, but for now, I’ll settle for this rambling review.

Blood Over Bright Haven will stick with me for a long time. I cannot recommend it enough, even as it actively ruins my life, lol.

(rounding up to 5 stars)
So so so so good!!! Slow to start, but once it picked up a bit, I couldn’t stop reading.
This is the first book I’ve read by M. L. Wang, and I did have high expectations. I’m pleased to say that overall, I wasn’t disappointed. World building, character development, all so mesmerizing to read and picture in my head.
Can’t wait to read more by this author, as I am sure, she’ll become a favorite.

This is a wonderful book. Highly recommend it to everyone! Beautiful cover, amazing story and I was totally immersed in my reading experience.

4 out of 5 Stars

Two years ago, I read Sword of Kaigan by M.L. Wang and loved. So when I heard Blood of Bright Haven was coming out, I was exited to get my hands on it. Now I did not like Blood Over Bright Haven as much as Sword of Kaigan, it felt much slower in pace. However, Blood Over Bright Haven was still a incredible read and I believe I would have loved it more if I'd read it before Sword of Kaigan.

(Important: check your trigger warnings before reading)

Reading this book gave me the familiar feeling of anxiety and dread you feel in the pit of your stomach amidst facing conflict. That gut-wrenching knowledge of people stuck in a conflict that seems to be impossible to solve and then, without realizing it, it’s over. The fix has been implemented and, while you feel relieved knowing that you achieved your goal, you still feel numb - like something is missing.

Racism, misogyny, religion, and classism are part of the topics discussed in this story on a basic level. On a deeper level, it’s about what you do when faced with the consequences of your actions caused by all of those issues. What would you do if everything you have ever been taught, everything you ever believed, went against everything you knew was right?

Our main character, Sciona, is flawed. She’s egotistical, puts her studies first, doesn’t care much for others (including family), and is incredibly stubborn and selfish. She is not meant to be liked. Her growth after discovering a terrible secret is what makes her character interesting. What she does with the information she learns about her surroundings affects what she knows about herself.

When I finished reading this book, I sat on my couch and just held the book to my chest - and cried.
I cried for the characters.
I cried for the mistreatment displayed.
I cried for the love gained.
I cried for the love lost.
Most of all, I cried because it was over.

ML Wang is an auto-buy author for me. Through and through.

My review was posted on TikTok, link is below!

I could say over and over again that this is one of the best books I've read all year (the best...perhaps?) because the magic system is innovative and intricate, and the pacing is pitch perfect, and the actual structure of the storytelling is incredible, but at the end of the day it's M.L. Wang's characters that set her work apart. I love a book that proves that a character doesn't have to be likeable to be good and the arc the main character goes through in this story is compelling from start to finish.

Where does one choose to draw the line in the search for power they've been systematically denied; or, is there a line at all? What does it truly mean to dedicate yourself to truth and the pursuit of knowledge? How do ruling classes commit atrocities while pretending piety and goodness? Are we - and should we - be judged more on our intents or our impacts? And what are we willing to do when our complicity in oppressive systems is put in front of our faces?

Blood Over Bright Haven is another M.L. Wang book that will be on my mind for a long, long time.

It was a compelling read. I liked how the main character was prejudiced and had to overcome what she had been taught about the world her entire life. I thought this was the beginning of a series and was surprised at the end. Not that I disagree with how the book ended. I didn’t expect that event to happen in one book.

I was shocked by how much I enjoyed reading this book. The writing was beautiful and very easy to read. I was a little confused with the way the magic worked but the author explains it very well. You just have to trust the process.

I finished reading this book and I ordered a physical copy. I am also going to get some paperbacks to hand out to my friends.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fantasy, magic, moral quandry, and is all around ready for a great story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC

Yet again, ML Wang has written a moving story. This is another heartbreaking while still hopeful story. The characters are so nuanced, as is the world and the magical system.
I just finished this but even if I were to wait I don’t know that I could find the words to do this story justice.
It’s a fantasy, but there’s so much to learn from this. It tackles colonization, misogyny, classism, racism as well as so much more.

This is one of the best fantasy novel I've read in a while. I love that it was a stand alone, the book is long, but it tells a complete story. The world building is excellent, I was drawn in from the first chapter. I loved that magic is treated as a science.

The book deals with themes of caste, colonialism, misogyny and classism. The author uses these themes subtly. I hope that readers can compare the world of this book to the real world.

The focus is on the main characters, Sciona, the first woman high mage, and Thomil, a member of the city's underclass. These two have an interesting relationship. Society does not allow them equal and it takes a while for Sciona to realize how differently Thomil is treated. As the book progresses they start being honest with each other and have great conversations.

I thought the end of the book was great, the author pulled no punches.

This is one of those books that's hard to review for me because I fear I might not be smart enough to portray it accurately or how it makes the reader feel. The reading experience of this book for me was very reminiscent of Babel where you know you are reading something really profound that's also enjoyable in some ways and horrifying in others. The last hour of reading this book I had to take breaks in between chapters because it felt so intense.

When the book opens, you are cheering so hard for Sciona who is trying to be the first woman selected for Highmage. She has the talent and the drive and ambition and the men around her are idiots so it is easy to want her to succeed. When she is paired with Thomil, I wished the best for both of them even as Thomil was seen as a lower class citizen. Around half way through the book, however, when the price of the magic you were cheering on for Sciona to use is revealed, the book becomes something different.

Thomil has pov chapters in this book and he is an incredibly sympathetic character and as the conditions he has to endure along with his niece in this seeming utopia are revealed, while wanting to continue to empathize with Thomil, for most of the book instead you are in Sciona's pov. Sciona who has to grapple with everything she knows as being true is turned on its head and the oppressed reckons with their position as an oppressor. It was fascinating being in Sciona's pov and also horrifying. This book will make you think and question and will leave you with a bittersweet taste in your mouth. Because sometimes change doesn't come from one person or even many. There are so many other things to say about this book that I am still grappling with as well and I think it is so important to challenge yourself and your worldview and if a book is the thing that helps you do that then it can only be a good thing.

Thank you so much to DelRey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

SIX. I’d give it 6 stars if I could. I’m extremely late to this review since I received the arc months ago but better late than never!

For twenty years, Sciona has been working to become a highmage. When she’s the first woman to earn the position, she soon realizes that nothing is as it seems from the outside. The city runs on magic but she along with most others are completely oblivious to the cost. When she’s appointed a janitor instead of an assistant as promised, she learns more about the town’s history than she bargained for.

This book had me hooked from page one. I quickly fell deeply into the relationships and could not put it down. The way this story can be related to so many issues happening in the world currently made it such an emotional read. The writing was absolutely beautiful and addictive. I have thought about this devastating book every day since I finished it and it will stay with me for years to come!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, ML Wang, and Random House Publishing for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on October 29th.

Best book I read in 2024! Hands down!

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

I absolutely LOVED The Sword of Kaigen so when I saw that she was releasing a dark academia fantasy, I just knew I had to read it.

Wang knocked it out of the park. From the beginning of this book, I was hooked. Sciona was an incredible FMC who was a bad-A in STEM. Thomil was a the breath of fresh air that Sciona needed to face the prejudices she grew with. I absolutely adored him.

The magic system was unique, complex, and perfectly insane in the BEST WAY! The best way I could describe the magic system is coding-type magic. The worldbuilding was crazy good, especially in a standalone. I didn't feel like there were elements missing. Though, I wouldn't say no to more stories within this world.

Wang did not hold back with her depiction of racism, sexism, the mistreatment of refugees, the cost of progression, and so many other themes.

I will never not recommend this book to people. And it will forever stay in my brain and heart.

More standalone fantasies please! The magic system in this book was so fascinating and dynamic, setting it apart amongst the genre. This book is such a litmus test for our current world and the atrocities we see daily, and I appreciated that this book allowed me a great time while reading, but also a chance to reflect on the world and current events around me.

This book was incredible! I haven’t yet read any other of M. L. Wang’s work, and I definitely will now. The themes in this book of prevailing over obstacles to success, learning to recognize and overcome one’s inherited bigotry, and being willing to sacrifice for what you know is right and good were all so well done.

The characters in this book are multi-dimensional and fascinating. I found myself frustrated with the main character Sciona just as often as I was rooting for her or inspired by her. I loved how the story shows that even bad people can have very good traits, and vice versa.

The magic system was more unique than any I’ve read about before and I loved it! I’m sure other people saw the twist about how magic works coming, but I didn’t and it had me shook! And the way it was used at the end made for an amazing climax to the story. I highly recommend this book.

In this powerful, complex, and fascinating new fantasy novel, readers follow Sciona, desperate to become the first woman admitted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry, as she works to pass the qualifying exam to become a highmage and prepare for a life at the cutting edge of magical innovation. Discovering the exam was only the beginning of the challenges that she faces from her colleagues, Sciona and her new lab assistant, a janitor who was a former nomadic hunter who lost his family on the journey into the city, must figure out how to deal with the challenges at work and their fractious relationship built on a system of inequality and sacrifice. With an incredibly complex magical system and two complicated and opposed narrators, readers will love the challenges and tension built into this novel as Sciona explores the hidden flaws of her world and her magic. Sciona is a flawed yet fascinating protagonist, and readers will be immersed in her struggles and the world she lives in. With so much incredible detail and horrifying consequences and inequality, this is a deeply flawed fantasy novel that readers will not be able to put down until it’s over.

My first five start read of the year!

I am so excited to give that honor to M. L. Wang, especially after all the hype I've heard about her books. This is my first book from Wang, so it was a treat to read her writing style and world building in a whole new experience.

Thomil is by far the best character of this story. He's the shining light throughout Sciona's bigotry and elitism. I don't think this story would have been a favorite of mine without him. He brought the true humanity and heart of the story, and it was so poetic to have this story beginning and ending with him. He came to this city in the prologue with so much death behind him after witnessing the massacre of his people, and then he leaves the city with refugees of his people behind him to live in a (hopefully) better and safer world.

I don't think this story could have ended in any other manner than it did. Sciona did have to die, and I couldn't imagine her going out in any other manner because she took those evil men down with her. She saw her one opportunity to make this world better after all the terror and pain caused by her people, and it just felt 1000% true that she takes herself with the evil men because she caused a huge portion of pain herself to outsiders of the city.

Now I cannot WAIT to read Wang's original, popular book Sword of Kaigen. I have a feeling it's gonna rock my world, and I cannot wait to scream about this wonderful book from the rooftops.

A brilliant standalone fantasy novel that delivers on every front, Blood Over Bright Haven features an innovative and intricate magic system that immerses readers in a world both vibrant and unforgiving. Beneath the surface, it offers a scathing critique of power and privilege, weaving societal commentary seamlessly into its narrative. At its heart, this is a story about the cost of ambition and the moral compromises people make to live in perceived comfort and ease.

Sciona, the protagonist, is a force to be reckoned with. As a mage navigating a treacherous world, her journey is one of savage enlightenment—raw, brutal, and unrelenting. Sciona has incredible depth, making her evolution both compelling and heartbreaking. Her struggles and triumphs feel achingly real, leaving an indelible mark long after the final page.

The writing itself is lyrical and sharp, perfectly balancing world-building with character development. Wang’s prose draws you into a vividly imagined world where magic is both a tool and a weapon, a privilege and a burden.

Highly recommended for fans of thought-provoking fantasy that isn’t afraid to pull punches.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey and M.L. Wang for an e-copy of this book. OUT NOW !!! Don't sleep on it.