I’m normally stingy with my 5 stars, but giving this book anything less feels morally wrong. The writing here was phenomenal and there was such a thoughtful discussion of religion, racial ideologies, and the perception of men versus women in professional settings. For a fantasy story, this was painfully real, and it will definitely make readers think.

Wow this was absolutely incredible! This allegory is spot on for the current state of affairs on so many levels. Also many times through this story I would hit lines and Wicked would start playing because the tropes are so similar.

I loved every thought provoking moment of this book. The characters were rich and full of many layers, the world was unique, and the over all story was full of so much.

What do you do when everything you have fought to attain has been built on lies and deceit. Do you find safety in compliance or find hope in truth?

There are not enough words in the English language to convey the amount of love I have for this book and the level of obsession I'm have for it now. I'll be attempting to in a full video review but for now know that this is my new favorite book and it is not a book you should skip by any means. It has SUCH an impact and while fantasy has such good parallels to the real world that I implore everyone to read this now and consider the messages, consider the challenges it puts forward for one's own character. It's an absolutely stunning, heartwrenching, and impactful novel it has shifted how I evaluate my reading for sure.

I could not put this book down, it was such a profound and deep read. It deals with many heavy themes, doing such a great job of bringing them to life with magic. This was one of my most favorite reads of 2024 and appreciate NetGalley and Del Ray for letting me read this masterpiece.

M.L. Wang continues to be an amazing author that writes the most in depth, real, and emotional characters and stories. This book hooked me right from chapter 1. The harrowing journey of the characters in this first chapter already had me crying because the author knows how to get a reader emotionally invested. The world the author created here personally really hooked me in. I love the kind of mystery aspect of trying to figure out what’s really going on and how to possibly fix the messed up situation our characters are living in. I also found the magic system to be very enjoyable, I love the coding aspect of it and the research and academia environment. It was also frustrating to read at times though because there are so many horrible characters in this world that are so stuck in their messed up beliefs and you keep hoping for better and not getting it. By the end I was very happy to support our main character in all of her violent, destructive, rage. I don’t know that I’ve read another book that ended like this but I think the very bleak setting helped me be satisfied with the ending even though it’s not the most “happy” of endings.

4.6 ⭐️ Dare I say this was better than “The Poppy War”?!

I went into this book blind, having heard of its praise and was pleasantly (ironic considering the less than pleasant themes) surprised! This book touches on themes of classism, capitalism, colonialism, religious extremism, racism, sexism, xenophobia and even manifest destiny; with the Kwen representative of the immigrant working class, forced to work for their rich oppressors under the guise of god and the city’s founders. The Tiranish mages having “built” the magical utopian city of Tiran 5,000 years prior to the events of this book, live lavishly at the expense of the Kwen and lower class Tiranish. To me, there were definitely similarities between the Tiranish and the U.S. Government and white Americans and the Kwen and Native North Americans (both with devastating histories of oppression, violence and forced assimilation).

Sciona Freynan is our female main character and embodies female rage. Having been snubbed for years on the basis of her sex, she is finally admitted to the highmagistry and eager to prove her intelligence. Thomil Siernes-Caldon is a Kwen; a hunter and survivor of Blight and one of the two remaining Caldonnae. Once a janitor, Thomil is now Sciona’s new assistant and has much to learn about magic. As progress is made on Sciona’s barrier expansion project, a big secret is uncovered, changing the course of Tiran’s history.

The writing and world building were incredible; wonderfully detailed and thought out. The themes brought up were intensional and interesting, but had me extremely heated. A big reason I couldn’t give this book 5 stars was because I was getting so angry at the behaviors so many characters displayed, I had to put down the book multiple times. Sciona especially was extremely hypocritical and I couldn’t stand her for a good quarter of the book. As the story went on, her naivety dwindled and we started to see her “good” side mixed with her darker, egotistical side. Without revealing too much, I would say despite her “good” actions, she’s a flawed character, very morally gray. She still had me rooting for her though and in the end, despite the destruction, stood by her morals and the truth. Thomil and Carra however, I adored. Carra especially was so badass and lovely, I actually want a novella with Carra as the main character…

Although, I will say, I wish M.L. Wang hadn’t included Sciona and Thomil’s “love-story.” I get why they ultimately decided to go with it but I think it would have hit just as much if they had developed a deep friendship instead. The oppressor x oppressed romantic dynamic is definitely an ick for me and while it wasn’t TOO pronounced in this book, Sciona was definitely very ignorant and hurtful in the beginning. I simply had a hard time connecting with their love. Kind of the same way I don’t understand nor support Dramione…

In closing, I deeply recommend this book and have a feeling it’s going to stick with me for a while. I’m now even more intrigued to read “The Sword of Kaigen,” hopefully it doesn’t disappoint.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for the e-arc copy!

This book is brutal and captivating. It gripped me from the first page and never let go. The pacing was fast without feeling rushed. Character wise, I appreciated how flawed and complex they were. I loved the unique magic system and the worldbuilding was so well done. My only issue with Blood Over Bright Haven is the predictability. I was able to guess where the plot was going which took away from the overall emotional impact for me. Sword of Kaigen is still my favorite book by this author but I would still highly recommend reading Blood Over Bright Haven if you like dark academia fantasy!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this title.

Blood Over Bright Haven is the second book by ML Wang. I will be honest and say that I have not read Sword of Kaigen, but it is very high on my TBR.

This novel is not set in the same universe, and it follows a girl named Sciona in her quest to become a highmage. But her journey isn't as straightforward as she thought it would be. As the only girl in her group, she knows she is unwelcome in the predominantly male world of the Magistry. One way that they make sure she gets this message is by giving her an assistant that turns out to not only be a janitor, but also someone that came from the outside tribes.

Sciona figures that showing any weakness by pushing back would not help her cause, and she finds that her assistant, Thomil, might actually teach her more than any other assistant would. It's not long before.a friendship is formed - but the Magistry did not count on the teamwork of a brilliant girl and a janitor coming from an opressed people making breakthroughs that might shatter their world.

I've seen a lot of love for this book online, but I would be lying if I said it didn't leave me a little bit disappointed. The writing was really good, and the message was also important. It just felt like I've read the story before. I could also see where the story was going, and guessed at the ending.

I still think this is an important book, and it shows that we should question things around us, no matter if we are in the minority.

I still look forward to reading Sword of Kaigen and will keep an eye out for any other books by ML Wang in the future!

This book devastated me in the best way. The parallels between the world of Tiran and our world (particularly the US) are striking. Sciona, Thomil, and Carra are well-rounded, flawed characters that I fell in love with. I really, really hope there's another book in this world focusing on one of the younger characters (I don't want to say who to avoid any spoilers of who makes it out of the story alive, but if you've read it, I'm sure you know who I mean!).

I have been thinking about this book nonstop since I finished it, and I don't think that will stop anytime soon. Few stories have impacted me in quite the same way, forcing me to question practices and interrogate my complicity in systems I participate in--willingly or not.

HOT DAMN! What a book! I'm here for whatever M.L. Wang puts out next.

This was nothing like what I expected it to be and I loved it. The characters are so well thought out and rounded and I really appreciate how the author takes the time to fully examine a character's beliefs from all sides and point out the flaws in their logic. Sciona is a perfectly flawed character and I really enjoyed seeing her growth as she battles the belief systems she thought she had. Her relationship with Thomil didn't feel rushed or forced; they felt natural together and I really enjoyed their philosophical debates and how Thomil was able to change Sciona's beliefs, which also seemed like it came naturally. I really thought the overall message and intention of this novel and feel it's incredibly important, even if some of the lessons may be a bit obvious to minority groups. Still very fun and I really enjoyed the characters.

One of the most unique magic systems I’ve ever read. It reminded me a lot of coding, and felt very logical and beautiful. Even throughout all of the explaining of the system, it never once felt like “too much” or “boring…” it was absolutely fascinating. Though it had dire consequences, I completely ate it up. The story, though not super long, was so complete. It was dark and disturbing, yet full of hope, and utterly addictive. I loved the characters and how true to themselves they remained, for better or for worse. I loved how it dove into topics of sexism, racism, elitism, imperialism, supremacy… the connections that can be drawn to todays world left me feeling so emotional, in a way I haven’t felt from a book in a very long time. It absolutely delivers on being an emotional roller coaster, bold risks within the writing, gut wrenching twists, and somehow still, a satisfying ending. An amazing standalone fantasy that I implore you to read this year. Don’t wait.

I absolutely love this book and how hooked it had me from the very beginning! The characters, the magic, the mystery had me so glad I was able to get a copy of this one and can't wait to see more from this author!

This will have you on the edge of your seat!!! It was such a fun journey and I liked how Sciona had to wrestle with the reality of the world around her. So much intrigue and turmoil throughout all the elements of this book, I loved every page. This is the type of book that appeals to any reader.

*this review contains spoilers*

What an absolutely spectacular book. It left me both speechless yet also with so many thoughts. The only concern I have about this book is the description of the magic system, at least in the beginning. Learning about action and sourcing spells were tricky at first, but as time passed, it started to make more sense.

I admire how great of a writer and storyteller M.L. Wang is. With the confines of a standalone, Wang is still able to craft such a decadent, rich, and compelling story. I am in awe of how good the story pacing was. I always found myself saying just “one more page” until I ran out of pages. The story itself was so masterful. When I found out what the Other Realm really was and what caused the Blight, I was speechless. What an amazing conflict. What a great way to test our character’s morality.

Speaking of characters, Sciona had some of the best character developments yet still stayed true to who she was. In the beginning, she was close-minded and held prejudice against the Kwen people, often believing she was better than them. When she found out about the siphoning, it would’ve been easier to just ignore it to further her own career as the first woman High Mage. However, she disregarded that to make things right, even if it meant she lost her career, reputation, and life. She knew she had no chance of a happy ending, but she did the right thing anyway.

Now, to reflect on the ending, what a spectacular ending. So tragic and heart-breaking, yet so hopeful and bright. My favorite part was the parallel between the beginning with the Kwen people running towards Tiran and the ending with them running away, both in hopes of a better life.

Overall, I think this book is exactly what a fantasy should make you feel. It should be compelling and make important commentary on real society and make the readers question their morality and complacency. It makes me wonder if I would have had the same courage to make the same choices.

Having read The Sword of Kaigen and now this one, I can confidently say I'm completely in love with M.L. Wang's writing!

I'm conflicted in my thoughts about this book. While I appreciated the strong representation of women's rights—a theme not often explored in fantasy—I'm left feeling frustrated by the familiar trope that women must sacrifice themselves for the greater good. The outcome for our main female character, in particular, left a bitter taste. While there is a sort of HEA for some characters, it doesn't extend to all. I also wished there had been more exploration of Sciona's discoveries and her experiences with them. Overall, the book gave me Lessons in Chemistry vibes with a sci-fi twist, which was an enjoyable surprise.

*Thank you to M.L. Wang, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Amazing, incredible, everything I could ever want in a dark academia fantasy - read this immediately!

What an amazing and poignant story. I loved the elements of steam punk meets London and the magic system is incredible. The way this book addressed the systemic problems in our world was fascinating and I look forward to reading more from ML Wang!

I don’t think I’ve ever been frustrated with a main character for the reasons that I was (in the beginning). This book forces the fmc to come face to face with her own prejudice but also that of the community she knows, all she has known and worked for. It’s a very important topic, and extremely well done and well written. So the reasons this book felt heavy thematically, is what makes it such a wonderful and essential read

A work of art that will stay in your heart forever.

# Blood Over Bright Haven
# 11/18/2024 ~ 12/30/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0