4.75 stars!
This is Dark Academia done right! This novel is gripping and completely heart-pounding in some moments, and so poignant in others. M. L. Wang takes a fairly simple story of the first woman Mage and weaves a tale that really examines what it means to pursue academic glory, and the potentially bloody cost.

My only hang up that keeps off the last 1/4 star is that some of the moments where Wang really tries to hammer home the point, it just lasted a bit too long. It left me emotionally exhausted and a bit frustrated with the characters/writing. Some would say it's a bit "on the nose" and I agree, but its more like a feeling of "get on with it!"

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for the eARC via NetGalley - in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this down. ML Wang excels at telling a compelling story as a standalone novel. ‘Blood Over Bright Haven’ is a story that touches on racism, classism, morality, misogyny, ego, and family.

How far does one go for their ambition?
How much must one repress and hide truths to justify their actions?
If intentions are good but does harm, is that better than actions doing unintended good?

The way ML Wang addresses these issues (and more) between very different perspectives - it was rich in life and depth. While some characters are more infuriating than others, such as Sciona, the progression of the characters show how their lives were structured as a result of the beliefs taught to them over hundreds of years, and the subsequent exposure of truths behind those beliefs as well as their reactions to them.

The magic system is interesting in that it is based around magic coding - this I imagine like website coding, but high tech. While mages carry staffs or wands, these tools are also coded as conduits. Most spellwork is done through coding on a spellograph tool and siphoned from the Otherrealm to activate the spellwork.

Without going into too much detail, if you like darker themes and complex characters - but don’t want to commit to a long series - try ML Wang’s ‘Blood Over Bright Haven.’

This was an absolute breath of fresh air in the fantasy world! This book reminded me vaguely of Babel in that it blends Magic, science, academia, and faith all together to create a whirlwind of a novel. This novel also poses some very tough questions that we see reflected in real life everyday, and how the tiniest of sparks can create the biggest of fires. Blood Over Bright Haven made me giggle, made me feel anxious, made me feel almost indignant and righteous, and also absolutely tore my heart to shreds in the best of ways (in only a way a good book can), and — more importantly — really made me stop and just THINK. I would recommend to ANY fantasy reader of any kind to engage with this book. Definitely will be one I’d like to revisit in the future and spread to others. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

4.75 Stars!

This book had me shook. This was my first read from M.L. Wang and it didn't disappoint. To start, the world-building and magic system was well thought-out. The vibes of Tiran, the industrial utopia this book takes place in was also immaculate. The steampunkesque nature of the world reminded me a lot of Full Metal Alchemist. I also appreciated the fact that the Wang wasn't afraid to create flawed and morally grey characters in both the main characters, Sciona and Thomil and along with the side characters within the high magistry. It explores colonialism, racism, classism, and the weaponization of religion effortlessly. There is a lot you can sink your teeth into. This book truly felt like a movie. I could picture the last twenty percent in my head. The action, the dramatics, and tragedy of it all. I will not be getting over this any time soon.

My favorite quotes were, "Truth over delusion. Growth over comfort." & "But a fire can't burn on nothing."

The cons are very minor, this doesn't take away from the brilliance of this story. For me, there was a lack of chemistry between the Sciona and her family and Sciona and Thomil. Relationships should've been explored more. With this in mind this really could've made a good duology. Also, there was a lot of hand holding through the key themes. Particularly with Sexism/ Misogyny. For an adult novel, targeted to adult readers most would be able to understand key themes such as this without it being fed to you every few pages.

Overall, I highly recommend Blood Over Bright Haven if you're looking for an adult fantasy/ sci-fi standalone, or if you're a fan of Full Metal Alchemist.

Thank you to M.L. Wang, Del Rey, and Netgalley for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am obsessed and devastated. I actually really liked Sciona despite her horrid attempt to make things better in Tiran and her apparent lack of empathy for other people. She proved herself to be the change Tiran needs. While he relationship with Thomil made me want to rip my hair out at times. She was coming around and her and Thomil were very cute at times I was rooting for them despite her ignorance and racist tendency she was trying and Thomil and Carre eventually accepted that. I did like Thomil and Carre’s relationship I would have loved to see more of their history and backstory as heartbreaking as the bits we got were, The history and the culture of the Kwen deserved more depth. However even with the bittersweet ending i am utterly obsessed and M.L Wang is now a must read for me.

SPOILER-FREE REVIEW:

I don't know what kind of spellweb M.L. Wang wove for this book, but SIX STARS. And I say that with my whole chest, which is definitely sore from having my heart ripped out, put back in, ripped out AGAIN, and shoved back in with an anvil attached to it. Wang has just achieved auto-buy author status and this book is a collection piece, imo. I want every edition that is ever made and I already want to read it again.

Wang wove a near perfect tapestry of pace, storytelling, suspense, character development, plot and, yes, even violence. The magic system is something I've never read before. This story is enlightening. captivating, compelling, and necessary. Perhaps most impressive is the depth that exists in this book. There are layers upon layers of meaning as the various themes dance with each other to tell the story. This book is not for anyone who isn't prepared to sit in the discomfort of the parts of our real world reflected within those themes. It is not for people who are happy turning away from the reality of suffering at the expense of our comforts. Do yourself a favor and read the glossary at the back before you start the book. It is extremely well done and allowed me to read the book seamlessly.



SPOILERS AHEAD************




While I've long understood that intent does not necessarily equal impact, Wang broke open my brain and completely rewired how I look at those two things. The weight that intent has been given in our cultural scales of justice and what is "right" is far beyond that which it deserves. Don’t talk to me about your intentions, show me what your impact is.

For a book of 527 pages, it manages to include thoughtful and poignant themes of colonization, cultural appropriation, systemic and rampant sexism and xeonphobia, theocracy, ethnic cleansing and genocide. The way Wang can elicit compassion for so many viewpoints is marvelous. And I genuinely cannot recall a more thrilling end to an Act 1. I read almost all of Chapter 10 with my jaw on the floor and sat stunned for quite a while afterward.

I both hope there's a movie and hope there's not. They'll never capture the breadth of this in full, but gosh would it be stunning in visual art form.

MORE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOK!!!!

Also, why do I not know more about M. L. Wang?!? Holy crap this book was amazing. The character development, the magic system, the entire plot... chef's kiss. I have no words. I think the author does a really excellent job at touching on some pretty heavy topics with the respect and delicacy needed. This one is going to be perfect for you if you want an amazing fantasy and/or a well-thought-out commentary on today's world. This would be the perfect addition to many book clubs lineups.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey for the eARC!

A magical world for a select few, and those who try to make it to and in the city of Tiran.

Sciona is one of very few women allowed to try their hand at magic to be a high mage. The use and mechanics of magic is interesting and presented in a way I haven’t read before. What I have read before is women being treated as lesser than the men. It would be refreshing if there was other angst than this - in this “other world,” men still act superior?

The twist 50% in wasn’t completely unexpected but it was good. Some parts are infuriating but it’s how this world is and thus, the book is written that way. The last 20% of the book felt a bit tedious but overall this was a book that kept me engaged and with the desire to keep reading. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I've been on a streak of amazing books by Asian authors and I think I've just hit peak. Blood Over Bright Haven is just simply wonderful. It is my first read from M.L. Wang and it will 100% not be my last. Sword of Kaigen has been sitting on my TBR for 2+ years and I feel like I have done myself a huge disservice after reading Blood Over Bright Haven.

The characters? Ugh. So good. SO FLAWED. SO PERFECT. There is so much character growth. Connections. Consequences. I just.. *wipes a tear away*
The magic system? Um holy crap. Haha.

Excuse me while I go hunt down all of the special editions that might be available.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

OMFG WHAT WAS THAT????!

It's illegal for a book to be this good 😭 the book finished me fr....


This is a book about female rage, a sort of coming of age (?), on how the so called "civilized" people built their power upon the taking, salvaging, emptying indigenous land.

This is a reflection of how our "modernity" works. And to take that literally....

A critic of academic world of how mostly they don't live up with the truth nor knowledge...

So neatly written, so atmospheric, I can see the red. When ML WANG wrote Blood Over Bright Haven she meant it. Mother is mothering 🧎🏾‍♀️🧎🏾‍♀️🧎🏾‍♀️🧎🏾‍♀️

Of you're into high fantasy, dark academia, toppling down tyrannical government, while dealing with hope and internal conflict of your feelings.... READ THIS BOOK.

Thanks so much Del Rey Pub for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

This book was phenomenal - I couldn’t put it down and it has me thinking about it long after I finished it. In this book, we follow our MC, the first female mage to be allowed to become a high mage, Through this process, we see her deal with misogyny and sexism in her daily life. We see her struggle to fit in a society that actively blocks her time and time again. The author also explores the role religion can play in a society characterized by sexism as well as racism. We see religion being used to rationalize discrimination on various levels, from micro aggressions to atrocities.

M.L. Wang’s writing is so smooth and easy to read while exploring these heavy themes. Her characters are fully fleshed out, each with their own motives, thoughts, feelings, and urges. They are all distinguishable from one another and feel like real people. These characters are also heavily flawed, which makes for such an interesting read and we see these flaws play out throughout the narrative. We see the characters engage in philosophical conversations and debates that promote introspection and reflection on society as a whole. The ending is bold but also fits so well with where the narrative was going.

I have so many lingering thoughts on this book and I know I will be thinking about it for a LONG time. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, but the title just will not stick in my mind! That quibble aside, this is a book that uses the genre of speculative fiction to really go for the jugular in depicting sexism, racism, and colonialism and their various intersections and atrocities while telling a tight, suspenseful story.

Absolutely incredible, yet again knocked out of the park. Blood Over Bright Haven is the book that everyone said Babel was going to be. BOBH could be analyzed in so many ways as a critique of our modern world, without smacking you in the face about it. This book covers racism, capitalism, white guilt, and so much more. The beginning of this book was hard to read, as the sexism was extremely blatant and obvious, but it creates a dynamic with Sciona that makes the reader really understand her. Sciona is not always likeable, though, and so many of the things that come out of her mouth will make you uncomfortable. But again, this book is not going to hand hold its way through explaining itself to you the way that Babel tended to.

This book was so good, that even though its been 24 hours since I finished it, I can't think straight about it. Honestly incredible.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

M.L. Wang’s novel truly impressed me with its intricately crafted story, blending a unique magic system, strong characters, complex politics, and thought-provoking themes. The magic system stands out with its scientific basis, requiring calculations and an energy source, evolving in complexity as the story progresses. Wang’s character work is exceptional, featuring a dynamic female lead and a wise male character representing an oppressed group, along with a cast of characters you’ll either admire or despise. The dark academia atmosphere adds depth, with the university setting playing a crucial role in discovery and narrative progression. Wang tackles significant political and philosophical issues, effectively presenting the perspective of the oppressed. Even introspective moments in the story are powerful, making you question motives and morality. I highly recommend this book, but be mindful of numerous trigger warnings: violence, body horror, misogyny, suicidal ideation, classcism, racism, harassment, and attempted sexual assault.

Minor minor spoilers ahead.

I truthfully don’t know that I have the words to describe this book, though I’ve been trying to find them and practicing on any and everyone willing to listen.

I have never read anything like this book before, and I’ll be thinking about it for days, months, years to come.

To start, this is an incredibly hard book to read. It forces you to reflect on the true cost of technological and societal advancement, an idea prescient given what we now know the costs of AI to be.

Large thematic existential ideas aside, BOBH is also a phenomenal fantasy story. It’s tense, its characters are fleshed out and incredibly complex and human, and it’s one of the most well-written books I’ve ever come across. Though not a romance by any means, it is romantic and tragic and filled with yearning, love, and hope, between the two main characters but also between the main characters and the world they live in.

If you love books like Babel and Mistborn, I think this is going to be right up your alley. And if you’re typically a romantasy reader, I still recommend it, but know going in this isn’t a love story and there is no HEA.

I absolutely loved this book and wholeheartedly recommend it.

Brilliant!

In this book we follow Sciona as she works toward her goal of becoming the first female high mage. Through this, she is assigned an assistant, a Kwen named Thomil, and this is meant as a slight. In this society, Kwen are seen as treated as beneath everyone else. While our main character has faced sexism throughout her life, that does not mean that she is without prejudices of her own. While working with her assistant, she still displays her prejudices against the Kwen, and even when getting to know him better she acts as if it’s just him, like he is special and different from other Kwen. But as she begins to learn more about what it means to be a high mage, she is forced to question her own beliefs and worldview.

This book is powerful, impactful and thought provoking. These characters and this story will stick with you. This book does an excellent job discussing many difficult topics such as racism, sexism, classism and the weaponization of religion to achieve personal goals, all through a fantasy lens.

I really liked the magic system (magic as computer programming, hell yeah), the worldbuilding was cool and the plot was exciting. I think where this fell short of a 5* for me was that the messaging just felt very overstated and in-your-face concerning systems of oppression, sexism, and racism. I would definitely read more from the author though.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang is a third person dual-POV dark academia fantasy that asks how far a society is willing to go for progress and convenience. Orphan and mage Sciona has spent her entire life planning on becoming the first woman admitted to the High Magistry and continuing her magical studies. She achieves her goal only to eventually learn the price for the magic she has dedicated her life to and it’s not worth it.

There are a lot of references to real world conversations in the social justice movement and to what has been done and continues to be done to so many all over the world. One of the more obvious ones was when Carra, a Kwen, calls Sciona out for crying when Sciona is confronted with the part she played in a genocide she didn’t know was going on. This mirrored conversations I’ve seen around white tears and takes a nuanced approach because it is from Sciona’s point of view and validates her emotional response but at no point does it detract from what Carra is saying or the fact that Sciona has to get over herself and start to do the right thing.

I really liked how M. L. Wang handled all of these conversations and this very difficult but important topic because there is so much compassion for the Kwen and their plight while also showing an unflinching look at how truly inhumane oppression and prejudice are. I can tell that Wang did research into topics like forced sterilization and how truly unfair the system and how it works to keep those at the bottom of the ladder at the bottom for generations. At no point did I feel preached at; instead, I felt like I was watching someone in real time come to terms with how they are part of something they would never have been part of if they had known. Not everyone is looking for books about people unlearning, but I would still recommend this book to those readers because Sciona isn’t only unlearning—she is choosing to do something about it even if it costs her everything.

The magic system is both cool and horrifying. Typewriter-esque spellographs are used to help cast spells and there’s a very scientific quality to spells with a category of casting involving spellwebs. I would happily read another book set in either this world or a different world but with a similar magic system from this author because I’ve never seen something quite like a spellograph before. The horrifying part comes at the midway point and it is impossible to separate the cost of magic from the plot, the character arcs, and the grander worldbuilding, which is exactly how I like my magic systems being integrated.

Content warning for mentions of forced sterilization and abuse and depictions of sexual assault and genocide

I would recommend this to fans of secondary worlds that are roughly 1930’s, readers of dark academia who want a dark fantasy, and those looking for a fantasy with very strong social justice themes

This may just be the best thing I’ve read all year! I cannot think of a single flaw in this book! From the characters, to the world and magic, to the ending, this was PERFECT!
I loved Sciona as a character! She is narcissistic and prejudiced, yet still has her intentions in the right place. This book is a great example of how just because you yourself have faced prejudice (Sciona being a woman), you are not exempt from being prejudiced yourself. This is perfectly contrasted with Thomil, who challenged EVERYTHING Sciona stands for. And seeing Sciona’s character development from beginning to end is SO SATISFYING! She’s like a completely different character in the best way possible!
The world and magic system also add so much conflict here! It reminds me a lot of Babel (which I LOVE). And all I can say without spoiling the extremely effective ending, is that this book ripped me into two sad little pieces, but left me with the hope that those pieces can be picked back up. READ THIS BOOK!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨

✨ I love books about magical universities and this is book showcases the most elite of the elite mages studying to become Highmages (one of the highest mage designations in this world).

✨ Sciona is the first female Highmage to pass her test and be accepted. As a character, she resonated with me in a number of ways - she’s ambitious, driven, stubborn, maybe a little ego-driven but recognizes it and works really hard to do the right things. She’s also independent, brilliant, accepting of all, devoted to her family, brave, strong, steadfast, and tough. I liked her.

✨ Thomil is the male main character and represents the Kwen, or the lower class in this world. There is good relationship development, but don’t go into this book thinking it’s primarily a Romantasy book - it is very much more in the vein of high fantasy. But the one love scene is incredibly beautiful. And heartbreaking!

✨ I LOVE the magical system, particularly the ways that energy is harvested from
Zones in the Otherrealm and then processed through a technology called a spellograph. I found myself rather fascinated as Sciona teaches Thomil about energy sourcing and mapping spells!

✨What Sciona uncovers with Thomil in her lab could expose mass corruption and change the course of history for their peoples entirely. And, it was totally mind blowing!!

✨ Every moment from that point (about halfway through) became more fraught with tension - and more exciting!

✨ There are a lot of themes of prejudice against women and women’s strength through it all.

✨ It’s a really interesting ending! It seems rather clear to me that this is meant to remain a standalone story and I admit that was a pleasant change from the typical fantasy cliffhanger ending and lead-in to next book (she types while writing a fantasy trilogy😂).