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!

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

It seems like this one is a stand alone read. And I have to say while it was really well done, it was a heavy book. But I really enjoyed this.
Honestly the closest thing I can compare this to, is much of Robert Jackson Bennet's series (Foundryside, City of Stairs) for similar feeling and themes. I think M.L. Wang is one of those special kind of writers.

This is really well done. It's a story of a woman's self realization and sacrifice, to end the tyranny of her own people and free the world from them. But be warned, it's not a fuzzy happy ending here, it was heavy and sad, and really stays with you. Sciona's self realization with Thomil and their people's toxic dynamic with the greater world.

"Each gear turned tidy into its neighbor in a soul-grinding system designed to sustain the men who had named the pieces and make them so: damsel, devil, servant, wife."

Sciona Freynan is taking her final exam to become a Highmage in the city of Tiran. If she makes the cut, she will be the first woman to become a Highmage. The first women to hold a spot among men who use magic and spellwork to innovate their world. To research ways to make their world better.
And only if, if she can prove herself to be more talented than her peers who are all mostly men of noble rank, its practically guaranteed they will make the cut, even if they greatly lack in talent.

Tiranish people are a classist, sexist culture by nature, women are to be compliant, be wives and have children. And if they can't be competent they're often lobotomized into it by alchemists.
Sciona is everything their culture resents in women. By becoming Highmage she is openly challenging that. But she is brighter or equally smart than many of her fellow mages. She's a scourcer- which means her skills in magic enable her to more directly target sections of the "otherworld" where they get the energy for their magic by siphoning. Magic which powers the dome surrounding their city which keeps them safe from the blight, that has destroyed much of the outside world.

But Sciona very soon stumbles on to a long hidden secret about where that energy comes from, and it's at a terrible price. Everything she knows and loves about her people and their advanced technologies and magic crumble beneath her feet at her discovery.

Thomil is one of the last of his clan, everyone else was killed with the exception of his niece, on their last run to get into the Tiran dome, torn apart by the blight- literally unraveled from existence. While they made it in the dome, just barely, as Kwen- and not Tiranish - they live as the lowest caste. Living to serve those above them or die. If a Kwen can't work- they don't live and are tossed out of the dome to the mercy of the blight. Thomil works as a janitor in the Magicentre.
In an effort to disgrace Sciona, Thomil is offered to Sciona as her assistant as a joke. Not wanting to let her new colleagues get to her she accepts. Since it's clear nobody is going to help her or treat her as anything resembling an equal.

This has some very heavy themes: Colonialism, slavery, assault, SA, murder, violence, sexism, misogyny, classism, gender bias, racism, self sacrifice, suicidal ideation, grief, loss.

I really enjoyed this book even thought I don’t usually LOVE books with bittersweet endings. Throughout my time reading it, I felt like I was listening to intellectual conversations that we rarely dive into in real life but seem necessary to have even if difficult. This is a story that I think everyone should read. The magic is difficult to get into. If I had to describe it, it’s like coding. But if you are able to move past that small challenge of understanding the magic system, it’s an amazing plot. What I think drew me in the most was that this book made me care about a certain group of individuals all together, and what they represented, more than just the individuals themselves. There were moments with hard pills to swallow but worth it for the outcome. The last dialogue between the fmc and her mentor was riveting. The last words of the book were heartbreaking. I almost can’t believe this is a standalone novel. The writing is superb. This is a book about hope for a brighter future, the impact of using your power for good, understanding when something is not just about you but about humankind at large, legacy, love, choosing your own path despite what others expect, doing the hard thing because you should, and knowing that SOME people can change for the better if given the chance. 5 stars.

Thanks to Del Rey for the gifted copy of this book!

Wow. Can that just be my review? W O W.

Sciona aims to be the first woman highmage in an industrial utopia of a city, Tiran, where women are meant to stay at home and run the household. She's willing to face the challenges thrown at her by the systems in place and the men who believe women aren't cut out for magic. Assigned a janitor as an assistant, Sciona begins to uncover an ancient secret and reconsider all she's ever known.

When I finished this book, I just sat there on the couch in silence processing for awhile. There is so much to unpack, and it's definitely worth reading more slowly. This is a unique and masterful fantasy book that touches on a lot of the -isms and is such a good social commentary. It's also full of a well-developed, stunning magic system, politics within the magical order of mages and the city, and complex relationships. I loved and hated Sciona at times, but really appreciated her introspection and character growth. I think fiesty Carra was my favorite - I always love when an MC has a kid, or in this case, a niece in his care. There are shocking moments throughout the book, and it's a very compulsive read that may also give you an ominous, anxious feeling. Similar to BABEL, I expect this book to make some readers uncomfortable, but also, if you loved BABEL, I think you'll love this book as well.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and the author for an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Without going in to spoilers, I timidly give this 3.5 stars. I loved Sword of Kaigen, and I think I let that love kind of spoil my expectations with this novel.

Wang's writing and prose remains absolutely stunning but the story at times I felt lacked in ways that SoK had thrived. It features a unique magic system that required way too much lore dumping to justify why characters would do certain things, and yet the rules did not always seem to be consistent.

This book contained well plotted out themes commenting on racism, xenophobia, and a lot of sexism, but at times they felt too promoted versus further character development. That being said, it did manage to surprise me narratively more than once. The second and third acts are definitely where the story shines for me personally as Sciona's plans were revealed.

I did very much enjoy the relationship between Sciona and Thomil, but pretty much every other relationship in the book (barring maybe Sciona and her aunt/cousin, and her mentor) to be a bit lacking or one-note.

Overall, I wish I enjoyed this book more, and as I sit with it more, my stance may change adding more stars. I still believe that ML Wang is one of the names to watch in modern fantasy, but this just wasn't the next step for me.

I enjoy expansive and smartly written fantasies, and Blood Over Bright Haven is a deftly written and immersive reading experience. The characters are engaging, the plot is cleverly developed, and the climax is intense and surprising.

This book was truly the best read of this year! M.L Wang captured me in a world of philosophical ideas and a magical world I can’t get out of my head. This book will bring you on an adventure you will never forget. Scions battles to my a name for herself in a world where the high archy is all men and proves women can do just as good. Not only that but secrets are revealed about this world that causes her whole world of morals to be broken and rebuilt. What a beautiful book! I NEED MORE.