Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang is a book that I absolutely devoured.

Sciona Freynan is the main female character. I admit she starts out rather unlikable and stubborn but the character development achieved by the author is absolutely outstanding and you’re rooting for her unquestionably by the end. Because of this amazing character development, you’ll find yourself deeply invested in other characters, specifically Thomil and Carra as well.

This book has a unique magic system and is set in a richly detailed academic world. The world building is outstanding and the pace of the book is, in my opinion, just right as secrets are exposed and Sciona and Thomil begin to work together.

I have to say I REALLY enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. I was truly wowed!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My Synopsis:
A story following two characters. Sciona, an incredibly talented and knowledge-hungry mage destined to become the first female high mage and Thomil, once a hunter among his people’s, now just a man trying to survive in a society where his people and culture are viewed as second class and barbaric. With Sciona’s appointment as a high mage at the Magicentre, the first female in a patriarchal society that mirrors the 1950s, she crosses paths with Thomil, a Kwen man turned janitor. Now with an unlikely assistant and a task at work pushing magic to its limits, Sciona’s pursuit of knowledge will uncover a truth that completely turns Sciona’s world and everything she believes to be true upside down.

My Review:
This book has one of the most fascinating magic systems I’ve come across yet! The character development of the two protagonists is just so well done, you can’t help but be emotionally invested as the characters and their relationship develops, rooting for them to overcome the obstacles they face. One of the best parts of this novel is seeing how the relationship shakes up who the protagonist is at her core bringing into question everything she has learned and needs to unlearn. This story weaves together a fantastical storyline that sucks you in from the very beginning while also philosophizing on topics such as gender equality, a sort of radical nationalism, cultural bias, the costs of idealism, colonialism, blind religion, and proselytism. The intricacies of the magic system and very clearly well thought out, a strong female protagonist who not only dominates her male counterparts but is also willing to put aside her own biases, and the overarching themes had me reading with every free second I had. M.L. Wang is a phenomenal author.

Final Thoughts: I love books that push you to step back and question anything and everything especially when it comes to topics of religious beliefs, society norms, and equality. To be able to do that with such a gripping plot is a gift. I NEVER get emotionally invested the way I did with this book, easily 5/5 stars!

Are you a good person?

Are you sure?

There is a specific point in blood over bright haven where you question if you truly are a good person. The main character says that if you have good intentions but everything that you leave behind in your life is destruction, are you actually a good person and will you be judged before God as such? If your intentions were good but all you left behind was suffering, he states that you should be met with the same fate that you left the world in regardless of what your intentions are. This was a very profound statement for me. He uses the word ravine to describe these types of people where you have the potential to be a river, or you could have been a river once before, but the potential to be a river doesn't water the crops and it doesn't bring water to people who are thirsty. The potential of being a good person does not make you a good person. So now I'm sitting here wondering am I actually a good person or am I just a ravine? It is easier to delude yourself into thinking that you are a good person by saying that your intentions are good, but it is much harder to actually be a good person and leave the world a better place. 

Sciona dreams of being Bright Havens first female high mage, a magic wielder, tasked to fuel their safe-haven, half dome of a world, surrounded by a vast ice expanse of wasteland. Inhabited by barbaric cannibals who suffer a blight of the unclean. 

Thomil, a refuge from the blight-lands residing in the slums of Bright-Haven, works his fingers to the bone as a janitor in the Highmage building. Seen as less than, stupid and unclean. An animal. 

When their paths cross, more than one secret is exposed, changing both of their lives, and both of their worlds forever. 

This is possibly the best book I have ever read in my life. There are many comparisons between the implantation of Israel in Palestine, and how Israel treats Palestinians, as animals. I don't think my life will be the same after reading this book. I will forever be questioning and striving to be a truly good person, not just diluding myself.

4.5 Stars 🌟

This is the second stand alone novel that I've read from Ms. Wang and so far, she is batting 1000. The unusual thing is that each book could not have been more different, even though I think The Sword of Kaigan is the book I liked best.

In this story, we are introduced to Sciona Freynan, who is a female Mage who has just become the first female Highmage in the history of Tiran. Tiran is a dome like city that exists in a type of protected state. The outside of the protection is thought of as the "wild" full of savages and dangers while inside the city they have modern conveniences such as electricity, trains, vehicles, etc.

Sciona starts off as a fairly unlikeable character. I think that one of the really great things that Ms. Wang achieves as an author is the way she develops the characters in her stories. We get to truly see the character arc that Sciona takes, and it is a doozy. The funny thing is that she never really loses her arrogance and her selfishness, and her ego and pride continue for the entire story. Yet she does grow. Somehow, she stays true to her character but develops a better self-awareness and for the first time in her life, she becomes aware of events that are occurring to the people around her, and how they affect those around her. That is the big thing. It is so interesting to see her confusion with these new feelings, because she is still so arrogant - she isn't sure how to react to her new feelings.

We also meet Thomil. He is my favorite character in this book. Thomil came from "outside" the barrier and he is fully aware of what life is like on the outside. They call these people the Kwen and they are regulated to a certain part of the city and are forced into certain "low paying" and dangerous jobs. This book really deals with some tough issues - but the biggest issues are misogyny, xenophobia, and racism. It doesn't shy away from them and at times, it is not easy to read.

So, Thomil is working as a janitor in the mage building and gets put with Sciona as her lab assistant. This is meant as a slight to her, because the men cannot deal with the fact that a woman has become a Highmage. Thomil breaks every pre conceived notion that Sciona has been told about the Kwen - he is smart, literate, intelligent and HE LISTENS to her. He is also able to give her a perspective that she was not expecting, and that changes everything

Anyway, let's just say that the two of them become a pretty good team and then are faced with some pretty awful circumstances when they discover that things are NOT the way Sciona has always been led to believe. The story takes off when Sciona (and Thomil) are faced with unexpected information and because she is so intelligent, she quickly realizes that something is wrong - and she doesn't fall for the stories that try to explain her new discoveries.

As I was reading, I kept trying to figure out "how" this was possibly going to end. One thing I can say is that the story does stay true to itself. It lets the circumstances play out, and even though it isn't a HEA type ending, it still plays it out until the end. No spoilers, so that's all I'll say.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book comes out for traditional publication on October 29, 2024.

This is a carefully thought-out world of magic and consequences. This author has done a wonderful job creating a world and inhabiting it with people who are likable (at times), but mostly human. Much time is spent building characters sometimes at the expense of action. However, action does build and expand, moving quickly to its climax. The ending may not be to the liking of all readers but this one found it satisfying.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang captivated me from the start with its fearless exploration of power and oppression. Set in a richly detailed academic world, the story features a unique magic system and a fantasy setting that eerily echoes our own reality. Wang doesn’t shy away from tackling tough themes like sexism in academia, racism, prejudice, and misogyny, weaving them seamlessly into the narrative in a way that feels both relevant and thought-provoking.

The protagonist, Sciona Freynan, is a character who immediately drew me in. She’s ambitious, brilliant, arrogant, stubborn, selfish, and a little unhinged. At first, I wasn’t sure I would like her, but as the story progressed, I found myself rooting for her despite her many flaws. Her unyielding determination and bravery make her an unforgettable character, offering a deep, often unsettling glimpse into a corrupt world.

I also found myself deeply invested in the characters Thomil and Carra. I was hoping with all my heart for the happy ending they deserved. The emotional attachment I felt toward these characters was intense, and their stories kept me hooked until the very end. Speaking of the ending, it took me by surprise. It wasn’t what I had hoped for, but I appreciated how it stayed true to the story’s themes and messages, reflecting Wang’s commitment to honest storytelling.

If you’re looking for a fantasy novel that isn’t afraid to tackle real-world issues with depth and nuance, I highly recommend Blood Over Bright Haven. It’s a story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Wow, thank you so much Netgalley for providing me with this copy to review! What a fantastic book! You really feel for the characters in this story, and it really makes you think about the idea that sometimes what we believe is right is not always the right way to think. Our actions always have consequences, and we must be prepared to face those consequences when we come to them. That we can change everything with those actions.

I already had the indie version of the book and I would compare what they changed in the traditionally published to the self-published while I was reading. What was changed was not too much, and if anything, it expanded upon what M.L. Wang was stating in the original. However, some of the charm of the self-published version could have been left in. It was still fantastic, though!

The story had me hooked from start to finish, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more work by M.L. Wang! This is one of my top reads for 2024!

Loved the writing and the story. I do wish there had been a confrontation with her bio dad, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless. I found it incredibly frustrating that Sciona couldn’t believe the obvious - that the mages were aware of the mass murder they were committing and that they didn’t care. Though I understand it’s all an allegory for racism and the things we as humanity have done to each other in the name of religion and “for the good of society”, but it still boggles the mind that we can be so entrenched in our denial of reality.

The book itself is gorgeous, and I know it'll be an easy sell in our store with the online popularity of M.L. Wang. While it was a solid standalone fantasy, I wasn't particularly blown away by the story and felt the pacing stalled in the beginning especially. The magic system was quite innovative, though, and it will definitely appeal to more scientifically minded reads.

Sciona Freynan has finally achieved her ultimate goal of becoming the first woman mage to be admitted to the High Magistracy after years of dedicating her life to the study of magic, but her colleagues aren't keen on working with a woman, especially when they feel threatened by her intellectual prowess, and seek to undermine her in every way. To show her that she doesn't belong in their exclusive male-dominated profession, her colleagues assign her Thomil, a Kwen janitor, as an assistance; however, unbeknownst to them, Thomil is one of the last of his people, who lived outside the Tiran border and were decimated by the Blight. Together, Sciona and Thomil uncover the truth about Tiran's power and industrial advancements.

This was an amazing but tough (in a good way) read that touched on heavy themes such as sexism, classicism, racism, xenophobia, colonialism, religion, and morality. M. L. Wang did such a good job at incorporating everything into her novel that felt natural to the story. Her characters were complex and dimensional, and being able to see different sides to the characters really reenforced some of the themes present in the story. Blood Over Bright Haven is such a thought-provoking book that I am still processing everything that happened. I think it's going to linger in my mind for a very long time, and I am ready for it.

I’ve never read anything by Wang before, but I’ve constantly seen her books all over BookTok and Bookstagram, so I was eager to see what all the hype was about. Let me tell you: it is well deserved. Everything from the writing to the characters to the magic system was so well done. I was instantly hooked and couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. I thought Sciona was such a strong main character, and I admired her determination and dedication. There were so many complexities to her character, and I liked seeing all her different layers. I also liked the dynamic between her and Thomil (who I loved so much.) I thought the magic system was so unique, and it was explained in a way that never felt too dense. As for the writing, Wang touches upon some heavy topics such as colonization, systemic oppression, and misogyny, so I would suggest checking trigger warmings before going into this. Overall, I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading more from Wang in the future.

Blood Over Bright Heaven was almost a perfect book for me. I really love the technical plot combined with the magical academy and political elements of the story. I really loved all the elements of the story, but after the big reveal I felt the book shifted gears and didn’t quite come together cohesively. I loved the themes of oppression and denial in the face of violence and privilege, but the last half felt too didactic and obvious. Despite this I still overall loved the book and would recommend it.

WOW.

This book absolutely blew me away.

The main character Sciona is the first ever woman to become a high mage in the utopian City of Tiran. Immediately upon starting her job within this prestigious society of men, they make it known that she is not welcome among their ranks by taunting her and assigning her a janitor, Thomil, as her assistant as it would be “below” the other male mages to assist her. Sciona is determined to prove to them that she’s just as talented and deserving to be there (if not more so) but her and Thomil start to uncover some dark truths.

This book was so well written, I had trouble putting it down. Both the magic system and society are complex yet easily understandable. This book had so many twist and turns I didn’t see coming. I will definitely be looking into other books by M.L. Wang.

Thank you to Netgalley and PenguinRandom House for providing me a digital ARC of this book on exchange for my honest review.

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.