This was VERY, VERY good. An intriguing, new, and complex magic system. An antihero who you can't help but root for. A dark, twisted tale - I loved it. 4.5 stars.

I almost don’t even know how to review this book. This isn’t a book to enjoy, or a book to have fun with. This is a book to eviscerate you, drive you mad, make you shriek at the characters and fling–yes, fling–the book at the nearest wall. It also is meant to horrify you, and not for fun. Mostly because the atrocities of this book are mirrors to the real world: the sexism, the bigotry, the xenophobia and hatred masked as “for the greater good” and protection of “our way of life,” and more than anything, a blood-soaked history retold by the victor to portray the victims of genocide as savages unworthy of their lives.

This was my first M.L. Wang book and now I want to read every damn word she’s ever written. Don’t pick this up if you want a light fantasy or a happy ending wrapped in a bow. But pick it up if you want to feel something. I sure as hell did. 5 resounding ⭐s

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Going into this book, I had no idea what to expect. I had never read another book by M.L. Wang, and because of this book, I will be adding any other M.L. Wang book that I can find to my TBR just to get this feeling again. If I could read this book again as if it was the first time, I would do that in a heartbeat. I have not felt this blown away by a book and ending in a long time.

Starting off from the first chapter, I was completely dragged in during a groups intense travel towards their freedom. It was filled with nonstop loss and danger, and showed the conditions and dangers of living outside of the barrier, and it immediately set the scene for the rest of the book, where we show life inside of the barrier, 10 years later.

Sciona was such a strong main character, and you see so much character progression throughout the book. As a member of society, becoming a high mage (the first female high mage), she is led to believe that the high mages know best, and that their society is the high above all, including the Kwen, who are known to that society to be savages, cannibals, and disgusting, even as Blight ravages their lands, killing so many of their people. I definitely did not like Sciona at first, as someone in a science related field, she refused to see any other side of life except for the one that she was shown, and was constantly putting Thomil down about things that he had seen and gone through. However, she grew on me when she started to open her eyes and understand what was actually happening passed everything that she had been told and started risking everything she had worked for, in order to make things morally right, even when everyone else in her society thought that she was wrong, paired with her fighting for her right to work in a field that was EXTREMELY dominated by men, in a women-hating society, she had a lot of struggles all around. The character progression was just incredible and so well written.

I also really appreciated that the romance aspect of this book was really minimal. There was a lot of potential build up from boss/worker to friends, and then more, but it was really dialed back, which allowed me to focus more on the plot of the book.

This concept in a book is something that I have never seen before. While the aspect of a higher class, seeing themselves as the best and high above others has been done before, I can promise you that it has never been done like this. The plot and concept of this book is so well done, so thorough and intricate, and so unique that it sets itself apart from all others. I WILL be rereading this one over and over again, and, even though I received the ebook, I went out and bought a physical copy because I enjoyed it so much, and it has become a permanent book on my bookshelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book I will be thinking about for a while. M.L. Wang had written something so brilliant and poignant and relevant to what’s going on in the world, that to try to put my feelings into words had given me pause.

This is a refreshing take on fantasy with beautifully realized and flawed characters and a wonderfully original magic system. I was absolutely hooked from the first chapter. Wang’s writing is nothing short of magic itself, and I will gladly read more from this author.

4.5 stars // Ok, I fully admit that the gorgeous cover drew me to this book — but I’m so glad it did because I loved it!

Pros:
⪢ standalone!!!
⪢ fresh and unique magic system
⪢ academic setting
⪢ raised some interesting ethical questions
⪢ made me gasp out loud
⪢ beautiful cover + sprayed edges

It took me a while to finally decide to write a review. I waited because I was overwhelmed by emotions after reading it. I needed time to process my thoughts, emotions, and impressions, but I couldn’t. This book touched my heart in such a powerful way because everything about it was perfect: the plot, the characters, the tone, the message, and most of all, the writing. I was hypnotized from the first chapters, and the spell is still there.

The author skillfully entwined very serious topics, such as imperialism, genocide, the cost of prosperity, the role of science, racism, the power of guilt, and women's rights, into one powerful, tragic, and beautiful story. It’s a very sad story, but also deeply inspiring.

Blood Over Bright Haven is one of my favorite books, and the impression it made on me will always stay with me. Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the copy.

P.S. I bought a physical copy when the book was released because it’s a visual gem. Thank you to everyone involved in creating it for such a visual pleasure.

This has been my top book of the year so far, and it will be added to my instant recommendations for anyone and everyone.

After the Sword of Kaigen, I knew I needed to read this book, but I didn’t know that I could love M. L. Wang any more than I already did. Wow. Just wow.

As a female mathematician who loves all things logic and magic, the whole system of magic in this book was perfection. The worldbuilding was fascinating and had depth without detracting from the plot. And the style of writing was engaging and easy to follow.

The characters were lovable, yet flawed, which I appreciated. I could acknowledge faults while remaining wholly on their side.

As for the plot, I was blown away. This book had me sobbing in the prologue, gasping out loud, shrieking in indignation, and generally just turning pages in anticipation. I’m still processing some of the twists and turns, but I can say without hesitation that everyone should read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this ebook. All opinions are my own.

I loved the world and idea behind the plot. I think the author did a great job of taking some real world issues and applying them to a fantasy world. I struggled a little with the pacing and it took me a while to warm up to the MC. I thought the second half was stronger and loved how it all came together. I’d definitely be interested in reading more by the author!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the DRC!

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that’s has made me feel so much emotion, or hooked me so well as the first chapter of this book. I was so captivated my this book I finished it in two days because I couldn’t put it down.

Writing: the thing about ML Wang’s writing that I love the most is that it feels so natural, it’s so easy to get swept away in her world and characters because it flows effortlessly. It’s creative, it’s unique and her voice within her stories is so poignant- she gets her story and message across to the reader in a way that doesn’t make it feel like she’s beating you over the head with it.

World- if you take the social commentary from Babel, and the typewriters from Divine Rivals (but make them WAY more intense- you’ll get a glimpse of the world that is the Bright Haven. There’s no info dump in this book, and our world is built beautifully from two different characters who see the world very differently, which added so much depth.

Plot: my jaw-on the floor, my eyes- glued to the page, my anger- at an all time high. Say one thing for Wang, say she knows how to make you FEEEEEEEL in her books. This plot is so unique, and something I can genuinely say I have never seen before in fantasy. I had no idea where this book was headed, and I loved every moment of it.

There’s so many things I could say about this book but I went in not knowing a ton and loved it, it’s truly the kind of magic each should experience for themselves! This quickly became one of my favorite books of all time!

I loved this book! It was one that kept you involved because of the twists and turns that it through at you!

📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖
Title: Blood Over Bright Haven
Author: M. L. Wang
Page Count: 430
Format: Ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Number: 27
Dates Read: 2/9-10
Review: I was given this free advanced copy, and I leave this review voluntarily.

What a wild ride. The cover is so gorgeous and doesn't even hint at the emotional destruction inside. The world building is heavy but so worth it. I hate I waited so long to rock this one. 100% recommend to fantasy and dystopian readers.

Wow. M.L. Wang is officially on my auto-buy list!
Like the first book I read by Wang, she knows how to leave you feeling like you got punched in the gut, but also with optimism. The heart-pounding start had me hooked from the first chapter! The social commentary on race, class, gender, and theology is spectacular and thought-provoking. I thought the magic system was unique and a creative blend of science and geography. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Sciona, but as the story progressed, she became more and more likable and felt more dynamic. I felt like a main point of this book centered around laws & morals, the greater good and those who pay the price. Those who love dark academia and compelling fantasies will love this!

What a book. Truly, what a fantastic book. This is my first book from the author and I was utterly enthralled and will absolutely be checking out their previous work! The story follows a woman who is determined to be the first woman to get the title of Highmage oft the Magic Ministry. Yet the more she delves into her obsession the more she begins to question what it would mean and what it would cost to be this. The author perfectly crafts a story that entices you and has you growing with the character. The story itself deals with so many important topics of sexism, classicism, colonialism, and immigration. It's a great read and one I would absolutely recommend!

The best book I read in 2024. Absolutely jaw dropping storytelling, love able characters, and unique magic system, ML Wang has done it again!

This book had me in a chokehold. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, and when I was away from the book I heard it calling to me!

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.