I absolutely loved this book. I am a pretty slow reader but I ate this up so quick! An easy 5 star read for me.

I am not great at writing reviews but one point I want to make clear is that this book is a must read. It’s SO good.

I am always a little imitated by fantasy books but this one was so easy to follow but discussed such deep topics. I loved Sciona and Thomil. Both were such complex characters. The story line is not completely new but I still really loved it especially with the magic system. I feel like it’s different than other books I have read. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend

The Dark academia genre is really intriguing and I was excited at being able to read this book. Who wouldn't want to read about the sole woman allowed in the school working her way up the ranks to become a mage. I found the characters really interesting (even when they weren't the most likable) and I'm excited to read more books from this author

Bit too much going on, this book was kind of difficult to follow. There was a lot of info dumping at the start and I never really settled into the world. A shame because it's a good idea!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy to be reviewed

Short Answer: I absolutely loved this book. For many reasons.



We follow a woman named Sciona, who lives in a world where woman are determined the weaker sex in mind, body, and soul. In her case specifically, she was never meant to practice magic and become a Highmage. But despite societal pressures, she passes her exam and becomes the first woman ever admitted to her Magic's university.

(Likely spoilers from here)

There was so many times where I related to Sciona. At first, she wanted to run away from the truth, but she knew she could not lie to herself. Once she saw the Blight for what it was, she couldn't sit by and do nothing.
What I liked about Sciona was her pure fire and honesty. Like myself, she struggles with empathy and emotions, focusing only on the things that helps her own progression. At first, she is ashamed at this, but very quickly comes to terms with her own character. She knew she was selfish, she knew she rarely had empathy, and as the book progresses, she claims this proudly. As I read her character, I realized I wouldn't want her to be anything else. Sciona simply wouldn't be Sciona if she wasn't selfish and self-centered.
But what really hit home about her is that, when it comes down to it, she has a heart of empathy, selflessness, and love. The way she loves...it's incredible when you consider her circumstances and environment. She's shameless in the best way possible, and *takes* her credit. A strong female lead that I really should learn from despite all her obvious flaws.

Thomil, I don't have much to say on. But I love his character because he's so...simple? Like, of course he's not simple. He expresses his values and how he weighs good and evil in ways I've never truly thought of before, because I was scared to delve too deep into that section of morals. But everything about him came so matter-of-factly to the point of heartache. He knows what he believes in, knows what he's feeling, even when he doesn't. There's apart of him that's shameless, just like Sciona.


These two and their relationship grabbed my heart and squeezed until tears spilled from my eyes. It was clear that they could not have each other, but despite this, they still appreciate each other in small, subtle ways. They never even had a truly proper confession moment, never laid their hopes out because they both knew where their paths were headed. Yet, I found myself wishing I had a love like theirs(despite how they ended). Thomil was what Sciona needed. Sciona was what Thomil needed. They were a fleeting moment in each other's lives that felt like walking a marathon, but every step was worth it.


What I like about the book overall is that it's so *imperfect*. The characters were so shamelessly flawed (I know I've used shameless a lot lol), and instead of ending up saints, they *stayed* shamelessly flawed. Their imperfections, while they lead to their downfall, were also what helped them grow.

This book is not about happy endings. It's not about having a perfect love story or about making excuses to make yourself seem righteous. This book, in my opinion, is about having hope where it can not be found. It's about how we push *just a little bit further* with every breath we take, every step we walk, and every time we break, just to put ourselves back together again and go even further.

I absolutely loved this book.

Wang’s talent for character development, world-building, and themes shines in this book. Despite her challenges, Sciona’s selfishness and drive for truth and recognition push the plot in fascinating ways. Her growth, as she faces harsh truths, highlights Wang’s deep storytelling. Supporting characters like Thomil’s quiet strength, Carra’s intense anger, and Alba’s simple love add depth to the story. The villains, with their brainwashed, cruel, and oppressive behavior, make the narrative even richer.

The world-building and magic systems mix “Babel” and “Harry Potter” with magic that feels like coding. Tiran’s magical Barrier and comfort sharply contrast with the complex lives of refugees and those outside the city facing the deadly Blight.

The themes in “Blood Over Bright Haven” are thought-provoking. Sciona’s endless curiosity and her debates with Thomil raise questions about intentions versus actions. The book explores hope, love, and connection amid dehumanization in a world full of fanaticism and elite control.

“Blood Over Bright Haven” is dark, intense, and highly engaging. It addresses imperialism, racism, elitism, and supremacy while telling an exciting story. Wang surprises readers with bold, emotional choices. The magic system is logical and elegant, adding more intrigue.

Some might find certain characters simple, but the emotional depth and storytelling make “Blood Over Bright Haven” stand out. It tells a complete story with a satisfying ending, exploring gender injustice, faith, and the consequences of intentions. Wang takes bold risks and delivers powerful twists, making this book unforgettable.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the eArc!

𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐌. 𝐋. 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐠
Magic has made this city an industrial utopia, but magic has a cost and the collectors have come calling. This standalone dark academia novel brimming with mystery, tragedy and the damning echoes of the past follows two characters.

Sciona has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fuelled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first women ever admitted to the High Magistry. When Sciona finally becomes a highmage, she finds that her challenges have just begun.

Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond the magical barrier who survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. He sees an opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland and keeping these people in power.

It would appear Sciona’s peers did not realise the taciturn assistant they forced upon her has secrets of his own and an obsession with uncovering the truth. Their fractious relationship between mage and outsider, may lead to them unmoving the secret that could change the course of magic forever. If it doesn’t kill them first.

The magic system is fascinating, the issues of the selfish pursuit of prestige is startling and it subtly shows the inadequacy in our reality. An easy five stars.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐌. 𝐋. 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐠

From NetGalley, I received the trad published version of Blood Over Bright Haven ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 🌟 rounded up. This is one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in awhile. As a standalone, it is so well written and tackles relevant social issues- imperialism, racism, faith, and gender inequality to name a few. M.L. Wang truly mastered the history and world building of Tiran. The way that magic was used and treated more as a science in this novel was fantastic and refreshing.

Tiran is an industrial utopia that utilizes magic to power its infrastructures and day-to-day functions for its citizens. The novel predominately follows Sciona, the first female Highmage, and Thomil, her assistant. Both characters come from completely different backgrounds- one an orphan dedicated to her studies of magic and a Kwen refugee worker. Because of her general lack of social awareness or relationships, Sciona is often obtuse and selfish in her thinking. When she is met with a discovery that challenges her faith and morals, she is forced to face the reality of her prejudices. This inner turmoil helps to push the plot forward with her actions that cause great conflict in the city of Tiran.

Overall, this novel was great. None of the side characters felt like fillers; they all served a significant purpose. I can offer no critiques other than it feeling flat and void of emotion at times. I will definitely be purchasing a hard copy of the new publication when it comes out in October.

ML Wang has so many strengths, but I think chief among them is her raw ability to portray humanity, in all its beauty and horror and selfishness and tenacity and love.
This book is another triumph for Wang, evidenced by her continued mastery of prose, character growth, and above all, profound emotional connection from character to reader. She trusts the reader to understand her message.
Wang really has proven herself to be a powerhouse in fantasy and in literature. Blood over Bright Haven is brimming with hope amidst tragedy. I loved it.

I want to thank netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All I can say is wow, great character and world building. Highly recommend and can't wait to see where the author goes next

I don't think there's any world where I cannot give this book five stars, as I sit here sobbing at the beautiful parallels between the start and the end of this book.

From the get-go, this book appears to have everything I need in an elite-tier book: a absolutely insane and kind of complicated but very fascinating magic system, a dark academia environment, a woman breaking glass-ceilings into male-dominated spaces, and a pair of unlikely allies. This book does have all that, but it also dives so much deeper on themes of religion, what it means to do and be good in the world, what we owe to ourselves and our community, the cost of our choices, actually understanding what our true beliefs really mean and do we actually want to believe in those things, and how all of these themes come together in a fantastical world but make us truly reflect on the world we live in today. ML Wang, you are a true genius and I will listen to anything you have to say!!!

I'm not going to lie, the first 20-30ish% of the book is dense in trying to understand the world, the magic, and what the greater mystery/concern is. There are a lot of conversations that characters have in debates that are painful to read because of how reflective they are of our society. But all of that is so important in helping us get the greater message of this book, which to me is that throughout everything, despite the hardships and the differences we may have, the chance to hope exists. Sciona hopes to make a difference with her magical discoveries. Thomil hopes that he can keep his people's memories alive. Carra hopes for a chance to live the life her parents hoped for her. Good or bad, hope is at the core of pushing us to do what we think is right.

Standing ovation for an incredible book. Thank you, ML Wang!

(And thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review)

An incredible tale of mystery, tragedy, and truth. How easily one can commit evil acts simply because they turn an oblivious eye to the truth. How change is possible with the right motivations. My heart has ached right along with these characters, I’ve cried, I’ve raged and I have smile. I cheered on Scionia and Thomil and Cara and wanted to so badly for a found family ending. But alas, my heart was broken. This will be a book that I will not get over soon.

With such an intricate magic system, a mysterious blight that’s enough to terrify readers, and a society that seems to have it all but underneath lies something incredibly dark and sinister, and characters that are well thought out, flawed, but still wonderful, it’s not wonder I couldn’t put this book down. It will leave you on the edge of your seat and fearful of what’s to come but hoping for something better and wishing it wasn’t a standalone.

It took me a few days to really get into it but whew once it gets going you don't want to stop reading! Blood Over Brighthaven is a tense, quick-witted novel about a brilliant mage who wants to put her name in the history books and the stubborn janitor who becomes her assistant.
I really liked the analysis of colonialism in this book. Sciona was not always likeable as a main character but she's extremely believable as a person within a colonialist society who discovers exactly what the price of her magic is.

Thomil is one of the last surviving membors of his tribe and has to keep his head down and reign in his fury in order to make a living. He's always honest with Sciona, and I really loved their relationship. He doesn't soften any edges for her and she needs that in order to come to the conclusions she reaches.

It's a brutal story, honestly, but it's very well written and I found the characters compelling.

A huge shoutout to M.L. Wang, the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was definitely a different style read than I’m used to but I wasn’t against it either. It had a very dark feel to it. There were some very graphic scenes in the book that could be unsettling to people but the characters and the character development is absolutely amazing.
This probably wasn’t a book I would personally pick up again, but I do highly recommend it if you fancy the dark, and disturbing style of books!

This was such a good, feminist dark academia story in a fantastical world! I think I'm finding what I like in dark academia, and this book is that! I love a good standalone, and I really liked the character growth in this. I do think that some of the social commentary was a bit heavy handed, but overall I had a really good time with this!

This review is of an ARC for Blood Over Bright Haven provided in exchange for review.

Five stars, and I would give more if I could. This book was Babel, but if you put Jasnah Kholin and Kaladin Stormblessed (of the Stormlight Archives) at the helm. Dramatic comparisons aside, the world building - and you must stick with it for a little bit, because the magic system is explained deeply and quickly - the characters, and the overall themes explored will sit with you for awhile.

We start with Sciona Freynan, the first female to ever be admitted into the prestigious ranks of the Tiran highmages, as she begins a research project that is needed for the good of all within Tiran. She is ambitious, driven, confident, and understands that everything she does will either create opportunities or ruin them for the women who will one day follow in her footsteps. She is such a well-written embodiment of female drive - and I say that rather than female rage, because her drive is the kind where she strives to be perfect, to be so unquestionably the best that men are forced to acknowledge her, rather than loudly or violently demanding their respect. (No hate to female rage though; we live for female rage.)

The conflict she and her assistant, Tommy (WE LOVE TOMMY WITH ALL OUR HEARTS) uncover is one that speaks to an incredibly real, human injustice and unbalance of powers. The way the story is shaped made me feel the weight of all of Sciona and Tommy’s decisions and actions, and its conclusion has me sitting in silence, just THINKING about this book.

(Because I feel it is necessary to include: there were many tears shed. I love crying over books. I love gasping and biting my nails in angst. If you also love all of these, this one’s for you.)

"This was the most righteous, most logical, most human anger that could fill a soul."
In Tiran a woman is only allowed the opportunity to test for Highmage once every decade. Sciona has been working toward this for twenty years, and has become the first female Highmage in history. The way M.L. Wang writes about sexism, racism and colonialism is beyond anything l've read.
There is no other way than to draw parallels from what's happening in real life to the history and life of the Kwen people. It makes you sick to your stomach, by the last chapter I felt hope but deep sadness for everything Thomils people still have ahead of them.
I went through the full spectrum of emotions reading this. I will never forget this story, this was the most original magic system l've ever read in my life. I cannot wait to read everything M.L. Wang writes.
Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for this ARC.

4.75/5 ⭐️

M.L. Wang is gives another masterclass in character writing. The characters of Blood over Bright Haven are so good I think talking about them might be somewhat of a spoiler… suffice it to say they’re complex and deeply flawed people in a borderline grim dark kind of story. While the characters are the stars here the world is very interesting even if not super fleshed out, the introduction alone is breathtaking in one of the most intense openings I can remember. My biggest gripes about this book is it feels like there should be more, I believe there is potential for many more books written in this world or even just about the characters within. Alas this may never be the case and maybe that’s ok.

Absolutely stellar, a favorite book of 2024! Wang is officially an auto buy author for me now. This is a dark gritty stand alone fantasy with deep and intriguing characters and a plot that engages from page one and doesn’t let you go. I’m still thinking about this book weeks after finishing. This is one of those rare books that I will continue to recommend to anyone for a very long time.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

M.L. Wang is becoming a must read for me no matter the story! First with Sword of Kaigen and now with Blood over Bright Haven!

I really enjoyed this book. It covers some serious topics but didn’t feel preachy about them. This world feels lived in and you can understand all of the character motivations. The magic in here is also really interesting and felt really scientific. If you are fans of A deadly education by Naomi Novak and Babel by R.F. Kuang you should definitely give this book a read!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This freaking book got so many emotions out of me... Just as many were frustration and the urge to smack Sciona in the face...but an emotional response is an emotional response. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an immersive, utterly unique story with characters who'll stay with you long after you finish.

Can we get more industrial fantasy, pretty please?