Review posted to Goodreads:

This is hands down my favorite book of the year, and probably my favorite in a while! From start to finish, I was completely hooked. The magical system is fascinating and so well thought out—it adds so much depth to the story.

I absolutely loved Sciona and her dynamic with Thomil. She's such an imperfect character, and that's what makes her so compelling. Wang did an amazing job creating a world and characters that stick with you long after you finish reading.

Read it! Just do it!

10/10! I highly recommend. This book started off making me cry. There were times I hated the FMC and then loved her at the end. Very intriguing plot. The magic system is well thought out!

This book was good, but it had a slow start in my opinion. There was so much information that had to be given in order to really understand the story & what was happening. The world building was fabulous, I really enjoyed that aspect of it and it was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Honestly, the book just wasn’t for *me* but I still think it is a great story.

Thank you to #netgalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Blood Over Bright Haven By M.L. Wang is a dark academic fantasy set in the city of Tiran.
Sciona Freyman has been elected the first female highmage. The station is considered the wrong place for women who should only be allowed to teach it not be a mage. Still, Sciona is so talented that she can't be ignored and get the position. I'd compare a high mage to being both a scientist and the clergy. In an attempt to humiliate her, they assign the Kwen janitor Thomil to be her assistant.
The Kwen are the racially discriminated against members. of tribal societies outside of Tiran. Many of the Kwen escape to Tiran to survive the blight.
Thomil and Sciona spend a lot of time arguing about magic, science, racism and religion. It was a bit much for me. The set up took a good third of the book explaining the very scientific magic system. I think this and the preachiness of it lost me. The ending also made me mad without giving anything away there is no HEA here. While I like dystopian occasionally this story went too far into the dark.
Thank you to Netgally for this arc. This review was given voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

I had the opportunity to read Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang before its release! 🩸✨

My understanding is that this book was released in 2023, but will be traditionally published on October 29, 2024. This is my first read by M.L. Wang!

Our story finds us in a world where male mages rule. Scionia, our FMC, becomes the first female highmage to ever work for the prestigious University of Magics and Industry. However, her journey is one filled with elitism, sexism, and racism. It was quite difficult to read the way in which the male characters expressed their ideas about the roles females should play in society.

My one complaint was that Scionia spoke to our MMC, in a manner that made it hard for me to cheer for her success. She worked so hard to overcome inequality, but made the same type of offensive assumptions/comments. However, her character is meant to be flawed and I do believe we watch her grow in other areas.

I did NOT expect the ending and enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the first! The way in which magic was used was different from other books I have read and I really enjoyed how spells were written and performed. I believe readers of who enjoy dark academia would enjoy this one!

While there is not a trigger warning list, it does discuss death, sexual assault, and some other topics that may be difficult for readers.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for providing an ARC!

After reading this wonderful standalone dark academia/fantasy, I can see why M.L. Wang is praised for The Sword of Kaigen. The writing style is *chef’s kiss* 🤌🏽. I fully intended to read The Sword of Kaigen after this.

This book tackles a lot for being a standalone! I only docked one star due to the societal issues being so heavy handed at times. Overall pacing was good, but there were portions that were hard for me to get through.

The world building and magic system are both wonderfully unique and fascinating. I loved that the characters had depth with their passions and flaws. Especially loved when Sciona started to realize her own problematic behavior in an attempt to correct it.

Highly recommend reading this book, just be aware that this is not a light read!

Blood Over Bright Haven is a unique fantasy with a setting and magic system, unlike anything I've ever read about before. Tiran is a magical city under a dome, protecting its citizens from the Kwen, a land ravaged by a dark force called Blight. Sciona Freynan aspires to become the first female highmage - a tough feat in Tiran, which has never had one before. Along her journey, she meets Thomil, a Kwen who came from the other side of the dome, and he ends up helping her accomplish more than she could've imagined.

All of these elements were intriguing, especially the setting. I felt like a citizen of Tiran the second we stepped foot there in the story. Sciona's studies of magic felt strongly rooted in reality as well; the magic system was akin to computer coding. Everything felt fresh and exciting, and I'd recommend it to readers feeling jaded with classic fantasy tropes and magic.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the book because I wanted a more well-rounded cast of characters to follow. I also hoped the characters we followed would evolve as time passed, but they felt stagnant and stuck in their respective boxes. This book has strong themes revolving around feminism and oppression, which I would have enjoyed, except I thought there was a lack of trust in the readers to understand what was happening. I felt I was constantly reminded that Sciona's motivations were feminist, and Thomil's actions were because he's Kwen, and the Kwen are famously oppressed in all of Tiran.

I believe if the story were more concise, probably about 100 to 200 pages shorter, then this would not have been an issue. I found that for my taste, there were too many long monologues that were very repetitive.

Overall, I think this would be great for readers looking to get into the fantasy genre and anyone who enjoys unique settings and magic systems. Also, the new cover is stunning, so I think this would be perfect to add to a fantasy collection if you're into collecting books!

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. This is the best book I’ve read in 2024 and I’ve read a lot of books so far this year, this completely blew it out of the park for me!

I feel like the Author really started the book out strong, you immediately feel the immense danger of the crossing, and the grief that comes with those lost on that journey. I think it right away gives you a look into the society there and who is really important to the people in power.

Sciona was instantly a character I knew I could relate with, she’s a little too intense when it comes to the things she cares about but that ultimately is her greatest strength. I was constantly inspired by her convictions when it came to her morals but also the fact that she had the ability and the want for others to change her mind, her compassion for others may not always be selfless but she shows it through the entire book no matter what.

Thomil was always just down to hang which I loved, he was intense and stern and protective, but he held his ground when it came to what he thought was right, and while he accepted his circumstances for what they were, I think ultimately he knew with the help of a little Mage with green eyes, things would change possibly for the better.

I did not expect the ending but somehow it turned out to be perfect, perfectly heartbreaking, but ultimately where I think it needed to go to keep the story true to itself.

Thank you to M.L. Wang, for this incredible work of art, I loved it so much I pre-ordered the book about 30% in and I am so excited to get my psychical copy!

Huge Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for my free ebook copy of “Blood Over Bright Haven” 5/5⭐️

I received this advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Pub Date: Oct 29th, 2024.

“The brightest meadows grew from dead things.”

When I saw that this was 5 stars on Netgalley after 130 people reviewed it, I knew it was going to be something.

Everything about this book was unique. The way that Wang created this world and magic system blew mind. Its unlike anything I’ve ever read, yet her writing and descriptions made it easy to understand and visualize.

The characters and plot are dynamic and raw. The story dives into some deep topics like elitism, racism, systemic oppression and misogyny. You’ll also see a surprising amount of insight into religion and what it means to be a good person but also how it easy it is to manipulate. This book GOES THERE and doesn’t back out.

The ending is so emotional and intense. After our MC is hit with revelation after revelation, she takes matters into her own hands and the twists are jaw dropping.

This book is BOLD and will definitely leave you in your thoughts.

For my romantasy readers, I say give this a shot. There is no spice, it firmly stays in the fantasy genre, but I promise, this is a story worth reading.

Imaginative and unique world building unlike any I’ve read before. There’s magic, there’s bloodshed, there’s class disparity, there’s chosen families, and there’s hope. I was really surprised by how much I was invested in this book and its characters and would definitely read more by this author.

Thanks to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I really enjoyed this book, the characters were amazing and character development throughout the book was really good. The plot was interesting and had good suspense.

Overall I liked this book and gave it 3/5 stars!

Having heard of M.L. Wang for weeks, the moment I saw a listing on NetGalley I just had to sign up! At first I was thrilled to be chosen, but now after my read I feel BLESSED!

I enjoyed my read of Blood Over Bright Haven. I’m typically a fantasy-romance reader, so this was out of my comfort zone. I can proudly say, I don’t regret stepping out of that comfort zone!! This book had me hooked and it pulled at my heart strings from the very first chapter.

Wang uncovered the magic system and the origins of said magic beautifully. It was explained well, and trust me it was interesting!
There are many surprises that made me want to take up biting my nails again- but I didn’t! The books isn’t overly violent or unbelievably descriptive in scenes containing somewhat violent scenes. Although I’d recommend anyone to beware that things can get kinda intense.

Our main character faces some difficult obstacles, both physically and mentally. Again, I’d like you to remind readers..my heartstrings were strung!! Prepare yourself for seeing your favorite characters go through it.

Wang also covered so many different themes that if wasn’t expecting. She touched on racism (which you notice very early on), gender unfairness, and beliefs. She does an amazing job of tying those serious matters into an action packed dark academia novel that is sure to win anyone over.

Overall I think this book carries a significant message, while also being entertaining and inspiring.

I’d like to add, I will be reading more of Wangs work, I’m in love with her writing and storytelling!

Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang is a fast paced and deeply interesting fantasy read. The book opens with a bang as the last of the Caldonnae tribe are about to make the crossing to Tiran to avoid Blight and extinction. It is a heart pounding and wrenching crossing. The city of Tiran is protected by magic. The power from the magic is drawn from the Otherrealm. Sciona has studied all of her life to become one of the highmages that wields this magic and protects her city. Sciona becomes the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. And, just in time. The Magistry is working on a project to expand the boundary to protect the city. As Sciona starts her role as a highmage, she isn't given an assistant, she is given the janitor, a Kwen. In Tiran there are the Tiranese and the Kwen. The Kwen come from outside the city and are treated as other. They do all the dirty labor the city needs and are not treated as full citizens. Kwen children work instead of attending school. They are thought to be godless and simple minded. They are needed. Sciona and her new assistant, Thomil, work to solve the problem of expanding the barrier. Thomil learns quickly and together they make a shocking discover regarding the Otherrealm and where the power truly comes from that powers the magic. Sciona transforms during this book from a dutiful student and highmage to one who abandons all that she has been taught as right and good and determines for herself what her path forward should be. 4.5 stars. Our greatest asset is a questioning mind. Loved it!

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for my advance reader copy.

5 🌟
Blood Over Bright Haven was such a powerful read. This part steampunk, part fantasy, was emotionally moving from page one. The emotions and pace did not let up for the entire book. The system was part magic, steampunk equipment, and coding. It was fascinating to listen to our MC, Sciona, compute the lines of algorithmic code she wanted in her head and place her functions and loops. She is one of those people who live in their heads. She's only vaguely aware of the world around her; she is cognizant of the inequities in her society, particularly about women, but she is tone-deaf to everything that does not pertain to herself. She acknowledges early on that she is self-centered and a bit selfish, but she's so focused on her goals that she loses sight of everything else. This is her mindset when life puts her in a working relationship with Thomil, a janitor in her building. Thomil is of the Kwen, the city's marginalized population who are kept separate and looked down upon by everyone. Wang spends the rest of the story with mystery, intrigue, revelations, and wonder as we watch the enlightenment of Sciona and her growing desire to do what is right for everyone, not just one rarefied group. This book leaves you speechless and undeniably deep in your feelings. I highly recommend it.

“Magic is the one area where I can shut myself in a room with my books and my thoughts and come out more powerful than I went in. It doesn’t matter how big, or strong, or pretty you are in magic. If I can just think hard enough, I’m the most powerful person in the world.”

This book takes place in the city of Tiran, an industrial utopia full of magic and mayhem.

Sciona has dedicated her life to the art of magic, studying the craft obsessively for twenty years. There is only one goal that keeps her going, that keeps her studies and mind steadfast: she must become the first woman to be admitted to the High Magistry.

Already, I am taken in by this fascinating setting. Not only is this full of magic schools and amazing magic system, it also has an intelligent and dedicated female lead. Sciona rises through the ranks, getting ever closer to becoming a high mage.

Her colleagues begin to see Sciona as a threat, and soon there is a target placed on the young mage's back. Enter Thomil, once a nomadic hunter that used to hunt beyond the city of Tiran, bravely living without the magical barrier that keeps the city safe from the outside world.

Ancient secrets slowly reveal themselves to the unlikely duo, emerging into the light. Magic will never be the same. I had a great time reading this dark academia, full of a dangerous school, scheming colleagues, and wonderful companionship between the two main characters.

There is mystery and tragedy and a haunting past. I cannot relate to the main character more, I am not good with people. I am good with reading and learning. I am good at problem solving. And if I could choose magic over mundanity, oh, I would throw everything I had at the practice of pure magic.

The themes covered in this book are plentiful. Beliefs turn out to be wrong, intentions are revealed. Mysteries unfold in this standalone dark academia. In the spellograph mentioned in the quote, it is a map of the Otherrealm. This is revealed to be the place where magic is drawn from. Siphoning comes into place, drawing energy from coordinates within this spellograph.

Unleased magic is freed. The true power of Tiran is revealed. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

Wow, this book blew my mind. The author has crafted a complex and nuanced world, complete with morally gray, realistic characters each grappling with their own place within oppressive systems. Wang’s descriptive yet succinct prose artfully crafts a world that is complex, yet doesn’t require 100-200 pages of world-building that bogs down the plot. M.L. Wang is carving a place for herself among the great contemporary fantasy authors, and I can’t wait to read more of her work.

"Void beheld void. Monster beheld monster."

I literally don't know what to say. This was just... perfect. M.L. Wang crafted art here- this is what literature is, in every true sense of the word. Not only was the writing phenomenal, the characters felt real, they felt like people I would meet on the street.

The biblical parallels? They were AMAZING. (view spoiler)In fact, the whole religious aspect of this book hit hard for me. I'm a Christian, and seeing all these parallels, seeing all these characters act the way they did, it stabbed me deep (but like in a good, this is something meaningful way). The deeper you look, the more entrenched this story becomes in meaningful, deep allegories of religion as a whole, and specifically the Christian faith (what with all the references). Here are some of my favorite references:

"The forces of darkness are nothing to the Light of God."

"Isn't it odd then, for some of the 'all' to be withheld?"

"By remembering that God gave His chosen mages access to the Otherrealm for a reason. He meant for us to use it."

However, this isn't just a story about religion. It's a story about racism, classism, society, justifiable evil, ignorance, good intentions vs. good outcomes, clashing beliefs, and so. Much. More. It's astonishing what Wang could pack in this book, but it never felt like too much. It always felt well placed and just perfect in the story.

I don't have much other things to say other than to read this. It will change your thinking.

bottom line: give me more M.L. Wang please
———————————————
got the arc! I’ve heard incredible things about this so I’m excited to see what it does!

update: …it published a year ago. why do I have an advanced copy in my possession??

to answer my question above, it's because this book is now being tradpublished!! m.l. wang and this book deserve it!

- thank you to the publisher for the arc -

I loved this story. It was easily a 5 star for me. The magic system was a bit complicated at first, but the pay off to stick through is worth it. The themes of racism, xenophobia, and sexism were well done in such a short story. The characters were well developed and it made you either love or hate them. I went through the emotions with Scionia when she discovered the real truth of the blight and magic. The lesson of this book reminded me of Babel by R.F. Kuang as it described the institutionalized dehumanization of other cultures that are applicable to this world.

I devoured this book and was blown away; now knowing I will have to put The Sword of Kaigen at the top of my TBR. This author is truly a delight and someone special to keep an eye on. I feel their career will attain very high highs in the fantasy sphere.

I loved the magic and science, everything was so well thought out to a painstaking degree. I cannot imagine how much willpower it took to connect everything so tightly and fantastically. I can't wait to see where the author goes next!

I’d like to thank NetGalley and M.L. Wang for providing me with this ARC.

I highly recommend Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang for Fantasy lovers. For all my fellow Romantasy readers, this one might not be for you. This book is very firmly in the Fantasy genre. The work is full of rich world building that has the readers immersed in this ultra class-based society. Without any spoilers, Blood Over Bright Haven addresses themes of racism, sexism, classism, philosophy, hate, political corruption, and theology. There are many more nuances within the text that I haven't listed.

In a very brief summarization, the story starts off with Thomil and his family trying to escape their homeland, the Kwen, to reach safety in Bright Haven, a magically enclosed city that protects its citizens from a deathly phenomenon they call Blight. We meet Sciona, a born citizen of Bright Haven, who has much to prove as the first female High Mage. The book jumps back and forth between the two main character’s POV’s, but is primarily told through Sciona’s POV. Thomil is assigned as Sciona’s lab assistant as a joke, but remains on as she finds value in his different way of thinking. Together, they uncover the corruption that the city is built upon that has been ignored by citizens for centuries under the guise of religion.

I thought that the use of logic and science, though it is completely fictional science, is very well and laboriously thought out. I do admit that at some points in the book I started to become a little disinterested in Sciona’s thought process. Her motivations were very clearly explained through these elaborate logical meditations, but I think that a couple of the scenes could have been inferrered with less verbose language. (I say this as an extremely long winded person myself.) Because of Sciona’s well flushed out rationale, her character development is exemplary. The reader sees not just the physical changes to her appearance with her becoming more and more disheveled as she reveals several truths, but also in her way of thinking. Since the reader is privy to her thoughts, we can see her mindset and emotions changing. Personally, in the beginning I didn’t think she was a very likable character, but she grew on me throughout the book. As her character grew to become more of a whole person rather than a scientist with a one-tracked mind, I began to like her more. In the beginning, she is much like a horse with blinders on and becomes a whole different kind of person once they’re taken off.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Thomil’s character from the very beginning. His character seemed to be more fully formed from the start. His moral compass is unwavering and his loyalty to his ancestral ways gave him agency. While he showed respect and difference towards those in higher social classes, he never abandoned his roots. As a result, however, he had less character growth than Sciona.

There is so much emotion-rending hate in this book that I cringed at some points and had to close my Kindle. Wang does a great job of showing racism not only through outward physical hate, but also through smaller, yet significant, acts. For example, Sciona’s colleagues nickname Thomil, “Tommy”, without his permission as he is a lower class citizen. While this doesn’t seem to be the most vexing of offenses compared to other things that happened to Thomil, the underlying knowledge that Sciona’s colleagues don’t even try to pronounce his name shows their utter lack of respect or human decency towards people of Thomil’s ethnic descent. The people of Bright Haven treat the people of the Kwen as animals with no regard to their lives or humanity. I felt offended on the behalf of both Sciona and Thomil during many parts of the book. I attribute this to Wang’s amazing style of writing.

This is not a light reading type of book. There are many wonderful aspects about this work that made me contemplate my own society and how I treat people in my everyday life. I found myself putting my Kindle in my lap and staring off into space as I processed the social injustices in this piece. I’m thankful that I do not live in a world such as Bright Haven. I very highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thought provoking and emotional read.