I feel like I will say the same thing everyone else has already said. However, all good things need to be repeated.

The magic system is so original and amazing. Typing out your spells on a typewriter and hitting the return button to activate it seems so simple but genius.

The Blight and what it truly does was shocking and genius.

The characters made you hate or love them and the only character that wavered in my feelings was our main heroine. At first you rooted for her, then you realize just how naive she is, then you watched her grow, and at the end, when all the things have been done, you realize, while not as bad as other, Sciona is just as flawed in using others as a stepping stone. And while I shouldn’t have loved this realization, I found it so human like that it made Sciona even more real to me and it was genius. Basically, this entire book was genius!

While the ending is gut wrenching, it was the only ending this book could ever have.

It did get a little slow for me off and on but that is my only complaint.

4.25 Stars.
This story follow Sciona and her journey to becoming the first female mage in her kingdom and the hardships that entails, as well as discovering some well kept secrets and deciding who she wants to be in history. Sciona is faced with difficult decisions and questions what it truly means to be a good person. Intent and results are a large topic of conversation throughout this story. The magic system in this world was unique and a HUGE part of the story line. A little confusing at times, but explained more and more throughout the journey that Sciona took. It felt as if we were learning right along side of her.

I wasn't sure about this when I started as I was a little thrown off by the first chapter and how it related to the rest of the story for about the first 100 pages or so. But, I loved Sciona's story about resilience in the face of misogyny and the journey and character development that she experienced throughout this book.

This touched on a lot of tough topics in the landscape of our world now in a way that was extremely eye opening and relatable. I think this book almost had the potential to be a 5 star read. But, I think the first chapter was a bit off putting and confusing for a bit, and the ending had me wanting to throw the book across the room, as well as appreciate the point that the author was trying to get across.

This was a much different type of book than I am used to but honestly I really enjoyed it. The science aspect was heavy right from the start which almost deterred me but I’m glad I pushed through. Sciona is a woman trying to make it in a male dominated world and for that piece alone I understand her. Thomil is barely considered lower class and more a servant. This was political and had heavier themes but truly, it was a wonderful book. The themes were very relevant to the present and I definitely would recommend this book to friends.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was mind-blowing! I finished this book a couple days ago and my mind is still reeling from everything that happened and where I’m going to go from here…

First, let’s start with it basically being a love story to 1984, feminism, and STEM-based magic, all of which I love. Now, I definitely don’t want to give too much away, but the dystopian world in which they live and the system of oppression in place had a very 1984 feel to it. There are secrets lurking within the “government” and the thirst for knowledge drives the storyline to places you won’t expect.

Along with the oppression of the Kwen group of people, the society is also one in which women are thought to be lesser than both academically and religiously. I loved how eerily similar the oppression of the women and Kwen in this society was to religion, complete with religious persecutions and the beliefs of following your father, your husband, and your God above logic, knowledge, and self-worth. Every page I just kept shaking my head at how close to certain overzealous religious groups this fell and it really left a mark on me.

As for the magic, it was so logical and mathematically based that it almost felt like observing someone writing a complicated excel problem, which if you know anything about me is a huge turn on! I freaking loved this system of magic and how it all worked. It felt very much like it is not something only specific people can do, but rather something that can be taught to anyone with enough time, patience, and attention to detail. In this world, I feel I would have thrived at writing the spells.

Getting into the people, I really love the personal growth we saw in Sciona. She started as a very, very selfish person who didn’t really care about anyone but herself and making sure she got to where she wanted to be. While she noted the systems in place to keep women out of the “government”, she went forth and fought for a place for her own pride and thirst of knowledge, not to make it an easier transition for other women to follow her. While she did understand this could be a bi-product of that and she did like that recognition, it was not her motive. Her motive was purely her self-interest. That is, until she found a couple of people to care about and work towards a common goal with. Watching her transform within the page count was incredible and took me from not really liking her at all to absolutely loving her. I also liked that she was just as closed-minded about a lot of things and was willing to say things of oppression against the Kwen, despite being in a similar situation as a woman, BUT that she grew as a person and stopped doing these things. She saw the value in those she once thought nothing of, and she saw the dirt, grime, and blood under the fingernails of her once mentors. It was glorious.

Of course, I loved Thomil from the start. We started and ended this tortuous journey with him, thankfully coming out of it with a little bit of hope. I loved how he was blunt and real with Sciona and Carra, really the only two people he felt he could be himself with. This man endured so much so young, losing all of his people, raising his niece alone, and living a terrible life as a Kwen in the city limits, that no one deserved some hope more than he did. I loved him so much and really think he finally got the happiest ending he could given the circumstances.

Whether it was when they were working together as two outcasts in their society, as boss and assistance, or as two people who had hidden feelings for each other, Sciona’s and Thomil’s chemistry was amazing! Through their connection, you could see the growth in both of them take place on the page, as well as their feelings slowly come to a boil. I especially loved how they were always honest with each other, feeling that honesty was the most important tool they had in their relationship. Even when they didn’t agree they still had a great back and forth and a great respect for each other. I wish we could have seen more of a romance really play out between them, but that's just me being selfish instead of the story feeling like it was missing something.

Make no mistake, this was not a romance and it did not have your typical happy ending. While I would call the ending satisfying and worthwhile, if you are looking for an HEA you are not going to find it here. Usually that is a real turnoff for me because I need an HEA, but I really liked how this ended. Logically, it just made sense and the author didn’t shy away from delivering some hard blows that simply needed to happen. I have more respect for the author with the route she went than if she had delivered an HEA, and this is coming from a romance reader who will not pick up books that explicitly state they have no HEA.

I also loved Thomil’s niece Carra. She was a brooding teenager with the extra “bonus” of being Kwen in a city that hates them. She worked so hard and was already so jaded, but she was as real as people come. Without her, there literally would have been no justice and for that I am thankful. Sidenote: it was also hilarious watching her get all embarrassed any time Thomil and Sciona did anything remotely affectionate.

The only criticism I have is I didn’t love that it took 20% of the book before the characters started explaining terms involved in the magic system. There is a glossary at the end of the book, so perhaps that was moved to the beginning in the final print, which would be helpful since they delay telling us what those highly scientific magic terms that are used very frequently mean, making me (a perfectionist and someone constantly in pursuit of knowledge) feel overwhelmed and as though I missed something important.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey, and M.L. Wang for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

4.5 stars and this one is going to stick with me for a while.

For me, this was one of those books you have to sit on a bit after you finish it. Really marinate in the storytelling.

Blood Over Bright Haven was a fantastic read. A uniquely crafted dark academia standalone fantasy, that, in my opinion took guts. I appreciated the author (and editor) taking the story where it needed to go vs. where the reader may want it to go.

The magic system is wholely unique and the world building rich and vivid. Overall, it was a powerful but slow read for me. The magic system was so intricate and unique, but made the story drag slightly at the beginning for me. Though, once discoveries were made I was unable to put the book down and was up until 3am to read the last chapter.

4.5/5 stars.

First time reading from this author, and I’m glad I did. It was so amazing. I love the creativity and the ability to come up with something unique while also keeping readers engaged!

I'm so torn on how to rate Blood Over Bright Haven, because, on the one hand, I did read a 500+ page book in 3 days during the holiday season, which meant I consciously snuck away from every other thing on my plate to read--and it's no easy feat for a book to grab me like that. And the magic system is one of the most unique I've ever read--computer science-based! Math and mapping! And it does it the dark academia vibe impeccably, with actual critiques of systems of power and a scholarly main character who deep-dives into theory, philosophy, the whole shebang. But there are a number of things that, because the aforementioned elements are so GOOD, started to grate on me and gradually lowered my rating the more I read.

But first: the good. M. L. Wang's worldbuilding is incredible and more than delivers on the back of the book promise. Sciona Freynan is the first female highmage in her city of Tiran, and she's determined to prove that she deserves her title. Tasked with expanding the barrier around their city--the only thing that protects them from the deadly Blight of the outside world--Sciona's path to greatness is constantly hampered by the men around her. On her first day, rival Cleon Renthorn assigns Sciona an assistant in a cruel prank -- Thomil the janitor, one of the Kwen, refugees who cross the Blightlands to end up in Tiran, only to be treated as second class citizens. With Thomil's help, Sciona makes great strides in magic...but also discovers the disturbing secret of their perfect city.

Like I said, the dark academia aspects of this book are phenomenal, and the first half had me hooked. I loved all the magical theory and how the worldbuilding never felt dumbed down or info-dumpy, but was still easy to understand. It's a difficult balancing act, but I felt Wang handled it masterfully. Same with the critiques of religion and discussions of philosophy; everything was woven in so naturally and wonderfully that when the big secret of Blight was revealed, I gasped out loud.

But as the book wore on, it sort of stagnated. Conversations felt like they went on for far too long, and everything didn't have that frenetic energy that I'd felt in the beginning. I think a large part of this is that the characters, other than Sciona, were flat beyond flat. As other reviewers have pointed out, Thomil feels very "native savage" trope in a way that got increasingly icky as it went on. So you mean this man forgives Sciona for everything she's done, like completely unconditionally? Not buying it. Carra, his daughter, is pretty flat as well, and the Kwen are just one large, faceless group beyond the two of them -- which I was willing to forgive in Sciona's very limited point of view, but less so when we got into Thomil's POV. I wish Wang had spent the time on developing the relationships in the same way as she developed the magic system, because the first half of this book was stunning beyond stunning. I am not sure if there are a few more rounds of editing, since I did receive an ARC, but I really hope that these issues will be fixed before it's in print.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Del Rey, and M. L. Wang for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is the first book in a while that had me hooked from the start. It was SO good. It has everything I love with a detailed magic system, great worldbuilding, and a touch of heavy topics like sexism, classism, and oppression. Sciona is the first female High Mage and such a relatable yet flawed character. Her fight to navigate a patriarchal society while uncovering a dangerous conspiracy had me rooting for her the whole time. And Thomil with his tragic backstory and constant struggles with daily oppression made their partnership with Sciona so emotional and compelling.

The magic system was amazing and super detailed. As a STEM girly I really appreciated the scientific approach to it which added a relatable and unique layer to the world. This is easily one of my top reads for 2024 and I would recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy. 😮‍💨

M.L. Wang has become a new favorite of mine. She delivers this fast-paced fantasy with effective world-building that allowed me to focus on the characters' reluctant partnership. Sciona and Thomil's perspectives and experiences really make this fantasy world feel real.

Where do I even start? I actually ended up listening to this as well and it was PHENOMENAL. I can't even adequately explain how amazing M.L. Wang is as a writer. I actually cried a bit just thinking about Sciona and Thomil and the things they had to endure throughout the book. I think that the beauty of this book was in the way it could be applied as commentary for things we experience in real life but had just enough fantasy for me to not feel like it was too heavy. Thomil's commitment to keeping his culture and traditions alive touched me so much and reminded me that I need to do the same for my son. If you want a story that will hook you from the first few pages, pull at your heartstrings and make you seriously question humanity, this is the one!

I'll definitely be reading more M.L. Wang!

This is my first time reading anything of ML Wang, and this is certainly not going to be the last! What a nuanced, complex, and multi-layered fantasy. Love the ingenuity of the medium used, found it quite unique. What a book! I am now interested in reading The Sword of Kaigen next!

Rip my heart out why don't you!!! This was my first ML Wang book and it definitely won't be my last. The story was so captivating and the writing was beautiful. I really love a good dark academia fantasy book, and this was just done so well I was enthralled by the magic system and i feel like this book was easy to follow!

Having never read anything from ML Wang before, I didn’t know what to expect. To be honest, this was so far from what I expected the story to be. The first chapter was so incredibly strong that I didn’t anticipate the pacing issues towards the middle of the book. I was really interested up until 30% and then the story was starting to drag a little for me. Could it be that I disliked the FMC? Sure. But I really feel like the pacing slowed down at this point and didn’t pick back up until around 60%. The major revelation really gave me that omg moment we all look forward to, but the ending really left something to be desired for me. I did end up enjoying this but not as much as I hoped. I look forward to what else ML Wang comes up with.

Links to come.

I need to lay in a field of grass while it rains and sob. I need to stand on the edge of a cliff and scream. I need to take a baseball bat to a room full of glass. I need the ability to give this book more than 5 stars.
ML Wang wrote a world and story that perfectly depicts everything that matters and everything that is wrong. My mind will never be done processing this book, and I will be reading it again. Please read Blood over Bright Haven.

*eARC provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

A great book with a dark and unexpected twist. The main character isn't necessarily likable, but the story is very compelling.

♾️🌟

What a journey. After loving Sword of Kaigen (4.5⭐), I dove into this with very high expectations. Chapter 1 got me instantly hooked but afterwards the pacing and the plot lost my interest drastically. It was very slow going for me so I found myself reading other books in between. It wasn't until 40% through that the story completely captured my attention and refused to let go until the last word. It made the slow start absolutely worth it. I switched to the audiobook and that also changed my experience immensely. The narrator was fantastic. Moira Quirk breathed life into every maddening moment of this story.

Sciona's character development was so well done. I did not like her at first. She was so self-centered but after discovering the horror of the mages, her entire world got turned upside down and she began to see things in a different light.

Blood Over Bright Haven is everything I wanted in a standalone fantasy. This was such a timely, rage-inducing, heart-crushing read that deserves all the praise it's gotten and more. Please if this book isn't on your radar, go pick it up!

OH MY! This is one of my new all time favorite books and I can see M.L. Wang becoming a new favorite author. The atmosphere of this book was EVERYTHING. I also loved the themes/ topics this book covered.

🔥 Am I glad I read it? Hands down, this is one of the best books I’ve read this year and possibly the single best fantasy I’ve read. It’s freaking fantastic.

The first chapter grabs your attention by the throat and doesn’t let go. The last two chapters had me simultaneously on the edge of my seat and bawling my eyes out.

I’ve read some reviews that describe Sciona as “insufferable” or expressed some similar sentiment. I related to her so much, with her stumbling, growing understanding of the inherent violence of the city she loves. She’d long since perceived Tiran’s gender inequity and fought against it in pursuit of her ambitions, but her journey is to recognize the totality of Tiran’s injustice. I imagine plenty other white women can (or should) also relate to her.

Critically, so so critically, neither the narrative nor Sciona herself absolves or even forgives her for the terrible harm she—unknowingly, sure—committed. As I got closer to the end of the book, I wondered how Wang would close the story without falling into the white savior trap and consequently negate the impact of the story. I am so pleased and satisfied with how she accomplished this.

Incredible book.

🔥 Rating: 🖤 (loved)

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I had already heard a lot of great things about this book before reading it so I knew it would be good. This story drew me in from the first pages and it was hard to put down.