This was such an interesting book, I loved the world and how the magic system worked. I look forward to reading another of Wang's books.

Justice, faith, ambition, morality 🔥

Blood Over Bright Haven packs a punch and explores the complexities and intersecting evils of imperialism and oppression.

In the gaslamp-like, utopian city of Tiran, highmages use machines called spellographs, similar to a typewriter, which are used to map and siphon energy for spells. Sciona, fueled by her passion for magic, becomes the first woman admitted to the high magistry. Here, she is made unwelcome, starting with being given a Kwen janitor as a lab assistant. As she strives for greatness, she is confronted with the dark side of Tiran's utopia.

Sciona is not a perfect - she's fiercely intelligent, selfish and prejudiced. You sympathise with her struggles to be seen as an equal in a patriarchal and sexist society whilst also disapproving of the racist belief system she perpetuates. Despite chafing at the confines of society, she is blinded by prejudice and entrenched beliefs. But meeting Thomil, her Kwen assistant, is a catalyst and her world view begins to shift. Her capacity for change and growth is touching.

My favourite part of the book was the intricate magic system. Often in academic magical settings, the magic happens behind closed doors. Here, though, the magic is complex and a central part of the story. It was almost like coding and fascinating - I became completely engrossed in it.

For those that enjoyed the themes and magic system of Babel, and meaningful dark academia, you'll definitely love this one.

Blood Over Bright Haven is out today. Big thanks to @delreyuk for the eARC!

Since reading Babel, there's been a void left behind. Blood Over Bright Haven has filled that void once again, before ripping a wider void where it once was. I, both, love and loathe this with more passion than I thought I could muster.

Firstly, this book has very heavy themes which may cause some people immense discomfort - racism, sexism and genocide to name the strongest few. The author does not shy away from these matters, even drilling it in as a reminder that despite it being a look, it isn't too far-fetched from the reality that we live in. If you can stomach it, you'll find yourself reading a very well-written dark academia.

The magic system in this book is interesting. With clear influence from programming/coding, it's been twisted in a way to conform it to fit into what M. L. Wang wants. I found myself very taken to the two parts of how magic comes together, needing a source of energy to pull from - a give and take relationship. It fits with the idea that you cannot create something out of nothing. Also, the truth behind this system wasn't unpredictable, especially with all the hints dropped as Sciona and Thomil did their research.

Sciona is extremely flawed for a main character - she is selfish and indoctrinated by religion and education, believing that the Tiranish are superior in every way to their blasphemous counterparts, the Kwen. Yet, her main focus is herself, as made clears by her thoughts and her actions. No matter the consequences, as long as her truth is spoken and revealed, that is all that matters to her. Her work is her life, and her circumstances have allowed her to get as far as she can as a woman, despite being looked down by her peers for letting her "womanly emotions" get hold of her.

Her journey from start to finish has been a massive character development - she reaches milestones no woman before her has ever managed, discarding her "womanly role" for something men dominate, only for the harsh reality of where her magic siphons from comes to light. And to top it off, those she trusts not only betray that, but scorn her for it. Despite this though, she doesn't let anyone deter her from what she's set out to achieve, and she goes out with, quite literally, a bang.

Ultimately, while most books are written to be an escape, I think this is one of those that make people think about the comforts they have and what it may have taken to get them. It's not supposed to be a happy story for our characters, it's supposed to be a reflection of what they have been through and will have to face in their future.

An insanely heavy read, one which I am grateful to have read. Thank you.

I wasn't sure at first if I was going to enjoy this. It started out strong and I thought at first that it was going to be high fantasy but then realised it was more sci-fi fantasy, nothing wrong with that I was enjoying it. What made me think I wasn't going to enjoy it was when Sciona was describing her work as a mage. I struggled a little to keep up with her, clearly I am no Thomil.

I loved their relationship and how despite the odds they kept being drawn to one another. I definitely rooted for them and hoped they'd be able to defy the odds and be able to be together in a world where they were classes apart.

There was a lot of oppression, both for the women of Tiran and the people of the kwen, whose women were treated even worse. It makes me think of the very real issue we face today as white women fighting an uphill battle in a predominately male world, but I'm not so blinded as to realise that I'm lucky. Being a woman and black in this world is a lot harder than being a woman and being white. The same as how Sciona faces difficulties being a Tiranish woman but nothing near as bad as a woman of Kwen origin.

TW's for oppression, sexual assault, mass death, gore and mentions of causing barrenness in women

Brutal twists and devastating revelations. 
😨I.AM.UNWELL😨

I'll be absolutely honest . This took me a little while to get into ( after the first chapter, which was incredibly harrowing), but once we got going, I was all in .( might have been the 3rd person that threw me off)

This book was sooo much more than i expected....this was my first M.L Wang, and it was thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and just so bloody clever. We see such stark parallels to the world we live in that it is easy to draw comparisons between the events described here and real-life scenarios. “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐊𝐰𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞,” 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. “𝐁𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲, 𝐊𝐰𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐫*𝐩𝐞𝐝, 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐦*𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚— 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐰𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.”


The scrutiny on imperialism and exploitation were conducted with great skill and were seamlessly woven together with discussions on religion... injustice and the ugly truths that we discover along the way. “𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡.”“𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐭?” 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝. “𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥, 𝐢𝐟 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞, 𝐲𝐞𝐬? 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡. 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝?”

I don't want to give too much away. But be warned there are very heavy themes - genocide, persecution, racism, and sexism.

The Blight is possibly one of the most horrific ways to die in a book that I've read in a while. Which only makes the truths uncovered all the more deplorable.

Sciona was a flawed, complex , sometimes frustrating protagonist, but I think her arc is so well done .. if a little unsatisfying ( for me)“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞.”“𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰.”

Carra was an absolute breath of fresh air and provided much needed lightness in this dark world.
“𝐒𝐨, 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲? 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭?”

This story will stick with me for a while and I can't wait to read more from this author.

A magical world with some horrible conditions. Elegant, immensely readable and engaging. It’s left me thinking and thinking.

Sciona Freynan is a single minded Mage, determined to be the first female Highmage in the city’s history. Her peers, the well bred males do not welcome her. In their mockery they assign her a lowly Kwen (a poor immigrant to the land) rather that a real Mage’s assistant. And that is their big mistake. Through their partnership, Sciona and Thomil discover devastating truths about magic, giving Sciona the choice to look or look away.

I really, really enjoyed this and it’s given me lots to think about. I suppose it is dark academia but the atmosphere in the book isn’t sinister. A lot of the time it’s actually quite joyful, full of emotion. It’s an exciting adventure and where it’s dark it’s just really sad. (Which I mean as a compliment). Also the twist made me gasp out loud. This does not happen often!

The magic system is so sophisticated, so well developed and so well explained. In this world magic is a regulated science. Sciona gave me some serious Elizabeth Zott vibes.

The types of discrimination described are pretty hard to face: sexism, racism, classism. The book is seriously unflinching and it’s uncomfortable which is a credit to the author. Sciona’s complicity is almost unbearable.

I’m not going to go into any spoilers but I want everyone to read this so we can please discuss the ending. Please?!

Thank you so much to #netgalley and @delreyuk for my #arc

I didn't read the author's previous book. I don't think I would have stumbled upon this book without Netgalley either. However, I came across this book on Netgalley, saw Dark Academia, Magic and Limits and I was sold. I didn't even read the rest of the synopsis. Yes, we can all agree that's a terrible habit and also causes disappointment. However, I requested a copy and Del Rey granted me one and this week it was finally time to start reading!

This book starts with a prologue that doesn't make much sense when you read it. However, it did pull me in right away. The danger, the tension, the fear and the panic, it all felt so real and I was curious to learn more about it. However, the book then switches to a more light hearted part. We get to know the magic of this world, in a very scientific way, we meet our determined heroine and we get to see a little more of society.

Once we feel a little more comfortable though, the story really gets going. I of course don't want to give too much away, discovering everything along with the heroine was one of my favorite parts of this book, but it's really intense and at times also sickening. However, it all works so well because all the characters are so realistic. They react like they should react, they feel what they should feel and we can feel for all of them.

I also think this story is a really important mirror. Some fantasies are created to be an escape. This is not one of those. This fantasy is a mirror and it forces us to look at the reflection of our world and it confronts us with the ugliest parts of our world. There were moments I wish I could say that things are not that bad over here, but you only have to check a newspaper and you know that everything happening in this book DOES happen in our world. Just in a less magical way.

I'll for sure also check the author's other book! I'm very curious now!

This book completely blew me away and I don’t even know how to put into words what a marvel it is. The magic system is fascinating and the characters completely drew me in - especially Sciona, Thomil, and his spitfire of a niece. This book brings us dark academia in a professional setting and there are plenty of twists along the way that completely shook me. ML Wang has crafted such a masterpiece here, leading us on a journey filled to the brim with baddies and heartache whilst sprinkling in a little dose of unlikely friendship and inspirational female characters. It’s almost guaranteed to have you gasping out loud and nursing heartbreak at one point or another, but you’ll also be rooting for Sciona as she sticks it to the patriarchy with her determination and talent as a mage.

All that being said, Sciona isn’t always a likeable character and she’s got plenty of flaws to be going on with but she does have redeeming qualities and I couldn’t help but be impressed by her and a little in awe of her audacity.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book and know that it’s going to stick with me for some time. It’s also one I’m going to be recommending to anyone who’ll listen because when a book packs that much of a punch, it has to be shared!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Sciona had worked hard to become the first female Highmage at the University of Magics and Industry. Now her work will really begin in a world of men and mystery. The other Mages disapprove of her and do all they can to thwart her, including giving her the janitor as an assistant. Working with Thomil she uncovers the true power source for the city and these findings will be catastrophic for her.

A totally brilliant book. Great characters in a world of where they depend on the lives of others for their power. Fast paced and lots of action, plus twists and turns. Sciona must face the truth and decide the right thing to do, regardless of the consequences.

I'm already a big fan of dark academia, and knowing that this book combines one of my favourite genres with Full Metal Alchemist, I couldn't let it go without trying it. And thankfully I wasn't disappointed.

In a utopian world where magic is everything, Sciona has worked all her life to be the first woman to join the High Magistry. However, being a woman makes her fellows just work harder to make her fail. There is a lot of misogyny going on in this world, but I was glad to read that Sciona doesn't let that get to her. Actually it makes her work even harder, especially when she's assigned a janitor as her lab assistant. Thomil turns out to be more than a janitor and the two will find a somewhat ally with each other.

I enjoyed the world building and the characters development.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for a digital arc.

I loved this book, as it is one of the most unique fantasy books that I have read in a long time.

The inital premise of the book is that of a the first female mage getting admitted into this high society of male mages ( Dark Academia vibes)
At first I was unsure of where the story was going as the set up was very familiar to other dark academia books that I read previously.

However this book develops into much more details in regards to the theme of Opression, whether that be Racism, Sexism, Classism.
This is essentially down to how magic is this world is created, in part physics mixed with religion, and the select few who have the "right" and "power" to use (Siphon) it.

I found the use of Physic and religion to create a magic system really intresting as most people would agree that science and religion don't tent to overlap much in the mordern world socially.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a standout fantasy novel or a total unique take on a dark Academia novel

This is going to be a book that stays with me.

The synopsis doesn't do this story justice and barely scratches the surface of everything this book explores.

Beyond the dark academia vibes and secrets within a magical institution, this book explores the lengths people will go for power, religious corruption and fanaticism, the corruption of patriarchal societies, extreme systemic racism and so much more.

It does this through a character whose world view is completely shattered within the space of a few months, making her realise just how complicate she is when it comes to upholding all of the above even while striving to break the glass ceiling.

On top of all of this, the magic system is detailed and done so incredibly well. I've not read anything like it or anything as intricate as it.

My only small issue with the book is that it is incredibly dialogue heavy, but when you have such a complicated magic system, dialogue is an incredibly helpful tool yo explain it without spending the first half of the book info dumping and making readers heads explode.

This is absolutely going to be a book I read again and I know that I'll pull more out of it when I do.

“Blood over Bright Haven” is a magical sci-fi book by M.L. Wang.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Plot: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Characters: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Suspense: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Romance/spice: ⭐️

What you’ll find in this book:
⭐️ Female strong character
⭐️ Urban sci-fi
⭐️ Forbidden romance
⭐️ Unique magic system
⭐️ Dark Academia

My Review:

M.L. Wang’s "Blood Over Bright Haven" is a masterful standalone dark fantasy that brilliantly explores themes of ambition, inequality, and the transformative power of knowledge. With a rich narrative and well-drawn characters, the novel draws readers into a world where magic is both a privilege and a peril.

At the heart of the story is Sciona, a fiercely determined woman who becomes the first female highmage at the prestigious University of Magics and Industry. Wang does an excellent job of portraying Sciona's relentless ambition, and her struggles against the systemic biases of her male-dominated environment create a compelling backdrop for her journey. As she navigates her new position, the challenges she faces are both poignant and frustrating, effectively highlighting the barriers that women often encounter in traditionally male spaces.

Her relationship with her taciturn assistant, who has his own tragic backstory, adds depth to the narrative. Initially fraught with tension, their partnership evolves as they work together to unravel a conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of magic. The evolution of their dynamic is one of the novel’s strengths, providing not just character development but also a rich exploration of trust and collaboration.

Wang’s world-building is immersive, painting a vivid picture of the University and its surrounding environment. The intricate details of magical practice and the political machinations of the mages add layers to the plot, creating a sense of urgency as Sciona and her assistant uncover the truth behind the conspiracy. The stakes are high, and the suspense keeps you turning the pages.

The pacing is generally strong, although there are moments where the exposition slows the action. However, Wang's ability to weave philosophical themes into the narrative—especially regarding power dynamics and the ethics of magic—makes these moments worthwhile.

Overall, "Blood Over Bright Haven" is an engaging and thought-provoking read that balances dark fantasy with social commentary. Wang’s nuanced characters and intricate plot will resonate with fans of the genre, and Sciona’s journey is both inspiring and deeply relatable. If you’re looking for a story that challenges the norms of magic while delivering an exciting adventure, this book is definitely worth your time!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my early copy. All opinions are mine and sincere.

#BloodOverBrightHaven #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK

Another incredible book by M. L. Wang. This one had me instantly hooked from that mind blowing opening chapter and I couldnt pull my eyes away until the very end.

a fantastic book that it has taken me a while to find the words for.

i was a huge fan of the sword of kaigen, so i had high hopes for this and am pleased that it did not disappoint. it was just as intricately crafted, brutal, and thoughtful as i had hoped. i adore a bit of magical chaos and blood over bright haven has it in spades.

there are certain lil nitpicks that i have, but nothing that is enough to ward anyone off this book. i'll be vehemently recommending to fans of r.f. kuang, samantha shannon, alix e harrow, leigh bardugo... m.l. wang certainly deserves a spot amongst all of the dark fantasy greats

could be the dehydration from the amount of tears I’ve shed over this book, but this might be my book of the year

Thank you so much to DelRey and NetGalley for the arc.

Dark academia
Fantasy / sci-fi ish
Standalone

The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever.

Sciona has devoted her entire life to the study of magic, driven by her desire to be the first woman ever accepted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry.

Finally achieving her ambition, Sciona is now a highmage, but the challenges don't stop there. Her colleagues are less than welcoming and are set on making her life as difficult as possible, starting with providing her a janitor instead of a mage assistant.

Unknown to Sciona, 10 years ago this janitor was a hunter. A hunter who lived with his family on the plains outside the city, almost all of whom lost their life as they tried to escape the forces that drove them from their homeland.

While working through their factious relationship, the two uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever, and could cost them their lives.

I knew straight from the prologue that this book was going to be sensational. My heart was pounding out of my chest for those first pages, and swiftly torn out (which should be expected by Wang at this point).

The character work is sublime. Each of our protagonists complex, their development was a joy and frustrating and wonderful all at once. Their moral compasses don't always align, and their worldview vastly different from one another, but seeing them work together and learn from one another made my heart LEAP.

“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 plot was just outstanding. There's so many layers to the story, each social/ethical issue tackled beautifully and woven into the story really well imo (inc. misogyny, feminism, xenophobia, challenging belief and more). I will also say that the magic system was really unique - I loved the way we learned about it as a reader, as well as how we learned with the characters through the plot.

While it was often dark and unsettling, I really struggled to put this down. I will probably think about the ending until the end of time.

M.L. Wang is likely going to be my author of the year. BOBH and The Sword of Kaigen have both completely destroyed me. Wang's writing haunts my every waking moment. Must-reads.

This novel quickly became one of my favourite reads. The story captivated my attention from the first chapter, making the book hard to put down. Even when I wasn’t reading, I couldn’t get this story out of my mind, which hadn’t happened in a while.

Blood Over Bright Haven is a dark academic fantasy novel with fascinating world-building, a complex magic system, well-written characters, and a tone of secrets. I especially enjoyed reading about the magic system, as a special machine similar to a typewriter is used to cast a spell, which I found original. The setting of this novel, the fashion, and the issues mentioned also suggest Victorian and industrial elements.

Despite the fact that I really enjoyed this book, I wouldn’t call it a quick or easy read. It is though-provoking, and the characters face some moral dilemmas as the story progresses. The book delves into topics like inequality, racism, elitism, sexism, prejudice and imperialism.

I also absolutely loved the writing style and plan to reach for The Sword of Kaigen soon.

Had high hopes for this as I loved Sword of Kaigen. The Babel comparisons are apt, but I have to say I preferred Babel. This was good and I'm glad I read it but I found it was lacking in a subtlety or the way things were handled was very broad and in your face rather than more intricate. I also found the main character insufferable.

When I've been telling people what I'm currenty reading, I described this as a book set in a world where physics-based magic runs pretty much every process and the main city where things takes place is protected by a magical barrier. The fact is there is SO MUCH going on in this book, and handled so well it is incredibly difficult to give a clear overview but I'll try!

The book begins with a story of a tribe needing to leave thier ancestral homes after blight has claimed the land and feeding their people has become increasingly impossible. We are intorduced to a small sub-group of this tribe, Thomil, a hunter and his sister Maeva, her infant daughter Carra and husband Arras. The plan has been made and a time agreed upon, now all that is left is for the dwindling numbers of the Caldonae tribe to risk their lives running across the plains toward the city of Tiran in the aim of salvation. All that stands in their way is the blight which attacks on their journey.

Cut forwards and we're introduced to the female main character of the book Sciona. She isn't a particularly likeable character, driven and focused on gaining entry to a male dominated establishment, as a highmage, she has dedicated her entire life to the study of magic - which in this world is controlled by machines called spellographs and writing out spells which pull energy in order to produce an intended outcome. These can be small thing from boiling a kettle to creating the enormous city-wide protective barrier which keeps the extreme winter temperatures at bay and also provides protection from the blight.

This book is entirely unflinching in it's portrayal of sexism, xenophobia and the lengths people (men) will go to in order to protect their own mythology and world view at the complete wilful ignorance of those around them that they consider lesser.

It took me over 3 weeks to read because although it is extremely well written and engaging, the actual story was so deeply uncomfortable to read due to the outrage and offence and empathy I felt for most of the people in this world. Excellent and will stay with me for a long time.

What's the last book to make you cry?

This emotional review was brought to you by @delreyuk and @netgalley who kindly provided an eARC of 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 by M. L. Wang in exchange for an honest review.

Now to be honest, I'm a cryer, so being brought to tears by a book isn't an uncommon experience for me, but gosh M.L. Wang just hits different.

In BOBH we primarily follow Sciona, the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. We get what we'd expect from this - a cocky young protagonist who fights tooth and nail to achieve her dream before facing the reality that she can't force her male colleagues to take her seriously.

But BOBH also does so much more, because we also meet (and in fact start the book with) Thomil, a nomadic hunter who lost his family to "the blight" while attempting to flee behind the city's magically fortified boundaries; who now serves at the university as a janitor.

The two form a fragile relationship as Sonia pushes the boundaries of the coding-inspired magic system, desperate to make a name for herself. But what she learns isn't purely academic - she begins to see Thomil for who he is, and have dangerous thoughts about what that means about the rest of the subjugated Kwen.

Did the 'ancient secret' they uncover catch me completely off-guard? No. But did that stop it from being completely and utterly heart-rending? Also no. I WEPT. I appreciated the time Wang dedicated to letting her characters feel those feelings too. So often you get these big emotional moments then just move onto the next big thing, but not here, we really see Sciona and Thomil have to fight to pull themselves back.

Wang tackles a bunch of really meaty topics here without it feeling overwrought or preachy, and all expertly interwoven with the lives and stories she's trying to tell. If you're looking for a bit of dark academia this autumn, and don't mind delving into darker topics like sexism and colonialism, you really ought to check this one out.

𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 is out next week, Tuesday 29 October, from Del Rey.