They say that you should never judge a book by its cover- but this might be the exception. The beautiful cover with flames, celestial illustrations and a gorgeous typewriter accurately reflect the magical world that is waiting for you inside of this book. M.L. Wang has created a unique magic system, a captivating cast of characters and a fascinating setting.
It is hard to make a good standalone fantasy novel but when it’s done right it can be wonderful. Wang has written a fully fleshed out fantasy novel, taken the reader on an emotional rollercoaster and truly made us care about her characters- all in a book that is under 450 pages. The fact that she manages to achieve so much in one book is the real sorcery.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

I really needed a win. I really needed a book to just suck me in and this was it.

Blood Over Bright Haven is the most perfectly paced Dark Academia I’ve written. And yes, we’ve seen a boom in this genre in recent years but this??? This is true, perfect dark academia. This is truth over delusion, growth over comfort.

I’m in love with the work building and magic system. The spellographs, the Blight, the city, it was all so very real and most of it so very terrible. The rollercoaster of a plot would not stop. The characters were always, always so terribly real.

I haven’t read the authors other work, but this makes me want to. I tore through this book in a matter of hours because once the plot got started, I just couldn’t stop. I have zero bad things to say here. Do yourself a huge favour and read this book.

I see a lot of Babel comparison in other reviews and while I see what people mean, I think this is slightly more accessible and just as good.

10⭐️ (out of 5)

I haven’t read any M.L. Wang before, although sword of Kaigen has been on my tbr for many years, and I’ve recently ordered a special edition of it. I’ve heard nothing but incredible things so I’ve been meaning to get to it forever.

Blood over bright haven was a wild ride. It’s very genre hybrid, with a bit of fantasy, dark academia and maybe a little sci-fi vibes as well.

I can honestly say I flew through the book. It’s not exactly small, but I read 72% the first day, and finished it in the second which is unheard of for me. I just had to know how it ended.

Wow, a fantastic dark academia standalone from M.L. Wang, great for fans of Sword of Kaigen and will have you eagerly awaiting her next novel. You'll be gripped from the very start with the introduction of The Crossing & the Blight. The world building is brilliant and not over done, it reads well and provides a harsh introduction to the city.

The magic system is top notch, so unique and anyone with a small understanding of programming will really enjoy the inspiration. The different specialisations are super interesting and they really help engross you in the world.

Sciona & Thomil are brilliant well rounded characters and whilst sometimes Sciona can be ignorant of others and their plights she is still a lovable character who is open to growth (though this is all because of Thomil's influence)

Having delved into my first M. L. Wang novel, I found myself thoroughly captivated. Wang's unflinching exploration of themes like sexism, racism and religion was executed with finesse, adding depth and relevance to the narrative.

The world-building was nothing short of immaculate, drawing me into a richly crafted universe where the fusion of magic and technology felt both seamless and enthralling. Wang's talent for world-building shone brightly, seamlessly blending elements of science fiction and fantasy to create a truly unique setting.

As a computer science student, I particularly appreciated the intricate magic system, although I acknowledge that its complexity might pose a challenge for those less familiar with computer programming concepts.

The characters were well-conceived and skilfully developed, each bearing their own flaws and complexities. Sciona’s unwavering adherence to her beliefs made her actions feel authentic and compelling. While Thomil's character seemed somewhat stagnant, it remained consistent with his role in the story's broader context.

Though the pacing felt a bit sluggish in the first half of the book, the narrative picked up considerably in the latter half, delivering a whirlwind of events that kept me eagerly turning pages.
The ending, while not predictable, felt satisfyingly true to the story's trajectory.

In sum, Wang's standalone novel left an indelible mark, leaving me eager to explore more of her literary offerings in the future. Additionally, the satisfaction of experiencing a complete and fulfilling story within a single volume was greatly appreciated.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang is a standalone story. Dark academia and magical fantasy blend together seamlessly, in a book that isn't afraid to touch on more difficult topics like racism and sexism. It follows the story of female mage, Sciona, and her unlikely friend, Thomil, living in the magic-fueled city of Tiran, run by mages who look out for themselves. And only themselves. Worlds collide, and people change, in an emotionally packed story about love, hope, rebellion, and loss.

This book wrecked me.

Sciona was a loveable character, with admirable morals and a frustratingly ignorant view of the world. No matter how uninformed she was, I never hated her. She was a product of her environment, just like Thomil. He had so much depth to him, and while he was frustratingly patient at times, he never acted in a way I found unrealistic or off-putting.

The books willingness to talk so much about sexism, racism, and real problems we face in our society surrounding religion and moral compasses never felt stifling or restricted. There were some parts that felt too on the nose, some parts that felt overplayed or too harsh for the sake of making a commentary. I can't fault the book for this. It made me uncomfortable, and I believe that that was exactly what it wanted to do. So many of these problems are so deeply rooted in the city of Tiran (and by extension all of its citizens) but it never feels forced, it felt organic and executed in a way that showed how many years it had had influence over the people.
There was a large chunk about struggles with mental health in this book as well that featured some scenes or thoughts that could be triggering to some readers. While they were handled incredibly well in my opinion, it's an important thing to check before starting this book.

M.L. Wang's writing is effortless, and flows over the page like it's dancing. Information dumps felt like plot points, world building interweaved into the story seamlessly. It was an amazing, heartbreakingly beautiful story.
There is some serious talent in being able to so vividly craft a world like Tiran and not have your book be over 800 pages. The academic properties, the magic, the politics on which the city stand are such an integral part of the story without just being an information slog. Despite all of the backstory we needed, the pacing was still really good. Characters could explain things for a page or two without feeling like they'd been going on forever, and I didn't feel like I was talked at nor did I find myself skimming these sections.

Fans of dark academia will absolutely sink their teeth into this one, and I promise that the build up is worth it, in an emotional gut-punch that will linger in your mind in the best way possible.

I would give anything to read it again for the first time.

Another ML Wang banger! This is one that will become your entire personality and it rightly deserves to be.

I enjoyed this story, but I felt like it was lacking in certain elements. I loved the characters, thought the magic system was amazing and so creative, and I loved the academic setting. The dynamic between our MC and the men in academia in this world was brilliant, as a woman doing a PhD I really empathised with the narrative and the struggles our MC is going through. However, I found myself skipping through a lot of the text - not purposefully, but time would pass and I would realise that I hadn't taken anything in. There was just something about the narrative that wasn't grabbing me. I was engaged, but I wasn't being held in place by the writing, my mind was wandering and I was thinking about other things. Although I was interested, the writing was just lacking in depth and complexity that would've kept me engaged.

I was thoroughly impressed by this book. Its original concept was executed with finesse, drawing me in from the very beginning. As a reader who appreciates flawed characters, I found the protagonist to be exceptionally well-developed, with layers of complexity that added depth and authenticity to the narrative. What truly set this book apart for me was its adept handling of political themes, approached in a refreshingly creative manner. While the pacing occasionally dipped midway, the overall narrative momentum remained strong, keeping me engaged throughout. I also admired the author's decision to craft this as a standalone, resisting the temptation to stretch the story into a trilogy and preserving its impact. Overall, this book left a lasting impression, showcasing the author's skill in storytelling and her ability to tackle thought-provoking themes with nuance and imagination.

This is my first time reading a dark academia fantasy novel and I did enjoy it. The world building was executed very nicely and the characters had a lot of depth to them which I liked. This book addressed lots of sensitive topics and the way the book addressed them was very well done. However the reason I didn’t give the book five stars is because I found that the big twist was a bit predictable. Despite this I would still be interested in reading other books by this author because they are very talented

I absolutely loved this. The concept was so original and the execution was great. I'm a big fan of flawed characters and this book did it very well. The main character was complicated and had human depths that can be hard to replicate in fiction. This book also tackled political issues in a unique and creative way which I enjoyed a lot. Pacing wise, I was gripped pretty well for the majority. There was perhaps a slight lull halfway through but overall, it was pretty speedy as a narrative. I also like that this is a standalone - other authors would have dragged this story into a trilogy and weakened the impact so I appreciate the author's choice to keep it as it is.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

After reading A Sword of Kaigen and absolutely loving it, I was so excited when I saw this author was bringing out a new fantasy book. I can confirm that Blood over Bright Haven provides just as much of a punch as this authors’ other work.

This book takes place in the industrial utopia of Tiran and the story follows two main characters: Sciona and Thomil. Sciona has dedicated her to life to becoming the first female in history to be admitted into the High Magistry. But even after securing a position as a highmage, she finds that the adversities and challenges have only just begun. Thomil is a Kwen who made the crossing over the barrier into Tiran and is now working as a janitor. When Thomil gets promoted to be Sciona’s assistant, they begin working together to uncover the mystery surrounding the magic the country uses.

This book tackles many topics such as misogyny and injustice as well as revenge, legacy, faith and sacrifice. Morality is also a huge part of this story. I actually found this book incredibly frustrating which I do think is the whole point. I think it’s very telling of the female experience and the pure gender injustice and gaslighting in this book was infuriating. Thomil and Sciona have many conversations regarding the topic of morality and what makes a person good or bad which I found fascinating and truly made me think. It plays a big part of this book; who’s right? Who’s wrong? Does it simply come down to someone’s own beliefs?

Sciona I found to be again unlikable and deeply frustrating at times. She’s bullheaded and unwilling to bend which aren’t bad traits except she does lack an openness to other peoples beliefs if they don’t align with her own. The way in which she first reacts to Thomil when he explains about his own faith actually really annoyed me and she does gaslight him at times. However I do understand that her lack of accepting anything other than her own god is down to ignorance but it’s still quite difficult to like her at times such as this. However I will say I do admire her determination, her unwillingness to give in to any man especially in a world where it’s only men in position of power.

Thomil was a much more likable character to me. He’s resilient and extremely honest. He’s very aware of his values and I think has a lot more of an open look when it comes to different topics that he may not necessarily agree with. I also really loved Carra and I loved that Thomil made sure to enstill his clan’s traits and way of living into Carra so that she would always know where she came from.

The worldbuilding is incredibly well done which isn’t a surprise coming from this author. The magic system is explained in great detail but unfortunately I just couldn’t understand it. I was able to still follow the general idea of what was happening though which was great. I also did find the dialogue a little bit repetitive as it felt like Sciona ended up having the same conversation with people and getting the same answers which I think was the intention however I did find it a little frustrating.

Overall, a great read with brilliant worldbuilding, complex topics and an interesting plot.

I really wanted to love this one since I read Sword of Kaigen earlier this month and absolutely adored it but unfortunately Blood Over Bright Haven fell flat for me personally.

Firstly I just want to say that I still found M.L. Wang's writing beautiful and I really enjoyed the idea of the magic system in this book it was a really unique idea and I liked that it was science meets magic.

However the story itself I found quite disappointing. The first half of the book ended up feeling quite slow and repetitive for me, then when we did get to the twist I personally found it really predictable and by the time that we got to it I wasn't overly interested anymore anyway.

She would not be soft, but nor would she be hard ice in the way that Bringham wanted. She was going to show Tiran something they had never seen before. She was going to show them Hellfire.

The city of Tiran is an industrial utopia propelled by magic where the outside is plagued by Blight, believed to be caused by the savages who refused to accept religious beliefs.
However, as the story unfolds, we learn that magic has a cost that is inhumanly unconscionable, yet ignored.

The story follows two characters.
Sciona is a brilliant academic entirely devoted to the pursuing magic, desiring the impossible: being the first woman admitted to the High Magistry.
Thomil is a janitor who originally belonged to the Kwen - tribes that lived beyond the Tiran's barrier which were decimated by an unknown force on their plight to reach the city’s safety.

Wow. If you thought The Sword of Kaigen was a fluke, don’t worry. This packs such a punch, tackling issues of sexism, racism, religion, colonialism, capitalism, good intent, and authority figures.

“I don't think it matters what a Kwen thinks of a mage, ma'am. You'll do what you do."
The words cut Sciona deeper than she'd expected. Why? She had already decided not to care what her colleagues thought of her work. Wasn't that completely backwards? Tommy was right. It shouldn't matter what a Kwen thought of a mage, but she was biting back before she could think better of it.
“You know, that's what people say to women, right?'"
“Ma'am?”
“That boys will be boys. That the men and mages of Tiran will do what they do, and the lot of everyone else is to accept it. It doesn't have to be that way."

The magic system is as fascinating. Where power is siphoned from the Otherrealm through a combination of action spells and sourcing spells which are a mix of mathematics and intuition. This is explained effortlessly as Wang leads us as an enthused academic teaching a student.

The issues of a dominating culture stealing and dominating others in a selfish pursuit of prestige and comfort are startling. It subtly shows the inadequacy in our reality. The city takes in the Kwen, but sees them as commodities - not a citizen of the city, just flesh that it fed on.

“We suffered. You benefited. Your guilt is useless to us."

An easy five stars. That a stand-alone can pack so much emotional damage, world-building, fully-realised characters is incredible.

Available on Kindle Unlimited. Yes, you need to read this.