Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Audio Length: 15 hrs, 21 min

Pages: 448

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Modern Fantasy

Type: Standalone Book

Similar Books: (I've honestly never read anything like this)

SUMMARY

A career-driven woman rises through the academic ranks of a viciously patriarchal society. With the pressure of demonstrating that women can exist the upper echelons of the magical hierarchy, Sciona's determination begins to war with her morals after meeting Thomil, a quiet refugee with knowledge that will change everything.

REVIEW

Sciona was a fascinating character to read! I enjoyed her cutthroat approach to learning and her endless amounts of tenacity. It takes a lot of work to write a character who gradually breaks through their belief system and I liked that it wasn't an instantaneous switch. To see that war within Sciona's head, the back-and-forth from fact, to religion, to societal norms, and then her own personal goals was so cool! There were times I wanted to reach through the book and slap some sense into Sciona, but I think that just means the author did an amazing job writing her.

Thomil read like a breath of fresh air in terms of fictional men written by female authors. I love my fair share of perfectly handsome and broody men, and yes, Thomil did his fair share of brooding... but there was something so wild and yet so restrained about his character that kept me transfixed. I will say, he has the patience of a saint.

I think the pace of this book was nice, but the magic descriptions could have been more concise. I was thankful to have read this as an audio book because my eyes would likely have started to wander. That being said, I loved this book so much that I need to buy my own physical copy. I would reread this, especially knowing everything that I know now. The fact that this was a standalone book blows my mind because this world was complex enough to deserve multiple books. On the other hand, I am glad it was a standalone book... not because I wanted it to end, but because it made the ending all the more impactful.

I caution readers who like to predict where a book is going. If you start reading this, think you already have the twists figured out, and then decide to DNF or skip to the end... you'll be missing out on a LOT. I thought I'd predicted it (and I pretty much did) but there was a lot more that I didn't see coming. This book is worth reading.

In a world full of so much propaganda and a lack of support for education, this book stands as a warning of what ignorance and divisive leadership can create.

I 100% recommend this book.

03/02/2025