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There is a bit of buildup before the magic system is established to the reader and characters are deep into the plot, but once everything starts unraveling it doesn’t stop.
I look forward to reading more books by M L Wang. I listened to the audiobook and will be seeking out other books read by narrator Moira Quirk.
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Violence
Moderate: Death, Gore, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Classism
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Alcohol
1.)
The depth of world-building and unending, but never boring explanation of the hard-magic / science system in place for this novel is astounding. It never manages to fall into the trap of info-dumping on the reader, staying crisp and detailed but not overbearing as we move through the story.
It drip feeds what information is necessary at the time it’s needed, fleshing out our understanding of Bright Haven; the clans, the politics, the religion and the biases as we encounter them.
2.)
The characters themselves are intrinsically human; chaotic and difficult, at times so detestably hard to like, shining a light on our own privileges and pitfalls. Each person we encounter gives us a window into societal oppression, and how it manifests.
Sciona, The morally ambiguous FMC is at odds with the most commonly seen female heroines of fantasy: She’s ego driven and inscrutable, logical to the point of delusion. A cold hearted scientist with limited social skills, navigating the most difficult social situations the writer can think up whilst pressing her will against an empire that would squash her like a bug.
3.)
This is an intricate critique of power-structures that holds up a mirror to our own world and the hypocrisy and fallacy’s within our own (present/ and) history. It is not so heavy handed that the points made feel didactic, nor is it so subtle as to lack substance.
Wang injects irony, levity, and moments of softness with a grace that buffs up against the brutality and the grotesque examples of sexism, racism and religious zealotry that make this a more advanced and darker read than other books coming out at the same time.
4.)
Read this book if you want a dark academic fantasy that challenges and provokes with wit, wonder, a touch of body horror and a healthy heaping of emotional sabotage.
5.)
In short, a masterpiece of contemporary fiction.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexism, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood
Minor: Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
I also think that while yes Sciona is intelligent, she's a really good example of int and wis being completely different stats. She's also incredibly stunted and awful with people, and I do wish there was more of her trying to be good to others. It can be argued that that's sort of the point, but I think it would have helped the novel have a more satisfying resolution.
I did like the way that magic worked- basically as coding rather than what we typically see as magic where it's ✨OtHeRwOrLdLy✨ or a "gift from god". I also thought that having Sciona teach Thomil about magic and thus us as readers was very effective.
Overall I thought it was a good read. I wanted to vomit and physically became ill when I figured out the twist and subsequently was right. I don't often like dual perspectives, but it was used sparingly and effectively.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism
The only 0.25 I knocked off was due to the ending and last 20% of the book. Everything was a bit too rushed for me (although the build up was done so well) and I couldn't help but feel that there must be more to it. What happened next to the characters? If M L Wang ever writes a part 2 or makes it a duology, I'll be eagerly reading its pages. It's only February but I feel like this book is a top contender for my book of 2025!
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, War, Classism
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Police brutality, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Gun violence, Infertility, Sexual assault, Vomit, Police brutality, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Cannibalism, Pregnancy
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Infertility, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Deportation
This is probably one of the most important pieces of literature I will ever read
“To hope
To hope, Highmage Freynan”
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment