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challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was excellent, such an intriguing and horrifying magic system, but you can also see parallels with our world reflected in it. I liked the ending having sciona die but be ambiguous for carra and thomil was excellent
Wanted to absolutely hit someone with their sexism and racism, and I loved her rants tothe doctor for example
Kind of sadthat her aunt and cousin abandoned her but also realistic...
Would recommend to people
Wanted to absolutely hit someone with their sexism and racism, and I loved her rants to
Kind of sad
Would recommend to people
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*makes a strangled sound*
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think it's really important to point out flaws in the narrative, most glaringly the racism and microaggressions that don't really resolve. Considering that (I'm assuming) this is a standalone novel, I think that should have had something more of a resolution (I want to say more but I'd rather not give spoilers), but I don't feel like we get that at all.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
🌟♾️
𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭.
𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦.
What a reading experience this was. Coming off my love for Sword of Kaigen, I jumped into this one with very high expectations. Chapter 1 had me totally invested, but then the pacing and the plot was a bit slow. I kept setting it aside for other books. It wasn't until around the 40% mark, that the story completely captured me and wouldn't let go until the final word.
Looking back, I now appreciate that the initial slow pace served such a crucial purpose. Those early chapters meticulously constructed the magic system, established the deep-rooted tensions between the people of Tiran and the Kwens, and laid out the intricate mechanics of siphoning. All of this background was absolutely necessary—without it, the emotional gut punches and complex conflicts of the latter half wouldn't have hit me with such force. Switching to the audiobook was a game-changer, too. Moira Quirk's narration was spectacular, giving voice and emotion to all the frustrating twists and turns.
Sciona's character arc was so well done. My initial dislike of her feels intentional in retrospect—her self-centeredness made her difficult to root for. But witnessing her worldview shatter transformed her completely. As the first female mage, Sciona constantly battled against the expectations and judgements from her male colleagues, forever having to prove her worth in a system designed against her. This pressure sadly manifested in her early treatment of Thomil—her biases against Kwens reflecting the same prejudice she herself faced. Her journey from privileged ignorance to painful awakening makes her growth all the more powerful.
𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 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.
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!
𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭.
𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦.
What a reading experience this was. Coming off my love for Sword of Kaigen, I jumped into this one with very high expectations. Chapter 1 had me totally invested, but then the pacing and the plot was a bit slow. I kept setting it aside for other books. It wasn't until around the 40% mark, that the story completely captured me and wouldn't let go until the final word.
Looking back, I now appreciate that the initial slow pace served such a crucial purpose. Those early chapters meticulously constructed the magic system, established the deep-rooted tensions between the people of Tiran and the Kwens, and laid out the intricate mechanics of siphoning. All of this background was absolutely necessary—without it, the emotional gut punches and complex conflicts of the latter half wouldn't have hit me with such force. Switching to the audiobook was a game-changer, too. Moira Quirk's narration was spectacular, giving voice and emotion to all the frustrating twists and turns.
Sciona's character arc was so well done. My initial dislike of her feels intentional in retrospect—her self-centeredness made her difficult to root for. But witnessing her worldview shatter transformed her completely. As the first female mage, Sciona constantly battled against the expectations and judgements from her male colleagues, forever having to prove her worth in a system designed against her. This pressure sadly manifested in her early treatment of Thomil—her biases against Kwens reflecting the same prejudice she herself faced. Her journey from privileged ignorance to painful awakening makes her growth all the more powerful.
𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 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.
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism