4.5 stars!

video review | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCUSn7t6IOY&t=141s

for fans of fullmetal alchemist? the way i bought this immediately.

oh mannn... there's so much to say but also so little. this book is incredible. it's an amazing example of standalone fantasy, an amazing eample of a straight up well crafted novel, and I think the standard to which dark academia should be trying to reach as a genre.

to me, dark academia is more than a Pinterest aesthetic, but should be about works confronting the violence or corruption of institutions, using academia or an academic setting as a vessel, and this book does it wonderfully.

the reason this isn't a 5 star read for me is because there were a few things about the ending I didn't love, most of which have to do with my penchant for hopeless romanticism. the ending of this book suits the story that came before it, but like many outcomes in real life, I wish somehow it rose to something happier.

not to say that this book has a tragic, grim-dark ending, it doesn't. but I do think M.L Wang was aiming for a more hopeful feel than what I felt.

this is a novel about the violence in the world around you, and what it takes to confront it. the story unfolds and ends in a way that makes sense, and feels inevitable. and the mid-way reveal/ plot-twist in the book is PHENOMENALLY done. i can't stress that enough, one of the best reveals I've ever read.

there is so much to think about in this novel, I can see myself re-reading it to fully absorb some of the passages. it's brazenly political, anti-colonial, and anti-imperial, and confrontational of the complicity those in society have in the violence of their systems. it's fast-paced with excellent characters, and a world that I would love to see Wang explore more of. 

this is a book that should be on the radar of any fantasy reader, especially those that like political fantasy, and I highly highly recommend it.

“She was going to show Tiran something they have never seen before. She was going to show them Hellfire.”

M.L. Wang’s The Sword of Kaigen is one of the books I loved so I just had to pick up Blood Over Bright Haven. Sadly, I didn’t love this one as I did TSoK but it is still a good book. Blood Over Bright Haven discusses racism, classism, feminism, and religious bigotry.

Thomil’s POV started the book and it set my expectations higher. It was so dark and intense that I was literally on the edge of my seat as I read on. Unfortunately, the pacing after that felt slow for me, especially during the first half of the book. 

Sciona grew up in a very religious society that is deeply misogynistic and racist. As much as Sciona cries misogyny, it doesn’t change the fact that as a Tiranishwoman she has more privilege than the Kwen—especially the Kwen women. Even though I dislike Sciona, I still couldn’t help but root for her. The Tiranishmen are a hundred times worse, I wanted to squash them all especially Cleon Renthorn, that man is my enemy I don’t care if he’s fictional.

I felt like the talks about feminism and racism were only discussed through the experiences of Sciona and Thomil. I am in no way dismissing their experiences or belittling them but I would’ve loved this more if Sciona interacted with women outside her family but she’s not like other girls. With Thomil, I felt like his character only revolved around Sciona. I wish we were shown more of the Kwen community in Tiran. Also, the romance??? That was a weird addition and felt unnecessary to the story.

I understand why people gave this five stars, but it sadly didn’t work for me.

blood over bright haven is a powerful book that meditates on important and relevant themes of truth, power and survival through a magic system that makes physically literal the horrors of societal development at the price of human lives.

through her opposing tiranish and kwen characters, wang masterfully explores the warped logic the powerful uses to justify the exploitation of the powerless, and the toxic dynamic between them. it is nuanced and fully fleshed out, satisfying in its truth and takedown of the hypocrisy of it all, as are her main characters, esp sciona. all this is further propped up by the strong writing and distinct worldbuilding. 

the novel could be a bit shorter, however, and some of the plot points are surprisingly predictable for me, thus lessening the impact of their reveals overall. this book also makes me realize that dark academia isnt for me - this being my second time reading one - as i find the incessant loop of studying and research dull for the most part. in capable hands like wang's, though, this book is a must read regardless of genre preferences.