Review: Blood Over Bright Haven

Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang

Published By: Cornerstone
Publication Date: July 25, 2023
Date Read: July 6, 2026
Genre: Adult – Epic Fantasy
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Pages: 448

Add to Goodreads | Add to Storygraph

Magic has made the city of Tiran an industrial utopia, but magic has a cost—and the collectors have come calling.

An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power.

Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?

A standalone dark academia brimming with mystery, tragedy, and the damning echoes of the past. For fans of Leigh Bardugo, V. E. Schwab, and Fullmetal Alchemist.

Blood Over Bright Haven is a book that has been on my radar for a while. Ever since it released, it’s one that I have been intrigued be, but never got around to picking it up. This was not on my plan for this month either, but after a friend gave me a little push to read it, I finally picked it up. My goodness do I regret not reading this before now. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, but Blood Over Bright Haven is without a doubt my top read of the year so far.

Right from the start, I couldn’t put this book down. I go into books completely blind, so I honestly didn’t really know anything about this one going in. Right from chapter one, ML Wang’s phenomenal writing had me hooked. The first chapter is so gripping, I was absolutely obsessed with this book almost immediately. We are thrown right in to this dystopia world, with a utopia city close by that would solve everyone’s problems. I really liked the contract of having one of our main characters coming from this horrific dystopic country, where everyone is in danger at every point, and then wanting to make the dangerous crossing to the utopia city that offers comfort and protection from the brutal magical ‘blight’. I was so intrigued by the concept right from the very first page.

One thing I really enjoyed about Blood Over Bright Haven is all of the issues that it tackles and challenges people’s views on. Of course we have the dystopia element of where our MMC, Thomil is from. But after a decade time jump, we are introduced to our FMC, Sciona who is on track to become the very first female high mage. With this comes a lot of misogynistic views and behaviours towards her. I really loved seeing how this played out in a fantasy world, but it is very reminiscent of things going on in our world right now. I found myself so emotionally invested in this, I was getting angry and offended on the behalf. The fact that the book elicited these emotions in me, in such an extreme way really speaks volumes of ML Wang’s storytelling skills.

Blood Over Bright Haven is fast paced, and once you start it, there is little chance of you doing anything else until you have consumed the entire book. I loved every single moment of this book. It has the most plot twists and reveals I have ever read in a single book. And I barely guessed any of them. Right from the first one, I was absolutely gobsmacked and horrified in equal measure. I honestly cannot put my love and adoration of this book into words. It was absolutely everything I could have loved in a book.

If you’re a big fantasy fan, and you are intrigued by this book, I honestly cannot recommend it enough. I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book, but my god did it take my breath away, and blow my mind. This was my first, but definitely will not be my last ML Wang book. I was absolutely blown away, and I cannot wait to read her other works. If you want to read a fantasy that will grab you from the first second and not let go until your heart has been through the wringer (in a good way), this is definitely the book for you!