Fantasy Book Critic: Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang (reviewed by Lukasz Przywoski and Mihir Wanchoo)

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS (MIHIR): Blood Over Bright Haven is the follow-up adult fantasy after the SPFBO winning & critical darling that was Sword Of Kaigen. However BOBH is set in a completely different world than the Theonite one. Blood Over Bright Haven had a high barrier to overcome the gargantuan wall of expectations.

The main plot of the story is set in the magical city of Tiran and focusses on two characters: Thomil. & Sciona. Sciona Freynan is an orphan mage who’s obsessed with becoming the first female into the Tiranian High Magistry. Thomil is of the Caldonnae nomadic tribe that was forced to escape their lands due to a fatalistic disease called the Blight. He is forced to work as a janitor and gets assigned to work with Sciona. They are both forced to work with each other to achieve their goals. Sciona to become a highmage worthy of everyone’s respect and Thomil to finally find out what or how the Blight came to be.

“It’s much easier to tell yourself you’re a good person than it is to actually be one.”

This story is astounding in the themes it explores while giving us a standalone story which will haunt you with its examination of the real world problems of racial bigotry, misogyny, societal power imbalances, colonial hatred and more. In M. L. Wang’s capable hands, all of this darkness and more is gradually unveiled and we are immersed in this science-fantasy world. The magic system is indeed a complex one and it will take a while for most readers to wrap their minds about it.

However the best part of the story (and it shouldn’t be surprising) is the rich characterization found within. Again coming after Sword Of Kaigen, we readers have come to expect wonders. And M. L. Wang delivers in unexpectedly incredible ways. From Sciona who is so headstong and laser-focused that she can come of as more than a bit unlikeable but charismatic to a fine degree. It is Thomil and his niece Carra who are the tender hearts of the story from the beginning. Thomil is a tortured turned taciturn person who has never forgotten what really happened in the Kwen grasslands. It is his stubborn drive that fuels his strength and now matter what indignities the native Tiranians inflict upon him and his kind. He never forgets and also doesn’t forgive fully. Sciona on the other hand takes a while to get to unpeel her layers & M. L. Wang has to be lauded for her unflinching look at what really powers Sciona:

“Thomil said that a woman was weighed at the gates of Heaven by her actions and their impact. Well, Sciona was going to leave an impact. Whatever happened next, whether it led to Hell or Heaven, she was going to have a hand in directing it. Sick or sound, good or evil, she was still Sciona Freynan. And Sciona Freynan didn’t slow down. Sciona Freynan would be remembered.”

The story goes off in some dark situations and it’s no surprise given what the author has in mind. The main plot deals with some horrific issues and themes and we the readers are eloquently shown the evil that mankind has been known to inflict upon its weaker classes. In this regards, Blood Over Bright Haven will cut your heart and mind into finer pieces and the subject matter is dissected with a scalpel like dexterity. My mind often hearkens back to another famous story focusing on such an issue (namely Babel by R.F. Kuang). It is perhaps unfair to compare these similarly themed stories written by authors of (similar) east Asian ancestry. However one can only marvel at the dexterity showcased in one and the hamfistedness of the other. However success & fame are strange bedfellows, and I sincerely hope more dark academia readers discover BOBH to truly understand what a masterful dissection of thorny issues can look like.

Blood Over Bright Haven is not a book for the casual fantasy fan but it is imperative that everyone reads it. It is brutal in its exploration of pain, brilliant in its characterization and compelling from end to end. What can I say more, M. L. Wang is the rare artist who vivisects pain & other dark emotions to show the truth, beauty & darkness within mankind.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS (LUKASZ): Dark, disturbing, and utterly addictive, Blood Over Bright Haven is an absolute must-read. I’m not well-versed in the dark academia subgenre, but you can’t go wrong with this page-turner. It delves into topics of imperialism, racism, elitism, and supremacy, but it’s a damn good book above all.

The City of Tiran is impressive. Enclosed within a magical Barrier, it offers its citizens comfort and industrialization made possible by magic. Refugees from the outside, however, can’t expect equal treatment, and they usually scrape by in factories or doing menial jobs. Those who live outside? Dead or soon to be dead through Blight. This lethal light appears from nowhere and strips away layer after layer of human and animal bodies until nothing but blood remains.

Within the confines of the walls, Sciona Freynan has the potential to make history as the first female highmage. She just needs to pass the final exam. Since work, studies, and magic are her sole priorities and she lacks social skills or real interest in other human beings, she feels she can do it. Driven by insatiable ambition and hunger for glory and gifted with a brilliant (if obsessive) mind, she has no equals. There’s just one problem - she’s a woman. And most mages believe women are not destined for greatness.

To avoid revealing any crucial plot points, I’ll keep the synopsis brief. Wang gradually unveils the true origin of magic and sheds light on the mysterious Otherrealm - from which mages draw energy to power the city. Expect the unexpected. It’s dark academia, after all, where appearances are often deceiving.

Blood Over Bright Haven avoids gratuitous violence but contains graphic scenes that may unsettle some readers. It excels at stripping its protagonist from her core beliefs while making her understand the monstrous secrets of Tiran.

There’s, of course, a man and a potential for romance. Sciona faces many obstacles, and it is through the other point of view character, Thomil—a Kwen refugee—that we understand how limited her choices are. Their chemistry and dynamics are great. But here’s the catch - we’re talking about M.L. Wang’s book. In The Sword of Kaigen, she has proven to be unafraid of defying readers’ expectations and making bold, heart-wrenching choices. I have issues with parts of the story and the characterization of one of the bad guys, but the ending left me speechless and deserves all the stars.

A word about the magic. I’m not usually a fan of magic systems, but I loved how similar to coding it was. How logical and elegant it felt. Bravo! The characterization of most players is top-notch, too.

The book itself is relatively short (around 120,000 words) and tells a complete story. It skilfully explores themes of gender injustice, racism, faith, and consequences of intentions. All while providing suspense, action, and personal drama. The second half of the book is driven by anger. A righteous anger that serves as a catalyst for societal change, igniting a fire that propels the characters and their world forward.

To provide a balanced perspective, it is worth mentioning that some readers may take issue with the somewhat simplistic depiction of certain characters and the use of narrative shortcuts to convey the message. Personally, I found myself emotionally engaged, and these aspects did not hinder my overall enjoyment of the story.

CONCLUSION (LUKASZ): In short, Blood Over Bright Haven is excellent. It tells a complete story, provides a satisfying ending, and is an emotional rollercoaster as the narrative takes bold risks and delivers gut-wrenching twists. Go ahead, give it a read.