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More importantly, though, Blood over Bright Haven is a compelling, believable, and perhaps frighteningly relatable story of a person unlearning the bigotry and harm they've been taught by their home culture. Though never preachy or obviously metaphorical for the contemporary world, the themes are timely and arresting. It's very much a book of and for our current moment, though given how good it is, I suspect it will endure and become a classic.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Hate crime, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation
Minor: Miscarriage, Police brutality, War
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Suicide attempt, Murder, Classism
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Cannibalism
The shining point of this story is the characters. ML Wang is a master of crafting real, messy, and lovable characters that are addicting to read about (Carra, you have my whole heart). Of course the magic system and world building are nothing to sneeze at- the characters at the end of the day were what propelled the plot and themes of the message. Other books rely on setting- Blood Over Bright Haven relied on one of the most interesting, irritating, and lovable characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading. That being said, I gave this four stars because at some points I felt some conflicts were cyclical. I wanted to shake their shoulders and go”I GET IT, move on!” One could argue (maybe in an english lit class) that it was meant to be that way for realism. But I am not in school anymore, so I found it tiring to sift through.
All in all, a must read. But please be wary of the content warnings and the general notion that this is not a happy read. Hope is there, as it is life, but please bear in mind that the cruelty might ring a little bit more close to home in our current political climate.
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Classism
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Classism
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infertility, Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Bullying, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment
I have sheldomly read such intricate worldbuilding and such a mapped out magic system outside of a series. And while the ending was fitting for the story, a part of me still wishes this would be a series.
Because, as atypical and imperfect as the main characters are, I got really invested in their journey. This started in the first chapter where I almost cried and ended with the last one when I did.
So if you asked me if this could be the next big fantasy standalone, or if this is great writing, if the characters are original, if the magic system is thought through, or if you should read it, the answer is yes. But if you're asking me if you'll enjoy it the answer is maybe. Because this story is not for the Cinderella girlies wanting to fall in love with a handsome high lord or vampire king, wanting to forget the real world and read about happy endings.
This is for all the girls who've tried explaining to people that fantasy is political, that it is commenting on current problems of society. It's for all the girls who feel they're too outspoken, too driven. It's for anyone who loves books that inspire you, books that stay with you, books that break you.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Racism
Moderate: Grief, Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Colonisation, Classism, Deportation
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Racism, Blood, Death of parent, Murder