Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

108 reviews

trapdorr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The parallel commentary of this novel on our own society is poignant. I thought this novel and magic system was incredibly well done. Very happy I took down this rec from tiktok.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Murder, and Classism

bkwrm1317's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

This is truly a really solid read. I love the reflections on the way we treat others from the lens of a fantasy world, as well as the introduction of programming language as a form of writing magic (I see the borrows from Python especially!!). 

Scions is a privileged young woman trying to make a name for herself in a deeply misogynist magical culture, and the things she will learn about the city’s founding, and how it intersects in devastating ways with other cultures (lower caste folks in the city) is devastating. 

Horrifying, page turning, and hopeful, I definitely recommend and look forward to reading more by ML Wang. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Sexual violence

jenc's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicide

roisinbella's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

enjoyed this a lot! sciona and thomil were wonderful characters to follow throughout the story and the layered commentary on sexism, colonialism, exploitation, and intersectionality was really well-done imo. 

my one gripe is the magic system explanation(s) tended to be dense, inorganic, and still a bit difficult to understand. 

i’m so glad thomil and sciona didn’t end up together, too. it makes the most sense for their characters and the story’s overarching themes. i understand criticism of a romantic subplot at all, but i think wang handled it well since it makes sense these two characters would view each other more warmly in a world where each of them is marginalized (by men, for sciona and by tiranish, for thomil — obviously with sciona being more of a “white feminist” figure and thomil being more intersectional

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

rebeccakoury's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

First 5 star of 2025. This book blew me away. There are so many important messages interwoven. The magic system was mind blowing to me and my jaw was on the floor multiple times. I often wondered how this story would fit in it's 400 pages but wow, just wow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

flyinglark's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The world-building is amazing. The magic system is insidious because of how deep it runs. It is on the nose about the themes of sexism, post-colonial oppression and privileges. 

I wanted to learn more about Thomil and the other Kwen in the city, but their stories have been minimized. I enjoyed the build-up to where the magic of Tiran comes from. Sciona is a fascinating character. She is making strides for women yet self-serving. She is intelligent in the magic system yet her ignorance against the Kwen minority is a good chunk of the story. 

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

POV: 3rd Person - Double (

Mostly Sciona, Some Thomil Insertions

) 

Format: Audiobook - Single Narrator

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Suicide attempt - Chapter 11 Sexual Assault - Chapter 16

allison_loves_to_read's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

andreareadsalot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Devoured this book. Amazing. I loved it. I am going to need a copy for my forever shelf. 

Plot: This book is a mix of a technical magic system that feels math based with the analysis of big themes like sexism and racism. I liked that all the characters had flaws and this book explores those flaws. This book was fast to medium paced and really leaned into the character’s development. The world felt well developed. It was intense and emotional. Fantastic writing. 

Overall Rating: 5/5. Loved. 

TW: racism, sexism, sexual assault (ch16), stillbirth, infertility, death, gore, violence, substance use, explicit language (3 uses of F, several b and d and gd) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Child death and Infertility

shamciar's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A book with lots of profound commentary. It was nice watching the main protagonists recognize their own selfishness and using it to their advantage.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Racism

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Torture

starleana08's review against another edition

adventurous challenging sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore