Reviews with content warning for Rape - Blood Over Bright Haven

Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

45 reviews

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.

Content Warnings

cb1984's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-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

Really really good. It's weird because it's basically a book where the magic system is the plot, which could be really really dull - especially as most of the book is basically a mage in a lab learning about magic. But it's done in such a good way that it works really well.

It helps that the magic system is really well done and creates intere ting quandaries - sign ficant consequences to using magic, but they are borne by other people. There's quite a lot of interesting social commentary on the world they've created too.

I think the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars was because there was a bit of a lull/artificial falling out before the finale that I didn't love. But this was a really really good book.

Content Warnings

bluuj2's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

I read this book because someone in booktok recommended it if you were a fan of the anime Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. I can understand why and I’m glad I decided to give it a try.

While’s it’s certainly not the same world/setting, there are laws of alchemy such as you can’t create something from nothing. So the law of equivalent exchange reigns supreme and this has a unique take on how this is achieved.

Wang has a way of entrancing me in her writing and world building. It’s excellent detail but not too much that you’re overwhelmed. At times, the dialogue/debate pieces were a bit too lengthy for my taste, but I understand why they were included. This truly was the only thing keeping it from a solid 5/5 for me. (Which I actually had 4.75 but I think it’s more like a 4.9, so a 5/5 it is!)

I finished this book with a week and that’s uncommon for me, so it speaks to the greatness of this book and characters in it! 10/10 recommend!

Content Warnings

the_library_of_mary's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

5.0

As my second read of this year, I am very content. I had seen this books circulating online and wanted to give it a try. I'm very happy I did, though not because the story is a "happy" one. I did not know a ton going into the story and didn't really re-read the blurb when my library loan came through, and I'm glad I did.

Sciona, our FMC, starts the story being very " i'm not like other girls" in an academic magical setting. The society is DEEPLY misogynistic and she is constantly being talked down to and restricted. You start the story rooting for her, even though she is incredibly self-centered and borderline narcistic because you want her to prove all these men wrong. As she proves herself and begins interacting with Thomil, her world views are challenged. She them becomes insufferable( but in a good way as a reader) as she is forced to really look at her racist society and her own racist beliefs. She reminds me of the specific "white feminist" viewpoint where you are focused on your own well being and rights, but not those around you.

There is some romance, but eh, I really wouldn't consider that a focal point of the story. I thought that Thomil and Sciona's relationship was interesting regardless of the romance. This book has characters constantly challenging each other, and thats what I enjoyed about their scenes.

If you enjoy dark academia, interesting magic systems, and challenging ideals, here you go.

I'm happy that Sciona died in the end, not because I necessarily wanted her to die, but because the end of the book has her character transforming into someone that tries to be selfless. If she had been miraculously saved in the end, I think it would have taken away from her promises and words to Thomil.

Content Warnings

spatterson7's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark hopeful medium-paced

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

4.75

Content Warnings

ktbelliss's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I really enjoyed this book! I think it's rare to find standalone fantasy with worldbuilding that feels this fleshed out. It had some good twists and reveals too. Only knocking it half a starr
because it did lose momentum a bit around 70% of the way through, but the ending was still satisfying (in a way). Would definitely recommend!

Content Warnings