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chapterscaffeineandchaos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
keena_faelynn's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Classism
salewis224's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
rhi_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
briduhjet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After finishing this novel, I had to sit and gather my thoughts a bit. My biggest take away being: stories like this will always be relevant. Will always come up and will always want to be read. Because it is still happening.
While I do think the novel's themes are very much in your face, I actually don't mind the lack of subtlety. It never feels like it's explained to the reader under the pretext that it believes you wouldn't understand or see what it is portraying. In that regards, I think it works narratively. It calls to every type of reader, and I believe it takes that into account. That some people might need to have it be in their face. (It's in our face today and yet!!)
I've also seen some readers call this a colonizer romance. Personally, I didn't feel this was a narrative that was romantically led. I saw friendship bloom between two characters that were raised in a world where friendship didn't seem feasible. Maybe it's a bit optimistic and naive of me, but how does change happen without some connection? I've thought about what makes this novel's protagonist feel fine to me and less of white savior narrative and it's the genuine connection these two characters had with each other by the end. The flaws Sciona had in her ways. She's insufferable, she's selfish, and makes you angry as a reader. She doesn't just turn it off just because of this connection. And that's the point. I would like to think a story like this is more about taking action on both sides, attempting to cross a seemingly impassable bridge to promote the idea that those few connections are more powerful than the majority of people's hatred. Greater than the disconnect. It won't be perfect because how could it? Imagine if more people did that. Unfortunately, we never see any other characters make this connection with each other(understandably so because it doesn't just happen over night), and the author does a fantastic job validating the Kwen's rage while leaving it up to the reader to imagine what can be done for this nation's future with that rage. Perhaps( most likely ) it's war (which considering our own history, conflict is necessary. Violence WILL happen. No one will just >get along< because they're told to. Ironically this narrative being the flip side of Babel's coin where real violence happens.) Perhaps in this book, peace is achieved in some way. But how do we come back from all this that's been done? I think while this could've been explored more as a series, I also think it would've stretched itself too thin. So as a standalone, it benefits from it's simple presentation of a complex issue that persists everywhere.
It's a story on vengeance, misogyny, racism, religion, politics, sacrifice, family, class, elitism, and everything that still goes on today. It's primarily told from her perspective because, I think, we never ask ourselves how do WE be allies? I'd like to think Sciona reflects that question. The next step in understanding privilege, is knowing what you will do with it. Granted, Sciona herself is held back by her gender. This introduces levels to seeing what privilege can look like. (Surprise! This has happened and is still happening! In 2025!!!)
Anyway, I'm not very good with wording my thought process. I will say, there's a lot more dialogue throughout the book, but I personally didn't feel it made it lag as some others have said. Perhaps it's the state of the U.S right now that had me really invested in reading about the magic system and the politics around it. But if you're someone who prefers stories with plenty of action, this might not be the book for you. It was a devastating read that definitely didn't hold your hand in it's consequences at least. I can promise you that it isn't the kind of story that leaves you thinking "it's not that easy." Because it's not that easy. It never was, and it still isn't.
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault
coltonchase's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
professoremdash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Murder
rnbhargava's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
The book has themes of genocide and also has a section of the book with the setting in an ongoing riot status. There is a scene that’s a sexual assault. Complicity in institutional segregation and genocide is the major theme of the book.boba_nbooks's review against another edition
- 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
The city of Tiran is considered a utopia--a place where people can live freely and enjoy the conveniences of modern living thanks to the magic provided by the High Magistry. Sciona is the first woman accepted into the High Magistry. With a sizable ego and a strong drive to prove herself, Sciona sets out to become one of the best mages Tiran has ever seen. However, fitting in the boy's club is more difficult than she thought, and she ends up getting stuck with an assistant who doesn't know anything--a Kwen immigrant, originally a janitor in the building, who is at the bottom of the totem pole. As time goes on, Sciona realizes that this indigenous Kwen, Thomil, who used to live in the land beyond Tiran, is more than her peers have made him out to be--he's highly intelligent and asks questions that keep Sciona on her toes. It turns out that his previous experience as a hunter beyond Tiran's barrier, and as a Kwen, is invaluable to Sciona's research and leads her to discover something no mage before her ever has. This secret could change the world for the better... or make it even more volatile than it already is. Sciona and Thomil have to decide if the truth is worth the risk.
Blood Over Bright Haven is one of the most thought-provoking books I've read (its intellect and subject matter comparable to Babel by R.F. Kuang). Not only does it provide insight into the human psyche and how far we're willing to go for our own egos and absolution, it also pulls back the curtain on the true climate of our current reality. If I've learned anything from this book, it's the fact that our actions have consequences, and we need to be aware of what kind of impact they have on our environment and our fellow human beings.
The female main character, Sciona, gives a great character study into a modern white woman who goes through life unaware of what kind of effect their behavior has on others. Her journey was a difficult one to watch as it was all too real to me, but I'm glad I sat in that discomfort and took the time to reflect on my own life and the ways I might be causing harm. After her discovery of the true cost of magic in Tiran, I loved watching how she took that guilt and, instead of pushing it on the Kwen who do not benefit from those feelings, used it as energy into making a mark on the world that would not soon be forgotten. A mark that will, hopefully, lead others to question the cost of magic and how they use it.
The male main character, Thomil, is a complex character mirroring an indigenous person in the real world. His struggles of coming to terms with being the last of his people was heartbreaking but a very authentic experience. Thomil could have easily been a one-dimensional character, but he truly did come to love Sciona even though she stood for everything he despised for years. He had to come to terms with the fact that some people can change for the better and that, despite their best efforts, sometimes their solo advocacy is not enough to revolutionize an entire society. Throughout the novel, Thomil stayed true to his people and his ideals. He did have to assimilate into society to an extent, but through his niece, Carra, his people live on.
All in all, read this book. Blood Over Bright Haven is such a radical read that requires rapt attention and self reflection, and it is completely worth it. I hope this novel is read and remembered for years to come and is one that will compel people to action.
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Racism, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Suicide
thenoboshow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism