Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

9 reviews

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

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.

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

charleyyyyy's review against another edition

3.0

UHHH😓 okay, I have mixed feeling about this book.  There were definite strengths, like the unique magic system that was so in-depth, and the facinating world building!! But there were also definite weaknesses, like the plotting, characterisation, and the way the main themes and concerns were conveyed to the reader.

It definitely felt like I was in a academic setting, not because there's great descriptive and immersive writing, but because it was like I was in a lecture the whole time😖 Be assured that not a single thought needs to pass through your head while reading this book, the author will explain it all to you like you're five.
I could almost feel the author watching me read, peering over my shoulder: "do you get it?? Did you see what I did there?? Let me explain it all to you again."
Please, us readers are capable of independent thought I swear😩

I do love what this book is attempting to do, just not the execution. Discussions of corrupt government built on the pain and exploitation of marginalised groups of people will never not be important or relevant. Unfortunately, we all live in a world just like Sciona's, and we really need to be smacked over the head with the reminder of it so that we don't cover our eyes to it like the antagonists of this novel did.
One thing I did appreciate was the use of the magic system to further develop and explore the issues of this fictional world (and our nonfiction world), that's something I will always enjoy in a fantasy book.

...I just wish it was written better yk🫣

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

lexihworth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

This is one of the darkest stories I️ have ever read. It is also one of the most masterful works of storytelling I️ have ever read.

spatterson7's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

sammymilfort's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-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

I have no words 

This is probably one of the most important pieces of literature I will ever read 

“To hope
To hope, Highmage Freynan”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kbowles24's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War

tokaylamockingbird's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation

Minor: Confinement, Infertility, and Alcohol

mmiamuse's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

This book grabbed me by the lapels and held on TIGHT! While reading this, I was consumed by it. I could not stop thinking about this at work, while driving...while existing lol. The writing is phenomenal, the character development is flawless. You will be emotionally scarred after reading this. This is a solid dark academia/fantasy stand alone. The MC is a woman in her mid 20's and I LOVED that. It made the character more relatable to me because I am the same age as Sciona (the main character). This is definitely added to the list as one of my favorite books ever...along with The Sword of Kaigen. I think I have a new favorite author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War