Reviews tagging 'Death'

Blood over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

447 reviews

chkn_10dz's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring 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: Complicated

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Outstanding! This book changed my brain chemistry. The politics, the bigotry, the twists and turns and then revelation was a Rollercoaster that had my heart pounding. I could not put this down. Revolution!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood

Moderate: Animal death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Antisemitism

kirahayen's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Blood, Colonisation

Moderate: Sexual assault

jooles_the_total_peach's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

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This story was well told, original and refreshing. The world has a very interesting magic system. The characters go through several groundbreaking revelations and have to deal with the aftermath. Right and wrong and who gets to decide what is what are the big questions. Loved it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Classism

Moderate: Sexism, Gaslighting

Minor: Body horror, Sexual assault

acourtofsaraflames's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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I don’t think I can capture everything that I’m feeling… however I’ll start with how I wish this book was mostly from Thomil’s POV instead. Sciona’s POV was difficult but I think that was intentional by the author.

I wanted to be on Sciona’s side in the beginning where she was the first woman to become a mage, but then it all unraveled from there. She was incredibly smart but also naive and at points in denial until she did further magical testing. At first I didn’t see her as selfish but her ego clouded her thoughts and the actions she took were for the wrong reasons. The chapter where Alba yelled at her put Sciona’s choices in a different light. This book should upset you. While the magic system is interesting, once you learn the dark side of it and how the Kwen are treated throughout the whole story is disturbing. The blight was not what I expected it to be. Also, the way women are treated in this world… specifically chapter 16 I believe when Sciona was trapped with Renthorn. Let’s just say overall this book is triggering. Between the political and ethical dilemmas, Sciona having suicidal thoughts from the moment she learned the truth, and the fact that this is a standalone, I definitely wasn’t expecting the book to end on a happier note (I’ll be honest that I typically prefer books with a little more romance element and the main couple getting their happily ever after). However, the book does end up hopeful for those who escape.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Blood, Religious bigotry

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt

Minor: Infertility, Abandonment

ania_reads_'s review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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: Complicated

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5 ⭐️ 

This book left me speechless, in the best way. Such a reflective sci-fi fantasy masterpiece. 

The way the author writes about characters' moral dilemmas,  the gaps in social status (man vs. woman, Outsider vs. Insider) right and wrong, what makes people a good or bad person, is truly a wonderful unmatched to anything I'v  ever read. I went into this book blind and found myself loving Sciona, mourning relationships, and so, so hopeful for new beginnings.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual assault, Abandonment

an_aquarian_librarian's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Genocide, Rape

Minor: Infertility, Torture, Cannibalism

electrachet's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The magic system was clever, and Wang did not shy away from ugliness, which made her character's interactions feel especially raw and human. I do think some of the themes were discussed with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, but it still worked for me and I'm sure plenty of other readers. Not a perfect book, but I would recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Classism

Moderate: Hate crime, Sexual assault, Grief

Minor: Body horror, Suicide, Gaslighting

aquariangay's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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: Complicated

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Will never not recommend this book to all of my friends. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Blood

maddie_rae_reads's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Such a stunningly unique story!!! The themes of life’s purpose and the value of life itself is woven into the magical world of Titan. We discover that all is not as it seems and what it means to stand by truth. The ending, while understandable for the story, left me wanting more of a resolution. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Sexism, Slavery

Minor: Sexual assault

culinaryjules's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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What an amazing story this is. The writing is excellent, the characters are well-developed, and the storyline is fascinating. The social commentary and unique magic concepts make this a fantastic read. It is very unexpected. You won’t see the twists and turns coming. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War