A review by sephiefoxx
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

dark emotional 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

“Women are always told to be kind, be forgiving, be nurturing. As far as I know, it’s never gotten them anywhere”

For fans of: 
  • Dark Academia 
  • Complex and unique magic systems
  • Soul crushing standalone fantasy 

Holy shit. What a book. This is really the kind of book that upon finishing leaves you staring at a wall for an undisclosed amount of time as you try process the experience you had reading it. 

Earlier this month, I called Legendborn a perfect YA Fantasy. Well I have quickly followed that up with a perfect adult Fantasy. This is a raw, unflinching story about misogyny, magic, racism, and the pursuit of power and legacy. A story that asks ‘what makes someone good’, and makes you measure the value of intent and action. It is a story about oppression, cruelty, and horrors committed by those claiming to be righteous, and the masses who accept it for the sake of comfort. 

This book, its story, and its message dug its hooks deep into my flesh, the feelings it’s left has burrowed into my chest. I know exactly when this book became a 5 star read, and those chapters will echo within me for a long time to come.
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