Review by hollydyer328 - Blood Over Bright Haven

hollydyer328 's review for:

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was awesome!! Loved this dark academia fantasy that also explored the oppression of marginalized groups and the societal complicity behind it. I found all of the magical components creative in expressing those allegories of Indigenous erasure, immigration, slavery, MeToo, police brutality, sexism, women in STEM. M.L. Wang is taking some big swings in her message but frames it in a dark academia magical setting. Appreciated Sciona's complicated character who is a more realistic portrayal of all of us, as well as her reckoning and unlearning throughout. This would make a great gateway fantasy for those who don't normally read fantasy and want some substance/depth in their reads. Audio was great as well!

Content Warnings