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A review by lykkes_laeserier
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
5.0
One of the best fantasy novels I have read in a long time. You will enjoy it, too, if you like any of the following genres:
* High/Dark Fantasy
* Speculative Fiction
* Science Fiction
* Dark Academia
In fact, you may even like it if you've never picked up a book in any of those genres in your life as this book is so much more than simply genre fiction.
The story is captivating in and of itself with a fascinating magic system and superb world building. Main character Sciona Freynan is the first Tiranish woman in a decade to seek to become a highmage at the University of Magics and Industry. Not because she is the first woman to be eligible, but because the ultra-patriarchal society of the city of Tiran only allows one woman per decade to apply. So far, none have been admitted. Possibly none have been as committed as Sciona, or maybe she is just more fortunate than her predecessors in possessing the exact qualities most needed for a large project expanding the protective bubble surrounding Tiran from the cold and dreaded Blight of the lands around the city. Thus, Sciona is inescapable if not exactly desired by the staunchly all-male High Magistry.
Once Sciona starts in her new role of highmage, however, she must not only contend with her chauvinistic and alarmingly misogynistic colleagues but also conduct her own research in this hostile environment. But Sciona is made of singularly focused stuff and soon realizes that something is rotten in the city of Tiran.
You can read the novel for the plot alone, if you wish. To my mind, however, the best thing about “Blood over Bright Haven” is the fact that it is an eminently crafted analogy and critique of modern Western capitalist society and exactly pinpoints certain facets of our modern world, showing them to us in a new light. Misogyny, racism, corruption and greed are all important themes in this book, and author M.L. Wang spares no one.
* High/Dark Fantasy
* Speculative Fiction
* Science Fiction
* Dark Academia
In fact, you may even like it if you've never picked up a book in any of those genres in your life as this book is so much more than simply genre fiction.
The story is captivating in and of itself with a fascinating magic system and superb world building. Main character Sciona Freynan is the first Tiranish woman in a decade to seek to become a highmage at the University of Magics and Industry. Not because she is the first woman to be eligible, but because the ultra-patriarchal society of the city of Tiran only allows one woman per decade to apply. So far, none have been admitted. Possibly none have been as committed as Sciona, or maybe she is just more fortunate than her predecessors in possessing the exact qualities most needed for a large project expanding the protective bubble surrounding Tiran from the cold and dreaded Blight of the lands around the city. Thus, Sciona is inescapable if not exactly desired by the staunchly all-male High Magistry.
Once Sciona starts in her new role of highmage, however, she must not only contend with her chauvinistic and alarmingly misogynistic colleagues but also conduct her own research in this hostile environment. But Sciona is made of singularly focused stuff and soon realizes that something is rotten in the city of Tiran.
You can read the novel for the plot alone, if you wish. To my mind, however, the best thing about “Blood over Bright Haven” is the fact that it is an eminently crafted analogy and critique of modern Western capitalist society and exactly pinpoints certain facets of our modern world, showing them to us in a new light. Misogyny, racism, corruption and greed are all important themes in this book, and author M.L. Wang spares no one.