Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang | Book Review

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang
Published by Del Ray on October 29, 2024
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 448
Format: Hardback
Source: Purchased

Content Warnings: Genocide, Misogyny, Mass Sterilization, Racism, Attempted Rape, Blood, Gore, Suicidal Thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Classism, Miscarriage, Police Brutality, Colonialism, Cultural Appropriation

Rating:

For twenty years, Sciona has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry. When Sciona finally passes the qualifying exam and becomes a highmage, she finds her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues are determined to make her feel unwelcome—and, instead of a qualified lab assistant, they give her a janitor. What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was not always a janitor. Ten years ago, he was a nomadic hunter who lost his family on their perilous journey from the wild plains to the city. But now he sees the opportunity to understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the privileged in power. At first, mage and outsider have a fractious relationship. But working together, they uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first.

"So many parents will try to kill everything brilliant about a girl in the name of giving her a good life, a safe life, a chance at happiness."

There are a lot of trigger warnings when it comes to Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang, but trust me, it's entirely worth reading. Blood Over Bright Haven follows Sciona, the first ever female High Mage in Tiran, and Thomil, a Kwen janitor turned assistant, as they uncover a dark secret and grapple with the social and political implications of their discovery. The story hits the ground running right from the get-go, detailing Thomil's clan's attempt to make it across the barrier into Tiran to escape Blight, a light that rips every living thing it touches to shreds. I didn't even know these characters yet and I was sobbing by the time Thomil successfully made it to safety heart racing the entire time. Thomil is by far my favorite character, his devotion to his family, clan, and the good of all is something to be admired.

Wang takes on some heavy social and political commentary but does it in such an amazing, eye-opening way. Sciona is not meant to be a likable character. She is self-centered and bigoted, and despite the misogyny she faces, she still seeks to uphold the oppressive systems against which she struggles. Sciona is a perfect depiction of many white women in the United States, which is probably why her character rubbed so many readers and reviewers the wrong way. It's hard to come to terms with your behavior when it's reflected back to you in a mirror. Sciona isn't meant to be the good guy, even though she does some good with her knowledge and power, but again, mostly for selfish reasons.

Blood Over Bright Haven shines a bright light on xenophobia and how the dominant culture dehumanizes those different from them to justify their abhorrent treatment. From mass sterilization to downright murder, the Kwen are routinely referred to as being dumb and animal-like. This is the same rhetoric colonizers used to dehumanize all non-white people around the world. The US continues this same rhetoric when referring to the Latine community and now seeks to remove anyone they deem "unworthy" of being her. Racial profiling has already begun, and Wang does not hold back on showing us just how wrong such an opinion is.

"You’re the worst kind of murderer, I think… The kind who won’t even acknowledge her crime. You’ve never worshipped a god of truth… You worship a delusion."

Everything Wang does in Blood Over Bright Haven is a mirror of what is currently happening in the United States. It was scary just how much overlap there is between us and Tiran. It would behoove us all if everyone read this book. Maybe then some would open their eyes to the propaganda being sold to us as truth.

"It’s much easier to tell yourself you’re a good person than it is to actually be one."

On top of loving Wang's social and political commentary, the magic system in Blood Over Bright Haven is the most unique magic system I have ever encountered. I know I have mentioned other systems being unique, but there is nothing that comes close to Wang's creativity. Sciona and the other mages siphon their magic from the otherworld, a realm beyond ours, a realm gifted to them by their god. Their entire religious system is built around siphoning, which is done through computer programming. The whole thing is absolutely genius and I loved every minute Wang spent describing how the system worked. She does an incredible job teaching the reader about siphoning and locating magical sources within the context of the story, so it doesn't feel like we are being educated. Her beautiful prose, world-building, and story-telling ability shine so brightly, I forgot I was reading a book and not watching a movie.

I absolutely devoured Blood Over Bright Haven and wish I could read it again for the first time. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished it a couple of weeks ago. My only complaint is there was some slight enemies-to-lovers romance going on, which can only be done when both parties are equal. Sciona and Thomil are not equals, making this more of a colonizer romance which I am not fond of. The romance, however, is light and not the main purpose of the story. While it does drive the plot and ultimately leads Sciona to make the choices she does, the story is more about tearing down oppressive, unjust systems, than it is about falling in love.

"Because good people can turn desperate when the horrors are upon them—especially people whose culture of plenty has left them with no systems to cope with scarcity or cataclysm. Good people will turn monstrous when it’s down to their survival or someone else’s."

If you want to watch the world burn, especially in light of recent events, Blood Over Bright Haven is certain to light that fire in you. First two reads for 2025 have been absolute bangers and I am thankful for that.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir | Book Review

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir
Series: Heir Duology #1
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers on October 1, 2024
Genres: YA Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 512
Format: Hardback
Source: Gifted

Content Warnings: Genocide, Colonialism, War, Death, Poverty, Death of a Child, Family Violence, Grief, Torture

Rating:

An orphan. An outcast. A prince. And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees. Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite. Banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Martial Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected attraction, Sirsha learns her mission might cost her far more than she's willing to give up. QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire and nephew of a venerated empress, but he’s loath to take the throne when his aunt steps down. As the son of a reviled emperor, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need. Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives―and their hearts. Literally.

"Grief is a strange beast. Some battle it, their souls scarred from its abuse. Some bury it, and live life waiting for it to reemerge. And some tread water, the grief a weight about their necks. Every reminder makes the weight heavier." She turned halfway, her face in profile. "You and I tread water, nephew. And I would not see you drown."

I've felt like I have been drowning these last couple of weeks since I lost a loved one, and the quote above gave me such comfort and strength. It's funny how a fictional character can speak to your soul and pull it out of the depths of Hell... I am not sure where to begin with this book review, other than to say Heir by Sabaa Tahir was just what I needed and came into my life at exactly the right time. The story, the characters, the world-building, the magic systems, the hope it inspired in me...flawless!

Heir, which takes place 20 years after Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series, is told from multiple points of view, including but not limited to Aiz, an orphan seeking a way to save her people, Quil the soon-to-be emperor of the Empire, and Sirsha, a tracker who has been exiled by her tribe and just trying to survive in an unforgiving world. Every character, great and small, is completely fleshed out, their contributions to the story are meaningful and full of life. I loved every character, even when I disagreed with them, and felt as if they were my friends. That is a mark of an incredible writer: to suck in a reader so well they view the characters as their own found family. You feel what they feel, want what they want, and love when they love. Their anxieties, fears, hopes, and dreams become yours as you root for good to will out. I cannot wait for the second book in this duology, as I must know what happens to everyone in the end.

On top of this, the world-building and magic system are fantastic and unique. I haven't read An Ember in the Ashes, and there is no reason you have to understand the story. I am sure Tahir fully fleshed out her world in that series as well, and she continues to do it justice in this story. Not a single detail is left out, but not to the point where you are sluggishly moving through superfluous details. It's done in such a beautiful way you don't even realize you have been transported to another world. As much as I love Dickens, he had a nasty habit of over-explaining details. Tahir provides descriptions without being overly verbose.

The magic system is also unique, with some powers purportedly descending from a goddess while others seem to be innate. While a magical power might be god-given, it can also fade and eventually die out with time. I found it fascinating that a people who once had magical gifts lost these abilities over time or that an individual could lose power as they age, despite their best efforts. Some can wield the wind, while others read the stars or transfer power through stories, and others still commune with the elements to see impressions of the past. It was a lovely mix of often-used magic with elements of surprise.

On top of incredible character development, an engaging plot, a unique magic system, and masterful world-building was the non-linear timeline. I don't want to give too much away and ruin the book for anyone, so I will just leave it at that. It will keep you guessing until the very end until everything suddenly clicks into place, leaving you in awe. I knew something was up mid-way through the book, but was still left shocked at the turn of events.

My favorite aspect of Heir, however, was the commentary on oppression, poverty, and colonialism...what the poor and the downtrodden will do when times are desperate; how inequality and power imbalances hurt everyone in society and will eventually lead to its destruction; how the desire to survive and thrive can make monsters of even the best-intentioned. There were a lot of parallels between this fantastical world and what we are currently facing in the United States. What are you willing to sacrifice to save the people you love?

I highly recommend picking up Heir by Sabaa Tahir and have now added her An Ember in the Ashes series to my TBR...like I need more on it. Haha!

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft | Book Review

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
Published by Del Ray on September 17, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, LGBT
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased

Content Warnings: Torture, Antisemitism, Death, Murder, Sexual Assault, Gore, Stigmata

Rating:

Lorelei Kaskel, a folklorist with a quick temper and an even quicker wit, is on an expedition with six eccentric nobles in search of a fabled spring. The magical spring promises untold power, which the king wants to harness in order to secure his reign over the embattled country of Brunnestaad. Lorelei is determined to use this opportunity to prove herself and make her wildest, most impossible dream come true: to become a naturalist, able to travel freely to lands she’s only read about. The expedition gets off to a harrowing start when its leader—Lorelei’s beloved mentor—is murdered in her quarters aboard their ship. The suspects are the five remaining expedition mates, each with their own motive. The only person Lorelei knows must be innocent is her longtime academic rival, the insufferably gallant and maddeningly beautiful Sylvia von Wolff. Now in charge of the expedition, Lorelei must find the spring before the murderer strikes again—and a coup begins in earnest. But there are other dangers lurking in the dark: forests that rearrange themselves at night, rivers with slumbering dragons hiding beneath the water, and shapeshifting beasts out for blood. As Lorelei and Sylvia grudgingly work together to uncover the truth—and resist their growing feelings for each other—they discover that their leader had secrets of her own. Secrets that make Lorelei question whether justice is worth pursuing, and if this kingdom is worth saving at all.

I am so glad I picked this book up when I did because Saft's poetic prose, gripping story, and slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance got me through one of the toughest events of my entire life this past December. I don't know what I would have done without this magical world to anchor me.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a commentary on anti-Semitism mixed with magic, romance, and political intrigue. Saft is not subtle about what she based her story on in the least. She mixes elements from both World Wars into one fantastical tale while simultaneously including real religious practices from Catholicism and Judaism. Sometimes Saft uses the correct terms to describe the practices while other times she uses descriptions. For example, Lorelei, who is Jewish, talks about how they would normally mourn the dead by bathing, praying, and watching over the body for several nights before burial. Not once does Saft mention this is called "sitting shiva" but that is exactly what she was describing. While I am not Jewish, I am familiar enough through friends, coworkers, and previous work experience to know exactly what she was talking about, and was thankful she didn't bastardize very sacred practices in the process of telling her tale. I felt her descriptions, uses, and inclusion were done so respectfully, but as someone outside both faiths, I cannot speak with authority on this issue.

I did not mind that Saft wasn't subtle in her presentation but did sometimes find it lazy that she was unable to come up with systems and practices of her own. Others have mentioned this in their reviews as well, and I am inclined to agree. However, this wasn't enough for me to rate the book poorly. With a severe lack of media literacy, I can see why Saft would want to be as blunt as possible. I am sure we all remember just a month ago that "Books shouldn't be political." Yes...yes they should and sometimes the political aspects need to be better spelled out for people to understand. Because this book isn't spicy, I am sure the people who really need to hear this message aren't picking it up to begin with, which is an utter shame.

Despite lifting practices and history straight from reality, the magical system, world-building, and story were rather unique. The entire magic system focuses on the use of water, as water holds the magic from the original source, the Ursprung (which means 'origin' in German by the way). I absolutely adored this system as water has a tendency to hold onto things much longer than other sources. For example, spent radioactive cores are stored in pools of water because water retains radiation. I viewed the magic in A Dark and Drowning Tide as radiation being held exclusively by water. Water closer to the source contained more magic and therefore was easier to wield, while water further away was less so. I honestly wish Saft had spent more time delving into this magical system than she did and why water was the magical source and not others.

On top of an interesting magic system, the world-building was beautifully constructed, full of interesting and unique creatures. Many of these creatures were pulled directly from folklore but with a twist. I am a sucker for folk and the fact that our main character, Lorelei, is a folklorist herself sucked in me. From Saft's description of the landscape to the creatures to the plant life, I was hooked. I could fully immerse myself into this story, the images blooming across my inner eye as I read. It's not often a book sucks me in so completely, and this one certainly did.

Finally, I adored the story. I am not super into romance, let alone such tropes as enemies-to-lovers, but I felt Saft did a good job making the romance secondary to the main plot. It's a slow burn as Lorelei grapples with her feelings and the little bit of spice was tastefully done. 

My only complaint is there is no real resolution at the end of the book. Everything Lorelei does is to save her people, rescue them from the ghettos, and allow them to exist free of discrimination, but there is no resolution. They are never freed, there is no talk of what is to happen to them in the future, nor are they granted full citizenship. Yes, Lorelei is free, but that's it. I was disappointed that anti-Semitism took center stage, but there was no real addressing it. We were fed crumbs when we should have been given cake. This was the biggest disappointment.

With everything that is going on in the world, A Dark and Drowning Tide is definitely a book I would recommend others pick up, especially older teens studying more recent history. Reading teaches empathy and we could all use a little more of that right now.