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Book Summary and Reviews of Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang

Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang

Blood Over Bright Haven

A Novel

by M. L. Wang

  • Readers' Rating (3):
  • Published:
  • Oct 2024, 448 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever in this "provocative stand-alone novel [that] deftly incorporates elements of science and philosophy into dark academia" (The Washington Post), from the author of The Sword of Kaigen.

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.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Vibrant, raw, and deeply emotional, this novel is a manifesto about justice as much as it is a thrilling work of fiction." —Library Journal (starred review)

"Fans of R. F. Kuang's Babel will find much to admire here, from the intricate magic system to the unflinching exploration of societal issues." —Booklist

"A fantastic page-turner—clever, emotional, and thematically rich... highly recommended! I was completely engaged the whole way through." —James Islington, author of The Will of the Many

"Blood Over Bright Haven is the kind of book that knocks you down, kicks you repeatedly, and then makes you thank it for doing so. I can't recommend it highly enough." —John Bierce, author of the Mage Errant series

This information about Blood Over Bright Haven was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

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Author Information

M. L. Wang

M. L. Wang is an author, martial artist, and weird recluse currently hiding somewhere in Wisconsin with her maroon-bellied parakeet, Sulu. She enjoys gruesome nature documentaries and long walks in circles around her room. Her other books include The Sword of Kaigen and the YA fantasy series The Volta Academy Chronicles.

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