Blood Over Bright Haven - M.L. Wang

From the award-winning author of The Sword of Kaigen comes Blood Over Bright Haven, a gripping, dark academia fantasy about the cost of truth, the corruption of power, and the dangerous secrets hidden within elite magical institutions. Perfect for fans of Babel by R.F. Kuang, Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, and V.E. Schwab’s atmospheric storytelling. Celebrated by The Guardian as “the best fantasy novel of the year,” this is a razor-sharp exploration of ambition, injustice, and the limits of loyalty. For twenty years, Sciona has given her life to magic. At last, she achieves the impossible: becoming the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry. But instead of respect, she finds sabotage, hostility, and a system built to break her. Her long-awaited research—work that could change the world—is threatened when she is assigned not a skilled assistant, but a janitor. But Thomil is no ordinary janitor. Once a hunter from the wild plains beyond the city walls, he carries the trauma of the massacre that destroyed his tribe. Helping Sciona offers him the first real chance to understand the magical forces that shattered his people—and perhaps to find justice. Together, Sciona and Thomil uncover a buried truth powerful enough to transform magic itself… or destroy them both. As they venture deeper into forbidden knowledge, they quickly learn that some secrets are protected not by wards, but by those willing to kill to keep them hidden. Dark, brilliant, and unflinching, Blood Over Bright Haven is an extraordinary tale of power, privilege, and the violence of systems built to exploit. Praise for Blood Over Bright Haven: • “This is the new god-tier fantasy author.” — Reader Review • “The easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given.” — Reader Review • “I will never emotionally recover.” — Reader Review • “The best book I’ve read all year.” — Evan Winter • “A merciless reckoning… you’ll reel long after the last page.” — Sara Hashem • “A stunningly powerful story.” — Terry Brooks • “Innovative and brilliantly written—dark academia at its finest.” — Seanan McGuire • “A storytelling masterclass.” — Mark Lawrence • “Clever, emotional, and thematically rich—highly recommended.” — James Islington