Elsewhen | Blood Over Bright Haven: A Novel
Log in or Sign up
Blood Over Bright Haven: A Novel
M. L. Wang
Save to Your Books
100% of affiliate revenue supports Elsewhen
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 standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. The stunning first edition hardcover will feature red stained edges, gold and red foil on the jacket, a full-color endpaper map, and an interior illustration of an in-world magical item.
“Powerful, thought-provoking. . . . 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.
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.
Show more
Get the Bindery app
Posts about this title from Elsewhen
Elsewhen\ \ Emma Gardner\ \ • Oct 30 2024
Vote for November's Book Club Pick
Click this post to vote for November's book!
3 books
5
Posts about this book from across Bindery
ofpagesandprint\ \ Dahlia\ \ • May 20
Join for free
[With a little over a week left in May, I wanted to share some of the incredible AANHPI stories on my TBR to continue celebrating AANHPI voices all year long!\ *Pitches from the publishers.\ \
- Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow - Two scholars of magical veterinary science must put aside their lust and loathing to save the world in the first installment of this whimsical, romantic, dark academia duology. ( Strange Familiars is also the July pick for Musings of the Nine Book Club! Keshe will join the club to comment insight about Strange Familiars and chat with the club as we read. We hope you join us!)\ \
- For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow - In this romantic, gothic fantasy inspired by Wuthering Heights, a teen girl with the power to move between life and death must journey into the afterlife. But to survive, she’ll need the help of her two sworn enemies—both dangerously captivating, both hiding secrets that could destroy her.\ \
- Unfinished Business by Clare Osongo - In this funny, warmly chaotic tale of love, a floundering office worker discovers her mother's ghost is trapped in the company Slack server, and must free her by resolving her own troubled love life.\ \
- The Fast Track by Angelica Cheng - An ambitious racer who dreams of becoming the first female F1 champion finds her plans going off track when she catches feelings for her biggest competition in this dishy, delicious contemporary romance for fans of love, Lynn Painter, and Lewis Hamilton.\ \
- The Revenant of Surolifia by Florence Chien - In the vein of The Traitor Baru Cormorant and The Unbroken, The Revenant of Surolifia is a gripping political fantasy of empire, identity, and impossible choices, where rebellion blazes in the streets, loyalty is a double-edged sword, and the price of peace may be too steep to pay.\ \
- The Game of Oaths by S.C. Bandreddi - In this heart-pounding, richly imagined fantasy set in the Belle Époque, a trapeze artist fights to win a deadly tournament amid the glamour and illusions of a magical circus. But survival isn’t her only goal—she wants revenge.\ \
- Witch Daughter by Tanaz Bhathena - In her adult debut, award-winning author Tanaz Bhathena expertly weaves a tale of love and loss in ancient Persia with her take on the timeless tragedy of Tahmineh, a temptress, a witch, a victim, or, perhaps, a woman trying her hardest to protect her loved ones.\ \
- Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari - A fierce Indian queen must defend her country against both the colonizing monsters attacking from the sea and the cowardly manipulations of a neighboring king…who happens to be her husband.\ \
- The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham - A lush and immersive queer “Sleeping Beauty” retelling about escapism, grief, and dreaming of a better world.\ \
- A Kiss of Crimson Ash by Anuja Varghese - Inspired by medieval India’s most epic love stories, this debut Romantasy blends rich storytelling, lush worldbuilding, and spice of every variety. Perfect for fans of Nisha J. Tuli and Tasha Suri.\ \
- The Book of Fallen Leaves by A.S. Tamaki - Shogun meets Game of Thrones in this epic fantasy debut of ambition, vengeance, and sacrifice.\ \
- Coldwire by Chloe Gong - The start of a daring new dystopian series where humanity has moved to virtual reality to flee their deteriorating world, following two young soldiers who must depend on unlikely allies in their fight for survival.\ \
- The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim - In this sly and dazzling contemporary fantasy, the most notorious nine-tailed fox in Korea pairs up with a trickster god–turned–detective to track down a wrathful demon . . . before it can destroy the mortal world.\ \
- Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang - 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 standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen.\ \
- Double Happiness by Heather Eng - Caught between a relentless tech job, her adoring fiancé, and an unexpected new flame, Mei must learn what it means to choose herself.\ \
- Brighter Than Nine (sequel to Darker By Four) by June C.L. Tan - The Shadowhunter Chronicles meets the Chinese underworld, drawing inspiration from diaspora folklore, in this epic, sweeping contemporary fantasy duology.\ \
- Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen - XO, Kitty meets Dash & Lily in this rom com about two teens falling in love via letters left in their favorite library books—even if in real life they think they have nothing in common.\ \
- Roar by Varsha Bajaj - The gripping story of a boy whose eye-opening trip to a tiger sanctuary ignites his desire to join those who are roaring to protect the animals.\ \
- Babel by R.F. Kuang - A historical fantasy epic that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British Empire.\ \
- Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim - A mother and daughter must break their family’s curse through trials of war and immigration, love, loss, and redemption in this riveting multi-generational saga with a shimmer of magic.\ \
- The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe - In this spellbinding fantasy debut set in a future where language magic reigns, a young Hawaiian woman must solve a murder to clear her name.\ \
- Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker - In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.\ \ \ Happy AANHPI Heritage Month!](https://ofpagesandprint.binderybooks.com/item/w8ybreAz4RMi6uF1KFu5/)
22 books
4
somenoveltea's bindery\ \ Maddie\ \ • Sep 4 2025
Join for free
i seldom do recs but dark academia is my FAVORITE sub-genre of all time. also drop any recs u have bc i'll literally read all of them #booktok #bookrecs #darkacademia #bookrecommendations #darkacademiabooks
16 books
Bookwyrm Ink\ \ Bookwyrm Ink\ \ • Apr 17 2025
Join for free
\ \ Join for free or login](https://azthiabookwyrm.binderybooks.com/item/F2igu8Q7FUW3tC9R4Xx4/)
Books that will make you rethink history and society. 🤔📚
Books that will make you rethink history and society. 🤔📚
5 books
3
Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Apr 2 2025
Join for free
It’s no secret that I love academic fantasy books, so after finding Blood Over Bright Haven I couldn’t help but revisit some of my favorites in the genre.
From magic school concepts to post-graduate research these scholarly fantasy books have the perfect #darkacademia or #lightacademia vibes.
Also, there are definitely at least 20 more books in this category, but these are some of the ones that I’ve loved enough to keep physical copies of ✨
#darkacademiabooks #lightacademiabooks #magicschool #fantasybookstagram #fantasybookrecs
11 books
1
chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Apr 2 2025
Join for free
Your Favorite BookToker's Last 5 Star Read
My mic going out is actually my villain origin story 🫠 I lost a handful of amazing people 😭
11 books
1
Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Mar 26 2025
Join for free
Finished this incredible fantasy just in time for our book club meeting last night. I loved it from the very first scene and all the way through til its absolutely perfect ending. I had almost no criticisms for this one–besides one picky part where the magic system seemed to break. This one reads like horror at times, because it forces you to face the consequences head on in ways few fantasy books ever have. Bloody, brilliant, and absolutely flawless.
I will say, I listened to this on audio and have noticed a trend in audiobook readers loving this one more than those who read it physically. So, do with that as you will.
PS: M.L. Wang’s depiction of “white women” was absolutely scathing and spot on.
1 book
2
Not So Well Read\ \ Courtney\ \ • Mar 23 2025
Join for free
[This week in the book world: \ \ This week was all about Sunrise on the Reaping! It's been so fun seeing everyone diving back into the world of my all-time-favorite series. I'm only about 1/3 of the way through, but I know from everyone's stories that this is going to emotionally destroy me. I am ready. \ \ I had my own personal drama with this title–specifically a certain publisher not having us sign the needed embargo paperwork, which delayed our shipment by 3 days–but overall this release seemed to go a lot more smoothly than THAT one in January. I will say, I am forever jealous of the folks who got to attend the Waterstones Midnight Release. That looked AMAZING and even my indie-loving heart isn't afraid to admit it.\ \ This Week's Publishing News: \ \
- Sarah Beth Durst announced a new teen book this week! It's called The Faraway Inn about a teen girl who goes to work at her aunt's secretly-magical B&B after a breakup.\ \
- New horror novel called The House Where Nothing Hurts, "pitched as Bunny meets Marlena and for fans of Yellowjackets, about a high school volleyball team that discovers a haunted house where none of their actions seem to have lasting physical consequences"\ \
- Lindsay King-Miller, author of The Z Word, is teaming up with Rachel Feder for a dystopian retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray called Dorian/Gray, pitched as a retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray "where the rich are assigned poor scapegoats who experience all the negative consequences of their actions through quantum entanglement"\ \ \ This Week's New Releases: \ \ Much slower week than last week, but still some good ones:\ \
- Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones\ \
- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins\ \
- Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green\ \
- The Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley\ \
- The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth\ \
- The Prince Without Sorrow (Obsidian Throne, #1) by Maithree Wijesekara\ \
- The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi\ \ \ What I Read This Week: \ \ Oathbound (Finished)\ \ UGGGHHH!!! When's the next one???? I just want my babies to be happy together, okay? Also, in other news, I saw in publisher's weekly that Legendborn sold only 2000 copies in its first week, but Oathbound sold 20k+ in its first week and I'm just so happy!!\ \ Soulgazer (Finished)\ \ This book captured my entire heart in a matter of pages. Not only is it an incredible pirate fantasy, it's got an incredibly tender romance that will be beloved by both historical and fantasy romance readers. I cannot wait for the next novel and will be thinking of Faolan and Saoirse nearly every day until then. 10/10, perfect romantasy. Y'all make sure to preorder this one and show author Maggie some love.\ \ Kill Creatures (Finished)\ \ Kill Creatures is the exact reason why I love teen thrillers. Impossible-to-put-down from the very first page with a twist that will leave readers of all ages reeling, Kill Creatures is the a sun-soaked-fever-dream thriller that's perfect for summer reading. This one comes out 6/3/25!\ \ Blood Over Bright Haven (50%)\ \ I am loving this book, which is very likely due to the incredible audiobook narrator. We called the twist pretty early on, but that hasn't kept me from enjoying it. I need to finish this one tonight before book club tomorrow, so I'll keep y'all updated on my progress.\ \ Dance of Lies (28%)\ \ Ooooh, I can tell that this one is going to be a slow burn and I am buckled in and ready.\ \ What I bought/shelved: \ \ Bought:\ \
- Till Death by Kellan McDaniel\ \
- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins\ \
- I Am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins\ \ \ Shelved:\ \
- Between Ink and Shadows by Melissa Wright\ \ \ Other Musings: \ \ Don't forget the Trans Rights Read-a-thon is happening now till 3/31! I am hoping to read The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts and Till Death during this time!! I also wrote a little blog post with some of ours booksellers' favorite books by trans and nonbinary authors. You can read that here if you want some book ideas!](https://notsowellread.binderybooks.com/item/cFjgpkWvt5TAMAGZc5fa/)
15 books
1
Kiln Books\ \ dylan joseph\ \ • Mar 2 2025
Join for free
\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://kiln.binderybooks.com/item/Izys9HvZ0W4vYoc7esBX/)
EARLY ACCESS: February wrap-up and March TBR
PRE-ORDER MY DEBUT NOVEL HERE: www.dylanjosephwrites.com/shop
⛰️ contact: dylan.joseph@thestation.io
🐻 in this video, i talk about the books i read in february and the ones i plan on reading in march!
🍃 video contents 0:00 - intro 2:01 - last, now, and next reads 6:09 - putting my current wip aside 12:03 - reviving an old manuscript 18:56 - about my debut novel 24:32 - writing q&a/advice session 36:47 - outro
thanks for being here and i can't wait to make youtube my main content source because it's always been my favorite place to be!
🍂 bookstore vlog, bookshopping, wrap-up, the seven husbands of evelyn hugo, yellowface, the favorites, darker shade of magic, taylor jenkins reid, a study in drowning, a certain hunger, the hunger games, special editions, hiking, pacific northwest, nature, mountains, vlog, atlas six, dark academia, magical realism, literary fiction, book haul, acotar, writing, writer, lgbt, romance, gay, smut, booktok, bookstagram, acotar
11 books
2
Kiln Books\ \ dylan joseph\ \ • Feb 21 2025
Join for free
[Happy almost March, everyone! \ \ It's officially our first month with the Kiln Media Club Discord Server!\ \ We've got some great titles out for voting this month and I hope you all are excited about them! \ \ It's FREE to join the Kiln Media Club, but if you'd like access to private chats and other perks, consider upgrading your membership to The Atelier tier! You'll get a free copy of my debut novel, The Lies We Tell, early access to my YouTube videos, and more! \ \
Vote on our March Media Club Books and TV Shows!
3 books
3
Bookwyrm Ink\ \ Bookwyrm Ink\ \ • Feb 5 2025
Join for free
Blood Over Brighthaven by M.L. Wang- My favorite read of the year
Blood Over Brighthaven by M.L. Wang is an excellent example of accepting the truth behind the veil. Interesting magic system, amazing world-building, and an insightful look into how societal pillars can topple when we learn from one another.
1 book
Skies Press\ \ Emma\ \ • Jan 7 2025
Join for free
5 books
Trash Panda’s Universe\ \ Trash Panda Leon\ \ • Jan 6 2025
Join for free
Top Reads of 2024 - Bookish Recap - Honorable Mentions
If you want to support me, consider joining my Bindery for free: https://trashpandas.binderybooks.com/about/
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/trashpandascorner
Chapter: 0:00 - Intro 0:11 - Blood Over Bright Haven 1:05 - Chain Gang All Stars 3:59 - All System Red (Graphic Audio) 5:45 - Yellowface 8:50 - The Final Strife 12:35 - She's A Keeper 15:47 - Blood & Brujas 19:06 - Trial of the Sun Queen 22:46 - An Absolutely Remarkable Thing 26:16 - House of Frank 30:47 - Honorable mentions
9 books
The Inky Phoenix\ \ Kathryn Budig\ \ • Dec 20 2024
Join for free
K.M. Fajardo’s Fav Read of 2024
I will be adding this to my shelf immediately!
2 books
4
Skies Press\ \ Emma\ \ • Dec 14 2024
Join for free
New highest rated Book Club book...
THIS BOOK???? (Also yes i have a book club that i almost never talk about here bc i worry about too many people joining 💀) ML Wang is one to watch, i can’t wait to see what she continues to do because this is two back to back homeruns. 📚 #booktok #booktoker #bookreview #bloodoverbrighthaven #mlwang #bookclub #fivestarbooks #favoritebooks #fantasybooks #darkacademia #booksilove #emmaskiesreads
1 book
Trash Panda’s Universe\ \ Trash Panda Leon\ \ • Dec 6 2024
Join for free
Blood Over Bright Haven 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review
#bloodoverbrighthaven book review
1 book
Elsewhen\ \ Emma Gardner\ \ • Oct 30 2024
Vote for November's Book Club Pick
Click this post to vote for November's book!
3 books
5
Written Reveries\ \ Krystal\ \ • Oct 10 2024
Join for free
House of Frank by Kay Synclaire A Sorceress Comes to Call & Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton Walker The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandana Circe by Madeline Miller Witch King by Martha Wells Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid One for my Enemy by Olivie Blake The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson Wicked by Gregory Maguire Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang You Cant Spell Treason without Tea by Rebecca Thorne Blood & Brujas by Mikayla D. Horendo The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields #witches #witchbooks #bookish #bookclub #booktok #bookrecommendations #krystallotuslang #bookreview #bookmail #witchbookrecommendations @Bindery @Tor Publishing Group @Penguin Random House @William Morrow Books @berkleypub @Orbit Books US #Inverted
15 books
Fantasy & Frens\ \ Zoranne\ \ • Sep 13 2024
Join for free
\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://fantasyandfrens.binderybooks.com/item/ZqpWR2Nu8bbeD2D2zwS2/)
WATCH EARLY: Fall 2024 Fantasy Book Releases on my TBR!
Hi Frens! Today’s video covers some Fall 2024 Fantasy releases that are at the top of my TBR!
6 books
5