Book Review: Blood Over Bright Haven

May 15, 2025

Blood over Bright Haven is one of my favorite books of the past few years. The plot is tight, the characters are well written, and the fantasy world building is excellent. The novel considers the nature of and ramifications of using magic in an industrial society.

The world of the novel is an allegory of colonialism, specifically the relationship of oppressed ethnic groups to capitalism. Magic is the almighty currency to be accrued and wielded by the elites of society. But at what cost?

The twist of the story is pretty easy to figure out, but it's revealed about halfway through the book. The unwinding of what we learn propels the plot through the rest of the book.

This novel has excellent characters, action, humor, a little romance, and an incredibly well thought out magic system. I just loved it all.