Blood Over Bright Haven

How do I review a book that at times hit me with an incredible emotional punch, kept my attention and interest throughout to the point where I was looking forward to picking up the book whilst at the same time managed to feel incredibly racist, even though the author clearly had a well intentioned anti-racist message? At times during reading this book I found it quite ugly and uncomfortable, and not in a challenging way that may help me reflect on my own white male privilege. Rather I found the setting's deeply racist and sexist mindsets and culture to be a little to on the nose, and dare I say it, a little to close to what the most bigoted in society say and do. Rather than being a mirror on white supremacy, it felt like, 'more of the shit I have to dodge in real life'.

So I guess, this should have a big 'reader beware' sign on it and I am confident that the author's intentions are to highlight and critique the bigotry of real life attitudes to oppressed and indigenous people, rather than celebrate such opinions.

'Blood Over Bright Haven' is set in the city of Tiran where magic acts as the cities resource for power, and although there are political structures it is evident early that the Highmages (the top ranks of magic users in the city) are the real power brokers. The main character Sciona Freyman becomes the first female Highmage in history but comes into contact with firmly entrenched patriarchy immediately, given a Kwen janitor called Thomil as her laboratory assistant as an insult. The Kwen is a term used by the Tiranese to describe the indigenous population who live outside the city. The novel becomes less about 'success in magical academia' and more a challenging period of growth and awareness as she confronts not only the patriarchal systems she has to overcome but also the privilege and colonialist mindsets that are deeply entrenched in her as she learns more about the city, more about it's magic and more about her place in the world.

In the early part of the book, it can be quite heavy going. Thomil's subservience is hard to read, possibly because the racist tropes are easily recognisable. Sciona in turn is a racist. One could say she is brainwashed through her culture and religion but when she expresses her thoughts they can be quite ugly. I'm still not sure if this authorial choice is brave, or clumsy. The book's chapters all start with text from a book on history, or magic use, or similar - all written by the mages. They start off innocuous enough but as the book develops these texts, which are the foundation of Tiranish culture become more and more overt in their dehumanisation of women and the Kwen (note the Kwen are not a singular race, they are a catch-all term for all the indigenous people). As a consequence the reader gets to see, despite how nonsensical the claims are, how utterly ingrained hatred and fear is instilled in a culture. Even recognising what the author was trying to achieve, it still felt quite uncomfortable to read and I assume more so if the reader identifies as a marginalised person.

I won't spoil the plot, but what I think is worthy of attention is a theme of actions and intention that is weaved through the book. There is a debate between Thomil and Sciona, that isn't really resolved, yet develops through the book which asks, 'what is worse - good intentions that cause harm, or self interested intentions that cause no harm?' exploring the notion that merely thinking one is a good person or trying to be a good person isn't enough if you still cause harm. I think of these concepts in relation to the environment or how we treat animals (a nation of animal lovers sure eat a lot of them!). Indeed, one can see a lot of real life parallels in the book, from the othering of Palestinians as somehow less than human, to the treatment of refugees, to the structural racism, housing and economic barriers of people of colour. It's a question I am sitting with. Am I a good person or a well-intentioned person?

Sciona as a character isn't an easy character to read. She's clearly incredibly driven, self-centred and individualistic. She seeks to do good for the city of Tiran, but it is her own personal status that compels her. Thomil is a source of significant learning for her, and Sciona definitely experiences growth. She seeks to change the world, and yet when the time comes she does not listen to Thomil. As a Tiran she still knows best, but she's assuaged her conscience by speaking to Thomil. Her actions cause significant harm and in her singular desire to achieve change she ignores the complex system she is unbalancing. When I think about the book, at times I think Wang is at times simplistic, and at other times I think she absolutely develops her themes perfectly. She manages to ask big questions about morality, she shows the impact of our comfortable western world on the Global South, she addresses how people can both oppress and be victims of oppression.

I would recommend potential readers look at other reviews, particularly those that explore themes of the 'noble savage' and 'white feminism saviourism'. Thomil is a little too pure, a little too perfect, just happens to be incredibly connected to nature and his world. He represents a feeling of 'back to the land'. However the Kwen are largely treated as either, 'what a surprise, they are quite nice when you get to know them' racist trope, or a homogenous mass of violence and danger. I think Wang is intentionally not centring the Kwen to expose how we 'other' people we don't know and how we can dehumanise others. Sciona is the 'hero' of sorts. She makes all the key decisions, her story is centred and whilst her growth is important I can understand how offensive this can read. The white-coded hero is not an ally, she's a self-appointed leader of the liberation of the Kwen, and they have no say in the terms of their liberation.

It's still a book worth reading. The emotional weight of the opening chapter is immense, it is hard not to read it without feeling sadness, loss and grief. Similarly, the end of the book feels incredibly brave and in some ways both fitting and 'wrong'. Maybe that's why I think I value this book, for all the things that bugged me, the themes already mentioned, characters I didn't care about there is an intention to make the reader a little uneasy, often by exposing themes and narratives that don't make this a cosy read.

I should also highlight how the pacing of this book is excellent, with a structure that drives the plot on without rushing. I also really appreciated the thought that went into the magic of the setting and how it worked. It could have easily fallen into 'maths-babble' but it doesn't. It feels like it is a difficult academic discipline with a history and religion but also understandable to the reader that makes it easy to understand how it all fits together.

Recommended with big caveats.