Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang, 428 pages.
Sciona has never had the makings of a proper Tiranish lady, instead dedicating all of herself to becoming the first female mage admitted to the High Magistry. Unfortunately, all of her brilliance doesn't protect her from the slights and sexism of her colleagues, including being assigned a Kwen janitor instead of a proper assistant. But Thomil wasn't always a janitor, and his experiences with the world outside of Tiran combine with Sciona's once-in-a-generation talent have the potential to shake the very foundations of the city of Tiran, God's Bright Haven.
This was a great book, but I can't talk about most of the parts that hit me like a gut punch without lessening their impact. This is a fantastic and fantastical exploration of colonialism and exploitation that feels grounded and real enough to keep all of it's impact in a fantasy setting. Sciona is a great protagonist for the story, complicated and deeply flawed. I think this book is what I wanted Babel by R.F. Kuang to be. I can't wait to discuss this one with Orcs & Aliens next week!
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