In a few words, this book was profound. The bare bones of this story was nothing new to me; I make it a habit to pay attention to the many injustices marginalized communities face everyday. I also make it a habit of listening to the many atrocities committed against those same communities from history. I consume diverse media as often as possible and as a result, I consider myself to be a knowledgeable and empathetic human being. This story can be stripped of its fictious characters identities and magical elements and what you would be left with is a 1 to 1 ratio of what any group of people have gone through or are currently going through. That is precisely the point of this story, I want to emphasize that. I don't know how any person can read this and not immediately draw the book's themes and morals to what is occurring in the world today.

I think the most poignant aspect of this novel was the exploration of Sciona's character. She is the literal antithesis against Thomil and through her perspective the reader gets an intimate understanding of the Highmage- in all of its ugly glory. Sciona lives in Tiran, a self-proclaimed "God's Haven" that relies on the exploitation of the very people they look down upon- the Kwen. In the same breath, the "bible" of Tiran refers to women as emotional beings, incapable of anything other than serving men, God, and rearing children. It's a deeply sexist society, extremely on the nose, comically so. And yet, with that glass ceiling preventing Sciona and other Tiranishwomen from succeeding to the same lengths as their fathers and brothers, Sciona is the most judgmental, egotistical, insufferably privileged, epitome of white feminism character I have ever met. There were multiple scenes where she would experience the most vilest form of sexual harassment and workplace hostility from her male counterparts and in the same instance, would say the most horrific shit about Thomil and his community. How can someone be so close to the point and still miss it entirely?? You would think she would understand on her own that in her haste to prove to her oppressors how worthy she is of her station, she's operating on the idea that Tiran's society is one that can be changed with delicate elbow shoving and a healthy dose of girl power. It was frustrating! And I thought this was going to be the tone for the rest of the novel. I was very wrong about that. Eventually, the truth and the facts willed out and not even Tiran's #1 fan could ignore the severity of the crimes committed by the Highmages. Despite her many faults, Sciona did not sit on this information or file it away like many others. She acted on it (not the greatest of plans, but I digress) and changed the fabric of Tiran and the rest of the world forevermore. 

Did she do it all to finally cement her place in history, or to create some semblance of justice for the Kwen? Honestly, I'm of the opinion it was both. Do her final actions spare her of the judgement she is sure to receive in the afterlife? I don't think so. Sciona knows that it'll never be enough, there is a comfort in the thought that she's going to hell, but at least she'll take every complicit soul with her. What I liked was that the author didn't pull her punches with Sciona's fate. I think the author knew to attempt to absolve Sciona of her and her societies wrongs with this final act would be disrespectful to the reader, to Thomil, and the overall structure of the story. The only people who can give forgiveness is the Kwen and they're too busy fleeing Tiran, braving the elements and Blight because the uncertainty of true freedom on the outside is far more appealing than the certainty of a life in Tiran, to give consolation to their oppressors. Like I said, that was the most poignant aspect of this book for me. I think I could write an entire think piece on this subject alone, LOL. 

I think this book should absolutely be required reading. It includes the subjects of colonization, theft of culture, deception, mass murder of indigenous people, religious manipulation/assimilation, racism, sexism, classism with the depth and comprehension deserving of these crimes against humanity. I feel like a lot of fantasy novels attempt the same personal impact that this book exceptionally delivers on with much less sincerity in its overall message. Blood Over Bright Haven is a story that will stick with me for a long time, deservedly so!