I really enjoyed this book. It was a wild ride from the start. I included it in 3 posts including full review on TikTok account

On Wings of Blood is a romantasy book filled with dragons, vampires, and mischief. The book centers around Medra Pendragon, the last dragon rider who has found herself in a new world. Medra must navigate the challenges of Bloodwing academy, all while dealing with her new betrothed mate. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. I was a bit confused in the beginning, as there is quite a bit of world building and information dropped, but eventually it picks up. The book made me feel all the feels with found family, betrayals, and surprising plot twists.

*Although it is easier to understand this book if you’ve read the Queen of Roses series by Briar Boleyn, it is not necessary

Features -
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Arranged marriage
- Vampires
- Academia
- Dragons riders/dragons
- Found family

I am absolutely obsessed with this book!

Fourth Wing and Harry Potter vibes galore! We have an academy filled with young adults (like early to mid 20s I would say) where most are vampires and some are humans.

Tons of academia time which I loved! We got to be in the classes with Medra and dealing with library study time and extra essays and I eat that stuff up!

There's also so much mystery surrounding how Medra got here and into this situation (I recommend reading the Blood of a Fae series first so the ending isn't spoiled).

There's a bit of a love triangle forming, but also so many characters are trying to manipulate others, so I'm really not sure where they're all going.

I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!

Read if you love:
-Dragons
-Dark academia
-Bully romance (just a bit)
-Vampires
-Steamy tension

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for a gifted copy of this book. My thoughts are entirely my own.

This is a fantasy book compared to a lot of things but it still is its own. Medra wakes up in a new world, not understanding how she ended up there, and this is a good set up to introduce the world to the reader, and avoids some info dumping (there's still, but very little). She then meets Blake, and realizes vampires are real in this world, and has to find her place among vampires.

She's identified as a dragon ridder because Medra is fae, and in this world, faes used to control dragons. As both fae and dragon are considered extinct (but there aren't distinction between humans and faes), Medra is valued for her blood, and Blake's family wants to keep her, so Medra ends up linked by future marriage to Blake, and has to go to the Academy. There is some convenience regarding the beginning of the school year starting in a few days after Medra entered this new world, and I would like more if the Academy was presented as a military academy instead of a school, it would distance the world from the Harry Potter world, and make the threat of a civil war between the vampire houses more imminent.

I liked the characters and their relationship. I usually don't like bully romance because I can't understand how can a person fall in love after being taken down by the same person, but at least there's some explanations why Blake is rude to Medra. Their relationship is a slow burn, and with dual POVs, the romance is well written. Some people may dislike that the main character is a bit self-aware, as she points out that Blake has a sob story, but I liked because it shows the reader that the author is avoiding certain clichés, and she mostly got it right. I wish Regan (the other consort of Blake) was more fleshed out, it would be more interest if she realized that Medra was valuable and the three became a triad instead of the girl fight. Regarding the writing, Brian Boleyn kept my attention, the fighting scenes were good, the sexy scenes too (that one after the ball specially), but there wasn't a sparkle, a sentence that I wanted to highlight and write in my reading journal. However, I already got the second book from a store, and will start next.

Vampires, dragons, and a redheaded dragon rider—oh my! House of the Dragon meets Hogwarts, wrapped in a dark academia boarding school setting with a touch of romantasy. Despite its length, the pacing kept me engaged, making this an easy book to get lost in.

I enjoyed the seasonal shifts throughout the story (another similarity to Harry Potter) that added an immersive touch to the world without overwhelming the world-building. The magical creatures, particularly Neville the fluffin and Medra’s friendships, brought some delightful whimsy to the story.

At its heart, this book has everything I adore:

🩸 Vampires & dragons (a superior combo)

🎓 Dark academia & boarding school intrigue

🔥 Enemies to lovers with an arranged marriage twist
💀 Morally grey characters (my favorite kind)

❤️ Slow burn romance with just a dash of spice

🏡 Found family dynamics

Excellent!!! This book is a sure cure to your Onyx Storm hangover!!! This book blended so many of my favorite things
- dragons
- castles
- University student life
- VERY morally grey men

Well written and engaging prose as well! The story is addictive from start to finsih! Thank you NetGallery for this title! Unto book 2!!!

Medra Pendragon is found naked on a pile of dead bodies. The same day she’s captured and forcibly bonded to Blake Drakeharrow, nephew of the regent Viktor. Forced to attend Bloodwing academy, where vampires are all-mighty highborn and she’s bullied alongside other “blight-borns”, Medra tries to find out what her dragon blood means and how to get rid of the voice in her head. In addition she walks a thin line between hate and love for her gorgeous, cruel vampire betrothed.

I’m not entirely sure what to feel about On Wings of Blood. In one way I liked it, but I was never engrossed in the story. I think it’s my own fault for being in a rather slumpy mood (pre Onyx Storm hangover) when I picked it up. I might’ve enjoyed it better to cure my hangover since it’s an enemies-to-lovers romantasy in a school setting with a fierce heroine. It’s described as Harry Potter x Zodiac Academy and I feel that vibe really fits! Medra and her two friends had a similar dynamic as Harry, Hermione and Ron which I liked. They formed an instant friendship and it was sweet how quickly they grew close and became each other’s confidantes and supporters.

I wished the world-building was a bit better. I wanted to explore more of the world and get a better understanding of why. Especially because Medra is thrown out of her own world and into a new one. I wanted to know more about that particular problem and both worlds in general. I do however think this is something we’ll see more of in the next books. Moreover I felt Medra settled too quickly. She just woke up in a new world when she should’ve been dead and gets bonded to a vampire the same day and it’s just ok? Obviously she isn’t fond of the arrangement, but why doesn’t she try to run away? Why isn’t she more curious about her past? I couldn’t understand that part, but again I hope it’s something we’ll see more of in coming books.

As for the romance I actually liked Blake. Major applause for a blond love interest! I’m kind of getting tired of all the stereotypical dark haired heros 🙈 I don’t know what to think of the relationship though. It’s a slow burn, but I’m not sure I believed the feelings at the end? This is how Medra feels because of complications so it’s greatly written by the author. Confusing the reader alongside the MC. I do wish feelings could’ve been explored more. I felt we maybe got cut off too quicky at times and didn’t get to go as deep as I’d hoped.

My favorite parts were Blake’s POV. That put a new spin on it! I throughly enjoyed reading from him. There’s a lot of questions that weren’t answered so I want to pick up the next book and follow our cast further. A good cliffhanger! I might seem very negative, but I liked the book. The concept is great, I love enemies to lovers and vampires so I have high hopes for the series! Besides, Medra is a red head. I gotta support that 🤭 I wasn’t in the right mood and that is my own fault and I hope to remedy that with the next installment.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to NetGalley and StarWater Press for allowing me the privilege to read the ARC.

Was this my favorite of Briar’s? No. I could just be biased because his other series was my first series by him and it’s hard to top that series. But am I completely invested? Yes.

The world is a spin of Fourth Wing (War College) and Zodiac Academy (Initiations, Consorts, Vampires).
The writing felt choppy at times and I would’ve liked to see more from certain scenes in place of just inner dialogue. There were some grammatical errors and places where the story didn’t flow quite right. Especially when it comes to Blake’s POV. One minute he hates her (or appears to hate her) the next it’s a complete 180 but not much detail getting us to that point.

“Little Dragon” may just be my new favorite nickname 😍

Medra wakes up in a world she doesn’t recognize by a band of vampires. She is taken back to their college where Blake takes responsibility of her as her archon (she’s now his consort). Enemies to lovers? Book 2 will have to answer that.
This world has magic, dragons, trials, games, and a ball.

Kage may have my vote after the ball scene 🥵 but the way Blake said mess around and find out had me weak too.

I can’t wait for book two!

I found this book quite challenging to read. Romantasy isn’t typically my genre, but I was compelled by the cover and the book description. Unfortunately, I learned fairly deep in (and only after reading Goodreads reviews), that this book is a spin-off from an existing series. The existing lore/backstory is casually referenced through the book in a way that made me think I was just missing something obvious. This was confusing and unhelpful, and I think the author would have been better served to just start a fresh series from scratch, as the main character is literally dropped into a new universe with new magic rules and new lore on page one.

The book has a number of typical romantasy tropes that audiences might enjoy: a female main character who is somehow magically excellent at things, a magical school that is so similar to Hogwarts I’m not sure why the author didn’t bother writing fanfiction, an aloof, mean male main character that has a secret soft spot and accidentally falls in love with the female main character. Things that audiences might not enjoy are baffling world building choices like having characters in this non-contemporary fantasy world wear sexy short skirts, violent homophobia (enacted by the bad guys, sure, but good lord), and what I’ve learned is called the “bully” trope, which was deeply unsexy and grim to read.

However, I do think this hodge podge of every trope imaginable will be appealing to people out there who are gluttons for the genre, and I wish them all the best.

On Wings of Blood is a captivating story with rich world-building, compelling characters, and a deliciously tense slow-burn romance. Briar Boleyn delivers an immersive story filled with dark academia vibes, intrigue, and just the right amount of angst.

One of the highlights of this book is its atmosphere, the setting that pulls you in immediately. While there is some bullying, it feels purposeful rather than gratuitous, adding depth to character motivations and the world’s dynamics. The FMC is particularly intriguing, with layers to her backstory that I can’t wait to uncover in future installments. And while the MMC can be frustrating at times, the tension between them is undeniable and keeps the slow-burn romance engaging.

That said, the true standout for me was Neville, I loved every moment he was on the page.

Overall, On Wings of Blood is a fantastic start to what promises to be an enthralling series. I’m already counting down the days until the next book!

What a wild ride! At the start I was a little confused, it felt like I’d missed a whole story before the first chapter, however that confusion soon disappeared as more parts of the story were revealed. I instantly liked Medra and I caught on to Regan’s motives fairly quickly, the story was really good and I can’t wait to read the next book.

Thank you so much, NetGalley for the ARC Edition of "On Wings of Blood". Boleyn's world-building is both vivid and immersive, painting Bloodwing Academy as a perilous institution brimming with intrigue and danger. The academy serves as a battleground where allegiances are fragile, competitions are deadly, and secrets lurk around every corner. The unique blend of vampire and dragon lore adds depth to the narrative, offering a fresh take on familiar fantasy elements. The characters are multifaceted and compelling. Medra's resilience and determination make her a protagonist worth rooting for, while Blake embodies the archetype of the cold, arrogant anti-hero with hidden depths. Their dynamic is charged with tension, evolving from adversarial to something more complex as the story progresses. In conclusion, "On Wings of Blood" is a captivating start to the Bloodwing Academy series, offering a rich tapestry of magic, politics, and romance. It's a tale of loyalty, sacrifice, and love that will leave readers eager for the next installment.

On Wings of Blood was an easy, fun read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The story has a lot of potential. I think the series will definitely improve as the author settles into the world and the characters find more depth. It gave me some Fourth Wing vibes, so if you’re into that kind of story and are looking for something similar after reading Onyx Storm, this is definitely a good pick.

That said, it had some pacing and character issues that kept me from fully connecting with it. I felt like the motivation behind the characters’ actions was a bit lacking, especially with the MMC. His interest in the FMC seemed to come out of nowhere, and I didn’t feel like it was really built up until later in the book, after they initially got together. I think it got better as the story went on, but I would’ve liked to see more development earlier on.

I’m excited to see where the next book goes and am hoping to get approved for the ARC. Can’t wait to read more!

Reviewed on BN under Amy0607

Was this the best book I’ve ever read? No. But damn it was entertaining.

A little possessive for my taste, and some parts were a little longer than they needed to be, but it was still entertaining nonetheless.

Not sure if I think I’ll continue the series but it’s a possibility. Some of the formatting threw me off (five books in one book?) and how page/paragraph layout was, but that didn’t cut into the entertainment value.

This book hit on almost everything I love in a good fantasy book. A romantasy with banter? forced bond? bully hero? check, check, and check. Medra quickly became a top FMC for me. I loved how she didn't take shit and stood up for herself even when everyone around her basically wanted her to bend the knee to Blake. I enjoyed her friendship with Naveen and Florence, and Neville ;) It was hard for me to put this book down(I was almost late to work more than once because I didn't want to stop reading it.) I'm glad I read this book after book 2 was released because now I get to dive right back in.

For the Dramione Girls

Thank you Netgallery and Starwater Press for providing an E copy in exchange for an honest review.

Okay let me just start by saying this review is HIGHLY bias.... Dramione fanfic is my junk food and this just hit that craving. Does it have the most lyrical prose or unique magic system/ world building out there? No. Did I care? Absolutly not.
The world was dark and lush and ripe for the mood and I was here to pig out!!!

This book has:
DRAGONS!
touch her and die
Spice
An MC with ink!-Yes
Blade to throat trope
Dark Academia School vibes
Vampires
Arranged Marriage
Villain gets the girl

I'm sorry DRAGONS & VAMPIRES!!...with Dramione elements!!! What else do you want me to say?

I really enjoyed this and am excited to see where the author takes this series. Interesting and unique world with popular elements. The plot hooked me in and had lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming! I really like the main character, Medra, and can't wait to see if more of her origin comes to light.

On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn is an exciting, dark fantasy that completely swept me up. The world-building is rich, and I loved how the story mixes elements of magic, political intrigue, and personal struggle. The main character’s journey is full of twists and emotional depth, which kept me on edge the whole time. There were moments that were a little heavy on the world-building at the expense of pacing, but I still couldn’t put it down. Overall, it's a gripping read, and I’d rate it 4/5 for its unique take on fantasy and the strong character-driven plot.

I’m honestly torn. There’s a solid story in here, but it feels like it’s just shy of being great. The pacing is all over the place—it’s like someone couldn’t decide if they wanted a marathon or a sprint, so we got a weird hybrid where it’s both too long and too fast. It lingers in the wrong moments and then zooms past the parts where you really want the characters to slow down and have a full-blown emotional meltdown.

And then there’s Blake… Look, I can overlook the whole “blonde love interest” trope, but his utter lack of common sense? That’s where I draw the line. I couldn’t connect with him at all—his decisions were all over the place. No wonder Medra was getting emotional whiplash! Honestly, I felt the same way every time I switched POVs. Just when I thought I was starting to understand his reasoning, he’d flip the script and do or say something so ridiculously stupid. What was he expecting? That Medra could somehow read his mind?

This book really feels like it could benefit from a more thorough edit. The world-building and the overall premise are strong, but by the end, I was just praying to the Bloodmaiden that Medra wouldn’t end up with that ridiculous man.

4.5 stars

This has everything you want from a dark fantasy academia and then some. We get a fiery heroine, a true slow burn enemies to lovers between a vampire and dragon rider set in a dangerous magical academy, with political intrigue, bullies and twisted trials. All my favourite tropes are included; touch her and die, arranged marriage, he falls first, and forced proximity.

Medra’s story picks up immediately after the events of Knight of the Goddess which I loved. Whilst you don’t need to have read the Blood of a Fae series to understand the story and reads well as a stand alone, I would recommend starting there. It will provide more context and insight into Medra prior to her arrival in this world and fill in any gaps.

The world building is rich and immersive blending the familiar vibes of Harry Potter and Fourth Wing to craft a unique story with vampires and dragons. I love the authors writing style as it’s easy to immerse yourself in the story. Despite the slow start due to the world building, the pacing picks up and becomes impossible to put down.

The slow burn romance was incredible and this enemies to lovers is one of the best I’ve read. Their chemistry was intense and filled with snarky banter and tension. I loved every interaction and seeing them fight their growing attraction to each other. It’s a dual PoV told mostly from Medra with the occasional chapter from Blake which works well for the story.

This was everything promised and more, laying a strong foundation for what’s set to be a great series. Whilst predictable in places the story will keep you on your toes until the end. On Wings of Blood is perfect for lovers of romantasy who grew up loving Harry Potter but wanting something a little darker or for people in their dragon era after discovering Fourth Wing.