So this one was compared to Fourth Wing, Harry Potter, etc. (because of the academia) but I truthfully just didn’t see it, and I lost interest very quickly. It initially had my attention but I found myself having to push myself to read shortly after. I tried to like it but just wasn’t my thing!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
Dark academia, vampires, strong FMC, mystery, romance, games and trials and interesting friendships.. sign me up.

I absolutely liked the premises and thought behind the plot of the book. The characters felt multi layerd and had a clear own character which I enjoyd. It was nice to have some trials in there as well as the devision between vampires and non vampires. I perhaps didn't really catch on what makes her so special - physically different but perhaps that comes more in book 2? The pacing in the book was nice and enjoyable which definitely helped me to stay engaged with the story! The authors writing style is also very enjoyable.

As much as I absolutely enjoyed this story I will say that I feel like it didn't reach its full potential. It was a bit confusing time to time and i didn't feel like many questions were answered throughout the story just leaving me to question the plot. But I am excited to see what book 2 has to bring!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher & the author for a late Advance reader copy.

Thank you to Briar Boleyn and Netgalley for this ARC.

So what I liked: vampires, enemies to lovers, dark academia, slow 🔥, and dragons

The mmc Blake is hot!

The only thing I wasn't pleased with was the beginning of the book. The pacing was off, or perhaps it was too wordy? I felt that once i got past that, I did enjoy the characters.
Im looking forward to the next book.

On Wings Of Blood is an engaging and well-written fantasy that draws you into a dark, exciting world with Aerin and Kael at the centre. Their complex relationship adds depth to a plot that’s full of unexpected twists and high stakes. I loved the balance of action and emotion, which made it hard for me to stop reading. I give it a 4/5 stars!

So I loved Briar Boelyn's first series so much and it is still one of my favorite series. Having said that I was not disappointed with this newest book of hers. Half-fae dragon rider in a world with out dragons, vampires and dark academia all rolled into one. Sign me up!!!! I loved the slow burn and the anticipation is killing me. I cannot wait to see where this series goes.

This was fun in some aspects, but I feel like it could have been edited down a bit and just been a shorter book. Instead, it felt like there was a lot of filler content at certain parts which made it drag on. I did love the world building and the romance- I just felt like certain things just could've been edited out to make the book flow more smoothly.

⭐️/4
🌶/1

I was a fan of Brair Boleyn before and I'm even more of a fan now. If you want a dark academia world with a forced engagement, vampires, and a FMC hellbent on survival in a new world, this is the one for you.

Medra ain't got time for nobody and their nonsense and I love her for it. I wanted to hate Blake, but he's one of those bad boys who is working quietly to actually be good.

There is minimal spice, this is all about the world building and trials faced by Medra as she navigates the world she is dropped in to.

If you haven't read the Blood of Fae Series, I would suggest it. Not totally necessary, but it gives a ton of insight on where Medra comes from and what she has going on. Either series is one you're not going to want to miss

🌟Vampire MMC
🌟Half Fae FMC
🌟Hate/Lust
🌟Forced Betrothal
🌟Academy
🌟Dragon Lore
🌟He Falls First
🌟Bullying
🌟Peril
🌟Consort Games
🌟Magic
🌟Dual POV
🌟🌶️🌶️

Holy wow—On Wings of Blood completely consumed me!

From the moment Medra was thrust into an unforgiving, unfamiliar world, I was hooked. Her life is upended in the cruelest of ways, and watching her navigate this brutal land where death is a constant threat was nothing short of captivating. Medra is a force of nature—fierce, resilient, and unwilling to break even when everything, including her autonomy, is ripped away. Her sheer determination to survive, despite the cruelty she faces, made her a protagonist I couldn’t help but root for.

Then there’s Blake. Oh, Blake. He’s like a double-edged blade—sharp, deadly, and impossible to ignore. Arrogant, ruthless, and harsh, he’s the embodiment of power, but beneath that unyielding exterior lies another side to him. He, too, is a survivor, navigating the sinister web of his family’s cruelty. In some ways, Blake wields immense power, yet in others, he’s trapped, constantly striving to stay one step ahead. This duality makes him both infuriating and fascinating—a character you want to hate but can’t help being drawn to.

The dynamic between Medra and Blake crackles with intensity. Their undeniable attraction is as fierce as the hatred that fuels their clashes. It’s like watching a pot on a low boil, threatening to erupt at any moment. The sexual tension is electric, the drama relentless, and their will to survive absolutely gripping.

What truly pulled me in was the intricate layering of the story. It’s not just about Medra and Blake—it’s a world brimming with schemes and countless pawns on the chessboard, each move adding depth and stakes to the narrative. There’s always something happening to keep you on edge.

And that ending? Let’s just say I need the next book immediately. This is the kind of story that digs its claws into you and refuses to let go. If you love dark, layered tales with high-stakes drama and simmering tension, On Wings of Blood is an absolute must-read!

Thank you, NetGalley and Starwater Press (Indie) for this book for review. This was sooo good. It took me a minute to get into this book, but once I did, I could NOT put it down!! Going to get book #2 NOW! That cliffhanger!! Ugh, if you need more vampires, dragons, battles between the haves and havenots, READ THIS BOOK!!

🩸On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn🐉

“You’re beneath me in every possible way. Whoever you are, whatever you are”

“His face hardened. “Every year someone dies.”

Harry Potter and Fourth Wing had a baby but with Vampires and Mortals, it’s full of trials, witty banter, pure hatred, a badass FMC, deaths, murders, and so much more all jampacked into one amazing story. I thoughoughly enjoyed reading this first instalment of Bloodwing Academy!

I absolutely adored that our FMC, Medra Pendragon, could not keep her mouth shut even if she would have been better off. I laughed out loud, and cheered her on all from the comfort of my home 😅. Her first day was terrible, I think anyone in there right might would have given up but she persevered and it won out in the end for her 🥳.

Also I loved that we got to switch to Blake’s POV every so often, he was absolutely adorable in Chapter 20! I think that was when my thoughts began to change but Oml is he pissing me off! WHY! Stop being such a Jerk 🤬.

Anyway here is the gist: Medra Pendragon is the last of the dragon riders….or so she’s told, but in a world where there is no dragons it’s pretty pointless right? Being deposited into a world full of vampires (known as Highbloods) who are considered gods and mortals (known as blightborn) who are seen as less then and servants was not on the agenda but alas she is here and forced to attend Bloodwing academy. Will she survive? Or will she fail miserably? Guess you gotta read it to find out 😜


Tropes:
🩸Vampires
🐉Dragons
🩸Villian gets the girl (kinda)
🐉Bully Romance
🩸College Vibes
🐉Forced Betrothal

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/out of 5
🌶️🌶️/out of 5

Well while you read this one, I’m off to the second book in the series! Goodluck

It is also awaiting Amazon approval, I’ll have it published on Instagram and my website in the coming weeks

Blake is my favorite character in this book and vampire and dragons was fantastic loved it I can’t wait to read book 2 of this series 5.75 stars all the way

This is such a delightful dark fantasy.
Fast-paced and full of twists and turns, the story draws you right in. I loved the characters and the world building and cannot wait for the next installment in the series.

I honestly loved this! I didn’t know what to expect going in but it’s got it all! I went straight on to the second book and I already can’t wait for book 3! Thank you for my copy of this book.

This book had a very Fourth Wing and Harry Potter/ magic academy vibe to it. It was hard for me to get interested into story at first. The story alludes to another series that Briar Boleyn wrote, the Blood of Fea series. This is a series that I have been interested in reading and wonder if I had read that series prior to "On Wings of Blood," if I would have enjoyed the book more. I do think you don't need to read the Blood of Fea series prior but for someone that prefers reading books in order, it would have been nice to know before going into reading "On Wing of Blood."

Overall, it is an interesting story that ends on a cliffhanger. I enjoyed the romantic relationship and banter between FMC and MMC. I plan on reading the Blood of Fea series and giving the next book in Bloodwing Academy series a go, which "On Wings of Blood" is apart of.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Boleyn for providing me with this ARC!

I do not want to poorly rate this book as I cannot comment on the story as I did not get far due to the layout. I don’t know if it’s just the ARC that is set out this way or if the actual book will be the same but it follows the pattern of a script with a line break after each sentence. For me personally this makes it horrible to read and I literally couldn’t get by it. I wish I could rate the story as well, the description sounds like it would be amazing so if you can get by something like structure I’m sure it’ll be awesome!

On Wings of Blood is an intense, action-packed fantasy that takes you to a world full of magic, power struggles, and fierce, complicated relationships. Briar Boleyn has a way of making the fantasy world feel real—there's so much depth in the world-building, it almost feels like you could step right into it. The protagonist's journey is filled with emotional and physical battles, and the romance adds just the right amount of tension to the mix. The pacing can be a little slow in parts, but it’s all about the character growth and the unfolding drama. If you love dark, epic fantasy with a lot of heart, this one’s for you. Thank you again for this ARC copy.

On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn is a dark, thrilling fantasy that pulls you right into its world. The plot is full of twists, and the characters are intriguing and complex. If you're into high-stakes adventure with a touch of romance, this book is an exciting and unforgettable read!

3.5/5 (rounded up) ✨ I’m such a sucker for reluctant, slow burn, enemies to lovers where she doesn’t realise that he fell first AND harder.

On Wings of Blood swept me up and I devoured the book in two days. The will-they-won’t-they dynamic was frustrating in the best way, and both Medra and Blake grew on me as their characters developed and I learned more about their histories and traumas.

I have such a soft spot for dual POV and men written by women. The dual POV balanced Medra’s and Blake’s conflicting perspectives so well. I genuinely couldn’t stop reading once I got an insight into Blake’s family trauma, motivations and feelings. His POV had me giggling and kicking my feet because he is SO down bad for Medra but so understandably emotionally stunted.

While I’m absolutely sold on the romance, I had to push through the information dumps in the first 30% which is sad because I normally love academia settings. It was a lot of telling rather than showing, and I had to fight my brain to retain all the information. Considering it’s the first book of a series, it’s understandable that the focus was on world building, and I’m still really excited to see what’s next for Medra and Blake.

——

Side note: I didn’t realise this was a spin-off. Reading Blood of a Fae beforehand may have improved my experience because I was so confused by the missing information at the beginning (which I now realise were subtle nods to the other series).

——

So very thankful to Briar Boleyn (Fenna Edgewood), Starwater Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

——

Tropes:
- Academia setting (with vampires, humans, dwarves)
- Bonded Mates (elements of political marriage)
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn
- Love Triangle
- Underdog/Outsider MC
- Touch her and you die
- Open door spice

This book was soooo good! Fae and vampires?! YESS!!!!
I loved the story, the writing, the worldbuilding..... I was so excited when I found out this book, and it didn't disappoint. It reminded me a bit of FW, so I will say if you liked FW you will like this book too.
One of the things that is decisive in my rating is the FMC. If she annoys me, I'm rating it low. But Medra was a surprise. She's strong and her relationship with Blake was so good! Even tho is the a morally dark grey character, we get to see different sides of him and we get to understand him.

I will add this book to my recommendation list cause more people need to read it ahah

I absolutely loved this book!
It got going really fast! The world building and desriptions are amazing!
Only thing I didn't like was how long it took Blake and medra to get together but of course Blake is inconsiderate and glad medra constantly puts him in his place! Love the banter, it's like nothing I've read before!
Cannot wait to read the next one!!!!!