Thank you, Netgalley and Briar Boleyn, for allowing me to read another of your books. You never disappoint!

In this new chapter, and in the aftermath of the battle of the Blood of a Faw series, we follow Medra in her new world.

She's found herself among vampires and is thrust into a courtship with the most powerful house, House Drakharrow. Her Fae blood has the same efforts as a dragon rider's blood in this world. Most precious as there are no dragon riders among their kind anymore.

Placed in a triad and in a new school, she must now find a way to live in this new life for herself and survive among those who despise her.

I cannot wait to read book 2!

Overall, this was a great book that totally sucked me in!

I was a bit disheartened when I realized that this book has a connection with the author's previous series (the FMC comes from that world). Regardless, I really wanted to read this story and it was worth it!!! I think there were a few spoilers from that timeline, but I'll still read those books sometime :) we get glimpses from the FMC's past, but everything is clear without previous knowledge.
So, back to this story. I love it when we have a strong FMC, and I especially love it when she's flawed (makes bad decisions for example) AND has some self-preservation (headstrong does not equal to stupidly stubborn IMHO). So I really liked Medra, she had all the 'green flags' for me! Blake, the MMC on the other hand... I don't know, there were some strange things about him, I don't want to spoil anything here so let's just say he's emotionally damaged and can't phrase his wants for the life of him.

Tropes in the book:
- portal fantasy
- dark academia
- morally gray MMC
- enemies to lovers
- touch her and...
- deadly trials (this one's just a mall part here, but really well done)
- vampires (& dragons)

It's a mix of so many elements, still it wasn't overwhelming. Very well written, fast paced... there's never a good time to put it down and rest a bit.
It was 4 stars for me because of the last 10-15% to be honest.... I felt like it was rushed after the trials, still happened so much but we just ran through everything. I didn't really understand what happened between the 2 MCs, and there's a huge cliffhanger which was also a bit rushed for me... so it didn't really have the desired effect on me, instead I'm a bit unsure about the next book.
BUT Briar is a great storyteller and there's so much more to this world, these characters, I have no doubt she'll work her miracle in the next book as well!

Going into anything Briar writes means going into a full blown series that is so perfectly laid out over the long term of it. IN this case, that is exactly it. The story of what is going to be an amazing series was done so well!

Briar gave us all the groundwork in this book with the settings, the world building, the magic systems, and characters which as a reader I absolutely loved! It was a great way to jump into a new series of hers!

This book was a nice little intro into the world and left me hungry for more by the end of it!

Can't wait to read more!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

I thought this book had ALOT of potential but the last 20% of the book was 3/5 and the book entirely is a 2/5. I needed more background of where the MFC came from! I needed more of the MMC parents backgroud! It felt like there was series before this book that I should have read first.

I was hooked!! This was such a good read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could not put it down and I was glued till the very last page! Solid 4,5 stars, and I 100% recommend - and I must say, this reminded me so much of Fourth Wing and the whole academy aspect and I LOVED THAT!!!

A dark academia fantasy romance?? Sign me up!
I love reading a book that has me audibly reacting to every twist and turn and this book had me doing that.
It’s full of all the things you want in a fantasy romance.

This book was fantastic! Every single aspect was perfectly crafted and I can’t wait for book 2. Medra is such a badass, and the lore and secrets…. That cliffhanger. I need more!!

Medra Pendragon is tossed into a new realm without a stitch on her back and is found by a rude and arrogant vampire who unceremoniously throws her at his uncle who is the leader of a powerful vampire society. The uncle believes she is the last of the dragon riders, who apparently died out long ago, however, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But with her arrival, the vampires take that as a sign that the dragons may come back and she needed to be attached to the vampire leader at Bloodwing Academy (his nephew who dragged her there) and she was enrolled with zero choice in the matter. The highbloods run everything and blightborn like her were just blood in their veins, pawns in their games. Although, her blood was different.

Blake Drakharrow, her new betrothed is cold, entitled, and unbelievably gorgeous. He tormented Medra the second they met (although he did save her so, that is one small thing to be thankful for). The big issue with their relationship is he acts like he owns her as if she is his property and that she should be grateful for it. Medra has a history of not following the rules, and where she came from she wasn't new to fighting. Blake underestimates her and will find out the hard way how stubborn she can be.

Bloodwing isn't just a school, it's a live-in danger zone where Highblood vampires are constantly fighting with one another for power. The weak die and the humans are just there for food and entertainment unless they can prove their worth. Even then, the blightborn are constantly reminded that their life can end in an instant.

Deadly competitions, lies that could get her executed, a jealous betrothed, and vampires that seem to want to see what she tastes like... will she survive this school? The powerplay between the houses are fierce. She needs to do well, adapt to this new realm and learn their ways to try and stay alive.

And Blake her betrothed? He's as aggravating as he is beautiful and will be just as much of a challenge as this school. His uncle thinks they can control and use her but they don't know who she is. They will find out in time once things are awakened.

On Wings of Blood is a dark academia fantasy romance with a cocky bully villain with Draco Malfoy energy who falls first and through trial and error gets the girl (sort of). Lots of tension, banter, and a dangerous blend of court and school set in an intricately crafted world with unique vampire and dragon lore. This fantasy had all the things I love. Sexy brooding MMC, a strong-willed FMC who doesn't put up with anyone's crap but is smart enough to know how to stay alive. A slow-burn romance with some spice. A new world with different creatures that take a slightly different approach to how vampires live and their hierarchy.

Bloodwing Academy may have crossover characters from the world of Blood of a Fae but can be read completely independently. (I read that series first so I know where the FMC came from and her lineage. If you're a fan of original mythology, unique world-building, and character-driven romantasy, Check out this new series! Read the trigger warning, please.

Thank you to the author Briar Boleyn for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and being part of her street team The Rose Court. I love her series and appreciate being given the opportunity to read this and her other series which I adored as well.

I can honestly say that I really didn’t know what to expect when going into this book but wow did it blow me away. I love a good academy setting for books and add in the fact that this was enemies to lovers and had the mention of dragons and you can just sign me up. The world building throughout this book was amazing and although I found some parts of the story to be slow, I really enjoyed this from start to finish. Although I did keep hoping for more Blake POVs. This book was incredible and I cannot wait for book two, I need it to be released like yesterday! I would highly recommend this book if you like vampires and dragons. This book would be great for fans of Fourth Wing, the Crave series, and the fated mates and enemies to lovers tropes. Happy reading!

I liked the overall story. I just felt like there were so many different side stories, and not all of them make sense.
Some things happened without enough context and some with too much.
I am still not sure how the MC got where she is and why. Who are her family? What is the bond exactly?
On the other hand, why did the love story line between the two best friends mattered? It was introduced too late and soon after he turns to a monster without any explanations??

What’s up with her physical appearance and why is it only important in the beginning?
Who is her dad? Is she a spy?
Anyway!
I am eager to read the next book!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book begins with Medra waking up, naked and covered in blood. She's in a new world with no idea how she had survived or where she was.
Blake, a member of the Darkharrow house finds her and brings her to his creepy and obviously power hungry and slightly deranged uncle who is in charge of their house.
The world is split between highborn (vampires) and blightborn (humans), I'm sure the titles tell you everything you need to know about how this world works.
Medra is announced as a dragon rider, something that hasn't been seen in decades. Useless seeing as there are no dragons to ride. However, big bad and slightly crazy uncle Viktor decides that Blake should be bound to Medra in front of a whole hall full of the four important houses in the land. He then enrolls her in the blood wing school and Blake dumps her at her dorm and kind of let's her fend for herself.
Through Medra we learn about the world and the rules which govern it. We meet Florence and Naveen, Theo and Vaughan. And let's not forget Regan, who is Blake's consort and she is not impressed with the addition of Medra.
The decisions that Medra makes in the first third of the book really annoyed me and I honestly wondered where the story was going other than Blake and Medra's lust/hate thing they had going on. But then the characters began to evolve and things started to happen. People were killed, maimed and it was getting quite exciting.
I won't give too much away but we have enemies to lovers to probably enemies again, trials, school/academy/found family.
I was frustrated with Medra's history, where she came from and what happened before she woke up, but only because I wanted to know more. I wanted to know it all!!!
There is a slight hint of Fourth wing and harry potter but it's more of a foundation because what books aren't an evolution, or an inspiration of another? The last two thirds of the book flowed really well and the relationship between Blake and Medra developed well, not too quickly and there was plenty of second guessing and angst. The chemistry between them was hot, the wanting was fierce and the dual pov helped bring it home.
I will absolutely be diving into the sequel in 2025!

Medra Pendragon thought she died. However, she finds herself waking with in a world with vampires, who think she is the last Dragon rider. She must now fight to survive as this school she is in is a battleground.

I so enjoyed the Blood of the Fae series, and I was hoping that I would love this one. I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed the characterisation, Medra was such a strong feisty character. It was a delight to read this book. The storyline was imaginative and immersive. I just cannot wait now for the next book.

Bully Academia
Strangers/enemies to ...?
Vampires
Dragons

It took me a while to figure out who our FMC was, if you've read the queen of roses series you'll know her from that story.
I was really confused as to how she'd ended up there and where "there" was in relation to Camelot.

I think I would've enjoyed the book a lot more, had I not read zodiac Academy, but as I have I just found too many similarities to enjoy it and not compare the two. Even the relationship between the main characters was very Darius and Tory coded.

Otherwise it was a well written enjoyable story. I'm left interested in what's to come and what the plan is for the characters so I'll probably read the second.

FMC: not alluded to
MMC: similar age to FMC

Very enjoyable and easy to read. With that cliffhanger, I'm eagerly awaiting the second book! The plot development and world building were amazing! This one was enjoyable to me.

Oh wow!! This is Medra Pendragon's story from the "Queen of Roses" series. I absolutely loved this book.

When Medra died to save her Aunt Morgan and Uncle Draven in the last series, Orcades, her mom refused to let her daughter die. When you're the daughter of a Goddess, anything can be achieved. Orcades' soul is now inside of Medra. Only Medra lost her Fae powers that she once had. They are on a new realm where vampires rule, and humans are basically their slaves; yet they don't realize it.

When Medra is found, her red hair stands out along with her Fae ears. The vampire who finds her is Prince Blake Drakharrow. He's arrogant, rude, and cold. He brings her back to the vampire council and his greedy uncle believes that she's a dragon rider. The vampires worshipped the dragons back in the day, but they are all gone. So he makes Blake and Medra mates by starting the bonding process. Only Blake is already promised to another vampire, Regan, who is extremely catty and jealous.

Medra needs to get Orcades out of her body to free her mother's soul. But being human makes her a target. Everyone wants to use Medra for power. She now has to attend school at the Bloodwing Academy, but she needs to stay alive to do so.

When she's pursued by another vampire leader, she realizes that she has options. As long as she doesn't accept the bond that was initiated on her.

Blake has started to have feelings for Medra. But he has a terrible way of showing it. He treats her terribly in public, but he can't help himself when it comes to watching her. He tricks her into accepting their bond and destroys her trust in him at the same time.

But the cliffhanger is something I never saw coming.

A must read! I can't wait for the next book!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Reading the description I was a bit apprehensive on whether the book would be a big to dramatic for me. But I really enjoyed reading the book, from the beginning you could feel the chemistry between Medra and Blake. I wanted to keep reading more and get all the answers to my questions. Which is why I practically binge read this book. The mystery surrounding the FMC appearing in this new world thinking she may never to go back to her life and people she loved. I wished she could have trusted someone enough to tell them the truth about who she is. The bullying between the MMC and everyone else gets on my nerves, I understand the appeal to the trope but there were times when I had to put the book down. Giving myself a break not wanting to read the mistreatment since it made me feel hot and angry. The terrible system of oppression in this world, how the blightborn have basically been brainwashed into believing everything they are told is a bit hard to read at times. Feeling like Medra we all clearly know it’s wrong but there is nothing we can do to stop it. Slow burn between the characters really made the book and had me on the edge of my seat wanting to read more. Medra fighting her attraction every step of the way is a bit endearing but annoying at the same time. She knows nothing about Blake and what’s really going on but throws hate towards him all the time. Which I understand since Blake doesn’t trust her enough to tell her the truth.. I can’t be mad about this. I love to see how Medra was someone of great power where she came from coming to this world could only mean she has powers here too. How they may appear, I don’t know and then leaving me in a cliffhanger. I’m upset about this, I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for the next book. But I will read it.


Thanks to NetGalley and Starwater Press publishing I received a ARC for an honest review !

Dark Academia with Vampiric Flair
A huge thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
★ ★ ★ ★ ½
On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn is an addictive and fast-paced read, perfect for fans of school settings like Fourth Wing or Harry Potter. Medra is a strong protagonist you root for instantly, while Blake slowly grows on you despite the bully romance trope (not usually my favorite). The world building is rich, with plenty of mysteries left for future books. I can’t wait for book two!

This is an enemies to lovers dark academia! A slow burn, vampires, learning, trials, talk of dragons and friendships!

This was hard to put down! It captivated me and kept pulling me in! I needed to know what happened next.

Medra is strong willed and defiant. She shows loyalty to her friends but also strength in challenging the way this new world is being run. She doesn’t back down in her challenges but also show mercy and love.

Blake is a steamy mysterious villain who who love to hate at first! Definitely an antihero vibe. You get to see both POV.

But be warned! A massive cliff hanger 😍.

Briar Boleyn takes readers on an exhilarating journey in Bloodwing Academy: On Wings of Blood, a spellbinding entry into a new world of intrigue, danger, and reluctant romance. Fans of her ‘Blood of a Fae series’ will be delighted to reunite with the ever-complicated Medra Pendragon, who is thrust into a world where power belongs to the vampire elite and where her identity as the last dragon rider feels more like a curse than a gift, especially in a world that lacks dragons.

Medra struggles to prove herself at the cutthroat Bloodwing Academy. The dynamics of the love triangle she’s dragged into and her slow-burn connection with Blake delivers what romantasy readers need.

Boleyn’s worldbuilding is darkly lush, blending the gothic allure of vampiric society with the untapped mystery of Medra’s dragon-riding heritage. And then that is an ending that leaves you desperate for more.

If you enjoy fierce heroines, tenuous romances, and dark academia, On Wings of Blood is a must-read. I cannot wait to see where Medra’s journey leads next.

Thank you NetGalley, Briar Boyeln and Starwater Press for sending this book for review consideration.

I read Draco vibes from Briar Boleyn and boy did she not disappoint.

We’ve got dark academia, vampires, enemies to lovers (bully romance), slow burn and so much more. Boleyn had me at Fourth Wing x Harry Potter x Hints of Arthurian lore.

The story follows Medra Pendragon who died saving her world. She wakes up in another and meets Black Drakharrow, the Prince of House Drakharrow and they are betrothed. Medra is suddenly thrown into Bloodwing Academy where High Bloods (Vampires) are set on pedestals by anyone who is blightborn (non-vampires, etc.) where survival is their top priority.

World–
I don’t think that was an issue for me for going in and not knowing the world of Arcaenum. But I guess since it had more than what I was expecting, I will go and pick up Boleyn’s other series so I can wrap my head around the entire world. We do get to know a lot about the High Bloods and Boleyn does an amazing job ensuring we doubt the history Medra learns when she’s there at the academy.

Writing & Plot twists–
IIt wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. It fit the setting that it was meant for. It did need a bit of a magical “umph” to it, and it ticks all the marks of a fantasy novel. Nonetheless, Boleyn is still a good writer. The book provides A LOT of information but it’s all worth it, I promise. I do think there will be more flourishing in the next book because of that ending. Why would you do that to me? I hope Blake gets what’s coming for him in the next book.

Characters–
Usually not into an insta-lust trope (Medra fell first), BUT WHEN BOLEYN SAID DRAMIONE, SHE DELIVERED. /chef’s kiss. Slow burn, enemies to lovers and it’s written amazingly well. But besides that fact, if we’re looking into terms of hp, medra did not remind me of Hermione, more so Ginny. Blake was absolutely Draco. Ugh. I love him, thank you. As for the rest of the cast, I also really enjoyed them. Naveen our class clown, Theo's our LGBTQ rep, Regan and Visha who?

4.25/5 and will absolutely pick up the 2nd book. Thank you to NetGalley, Starwater Press & Briar Boleyn for an arc for an honest review.