I could not put this book down and was so sad when it ended! The dynamic between the half fae princess turned into a mortal dragon rider and the Vampire prince was EVERYTHING. The bully romance-esque with a to die for tension had me on the edge of my seat!! This was also a perfect introduction into the dark academia world for me, I got so attached to the characters that my heart was shattered at certain times. I need Blake (MMC) to grovalllll in the next book and I cannot wait to see how Medra (FMC) is going to survive next in this brutal world!

This is a dark academia fantasy romance that hooked me from the start. Medra Pendragon, a half-fae trapped in a vampire-controlled academy, fights to survive in a deadly world of political intrigue, magical creatures, and forbidden love. Her strength and defiance stood out as she faced torment and a forced betrothal to the arrogant yet intriguing Blake Drakharrow. The enemies-to-lovers tension, combined with intricate world-building and unique vampire-dragon lore, made this a gripping read. The story is packed with twists, danger, and a fiery heroine who refuses to back down. With an explosive ending and unforgettable characters, this book is perfect for fans of slow-burn romance and high-stakes fantasy drama.

I really enjoyed this book... the romance, the academy setting, the everything.. and the ending!!! I'm finished 😫... can't wait for more.

I loved this book it reminded me of the cruel prince but with vampires in the beginning. As much as I loved the book I would of liked to of had more info on the fmc's past and what happened right before she got to sangratha. Excited to read what happens next.

Think: vampires but in a Hogwarts (and a bit of The Hunger Games) setting, with a feisty half-fae FMC who gives strong Merida from Brave vibes and a brooding (bully) MMC who is distinctly Draco-Malfoy-ish.

There is little doubt (in my opinion) that Briar took inspiration from a certain famous wizarding world when writing On Wings of Blood (academic setting, 4 houses, one friend who is very clever/academic and another who is quite “Ron”ish - and there’s even a character named Neville, but who definitely ISN’T who you think he is…!) BUT it is a fantastic story in its own right and I ate it up completely, finishing the 764 page Romantasy in a couple of days.

The world building is colourful, rich and easy to understand, the romance is slow burn and the spice is exquisite - a beautiful combination of magic and mayhem, literally (what more could you ask for?!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️
A solid start, but left me wanting more depth.

On Wings of Blood has an intriguing premise with its dark fantasy world of angels and demons, and I appreciated the high-stakes tension and forbidden romance. The chemistry between the main characters is undeniable, and the author does a great job of weaving in steamy moments with bursts of action and political intrigue.

However, the pacing felt uneven, with some parts dragging while others rushed past crucial character development. The protagonist’s choices sometimes felt inconsistent, and the world-building, while fascinating, lacked the depth needed to fully immerse me in the story.

That said, the book sets up an interesting foundation for the rest of the series, and fans of morally grey characters and darker romance tropes will find a lot to enjoy here. I’ll likely check out the sequel to see where the story goes!

BOOK: ON WINGS OF BLOOD
AUTHOR: BRIAR BOLEYN
SERIES: BLOODWING ACADEMY, BOOK ONE
PUBLISHER: STARWATER PRESS
LENGTH: 525 PAGES
OVERALL RATING: 5/5 STARS
BLOG RATING: 5/5 SALTIRE FLAGS

The main characters of this book are Princess Medra Pendragon and Prince Blake Drakhorrow. Medra is half fae and wakes up in a field full of corpses. She is also discovered by lead vampire Prince Blake Drakharrow. Medra sticks out like a sore thumb with her ginger hair. She ends up being abducted by Blake who notices her mark which makes her a rare dragon rider. Except there is one problem: there are no dragons in existance. Now Medra is in a forced betrothal with Blake but is not even his first betrothal but his second. Plus the fact his first betrothal is looking at Medra like she wants to murder her! On top of that she is being forced to attend their prestigious education system at the Bloodwing Academy! Plus Blake’s other betrothed Regan wants to murder her! However, she turns her clique of vampire girlfriends against Medra too. She feels like Medra is beneath them being half human and fae for some reason when she dropped into this world she lost all her fae powers.

Now gorgeous Blake who doesn't have a hair out of place acts like he can’t stand Medra but the truth is he desires her and he is very jealous and possessive of her. He will kill anyone that touches her. He dreams about her every night. The problem with Medra is she had felt very alone until she met two best friends Florence and Naveen. She probably wouldn’t have survived without them by her side. Of course many of the vampires thought they were beneath them and had no idea that Medra came from a different world. Now Medra is confused as she doesnt understand this world and definitely hates that these vampires control everything and everyone.Will she ever accept Blake as her mate? Will she even survive with all these vampires at every corner?

This book has a bit of everything with a great world building, banter, spice! it is definitely a book you can sink your teeth into! No pun intended! This new series is absolutely phenomenal and I loved it so much. I also loved Briar’s 4 book “Blood of a Fae”fantasy series. What a fabulous start to a new series! This book was absolutely brilliant right from the start and with non stop action every step of the way!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader from the publisher. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨...𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚. 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙩.
•••••••
𝗠𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱. 𝗦𝗵𝗲’𝗱 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳.
•••••••
𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿.
•••••••
If you are looking for a Christmas gift this season, this book had everything—danger, drama, and a fierce fae heroine you can’t help but root for.
Medra Pendragon’s journey as the last dragon rider grabbed me from page one. Her sweet friendships with Florence and Naveen brought so much heart, while the school’s deadly rivalries and tense politics kept me on edge.
And Blake Drakharrow? Are you a Draco fan? Then this MMC is for you! He’s arrogant, complicated, and absolutely irresistible.
The world-building was incredible, I felt it was easy to follow with the rich history, magical houses, and just enough mystery to leave me craving more.
I loved every twist, every tense moment, and every bit of romance. Briar knows how to write a romantic fantasy with danger lurking around the corner. Can’t wait to dive into the next one!

My rating system is as follows for any ARC book:
1 star = DNF, wouldn't recommend this to anyone and found significant flaws in it
2 stars = Finished, not something I would recommend but some may find it good
3 stars = This is a good book, nothing too spectacular but I enjoyed the read
4 stars = This was a fun and intriguing read, would talk about it and look for other works by this author
5 stars = An amazing book, would re-read

Overall Rating: 4.5
The only reason why this book isn't a full 5 stars is because I tend to find the more aggressively arrogant leaning protagonists to be rather grating. Medra however is only grating in the beginning of this book for me, although I was saddened by the lack of character change and development happened to her throughout her time at the school.

This book though was hard to put down. It was a darker and slightly steamer harry potter style academia, but with vampires. The world was very mysterious and there are so many things left unsaid.

There were times where the plot seemed shallow and the characters just fell into very easy tropes but that also made the book enjoyable.

I will say I expected more steamy scenes that what was given. But I'll just have to wait for book 2 to see if that issue is fixed. ;)

Would recommend highly! The writing was gorgeous "chef's kiss*

"On Wings of Blood" filled the dragon-sized hole left behind by Fourth Wing and then some. This dark academia fantasy romance is a thrilling cocktail of vampires, forbidden love, and courtly intrigue, set against a backdrop of intricate mythology and dangerous secrets.

Briar Boleyn masterfully blends the atmospheric tension of Zodiac Academy with a touch of Arthurian legend and the slow-burn allure of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Medra Pendragon, the fierce half-fae heroine, is a compelling underdog whose journey through Bloodwing Academy—a treacherous school where survival is a bloodsport—kept me glued to every page. Her fiery dynamic with Blake Drakharrow, a cold and ruthless vampire, is laced with enemies-to-lovers chemistry that fans of Dramione vibes will adore.

The world-building is rich and immersive, blending gothic academia with medieval and magical elements. From the shadowy halls of Bloodwing Academy to the dangerous competitions and intricate vampire-dragon mythology, Boleyn creates a setting that feels both vast and intimate. Themes of forbidden love, power imbalance, and self-discovery are woven seamlessly into a plot that is as unpredictable as it is satisfying.
This story is a deliciously dark exploration of power, identity, and rebellion, with just enough lighthearted moments to balance its more intense themes. Between deadly competitions, shadowy political schemes, and Medra’s dragon-shaped destiny, Boleyn has crafted a story that is as enchanting as it is dangerous.

With its morally complex characters, political intrigue, and a touch of dark romance, On Wings of Blood is a standout in the romantasy genre. It delivers all the drama, danger, and heartache fans crave, while leaving just enough questions unanswered to make the wait for the next installment excruciatingly exciting. If you’re a fan of slow-burn dragons, gothic vibes, and the thrill of a heroine defying all odds, this book will own your heart. I, for one, am already counting down the days until the next chapter in Medra’s journey!

#OnWingsOfBlood #BriarBoleyn #Vampires #Dragons #Romantasy #Enemiestolovers #slowburn #darkacadamia #gothic #morallygrey #powerimbalance #fourthwing #harrypotter #zodiacacademy #5star #love #netgalley

This was another incredible read from Briar Boleyn. It was WONDERFULLY written and kept me completely captivated! What an amazing read, i want more!

On Wings of Blood is an absolute triumph which hooks you in from the first chapter.
I loved the dynamic between Medra and Blake and their 'will they or won't they battle.' The words flow from the page and I was so disappointed when the tale ended - on a cliff hanger I hope that it's not too long until the sequel is released.
Thoroughly enjoyable and recommendable

Vampires
Dragons
Forced Betrothals
Magical Academies
Insta-Lust
Enemies to -sort of- Lovers

This story had some really great moments and I think the world itself is interesting. We don’t see too many stories that feature both dragons and vampires. This story started with finding a girl on a pile of CORPUSES. I’m sorry, what? And then it leads us into a forced betrothal and tossing us into a magical academy? Instant-yes. Let’s also toss in that he is royalty.

The world itself is interesting. The lore behind some of the events that have taken place in the kingdom were interesting to learn about (vampire and human lore). I think the different classes she had made sense for the world and the magical aspect of the story too.

That said, I do think this needed a bit more work. The characters felt flat for most of the story and I couldn’t find one that I had any kind of connection to or that I was rooting for. Some of that was the dialogue being a bit too rough (for me). It was kind of like we wanted to toss in all these cliche tropes for a character and it was just too much. We lost the realistic feel to them when it became overly done. The story was also kind of repetitive in the middle half, which left me quite bored at times. Plus, the relationship between the FMC and MMC just didn’t flow as nicely as it could have.

The ending was fun, though! The last 20ish percent picks back up in pacing and keeps the reader interested to see what will happen next. Plus, we get more of Blake’s POV and I think that allows for us to see another side of the relationship that will help in the next book.

Readers who are ready to really see more dragons are going to love the next book!


Thank you so much for the NetGalley ARC.

A new series that follows the ending of the Blood of a Fae series, where we left Pendrath at the end of a war and the hope that it was saved in the end and everyone is safe.

On Wings of Blood starts off following the events of the previous series, Medra Pendragon awakes to find herself in a completely new world, one inhabited by Highborns (vampires) and blightborn (including humans, dragons, and dwarves). Thrown into an unknown world, having to deal with an unexpected connection with her mother, Medra is forced to navigate the friendships, relationships, and hatred of the people around her. This is a story of unexpected meetings, intertwined fates and a FMC who kicks ass whenever possible.

This new series from the author has reminders of so many of our favourite tropes and stories brought together with a fresh outlook. This makes the start of this series more interesting and engaging. The characters in the story are interesting and each is different from the other, making it a wonderful ensemble. They each add a new dimension to the plot and provide wonderful support to Medra. The story is filled with adventure, mystery, magic, romance and of course the supernatural. The story is engaging and will keep the reader hooked until the very end.

I have enjoyed reading books by the author and love her style of writing. Her books are written in a way to draw the reader in and keep them waiting for more. The endings are perfectly set up to usher in the next book in the series, giving the reader just enough information to know what to expect but throwing in one or two twists that they didn't see coming.

I really enjoyed this book!! It’s everything a want in a romantasty book. There’s vampires, magic, dragons, enemies to lovers, touch her and you die, plus very good banter & spice 😍 I had to buy a physical copy of this book I liked it that much 😂

This book follows Medra who lands in this unknown world to her and is soon found by Blake who is a vampire prince. He brings her to his family and they decide that they want to keep her close, which means that she has to start attending Bloodwing Academy. She has to deal with some deadly competitions and handle school bullies, all while figuring out her feelings for Blake.

I’m excited to continue this series and I will be purchasing the next book immediately when it comes out!

I have also posted a review for On Wings of Blood to TikTok :) https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTYFoDdJd/

Dark adult fantasy. Dark academia, trials, vampires, dragons, enemies to lovers to enemies?! What more could you ask for? More Blake and Medra scenes. This was soo good and gave adult Hogwarts vibes. Elite spicy daydreams and banter. The cliffhanger has me salivating for the next book

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

On Wings of Blood was a thrilling novel with a mix of danger, enemies-to-lovers tension, and mystery. The story follows Medra Pendragon (who some of us already know), a half-fae stuck in a world of vampires. Medra has to figure out her new world and hope to survive Bloodwind Academy and Blake Drakharrow.

Like all of Briar Boleyn’s books, On Wings of Blood was a really exciting and entertaining story. Medra was a great main character, though I couldn’t get on board with Blake. I absolutely hated Blake’s actions at the end of the book as well. I know he’s most likely being set up for some great character development, but I don’t know if I’ll be a fan of him after this.

I can’t wait to see where this story goes and as always, I can’t wait to read more from Boleyn.

Waahhh this book gave me Dramione but make it vampire and fae vibes. This is an easy read in terms of the world building presented by the author. There is lots of tension and banter, I love that we get a lotnpf our favorite fantasy elements but the pace is a little on the slower side. This doesnt bother me at all with fantasy reads.m especially when the books are hefty reads! I dont even want to talk about the darn cliffhanger. Whaaat?!

There was a lot going on in this story, references to Camelot, vampires, dwarves, fae, dragons, etc.. I really enjoyed discovering more and more about the social structures and hierarchies, as well as the magic system. This is the most clear example of an MMC who is morally grey, but leaning much further towards darkness, that I’ve ever read about. I honestly still can’t decide if he was actually just the villain or not. Medra is definitely one of the FMCs that I’ve enjoyed reading the most, she is far less infuriating and picks up on things much quicker than the FMCs in many popular romantasy novels. The side characters are written incredibly, some you want to also be friends with, and others you want to punch in the face repeatedly. There is so much heartbreak and loss, but interspersed with some really sweet moments. The school structure is very similar to many very popular series, but it works. Looking forward to hopefully learning more about the social structures and potentially getting some additional perspectives in the next book. Thank you to NetGalley for providing this!

On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy: Book 1) by Briar Boleyn
5/5

I devoured this, dying to get my hands on the next one immediately!
Well done Briar Boleyn! I have read her Queen of Roses series but this series however, will hands down be her masterpiece, what a start! So captivating, I couldn't put it down.

A dark academia with vampy sexual tension bliss.

☆ Spice
★ Prince meets mystery Princess
☆ An unwanted betrothal
★ Trials
☆ He falls first
★ Dark academia
☆ Morally grey/black
★ Bully romance
☆ Touch her and die

This book started strong with action from the off, we meet our FMC in the nude and Boleyn doesn't wait to introduce our hot (although potentially not hot?) vampire prince "Draco Malfoy" type MMC into the equation.

I loved Medra's character, our FMC is a humble half-fae Princess who wakes up in the wrong place. Medra has strong morals and a view on right and wrong, equality of races and she is not afraid to tell others to check themselves on those high standards.

This slow burn, hate to love couple is everything I needed. Mix that with a dark academia Hogwarts vibe storyline (with established houses and detailed classes) with a trial and fight to the death action and I was a goner from the start. Spectacular, give me 14 of them right now.

I have been left wanting more, with high hopes for book 2 (and beyond?!)

The additional characters are well formed and have real purpose in the storyline, I hope Boleyn continues to build on those as we go through the series. I also need more creatures, I would like a Fluffin to call my own and also that particular last chapter delight please.

Dual POV and this book still managed to leave me shook! Cliffhanger ending beware! The world building is great so far, complex and something building on typical vampire books with an original take.

My only critique: another round of review would be good to correct some minor spelling,

Thank you to NetGalley, Briar Boleyn and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.