Holy goodness! 🥴 That was a RIDE from START to FINISH! and that ending?!?!!! Um yeah...imma need the next book ASAP!
This book is Harry Potter meets Fourth Wing and throw some vampires in there cause WHY NOT! The dark academia, the drama, the tension the everything! Beautiful! The world building was so flawless I can't! And Mr Blake??? Helllooooo👀👀👀 needless to say I LOVED it and I need book 2 ASAP!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’d give this book a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. It’s pretty much a mashup of some popular romantasy books which I really enjoyed but this book in particular was very character and world building driven which I tend to struggle with. I think the biggest downfall was that I felt like there wasn’t enough plot so it got a little boring in my opinion. I do like the inspired bits from different series but it still was unique and didn’t feel like a knock off of other stories. I look forward to reading the next one.

Fourth wing X Serpent and the wings of the night


I loved this book. An easy read with great plot. I’ve enjoyed the authors other books but this has definitely been my favourite so far!

The first 20% of the book couldn’t decide if it wanted to be modern or old. It was so hard to get into the world because it kept jumping back and forth with vampire folklore but then adding the weird school element that felt very childish instead of what I assume the author wanted which was something like fourth wing. If you wanted to be modern then be modern. You can’t have it both ways

Next problem. The MFC has been in this school for 2 DAYS and so much has happened and not happened all at the same time. She’s already talking about her feelings and how she hates the MMC but girl it’s literally been two days. How are you having all these epiphanies? I HATE insta love or what ever you wanna call this dumpster fire.

Moving on, Blake is supposed to be this big bad guy, but he comes off as a sad teenager. Even in the description of the book it says he’s a bully to our main female character, but even at literally 50% in and nothing has happened. There has been no bullying. There has been no drama or proper interaction between the two characters at all really.

Now for some final thoughts because I feel like I could keep rambling about what I did not like in this book. Too much was happening all at the same time. the author wanted to take every single book trope known to man and shove it in there, and it did not work well at all. It just made the book feel very childlike and jumbled.

I would definitely definitely skip this one and run far far away

Briar Boleyn’s On Wings of Blood is an absolute triumph for fans of dark fantasy and slow-burn romance, especially for those already captivated by her Blood of a Fae series. After Medra defeats her grandfather, expecting her life to end, she instead finds herself waking in a world completely foreign to her own. Here, she’s immediately seized by Blake, a brooding Highblood prince, and whisked off to the Black Keep. Medra’s distinct appearance—fiery red hair and pointed ears—marks her as an outsider, and her resemblance to the long-lost dragonriders spares her life...but at a cost. Bound to Blake against her will as part of a political maneuver, Medra is thrust into a power struggle within an elite academy where vampires and other mythical beings roam.

The academy’s high society is ruthless, with a rigid hierarchy, Medra finds herself forced to navigate, all while struggling to master her own budding powers. Boleyn crafts a world brimming with magical intrigue, danger, and intense romantic tension. Medra’s bond with Blake simmers with a love-hate energy that’s electrifying. Their connection is a beautifully orchestrated slow-burn, full of palpable tension and undeniable chemistry. Medra and Blake are bound by a complex mix of obligation, distrust, and magnetic desire, creating a deliciously frustrating dynamic that makes their romance utterly addictive.

This novel is rich with fantastical elements, from the political machinations of powerful families to the thrilling presence of vampires, dragons, and an ancient legacy. Boleyn delivers a story that keeps you on edge, with its mix of high stakes, magical intrigue, and romance. For anyone who enjoys an immersive, darkly magical world with characters who clash and connect in the most compelling ways, On Wings of Blood is a must-read!

You will like this book if:
You wish Hogwarts was a more collegiate setting with a bit of spice
You wish Draco had more spotlight & got the girl
You like vampires, fae & dragons
You love when a fictional man says ”MINE!” Or “Touch her and die!”
You love found family, arranged marriage & fated mate tropes
You love a strong female lead that doesn’t take crap from anyone.

Now this is a spin off of Briar’s Blood of a Fae series, so I highly recommend reading that 4 book series first (starting with Queen of Roses) or you will miss Medra’s background and be confused about where she came from, who & what she is and there are small spoilers for the ending of Knight of the Goddess. Overall Briar has done it again and created another astounding world with new and old characters you will enjoy(or hate). I can’t wait to see where this series leads!

I was very excited for this book and I was not at all disappointed.

To keep it short and sweet and of course spoiler free I just want to say how much the author put time and thought into the well written story and how hooked I was from start to finish. The cover is absolutely beautiful and I would recommend anyone to give this book a go.

Spoiler free review * If you mix Dark academia with fourth wing and vampires and a sprinking of fae? On Wings of Blood felt like an epic story with a ton of worldbuilding. its dark but the FMC and MMC kept me hooked and invested in the Hate to love/Enemies to lovers. i loved the representation in this book and the character building. i spent my time reading this book and enjoyed every moment absorbing the world. the dragon rider element will have you hooked. Highly reccomend and i cannot wait to read the next book. Also gave me adult harry potter vibes

4⭐️
2🌶️
“It doesn't matter what you want, Pendragon. You'll never have to ask.”

Slow burn? This one takes it to a whole new level. I’m still waiting for more! But while we wait, On Wings of Blood delivers plenty of fluffins, witty banter, and the occasional blood sacrifice. So, not all bad!

Medra is everything I love in a FMC—strong, takes zero sh$t, but I wish she’d be a bit less nice sometimes, especially when it comes to Regan. She could definitely use a little more of Blake’s “toss them in the fire” energy! And speaking of Blake, can we get more of his POV in the next book? Because yes, please. Hate to love you with these two.

And more fluffins—definitely more fluffins. If you haven’t seen the art of them on Instagram, do it!

It’s a long read, but it kept me invested the whole way through. I just kept wanting to know what would happen next and, of course, was hoping for some more spice and that elusive bond completion. The supporting characters are intriguing too, and I’m looking forward to digging deeper into their stories.

And then, the cliffhanger hit… just when I thought I couldn’t be tortured any more. Thanks for that!

Tropes:

⭐️Dragons
⭐️Vampires
⭐️Enemies to lovers
⭐️Dark academia
⭐️Bully MMC
⭐️Arranged marriage
⭐️Touch her and ☠️
⭐️Forced bond


Thank you Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and the suffering I am now experiencing waiting for book #2 in exchange for an honest review⭐️

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this book! It’s a great enemies to… almost lovers (we’re getting there lol) & slowburn! The amount of times I was hoping they would just kiss already 🙈 the ending was surprising, I didn’t see it coming! I can’t wait for the other books to come out! So I can hole up in my office again and fall in love with another book!

Dragons, vampires and dark academia! What more can you ask for?

Just wow! It’s 3am and I’m left wide awake and furious! (in the best way) I want to flip tables at that ending!!

I completely missed the tag line about Harry Potter, ZA and fourth wing vibes but man that’s exactly what’s going down here!

We have strong FMC, sizzling tension, angst without it being proper school aged kids stuff… just beautifully dark and beautifully written! I absolutely can’t wait to see where this goes next!

Thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing and the fabulous Briar Boleyn for this ARC in exchange for a honest review

Book reviews, but make it a ✨haiku✨ for On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with this e-arc!
"He's hot." Mom, please stop.
Not better than me, f*ck you
Fine. Be that way...B*tch

What happens when you combine Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, and a pinch of Arthurian legend? You're served On Wings of Blood. This book was SO good I could not put it down! There was tension, spice, fight scenes, high-stakes trials, and mean girls. A mean girl who has a different spelling of my name, and made me want to smack her on more than one occasion.

4.5⭐️
This was so good! It was everything l'd want in a dark academia story and more. The world building, tension, twists, all had me hooked. It's duo POV which is my favourite.
I really liked Medra's character. She is a strong and stubborn FMC, stands up for what she believes in, doesn't take crap from others.
Blake is morally grey and possessive with bully vibes but you get to see glimpses of his softer side. I think there's more to him and he just hasn't shown us yet.
The cliffhanger has me begging for the next book asap. I can't wait to see what happens next and how their relationship will develop.

On Wings of Blood - 5 Stars

If you enjoy morally grey men, Briar Boleyn's characters will have you terrified for the female main character (FMC) while simultaneously praying they end up together, thanks to their off-the-charts chemistry.

This book is perfect for fans of dark academia, intense drama, and those who seek love and romance within the pages of a novel. The FMC is sassy, witty, confident, and always fighting against injustice. The male main character (MMC) is a hauntingly complicated, tortured soul who needs more from the FMC.

In "On Wings of Blood," you'll fall in love with all the brilliantly written characters, even if they smell of mint and apple. Briar Boleyn has once again crafted an excellent piece of work in the genres of Fantasy and Romantasy. If this review doesn't convince you to pick up the book, these quotes surely will:

"He wore a black, tailored suit that fit him impeccably, accentuating his tall, lean frame. The jacket hugged his broad shoulders and chest, tapering at the waist to hint at his muscular, subtly defined torso."

"I’d already been so...aroused that I knew if I’d..., I wouldn’t have been able to restrain myself."

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the concept and the plot. I found the FMC very stubborn and hardheaded, towards the frustrating point sometimes, because I mean we can forgive a morally grey MMC a lot can’t we? Even though I knew she was right! I love the Harry Potter feel of a book for each school year and the learnings of a new world. I can’t wait to read book 2!

Lords, She has done it AGAIN!! Somehow even better though!! I could not put this down and I am APPALLED that I have to wait for the next book. As a ZA/Dramione fan, this gave me EVERYTHINGGGG I needed and was promised. It was thick but not too thick, mysterious but not overkill. Briar, pleaseeeeee let there be love in book 2! I haven't shipped two people so hard before.... Ya'll pick this one up. RUN actually!

Oh boy, it was a looooooong book. Personally I feel like it could be cut shorter and there were multiple times where I was thinking to DNF this one. However the tension between the characters pushed me to read through. It is enemies to lovers however only from one side haha. The book itself is very slow-paced and is a slow-burn, but I liked general world building, with a hint of Fourth Wing and dark academia vides. Overall a book is a solid three stars but was missing something to make me rate higher.
Ends on a huge cliffhanger.

So I was under the impression this story is a standalone, which is why I requested it. I think, yes, it possibly could - but the way the beginning of this story is written, it very much feels like a continuation of something that happened in another book. I happened to have read the first two books in Briar Boleyn's Blood of a Fae series and so I recognize character names, however I did not finish the series and so I am was very lost reading this. I am going to have to read this one after I finished the BoaF series first. I really wish if there is that much of a backstory missing that the story would have been labeled as such. I truly thought this was a brand new series.

What can I say, i LOVE this book! It has a real Fourth Wing vibe to it and I can't get enough! The world building is awesome, it's really easily to picture in your mind and the characters are really easy to vibe with.
I really enjoy the anticipation of what comes next amongst the MC and the vampires within the Bloodwing academy.
Definitely recommend 👌

Harry Potter meets Zodiac Academy in this story, the MMC giving strong Draco Malfoy vibes.
This is the first book in the spin-off series of Blood Of A Fae and it’s starting strong!
It kept me on edge the entire time. The main characters are well constructed, the story well written and the plot is interesting.
Medra finds herself in a world of vampires after she survives the events happening in the last book of Blood of a fae series and she is perceived as the last of a great line of dragon riders. Forced to mate with the handsome yet infuriating Blake Drakharrow and obliged to attend a vampire academy, she must survive in a world where most people want to kill her or use her in some way.

The tension and the chemistry was really strong and I cannot wait to read the next book!

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC!