4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫!

This was the perfect sequel to book 1!

I love that we got more Florence, Neville, and Nyxaris! The cute little illustrations of Neville throughout the book are the best 😍 I need him!

I also enjoyed getting to know Theo and Visha better! They are two of my favorites! Although, my heart is heavy for both of them right now 😭

One thing that surprised me the most was Blake's character development. I wanted to strangle him but that feeling lessened as the book went on. I feel like sometimes when they write a "bully", they've gone too far for redemption. I'm glad that wasn't the case with him.

Now, if we could just take care of the two fools that are trying to destroy everything, that would be great. Thanks!

That cliffhanger ending is killing my soul! I'm so happy that the next book is coming out in the spring. If I had to wait any longer than that I might freak out lol.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Briar for allowing me to read this book! I absolutely love the direction this series is taking!

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. Things are really heating up between Blake and Medra. Half the time, Medra hates Blake. Other times, she trusts him. Blake needs to fight his jealousy when Kage keeps getting closer to Medra. Meanwhile, Medra feels she can count on Kage, but if push came to shove, she’s more likely to trust Blake.

At the end of the last installment, Medra had accidentally awakened a dragon named Nyxaris. Although he didn’t kill her, he wanted nothing to do with her and flew away. The highblood houses are shocked by the awakening of a dragon and want to know how Medra did it. She doesn’t want to tell them it was through blood magic trying to move her mother from her mind to a knife (they can still communicate when in close proximity). They debate putting her to death, but eventually decide to allow her to “train” Nyxaris and show her what they can do together—with the understanding that both she and Nyxaris are to serve the needs and wishes of the highbloods.

Medra finds she has a mind connection with Nyxaris and can communicate over long distances, and they reach an agreement. He will pretend to follow her directions, and she will research everything she can find out about him because his memory is spotty. When he comes to see her during one of the Tribunals, he smotes one of the highbloods for not showing proper respect. I loved this description: “Dragon fire wasn't like ordinary fire. It was an overwhelming force, beautiful and terrible in equal measure. The fire that roared out of Nyxaris’s open jaws was molten light, impossibly bright. Streaks of crimson and gold spiraled like living veins, radiating into the air like deadly ribbons.”

What Medra discovers about Nyxaris is not good and when she tells him, he gets upset because his memories begin to fill in and he feels guilty about what he did. Discussing his actions with a trusted teacher, Rodriguez and Medra have the following conversation:

“He was a soldier in a highblood house. Are soldiers allowed to say ‘no’ when they're given an order?”
“Always.” Rodriguez narrowed his eyes. “Sometimes our children are all we have, Miss Pendragon. They define us, for better or for worse. Obedience doesn't absolve anyone of guilt. Not dragons. Not riders. Not you or me.”

This is a great answer because it demonstrates an integrity that is seldom seen. People like to blame others for their actions. Rodriguez makes it clear that’s not acceptable. Even under threat of torture or death, we always have free will. However, I might argue, in this instance, Nyxaris had lost his free will because his mind was being controlled, making him not entirely responsible. Nothing is ever black and white, and we should hesitate before judging the actions of others.

Medra and Blake learn, independently, that at least one of the highbloods is planning to soulbind her so that they will be able to control the dragon without her agreement. Naturally, they assume it will be Blake’s Uncle Viktor, perhaps the most powerful and evil highblood of them all. Both are terrified of what that will look like and make plans for how to avoid it. Medra confides in Rodriguez and he promises to look into it, but she continues her research. Meanwhile, Blake researches the same thing and confirms it’s his uncle’s idea. To complicate matters, Blake is experiencing some physical changes he doesn’t quite understand, but it seems like his uncle does and he’s gleefully watching Blake suffer. It also seems like Kage knows what’s happening. He tells Blake that if he survives it and cannot control it, Kage will help him.

This book is a page-turner, filled with vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was there. The characters’ emotions were coherently explained through changes in POV. We’re even treated to Florence’s thoughts a couple of times. I found it hard to put down. At the same time, I didn’t want to reach the end. And certainly not on a cliffhanger.

I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just say the plot is rife with danger and surprises. At the end, the looming specter of Medra being brought to Viktor is unresolved, likely to be soulbound to him. Eww. The cliffhanger happens exactly one year after the last one, at midnight on the night of their annual Dance of the Longest Night. It’s tense and dangerous. There are so many unanswered questions, which I hope will be answered in the next book—which I hope will come soon! I highly recommend the series.

I really appreciate the arc for this book. I was obsessed with book 1. I loved it. I struggled with book 2. As much as I understand why they went back to enemies the bullying was a bit much. I wanted more time of them together. But I will anxiously wait for book 3. Excited to read it once it comes out. Thank you

Boleyn never ever fails, I swear her writing and books never disappoint! After book 1's ending, I needed The Bonds That Burn like I need my next breath of air. And dang is book 2 just as good (if not better than) book 1!

This sequel was 1,000 times better than the first book and I don’t say that about many series. The romance was scorching hot, the evil antagonists just made your blood boil and the dragon was a broody, hilarious mess. The twist and turns in the book had me up all night trying to get to the end. I can’t wait for book 3.

Firstly thank you to Starwater Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
My gosh. Where to start?! This book was just a whirlwind from start to finish. We left off with quite the cliffhanger in book 1 and book 2 picked up right where we left off and started with a bang. I really think the pacing in this book was great. Something was always going down and I didn’t feel like anything dragged on for too long.
I LOVED the will they/wont they tension between Blake and Medra. They do by the way 🥵. I also really loved that we finally got to see some character development with Blake and realizing he doesn’t have to be an asshat all the time. I really did enjoy the super intimate and vulnerable moments between the two of them.
Also (in the best way possible) WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON IN THE LAST 2-3 chapters. It’s was so wild and I feel like so much was happening with so many characters. I have questions that need to be answered ASAP.
I feel like this series is just going to keep getting better and better and I cannot wait to get my hands on book 3.

That ending! That bloody ending! How dare you Briar!

The amount of times I had to look at my imaginary audience after reading the last 100 pages was ungodly. The roller coaster of emotions I felt, the frickin plot twists!

How the hell am i going to function while I wait for book 3!?!

I loved the first book but this one was so much more intriguing and caused some sleepless nights - thank you to NetGalley for sendinv through. Really enjoyed reading from other characters POV, helped with my confusion of Blake's behaviour. Included strengthening of friendships, serious hatred, spicy passion, betrayals and unpredicted twists. The relationship between Blake and Medra is hot and cold, for a while I thought Kage would become their third so maybe in the next book. Florence has been such a great sidekick in the last book, I got main character vibes from her this time round and am dying to see what happens. Roll on May 2025

I need the third book immediately!! 😭😭

This was great second book to the Bloodwing Academy series!! I’m so happy to see the progression of Blake and Medra’s relationship bc they are so cute 😍 and the spicy scenes are 🔥🔥 Visha and Nyxaris have got to be my favorite characters, I love their personalities and they’re both so funny 🤣

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!!

AHHHH a book with Fourth Wing level dragon snarkiness! And twists and betrayals that I didn't always see coming (although some of them WERE predictable). The friendships in this book are so wholesome, Medra and Florence's love and fierceness and loyalty to each other makes me so emotional! My one qualm is the relationship between Medra and Blake. I was so mad at him after the last book and this one left me with whiplash from all of the back and forth. He's an asshole, then he's thoughtful, then he's pulling another idiotic stunt -- ooop, and then he's back to being the sweetest again. I want to like him, but I'm honestly still kind of mad at him. The ending has me so excited for the next book! Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc!

This was a wonderful sequel.

Blake actually begged - got on his hands and knees and begged! Loved that moment and then hated how he learned nothing from his mistakes!! His character development went backwards after taking 2 steps forward.

It makes me want Medra to not end up with either of the guys! Can she end up with Florence?

I really enjoyed the plot and the relationships that Medea had with her friends and the dragon. Neville again stole the show.

Was not a fan with Blake this book.

I received this from Netgally in exchange for an honest review.

I have just finished reading this and it only took me a day. I couldn't put it down.

The relationship between Blake and Medra was well established in the first book (enemies to lovers, to enemies) they walk the fine line between love and hate, between desire and distrust. Blake, of course, really annoyed me at the beginning because he was being irrationally dickie (if you know what I mean) but that all comes to a head. In all honesty, I wanted Medra to draw out the begging and the pleading, to really have Blake feel as though he was a whisper away from really losing her. I also wanted a deeper grovel but it was within Blake's character so I'll let it slide.

I am invested in this world and the characters. I love Visha, Theo, Florence and Neville. Each one of them brings out certain aspects of our MC's and the story wouldn't be as good as it is without them. The book picks up where the last one leaves off and there's a whole political argument over the dragon and Medra and it's a bit boring compared to what comes after it, but it sets the rest of the book up for what comes.

The dragon has arrived and he is a bit of a big deal. Everyone wants him, not realising that he'd see them all burn and think nothing of it. But, of course, it's not as simple as that. Medra and Nyxaris are forming something of a bond, not a binding one but a give and take, not really friends but kind of loyal to each other, thing. Their interactions are well written and their growing attachment is shown rather than told as the story progresses.

We welcome back Marcus and Victor as our villains. I was left on the edge of my seat as I waited with bated breath to see what they were up to, what they would do and how they could and would make Blake and Medra suffer. And Regan is still floating about being snarky.

I won't mention any more, just in case I give too much away but I really, really, really enjoyed this one!

This year at Bloodwing Academy, nothing is the same as last year. There's more danger, violence, betrayal, broken hearts and souls. The twists and turns were amazing and sets the next book up for some epic s**t! This was one wild ride and I am DEVASTATED that I can't jump straight into the next book!

An exciting, dark fantasy book/series with lots of humour and sexy romantic interludes. This series is so much fun to read. Medra survived her first year at Bloodwing Academy. No thanks to vampire Blake. Maybe only because of her friends. But as second year beckons her problems have just got bigger because now everyone wants her to control the dragon she has awoken. The dragon has other ideas. Threatening Medra and her friends lives. Then there is Blake being a complete jerk; and a vampire jerk is a bigger complication than she needs. Can’t wait for the third book to arrive. Thank you to Starwater Press (Indie) and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.

Wow! That's the kind of story I can't put down! I absolutely loved everything : the academy, the characters, the writing and especially what I enjoy so much in books : the way emotions are described. I never felt so many emotions while I was reading but I honestly almost threw my Kindle a dozen times because of the way the characters made me feel (so much frustration!)... and I loved it! It's so precious to live IN the story and not just around it in your everyday life. Blake, you're the best of the worst... or the worst of the best, who knows?! Now I'll feel empty until book 3 is published because I need to know what's going to happen to everyone!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for the ARC. This second book had all the back a fourth and I loved the struggle between Kage and Blake with Medra.

🐉Dragons
🧛🏻 Vampires
🐺Shifters
❤️Spice
📚Acedemia setting

“You’re the strongest woman I know. But even strong people need someone in their corner. Let me be that for you. The world is against you, Pendragon. You think Kage is the man to stand by your side? So be it, if that’s who you ultimately pick. But look at me. Really take a good fucking look. Because I’m the one standing right here, right now, begging you to let me be with you.”

This right here made me a Blake girly 😍😍

In the sequel to “On Wings of Blood,” Medra, a dragon rider, faces fresh challenges at Bloodwing Academy. The world is set, the plot and characters are well-developed, and the history of dragons and highbloods is revealed as Medra navigates her relationship with Blake and forms alliances. An enemies-to-lovers romance with a spicy twist. I loved the first book, but this one was even better!

Thank you NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for the chance to read this.

5 stars.

I knew I loved Blake. God he’s so perfect for an asshole, and for a blonde.

I’m still unsure about Kage, I feel like he’s shady, and now I’m unsure about Rodriguez…. But I’m very sure about Blake and my love for him.

This book was even better than book one. The spicy moments were so good, the funny moments were perfect, and the relationship and friendship growths were my favorite. I loved the glimpse into Florence’s POV and I liked the changes with Visha and Theo being better friends to the girls. Also Neville can do no harm, I said what I said.

The Bond That Burns (Bloodwing Academy Book 2) by @briarboleynauthor
4⭐️ | 3🌶️

-human & vampire academy
-dragons, vampires, and other things 👀
-bully romance (Malfoy vibes)
-enemies to lovers
-forced engagement
-found family
-animal companion
-political intrigue & secrets

This was a rollercoaster of emotions leaving you with some whiplash but I can’t complain about it because I’m desperate for the next book now.

I went from actually hating the MMC, like truly thinking he was being an immature ass who sucks to okay I love him and we need to protect him (and I don’t even go for the blonde MMCs). At one point I was even rooting for a love triangle just to piss him off. I didn’t mind the added intrigue that was Kage.

“𝙏𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚? 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙨𝙠. 𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙮.”

Medra is dealing with the fallout from the first book and now has a grumpy and sassy dragon to rein in, all while dealing with the vampire politics and trying not be to used as a pawn in everyone’s schemes. Her relationship with Nyxaris gives Tairn/Violet vibes and I want more of it.

“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚. 𝙄𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚, 𝙄’𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙤𝙣.”

But the biggest thing that had me hooked and suspicious started happening in the second half of the book and is also the same reason why I need the next book NOW. I won’t spoil anything, I went into this blind so it was kind of a nice surprise and a very fitting plot twist for this kind of book.

“𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚, 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚, 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧.“

Thanks @netgalley and @briarboleynauthor for the ARC!

At the end of Book 1, Medra's instincts about her archon and consort, Blake, are proven right—he cannot be trusted. Worse still, they are now officially bonded, linking her to him in ways she never desired. And as if that weren’t enough, she’s also accidentally awakened a powerful and stubborn dragon.

Book 2 picks up swiftly from where the last left off, plunging readers into drama and action right away. Medra finds herself imprisoned in the Drakharrow Tower at Bloodwing Academy, awaiting trial by the tribunal to determine her fate and the consequences of awakening the dragon. Although she’s tied to Drakharrow through Blake, the dragon she unleashed actually belongs to House Avari, sparking immediate tensions between the rival houses. With her life hanging in the balance and betrayal from Blake fresh in her mind, Medra’s story in Book 2 begins with a palpable sense of danger and uncertainty.

I thoroughly enjoyed Book 2—there’s plenty of great character development, especially from Blake! The chemistry and banter between him and Medra remain as sharp and engaging as ever. We also get to see the story from Florence's perspective in a few chapters, which adds depth to the narrative. Briar's world-building continues to be exceptional, pulling you into the story effortlessly. The pacing is perfect, keeping the tension high and the pages turning. I couldn’t put it down, and now I’m eagerly anticipating Book 3, especially after that shocking cliffhanger!

I love this series, and this second book was one of my most highly anticipated this year after reading the first last year, so I was thrilled to get an ARC! It did not disappoint. Dragons and fae and romance - Briar Boleyn is a very exciting new author.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.