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thank you SO MUCH to briar boleyn for the chance to review this book <3
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oh my god. OH MY GOD. okay. hold on. i need to gather myself.

WOW. wowowow. just wow. i mean, i knew i loved briar’s writing, but she is quickly becoming a new favorite author of mine. the first question i’m sure many of you will have is whether or not this is a sequel series or if it’s at all connected to the blood of the fae series. and the answer is: yes. kinda.

are there spoilers for it? yes. kinda. having only read the first blood of a fae book, i think that, so far, the spoilers for that series are pretty minor. the only thing that’s been spoiled have been things that, in my opinion, were bound to happen. just based on my experience with romantasy, i figured who the main character of that series would end up with, and figured a few other things. do i know how it happened? nope. and that’s what’ll keep me reading that series.

in the end of the day, i’d liken reading this book first to reading six of crows before reading shadow and bone. you know the outcome but none of the details. they operate pretty well independently and that’s what makes them so good.

i love love loved the world building in this book! it was clever and interesting and i found myself constantly wanting to know more. if briar wrote a freaking history book about the world of sangratha, i’d eat it up and leave no crumbs. the politics was also really captivating, i feel. the way the four houses work together but also lowkey hate each other was really cool to read, and i was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. i kept thinking “someone’s gonna snap and this peace is gonna end in another war…”

medra? our FMC? a queen. a legend. she is the moment. she’s half fae, or at least she would be if she was in her home world, but here in sangratha, the things that give away her fae lineage actually mark her as a dragon rider. the catch? there’s no dragons. at least not anymore. medra is actually related to the FMC of the blood of a fae series, and i won’t go into detail how, but she is royalty. she’s taught from a young age how to fight, use weapons, the whole nine yards, which really helps in this case. however, here in sangratha, where the highbloods (royal/noble vampires, basically) are the top of the pyramid, it was really awesome to see her come into her own and grow her strength.

blake. freaking. drakharrow. i hated him. i loved him. i hated that i loved him. he was so MEAN. but also inexplicably really sweet? i’m kinda obsessed with him. the romance does, in a way, give very “bully romance” vibes, which i’m not typically a huge fan of, but DAMN did it work here. there was the whole “hate to love you” aspect of it. there was banter. there was tension. they were constantly fighting. and it was AMAZING. it didn’t even feel like i was just waiting for them to finally admit there was something there because the fighting with the occasional sweet or sincere moment sprinkled in was just so GOOD. i could go on.

i had so much fun reading this book. it’s like 700 almost 800 pages but it didn’t even feel like it. the pacing was great and it didn’t feel like it dragged at all. by the time i was done i felt so shocked because it was so engaging i didn’t even register how fast i was reading it, which hasn’t happened in a really long time. i cannot wait for the next book in the series. i needed it yesterday.

the book was so good. i cannot express that enough. and it’s out now! you can read it for free if you have kindle unlimited, but if you buy it i can assure you that you will not regret it.

I ate this book up in 48 hours- I couldn’t put it down! What a captivating story that hooked me from the start. This book was interesting and unique. Amazing start to a series. I had such a great time reading this first entry into the Bloodwing Academy series! I read the previous series, (Blood of a Fae) and LOVED it!

Briar Boleyn does it again! Fire!

I was looking for a dark academia book to sink into this fall and Boleyn did not disappoint. The angst is there, the connections between characters is phenomenal, and I got lost in the setting.

There’s a reason everyone is loving this Romantasy author right now!

Thank you to Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for providing me with an arc!

I was lucky enough to be allowed the privilege of reading an ARC of another one of Briar Boleyns wonderful books and I am so grateful. The excitement I felt when I found out I was approved was amazing!!!

First bad out of the way before the good. There are a literal handful of noticable spelling errors and 1 I believe to be a name error. The description could use a revamp it pulls the book down slightly making it seem almost frivolous and it's really not (the connections to other books completely accurate though) it's 10 times better than the description. Aside from that it might be beneficial to read her other series before this book, this is a character from there and realizing that made me so excited! However you don't need to, you're totally going to want to go read the rest of her books afterwards though. I was lucky enough to be able read the first three in her other series and wanted to wait for the fourth when I could purchase all 4 (amazon only sadly) which will be all mine this Christmas!!

Now the good like I said before that description pales to the world building, writing, characters and emotions this book will give you. I devoured (ha pun intended) this book in a full day. It drew me in, I didn't want to leave it. The world's and characters Briar Boleyn creates makes you feel like you're really there and you're the main character. There's honestly nothing that I would change about this book, it may take concepts from other series (thank you for saying that) but it is its own thing which most authors now a days won't admit to and it's obvious they just basically took others and never made it their own. This is 100% its own thing.

I need more like right now hahaha I also really need this to release in paperback so I can bring it home, and above all I need this book and the rest of hers in every store I've read a lot of popular things and most don't make me love them the way Briar Boleyn does, I need the rest of the world to fall for her too.

Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart for allowing me the amazing privilege of once again reading one of your books, i can't wait for more.

This was a great first book in the series and I finished it in just under a week, I was hooked from the start with the concept and different character types there was fae, vampires and the mention of dragons. Although the main characters then had to attend a school/ academy it didn’t feel YA or boring. There were plenty of different storylines and plots, lots of lore and world building and characters introduced. There is some intense bullying but triggers are included. Overall there was never a dull moment and I am looking forward to the next book!

Medra Pendragon is on the brink of an exciting adventure, eagerly prepared to save Camelot, when she suddenly finds herself in a mesmerizing new world governed by vampires! With her striking red hair and elegantly pointed ears marking her as half-fae royalty, Medra stands out in this realm, revealing her extraordinary potential as a dragon rider—an idea long considered a forgotten dream! Though dragons may no longer soar through the skies, the vampires see her unique abilities and have orchestrated a fascinating engagement with the mysterious Blake Drakharrow. As she journeys to Bloodwing Academy, Medra is poised to embrace thrilling new experiences.

This first year promises to be a vibrant and exhilarating chapter of her life! The book encapsulates all the beloved tropes of our favourite genres, combining elements of dark academia, a slow-burn romance, and a touch of enemies-to-kinda-lovers. The mix keeps you on your toes and deeply invested! I was enchanted by this 700-page tale and devoured it as if it were a delightful short story. The dual perspectives of Medra and Blake enrich the narrative, giving each character their distinct voice and charm.

We follow the fiery and spirited Medra, who finds herself navigating a world teeming with intriguing vampires. Then there's Blake, carrying a bit of that classic Draco energy, albeit with a desire to forge his own path. His engagement to the haughty, jealous Regan adds an intriguing twist to the narrative! Medra's first year at Bloodwing Academy is filled with camaraderie, near-miss adventures, and plenty of unexpected turns—just what readers adore!

If you haven’t yet explored the previous quartet about Morgan and Draven, I wholeheartedly recommend diving into that first. This story offers fantastic world-building without ever feeling overwhelming, complementing the captivating plot beautifully. So, give this one a try—you’re in for an unforgettable ride!

#FantasyAdventure #Vampires #DarkAcademia #RomanticTension #EpicJourney #BloodwingAcademy #FaeRoyalty #UnforgettableRide #DragonRider #BookRecommendation

This book has lots of world building with vampires. I feel like all the world building in this book sets up the other books in the series that the author will write.

There are other characters that could have their own series, as well, alongside Medra Pendragon.

I received an #ARC from #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Publication date: October 25, 2024.

This was just okay. Medra and Blake's relationship, while I understand it starts off as bullying, felt off. Maybe it was the banter or the lack of POV of Blake's chapters in the beginning of the book but even when Medra felt herself starting to care for Blake it just didn't feel right. I didn't get giddy or want to root for them.
What was the point of having Medra's mother involved? She shows up for a little bit then nothing for the rest of the book. Why bother having her "talk" to Medra at all? Was it a forgotten about plot that might be fleshed out in the next book?
The cover looked cool and it had potential but I was letdown. I'm okay not reading the next book.

This was a strong first book in the Blood Wing Academy series. From the first chapter, I was fully engaged in the plot and it held my attention throughout which is no easy feat.

The world building was easy to follow and I quite enjoyed the pacing on this one. This book was true to its word and was a good mix of Zodiac Academy,Fourth Wing and I thought a touch of Interview With a Vampire. The characters were both likable and infuriating all at the same time which I think always pairs perfectly with a good slow burn. Overall, thought this was a highly underrated read and I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about it more.

Thank you Netgalley and Briar Boleyn for the arc.

Dragons, fae, vampires, princesses, and princes meet Harry Potter esq school. A dark academia fantasy brewing with plenty of sexual tension and spice! I could not put down, definitely a book to add to your lists!

e-ARC from NetGalley.

I requested this book because it promised enemies to lovers, Dramione vibes, and forbidden love. Unfortunately, I did not feel that those buzzwords were actually representative of the content of these pages.

We follow Medra Pendragon, who, after sacrificing herself in her land of Camelot to kill a monster, awakens in another world - one full of vampires. Immediately captured by Prince Blake, Medra is brought before the court of this new world & promptly declared a dragonrider before being betrothed to Blake (unwillingly on both their parts). From there, Medra is thrust into the dangerous Bloodwing Academy, where she must withstand enemies, build friendships, and figure out what's going on if she wants to survive.

From the beginning, very little is done to make the "enemies" aspect of the Medra/Blake dynamic believable. Blake is rarely there, and Medra is always her worst self. We get a lot of her lusting after Blake, but it's always paired with "I hate him so much! Why am I staring?" It just wasn't compelling or believable. And, like, Blake mostly seems like a good dude?

Maybe if the story hadn't been dual POV, I might have been able to believe the animosity, but seeing how rational Blake was as a character when it didn't matter, only for the author to randomly take away that rationality to create conflict even though it didn't make sense for his character? It was honestly infuriating.

Beyond that, I'm not sure where the Dramione comparisons come from. Is it because he's blonde? And why say it's forbidden love when they're literally betrothed and expected to at least try to get along.

This book will be good for people who unironically love Zodiac Academy, enjoy difficult characters, and don't have their hearts set on the tropes listed in the description of this story. I think fans of Powerless and other recent romantasy releases are in for a treat.

The writing isn't bad, and there were elements of this story that almost worked for me, but the false advertising ruined it for me and I'm very sad and quite bitter about it.

The blurb to this book and tropes are perfect! It’s a great first book of what is going to be an amazing series I’m sure!
I loved the writing style and the twists and turns to keep you gripped and not just about 1 ‘quest’ it kept me wanting to read more and I really loved when the duel pov started!! It was great reading from both sides. The dark hogwarts enemies to lovers is perfect. A strong FMC who isn’t perfect mixed with the non perfect vampire MMC was a great combo!!!!

This book was amazing. The story is captivating, and so the characters. I love Medra and her strenght. I still don't know what to think about Blake.
I definitely recommend this book to all fantasy readers.

After reading more than half of it I've become curious about the author and some other of her books. This is how I found out On Wings of Blood is connected with a specific moment from another series.
On Wings of Blood can be read without reading Blood of Fae series but it contains some spoilers.

This is the first book in the Bloodwing Academy series, a new adult romantasy. While a spin off of the author’s prior series, you do not need to read that series before starting this one. This is a sort of vampire take on Harry Potter meets Fourth Wing. Tropes and themes include dark academia, dragons, bullying, vampires, arranged marriage, a competition, possessive MMC and touch her and die. While this is labeled as being darker than the prior series, the first book was not very dark. As always, please check content warnings.

The Lovely: I loved the FMC, Medra. After the end of the prior series I was excited to learn the spin-off would feature Medra. She may be out of her element but she’s still stubborn and sassy, and tries to do the right thing. I appreciate how complex she is and how she reacts to those around her. And, I loved how we got to see her mother again.

The Mundane: There is a fair amount of world (and history) building in this book and the author typically goes into detail when describing the world, characters, and situations. While this creates an immersive experience, it did feel like it slowed down the pace of the book. With over 750 pages, that made for a long read, especially for the first book in a series.

Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 Flames

Recommendation: I received an early copy and my opinions are my own. I definitely got dark academia vibes from this book. If you liked Harry Potter and/or magical/supernatural schools in general, I think this book would be something you would enjoy. I’m interested to see where the MC’s relationship goes next after that ending. Book two in the series is due to be released in early 2025.

Loved reading the mesmerizing and spellbinding paranormal story. When Mendra wakes up in a new world and is captured by Blake Drakharrow, a vampire, Mendra is told she belongs to Blake, his consort, and has to go to attend classes at Bloodwing Academy. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting story. Can't wait to read the next story in the series by the phenomenal author, Briar Boleyn!

Briar how DARE you! ☺️ I will read anything by Briar now. She writes the perfect blend of romance and fantasy.

It has elements of some of my favorite things: academy, vampires, dragons, and a defiant FMC. The character building in Briar’s worlds are always easy to follow along but give you depth and clarity.

Also I want a fluffin now.

This book was amazing! It caught my attention when I read that it had ZA & Draco Malfoy vibes - it did not disappoint. This book was SOOO good. And dragons? I need all the dragons now. I need book two ASAP.

Tropes

- [ ] Dark fantasy romance
- [ ] Academy setting
- [ ] Gore
- [ ] Vampires & dragons
- [ ] Trials & games
- [ ] Bullying
- [ ] Touch her and die

Medra was a freaking awesome character. She was bada$$. And I love a fiery redhead!

- Pendragon was the most stunning woman in the room.

And Blake - oh boy I need more of that man ASAP. I was hoping for more spice but hopefully we get that in book two!

“I thought I told you to keep your f$cking hands off her,” Blake snarled. “You are not to taste her. She is mine.”

Andddddd he gives her a nickname!

- “You’re so beautiful, little dragon,” he whispered.

I also really loved Theo - i neeeeed more Theo/Vaughn immediately kthnxxxx!

Thank you so much to NetGalley & to the author for sending me a copy to review.

I will definitely be purchasing this book in paperback when it is available for a shelf trophy! Can’t wait for book two!

Briar Boleyn does a fantastic job in writing this book, it had that story-line that I was looking for. It was a strong start to the Bloodwing Academy series, it left me wanting to read more in this series and from the author. It had that great character development and worked in this world. I'm glad I got to read this and how it worked in this genre.

Briar Boleyn is the queen of romantasy! Her books always sweep you away into a magical world full of wonderfully complex characters and an intense plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I was immediately sold when I heard the MMC had Draco Malfoy vibes but as a vampire and Briar did👏 not👏 disappoint👏 I am once again obsessed with a fictional character and couldn’t get enough of him.

Honestly though, Medra completely stole the show. I loved how she stood up for her beliefs and didn’t let bullies intimidate her, even if her life was in danger. She grew so much from where she started out in the Blood of a Fae series and it made me so happy she was finally finding a place she felt like she belonged.

Of course the ending has a cliffhanger and I absolutely cannot wait for book 2!!😩

On Wings of Blood follows Medra from the Blood of a Fae series. If you plan on reading that series, you should do that first because SPOILERS! If you don't plan to read that, I think OWoB can stand on its own.

Briar promised vampire Draco vibes and we definitely got that. I liked the idea of a vampire academy and all the disparities that emerge when they have to interact with non-vamps. Medra must figure out how she fits in with all of this going forward. I loved that it becomes dual POV after a time. I'm okay with characters not knowing what's going on, but I'd certainly like to. I'm very curious to how this story will move forward because a whole lot happened at the end!

Thanks to Briar, Starwater Press, NetGalley, and Booksprout for an eARC of this book for an honest review.