On Wings of Blood is the latest release by the very imaginative Briar Boleyn. It is the first book in the Bloodwing Academy series. I loved getting to know Medra’s character more in this story. The story was a bit different than I was expecting, but I loved it. It had me laughing and crying at different times throughout the story. It is full of unforgettable characters, some that you will love and some that you will love to hate. I love Medra’s independence, strength, and her willingness to fight for what is right. Be forewarned that it ends in a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read what happens next.

⭐⭐.5 | 2.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for the opportunity to read this book!

I was very excited to read On Wings of Blood based on the blurb, but it unfortunately fell flat for me. I loved the concept of a lone dragonrider in a school of murderous vampires, but I struggled to connect with any characters - including the FMC and MMC. I didn't find their connection to be believable or engaging enough for me to care what happens to them.

I also couldn't get away from the glaring similarities to Harry Potter, which drew me out of the story each time. I understand that this series is inspired by Harry Potter, but I believe it could have been executed in a way that felt like less of fanfiction and more of its own tale.

I think think this series has excellent potential, but ultimately, this book was not for me.

*an advanced digital copy was received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

Wow, this book had me completely enthralled. The stunning cover and captivating premise—a mix of magic, vampires, and dragons—immediately drew me in. Add a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, and I was hooked!

The story follows Medra Pendragon, a blightborn girl thrust into a new world where she's revealed to be the last of the dragon riders. Forced to attend Bloodwing Academy and become the consort of the gorgeous yet dangerous Blake Drakharrow, Medra must navigate a treacherous society ruled by vampires while trying to survive.

Medra is a badass heroine, and I loved reading from her perspective. Her fierce passion and refusal to back down make her incredibly relatable, especially as she struggles to adapt to a world where vampires dominate, and her own power feels limited. Her outsider status means readers get to discover this fascinating world alongside her, which adds a unique layer to the narrative.

Blake’s dual POV chapters offer a glimpse into the Drakharrow house’s secrets, revealing cracks in the seemingly perfect vampire hierarchy. He’s brooding, mysterious, and undeniably intriguing. While I enjoyed the tension between Medra and Blake, I wish there had been more moments of quiet yearning and interaction outside the main plot to deepen their connection.

The world of Bloodwing Academy is addictive. The four powerful houses, each with its own legacy, colors, and extinct dragon breed, create a vivid backdrop filled with power plays and intrigue. It’s a richly layered world that perfectly sets up the series. While the pacing was fast and occasionally skipped significant time jumps, it kept me engaged without feeling overly rushed.

All in all, this book was a thrilling ride, blending action, romance, and magic seamlessly. Fans of Zodiac Academy, Fourth Wing, Harry Potter, and vampire lore will absolutely devour it. I have a feeling this series will become a favorite for romantasy lovers, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

Thank you again, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Another excellent read from Briar Boleyn. Loved the premise.
Warning: this is quite graphic. Please be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.

A dark academia fantasy novel that reads like a bully romance and is perfect for fans of Zodiac Academy. As someone who enjoyed the Zodiac Academy books, I'm not surprised this one appeals to me as well. I love a main character that's a strong FMC who is the last of her kind with a straight forward, take no prisoners attitude so Medra really fit the bill. Blake was harder for me to like; I went back and forth a lot with him but I think if I was in his head more I probably would have liked him better. There are a bunch of important characters, good ones and bad, that are pretty well developed and unique so it's easy to keep track of who's who and Medra's friends give found family vibes which I love. There is a lot of worldbuilding and court/class intrigue in this first book that's entertaining and easy to understand. The tension and angst are high and there's a little bit of *spice* for the people who are looking for that. It does feel long at times, but many firsts in a series do, and this one does a good job setting up for the rest of the series. Ending on a cliffhanger, I'm definitely looking forward to the next one!

*dark academia
*bully romance
*enemies to lovers
*forced proximity
*arranged marriage
*political intrigue
*possessive vampire MMC
*half fae dragon rider FMC
*magic
*dragons
*trials
*slow burn

I received a drc from Starwater Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

-Vampires
-Dragons
-Academia
-Bully romance

This book is definitely Harry Potter meets vampires. I overall really enjoyed the book. Pacing was enjoyable and kept my attention the whole time.

If you read the Blood of a Fae series, this book is a must and spin off series from a character in those books. Medra Pendragon plays the young inexperienced but opinionated heroine well and Blake gives all the Draco vibes. Jury is still out on him but I can’t wait to see what happens in book two!

I honestly loved Kage and have a huge gut feeling I shouldn’t have.The last trial so to speak of the consort games killed me! I will definitely be reading book 2!

Thank you Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for the ARC. As always, I truly enjoy your writing..

Briar Boleyn’s On Wings of Blood is a seductive, dark fantasy masterpiece that sweeps you into a world dripping with danger, desire, and forbidden secrets. Packed with tantalizing tropes and themes, it’s a spellbinding mix of political intrigue, slow-burn romance, and morally gray characters you’ll love to hate—and hate to love.
The story follows an underpowered heroine caught in a brutal power struggle. Forced into a precarious engagement while navigating a cut throat academy brimming with magical creatures, secret alliances, and dark academia vibes, she’s up against a world that seems determined to crush her. The training scenes, fraught with tension, showcase her grit and reluctant growth as she bonds with her enigmatic mentor. Their mentor-student relationship crackles with unspoken intensity, setting the stage for a deliciously steamy slow-burn.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is fiery, leaning into bully romance territory with sharp barbs and sizzling chemistry that burns brighter with every confrontation. The morally grey villain stealing the girl then add in forbidden love, a tangled web of dangerous secrets, and you’ve got a romance that’s as gut-wrenching as it is addictive.
But it’s not just about the romance. The worldbuilding is rich, with vampires, dragons, and magical creatures populating a society where power imbalances and political intrigue rule. The unlikely allies and found-family moments add heart, while the gothic atmosphere makes every page feel like a beautifully dark dream.
Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I devoured this book and am already counting the days until the next instalment. If you’re a fan of slowburn romantasy with high stakes, dangerous secrets, and unforgettable characters, On Wings of Blood will leave you breathless.

this book was a 3.75 star rating.
the start i found to be quite slow as Medra Pendragon wakes up and has no idea where she is or how she got there. Blake Drakharrow is a high blood prince who found Medra and took her to his leader who happens to be his uncle Viktor Drakharrow. We didn’t learn much about the universe other than that high bloods rule and blightborns praise the high bloods. Viktor decides that Medra and Blake are to be bound together in a triad with Reagan Pansera. She goes to Bloodwing Academy and meets some true friends while others like Reagan try to make her life a living hell and even try and kill her. After about 50% the book really picked up and from there on i really enjoyed it, i throughly liked the challenges that Medra got put through where she proved everyone wrong over and over again. The ending though had me thinking I was going crazy, i feel like nothing was resolved if anything things got more messy, i guess leading into the next book of the series.

This was a really fun read for me. The synopsis is what sold me on wanting to read it, I stayed for the Dramione vibes.

It was well written, kept me engaged and wanting to know what was going to happen next. The magic system was interesting and unique, and all the characters started off with distinct voices and stayed true to that throughout. I'm really looking forward to the next book.

Tropes that I loved in it:
- He falls first
- Enemies to lovers (like true, I want to slit your throat and light you on fire kind of enemies)
- Touch her and die
- Possessive MMC

If you like Dramione fanfics, look no further - this gives off major vibes. Dark academia fans, if you liked the Scholomance series and want a little more spice with vampires thrown in, here you go.

Thank you to Starwater Press for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Medra wakes up in a burning field surrounded by dead bodies with no idea how she got there. She’s then half dragged to a royal vampire court where she’s forcibly betrothed to a handsome prince because she’s deemed valuable as a dragon rider, never mind that there are no dragons left. Furthermore, she’s sent to Bloodwing academy where she’ll have to prove her mettle as the consort of the prince before she can formally take his place. All the while, medra keeps hearing a strange voice in her head and is bombarded by attacks on all sides while navigating the dangerous feelings taking shape for her captor.

I loved this. It was a fun nod to the blood of a fae series without being too direct of a spinoff that you need the previous series for context. I thought the bully aspect of the romance was well done and didn’t veer into abusive territory - even if some liberties were taken at the end. My one complaint is that there needs to be some editing. Several things were explained multiple times, and some things weren’t touched upon quite enough. Prime examples being Naveen being able to ask Florence to the ball, and the burning field respectively. Overall though I thought it was super fun and scratched the itch for a forced proximity true enemies to lovers slow burn.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

Briar can’t steer wrong. I love everything she writes and this was SO GOOD! On Wings of Blood is bookone in the Bloodwing Academy and it was everything I hoped it would be. It’s like as if Harry Potter had a baby with Fourth Wing and it gave us this fantastic dark fantasy read. We have strong characters with amazing dynamics and well fleshed out, the storyline/plot was fantastic and world building was spot on. Medra and Blake were favorites of mine obviously. The way this book takes you through all the emotions and adventures, makes you hold onto your seat page turn after page turn and then leaves you at the end wanting more! I cannot wait for the next book to come out. This book needs to be on your TBR and while you’re at it, place all her other books on there as well, you will thank me for it.

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Starwater Press (Indie)

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Second Chance, Dual POV, Vampire MMC, Dragon Riding Strong FMC, Enemies To Lovers, Magic, Spice, Slowburn, Villain Gets The Girl, Arranged Marriage, Dark Academia

🌟🌟🌟💫
🌶️

If you’re looking for a dark fantasy adventure with Fourth Wing’s intensity and Zodiac Academy’s addictive drama, On Wings of Blood should be next on your list.

On Wings of Blood introduces us to Medra Pendragon, the last of the dragon riders in a dragonless world and a half-fae, half-human heroine whose existence teeters between survival and annihilation.

Medra is bound to Blake Drakharrow—a cold, ruthless, and dangerously alluring figure whose sharp edges both intrigue and unsettle. Together, they navigate the deadly halls of Bloodwing Academy, where power plays and deadly secrets reign supreme. But Medra harbors a deeper secret, one far more terrifying than anyone could imagine: the monster everyone fears isn’t in the shadows—it’s rising within her. And when it emerges, no one will be safe.

The world-building in On Wings of Blood is truly a standout feature. The intricate descriptions transport readers into a realm so vivid, it feels like watching a blockbuster fantasy film unfold. The detailed settings and complex magic system immerse you in a darkly enchanting universe, where every corner of Bloodwing Academy hums with tension and danger.

The characters are multifaceted and memorable, from Medra’s fiery resilience to Blake’s morally gray allure. Even the antagonists—those despicable bullies—are written with enough depth to make them intriguing. Each character feels like a distinct person, with motivations and flaws that keep the story alive and unpredictable.
That said, the dynamic between Medra and Blake left me craving more. While their chemistry is palpable, I wanted Blake to make more effort to bridge the gap between his dark persona and Medra’s guarded heart. A touch more vulnerability or earnestness could have added even more depth to their connection.

The plot is gripping, filled with betrayal, found family, and tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, the ending left me with mixed feelings. While cliffhangers are thrilling, this one raised so many unanswered questions that it felt slightly rushed. Where is Medra truly from? What is her full history? Can Blake be trusted? And what of her family? These loose ends, while tantalizing, felt like they needed a bit more groundwork to set up the sequel seamlessly.

Would I pick up the sequel? Absolutely. This story has all the ingredients for a top-tier fantasy series: lush world-building, complex characters, and the perfect amount of spice to keep things exciting. However, readers should check the tropes and trigger warnings beforehand to ensure it aligns with their preferences.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!

I read this book very nearly in one sitting and it was absolutely worth it to do so. This is everything that Zodiac Academy wanted to be but just don't so much better. You have a fierce FMC, a rude but eventually fiercely protective MMC, a professor that has more secrets then meets the eye, and a great cast of side characters with their own goals and ambitions.
It did have some Fourth Wing vibes but honestly it felt distinctive enough that it didn't feel like a copy and paste read.

First of all, the story starts with such an opener that I would have read to the end of the book just to figure out how we got there. Thankfully, it was also a very pleasant read along the way

The story follows Medra Pendragon (come onnnnn King Arthur vibes!) who mysteriously shows up in another world and almost immediately gets found by Blake Drakharrow. Medra, with curly red hair, is immediately identified as someone different and received with much anticipation - as her curly red hair identifies her as a dragon rider. And Blake, with his pale blonde hair, is easily identifiable as a vampire, as Medra soon finds out. Both are fairytales to each other, as Medra's old world did not have vampires, and in Blake's world dragon riders have gone extinct. We follow their relationship during the first year at the Bloodwing Academy.

There are so many questions from the first few chapters of this story that are still left unanswered. Why was Medra found where she was? Why did she end up in this world? How did the dragon riders really go extinct? I actually enjoyed this, it leaves me wanting to pick up book two.

The romance in this was a slow burn and while there was some (very amazing) spice, it was still the tip of the iceberg - which I enjoy because it gives room for this relationship to continue to develop in future books. My two main critics with the book:
1. Regan - Blake's betrothed is absolutely horrible at every point in time. I get she's supposed to be unlikeable but it was a bit much at time.
2. The ending was absolutely AMAZING with the exception of what I thought was a departure of Blake's character throughout the second half of the book, and it left me with a bad taste in my mouth towards him when finishing.

It would definitely read the second book and would recommend.

Where are the romantasy lovers who love dark twisty vibes? On Wings of Blood mixes in all that readers love from Harry Potter, and Zodiac Academy, adds vampires and spindles in dashes of Authurian legend to transport you to Bloodwing Academy.

Well, happy release day!!! Thank NetGalley, publisher and author for providing me with ARC copy

I can see why people might like this book. Vampires? Here. Dragons? Almost there. Atmospheric academy? Here. Social inequality problem? We got you. Overall, I really liked the idea of the story and plot, but the execution didn’t live up to my expectations.

Let's start with positive things (almost all of them are mentioned in the previous paragraph of this review). In some aspects, the academy resembles Harry Potter way too much. It is comforting. And I really liked some characters. Unfortunately, they all were secondary characters.

I guess for me, the problem was the author’s writing style. Chopped sentence is a good instrument, but it should be used in moderation. I suffered through the first few chapters because of it. The story wasn’t flowing. It got better with time, but still, I couldn't get used to short sentences and short paragraphs.

Another thing that was an obstacle for me was the stupidity(?) of the characters. Maybe it is not the best word to describe this, so let me explain. Since we have a first-person narration, we basically know what Mendra thinks, and sometimes she has the right things in her mind, but I guess she prefers not to fully realise them until a few dozen pages later when it is turned into a big realisation. And that annoyed me a lot because YOU ALREADY THOUGHT OF THIS A FEW DAYS/WEEKS/MONTH AGO, HOW COULD YOU NOT REALISE THAT THING😭😭😭 Same goes with everyone else.

Nevertheless, I finished the story and don’t regret it. It was a great journey with a lot of facepalms and angry voice notes, a few skipped spicy scenes here and there (sorry, it just wasn’t appealing to me) and we came to a great hint for the next book. I want to thank the author, it wasn’t a big cliffhanger that will leave all things unresolved. Instead, it was a nice bonus to an overall almost complete plot. We also had a few secrets that probably will be unveiled in the following books, but that won't give you the anxious urgency to read the next book, which is nice

There would be no going back, INDEED!

The first moment I met Medra, I already knew that I would love this! Our FMC landed in Sangratha with sassiness and ready to kick some asses. Medra will definitely bow to NO ONE. And Blake, our MMC is ready to burn the world for her.

When it comes to the vibes, I'm a Harry Potter Fan, and I can see the resemblances and references. Mind me when I say that, not all books that's been advertised with references from other books, do them justice. But this, with the vampires and dragon lore, is just perfect for me. There's no flat moment. Yeah, there's the cringe (I'm not that familiar when it comes to dark romances, maybe that's the reason) but that added more to it's charm.

Overall, I rated this a 4.75 ⭐ I cannot wait for the next book! Really thankful to Netgalley and Ms. Briar Boleyn for giving me an ARC even though I've requested it way past the Publication Date 🤭 Never to late to enjoy a great book 💕

Amazing start to a new romantasy series. Arthurian Myth and Vampires is a winning combination in my opinion. Very much looking forward to the rest of the series.

✨️ ARC Review ✨️

"What do you get if you mix Harry Potter with Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, a dash of Arthurian legend, and lots and lots of vampires? Bloodwing Academy."
That's how the blurb starts! So you know it had some big shoes to fill. And it delivered.

The book opens with half-fae Medra having landed in a foreign world with vampires (highbloods) where mortals (blightborns) are inferior.
Her hair indicates she is a dragon rider, though there are no dragons.
She's immediately forced into an engagement with the vampire who found her and has to attend a magic academy while trying to navigate this new world and stay alive.

"I’m the weirdo redhead blightborn dragonless dragon rider girl.”

This book hooked me from the beginning and never stopped. The magic, the world, and even the vampires were unique and I was interested to learn every tidbit of new information.
Even though this is a big book (coming in at 764 pages), it didn't feel like that at all. I blew through this in just a couple days.

And of course, we end on a cliffhanger! (I really need to start reading some standalones 😩)
Can't wait for book 2! I have so many open questions!

Thank you to @briarboleynauthor and @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you like -

• Enemies to lovers 💜
• Great banter
• Dark Academia 🎓
• Duel POV
• Vampire MMC 🧛
• Fae FMC 🧝🏼‍♀️
• Dragons 🐉
• Deadly games and trials 🏹
• Arranged marriage 💍
• Draco / Hermione vibes🔮
• A bit of spice 🌶️

Then you should read this book. If you like fantasy, paranormal, and dark academia then you should read this book. If you want a mash up of Harry Potter, Fourth Wing, and From Blood & Ash, then you should read this book.

It left me wanting because, of course, cliffhanger. You should still read this book. Fortunately it is scheduled to be released by the end of December 2024.

After reading the first chapter, I was literally hooked on this book. I could not put it down! This definitely has Harry Potter/Fourth Wing vibes mixed with vampires & a half fae- literally everything I love 🙌

I absolutely adored Medra, the half human/half fae fmc (& the only dragon rider)- she's strong, badass, sarcastic & deadly. She didn't take sh!t from anyone since the start eventhough she was somewhere she was unfamiliar with, navigating a world & academy run by vampires with deadly trials & being betrothed to a cold, ruthless vampire who bullies her at first.

I also loved Blake, the hot bully vampire mmc(total draco/damon vibes) he's the literal embodiment of "Touch her and 💀" & the perfect possessive mmc (he does have a soft side...eventually 🤣) Also the tension between them is pretty 🥵

Overall this story had me obsessed, it is filled with suspense, lots of action, funny banter and loveable side characters too! Also some heartbreak & omg that cliffhanger at the end has me NEEDING book 2 like asap!! Please! 🔥