Review of On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn
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An amazing fantasy romance that has us following on from the events of a previous fantastic series, where our princess fights for her survival and makes a name for herself in this new world of bloodsuckers and secrets.

Medra wakes in a world that is not hers.
She's now trapped in the clutches of a powerful vampiric race, forced to educate herself and train to become something she first denies she is. Then there is the issue that she's betrothed to a moody grump.
She should hate Blake Drakharrow.
Though in dangerous situations, he's starting to prove helpful.
Not to forget, slightly possessive.
As dark forces rise, deadly challenges thrown her way, she's questioning who she can truly trust.
Not to forget, will she ever get back to the people she misses?

AND...CLIFFHANGER!
Epic cliffhanger! The introduced betrayal on top of a clusterstorm of shtick we know is going to make things in the coming book very interested and insane! So much more to learn on the history and the link from her world to this one, and how dragons are going to change it all!
God, I love dragons!
Psychotic consorts. Questionable teachers. Parties that are certainly interesting. Secrets hiding in plain sight. Who controls who?

Title: On Wings Of Blood by Briar Boelyn
Genre: Dark Academia/Romantasy
Pub Date: October 25, 2024

⭐️ 5/5

💭 HEY, BABES! Get ready for blood, power, and a whole lot of ✨forbidden romance✨ I just finished this one and I'm OBSESSED! This dark academia romantasy has it all: a snarky heroine, a brooding antihero, and enough twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. I can't wait for book 2!! If you love bully romance/Draco vibes, vamps, super slow burns, and dragons, it's a MUST READ!🔥

Thank you so much, NetGalley and author, for the digital review copy!

On Wings of Blood is book one of Briar Boleyn's Bloodwing Academy book series. I am not new to Boleyn's writing. I really enjoyed Boleyn's Blood of a Fae series! Boleyn did not disappoint with On Wings of Blood! If you enjoy an enemies to lovers plot, you'll definitely find this book worth while. There is a lot of world building in this first book and Boleyn is exceptional at it. I am looking forward to reading more of the Bloodwing Academy series. Vampires, fae, dwarves, dragons, Boleyn provides all the magic in this new series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for this arc copy! I will be purchasing my own to have in my personal library!

I very much enjoyed being introduced to the author by the Blood of Fae series (books 1-3) and was excited to receive an eARC of On Wings of Blood. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity.

On Wings of Blood felt like the story was made of two individual story lines both of which would have been great on their own but the mash-up made a right hash. The vampire plot and vampire world certainly harkened to a dark HP AU. In and of itself, this was the stronger (albeit less word count) plotline.

If I approach this as an homage to the JKR fandom this is a sophisticated fanfiction piece. However, I was unimpressed by the direct references to names, characteristics and world style. I understand it is difficult to be entirely original but, this was farcical at times. From a sorting rock to the colours and layout of college houses, to character names including Lucius, Pirini/Zabini, Theo, Why did I not DNF this book? Because it was like a fever dream, hoping that the weird and confused would finally form crystal clarity. This felt like capitalising on the evergreen appeal of HP and the current zeal for all things dragon. This just wasn't what I hoped for nor expected after the strong previous books.

This book was so good. The story is so unique and really enjoyable to read. And the romance was very well done!

I absolutely loved this book! On Wings of Blood begins with a naked half fae woman with no idea how she got here or why she isn't wearing any clothes. The creators and people are familiar but not. They speak a different language but clearly they weren't expecting to find her. Medra fell through worlds only to be surrounded by blood sucking vampires with a big superiority complex. Because medra looks different and has no idea who they are or where she's taken captive. The council thinks she's a long lost line of dragon riders here to bring the return of the drafons. After she's given to the prince as a consort and forced to be a dragon rider at the academy full of people who hate and want her dead. Medra finds friends and her power throughout her first semester at the academy. If she can survive to the end and find a way to untie her fate from Blake it might not be so bad.

If you love fantasy
Enemies to I've tolerated you
Shadow daddy who will absolutely murder you for looking at her.
Found family

On Wings of Blood is Harry Potter meets Zodiac Academy meets Vampire academy in terms of setting, but ultimately the pacing and length were a big miss for me. I think I would have rated this much higher if 30-40% filler was removed.

I received an ARC from Starwater Press (Indie) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book has Fae, Vampires, Dragons and Magic what more can you want?

Medra Pendragon sticks up for herself and she is smart for the most part except for not realising she is being sabotaged on her first day at school. She is clearly very special and had Dragon Rider blood even though Dragons haven't existed for a very long time.

I liked the relationship between Medra and Blake because even when they were getting along they still were not super comfortable with each other. Its rare that a romance has the tension as good as the one between Blake and Medra.

I really enjoyed the world building in this book and cant wait to find out more about the towns outside of the school in the next book. The school definitely gives us the Harry Potter vibes but the highbloods give us the edge. The school sounds so interesting and cool.

I really cant wait to get into the next book after that cliff hanger!!

"On Wings of Blood" is a dark academia fantasy romance filled with vampires, fae, and dragon lore. It reminded me of ACOTAR/Fourth Wing, and I was here for it. Medra Pendragon is believed to be the last of the dragon riders, as no dragons are left. When vampires notice Medra's distinctive red hair, they resolve to capture her. At Bloodwing Academy, Medra, alongside other blightborns, must battle for survival. She is coerced into marrying Blake Drakharrow, a haughty vampire, as part of an age-old ritual. Yet, Medra is ready to fight, concealing a lethal secret—a secret shaped like a dragon. All she needs to do is endure. They believe they can dominate and exploit me, but they are unaware of what they have stirred. This dark academia romance is brimming with suspense and enchantment. I adored the character-driven narrative, balanced with the perfect blend of tension and angst. I eagerly anticipate the sequel.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to like this book, I really did, but to be completely honest, I only finished it out of stubbornness. It was full of plot holes, and it felt disjointed and rushed. The fmc’s backstory needed a whole lot more explanation, and I just couldn’t connect with the characters at all. I think this book could have done well with more character development and time taken. It all felt so hurried to get to the point, and I could guess pretty much exactly what was going to happen from the first couple of chapters. It felt a lot like a fan fiction mashup of HP and FW. For me, as much potential as it had, it just missed the mark.

Thank you to Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for an arc of this book, I greatly appreciated it!

This book was an overload of information and I love good world building books, but I wasn't expecting that much! It was great because it helped me with building the world within my own mind and I appreciate that from the author. As for the story.... REALLY, YOU ENDED THE BOOK LIKE THAT! Thank you for making memorable characters like Medra and Blake and the story around them! Other people definitely need to read this book and I hope they enjoy the journey that I was able to go one with the story!

4 Stars

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.
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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*