This one is Book 2 of the Bloodwing Academy series! This will be a spoiler free review because I hate spoilers. ❤️

⚔️ We continue the story of Medra and Blake (this book is dual POV) as they must come to terms with what happened at the end of Book 1. Medra is coming into her own in this new world, and she’s learning not to trust anyone beyond her best friend, which makes things difficult for Blake as he is trying to protect Medra from the other vampires, particularly his evil uncle. Medra is constantly confronted with the truth that her friendship with her bestie often puts a huge target on her back. 🩸

⚔️ It was really easy to go right from the previous book into this one. It was just as addictive as the first. Although I did kind of miss the “trials” part of book 1, this one had more interesting classes and some absolutely scorching spice. I also love the found family that Medra has put together. I have so many more questions that I need answered, and the ending contained an almost illegal cliffhanger, so I’m counting the days until the next book comes out in May! 🩸

Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for the review copy!

OMG this book was amazing! the slow burn, the banter!
it had me angry and laughing the entire book!
Medra is a Strong rider who can withstand anything! she is headstrong and thoughtful .
Blake is a jerk who eventually realized that he needs to change his act to get his girl!
the ending had me in shock so badly! i NEEEEEEEEEDDDD the next one like now! the cliffhanger had me on the edge of my seat!

𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆: 🌶🌶🌶
𝑺𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒏: 🖤🖤🖤🖤

𝑴𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
This book was everything I wanted and more — I spent the entire read laughing, crying, swooning, and on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happened next!

I loved the tension, banter, and delicious steamy romance, but the found family, mystery, and snarky dragon were also incredible.

MORE PLEASE!

First of all thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

As is the usual with Briar Boleyn, she writes a great villain, as always. So many characters to hate in this book.

Really loved the friendship/relationship developments throughout this book. I laughed a bit more than I was expecting to. Also enjoyed getting Florence's POV towards the end. Really excited to see how this series will continue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of The Bond That Burns. I absolutely love this series and I can’t wait for the next book!

In this book we got to see a lot more character development, especially from Medra, and finding out more about her past and seeing more interaction between characters which gave them lots of personality.

I love reading the books in this series as they are so fast paced whilst maintaining the world building without losing out on key information.

I love the direction this series is going in and will 100% be picking up the next book!

In this second book of the series we are back in the Bloodwing Academy after Medra accidentally woke one of the house dragons. She can mentally communicate with Nyxaris, but being freed after so many years without clear info what happend to him, why he was a stone figure, the dragon is not trusting anybody any longer hence is taking off.
All the highblood houses want control over this great power so more than ever is Medra in danger. She is bluffing that she can control the dragon and bit by bit she can gain Nyxaris trust. Bit by bit secrets get revealed showing what once happened.
After Blake´s betrayal Medra is searching for a way to get rid of their bond and not to be in house Drakharrow any longer. As she is Blake´s only blood source yet they set up a kind of truth how she is accepting him feeding of her. So Blake must understand what mistakes he did and to avoid losing Medra for good he needs to change.


I really like this sequel. You need to read the first book to understand what is going on in the second.
I like the relationship between Medra and Nyxaris. The dragon does not trust anybody, wants to be left alone but is understanding, he is the only remaining dragon. He lost some of his memory while being in stone and Medra is helping him to find out what once happened. How they work together, start trusting each other is in my opinion really well written.
The secrets that get revealed are great and give the story new twists and cause lots of action here.

I really like that Medra is still true to herself. She is no push over, she is standing in for herself and her friends and no matter who tries to bully her she is handling it very well.
Blake is really an ass here and they way he is treating Medra at the beginning is tough. I very much liked how he understands that he is pushing her further away, that he is behaving like his older brother or uncle and that this is the wrong way, that he doesn´t want to be such a person. How he is changing is really believable for me described here. I liked to read it and due to this how he and Medra are getting closer. The chemistry between them is for me absolutely believable and I liked their erotic encounters.

Again the story takes here really good twists and keeps you a bit hanging, how the story will proceed here as unexpected things happen at the end of this book.
I just flew through the story and couldn´t wait to learn how the story proceeds. So I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.

4.5 stars

Briar has truly outdone herself with The Bond That Burns, the second book in the Bloodwing Academy series. Picking up right where On Wings of Blood left off, this sequel delivers everything I wanted—and more. With unpredictable twists, a heart-pounding romance, and a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat, I couldn’t put it down.

Briar excels at weaving complex dynamics between dragons, vampires, and dragon riders. The political intrigue was captivating, and her masterful blend of dragon, vampire, and fae lore with an action-packed plot kept me hooked. While a few twists were predictable, most took me by surprise, and I’m eager to see how they unfold in the next book.

The immersive writing style made it easy to stay engaged from the very first page. The dual POVs provided deeper insight into both Medra and Blake’s characters—especially Blake, which I particularly enjoyed. The balance between romance and fantasy is spot on, with just enough action and intrigue to keep me fully invested.

The pacing never falters, constantly filled with action, mystery, and surprises. Briar skillfully combines romance, political intrigue, and magic, making the series even more addictive. Her clear vision for the story is evident in the way she seamlessly integrates these elements into a unique and compelling narrative.

Medra’s growth in this book is remarkable—she’s stronger, more determined, and unafraid to stand up for others. Her evolving relationship with Blake, full of tension and conflict, is a standout, with their enemies-to-lovers dynamic keeping me hooked. Blake’s obsession reaches new levels, and while he remains cold yet occasionally charming, more mysteries about him start to come to light. The sharp banter, high tension, and their constant battle of wills only add to the undeniable chemistry between them, making their connection utterly captivating.

Another highlight is Medra’s relationship with Nyxaris. His sarcasm, wit, and stubbornness reminded me of Tairn from Fourth Wing, and his evolving connection with Medra adds a rich layer to the story. Nyxaris’ awakening reveals so much, and it’s both fascinating and unsettling as we uncover the truths surrounding dragons, their riders, and vampires. With the cliffhanger at the end, I can’t wait to see where their journey leads.

If you love dark academia, enemies-to-lovers romance, and a world brimming with dragons, vampires, and magic, this book is a must-read. Full of political intrigue, action, and unforgettable characters, it’ll leave you craving the next installment. I’m hooked and can’t wait for more.

Nedra will be sending you on an emotional roller coaster as she navigates and grows with her found family. The story keeps a steady pace that keeps you going and the world building is fantastic I couldn’t put it down.

3.5 stars - I enjoyed this book, but similar to the first one there was a lot of content crammed into one book. While I enjoyed the fast pace, the number of side plots were a bit distracting and the twist at the end caught me by surprise. I didn't love the relationship between the two main characters at the beginning - it showed character development as the book went on, but took away from my enjoyment during the earlier part of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book two does not disappoint! Medra is trying to get her life under control after all of the new events of book one. Meanwhile Blake, who can’t seem to keep his foot out of his mouth, is trying to make things right with Medra and be a better person than who he was conditioned to be. Can’t wait for book three to see what happens next! Highly recommend this series! Thank you to Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for a gifted copy of this book.

The beginning was a little bit hard for me to get back into but gosh the end!! I’m having the feeling that things are finally getting into a climax and I’m here for it!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

First off if you don’t like cliffhangers, wait till the third book is out to read this one. It has me in a chokehold and I can’t stop thinking about it.

We get to learn so much more of Medra and her relationship, both romantic and friendly. What I love is that we got to see so much more development from the characters while also advancing the plot at a great pace. The suspense while waiting for the next book is gonna kill me!

I was thrilled to finally get my hands on this.

I didn’t want it to end! I absolutely loved this book!

The way the characters evolved, especially watching Medra come into her own, grow, and bond with her found family, was incredible. And Neville, the little fluffball, stole my heart! There’s definitely more tension in this book, along with fascinating revelations about the past and how things became what they are now, which I loved. The pacing, the world-building—it was all just phenomenal. I wasn’t ready for it to end. When can I get my hands on book 3?!

This book has:
- Strong FMC
- Morally Gray MMC
- Enemies to Lovers
- Vampires vs Humans
- Touch her and die
- Dark Academia
- Found Family & Revenge Plot
- Magic

The second book in a trilogy and continues with the scintillating writing. This is captivation and engrossing. The plot had plenty of drama and the characters continue to command the reader’s attention.
A fabulous read and I cannot wait for the final instalment.

Welcome back to another year at Bloodwing Academy!!

Medra has a problem, a big black fire-breathing problem. After waking Nyxaris, the last dragon, life just got more complicated. Leaving Medra to play a dangerous game between the highbloods, who will stop at nothing to gain control of her dragon, and the grumpy dragon that has no intention of being controlled.

Blake messed up; after bonding with Medra without her consent, he has now lost her trust. With the highbloods in a constant fight for power, Medra is in more danger than ever before. He needs to gain her trust, win her heart, and protect her at all costs. Even if it's from himself.

This book delivered! Bloodwing is still giving all the Hogwarts vibes. I'm picturing dimly lit corridors, secret passages, dark secrets to be discovered, and trust me, there are plenty. I personally loved the addition of Blake's POV in this book. It added the layer to his character we needed with the twists and turns this book is packed with. I found the whole book to be utterly entrancing. I devoured every page. The ending, though… I cried, I laughed, and I audibly gasped more times than I can count. It was crazy, CRAZY! May 15th better get here fast, because I need book 3 NOW!

Thank you so much Netgally as well as Briar Boleyn for this ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

I was sooo excited to read this after reading the first book. I was so worried that I wouldn't get enough dragon in this book, but I was pleasantly surprised when Nyxaris showed his face :) What I didn't love so much, is that he felt almost copy-pasted from Tairn from Fourth Wing. A lot of the things he says to Medra are things Tairn said to Violet, he's a grumpy, large, black dragon.. It could be coincidence still, but I think it made reading a little less enjoyable.
The way we were teased with a romance between Kage and Medra... oooh my god I wish it would have gone further before Blake came to his senses (and then lost them again, but that's besides the point), I think it would have made the story a lot more interesting.
The plot twist at the end?! I'm so pumped for dragon rider Florence. Dragon-shifter Blake however.... I don't know how I feel about that. Hey, at least Medra can ride him in more than one way in the next book.
Still loved it!

Started right after the first and wowsa! Now I can't wait for the next. But I'm hanging in there because this story is that awesome. Full of action. Love the twists and turns the plot takes. Thanks #Netgalley and #Starwaterpress for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

3.75 stars

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for an exchange of my honest opinion!

The last book ended with such plot twist, I couldn't wait to read this one! We also got a new POV of one of my favourite side characters and get an inside in her head.

I literally ate this book up. The last 15 % were so intense, I'm counting days till the last book comes out. I'm also very glad we got more dragon plot in this one because Nyxaris is a cutie pie <3

I have mixed feelings about this book. At the beginning of the story, Blake (the MMC) was absolutely horrid. He treated Medra (the FMC) terribly, and while he did mention the reasoning behind it, it wasn't as fleshed out as it should've been for his actions. Because of that, the romance did put a bad taste in my mouth for most of the book.

The second half was far better and fleshed out in terms of the story and the romance. Blake had good character development, and became a lot easier to tolerate. The ending was really strong, especially in terms for setting up the third novel--what a great cliffhanger!

Thank you to Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have to admit, this book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The first half of The Bond That Burns felt slow and a little tedious. I found it hard to get invested in the romance, mainly because the two main characters just couldn't stand each other and the main love interest made Medra’s life a living hell at the start. Their constant bickering was a bit off-putting, and it made it difficult to root for them as a couple.

However, things definitely picked up in the second half. The pace quickened, and the story became much more engaging. The tension built, and I found myself drawn into the plot a lot more. The cliffhanger at the end was absolutely killer, and it's left me eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

While I recognize that these books are a bit of a guilty pleasure, I still found myself enjoying the quick, easy read. The dialogue can be cringey at times, but it's not enough to ruin the overall experience. It's one of those books that's perfect for when you're looking for something light and fun to get lost in for a few hours.