The first book was good, this one, not so much. The story starts right where the last book ended. I managed to get through the first half of the story but one can only take so much teenage angst and filler pages. I jumped to the last chapter and that's where the book real action takes place. It sets you up for the next book which I hope will be covering a real story and a real plot and not be filled with so much filler nonsense.

I loved the first book of this series but I did not expect to get so involved in the second one. Reading it I was on a huge roller coaster of emotions. There was joy, love, betrayel, rage, trust, friendship, mourning,...

All the world building and characters development continues with this book and the results are incredible.

Now I need the third book :)

The Bonds That Burns did not disappoint, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series. This is not a short read and when I say that I devoured this book, I literally could not put this book down. I suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely love Medra and her best friend Florence. Medra has not had an easy journey at all but no matter what she is determined to prove she can push through anything and everything comes her way, and Blake is there to challenge her at every turn. There is never a dull moment between the two of them and I can't get enough of them, but to be honest there is never a dull moment in this story. The suspense, action, secrets, betrayals, mystery, power struggles, banger, friendships, jealousy, and so much more makes sure there is always something going on to hold the reader's interest. There's still so much more to uncover and I'm here for it and more. I can't wait to read the next book in this series to find out what happens next.

Ahhhhh!!!! Oh my gosh. I have stayed up way too late to finish this book. THIS SERIES HAS ME IN ITS GRIP AND IT WON’T LET ME GO! And, I’m okay with that.

Medra and Blake are such good main characters. Blake has the most growth in this book, and I’m here for it. I loooooove with a miscommunication trope changed into a communication trope. Please and thank you. Plus, when the spice spices…. 🥵🥵🥵

I’ll just be over here (im)patiently waiting for book three. Send it my way anytime, thanks.

First things first, happy release day to this beautiful, chaotic masterpiece of a novel! If you’re a fan of Fourth Wing or Harry Potter (honestly, who isn’t?), then prepare for a wild ride that throws in vampires just to keep things interesting. I. LOVED. THIS. SEQUEL. It’s everything I hoped for and more—think of it like the first book but turned up— and doing the absolute most.

We get *more* of all the good stuff (yes, that means the 🌶️), and trust me, it does not disappoint. Blake and Medra? Oh, they’re still at it, fighting and… other stuff, too. More Neville. More Kage. More Florence. More Theo. Basically, more of everything that made the first book so incredible. The stakes are higher, the drama is juicier, and honestly, the plot feels like it could burn through the pages with how intense it is.

It’s like someone took everything that worked the first time and cranked the intensity up to 11—and also… DRAGONS. This sequel is a full-on rollercoaster and I’m here for every twist, turn, and chaotic moment.

If you’ve not jumped into this series here’s your sign! Get on it.

I'm seriously not sure how Briar Boleyn managed to outdo her first book but The Bond That Burns manages to do just that, holy crap! I'm still sitting here reeling over the book and her giant ending. Thank you for giving us such an amazing series, well done!!!!

Oh my god… this book was insane! I loved that the whole book had different POVs by chapter and we got to learn a lot more about Blake and saw his character develop, in more ways than one 👀. I personally love Medra (and always will) but I was kind of hoping she had some sort of personal “awakening” with magic, but this could also be set up for the next book.

One of the other aspects that went really well with this book was making the other characters mean something instead of being side characters. At first I was wondering why many seemed to become more fleshed out and a bigger role but the ending cleared that up real quick. I need the next book immediately because I’m going to think about the ending for the next few months.

I highly recommend this book, series, and the Blood of a Fae series (helpful for background on Medra too)!

Things totally kicked up a notch in this second book, coalescing into an incredibly intense and astonishing ending! Absolutely unputdownable. I thought I was dead after the first one, but now that I deeply love and sometimes hate the cast of characters I’m actually totally dead, died, done… until the next one this is! 😆 I cannot wait.

Loved reading the mesmerizing and spellbinding paranormal story. Medra has awaked a dragon, the dragon doesn't want to be bonded to her, Blake still wants Medra, and even though Medra can't forgive Blake, she finds it harder and harder to fight the bond. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting storyline. Can't wait to read the next story in the series by the phenomenally talented author, Briar Boleyn!

I was ready to throw my book across the room so annoyed with Blake most of this book 😂

* I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you*

absolutely love the depth we get to see to Medra's relationships and the 3rd POV?! Dying to know more about the house leaders secrets ….. tbh everyone has secrets 👀👀

I'm so excited to *potentially* meet more riders (?!?!)
and dragons (?!?!) in book 3....?!

Thank you Briar and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

We’re back at Bloodwing Academy and I couldn’t be happier in these harrowing hallways. This sequel had me desperate to uncover the next thing at every turn. Deadly plans are discovered, tests and treachery at every turn, and an increase in spice made this a well rounded book.

It was a bit more angsty, and I’m glad to see some plot points and characters come full circle without any loss of curiosity of what comes next. I have a feeling year 3 will be the most exciting year yet.

Thank you Briar and NetGalley for a complimentary copy.

Rating 4.5/5 ⭐️
Spice 3/5

Yes, yes, yes!
This is the second book in the Bloodwing Academy series from Briar Boleyn and it picks up where book one ended.

Medra has awoken Nyxaris and the Highbloods are freaking out and deciding her fate.
Medra wants to choose her fate and not be used or executed.

Her and Blake’s relationship in this book has devolved again after betrayal and Blake reverts to his assholey self where he thinks he is protecting her by being an asshole. This is one thing I could have done without and why I did not rate it 5 stars. The back and forth became too redundant for me.

However, the tension and the eventual enemies to lovers becoming lovers was “chefs kiss”. I found Medra to be exceptionally eager to grow and learn and loved hearing more about Florence during this book.
Nyxaris and Neville are my favorite! I love how Medra is finding her found family in this book.

And Holy cow, can someone please talk to me about the surprises in this book! I am shook! DID NOT SEE THIS COMING! Now I have to wait until spring of 2025 for book 3! I am so excited to see where this goes and how it plays out.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Briar Boleyn for the ARC!

I have lost track of how many times I've laughed, squealed, and kicked my feet while reading these books, only to almost throw my kindle across the room 2 minutes later!

The chemistry, the plot twists, the incredible side characters, the banter, have me obsessed! Also, if Neville ever gets hurt, we will be having words!

I cannot recommend this series more highly!

The Bond that Burns is the second installment of the Bloodwing Academy series. A romantasy series about Vampires and a Fae dragon Rider. There’s monumental political intrigue, slow burn spicy tension and open door romance, enemies to lovers and bully tropes, found family, and magic!

Briar Boleyn has set the bar high!! I have lost sleep over this book..
I can’t say enough great things about this book.. This sequel to On Wings of Blood is EVERYTHING!! I am absolutely obsessed!

Wow. This book took me for a ride, and I’m not mad about it.

The Bond That Burns picks up straight after book 1 ends, and like the first book is still full of mystery and the juiciest tension!

I got whiplash from going from loving to despising Blake, back to being unsure and then screaming into my pillow about how much of an idiot he is, and the same goes for Medra! They’re the kind of characters you want to shake and slap across the face bc they are so BLIND to the love and longing right in front of their face. With that being said, I love them together so much but they’re clearly both very broken people. The moments of them together are so sweet 🥹

The thing that made this book a 4 star and not 5 star, was that I felt the plot was very similar to book 1. Blake and Medra are at odds in the beginning, insulting each other, then there is the pining and longing with Kage getting in the way and then the 3rd act is full of betrayals and revelations. I know they’re in the academy so they have to go through the motions of the school year, but it still felt too samey. I wish we got delve deeper into the side characters, and I wish the story developed a little further than it did.

However, I still reallyyyy enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading book 3!

Though a bit slow to get started, as it progressed this book ramped up the tension exponentially, in multiple senses of the word. Political, sexual, emotional - I finished it well past 2am because the last third had me in a death grip.
The progression of Medra and Blake’s relationship is compelling, as is Blake’s own inner monologue as he battles expectations from all sides, trying to determine who he wants to be. The surprise shift in him was a shocker! I am already mourning the amount of time I now have to wait to find out what happens next in this series, which has quickly become one of my favorites. Spicy, heartfelt, suspenseful, with just the right amount of magic. It’s like going back to Hogwarts, only with a healthy dose of Basgiath mixed in - feels like home.
(I received an ARC copy of this book on NetGalley, many thanks to Briar Boleyn for letting me sink my claws into this one a bit early!)

“Mine,” I whispered, the word slipping out before I could stop it.

OH MY GOODNESS

These books are EVERYTHING that sucks me in and I love them so much!

Zodiac Academy x Fourth Wing x Harry Potter

Multiple POV 😍😍😍, dark academia, forced betrothal, grumpy dragon, the CUTEST little companion animal, groveling, vampires, magic, touch her and 💀, rivals, ancient rituals, high stakes, shifters, found family, hate to lovers, betrayal and heartbreak

“When you’re in danger, I feel like I’d gladly give up my life and everything in it to keep you safe.”

I just keep saying "oh my wow." Thank you Briar for an absolutely addicting world that I just want to dive immediately back into. Medra is up against so much and though she hates Blake they are still drawn to each other and Blake realizes he needs to prove himself to Medra just in time to be faced with an impossible choice to try to protect her. Oh my heart.

I love our supporting characters and we get another POV but I won't spoil it. 😍 But I am SO excited for more of it.

I neeeeeed book 3!!! 😍😍😍😍

Can I give more than 5 stars?
This book had so much packed inside it. The growth of the characters was so well done. I can't wait to see where they go next.
I've been rooting for Blake to grow a pair and follow his heart, and we are finally seeing that in action. And Medra realizing not everything is as it seems, chefs kiss!
If you like enemies to lovers, found family, hidden secrets, and more, this series is definitely one you should read.
I received an advanced reader copy, and these thoughts are my own

Sometimes you stumble upon an author and/or series and think “damn…they just did this right!”. Well…damn Ms. Boleyn…you did it right with Bloodwing Academy. Even better news…she didn’t make us wait agonizing months and months for book 2, and won’t for book 3! Frankly, I have no patience and she must know this. 😉

The Bloodwing Series really has it all…vampires, dragons, magic…broody (HOT🔥) MMC, badass (🔪🖤) FMC, lovable & loyal friends, evil & conniving family, plot twists and cliff hangers. Oh and the banter…yes please!

One of my top reads this year.

Wow wow wow year 2 at Bloodwing Academy and things are even more tense- maybe to do with the newly reawakened dragon on campus!!

We’re back with our heroine and fearless champion Medra, her bookish best friend Florence with her pet fluffin, her consort/bully/mate/enemy/whatever else they decide they are to each other Blake, other leader and potential love interest Kage, professor with a secret Rodriguez, their pals Theo and Visha, and our new grumpy dragon friend Nyxaris!

This was a great next addition to the world, with excitement in new classes and new discoveries, changing alliances, tentative truces, some secretive bedfellows, and so much more! With this book, we really started to learn more about the history with the dragons and how we got here with the high bloods, deeper understanding of the different types of bonds and magics, and finally learned that there are less egomaniacal folks than we originally thought! Medra is a tough gal, and will die on the hill defending those that matter to her, and her growth during this book as she’s finally getting used to her new world is so great to see!

I’m so excited to see what comes of Florence’s story in particular in the next book, and hope we get many more dragons (and more time with Nyxaris!!)

Thank you so much to Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!