Holy smokes. I loved the first book, but this one was even better. This series is everything you liked about Fourth Wing, but far superior. At first I was a little annoyed with Medra and Blake, but I hate slow burns. Once they reconciled, it was explosive. This book was so good, the stakes were so high, and I'm not going to be able to stop thinking about this one for a while. Also, Nyxaris and Neville are two of my favorite characters of 2024. There was so much action in the last ~10% that it was insane. My husband tried having a conversation with me during the final chapters, and I was like "Hold on, everyone is dying, I cannot be disturbed right now!"...I can't believe I have to wait for the third one.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Briar Boleyn, and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I can't believe that I got to read the second book just a month after I finished reading the first book!!! And OMG! It didn't disappoint! Thank you Netgalley and Ms. Briar Boleyn for providing me an ARC 🥰

🚨MY BOOK REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS SO, PLEASE DON'T READ PAST THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT SOME🚨

First of all, there's a map?! On the ARC of the first book, there's no map included, but they did include one in the final published print. But still, I was shocked to see that THERE'S A MAP on the ARC of the second book! 'Cause if you know me, I ALWAYS LOVE MY FANTASY BOOKS WITH A MAP.

Second, excuse me, but the love triangle with Kage, Medra, and Blake 😏 LOVED IT!!!

Third, we have 3 POV's you all! Florence got hers late, like at the end of the book but it was such a surprising and nice change.

Fourth, them vampires can shift!!! To be honest, there's a lot going on in this book, but it didn't make me feel confused or feel like it's too much. It actually felt WELL BALANCED.

And lastly, I so love Nyxaris and Medra's interaction. When they're speaking mind to mind, the sass and the banter, OHMYGOODNESS!

There's probably a lot more to say, but I can't think of anything else, just that I know that this book is a WORK OF ART. I know for sure that I can't wait for book 3 to come! 6⭐ Read!

Medra is tasks with showing she can control the newly awaken dragon, and each house vying for the dragon legacy. Betraying Medra, Blake’s only source is now Medra.

I loved learning more about dragon history and the magical bonds that exist. This installment has the perfect amount of spice. And all the twists and cliffhangers! I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you to Briar Boleyn, Starwater Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this second installment. It is billed as a bully romance, otherwise the MMC's attitude toward the MFC would have gotten old real quick. There were a couple twists I did expect but even more that I didn't expect. I realize a lot of books end on cliffhangers, but I still thought it ended abruptly. Can't wait for the series to continue, including the side characters story arcs. Sometimes I feel like too many side characters can dilute the story, but have questions about darn near everyone and thing(s). Thanks for the ARC opportunity NetGalley and the publisher.

Wow! I read this in 48 hours! Such an easy to follow story.
Medra continues to be her badass self but learns so much too. The found family is *chef's kiss*.
That plot twist with Blake changes everything. I really didn't see that coming.

Ugh, holy cliffhanger! I'll be thinking about that for a few days.

This is the second book in Briar Boleyn’s Bloodwing Academy series. Let me tell you guys, I DEVOURED these books! This series has me in a chokehold. It’s like Harry Potter meets Fourth Wing meets Vampires with a sizzling Dramione coded romance. It’s basically a Millennial’s dream lol (because I have a feeling we all went through the Harry Potter to Twilight to Fourth Wing pipeline lol 😉).

It’s a dark romantasy full of vampires, magic, court politics, dragons, and found family, set at a dangerous magical academy. The world-building is interesting and original. Medra is a great FMC who has an excellent balance of strength and kindness. Blake is a fantastic MMC. He’s morally gray, possessive, angsty, and secretly a bit of a softie and obsessed with Medra. He is damaged and can be a bit of a bully, but he wants to be a better man for her and has major touch-her-and-☠️ energy.

I may have liked this one even more than book 1! I absolutely could not put this book down! The banter? The slow-burn? The angst? The tension? The spice? The reveals? The betrayals? The found family? Perfection. I have been loving this series and cannot wait to continue with book 3 in the Spring!

Thank you to Briar Boleyn, NetGalley, and Victory Editing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Book 2 in the wings of blood series absolutely delivered, I had to jump right in immediately after finishing the first book because otherwise I would have had a book hangover 😂😂😂

I was completely obsessed with all things dragon this book, we all love a grumpy and unwilling beastly dragon don’t we 😂😂 I also love how Medra continues to stun me with her bravery and bad assery , the way she faces the high blood leaders is nothing short of inspirational, I would be absolutely quaking in my boots and yet she never stops standing up for herself which just confirms she deserves all the good things.

I will say I spent the majority of this book absolutely glaring daggers in Blake’s direction, he is doing the absolute moooost, I am obsessed with Kage and I would love more than for her and him to be end game honestly Blake doesn’t deserve her energy 😂😂

Fully recommend this series to every fantasy / romantasy lover out there!

Thank you again to Starwater Press and Briar Boleyn for the EARC, I cannot wait for the next book!!

Publish date; December 27th 2024 (out now!)

This book had me feeling all the feels.. an emotional roller coaster from start to finish.. another fantastic book by Briar Boleyn and definitely one of my new found favourite authors..

I loved this sequel! I loved the character development of everyone but especially Kage and Blake. Seeing Blake’s character do a 180 from the beginning of this book really rang true to the complexities of his character and set him up to (hopefully) be the leader of his entire house in the next book.. I can’t wait to see what happens with the shapeshifting abilities. I liked that their relationship had its issues but wasn’t overly consumed by it and didn’t let it completely ruin the story.

Florence was a great POV to start getting and I think many readers will enjoy her journey in the next book.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat and I was excited to read more. Great job!

An incredible sequel! I read this in almost one sitting.

I am still beyond obsessed with the Fourth Wing x Harry Potter x Game of Thrones vibes this series gives off, in its own unique way. The dark academia setting continues to fascinate me, and we learn a lot more about the past, present and future of this world in The Bond That Burns.

Medra and Blake both have incredibly difficult moments in this book and are starting to come into their own. I love them together and I also loved that we got more of the side characters and found family elements coming into play.

There were two twists that I saw coming (and still loved them), but I did not see the ending coming at all!!! Thrilled to see that book 3 is coming in Spring 2025.

This is the second book for her Bloodwing Academy series, and WOW!!! What an amazing book, I think I liked this one even more than the first book. And I loved the first booka. I hooked from page one!! This book honestly left me speechless! So many plot twists that I was definitely not expecting, I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire book. I need book 3.. like asap!!

🖤I loved the characters and the world building in this story. Mix of Fourth Wing and Harry Potter. Medra is loyal, strong and determined. She doesn’t let anyone tear her apart, and gosh do so many people try. Blake is that broody morally grey vampire, who is torn between his duty and his heart which makes him question all his actions. The two of them together are like a flame that never goes out- some times the flame is constantly burning super hot, other times it just a sizzle. And the spicy scenes 😍🤤, ooff!!! Made my heart race.

❤️ This book series is highly addicting, so if you love vampires, dragons, Harry Potter academic vibes, magic.. please go check this book out!! This series (so far-) is a story of betrayal, heart break, survival, redemption, amazing world building and deciphering a dragons legacy.

WOW! Can’t wait for the next one, Medra and Blake’s story continues. Suspense, Action and Romance, all wrapped in 1 book, dragons, vampires and more! One of those I can’t put it down books! Waiting for the next one impatiently lol

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

This book.

THIS BOOK.

If I hadn’t started this on vacation I would’ve finished it overnight.

Just, wow.

Perfect sequel to On Wings of Blood.

I was on the edge of my seat with all the yearning between Medra and Blake. I love tension, I love yearning, I love a slow burn. And their relationship does this all throughout! Blake’s character development without losing the essence of who he is was perfection! Yes, yes, yes!

Nyxaris and Medras conversations were some of my favorite parts of this book. I love a prideful dragon with attitude. He’s becoming a favorite character of mine and I’m so excited for more dragon action!

Then there’s Kage. Oh my gawwwwddd. This man. 🥵 I need more of him. I want to eat him up and make him mine. If he’s the villain, I’ll gladly become his partner in crime. He has that mysterious pizazz that makes me cross my legs.

All I can say is this book progressed the plot and I’m desperate for book 3. I must know what’s going to happen. I loved all the new aspects to the characters and, just, I need more Kage. And I need to know what’s going to happen between Kage, Medra, and Blake.

This book is Harry Potter x Fourth Wing x Zodiac Academy meshed together with the authors own magical spin that makes it HERS. What more could a romantasy girl want?!

I had a good time with this book! This book was even better than the first one! I had such a good time and I am really really really excited to keep reading from this author! I look forward to what more might exist in this world!

4.5 stars
A T E this book up! This was the best time!!
Dark Academia Fantasy Romance
Bully Romance
Humans & Vampires Academy
Dragons and other paranomal beings
Multiple POV
Odd found family
Bully Romance
Politics
Animal companion
Spicy & Yearning
Blonde MMC

I loved the character development for our mmc, who reminds me of Draco . The tensions, the yearning... melt .

With the world building out of the way, it was so easy to follow the politics of the different vampire houses .

A cliffhanger that has me so excited for the last book, coming out this spring.

I am obsessed with this book, series, and author. Briar captures enemies to lovers flawlessly, and the execution of furthering character development of Blake and Medra is incredible. I was on the edge of my seat nervous as I was finishing the book, but so pleasantly and happily surprised from the outcome, I just need more and more from this series!!!

Overall: Highly Recommend
Spice: Open Door
~~~~~~
What I want to be doing right now is staring at a wall because of the last 10% of this book....what I will do instead is tell anyone who will read this how AWESOME this book is!!!

The setup and action of this book is just as great as it was in On Wings of Blood (book 1). We are starting to understand this world and it's history a bit more and I absolutely love getting to unravel a world WITH a character.

Speaking of things just as great as Book 1....tension. hatred. A bit of disgust at a certain MMC (on my part). And a scene where I was blushing so hard I wasn't even sure my face could get that red. Blake and Medra keep at their dynamic in book 2 and it's even better than book 1.

Our side characters get a standing ovation in this book. Theo, Visha, and Florence are important in every single aspect of this unfolding story. This found family (but don't tell them that's what they are. I don't think they would go for it) is going to be pivotal, I can feel it! Also, if you loved Tairn in Fourth Wing, you're going to love Nyxaris. Give me a grumpy dragon ANY day.

So much devastation and chaos happened in the last 10% of this book, I think it's going to take me a minute to digest. But I do know that this story did NOT disappoint and the lead up to book 3 is strong!

Overall: Highly Recommend
Spice: Open Door

How do I even put into words how deliciously spectacular this book was?!? Briar Boleyn does such an amazing job at writing characters and plot that I never want her books to end. And that ending?!? My flabbers are gasted!

Spoiler Free - Thank you for letting me read this ARC in return for an honest review. This is one of the best second series books ive read, making this series a 5 star series so far. i loved the return to Bloodwing School and Blake and Medra, ( and Neville) this book series fills the Fourth Wing shaped hole i had. i love the gothic dark academia, i love more introduction of dragons and the characters. this is a Dual POV, Enemies to Lovers, found family, dark academia with Fae and monsters. i love love this book and found it so easy to read, im now reeling and wanting the third book! incredible.

That ending was criminal 😭😭 absolutely loved this one! Slow burn with delicious spicy scenes. Fantasy reminiscent of hogwarts with vampires, fae and dragons. Dyingggg to know what happens next.