ARC Review:

5/5⭐️
2/5🌶️

• If you enjoy books revolving around dragons, magic and academia this is the one for you!!
-This book has amazing world building,characters, plot development, plot twists and more that just leave you wanting more!!

-The book follows the story of Medra Pendragon who ends up at BloodWing Academy claimed to be the last dragon rider in a land where dragons no longer inhabits. Following trials and hardship’s during her time at the academy. This series is action packed at every turn and will 100% keep a reader on its toes as they navigate with Medra through BloodWing Academy.

-This may be end up being one of my favorite series of the year I am obsessed.

-Vampire MMC
• Fae/ Dragon Rider FMC
-Magic
-Dark Academia
-Tension
-Enemies to Lovers👀??
-World Building
-Thrilling
-Slow Burn

My first Briar Boleyn book, and I thoroughly enjoyed On Wings of Blood. After reading this book, I learned that our FMC, Medra is a character in the Blood of Fae series, which knowing that now explains so much, because I felt like I was missing something in the beginning. So if you’re considering reading On Wings of Blood, I would say maybe read the Blood of Fae series first to get more insights into who Medra is and how she got here. But having not known that, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to enjoy this book, because I loved it.

This story follows Medra, who appears in this new world where vampires are worshipped and considered superior. Medra is found by Blake Drakharrow, one of the vampire princes, who she later becomes bonded to, because his uncle, Lord Drakharrow believes she has riders blood in her. Making her the only rider in their land, so she is considered a prized possession or their property. Lord Drakharrow’s main motivation is acquiring as much power as he can, and Medra having dragon riders blood, will give the Drakharrow house an upper hand from the other three houses.

Medra is enrolled in Bloodwing Academy, with Blake and his other consort, Reagan, to learn about their way of living, history, how to fight, etc. she despises the vampires, known as the high bloods, because of there arrogant way of going about life. Not to mention, they have to feed on the “blightborns”, who are strangely always more than willing, since it is considered an honor to serve the high bloods. To Medra, it feels like they’ve all been brainwashed into thinking they have to sacrifice and dedicate their lives to the vampires.

Reagan is threatened by Medra from the very beginning, because she is obsessed with Blake, and Blake doesn’t feel the same. So she’s constantly bullying her and never giving Medra a chance. There is also a game for the consorts, who are meant to work together to survive, which kinda reminded me of the games in Powerless in a way. If you don’t survive the games, then you’re dead.

The ending was really good, and I’m excited to pick up the second book to see where the story goes! If you like your fantasy books to have dragons and vampires, pick this one up!

The novel is set in a world where humans coexist with vampires, dragons, and other mystical creatures. The protagonist, Medra, is a young woman who becomes embroiled in a dark and dangerous world of magic and politics. She's enrolled at Bloodwing Academy, a prestigious institution where students are trained in arcane arts, but the academy’s true purpose is shrouded in mystery. As the story progresses, Medra uncovers secrets about her lineage and her unique abilities, which put her at the center of a growing conflict.

On Wings of Blood has a heavy dark academia theme, focusing on the complexities of power, betrayal, and romance in a magical setting. There’s a lot of intrigue and manipulation, as Medra navigates the academy and its dangerous politics. The world-building is intricate, with multiple factions vying for control and magical dominance. The blend of romance and tension keeps the stakes high throughout the story.

Medra is the heart of the story, and much of the plot revolves around her growth as she learns about her powers and the political games at play. She’s a strong and determined character, but she also has moments of vulnerability that make her relatable. Her relationships with other characters evolve, especially as she becomes entangled with powerful figures at the academy, including both allies and enemies. The romantic tension is palpable, and while it’s not the sole focus of the book, it definitely adds to the intrigue.

I definitely enjoyed this book and I'll for sure be reading book 2. The formatting of the book wasn't my favorite. Also there were sections book 1-5 that I'm not sure were supposed to be there.
The storyline is engaging.
The enemies to lovers is enticing
The spice is spicing.
The world building is pretty easy to follow along although I'm curious if I'm missing something by not reading the author's Fae series?
I personally didn't get Draco vibes from Blake but I did like the random names like Neville and Lucius thrown in. The different houses with different colored robes as well.
I love Medra's character and the friendships she makes.
All in all it's a great story and I can't wait to continue.

This book was…wow

Obviously when the author says Draco Malfoy inspired, I have to read it but this book was so so good!

Did i get Dramione throughout it? Yes I did 100% and I LOVE dramione. I did also read a lot of HP influence in this book too.

Adding vampires with fae and dragons hehe then force them into an academy that Medra does not want to be in.

Medra is not from this work and she doesn’t know how she got there at first. She was a fae prince one minute then a human girl the next.

Blake is an egotistical high blood (vampire) prince who she is forced to be consort too after she was found. And he didn’t want her either but with time they both felt a pull to each other that they couldn’t defy. Even if he did bully her at first. Hate and love are only opposite sides of the same coin.

On Wings of Blood is probably the most fun I’ve had with a book in a long time.
I was absolutely sucked into the storyline, the academy is a perfect backdrop for the characters.
The vampires are powerful, petty and sexy. Our FMC is sassy and full of quips.
There are dark themes throughout, the school is very much deadly and there is plenty of oppression. So those who enjoy dark romance will definitely feel at home in this world.
Is this the best written book? No - But it is fun, addictive and interesting so this really didn’t matter. If anything it is accessible and an easy read.
Another plus is that we are given a dual POV, which I always love in a romantasy so we can see our obnoxious MMC from a different angle.
Read this if you like power plays, academia, lovely friendships and epic moments.
I have seen comparisons to zodiac academy, which now I’m thinking I need to read too!
I think I’m going to move on to book two in this series first though - I can’t cope with the ending otherwise!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Absolutely loved this book! After that cliffhanger of an ending, I need the next one—like, I can’t breathe without it!

Honestly, I wasn't sure about diving into a vampire story, but this completely blew me away. The political intrigue was surprisingly easy to follow. I often get lost in complex plots, but this one was clear, well-paced, and didn’t overcomplicate things.

Let’s talk Blake and Medra: Such s slow burn, but oh so satisfying. Their banter was sharp and full of tension. Their inner monologues had me giggling, and Blake's determination to protect Medra from the start made me immediately root for them.

Theo was hilarious! He had his moments of being ruthless, but his character evolved, and I loved watching him soften. And Florence is the epitome of a bestfriend; loyal, supportive, and always there for Medra -l would love to see more of her story.

In short, this was everything I needed and I cannot wait for more!

✨ VAMPIRE HOSTAGE? SAY LESS!!! ✨

I really wanted to give this book 5 stars, and on the plot alone, it was chef's kiss. I devoured this story like a vampire in a bloodlust frenzy. The world-building? Impeccable. Neville the Fluffin brought the cutesy vibes we never knew we needed in a vampire saga, and every scene with him was next-level adorable.

🛡️ Medra is the strong FMC we all love—full stop. Blake was serving serious Malfoy vibes, but as his layers peeled back, I couldn’t help but want more of him. His spicy sanctum ritual scene had me fanning myself – and a little breathless.

🌀 Though this book is a spin-off of the Blood of Fae series and stands strong on its spectacular world-building and compelling characters, it stumbled into some plot holes that could have been avoided with a bit more editing. You can dive in without the backstory, yet knowing it fills in the gaps that otherwise mar the experience.

📚 Fresh off this book, I’ve already leaped into Book 2 because let’s be real—I need more Blake in my life.
4 stars because perfection is just a few edits away!


will be sharing on IG too (@fullybookedbesties) have it scheduled to go live this evening!

I could not put this book down. Once I started it i decided it was a perfect day do bury my head in a book and never put it down. It is a lengthy book and I still felt like it was over too soon. I thought Medra was a wonderful FMC. She is tough when she needs to be, but knows when to back down and not show her strength. So many main characters are so busy acting tuff that they end up doing stupid stuff that drives you crazy. I did not feel like Madra did that. She is a smart character. Blake is a MMC that will make you go from disliking to loving so often you get whiplash. I can't wait to see how the relationship progresses in this series. I would recommend this book for any fantasy lover. This is a spin off of Briar Boleyn's Blood of Fae series. You do not need to read that series to enjoy this one. I feel like anything you would need to know is explained in this book. I would of coarse recommend the other series. It was a good one and will let you know Medra before she gets to this world.

Genre: New Adult Fantasy Romance
Setting: Dark Fantasy Academia in an alternate vampire realm with a Fae twist
Briar Boleyn crafts a uniquely immersive world filled with rich history, political intrigue, and deeply personal stakes. On Wings of Blood delivers a gripping tale of a forced engagement, morally gray characters, and an outmatched heroine navigating a treacherous landscape of betrayal, violence, and desire. The author doesn’t shy away from dark themes—expect high-stakes choices, deadly consequences, and steamy, tension-filled moments.
The pacing is masterfully done, pulling me along like a marionette—I devoured this book in less than three days. The story kept me on edge with its relentless ups and downs, each twist forcing impossible decisions. I found myself wanting to hug the villains, shake the heroine out of her choices, and dive headfirst into the drama.
On Wings of Blood left me grasping, tangled in its web of vampires, deception, and open-ended consequences. I'm looking forward to seeing where the next installment takes us.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was such a fun, fantasy ride. If you are a lover of all things vampire, dragons, dark academia, and fantasy world building, this book is for you. I felt enraptured by the characters and their development throughout the book. The secrets that emerged, plot that continuously built, and the ending? Well done, Briar. Will definitely continue with this series and for anyone a fan of HP, Zodiac Academy and Fourth Wing....pick this up.

I could not put this book down! "On Wings of Blood" is a fantastic fantasy novel with humans, vampires, and a half-fae set in an academia setting. The characters are intriguing and you want to see what happens next for them and root for them. Novel is told from a dual point-of-view. Reading the book is addicting and you want to keep reading until the end, which ends with a cliffhanger. A great read for fans of fantasy novels.

This book had the promise to be something really great but the pace of the book really needs to be worked on. The first 10% and the last 20% of the book are the only sections i feel like anything really happened, the rest was just a gap filler. I will say the last 5 chapters and the ending is what’s going to make me come back to read book 2, i’m just hoping more happens in that one.
Overall i will rate it 3 stars as i did enjoy it and will continue to read the rest of the series.

This is my first book from this author and even though this book said book 1,it felt like I should have read the previous books as the first chapter kinda starts like it's a few chapters into the story.
While I did enjoy, I found it the overall story lacked action points and conflict. It gives bully school vibes but without the bullying really... I found I wanted a lot more information on the back story and world building that we just didn't get.

However, it ended on a good cliffhanger so I obviously liked it enough as I'm getting the 2nd book!

Medra Pendragon arrives in an unknown land alone and naked. Upon arriving she is captured by Blake Drakharrow one of the princes of the four vampire houses in this realm. Medra has the markings of a dragon rider beings who have long left the realm. She is forcefully put into bloodwing academy where the highborn vampires and blightborn (humans) attend.

The world building of Bloodwing Academy is incredibly described made me think of Hogwarts with it being an old bluestone castle with courtyards and twisting corridors. The pacing of this book was consistent enabling steady character development as the story went along.

Medra our firey red haired protagonist. Struggles being in an unfamiliar environment and being oppressed by the bloodborne. However she manages to gain friends and allies along the way by sticking to her morals and fighting against the highborn's torment and bullying. I love her unwavering ability to set boundaries and hold people accountable for their actions.

In the beginning Blake comes off as arrogant and selfish. As the story progresses he comes across more sympathetic and understand as to why he puts on a charade.

The relationship between Blake and Medra screams enemies to lovers. As Medra absolutely loathes Blake for very good reasons. However I crave more their banter, their unavoidable desire and failing to stay away from one another.

I can't recommend this enough for those who love fourth wing, house of night and Harry Potter. It has Dragons, Vampires, enemies to lovers, an academic setting and more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of On Wings of Blood. I read this so fast and can't wait to continue the series. I absolutely loved the crossover of worlds, the academic setting, the vampires, dragon history, and the range of characters in this book. The plot was excellent with so much action, tension, and suspense, with so much potential to expand in the future. I will definitely be looking out for the second book!

I was very pleased to discover I could not put this down. I was very much intrigued by the premise of this book and I’m glad to have finally found the time to pick it up. I read it in less than 24 hours and truly ignored all other aspects of life. I was unreasonably enthralled by this book.
I enjoyed the dynamics between characters and hope to see a bit more of a build up to the “Dramione” romance.
There are also many subplots that I am interested to see play out and connect — Medra and her mother, Medra and the dragon(s), the two worlds, Blake and his mother, and the Darkharrow leader’s secrets. I will be immediately requesting book 2.
I look forward to reviewing this book further.

Just wow! Epic fantasy that has it all - secrets, betrayals, power plays, manipulations, mean girl bullies, evil leaders, and bonded enemies with definite simmer. And yea, maybe dragons are still around, or not. Games of the court and academy keep things moving to the very end ... a bit of a cliff, so there is more to come.

If Harry Potter, Fourth Wing and Twilight all had a baby this would be that book. Bloodwing Academy- where the highblood vampires have all the control. Medra, a half fae from another world gets thrown into this one and needs to survive. Friends are not always who they seem, she can't trust anyone and she's been told she is special as the last dragon rider and bound to someone he hates. This has all of awesome tropes, enemies to lovers, touch her and die, bully MMC, banter for days, dark academia and I loved the dual POV. There is some yummy spice as well!! I enjoyed the friendships, the love/hate relationship, the strong FMC. I am looking forward to the next book!

Tropes/Vibes:
Forced Betrothal/Bonding
Bully Romance
Arthurian Mythology (sort of)
Obsessed MMC
Elite Vampire Academy
Dragon Rider Without a Dragon (maybe)

Quick Review

It took me a little while to really get into the story and the writing style of Briar Boleyn. Some of the writing is more blunt - less flowery - than I am used to in many fantasy romance books. The FMC is basically dropped in this new world along with us, where we are learning everything at the same time. There is a lot of world building that was done in book one, but at times I wish that we knew more than what we were given so far. 



The romance is mid-paced. I wouldn’t quite call it slow-burn, but they don’t rush into spicy scenes either. Because of the dual-POV, we’re able to pull for the MMC even when he appears to be a bully. Well, he really is kind of a bully, but some of that is for her own good and the rest lies with ego and tradition. I look forward to seeing the relationship develop, as at the end of book one it is up in the air.

The overall character and world building done set up a strong and compelling world — I have already run straight into book two!

If you like Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, Harry Potter, and House of Dragons - I think you’ll love this book!