Where has the book been all my life! I am absolutely obsessed! This is a thick long read but the journey was incredible! It was completely captivating and I struggled to adult (I did not want to put it down)

Infinity stars ⭐️ this book

On Wings of Blood is book 1 in the Bloodwing Academy series and I absolutely loved it. I was enthralled from the very beginning and could not put this book down. I read it in one sitting. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be released. On Wings of Blood is now out. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Briar Boleyn for the opportunity to read a copy of this book.

ON WINGS OF BLOOD - BRIAR BOLEYN

Vampires, mortals and dragons? I flew through this book and enjoyed every minute of it. Here’s a synopsis:

I’m Medra Pendragon - last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn’t stopped the vampires from deciding I’m worth capturing. Now I’m stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We’re just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.

This is the first book in the Bloodwing Academy series, and readers are thrown straight into the action, just like our FMC is (Medra Pendragon is an amazing name for an FMC by the way).

Having been reincarnated from her former life, we follow along as Medra encounters a new world - one that is home to vampires and mortals. As a mortal, she stands out from the rest as the last dragon rider. She is bonded to Blake, the MMC, and is sent to Bloodwing Academy, a university-like setting.

This book packs in a lot: combat training, classes, festivals, a cute animal sidekick, deadly trials, uncovering a corrupt system, creepy rituals and spy missions. And it works - I was always looking forward to getting back to this book to see what happened next. For spice fans, especially slow burn fans, you’ll love this book for its increasingly heated moments and chapters written from Blake’s POV.

The only thing that was missing for me was a deeper link between Medra’s past life and her current one, although this may be addressed in future novels in the series. The ending of this book, however, is a serious cliffhanger and I, for one, can’t wait to read book #2.

Thank you to Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Review score: 4/5

TWs: d*ath, violence, blood, bullying, gore

*Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Oh my god I am in shock at how good this book was. I loved the writing, the story, the characters, and character development. Medra is an actual icon and I’m excited to hear how her story progresses throughout the rest of the series. Hoping more of her background comes out and maybe her magic 👀??? Also the ending ✋😩, I just know book 2 is going to EAT! If you need an ARC reader, Briar, you know where to find me.

I absolutely loved this book! It felt like a complete fever dream—in the best way possible. Imagine if Harry Potter and Fourth Wing had a wild , crazy baby, and then you threw in a bunch of terrifying vampires just for good measure. That’s On Wings of Blood.

The characters are fantastically frustrating—and trust me, that’s a compliment! The tension is off the charts; you’ll be on the edge of your seat wondering if Blake and Medra are about to throw down or lock lips. I was totally here for it. Plus, the found family vibe really hit home, and watching Blake evolve from a legitimate villain into a morally gray hero was a total ride. I genuinely didn’t know if I loved him or hated whom for the majority of the story.

Overall, this book is packed with so much action and chaos—it’s an absolute blast. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

Highly recommend you all get your hands on this book, I think you’ll love it just as much as me.

Thank you NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for the chance to read this.

Briar Boleyn does it again. She made me fall in love with a fictional man… this time a vampire.

I loved seeing little Pendragon again and watching her grow friendships and relationships. Florence seems like such a good friend and I hope to see the friendships grow even more in the next book.

I loved Blake from the beginning, even when I hated him, I loved him still. Is he an asshole, absolutely. Do I still love him, also absolutely.

On Wings of Blood throws readers into the dark, thrilling world of Bloodwing Academy, where half-fae Medra Pendragon is forced to survive among elite vampires who see her as little more than prey. With a unique blend of vampire and dragon lore, Boleyn crafts a gripping tale of power, rivalry, and forbidden attraction. Medra’s love-hate tension with Blake Drakharrow keeps the stakes high, while deadly academy politics add an extra edge. Perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers and dark academia, this book offers a fresh, addictive twist on fantasy romance.

Briar has a way of creating worlds and characters that are easy to fall in love with! Her ability to pull you into her worlds are amazing. I love the connection to her previous book, I’m so glad Medra gets more of a story! Amazing!!! Great job!! Can’t wait to read more!

I loved the author’s Queen of Roses series so I was excited for this one. I really liked this! It had a bunch of my favorite tropes and I really enjoyed the world building. I need the next book asap please!

I loved this book. Briar gave us the perfect, dark and delicious spin off from the plot series and I devoured this book. TheFMC was fierce and I enjoyed how she evolved, changed and grew into a true dragon rider (or aspiring one). Blake was also someone who was a strong MMC. I hated to love him and am exctied to get more of him. The story he had and the way Briar began to unravel his past kept me wishing we had more of his POV and the ending was devastating. Briar truly put me in a slump after the cliffhanger and I am excited to see where the book goes.

4.5stars! What a delicious mix of Harry Potter & Fourth Wing vibes. I absolutely loved this, felt like I really got to know all the characters & just loved being in that world. The ending was a big OOF & I will be pre-ordering the next book in this series as soon as it’s announced!
Thank you Victory Editing & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This review will be posted to Goodreads & Amazon 03/11/2024

I received this book as an ARC. I wasn’t sure what to expect after noting the various books it is similar to. However, I greatly enjoyed the story.

I found the book to be fast paced and intriguing. The characters and friendships were enriching. I definitely saw aspects relating to Harry Potter, Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, and even hunger games and enjoyed the perceived overlap.

I normally don’t like reading the first book of a series much before the next book is released because I am so impatient when I have to wait. But I am so happy I read this and cannot wait for the next book to be released!

Absolutely riveted by this book! Which isn't a surprise as the connected previous series is one of my favorites !

I cannot wait to see where Medra and Blake's story goes.

I could not put this book down, lost sleep, don't care it was a worthy sacrifice. I loved the characters. Medra is a strong FMC she didn't leave me annoyed or frustrated with her decisions or actions which is kind of surprising cause even past favorite FMC's have annoyed me at some point in this area, especially early on like a first book so that's cool!

Blake is all that i expected I do look forward to seeing his progression through the rest of the series but I love him already :)

The wait for book two will be agonizing but so worth it I'm sure! Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for writing such an amazing book !

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Some spoilers at the end of this review. I will make it clear in this post so you aren’t spoiled.

4⭐️
As an avid fantasy reader and life long Harry Potter fan I was all in when I heard the MMC was like Draco Malfoy. Tough exterior and a bully at first glance but will kill for his girl. Love that.

This book had so many tried and true themes. Academy setting, trials, enemies to (reluctant?) lovers, dragon lore. A lot of call backs to Harry Potter and Hogwarts but the author made them uniquely their own but checked all the boxes that made me love this genre. I’ll definitely be continuing this story with Blake and Medra, and recommending it!

Now for the spoilers. Read on at your own risk.



What. The. Hell. I don’t usually post with spoilers but this needs to be said: where did the character development go!? Blake just feasting on Medra at the end without warning her or talking to her? It seems so rushed and totally against everything we have been working toward. I understand the author has a plan that I know lot of, and this could easily be part of it but it was so crushing to see him almost revert back to who he was in the first pages. And Medra…I don’t have many great things to say. I didn’t enjoy her wishy washy feelings and attitude about everything and how some of her choices seem so off from who I thought she was in the beginning.

While I did enjoy reading on wings of blood, I found the story to be quite predictable and it used themes I have read in a lot of other romantasy books. The middle was a bit slow, but I did enjoy the action and got through the story very quickly. I would have liked more backstory about Medra and seen more of her elven skill set. I will definitely read the next book in the series as I can see potential.

Thank you so much the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this. This author said 'Dramonie' vibes and I was here for it. As a huge Harry Potter fan I loved reading something similar with vampires and blightborns. The push and pull between Medra and Blake kept me hanging on for more, and I LOVED the rivalry between Medra and Regan.

✨️✨️✨️✨️

“It's not protection, little dragon. It’s a claim."

✨️✨️✨️✨️

The possessive behaviours Blake displayed, and the way he protected Medra was swoon worthy!

✨️✨️✨️✨️

He kissed me as if I were air and he couldn’t get enough. He kissed me like wildfire, consuming everything in its path. He kissed me as though I were the last drop of blood in the world, the only thing that could ever sate his hunger.

✨️✨️✨️✨️

I can't wait for the next installment and find outbwhat happens next! I mean that ending! Wtf?!!

This book is perfect for fans of vampires and Harry Potter. The world-building in this book is phenomenal. The writing is descriptive and really puts you into the story. I felt like the forced boarding school read YA. The 4 houses with specific insignia, the sorting into those houses, and shared dining hall all felt too reminiscent of Harry Potter and reinforced the YA feel. I think new adult readers especially and fans of dark academia would really enjoy this book.

A 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 character-driven romantasy! I haven’t read a good dark academia book in a while and mix it with dragons and dragon lore- yes, please!

Brief synopsis: 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 died to save the ones she loved. Except that she isn’t dead. She wakes up and finds herself naked in another world ruled by vampires. 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 (vampire royalty) finds her and takes her to his powerful vampire uncle who decides to bond Medra with Blake (forced betrothal) and sends her to Bloodwing Academy. It is here where we are met with betrayals, school intrigue, dragon lore, slow burn and dislike-to-lovers.

Main characters: I liked Medra from the start- she is fierce, determined, loyal and just. She made the most of being in a new world with a species she doesn’t know about. Blake was our grumpy/broody vampire house leader (with blonde hair…what?!) with great character growth; however, he was at times OVERLY possessive. I don’t like how he handled the last scene with Medra. This is true dislike to lovers with them; however, they don’t fully get to the ‘lovers’ part. The tension and banter were done well. I enjoyed the dual POV but would have loved more of Blake’s POV.

Side characters: I like Florence. She is a kind and loyal friend. Kage is another who caught my attention. He is one of the four vampire house leaders at the academy. I really liked him and feel like he is going to play a big part in the next book. Maybe we will get some of his POV in the next book?? I hope so.

--- Below contain spoilers ---
Thoughts: I want to know more behind her death and the world that she left behind. I am sure that will be revealed in book 2 but I was eagerly waiting for it in this book. Also, I found it weird yet intriguing that her mother somehow saved her from death, but then got stuck in Medra’s body and then a dagger. She didn’t know her mom because she died during childbirth, but Medra didn’t really try to get to know her while she was in her head. I would be asking her a million questions. I am intrigued to find out more in book 2!
Rating: 4.5/5

❤️🖤 Thank you @netgalley for a copy of this eARC.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Briar Boleyn, and the publishers for this ARC, because wow—On Wings of Blood was a dark fantasy dream come true!

I ate this book up in a 8 hour day!!!!! So many pages ,so much to love!
I haven’t been this excited about a book in ages, and this one checked every box for what I crave in a story: high-stakes action, immersive world-building, and characters that linger with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Boleyn crafts a world that is dark, beautiful, and filled with mystery. The way she builds her setting felt like watching something cinematic—each location is steeped in atmosphere, whether it’s a mist-covered forest that seems to breathe with magic or towering citadels that feel equal parts awe-inspiring and dangerous. I kept pausing to soak in every vivid detail, and the immersive descriptions made me feel like I was there, experiencing every bit of it with the characters.

As the plot unfolds, the tension ramps up, and by the middle of the book, I was totally hooked. The story takes so many unexpected turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat with every twist. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another layer would reveal itself, and it was honestly thrilling. I found myself staying up way too late, unable to put it down because the stakes just kept getting higher, and I had to know what would happen next.

The characters… where do I even begin? MEDRA is one of the most compelling leads I’ve read in a long time. Her journey is emotional, fierce, and, at times, heartbreaking. She’s not only driven by her goals but also has such a raw, human vulnerability that made me connect with her on a deeper level. Blake, too, is complex and enigmatic, and the interactions between them had this underlying tension that made every scene electric. They have this dynamic that keeps you glued to their story, and it felt so real—like these were people I was getting to know and rooting for. Their struggles, their choices, everything felt intense and personal.

One of my absolute favorite parts was how Boleyn weaves in the subtleties of each character’s arc. Even the minor characters add richness to the story, making the world feel lived-in and real. And let’s not forget the action scenes! They were crafted with such precision that I felt every hit, every surge of magic, every heartbeat racing alongside the characters. By the end of the book, I was completely invested, both exhilarated and aching for the next chapter of their journey.

If there was one part that didn’t completely land for me, it was a minor subplot that felt slightly predictable, but honestly, this was such a small part of an otherwise phenomenal read. The overall story kept me fully engaged, and even that subplot added to the layers of tension and intrigue.

On Wings of Blood is everything I’ve been waiting for in a dark fantasy. It’s intense, breathtakingly beautiful, and filled with characters who feel so real you almost expect to see them around the next corner. Boleyn has truly outdone herself, and I’m already counting down to the next book—I need to know where this story goes from here! Five stars without hesitation, and I recommend this book to anyone who loves dark, immersive fantasy with deep character work and high stakes. This is one you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished!

"𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆’𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒕. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒚𝒆𝒕. 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔."

📖🪽 On Wings of Blood 🪽
🧚🏻‍♀️ Briar Boleyn
📚 Bloodwing Academy #1

On Wings of Blood is the first book in a riveting new saga where she's a half fae, he's a high blood vampire and they CONNOT withstand each other ... Or can they ?

Lemme first introduce you to the tropes
🩸 Romantasy
🪽 Dark Academia
🩸 Enemies-to-lovers
🪽 Banter
🩸 Ohh the Tension and slowwwww burnnn❤️‍🔥
🪽 Found Family
🩸 He Falls First
🪽 Vampires and Dragons and one half fae
🩸 Morally ONYX MMC with tattoos 🥵
🪽 Fierce FMC
🩸 Endearing Nick Name
🪽 Forced Betrothal
🩸 Court / Political Intrigue
🪽 Cut throat Tournaments

Yet another incredible story and world building by one of my all time favourite authors Briar Boleyn!

I am absolutely head over heels for the MMC Blake and his moral onyxness , his tattoos and his love for fluffy pets 😋
And oo , he calls HER Little Dragon ( brb, gonna swoon some more !!)

The FMC (Medra) is someone I admire since I read the series " Blood of a Fae" where we got to know her early life, and seeing her story play out in this book was awe-inspiring!

I enjoyed every aspect of this book and the ending was PHENOMENAL!!!

I cannot wait for Book 2 in this series 💜💜


Thank you soo much Briar Boleyn and Netgalley for this amazing ARC 🩸🪽💜
It was a spectacular tale which left me yearning for MORE 🥹