Briar Boleyn takes readers on an exhilarating journey in Bloodwing Academy: On Wings of Blood, a spellbinding entry into a new world of intrigue, danger, and reluctant romance. Fans of her ‘Blood of a Fae series’ will be delighted to reunite with the ever-complicated Medra Pendragon, who is thrust into a world where power belongs to the vampire elite and where her identity as the last dragon rider feels more like a curse than a gift, especially in a world that lacks dragons.

Medra struggles to prove herself at the cutthroat Bloodwing Academy. The dynamics of the love triangle she’s dragged into and her slow-burn connection with Blake delivers what romantasy readers need.

Boleyn’s worldbuilding is darkly lush, blending the gothic allure of vampiric society with the untapped mystery of Medra’s dragon-riding heritage. And then that is an ending that leaves you desperate for more.

If you enjoy fierce heroines, tenuous romances, and dark academia, On Wings of Blood is a must-read. I cannot wait to see where Medra’s journey leads next.

Thank you NetGalley, Briar Boyeln and Starwater Press for sending this book for review consideration.

I read Draco vibes from Briar Boleyn and boy did she not disappoint.

We’ve got dark academia, vampires, enemies to lovers (bully romance), slow burn and so much more. Boleyn had me at Fourth Wing x Harry Potter x Hints of Arthurian lore.

The story follows Medra Pendragon who died saving her world. She wakes up in another and meets Black Drakharrow, the Prince of House Drakharrow and they are betrothed. Medra is suddenly thrown into Bloodwing Academy where High Bloods (Vampires) are set on pedestals by anyone who is blightborn (non-vampires, etc.) where survival is their top priority.

World–
I don’t think that was an issue for me for going in and not knowing the world of Arcaenum. But I guess since it had more than what I was expecting, I will go and pick up Boleyn’s other series so I can wrap my head around the entire world. We do get to know a lot about the High Bloods and Boleyn does an amazing job ensuring we doubt the history Medra learns when she’s there at the academy.

Writing & Plot twists–
IIt wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. It fit the setting that it was meant for. It did need a bit of a magical “umph” to it, and it ticks all the marks of a fantasy novel. Nonetheless, Boleyn is still a good writer. The book provides A LOT of information but it’s all worth it, I promise. I do think there will be more flourishing in the next book because of that ending. Why would you do that to me? I hope Blake gets what’s coming for him in the next book.

Characters–
Usually not into an insta-lust trope (Medra fell first), BUT WHEN BOLEYN SAID DRAMIONE, SHE DELIVERED. /chef’s kiss. Slow burn, enemies to lovers and it’s written amazingly well. But besides that fact, if we’re looking into terms of hp, medra did not remind me of Hermione, more so Ginny. Blake was absolutely Draco. Ugh. I love him, thank you. As for the rest of the cast, I also really enjoyed them. Naveen our class clown, Theo's our LGBTQ rep, Regan and Visha who?

4.25/5 and will absolutely pick up the 2nd book. Thank you to NetGalley, Starwater Press & Briar Boleyn for an arc for an honest review.

Ohmygod, yes please! On Wings of Blood feels like coming home. I finished reading it in less than 24 hours and I'm not going to stop thinking about it. Admittedly, I grew up reading the Harry Potter series and having that background made it so much easier to fall in love with the world that is Sangratha and the Bloodwing Academy.

Medra Pendragon is the firey and fiercely independent half-fae FMC who is transported into another world after she has destroyed a god in her own world. In this new world, vampires are considered highblood and she is found by highblood, Blake Drakharrow, from House Drakharrow. Quickly after being found, the two are forced into a betrothal due to Medra's supposed ability/lineage of being a dragon rider despite there not having been any dragons for years. Most of the story takes place at the Bloodwing Academy where the bulk of the worldbuilding takes place. While Medra attends her classes, readers are also learning about the people, the world, and friends that Medra is now part of.

My heart would not stop racing while I read through the novel. My gut reaction is that this is definitely Harry Potter vibes but grown up and with a woman as the protagonist. I was a bit concerned about there being a bigger focus on the bullying in the story, but to my relief, while it does exist, it is not something that is the main focus. Throughout the story there are: rivals; a deadly competition; a common theme of belonging and creating a found family; and characters are well developed, and continue their change and evolution. It's non-stop action but in a very palatable way and I really appreciate it. I am really excited for the second book in the series and I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Thank you NetGalley, Starwater Press, and Briar Boleyn for gifting me the opportunity to read this ARC! All opinions are my own.

This is book one of the Bloodwing Academy series. This is Medra Pendragon’s story. She is a character from the author’s Blood of the Fae series. This is an academia fantasy romance. A villain that you will fall in love with. Great characters that make the story come alive. Pain and passion radiate from them. The plot draws you in so that you can’t put the book down because you need to know what will happen next. This book has a strong, well-developed and an interesting story line with twists and unexpected turns that keep you reading and turning the pages. It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. Amazing world building that is detailed and imaginative and so well done that you're drawn into a fantastic world unlike any other. Each scene in the story was painted with unbelievable detail. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I loveeeee Medra!!! I just want more! It’s like Harry Potter /zodiac academy except vampires! And grown up! I can’t get enough, I need the next book!

Harry Potter meets Zodiac Academy with Dragons and Vampires 🤩 Who could've asked for a better book series than this?! This has made me miss Fourth Wing and Iron Flame so much because of the dragon vibes in it.

This is a new release so unfortunately we will have to wait for the next book, but that just means we can just reread this a billion more times or check out Briars other books!

Troupes we love to see:
🩶Dark Academia
🩶Enemies to lovers
🩶Bully Romance
🩶Forbidden Love
🩶Vampires and magical creatures
🩶Forced engagement
🩶Morally grey characters
🩶Dramione vibes

I'm looking forward to adding this to my physical books collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and Briar Boleyn for the arc!
On Wings of Blood where to start!!
ok so a solid 4.5 stars and it deserves every star!!

if you take your fave Dramione fanfic and mix it with fourth wing and vampire academy this is what you get! its a SLOW BURN fantasy romance with a darker undertone so do check the TW!

2.5 for spice! there wasn't loads of spice but the spice it did have was really good.

The world building was well balanced it wasn't overwhelming or lacklustre, and the politics were easy enough to follow.
the FMC is probably more of a female Harry Potter than Hermione but she really likeable and I like that she's not insanely over powered and she has to work for everything!

The MMC is exactly how I picture Draco Malfoy to be in a romance! morally grey and possessive, touch her and die, she's mine..........yep he's everything we look for in a book boyfriend!

There are little nods towards the Harry potter series in this book which I loved.

overall this is a good book! and I will be impatiently waiting for the next one........I highly recommend this for any of my fantasy romance enjoyers out there!!!

I am sorry but, this was not the book for me. I read the first hundred pages, left with more questions and irritations than interest, and then skimmed ahead to see if it was worth continuing to make myself read this. On page 193 I came across what seemed to be the the defining thesis of this book: “That’s just how it is.” It doesn’t have to make sense or have an internal logic, it’s just the way the book is written; characters act and react how they’re told to in order to advance the plot, with little to no personality — let alone free will.

Yes, yes, I’m aware that these are characters, made up and not real in the first place, but these felt even more paper thin than others. They had no sense of drive or ambition, they just .. did stuff. They were angry when the plot needed them to be, even if they weren’t given reason to. No one faced consequences for their actions or had reactions to the things done to them. Medra is beaten, badly, ribs broken, nose broken, other wounds … but a healer sees to it and she’s fine. Not a single lingering thought or fear about being the victim of what was, in essence, a public murder attempt.

She thinks Blake is a devil because … ? Well, because this is an enemies to lovers book, therefore one of them has to think it even if it isn’t true because Blake isn’t an enemy. He’s a hot guy from a rich family who may or may not be based on Draco Malfoy. He has no personality, but he’s hot. Really, other than being blonde, bratty, and pretty to look at there’s noting else there to say. The chemistry between them is tepid at best — but they do have some faint chemistry, until the plot notices them again and makes them go do silly things because they obviously hate one another rather than, you know, let them develop any real feelings.

There are a few interesting moments here, but … this book reminds me of my first attempts at cooking. Every spice in the spice cabinet went in, regardless of whether it was savory or sweet, tossed in with abandon. We have a magical school of high schoolers, we have vampires who eat normal food, drink normal drinks, and act like bored rich kid from some early 2000’s teen drama. Medra spends a whole lot of time focusing on their clothing. There are alarm clocks, indoor plumbing, slavery, and magic. There are exposition dumps telling the history of the world … and what’s being said is interesting; the pro-vampire propaganda is thought out, bu the rest of the world isn’t.

Why do the very, very bigoted and racist vampires allow humans and dwarves into their prestigious school? Why do they force, kidnap and blackmail non-vampire students into attending? It’s not even indoctrination since they still treat them as crap and less-than. And why send Medra, your one and only dragon rider to high school? Why not give her a private tutor in a safe room where she can be protected and carefully taught what you want her to learn? Why give her classes with students who hate you?

There are Indian, Japanese and Hispanic names alongside Pendragon and Drakeharrow. There’s no sense of the world as it’s own thing because it’s too busy trying to be anything and everything, with every trope that can be thrown at it. And it’s a shame. The writing is a bit spare, the pace is a bit meandering, but there are moments here and there where — for me — the story starts being interesting … only for it to be railroaded back on track and I’m bored again.

Maybe in a different book, in a different series, I might enjoy this author more. But here, with this book, I didn’t. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you for this Arc !

Wowowow I did not think I would have enjoyed this as much as I did .

First off , the story starts off with a bang . You have our FMC awoken surrounded by chaos and dead bodies , and discovered by our MMC , and taken into this world and surrounded by people who are VAMPIRES!
Our FMC is fae living in this dark vampiric - school and it gave Harry Potter but grown up and DARK !

The world building and enemies to lovers aspect was SO GOOOOOOOOD !
This was truly an enemies - lovers . It was pure loathing and hate that turned into this attraction that our main characters could not deny .

I cannot wait for the second book !

“Our fates were bound whether she liked it or not.”

WOW! Just WOW! I am literally speechless at this book right now. These characters were so beautifully written that one cannot help but to fall in love with each and every one.

Medra is lost as to why, how, or what brought her to this new world and it makes for the perfect reading experience because we are figuring things out about this world right along side her. The world building was so beautifully done and it felt like I was truly just another student at Bloodwing Academy.

Blake. Ooooo Blake. All I have to say is…where can I get one of these?? A broody, lowkey heroic, vampire high blood man??? Count me in. He’s secretly such a softy and I love him.

Chefs kiss all around. I feel like I just spent an entire school year right along side these characters and I’m ITCHING for book 2!!! 😭

Although it offers an intriguing combination of romance and dark academia, this novel fails to be very memorable. Despite the fact that it is similar to Zodiac Academy, I thought the tempo was inconsistent with certain parts feeling both too quick and too slow. As Medra makes her way through a strange new environment and develops a surprising bond with Blake, the story follows her adventure. The novel offers a unique twist with vampires, a slow-burning romance, and dark academic fantasy themes. After that cliffhanger, I'm interested to see where the next book goes.

This was a great romantasy in an academic setting! Definitely Harry Potter and Fourth Wing vibes!
Super easy read and enjoyable. Can't wait for the second book with that cliffhanger!

oh jeez. i was hoping to like it. and on some parts i kinda do. but the world just felt too derivative and the romance too cookie cutter to really take it seriously. 2.5 stars because the intro is good and i think some of the chars are fun. tysm for the arc.

I was gripped from the very start where we met Medra (FMC) who was confused, completely naked, in an unfamiliar world covered in dirt and blood. Then in steps Blake (MMC), a charismatic vampire who found Medra and instantly gave off a 'don't touch what is mine vibe'.

We are taken along Medra journey having to navigate this new world and new situation she is forced into.

This book is New Adult Dark Academia fantasy romance with Hogwarts vibes but with vampires, a forced bond, very slow burn romance which is glorious.

**Thank you Entangled Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review*

NO SPOILERS, General Review Below.

If you have not read the Blood of a Fae quadrilogy, I would highly suggest reading that first as it gives some insight into the main character, Medra, and her past/her reactions and emotions in this novel. It is not absolutely necessary though, and this can be read as a standalone series.

On Wings of Blood is a Dark Academia Fantasy novel set in a world where Vampires and Humans live together, albeit not completely harmoniously and on a very shaky level of “trust.” Medra falls into this world (quite literally) after the events of the last Blood of a Fae novel, and this is where our story begins. Medra is brought to the BloodWing Academy, where she meets friends, makes enemies, and has to hide her true nature from everyone around her. Medra might be out of her element in this new world, but that will not stop her from being more than the Elite Vampire families bargained for. With a grumpy MMC at her side, she slowly grows into her new destiny, but we will have to wait until the next novel to find out how that will fully manifest!

I am extremely excited to read the second novel when it releases and cannot wait to see what fate awaits Medra!

So. Medra has fallen in from another planet/world and is now a reverred Dragon Rider in a world full of Vampires. She doesn't know what that means (neither do we) or what could end up happening to her. She is forced into a betrothal in a political game where the stakes are essentially drink the blood, or be drank from. Or well, death.

The first part of this book had me very intruiged, and I wanted to know where we were going here. The story from here on is set in a school, and I will admit the world building of a school was a little dreary for me. I persevered and definitely was hooked once the FMC and MMC started becoming more entertwined.

I would say this book is a 3.5, but rounded up to a 4. It has great potential as a series and I can't want to see where this goes. We've got politics, enemies to lovers to enemies, love triangles, games/trials and a few loveable sidekicks. As always, don't get too attached to anyone - you know where that ends up.

If you're a fan of Zodiac Academy, but want some dragons in the mix - I'd say this is for you.

At the end of the day - Yes. I will be coming back for more.

Book marketed as a mixture of Harry Potter and Fourth Wing? Sign me up!
Except… I didn’t want a copy of those books. This wasn’t just Harry Potter vibe but felt like a straight-up copy of some things. Four houses with the same personalities. The characters have the same/similar names.
As a Harry Potter fanatic, I just can’t.
I’ll go read one of my hundreds of fanfic downloads instead.

what a book!!! I am so ready for book 2 and for Pendragon and Blake’s story to continue. Fast paced book, never had a dull moment. I loved the suspense, and that plot twist!! I loved Pendragons personality, she was a feisty, badass FMC who stood her ground, questioned authority and wouldn’t back down. She was sassy and witty, especially with Blake. Blake, the MMC and Pendragons betrothed, he was something else. The bad boy with a heart. He was selfish and selfless all at the same time. He definitely wants power, but I think power in a sense that will do those around him good. But how could you not fall for him?? It was a Slowburn romance. A enemies go possible lovers back to enemies, maybe?? We will hopefully see in book 2. The world building was simple that I didn’t feel overwhelmed, but I know that I know is going to get deeper in the next book. We don’t see to much of each house, but we know enough for the story to keep us hooked it. I really liked this book and cannot wait for book 2!

This is perfect for those who enjoyed Fourth Wing, Acotar, Harry Potter and love a good dark romantasy!

Fun but not memorable. I saw such high ratings for this and was very excited, and while I can see the comparisons to Zodiac Academy... I was left wanting. The writing was both slow and fast, with parts of the pacing feeling inconsistent. I didn't get the appeal of the male lead, I don't know if he could redeem himself, and the worldbuilding had a lot of flaws.

Despite this I didn't DNF so I must have enjoyed parts of it, and I am a sucker (haha) for a vampire book.

I really enjoyed Briar Boleyn’s first series so I knew going in I would probably love this book. That being said, it was COMPLETELY different from that series but I was right, I did love this book.

The premise is amazing, the idea that Medra survived her sacrifice in Empress of Fae made me so happy. Medra, however, is not particularly happy with the situation she has found herself in. In a new world completely different from her own, and she finds herself betrothed to a vampire in a vampire controlled society, in an elite vampire school, where she is looked at as less than. Needless to say, a fae princess would be pissed and pissed she is. And I loved it that she stayed that way. She never gave in and weakened. She stood strong.

Blake, Medra’s betrothed, presents as such an arrogant bully, reminiscent of the heirs in Zodiac Academy but by the end of the book, I didn’t hate him, which is saying a lot considering where we started with him. He had some good character growth that I appreciated and he and Medra have chemistry, even though he’s blonde.

The friendship with Florence was a lifesaver for Medra at Bloodwing Academy and I just loved Naveen. I sensed a friendship brewing with Visha so that will be interesting to explore. And the dragons… that ending…. I’m ready for more.

I felt this book set up the story and world well and I can’t wait to read the next books.