Four and a half
If like me you have read the Blood of a Fae series then you will agree that Medra got a pretty raw deal. Now she's miraculously alive again but has been transported to a different world and its one ruled by Vampires ! It appears that Medra's Fae powers have not manifested in this life although she's still stronger and faster than the average mortal and her startling appearance makes the Vampires believe she's connected to the Dragons that once lived there. Bonded to Blake, Medra is sent to Bloodwing Academy to learn her place but Medra isn't quite as alone as everyone believes and as she faces challenges her life takes a dramatic turn that can only mean huge consequences for everyone !
Ok I am still a little stymied by the almost instant bonding between Medra and Blake if honest and it did feel a little strange. I decided to just go with it as I really wanted to find out what was in store for Medra in this world baring in mind that she had previously matured much more rapidly than the average person. She is young but didn't appear childish which I liked although several around her felt very immature. I enjoyed the almost Hogwarts style school with Professors who felt individual and unique. Her relationship with Blake felt a tad forced and as much as I wanted him to be worthy he's definitely a product of his society and uber possessive. I think that Medra is an interesting character who has a journey ahead of her that I'm keen to follow. This was a good beginning and I look forward to what happens next.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

On Wings of Blood pulled me right into its world— it blended so many elements of stories I love and made them into something new! This story has a dark, captivating blend of magic, high-stakes academy life, and ancient vampire lore. I especially enjoyed the tension between the FMC and MMC as they tried to make sense of the situation and dynamic thrust upon them. I devoured this read and you will too if you love:

A fierce, quick-witted FMC
A brooding, morally complex MMC
Enemies-to-allies (or maybe something more?)
High-stakes academy life
Vampire politics and dark secrets
Strong friendships and found family vibes
Dragons, mystery, and a dash of forbidden magic

I’m eagerly waiting for book two. Thank you for the ARC—this was an absolute thrill to read! (4.5 stars)

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. It’s the first in the Bloodwing Academy series, an offshoot of the Blood of Fae series, which I highly recommend.

Medra Pendragon, daughter of Orcades and Arthur Pendragon, forfeits her own life to save the people she loves in the final chapter of the Blood of Fae series. When this book begins, she finds herself in a strange place—atop a pile of dead bodies in a destroyed/burned village. She hears strangers coming and wonders if she should pretend to be dead, but she’s discovered. highblood Prince Blake Drakharrow and his army take her, against her will, to the highblood court to present her to his uncle Viktor. There is the small issue of Medra being completely coated in blood. Naked. Blake instructs his soldiers to provide clothes and forces Medra to march to the castle. They are instantly hostile to one another, but it’s clear there’s a physical attraction neither of them wishes to acknowledge.

Somehow, Medra has ended up in a place called Sangratha, a place filled with highbloods, or vampires, and blightborn, who are not. All of the vampires have blonde hair and a distinctive look about them, and all are almost god-like in the way they carry themselves. Medra, initially considered a blightborn, has red hair which indicates she may actually be something called a dragon rider. As such, she is very valuable, even though dragons have long since ceased to exist. The head of the court is Blake’s uncle and, for reasons that are not quite clear, he responds to Medra’s presence by betrothing her to Blake. Then, he whispers an incantation and they are bound (at least, it’s the first binding; there’s more to come).

Medra is outraged and tells Blake she will never be his. Blake is disgusted and wishes his uncle hadn’t chosen her for him, but his uncle is very powerful (and cruel) so there’s not much he can do. Unfortunately, Blake already has one betrothed, Regan, who is also quite jealous and unwilling to accept Medra as the third in their triad. And thus, we have the crux of the conflict.
Neither Blake, nor Medra, nor Regan want any part of this, but Regan actively tries to end it. The more Blake comes to know Medra, the more he comes to admire her strength and tenacity, and he finally has to admit to himself that the more she defies him, the more attractive she becomes to him. And he long ago stopped being attracted to Regan, which doesn’t help her jealousy, leading to more animosity toward Medra.

Medra learns some pretty awful things about the highbloods, but she’s suspicious from the start. Unlike the residents of Sangratha, she hasn’t been enthralled to see them as somehow better and deserving of worship. And she believes Blake is just as bad as the rest of them. But the reader knows he’s not. He genuinely cares about her and wants to protect her—especially from his uncle and his older brother. But he can’t help his culture and his upbringing, so there’s a certain sense of inherent privilege that causes him to assert control over Medra to make her bond to him. She doesn’t understand their customs and, having been raised in another culture, she rebels against him at every opportunity. Sometimes, she assumes the worst of him. Sometimes, he lets her because he doesn’t want to be seen as weak.

By the end of book one, they’re warming up to one another, until he does something that may be unforgivable. And then, all hell breaks loose, and despite Blake’s ardent attempts to protect Medra, he realizes she may be in more danger than ever.

There are some great descriptions, of course. When Medra meets one of the first inhabitants of her new home, “His voice became like the slithering of serpents. Odious and simpering.” When Medra enters a blood brothel, she observes, “There was a sense of opulence without a sense of elegance.”

And loved this. When Medra’s friend Florence tells her about the history of the highborn and the Bloodmaiden, she says this: “The story goes that when our world was new, a demi goddess—half-mortal, half-divine—sacrificed herself and let her blood be spilled to save the world. But her family were determined to avoid her fate. Her mother and father and siblings dipped their heads into her blood and drank. She saved them, and they were granted immortality.”

“They stole her blood, cheated death because they were too selfish to help her save the world, and were turned into vampires,” Medra summarized. In fact, this is the perfect summary of Medra’s view of the highbloods, and she’s not wrong.

At times, I was reminded of Harry Potter. Medra is sent to Bloodwing Academy, a school for highbloods and a select group of blightborn, who should feel honored to join them. She makes friends with other blightborn, but it’s obvious there’s something special and different about her. She’s meant for bigger things. There’s more bullying and it’s a much darker story; it’s almost like a darker, more adult version of Harry Potter. I mean, there’s sex involved, and there are vampires, who act with impunity and torment the blightborn. It’s not just the House of Slytherin tormenting Harry and his friends, and the Mugworts, of course. And although there’s no he-who-shall-not-be-named, there are plenty of candidates for that role, especially Uncle Viktor.

And then of course, you have this forced-proximity match-up between two people antagonistic toward one another who you know will ultimately need to join forces to conquer evil. They’ll need to overcome their cultural differences and learn to trust one another. They’ll need to share the parts of themselves they keep hidden. They’ll need to find allies for the battles they’ll encounter. So far, this is a setup to a more complicated series sure to follow, and I, for one, cannot wait to read more.

Excellent! Enjoyed the story, the authors way of telling it and the characters. It seems to be the first in a series as it ends in a surprise cliffhanger. I will certainly be looking forward to the next book in the series.

oh my god. So I just finished the book and it’s 1 am here but I HAD to stay up more to write my immediate thought. I finished in less than two days and couldn’t stop reading even though I have two midterms and a paper due next week 🥹 No regrets though!
This book has
- enemies to lovers (kinda? Theyre aggressive to each other for about 50% of the book but I feel like it’s only cause they started on the wrong foot. They were never two sides of a conflict.)
- Vampires
- Strong FMC
- Morally grey MMC
- Tension
If you've read Zodiac Academy, then I’ll say Medra is the better version of Tory. I read the entire ZA series but disliked Tory (stayed for Blue and Orion!!!). But Medra/Blake definitely remind me of Tory/Darius. The secret pining, touch her and die, etc. but done better. The plot was paced nicely in my opinion. When I started getting annoyed by a situation, it would be resolved pretty soon instead being dragged on for like 10+ chapters. The book is similar to FW in that it's dark academia and has dragons. I love dragons but they weren't part of the main arc, mostly in the background for world building. There’ll be more development in the next book for sure, IYKYK. I feel like the ending was a little rushed and the cliffhanger was kinda just dropped on us but… overall an enjoyable read! I know the book just released a few weeks ago but I was already stalking the author’s IG for news about book 2 lol.

REVIEW

Book: On Wings of Blood
Author: @briarboleynauthor
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the first book by Briar that I have read.

I have to say when I requested this from Netgalley, I had not realised it had just recently been released.

 Before I even finished the first chapter I knew I wanted a copy of this for my bookshelves. 

This is the first book in the Bloodwing Academy series.  This is a dark academia book with House of Dragons meets Hogwarts with a touch of The Hunger Games vibes.

Medra Pendragon thought she had died and woke up in the afterlife.  However instead of waking up in the afterlife, she finds herself in an entirely new realm to the one she left behind.

Medra is captured by Blake Drakharrow, who drags her into the high court where she discovers this new realm is ruled by vampires.

There are four ruling vampire houses, House Drakharrow, House Avari. House Orphos and House Mortis.

Blake's uncle, Victor Drakharrow is the vampire high lord is convinced that our Medra is a descendant of extinct dragon rider lineage.

To make sure she becomes loyal to House Drakharrow, he binds her to Blake as his betrothed and second consort.

Medra is made to attend Bloodwing Academy, where she must learn their rules and also learn to survive the brutal new world she has found herself in, especially when it comes to taking part in the Consort Games.

After the ending I can't wait for book 2.

When reading the beginning of this book it is clear Medra has had her own history and I found she is first introduced In The Blood of a Fae series, which I have had on my TBR for some time now.  After reading On Wings of Blood I definitely need to hurry up and read that series.

This book was FUN.
I truly enjoyed the plot and the way that it kept me on my toes. I LOVED the fmc and mmc. More than I could ever describe. This book is GREAT and definitely recommend it to others!

I loved literally every second of this. Blake is such an ass and we love him anyway. Medra is a little badass who is going to give the high bloods a rude awakening. I just cant handle them. I’m also obsessed with Kage and hope we see more of him!

Wow, just wow! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of the first book in this series. This is a very strong start to the series, I haven’t been blown away and taken into a world like this in a very long time, I read this book in two days, couldn’t put it down. This is my first Briar Boleyn book but I am about to go and do a deeeppp dive on her others!

The characters are amazing, giving off Zodiac Academy vibes. The academy itself is very much like Harry Potter. Then the trials remind me of Hunger Games. It was like the perfect melting pot. I loved the world building, the bullying, the angst. All of it fit together so, so well! On top of it all- there was just the right amount of spice added into the plot,

All I can say is wow! I have already recommended this book to multiple fellow readers because it blew my mind! Ready for February and book two!

4 ⭐️
Overall I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t something I will continue to think about or rave about. Plot for me was the best part of the book. The tropes and academy setting is one of my favorites and I did think the author managed to keep the story unique from something it could have too closely resembled (Harry Potter / Fourth Wing mix)

I will say I didn’t really like the characters or more I found them very bland and generic. Typical FMC who is confident and sassy. Brooding male who is mean and conceited. Somehow abruptly realize they’re obsessed with each other. Was weird pacing in regards to their relationship and overall they just felt very generic and I didn’t find myself caring much about them. Was more into the overall plot

Tropes:
Vampires, Academy, Dragon Rider, Arranged Marriage, Trials, Enemies to Lovers, Animal Friends

Plot
Plot was kind of slow at some points but overall I really enjoyed it. It was surprisingly unique,

World building
The history, and overall world building of the vampire clans and dragon riders was very well thought out and well done. I will say sometimes it felt like too much of an info dump that wasn’t necessary

Medra:
Was the typical fierce and confident and “unique” female main character, but nothing different than most FMC that are supposed to be that type of girl. I didn’t find anything unique about her or really find myself rooting for her at all

Oh my gosh. This is definitely my favorite work of Briar’s. I was hooked IMMEDIATELY. The world building and story is so unique. The characters are all deep and I loved how fleshed out they all are. I loved that we got a spin off on the Blood of a Fae series. My only complaint is that we have to wait for book 2. I can’t wait to see where this story takes us. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor at the end.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Briar Boleyn has done it again! Left me speechless ! I loved this ! I was upset the last series ended but here we are with a spin-off! I love everything about this book! The characters, the story - all of it ! I can’t wait for book 2!!

Wow. This was like the ultimate emotional rollercoaster, with a twist of magic, dragons, and spice that had me clutching my heart and turning pages late into the night.

Let’s start with the plot—because where do I even begin? Forced betrothal? Check. Forced mating? Oh, you bet. Betrayal? Buckle up, buttercup. The stakes are high, the emotions are intense, and every twist feels like it’s pushing you into a deeper, more thrilling abyss.

The FMC Medra is a total badass. I absolutely loved how she channeled that simmering female rage (my fellow rage-filled feminists will feel seen!). The way she battles against the confines of a world that constantly underestimates her—pure fire. And the MMC Blake, A perfect balance of swoon-worthy intensity and a well-earned redemption arc that kept me on the edge of my seat. Their chemistry is off-the-charts, and the spicy moments? Let’s just say...they definitely deliver.

But let’s talk about the fluffins. These adorable little puppy-like creatures? I can’t even! I need one in my life. They’re pure magic, adding a lighthearted, heartwarming touch.

And don’t get me started on the world-building—magic, vampires, dragons, and plenty of intrigue. The fantastical elements are rich and vibrant, with a deeply immersive setting that pulls you right in.

One thing I would suggest, though: Read the trigger warnings before diving in. The book doesn't shy away from darker themes, and it’s always better to go in prepared.

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend On Wings of Blood to anyone who loves intense romance, epic world-building, and characters that feel like they're fighting for something bigger than themselves. It’s a powerful exploration of passion, power, and equality, and it definitely speaks to the fire within. I CAN’T WAIT FOR BOOK TWO. IFYKYK - no spoilers here.


Here is the Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6971415879

I purchased the physical book on Amazon and it is coming Friday!! So I plan to make a TikTok video with the physical one ❤️❤️

On Wings of Blood has been a rollercoaster ride of frolicking emotions, and there are reasons for that.

""The leaves were turning color when he found me""

When it starts with lines like these, you know you're in for one hell of a ride. Medra Pendragon's journey from being a free captive betrothed without her consent to someone who finds her footing in a strange place where all of her worst nightmares have come alive was exhilarating, to be frank.
The book started with Blake finding Medra in a heap of dead bodies and after bringing her before their council of sorts, ends up getting betrothed to her. They hate each other. Medra wants to be free, but Blake can't let that happen. His world sees highbloods like him as the ultimate power, his own uncle being the unspoken leader of such.
Medra has rider blood in her, which the people recognize in an instant. Despite her being blightborn, which essentially means non-vampire, the riders had a respected place in their society, which is why Blake's uncle deemed her too important to be wasted away, engaging her to Blake. Following which she was admitted to the Bloodwing Academy, the academy attended by every highblood and chosen blightborn.

"Fate is a cruel thing."

But as is evident from the first few chapters, written in Medra's perspective, everyone in the whole Academy, if not this society, hates her. They want her gone. People are trying to kill her. The Academy is loyal to their highbloods, who can get away with anything, and these highbloods are the ones who see Medra as a threat, some as a curse.
And yet she perseveres, and from the small, informative tidbits of Blake's povs, we see how much he wants the betrothal to Medra to be real.
But the issue lies with the system itself. It's unforgivingly racist, sexist and plain authoritatian. Highbloods can control blightborn minds, they can feed from them if they wanted to. Blightborns are treated like scum, while these people worship their highbloods like gods. The system benefits only the highbloods, and Medra sees what these disillusioned blightborns wont admit. The highbloods are the problem.
The best part of the book might be the possibility of dragons and vampires strewn into the same world, the two factions growling for complete power. Though the dragons don't make an entrance until the last scene, setting the sequel for an amazing start, the power and glory of the dragons are talked about enough.
The different noble houses of these highbloods, the races of dragons, the enriching history, all of completes the plot into a dark pit of magic and infamy. The diversity in the book is outstanding, though I would have preferred at least one of the main romantic leads to be not white.
Everything considered, On Wings of Blood delivers a promising read, packed with intrigue, betrayals, violence and swoonworthy romance.

dragons & vampires. i’m sold.

arc rating & review:

4 ★ 1🌶️

this was actually so good. where has this kind of stuff been my whole life?!? VAMPIRES AND DRAGONS?!? like hello?!?!?

i actually really liked this book. the plot was well developed and it was easy to follow. i’ll say waiting for some of the reveals was soooo aggravating! it was in a good way of course but man was i stressed!!!! i also liked the world building as well. it wasn’t super complicated but it was also well thought out and really interesting. some of the plot points were hard to follow and were a bit confusing at times but overall they were fun!

i will say the relationship was a bit off for me. blake was down fucking BAD for her and she barely gave him the time of day so that tension was THICK!! i did like that it was a super slow burn and it barely started by the end of the book so i cant wait to see what book two has in store. what he did in the end actually had my blood BOILING. like how can you go from one thing to the next in less then a day?!? that had me messed up. but i did like how in love he was with her and getting his pov from time to time was *chefs kiss*

i liked all the characters to be honest. expect reagan. you can die in a pit ma’am. besides that, i really liked all the side characters and the little found family we got to see!!! it was really refreshing to have a lengthy book that felt important in its length and also built up the tension and slow burn between the characters!!! OH and the little pet, nevi (as i call him) was so adorable. he was the highlight of the book fr. i genuinely cannot wait for the next one and am so greatful i was sent an arc!

overall was a great read. this series has so much potential and i can’t wait to see what it has in store! thank you netgalley for the arc! ❤️‍🩹

🔥On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn had me hooked from the first heartbeat to the last dragon roar!

This book isn’t just a read—it’s a full-on experience packed with highblood drama, dangerous games, and that oh-so-irresistible enemies-to-lovers tension.

Medra Pendragon? Absolute queen. Fierce, rebellious, and caught between destiny and survival, she’s a powerhouse of grit.

Watching her navigate Bloodwing Academy, where highborn vampires feast on power and blightborns fight for every breath, kept me glued to the pages.

Her bond with Florence and the meddling with Naveen’s love life? Chef’s kiss—the kind of found family vibes that make you root for every victory.🩸👑

And let’s talk about Blake Drakharrow. The snark, the swagger, the everything. From brooding prince to that possessive anti-hero who will scorch the world before letting anyone touch his girl? Yes, please. 😈🔥

Their banter is electrifying, and the moments where Blake’s “cold” facade cracks? Pure gold.

I’m already preparing my heart for book two—Blake better be groveling on those perfectly toned knees!

Blake is absolutely magnetic, but I've got to admit: I’m rooting hard for Kage!💥 The way he surprises her with that breathtaking dress and the necklace (that claim, swoon) was next-level romance. And when Kage said, “You know he’s only going to break your heart, right? When that happens...Remember you have other friends,” my heart did a full somersault. 💘🔥

With epic trials, shadowy secrets, and a lore-soaked world that’s part Arthurian legend, part vampiric elite, this book is what happens when Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, and Vampire Academy have an intense love child. There’s no shortage of adrenaline, mystery, and dragon-sized twists. 🐉✨

If you love sharp, resilient heroines, morally grey princes with Draco Malfoy energy, and a story that blends dark academia with jaw-dropping magic, then On Wings of Blood is your next obsession.

Briar Boleyn has done it again, and I’m here, fully enchanted and ready for the chaos to continue.
💬 Favorite line: “It’s not protection, little dragon. It’s a claim.” (Cue heart-stopping tension. 😳)

Final thoughts? Add this to your TBR if you haven’t already. And to Medra and Blake: may your bond be as fierce and unbreakable as your will to defy the odds.🖤

This had such a cool concept and I was hoping to love it more than I did. Something about the flow of the writing wasn't working for me - it felt like it was trying to be something that was not achieved in my view. There were definitely some moments in there that I enjoyed it, but not enough to make me love the book.
I would recommend this book to other readers though, as there is clearly an element here that a lot of people seem to love. Personally, it wasn't for me.

Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the arc and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest views on the book.

thank you to netgalley for the e-book arc!

erm. EXCUSE ME? this was genuinely so good. i thought the reviews were exaggerated but I literally ate this whole thing up.
The main characters were pretty likeable but Theo and Florence have my heart. I loved the diversity in the characters' personalities and also that there were so many pocs!
At times I didn't like the writing style because it felt a bit bland but then the plot would hit and all was fine again. I'll be so honest, the ending was VERY predictable because of the prologue but the prologue kept me on my toes because I already knew how it would end but as the story progressed, I felt myself hoping that the prologue would be just a prophecy that never came true. I wouldn't say that Blake was Draco Malfoy-esque but he did have that vibe. I feel like this took a little bit of all the 2010-ish YA/dystopian hits (e.g. the hunger games) and mashed it all up into this.

I am beyond grateful that I got to read this, and honestly, I think you should too!

I absolutely loved this book. It surprised me in the best ways! It felt like a cross between Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Fourth Wing, Divergent plus hot vampires.

I felt so much for Medra, the FMC. Thrust into a completely new world and at the whims of an entirely different species, Medra is trying to navigate both her personal safety and trying to fit in to this new society, whilst getting betrothed against her will to the prince. It's a lot to deal with! She makes friends and Florence is one of my favourite supporting characters throughout the book.

Blake is our MMC and he. is. grumpy. I love a grumpy MMC because they always are a little soft under that gruff exterior. And when they pull out "she's mine"? SWOON. When we got to Neville I was done for. He's also BLONDE and very Draco Malfoy coded. It is a nice change from the dark haired shadow wielders that are very prevalent in fantasy novels currently.

The surprise games and political elements were really interesting parts of the book which I felt advanced plot lines and character development. I can't wait for the next book! This will be a re-read for sure.

Thanks to Netgalley and Briar Boelyn for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

4 stars -

Fourth Wing meets Harry Potter and Hunger Games.. This book is sure to be the next big hit in the Romantasy genre.

This book captured my attention right from page 1. The FMC Medra Pendragon is fierce, brave, and daring. She's not afraid to raise her voice or protect those she cares about. She has strong moral values, but still gets caught up in the love hate game between her and the MMC Blake Drakharrow. He gives major Draco Malfoy vibes. Testing Medra from the very beginning and watching as other students bully her. He secretly has a caring side, but he is cold and heartless at times. The enemies to somewhat lovers trope is not really my personal favorite, but the author did a good job of giving Blake just enough redeeming qualities to know he has a redemption arc in the future. I definitely enjoyed the book, though some of the plot was a little lackluster at times. I'm intrigued and ready to find out what happens in book 2. Cliff hanger at the end of book 1 alone makes it worth the read.

Something to note - there is a trigger warning list in the book, including bullying, murder, torture, graphic violence.

#OnWingsofBloodBloodwingAcademy #NetGalley