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.

Okay. I, wow. The Bond that Burns is Book 2 in the Bloodwing Academy Series and it continues right where On Wings of Blood conveniently stops at a cliffhanger. Medra's journey at the Bloodwing Academy continues as she learns more about dragons and the highborns' relationship with them. She and Nyxaris also continue to develop a relationship and a truce of sorts as they work together to find out more. Along the way, she strengthens her relationship with her found family and finds herself trying to figure out just what her relationship with Blake and Kage is.

I spent way too long being excited about reading the ARC and then also trying to drag out the reading because I am just SO invested. As much as I wanted to learn and to know more, I also didn't want my time to end. Briar Boleyn has created a really beautiful piece that has kept me absolutely engaged and riveted. It's very, wow. The different relationships, point-of-views/narrations, spice(!!!), and the different twists and changes? Fuck yes.

Like the first book, I highly recommend this one and I can't wait to continue my journey with these characters. If you're looking for a series to get into, please consider Bloodwing Academy!

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

The Bond That Burns is book two in the Bloodwing Academy series by Briar Boleyn.
These books captivate me until the very last page.
This series is absolutely incredible! The romance, the fantasy, the action, the characters, the plot twists, the details. I am seriously obsessed and it is one of my favorite series.
This series is a must read for any fantasy and romance reader.

6 mf ⭐️!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ handed it out to Briar! The second book is even better than the first! Stop right now! I’m going to go sit in a corner and drown my sorrows but also write out WTF so many times until my hand hurts!!! The cliffhanger! I paced around my house reading the last few chapters!!!🥺🤯🤯🤯🤫

Well done Briar!!! Well fricken done👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

In this world of vampires, dragons, and lies, there are no happy endings. Just legends–and the darkness it takes to make them.”
“Fuck self-control, I thought, as I leaned down and captured her mouth with mine.”

We are back to Bloodwing Academy and our badass FMC Medra is as usual fighting for her life. Her found family is keeping her sane but those pesky bonds with the newly returned dragon and bad boy Blake are doing some damage.

I want to write this detailed synopsis but I’m dying of flu. I stayed up through the night to read this book even though I was dying of the flu. I mean doesn’t that tell you it was 5 stars?!
If not the uh scene in Chapter 17 will have you begging for more.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS!

What an absolute blast, and potentially the most exciting ending I’ve read all year. A couple things I saw coming, but so many twists I was utterly shocked by. Lots of gasps and squawks and OH MY GODS to my poor husband. Even the predictable turns were tee’d up well and I’m stoked to see the impact in the next book.

This picks up shortly after the world-altering events of the last book. Medra is pissed at Blake’s betrayal and Blake is…not handling it well. Numerous political agendas are tightening around Medra and she has no idea what to do or who to trust. Some want to kill her, others use her. I loved how Boleyn really upped the stakes here on all sides, without anything ever feeling confusing or disingenuous.

Blake Drakharrow…I am not a bully romance fan and absolutely wanted to murder him for his idiocy for the first 40% of this book. Thank goodness for Visha, who became a surprise MVP this book for numerous reasons. When he comes around though it’s incredible.

Conversely I adore the found family and the one forming here builds on the first book in such a satisfying way.

Dragons! Hard to say much about this without spoilers but at a time when dragons are (pun intended) hot, I liked this twist. While certainly evocative of Fourth Wing, the dragon lore stands on its own.

And Medra is a great FMC. She’s frustrated, a little lost, vulnerable when those she cares about are threatened, and yet never lets Blake or her superiors push her around. And her friendship with Florence is a guiding star for her.

Anyway this is quickly becoming a favorite series. Can’t wait for more! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is an electrifying sequel that dives deeper into the perilous world of Bloodwing Academy. Medra’s bond with Nyxaris, a fiery dragon, thrusts her into deadly power struggles among vampire highbloods. Blake, the brooding vampire with a complicated connection to Medra, brings tension and betrayal that keep you hooked. The story masterfully blends court intrigue, dragon lore, and morally grey characters with enemies-to-lovers romance. Medra’s loyalty to her friends and determination to uncover the truth makes her a compelling heroine. Packed with action, secrets, and heart-pounding twists, this dark academic romantasy is perfect for fans of high fantasy and dark academic romance.

I loved every second of this book. Briar's writing just draws you and immerses you entirely. It was a rollercoaster ride with high points of joy and low points of true despair. I am so invested in this series, and I'm going to be staring into the void for a while after that ending.

The Bond That Burns is the second book in the Bloodwing Academy series by the very talented Briar Boleyn. Imagine finding yourself in a strange world, and you accidentally awaken a dragon from stone, yeah that’s where I’m at. Will Medra and Blake and their friends make it? Read The Bond That Burns to find out.
I enjoyed visiting the fantastical world of Bloodwing Academy again. I loved getting to see Medra and Blake’s characters grow in so many ways. This story is full of characters that you can’t help but love and others that you will love to hate. I love that the main character is a strong young woman, who always does what is right. I can’t wait to read what happens next for Medra, Blake, and their friends in the next installment of this amazing series.

<b>5/5 Star</b> ⭐
<b>3/5 Spice</b> 🌶️

Briar is now one of the Queens of cliffhangers. I can't. I'm in pain. I don't want to wait until MARCH FOR BOOK 3!!!! Thats so evil ma'am! I will try to keep my review spoiler free and mark appropriately but seeing as it is BOOK 2 there will be spoilers for book 1 more than likely. Also, a big thank you to Netgalley and Briar and her publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

To sum up my review, if you liked her other books and the first one in this series, you will like this one!

Book two picks up almost where book 1 left off. The plot is great, pacing is wonderful, and I was feeling all the things. I finished the book in a few hours' time and stayed up late to finish. Multiple POVs!! I enjoyed having a Florence POV. I would enjoy a Kage POV. The world building was placed very well and didn't feel overwhelming or like a huge info dump. The enemies to lovers is definitely starting its lovers' part! SOOOO HAPPY! There were many more spicy scenes in this one and I quite enjoyed a particular, mutual um... pleasure scene! *blush and giggle*

The overall arching story is moving along, and I was pleasantly surprised with some of the twists. I wasn't expecting them, to be honest, especially relating to Blake and Kage. Excited to see what comes from that. OMG I ALMOST FORGOT KAGE!!! I LOVVVVEEE the love triangle we have going. I want more with Kage!!!! I kind of hope we get like a forbidden love two house leaders triad love triangle LOL! Although I know Blake would probably just kill Kage but eh I digress I can dream about them both worshipping her and putting aside jealousy and differences LOL.

The first book was good, this one, not so much. The story starts right where the last book ended. I managed to get through the first half of the story but one can only take so much teenage angst and filler pages. I jumped to the last chapter and that's where the book real action takes place. It sets you up for the next book which I hope will be covering a real story and a real plot and not be filled with so much filler nonsense.