Buckle in, get ready for a ride - the adventure continues, betrayals, secrets, angst, just, denials, conspiracies, and yep, dragons. I think I held my breath for most of this one, and of course ends on a cliff ... now we wait.

This is the second book and I loved it even more than the first- which I didn’t think was possible! The character development of Blake and Medra was natural and what I wanted it to be. Sassy dragons are also top tier. My only takeaway is that the ending had a lot going on and it was a little overwhelming. I’d have liked that to be spaced out more. Other than that I loved this book and the spice- I will be coming back for more!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my review!
Once again, Briar Boleyn has me fully back in my Vampire Academy era, and I’m not mad about it. This sequel was everything I wanted—high-stakes chaos, delicious tension, and enough drama to fuel my book-induced insomnia.

First things first: the rivalry between Kage and Blake? Oh, it sizzled! Blake’s jealousy toward Kage was absolutely chef’s kiss, and I lived for every second of it. Was I hoping for a bit more of a triangle situation with Medra stuck between them? Absolutely. But hey, book three, I’m looking at you—make it happen!

Speaking of no triangle, let’s talk about Medra and Blake. Look, I was a little surprised at how quickly that simmering hatred turned into… well, other things. But also? Same, girl. Same. It’s hard to stay mad when the tension is crackling between you and the brooding hot vampire twink you’re supposed to be feeding, I get it!

Now, let’s address the very attractive elephant in the room: Teacher Rodriguez. The man had a much smaller role in this book, and honestly? Tragic. Everyone in this story can’t stop talking about him, and I don’t blame them—he must be the hottest teacher to ever exist. I need more. I deserve more. Here’s hoping book three finally gives this enigma of a man the page time he deserves.

Returning to Bloodwing Academy felt like coming home—if home was a dangerous, backstabbing, dragon-filled institution where you could either rise to power or die trying. And honestly? Love that for me. There’s so much left to uncover, and I need book three in my hands yesterday.

Final verdict? This sequel delivered, and I’m already mentally pre-ordering the next one. Bring on the drama, the dragons, and please let’s keep stoking that Kage vs. Blake fire. And while we’re at it, let’s give Teacher Rodriguez the spotlight he clearly deserves!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I have highly enjoyed this entire series. I started with the Queen of Roses and I wasn’t ready to be done with those characters, so I’m so glad that she came out with a spinoff series.

After reading the first book in this spinoff, I knew it was going to be just as good as the Queen of Roses timeline and I couldn’t wait for more!

In this book Briar has included it all…dark academia, dragons, vampires, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance.

Medra has awoken a dragon and now everyone wants her. The problem is she’s making it up as she goes. And to make matters worse Blake has betrayed her.

I am so thankful to be able to get early copies of these. They are some of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve recommended these to people because they remind me of a mixture of Arthurian Legend (more so in the first series) mixed with Vampiric Hogwarts mixed with Zodiac Academy!

4.5 rounded up to a 5

Holy cliffhanger I need more.

Things are heating up in this world and medra has a lot on her plate.

I can't wait to see where this goes. I'm really starting to love Blake and I'm very curious about kage. Could this turn love triangle or why choose ? Who knows but im ready to find out.

This book was so entertaining and captivating for me! I enjoyed the first one but didn't like some inconsistencies... this one tied those up well, meanwhile left us with another cliffhanger.

The most surprising part of the story was Blake. I really started to hate him in this book, the bully romance continued and he was just.... well, so freaking stupid, that I had a hard time believing that it can be turned around for me. Don't get me wrong, his inner turmoil continues on throughout the book and its infuriating ('I will do it... but I was raised better! Nah I will do it...'), but I went from meh to 'oh okay he's not that bad' in ~2 chapters.
Medra is much the same as in book 1, which is good and bad at the same time. She remains stubborn and outspoken to the point that sometimes she herself admits that it was too much. On the other hand, she's alone in this new world without any considerable support and tries to navigate through a really dangerous situation, I felt for her and cheered her on the whole time. Her relationship with Nyxaris was interesting, as she tried to help him and in return, he opened up to her bit by bit. I really enjoyed their interactions!

I'm looking forward to Florence's story, hers was an interesting turn of events and one I haven't really seen coming until the very last moment. She can be a character with a fascinating development.... bring it on! :)

Thank you for the eARC for the publisher and author! It was a really nice read and I'm looking forward to their next adventure!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another great read! So thankful to have been able to start the year off with another great read. I absolutely loved this! Dragons and Vampires?! What more could you want?!

I loved seeing Medra’s character growth and how far she comes from Book 1

The heated moments… the banter, FMC and MMC!

I really enjoyed this sequel! I liked that you get to know more of the characters and that the mystery of the Dragons is more center stage. I can't decide who to trust which is part of the appeal...keeps me turning the page and losing sleep! The ending was amazing and I am not sure how I can I wait for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc ! I was very excited to continue this adventure. I have already recommended book 1 to so many of my friends and can’t wait for book 3. The spice and the twist and turns in this book was fantastic. This is quickly becoming an author I am very excited to follow. The writing style is exactly what I’m always looking for. I loved everything about this world ! Can’t wait for book 3 !

Thank you to to Netgalley and Briar Boleyn for allowing me to read and review the next book in the Bloodwing series.

We're back at school, second year, with Medra and Florence. This time, we have a third POV. The book starts off a little slow, as poor Medra is feeling stuck, trapped in her room with no friends and only Blake to come feed once a week and Viktor to attempt to torture her. Once the new school year begins, you can't put the book down.

Medra is under a lot of scrutiny having awoken the only dragon, Nyxaris. She's using her newly refined skills to block out anyone who tries to use thrallguard on her, but she must remain vigilant as there are people who have their own agendas for the rider... and her blood..

Minor spoilers ahead...
As she learns more of dragon history, her bond with Nyxaris grows and they begin to trust each other more. She's also been working on her trust with Blake who, let me be honest in saying the man took FOREVER to realize how great Medra is for him. Stubborn man. But I'll give him a little reprieve as he's beginning to go through some of his own changes... Which, by the way, I need more info on all that ASAP.

Briar, I need the next book now, please!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, NetGalley.

This installment of Bloodwing Academy did a few things I like, and a few I don't. Please allow me to rant for a few lines. I hated the first half of the book. It is a pet peeve of mine when authors start the second book of a series by re-doing what they have done in the first one. It undoes all the character development and story-building. The first half of this book is just that: for no reason (except conflict manufacturing), Blake goes back to being a bully and Medra does nothing, but complain about him.
The second half of the book was quite fun. The last scene even took me (mostly) by surprise, which is rare. I am looking forward to the third installment.

🌟Vampires
🌟Enemies to Lovers
🌟Dragons
🌟Bully Romance
🌟Wolves
🌟Found Family
🌟Magic
🌟Betrayal
🌟Dual POV
🌟Cliffhanger
🌟🌶️🌶️🌶️

I am absolutely obsessed with this series! The Bonds That Burn had me in a chokehold from start to finish—I devoured every page.

So much goes down in this installment. The threats are deadlier, the betrayals cut deeper, and the secrets and losses continue to stack up. Everything is ramping up, and I could feel the tension tightening with every chapter.

And that slow burn between Medra and Blake—because, good God, the tension (fans self)—is igniting. Their chemistry has been simmering, but now? It’s catching fire.

Blake, for all his arrogance and deeply ingrained entitlement, is trying—really trying—but he’s also stumbling and failing. Watching him fall harder for Medra, despite his many missteps, was everything. His life has been a relentless cycle of trauma and hardship, and my heart ached for him as he faced even more pain.

Meanwhile, Medra is caught in a game so much bigger than herself, with little control over the pieces in play. Yet, she’s stepping deeper into her path, growing stronger with every challenge. Her struggle to navigate her feelings for Blake are complicated —and Kage, I’ve got my eye on you sir—added another layer of intrigue. Can she trust him? Should she?

And then there’s the found family that emerges, and I love them with my whole heart. Theo owns me, Florence is absolutely precious, and Visha brings something so uniquely her that I can’t help but adore her. And Nyxaris and Neville could not be more opposite, and yet both bring something vital.

The ending? An absolute wild ride. Everything unravels in rapid succession, spiraling into chaos, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Things go sideways—fast—and I need book three in my hands right now.

The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn - publish date: 27th December 2024.

I hold my hands up. I'm addicted to this series! Especially as there's just the right amount of spice in this book! I devoured this book in a day! This is an easy 4⭐️ for me!

Vampires, dragons, found family, spice, tension and fast paced plot. My favourite recipe.

I was so happy to receive this arc and head back into Bloodwing Academy.

We get to know the characters so well in book one that headed into book two everyone felt quite established. Except Kage, he's a man I still want to know more about and he's still quite the enigma!

Picking up where we left off in book one, all our favourites are back - Medra, Blake, Theo, Florence, and Visha. We get old and new teachers at Bloodwing too.

We get to see and hear a lot more from Nyxaris the dragon who is now free in Sangratha. I love his attitude, and his dark humour. I know he's a dragon but Neville will always be my number one!

I really enjoyed the tension in this book. I was getting a little bit annoyed with Blake's attitude, and felt like he was almost replicating Regan's behaviour from the previous book. However, THAT bathroom scene was 🔥🔥. There is just the right amount of spice, it's hot but doesn't take away from the plot of the book.

I liked the pace of the book, I enjoyed the twists and turns, the fact that no one seems to know the real history of the dragons or where they sit in terms of good / bad so we are learning as we go on, same as the characters.

The only thing that didn't make this a higher star rating was that I felt the book could have been a bit longer. Some parts felt rushed but it didn't spoil my overall enjoyment of the book!

Briar Boleyn is fast becoming one of my favourite authors for romantasy / dark romantasy. We need the third book after that ending!

Thank you to Briar Boleyn, and NetGalley for the arc. This is my own personal review of this book!

I was beyond excited to dive into The Bond That Burns (Book 2 in the Bloodwing Academy series), and let me tell you—it absolutely did not disappoint.
From the very first page, I was hooked, and by the end, I was practically begging for more.

The story picks up right where Book 1 left off (yes, that cliffhanger we’re all still recovering from), and guess what? This one has an even bigger cliffhanger—so prepare yourself. The pacing is flawless—every twist, every revelation about the past, and every moment of Medra and Blake’s journey had me glued to the pages.

And let’s talk about the steam scenes for a second—🔥🔥🔥. They are perfection. The chemistry, the tension, the build-up—it’s written so well that you can’t help but root for the characters through every moment.

I’m counting down the days until Book 3!

If you are looking for something to read after Onyx Storm, this is it!!!
Perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers romance, intense action, and dark magic—all set in an academy backdrop.

A big thanks to Netgalley, publisher and the author for providing me with this ARC!

I waited 2 whole days before I started this because I knew that this book was going to emotional destroy me. I still was not prepared, because I was expecting this to be the end of the story, but no. Briar Boleyn has pissed me off yet again about how invested I am in these characters. I am pissed that I have to wait even longer to find out what happens and even more upset with what has happened with Medra and Florence and Blake and my favorite fluffin baby! I can't wait until the next one and I will be the first in line for it too.

At Bloodwing Academy, where blood is currency and dragons' legacies are dangerous, a student who unknowingly awakens a dragon must navigate deadly political intrigue, a betrayal from a trusted ally, and a blood bond that could be her doom, all while trying to survive a world of vampires, dragons, and dark secrets.

After the cliffhanger of Of Wings of Blood, I dove straight into this book without hesitation—I had to know what happened next and see how their bond would evolve.

This book was such a slow burn, chaotic and full of twists, but I couldn’t put it down, even though I was frustrated the entire time.

The FMC is such a strong, compassionate woman, but she's also incredibly naive, too trusting, and stubborn as hell—driving me crazy at times.

The MMC's miscommunication had me losing my mind because everything could’ve been so much simpler if he’d just been honest about his feelings.

There were moments when I was completely in love, and others when I was ready to throw in the towel, but hands down, my favorite part was the library scene—because who doesn’t love the chaos of a love triangle (or whatever that mess was)? The drama had me hooked!

Now, I can't wait to see what book three has in store!

Medra is back at Bloodwing navigating life after falsely claiming she’s bonded a dragon. She’s locked in Drakharrow tower and locked into a dedicated feeding schedule with Blake so he doesn’t die without her blood. She now has to figure out how to keep herself and her dragon alive when all the royal houses have a renewed interest in killing them.

Anything Briar Boleyn writes is crack. I DEVOURED this. I love a bully romance and Blake delivered. The twist at the end during the ball I DID NOT SEE COMING. Everything felt so calculated and purposeful. I need the next book NOW and I need all the lore in the next book explained (and I want Reagan to burn)

Thank you to Netgalley and Starwater Press Publishing for the free ARC copy of this book. I don’t think I will survive waiting until May to read the next book in this series 😂 I have now found another favorite Romantasy author. There are points in this book that the characters make you want to smack some sense into them but they are still lovable. This book is a super fast read. It was hard to put down! I was really happy to see so much growth from a lot of the highblood characters in this book compared to the first one. I will be recommending this series to every person I know that enjoys fantasy books!

It truly exceeded my expectations as a sequel to On Wings of Blood.

The setting continues to impress. The expansion of Bloodwing Academy feels natural and immersive, with every detail from the mysterious lore surrounding dragons and vampires to the dark academia vibes, adding layers of depth that really drew me in.

The pacing kept me on the edge of my seatz action, drama, and quieter introspective moments all blend perfectly without feeling rushed. I also loved how Medra and Blake evolved, especially their nuanced enemies-to-lovers dynamic that added genuine emotional depth.Plus, there's more character development for the secondary characters, giving us deeper insights into their lives and motivations.

Also, the book doesn't shy away from heat, the steamy, well-handled scenes bring an extra intensity to their relationship, making the story even more engaging. Overall, with its intricate world-building, compelling character development, and just the right amount of spice.

I could not put this story down! Medra is strong, smart and witty. She is a badass MC. Blake on the other hand, was quite infuriating at times. I guess we will see in the next book how he evolves.

The absolute best part of this book are a snarky dragon and an adorable fluffball named Neville!
Medra's friends are also pretty cool. In this book she finally has a larger friend group and I'm rooting for all of them. I was a little sad that the dagger (iykyk) was much less present in this book.

The ending had me at the edge of my seat and I cannot wait to read how the story continues.

Thank you Netgalley, Starwater Press and Briar Boleyn for the copy I received. This is my honest review.