I’ve seen on social that if you liked Fourth Wing, to start this series. Honestly, I needed to read book 2, The Bonds That Burn, as soon as I received it as an ARC and started it before picking up Onyx Storm. I enjoy Briar’s writing so much - the style, quips, wit, and the ease in understanding the world building make it so entertaining and hard to put down.

I loved the relationship between Medra and Nyxaris. Seeing their bond and friendship evolve was a great additional storyline. Blake continues to evolve and become more vulnerable…and make mistakes, of course. Florence becomes a more independent person - seeing her flourish and create new friendships with the other characters is a great wholesome balance to the story.

I cannot wait for book 3. Once again, the ending left me yelling “nooooo” because I didn’t want it to end. I will be eagerly awaiting book 3 to see what happens next.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

6/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2/5 🌶️🌶️

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What to Expect:
🐲Enemies to Lovers
❤️Dark Academia
🐲Dragon(s)
❤️Found Family
🐲Dark Romantasy
❤️Draco Malfoy Vibes
🐲Vampires, Fae, etc.
❤️Slow Burn
🐲Touch her & 💀
❤️Book 2

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Okay all my bookish besties, now that we’ve all been DESTROYED by Onyx Storm, I have another to add to your list… and when I say I’ve been wrecked? I have FULLY and officially been wrecked by The Bond That Burns. The emotions? Chaotic. The spice? Perfection. The betrayals? Gut-wrenching. This book picked up right where the first left off (On Wings of Blood) and did not hold back. Medra’s character growth had me cheering, and Blake? Our unhinged, possessive Draco Malfoy vampire? He’s doing things to my soul I can’t even explain. And don’t even get me started on Nyxaris—grumpiest dragon with the best lines. (Think Tairn, but GRUMPIER!)

The tension in this book was immaculate. The reveals about the past, the way the world expanded, the way my heart was not ready? I’m definitely still recovering. And the fluff ball Neville? I would lay down my life for him. This book had everything—danger, magic, romance, spice, and characters that burrow into your soul and refuse to leave. I was pacing my house, yelling at my Kindle, and whispering ohmygod at 2 AM.

And that CLIFFHANGER?? Briar Boleyn, I NEED book 3 YESTERDAY. If you love dragons, vampires, dark academia, enemies-to-lovers, and books that emotionally destroy you in the best way, you HAVE to read this series. I’ve only had a handful of 6⭐ reads in my life… they all seem to be in the realm with Dragons (go figure right?) and I INSTANTLY have to get shelf trophies… this series is no different. Thank you to Briar and NetGalley for the ARC—I’ll just be over here counting the days until Book 3.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC of 'The Bond That Burns'.

I enjoyed this book so much more than the first book. Back in the world of fae, vampires, and shifters & the dark academia setting really did hit differently in this second book.

I feel like it was a lot less about world building than the first book had been, and was more about their relationship together which I preferred. And as always, we love an enemies to lovers with touch her and die vibes.

Really glad I carried on to read the second in this series.

This is book two of the Bloodwing Academy series. This is an academia fantasy romance. A villain that you will fall in love with. A story full of vampires and dragons. 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.

4/5 ✨ This hooked me and I devoured it way too quickly. I’m glad there was less focus on world-building because I loved experiencing the MC’s relationship.

I was LIVING for Blake’s POV and his chapters got me through the book. His character development was everything and I loved being in his head and seeing things from his perspective. The romance plot has been so done but it was still SO entertaining and I couldn’t stop reading. Blake had me giggling to myself and the tummy was ✨fluttering✨

Medra’s motivations and thoughts, while noble and good, seem simplistic in comparison to Blake’s complexity. Her lack of critical thinking and empathy when it comes to him is hard to believe when she’s so considerate of everyone else. It fell into the unfortunate pitfall of making the FMC seem silly for not realising information that was made really obvious to me as a reader.

BUT I’m okay with flawed MCs if they’re being set up for character development. I just hope she and Blake actually start working together in the next book because I’m starting to feel really sorry for him.

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So very thankful to Briar Boleyn (Fenna Edgewood), Starwater Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Tropes:
- Academia setting (with vampires, humans, dwarves)
- Bonded mates (elements of political marriage)
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn
- Love triangle
- Underdog/Outsider MC
- Touch her and you die
- Open door spice

I really tried to like this one….unfortunately it needs an editor, BADLY. The FMC just doesn’t get smarter? I still don’t know who she is? Shes supposedly some bad ass but where?

The MMC? ughhhh he’s a drag. I don’t see or feel how he ever “cared.” idk it’s giving “wanna be adult harry potter” without the proper execution. a lot of scenes / ideas felt very ripped off from other stories.

will have to dnf @ 30%

thank you NetGalley & Salt Water Press for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I devoured the last 200 pages. The writing is so captivating it keeps you wanting more.
The friendships grew stronger in book 2, the tension was great, at one point Blake was giving Tamlin vibes but the more I read, he redeemed himself.

There was some spice scenes that gave me the tiniest ick which lowered my rating for this book, but then the world of Bloodwing Academy and how the author creates scenes and the way she manages to engross you twisted my arm and upped it to a 5 star.

Thoroughly enjoyed this one and can't wait for book 3.

Thanks to @netgalley & @briarboleynauthor for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review

Briar !!! Im so glad I found this author. This writing just hooks you in and exactly where we left off in book one. Keeping the pace and story flowing. Her world building is exquisite. Well done.

I enjoyed how this book picked up from where the previous book left off. The pace was perfect and I loved the character development. I did not see the shifter aspect coming. I was pulled in right away and cannot wait to see what happens next.

The cover immediately drew me in and the dragons and action kept me coming back! This was a blast to read and there were a lot of familiar tropes that I vibed with (fourth wing lol) but this was a solid read and I will continue the series for sure.

The Bonds That Burns is an explosive follow to On Wings of Blood. This book is action packed from beginning to end and definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I also loved seeing the development of and between Medra and Blake. We got to see lots more of our cast of supporting characters, including Neville, who I was surprised to learn more interesting things about. I am now (im)patiently waiting for book three after that massive cliffhanger ending. (Cue feral scream.)

thank you netgalley and briar briar boleyn for providing me with a review copy for an honest review!

okay this series has me in an actual chokehold, it is seriously so addicting! this book really stepped up in intensity in comparison to the first as more severe history and revelations on why things are the way they are start to arise. this book has so much depth, and it’s been a lot of fun unpacking all the layers of the plot alongside getting to know our characters, their motivations, and who they actually are deep down. like i said in my review of the last book, these characters feel like real people. their responses in stressful situations, their anxieties, their emotions, they just feel so human and so relatable. i loved getting to know some of the side characters a bit more, and really loved the development of theo and visha in this book. i screamed, laughed, cried, almost threw my kindle. i love books that can make me feel a wide range of passionate emotions.

medra is such a fucking badass and she takes no shit from anyone. she also is honourable and intensional and kind, always putting her friends (found family) first. she really gave blake a hard time in the first half to the point where i was actually starting to feel a bit bad for him because boy is this man a simp for her. honestly i get it though, i am also a simp for medra. seriously though, blake’s inner thoughts about medra and how much her cares for her? literally had me swooning. the whole will they won’t they, hate to love to hate then to reluctant but uncontrollable feelings, had me yelling because ahhhhh you just know they belong together and they’re making it difficult for themselves for no reason!!!

romance aside, the PLOT!! while i love fantasy romance, the plot really holds up on its own if it were to be taken out completely which i think is super important to mention. while i picked this book up for the promise of enemies to lovers and sexy vampires, i’m staying because the storyline has been so enticing and face paced, full of twists and turns. i can’t wait to see what happens next as where we left off i feel was SO unexpected that i feel like it drastically changes the dynamic between characters but also flipped all my theories on how the next book will function on its head.

i LOVE nyxaris and how strong and sassy he was. i also think that this take on dragons, them seeing themselves as all powerful and superior in comparison to the wimpy mortals feels a lot more authentic than a lot of other dragon books i have read. there is no way something that massively powerful and ancient respects or feels any obligation of loyalty to any of the houses or its people—it feels like the dragons live for themselves and not to be commanded, and that’s how it should be. im excited to see what happens with the other two dragons, if they’re able to wake them properly, and if medra’s mom is able to cure/break the bond of the house orphos dragon. if they do wake them, who are able to be the other riders? 👀

the fact that i have to wait 3 more months for the next book is actually criminal, but you bet your ass i will be signing up to ARC read!

This was one of my most anticipated sequels because I absolutely loved On Wings of Blood (book 1) and couldn’t wait to see what would happen Medra and Blake…

This picked up immediately after book one’s ending and we get to tensely await Medra’s fate now that she has awakened a dragon, who literally did not want anything to do with her.

The vampire council wanted her to bring the dragon to heel or there would be consequences — possibly even her death.

Luckily, the big boy black dragon did want something from Medra that a deal is struck between them. The banter between them is so funny and seriously one of the highlights of this book!

Blake and Medra are NOT on a good standing, since she cannot forgive him for bonding her without consent. So obviously Blake had been sulking and become an even bigger bully.

Enter Kage, who’s so calm and cool and charismatic and oh god can we please have a why choose???

Give us a Kage x Medra x Blake Triad, PLEASE I BEG

Anyway, a lot of political intrigue has happened, which I won’t spoil, and there were some awesome spicy times too 🥵

Then a BIG REVEAL happened at the end.
It left me shookt. I need book 3 like now???
I have so many questions and I AM NOT OKAY

I absolutely love this book and literally ferally waiting for the next one.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc for this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Bond That Burns in the second book in the Bloodwing Academy series and it did not disappoint. It begins right where the first ends with the discovery of an awakened dragon who has been turned into stone for many years which is a cataylst to much more highblood power struggles. The ragon, Nyxaris, who is historically not part of Medra’s house, there is power struggles, questioning of Medra’s stance if she “controls” the dragon through being the only rider and what happens now.

Throughout the book, we see a trial to determine the rightful claim of Nyxaris, much more power hungry tactics, history of Bloodwing but most importantly, DRAGONS!!!

Honestly, Medra’s connection with Nyxaris was a highlight of this book. The dragon, who doesn’t remember much on what happened before he was turned into stone, is stubborn, desiring independence and is full of sarcasm and wit. We learn so much from Nyxaris’ awakening and it’s so interesting reading about it, yet also upsetting when we find out the truths surrounding dragons, their riders and high blood vampires.

The back and forth with our main characters Medra and Blake is still as delicious as it was in the beginning of the series. Medra is still badass and keeping her own despite what is thrown at her. Blake is still his cold, yet charming at times and we begin to see mysteries unravel around him. Enemies to lovers excellence with their hate, conflictions and the things keeping them connected. Honestly, i love them so much.

The ending????? Ruined me. I cheered, I cried, I wanted to go to the pages and destroy some people. It was an emotional journey through its twists and turns and honestly, it was amazing. Also I cannot write a review without mentioning Neville and his cuteness. I truly cannot wait for the next book to see what happens next!

Book 2 picks up straight after book 1, and what a cliffhanger we were left on.

The bond that burns is full of drama and romance which started in book 1, more characters were included and the story developed further. The world building and writing style is fantastic, there's so much action in this book it keeps you thoroughly entertained and on the edge of your seat.

I’m telling you right now, Briar absolutely outdid herself with this one. I devoured this book greedily, and once again, we are left with a cliffhanger of an ending that leaves my heart and stomach twisted up in knots.

So proud of Medra for standing up for herself time and time again, despite relying on luck, blind faith, and secrets to do so. The relationship between her and Blake is electric and just when you think they are making some headway, you’re met with a plot twist that will leave you spinning.

If the goal was to feel every single emotion imaginable, then mission accomplished! I raged right along side these characters and had several moments where my kindle almost went flying. The world building continues to expand and I cannot wait to see where we go from here.

What a cliffhanger of an ending! This book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Not only is there plenty of action, but the character development, particularly Blake's, really stands out. Watching him grow and mature right before our eyes makes him more endearing than ever. The story also delivers some truly surprising plot twists, making the wait for the next installment feel like pure agony.

The world-building, the writing style, the pacing, and even the yearning are all spot on. In short, I highly recommend this new series!

Thanks to NetGalley, Starwater Press and Briar Boleyn for a chance to read this book for free. I’m leaving this review of my own accord.

This was a perfect second book in the series, that I’ve grown to be absolutely obsessed with. The characters in this book especially Medra have grown so much and we get to see more of the world building that Briar is so wonderful at! I wish this book didn’t end because I feel I read it all in one day ( I 100% did ) and I just want more. I’m excited to see where book 3 brings us!
Thank you to Netgalley and Star Water Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

This book is full of action, twists and turns, betrayals, found family and some spice. This was an emotional roller coaster for me.

Medra is strong and fierce, always standing up for her, her friends and what’s right no matter what. I love how she doesn’t take crap from anyone no matter how powerful they are.

Blake is still a bully and an arse but you get to see his softer side as he slowly starts to redeem himself. The tension between MCs 🔥

A grumpy stubborn dragon and a great found family on top of everything and I couldn’t put this down.

The ending!!!! I need the next book asap!