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Bloodwing Academy #1
On Wings of Blood
I didn't sign up for this.
A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for torment.
I'm Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.
But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I'm not going down without a fight.
Bloodwing isn't just a school—it's a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you're weak? You're dead.
Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I'm starting to think the real danger isn't the academy—it's what I'm becoming in this twisted game of power.
And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.
They think they can control me. They think they can use me.
But they have no idea what they've awakened.
On Wings of Blood is a dark academia fantasy romance featuring a bully villain with Draco Malfoy energy who (eventually) gets the girl, all the tension and banter, and a tantalizingly dangerous blend of court and school intrigue all set in an intricately crafted world with unique vampire and dragon lore. Bloodwing Academy may have crossover characters from the world of Blood of a Fae, but can be read completely independently.
A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for torment.
I'm Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.
But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I'm not going down without a fight.
Bloodwing isn't just a school—it's a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you're weak? You're dead.
Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I'm starting to think the real danger isn't the academy—it's what I'm becoming in this twisted game of power.
And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.
They think they can control me. They think they can use me.
But they have no idea what they've awakened.
On Wings of Blood is a dark academia fantasy romance featuring a bully villain with Draco Malfoy energy who (eventually) gets the girl, all the tension and banter, and a tantalizingly dangerous blend of court and school intrigue all set in an intricately crafted world with unique vampire and dragon lore. Bloodwing Academy may have crossover characters from the world of Blood of a Fae, but can be read completely independently.
523 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2024
19834 people are currently reading
157279 people want to read
About the author
Briar Boleyn
11 books3,486 followers*** I am most active on Instagram!
Please Note: Goodreads won't let me follow any more people, but please feel free to add me as a friend! :) ***
Briar Boleyn is the New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today Top 5 bestselling fantasy romance author of the Bloodwing Academy and the Blood of a Fae series. Briar once wrote scholarly papers on Dumbledore, Dragon Age, and King Arthur before finally realizing she could create her own worlds where all three might coexist–with significantly more kissing. After wandering through English literature departments at four universities across Canada, she took a detour to teach in the Arctic, where her students would sometimes run out of class to chase polar bears.
Briar crafts stories from the prairie province of Manitoba where she lives with her dark fae husband and their two demon-angel hybrid children. When not raising fictional dragons from the dead, Briar enjoys reading all types of sci-fi and fantasy, cultivating an unhealthy Disney World obsession, and playing RPG video games. She has written fourteen historical romance novels as Fenna Edgewood.
Please Note: Goodreads won't let me follow any more people, but please feel free to add me as a friend! :) ***
Briar Boleyn is the New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today Top 5 bestselling fantasy romance author of the Bloodwing Academy and the Blood of a Fae series. Briar once wrote scholarly papers on Dumbledore, Dragon Age, and King Arthur before finally realizing she could create her own worlds where all three might coexist–with significantly more kissing. After wandering through English literature departments at four universities across Canada, she took a detour to teach in the Arctic, where her students would sometimes run out of class to chase polar bears.
Briar crafts stories from the prairie province of Manitoba where she lives with her dark fae husband and their two demon-angel hybrid children. When not raising fictional dragons from the dead, Briar enjoys reading all types of sci-fi and fantasy, cultivating an unhealthy Disney World obsession, and playing RPG video games. She has written fourteen historical romance novels as Fenna Edgewood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,732 reviews
March 22, 2025
4.5⭐️ Guys THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!!!!!!! This is the first fantasy romance book I have picked up since finishing onyx storm and I actually LOVED IT?!!!!!! I’m sorry?! Who is she? Is the fantasy romance slump over?! God I fucking hope so but I really don’t want to speak too soon. I absolutely devoured this and had to immediately dive into book two. Luckily book 3 books out in May because I already can tell im gonna be gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for it!
Now was it revolutionary?? No. Was it a literary work of are?? No, no it was not. BUT I HAD THE BEST TIME AND THATS ALL THAT MATTERS! This was a vibes read and the vibes were vibing for me. WE ARE SO BACK!!!
Let me tell you I am a WHOREEEEEEEEE for dark fantasy romance, and in an academy setting??!Bye. ON MY KNEES!! ALSO TRUE ENEMIES TO ALMOST LOVERS BACK TO…????? no I’m done.
GUYS this is what I want when I read enemies to lovers!! The HATRED and the BANTER!!! We also don’t get too many scenes of them together in the beginning which I loved because when we did get them oh my god the tension and the back and forth was so good it had me dying for more!! The slow burn actually has me losing my mind.
This also sucked me in right away! Our FMC Medra literally wakes up in a different world run by vampires, has no idea how she got there, is taken by a vampire prince, told she’s the last dragon ride in the world, forced to bond with him and everything is just insanity from there on out! Also speaking of our FMC I adored her!!!! I can’t wait to learn more about her back story in book 2!
Don’t even get me started on our MMC Blake…. No I can’t. I’m in love with this vampire man. He’s truly morally grey and the mouth on him sent me into orbit. His tortured soul will actually be the death of me.
It was also so refreshing to finally have a fantasy romance that was the perfect balance of plot and romance!! If anything this was definitely more plot heavy and I’m 100% here for it and so beyond invested at this point! I also loved our little found family and cast of characters!
You literally get EVERYTHINGGGG
- academy settting
- Enemies to almost lovers…
- Bully(ish) romance
- Half fae dragon rider FMC
- Vampire morally grey MMC
- Slowwwwwww burn
- BANTER
- He falls first
- Forced betrothal
- Found family
I like actually cannot contain my excitement right now. Yes I already started book 2!!!
Now was it revolutionary?? No. Was it a literary work of are?? No, no it was not. BUT I HAD THE BEST TIME AND THATS ALL THAT MATTERS! This was a vibes read and the vibes were vibing for me. WE ARE SO BACK!!!
Let me tell you I am a WHOREEEEEEEEE for dark fantasy romance, and in an academy setting??!Bye. ON MY KNEES!! ALSO TRUE ENEMIES TO ALMOST LOVERS BACK TO…????? no I’m done.
GUYS this is what I want when I read enemies to lovers!! The HATRED and the BANTER!!! We also don’t get too many scenes of them together in the beginning which I loved because when we did get them oh my god the tension and the back and forth was so good it had me dying for more!! The slow burn actually has me losing my mind.
This also sucked me in right away! Our FMC Medra literally wakes up in a different world run by vampires, has no idea how she got there, is taken by a vampire prince, told she’s the last dragon ride in the world, forced to bond with him and everything is just insanity from there on out! Also speaking of our FMC I adored her!!!! I can’t wait to learn more about her back story in book 2!
Don’t even get me started on our MMC Blake…. No I can’t. I’m in love with this vampire man. He’s truly morally grey and the mouth on him sent me into orbit. His tortured soul will actually be the death of me.
It was also so refreshing to finally have a fantasy romance that was the perfect balance of plot and romance!! If anything this was definitely more plot heavy and I’m 100% here for it and so beyond invested at this point! I also loved our little found family and cast of characters!
You literally get EVERYTHINGGGG
- academy settting
- Enemies to almost lovers…
- Bully(ish) romance
- Half fae dragon rider FMC
- Vampire morally grey MMC
- Slowwwwwww burn
- BANTER
- He falls first
- Forced betrothal
- Found family
I like actually cannot contain my excitement right now. Yes I already started book 2!!!
April 4, 2025
4 stars
I 100000% understand why this is popping off right now and so many people are loving it. Academia, vampires, dragons, and magic? YEAH. It's got it all! Also an MMC I keep picturing as Draco Malfoy. Entertaining, a bit long winded but still good! Diving into book 2!
I 100000% understand why this is popping off right now and so many people are loving it. Academia, vampires, dragons, and magic? YEAH. It's got it all! Also an MMC I keep picturing as Draco Malfoy. Entertaining, a bit long winded but still good! Diving into book 2!
November 7, 2024
3.25 stars ⭐️
⤷ spoiler-free review!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
this book gave off harry potter vibes and had lots of vampires, that’s for sure!
the worldbuilding was easy to follow and intriguing. i was fully engaged during the first 30% of the book, but the next 55% felt dragged on and lackluster. however, the last 15% picked up again.
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ medra
medra is tough, self-sufficient, and determined, and i absolutely loved her no-nonsense attitude.
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ blake
blake is actually a softie beneath his cold and arrogant facade, and i loved how he always looked out for medra. i wasn’t a fan of his possessiveness though. i mean… she IS his betrothed, but the number of times he said “she’s mine” felt a bit excessive imo 😭
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ medra and blake
if you know me, you know i hate insta-love/lust, so i really appreciated the slow burn between them. however, it was hard to fully feel their connection and tension since we barely got blake’s pov, which made their dynamic feel somewhat incomplete.
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ other characters
i adored the found family, especially florence and naveen. they were welcoming and supportive of medra, and i loved how they all looked out for one another and found comfort in each other’s company 🥹💗
overall, i think this book focused more on worldbuilding and laid the groundwork for the rest of the series. i fairly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book!! i would definitely recommend it, and i can’t wait to hear everyone else’s thoughts on it <3
thank you netgalley and victory editing netgalley co-op for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!!
pre-read 🧛🏻♀️🐉🩸:
OH EM GEE I GOT THE ARC!!!!! PUTTING MY CURRENT READS ON HOLD AND DIVING RIGHT INTO THIS BOOK.
”What do you get if you mix Harry Potter with Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, a dash of Arthurian legend, and lots and lots of vampires? Bloodwing Academy.” THIS SOUNDS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY 🤌🏻 IT BETTER NOT DISAPPOINT 😭🙏🏻
⤷ spoiler-free review!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
this book gave off harry potter vibes and had lots of vampires, that’s for sure!
the worldbuilding was easy to follow and intriguing. i was fully engaged during the first 30% of the book, but the next 55% felt dragged on and lackluster. however, the last 15% picked up again.
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ medra
medra is tough, self-sufficient, and determined, and i absolutely loved her no-nonsense attitude.
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ blake
blake is actually a softie beneath his cold and arrogant facade, and i loved how he always looked out for medra. i wasn’t a fan of his possessiveness though. i mean… she IS his betrothed, but the number of times he said “she’s mine” felt a bit excessive imo 😭
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ medra and blake
if you know me, you know i hate insta-love/lust, so i really appreciated the slow burn between them. however, it was hard to fully feel their connection and tension since we barely got blake’s pov, which made their dynamic feel somewhat incomplete.
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ other characters
i adored the found family, especially florence and naveen. they were welcoming and supportive of medra, and i loved how they all looked out for one another and found comfort in each other’s company 🥹💗
overall, i think this book focused more on worldbuilding and laid the groundwork for the rest of the series. i fairly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book!! i would definitely recommend it, and i can’t wait to hear everyone else’s thoughts on it <3
thank you netgalley and victory editing netgalley co-op for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!!
pre-read 🧛🏻♀️🐉🩸:
OH EM GEE I GOT THE ARC!!!!! PUTTING MY CURRENT READS ON HOLD AND DIVING RIGHT INTO THIS BOOK.
”What do you get if you mix Harry Potter with Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, a dash of Arthurian legend, and lots and lots of vampires? Bloodwing Academy.” THIS SOUNDS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY 🤌🏻 IT BETTER NOT DISAPPOINT 😭🙏🏻
March 23, 2025
F&*# YOUR TBR. TOSS IT OUT THE WINDOW.
AND PICK THIS UP!!
I don't even have TIME TO WRITE this review because every second I spend here typing, I could be reading book two 😫
RUNNING TO BOOK TWO! I think I've found a new favorite author!
AND PICK THIS UP!!
I don't even have TIME TO WRITE this review because every second I spend here typing, I could be reading book two 😫
RUNNING TO BOOK TWO! I think I've found a new favorite author!
June 1, 2025
3.5 stars 🌟 this was fun and a great start to the series! i really loved both Medra and Blake and enjoyed their dynamic. ALSO GUYS - THE SLOW BURN - I AM HERE FOR IT!!
there was definitely a lot of world building in this book and i think this did feel a bit slow for me in a few parts, the last 10/15% definitely brought it back for me. i think perhaps we needed the major world building to be in book one so the main plot can really get started in book two, so i am definitely super excited to pick up the next book!
there was definitely a lot of world building in this book and i think this did feel a bit slow for me in a few parts, the last 10/15% definitely brought it back for me. i think perhaps we needed the major world building to be in book one so the main plot can really get started in book two, so i am definitely super excited to pick up the next book!
December 31, 2024
2 ⭐️ in theory, on wings of blood should have been exactly my cup of tea. unfortunately, i really didn’t enjoy this book nearly as much as i hoped i would. the synopsis for this book seems really out of touch with what the book actually delivers.
on wings of blood is compared to fourth wing, zodiac academy and harry potter, and said to deliver dramione vibes. truly, the only comparison i can kinda see is fourth wing being that it’s a dark academia fantasy romance with dragon lore. a side from blake drakharrow, our mmc, having blonde hair and hailing from a prominent family, i’m not sure how this man can be compared to draco malfoy. blake wasn’t even a bully as the synopsis claimed - not really when everything he did was intended to be in medra’s best interest. our fmc, medra pendragon, does not give hermione vibes in the slightest (in my opinion). i’m not really sure i’ll ever understand why authors/publishers try to draw these similarities. i get that maybe it’ll draw in a similar audience base but wouldn’t you want your own book to stand on it’s own two feet without needing to compare your work to other successful series to interest people and ultimately disappoint them when the book fails to compare?
on another note, i found this book really difficult to push through. it started off alright but then just became filler up until the end chapter. i really couldn’t even tell you anything substantial that happened during the middle of the book. i can respect that the world building was extensive but, i’m never going to enjoy a book that is 5% character development, 10% plot and 85% world building. very little was overcome or resolved, it felt very stagnant, mundane and way too many chapters were dedicated to following medra attend classes that majority of the time did not contribute to the storyline or let us get to know medra more intimately.
i am going to continue the series and read the next book. purely because all the world building maaaay have set up a great next book? i do hope that is the case.
many thanks to netgalley, starwater press and boleyn for providing me with this arc. all thoughts are my own honest opinions.
on wings of blood is compared to fourth wing, zodiac academy and harry potter, and said to deliver dramione vibes. truly, the only comparison i can kinda see is fourth wing being that it’s a dark academia fantasy romance with dragon lore. a side from blake drakharrow, our mmc, having blonde hair and hailing from a prominent family, i’m not sure how this man can be compared to draco malfoy. blake wasn’t even a bully as the synopsis claimed - not really when everything he did was intended to be in medra’s best interest. our fmc, medra pendragon, does not give hermione vibes in the slightest (in my opinion). i’m not really sure i’ll ever understand why authors/publishers try to draw these similarities. i get that maybe it’ll draw in a similar audience base but wouldn’t you want your own book to stand on it’s own two feet without needing to compare your work to other successful series to interest people and ultimately disappoint them when the book fails to compare?
on another note, i found this book really difficult to push through. it started off alright but then just became filler up until the end chapter. i really couldn’t even tell you anything substantial that happened during the middle of the book. i can respect that the world building was extensive but, i’m never going to enjoy a book that is 5% character development, 10% plot and 85% world building. very little was overcome or resolved, it felt very stagnant, mundane and way too many chapters were dedicated to following medra attend classes that majority of the time did not contribute to the storyline or let us get to know medra more intimately.
i am going to continue the series and read the next book. purely because all the world building maaaay have set up a great next book? i do hope that is the case.
many thanks to netgalley, starwater press and boleyn for providing me with this arc. all thoughts are my own honest opinions.
May 3, 2025
Well, I really wanted to like this, the list of tropes called to me and made me request this book with some passion. Unfortunately, my experience and personal opinion of this book is that the author tried to cram everything she liked about fantasy into one story and make it as unnecessary long as possible.
- First chapters: I started this book already confused, lacking context (could have been for dramatic effect), not understanding the POV, and feeling like it was already all over the place. It didn't help that it suddenly resembled a bit too closely a specific scene of Harry Potter set in Tom Riddle's house.
- It's my understanding this book is a spin-off: I think this is important to mention as I went into this book not knowing the author had already published a series, and thought the writing style felt a bit amateurish because it was a debut. Other than making me more tolerant of things that would otherwise annoy me in the writing style, the fact that there is a WHOLE series before this had some impact on my reading experience. While someone who likes this book can make themselves ignore the part where another series is mentioned, mentions of it are quite frequent and are quite surely part of my confusion right on chapter one. Unfortunately, it became obvious to me enough to check only at about 19%. Either strongly recommend reading that at the beginning of the book (or provide a summary) or don't reference it so often.
- At about 30% I was already getting a bit fed up with Medra's whining, but more importantly, that's when this book started to read like a pile of fillers, where despite all the tropes I realized I read a whole bunch of nothing, that could have been implied, but instead was dragged for hundreds of unnecessary pages.
- I gave up on this book at the 57% mark. I really didn't want to DNF an ARC, but at this point, I don't know what could possibly change my mind on the writing style or get me back to being interested in it, and I had to admit this was not an enjoyable experience.
I don't know if this might be better received by other kinds of readers, but in my opinion, all the good ideas should be put in a blender, shaved off of the excess tropes, and the whole book rewritten with a different structure and pace.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own honest opinions.
- First chapters: I started this book already confused, lacking context (could have been for dramatic effect), not understanding the POV, and feeling like it was already all over the place. It didn't help that it suddenly resembled a bit too closely a specific scene of Harry Potter set in Tom Riddle's house.
- It's my understanding this book is a spin-off: I think this is important to mention as I went into this book not knowing the author had already published a series, and thought the writing style felt a bit amateurish because it was a debut. Other than making me more tolerant of things that would otherwise annoy me in the writing style, the fact that there is a WHOLE series before this had some impact on my reading experience. While someone who likes this book can make themselves ignore the part where another series is mentioned, mentions of it are quite frequent and are quite surely part of my confusion right on chapter one. Unfortunately, it became obvious to me enough to check only at about 19%. Either strongly recommend reading that at the beginning of the book (or provide a summary) or don't reference it so often.
- At about 30% I was already getting a bit fed up with Medra's whining, but more importantly, that's when this book started to read like a pile of fillers, where despite all the tropes I realized I read a whole bunch of nothing, that could have been implied, but instead was dragged for hundreds of unnecessary pages.
- I gave up on this book at the 57% mark. I really didn't want to DNF an ARC, but at this point, I don't know what could possibly change my mind on the writing style or get me back to being interested in it, and I had to admit this was not an enjoyable experience.
I don't know if this might be better received by other kinds of readers, but in my opinion, all the good ideas should be put in a blender, shaved off of the excess tropes, and the whole book rewritten with a different structure and pace.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own honest opinions.
April 9, 2025
4.5⭐ THE VIBES WERE IMMACULATE!!!!
Was this a literary masterpiece? No.. but man I was so freaking entertained the entire time. I binged this in 2 days because I simply couldn't stop. It's a mix of Fourth Wing, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, & Zodiac Academy and I need the next book immediately.
I felt like it was a tad too long and some parts were repetitive but the story and plot were both so intriguing I can look past it. The enemies to lovers was so freaking strong I was kicking my feet during some parts!
I absolutely loved this! It was a dang good time. Immediately starting book 2.
⭐Romantasy
⭐Dark Academia
⭐Enemies to Lovers
⭐Magic
⭐Forced Proximity
⭐Possessive MMC
"You're mine, Pendragon. Let another man touch you like I just did and you'll find out how much of an asshole I can really be."
Was this a literary masterpiece? No.. but man I was so freaking entertained the entire time. I binged this in 2 days because I simply couldn't stop. It's a mix of Fourth Wing, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, & Zodiac Academy and I need the next book immediately.
I felt like it was a tad too long and some parts were repetitive but the story and plot were both so intriguing I can look past it. The enemies to lovers was so freaking strong I was kicking my feet during some parts!
I absolutely loved this! It was a dang good time. Immediately starting book 2.
⭐Romantasy
⭐Dark Academia
⭐Enemies to Lovers
⭐Magic
⭐Forced Proximity
⭐Possessive MMC
"You're mine, Pendragon. Let another man touch you like I just did and you'll find out how much of an asshole I can really be."
May 25, 2025
“𝑰𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓.”
I love a book that’s a true enemies to lovers, but they’re “bonded,” so they just have to deal with their hatred one way or another... did I mention that bonded basically means they’re engaged? 😭
Briar Boleyn brought us a whole new world with Medra! If you love meeting characters beforehand, you actually meet her in Briar’s previous series, which was so good, I definitely recommend it. In this book, Medra enters a new realm where she’s reborn, and because of her hair color, she’s seen as important. So what do they do? Yep, they trap her with one of the most powerful families that rule the land.
Did I mention she’s then moved to an academy to learn all about magic, history, and dragons?! 🐉✨ This was so freaking fun. I loved how Medra is full of attitude like, “Bro, I fell out of the sky. I thought I was dead. Why am I here?” The banter and sarcasm from her, especially in her dynamic with Blake, was hilarious. I just couldn’t stop reading.
“𝑰𝒕'��� 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎." 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒄����, 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒖𝒔.
"𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆. 𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆.”
Blake was so possessive. He’s literally a vampire do I even need to say more?! As soon as he saw her, he wanted her but kept denying it because how could he want someone like her? Please. I love that trope up every single time 😮💨
The combination of dark academia, vampires, and dragons with a possessive MMC who refuses to admit he wants her? THE VIBES WHERE HERE AND THEY ATE 🖤📚🔥
I had so much fun!!! Tbh it is not the most complex fantasy but Briar knows how to keep you on your toes and give you some twists that you will never expect. SO EXCITED FOR BOOK 2.
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅The funny part is I read her first series where the FMC eventually shows up 😭 AND SUFFERED (iykyk) so I’m very curious how it connects or if it doesn't 👀
Briar is the SWEETEST, I love her sm she was one of the first authors that gave me an arc 🥹💖 time for me to join the hype def binging this!!✨
I love a book that’s a true enemies to lovers, but they’re “bonded,” so they just have to deal with their hatred one way or another... did I mention that bonded basically means they’re engaged? 😭
Briar Boleyn brought us a whole new world with Medra! If you love meeting characters beforehand, you actually meet her in Briar’s previous series, which was so good, I definitely recommend it. In this book, Medra enters a new realm where she’s reborn, and because of her hair color, she’s seen as important. So what do they do? Yep, they trap her with one of the most powerful families that rule the land.
Did I mention she’s then moved to an academy to learn all about magic, history, and dragons?! 🐉✨ This was so freaking fun. I loved how Medra is full of attitude like, “Bro, I fell out of the sky. I thought I was dead. Why am I here?” The banter and sarcasm from her, especially in her dynamic with Blake, was hilarious. I just couldn’t stop reading.
“𝑰𝒕'��� 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎." 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒄����, 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒖𝒔.
"𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆. 𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆.”
Blake was so possessive. He’s literally a vampire do I even need to say more?! As soon as he saw her, he wanted her but kept denying it because how could he want someone like her? Please. I love that trope up every single time 😮💨
The combination of dark academia, vampires, and dragons with a possessive MMC who refuses to admit he wants her? THE VIBES WHERE HERE AND THEY ATE 🖤📚🔥
I had so much fun!!! Tbh it is not the most complex fantasy but Briar knows how to keep you on your toes and give you some twists that you will never expect. SO EXCITED FOR BOOK 2.
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅The funny part is I read her first series where the FMC eventually shows up 😭 AND SUFFERED (iykyk) so I’m very curious how it connects or if it doesn't 👀
Briar is the SWEETEST, I love her sm she was one of the first authors that gave me an arc 🥹💖 time for me to join the hype def binging this!!✨
August 9, 2025
Oh so I’m definitely invested in this series 🤚
I know I started this in May and didn’t pick it back up until like four days ago but I knew I was in a slump and I didn’t wanna read and hate it knowing I would’ve enjoyed it on a good day and I’m so glad I only paused.
I liked how it started off. Gripped me instantly and kept me interested from cover to cover.
The world is really easy to digest. The take on vampires was pretty refreshing even if it had cliche elements to it. There were some parts where I was a little confused or felt like some information was missing/not explained properly but it wasn’t to the point where it ruined the experience for me or anything.
Medra — she was ur average stubborn, hardheaded fmc but she *sometimes* knew when to fight her battles. I liked her tenacity but the major reason I’m willing to continue with her is bc I wanna know more about what her blood can do and the mystery behind her lineage.
Blake — such a conflicting mmc. I loved it 👹 vampire mmc’s never disappoint 🙂↔️ One second I’m giggling over his povs and then next he makes me question his intentions. The thing at the end tho???? Diabolical (give me more 🙏)
That ending was 🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️ I’m genuinely invested bc I have a big feeling that the dragons are gna change the game for this series.
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Yes there was quite a bit of OW drama but no cheating.
As for the ZA comparisons:
To be very honest this book definitely was on par with how I felt while reading zodiac academy book 1. I’d even say the spice is also on the same scale so far too. I think that’s where the similarities end with ZA. The furthest I’d go is to compare them to torydarius only in the sense that she’s a first year and he’s a third year and the leader of his house (oh and he’s also a bully)
𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧
Never never — brick & lace
Demise — daya
Taste — Sunny malouf
Access — Jackson Wang
I was made for loving you — yungblud
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀:
Zodiac academy: the awakening (except ZA is urban fantasy)
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
I’m seeing zodiac academy mentioned in relation to this book so here I am 😝
I know I started this in May and didn’t pick it back up until like four days ago but I knew I was in a slump and I didn’t wanna read and hate it knowing I would’ve enjoyed it on a good day and I’m so glad I only paused.
I liked how it started off. Gripped me instantly and kept me interested from cover to cover.
The world is really easy to digest. The take on vampires was pretty refreshing even if it had cliche elements to it. There were some parts where I was a little confused or felt like some information was missing/not explained properly but it wasn’t to the point where it ruined the experience for me or anything.
Medra — she was ur average stubborn, hardheaded fmc but she *sometimes* knew when to fight her battles. I liked her tenacity but the major reason I’m willing to continue with her is bc I wanna know more about what her blood can do and the mystery behind her lineage.
Blake — such a conflicting mmc. I loved it 👹 vampire mmc’s never disappoint 🙂↔️ One second I’m giggling over his povs and then next he makes me question his intentions. The thing at the end tho???? Diabolical (give me more 🙏)
That ending was 🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️ I’m genuinely invested bc I have a big feeling that the dragons are gna change the game for this series.
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Yes there was quite a bit of OW drama but no cheating.
As for the ZA comparisons:
To be very honest this book definitely was on par with how I felt while reading zodiac academy book 1. I’d even say the spice is also on the same scale so far too. I think that’s where the similarities end with ZA. The furthest I’d go is to compare them to torydarius only in the sense that she’s a first year and he’s a third year and the leader of his house (oh and he’s also a bully)
𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧
Never never — brick & lace
Demise — daya
Taste — Sunny malouf
Access — Jackson Wang
I was made for loving you — yungblud
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀:
Zodiac academy: the awakening (except ZA is urban fantasy)
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
I’m seeing zodiac academy mentioned in relation to this book so here I am 😝
August 23, 2025
2.5⭐️
Well, I tried. 65% in and still bored, The Picky Bitch Club pulled the plug. 💀 RIP to my first DNF of 2025. The characters were flat, the world-building confusing and underdeveloped, and it felt like the author tried to cram in too many elements, leaving the story messy instead of cohesive. The audiobook narration was distracting and not very good, so if you’re planning to pick this one up, I’d recommend going with the physical book or Kindle instead.
Buddy read with Ari and Brooke
Well, I tried. 65% in and still bored, The Picky Bitch Club pulled the plug. 💀 RIP to my first DNF of 2025. The characters were flat, the world-building confusing and underdeveloped, and it felt like the author tried to cram in too many elements, leaving the story messy instead of cohesive. The audiobook narration was distracting and not very good, so if you’re planning to pick this one up, I’d recommend going with the physical book or Kindle instead.
Buddy read with Ari and Brooke
September 3, 2025
honestly? a frickin good time. were either of the MCs particularly likeable? absolutely the fuck not, but it was hot and the plot & setting was intriguing so I’m banking on a SICK character arc for both of them LMAO. I loved the concept and the pacing!!! and the side characters!!! fans of fourth wing will devour it
March 9, 2025
EXCUSE ME. WHY DIDNT I START THIS SOONER!?
I ATE THIS BOOK UP!!
—vampires
—dark academia
—slow burn
—on KU
—morally grey
I’m not kidding when I say I lost an absurd amount of sleep reading this because I could not put it down. I remember waking up one morning with my kindle still in my hand, I could not put it down WHATSOEVER. The way I am addicted to this fantasy romance should be scientifically studied. The chemistry, the tension, the characters, the plot, everything about this book was top notch. And the ending!!!?! I am grasping for more, gnawing at my enclosure actually.
I don’t want to reveal to much without spoiling, but if you love vampires, some hate to passion, slow burn, side characters you’ll fall in love with, main characters you can’t help but want endlessly, this book is for you. 10/10 would recommend. I seriously think about On Wings of Blood, even in my dreams. It was absolutely addictive in every possible way.
I ATE THIS BOOK UP!!
—vampires
—dark academia
—slow burn
—on KU
—morally grey
I’m not kidding when I say I lost an absurd amount of sleep reading this because I could not put it down. I remember waking up one morning with my kindle still in my hand, I could not put it down WHATSOEVER. The way I am addicted to this fantasy romance should be scientifically studied. The chemistry, the tension, the characters, the plot, everything about this book was top notch. And the ending!!!?! I am grasping for more, gnawing at my enclosure actually.
I don’t want to reveal to much without spoiling, but if you love vampires, some hate to passion, slow burn, side characters you’ll fall in love with, main characters you can’t help but want endlessly, this book is for you. 10/10 would recommend. I seriously think about On Wings of Blood, even in my dreams. It was absolutely addictive in every possible way.
August 24, 2025
—— 𝟐.𝟓 ✰ stars. 🐉
DNF @52%.
Look at me, DNFing like it ain’t a thang anymore.
Well the Picky Bitch Club came. We saw. But we didn’t conquer. I called the time of death today at 7:11pm. I’m thankful that Nancy & Ari were on the same page cause ya girl was ready to tap out. Come visit us on Outlier Island! 🏝️ Cause it looks like we’re shipwrecked there.
How does literally nothing happen for 52% of the book?! It was like Harry Potter & Fourth Wing had a baby, but the baby had the personality of a piece of wood.
DNF @52%.
Look at me, DNFing like it ain’t a thang anymore.
Well the Picky Bitch Club came. We saw. But we didn’t conquer. I called the time of death today at 7:11pm. I’m thankful that Nancy & Ari were on the same page cause ya girl was ready to tap out. Come visit us on Outlier Island! 🏝️ Cause it looks like we’re shipwrecked there.
How does literally nothing happen for 52% of the book?! It was like Harry Potter & Fourth Wing had a baby, but the baby had the personality of a piece of wood.
December 26, 2024
There was SO much wrong with this book. And with how poorly written this was, I think it lays bare a LOT of what is fundamentally very icky about many of these romantasy books and tropes. In short, what we have are three or four distinct things: racism and racial purity/blood quantum, the reduction of women to objects to be had, and the utter lack of care for consent/autonomy. Don't read further if you care about spoilers I guess.
The few characters explicitly identified as characters of color were largely pawns with practically no agency except as it related to the dumb tensions and problems of the two white MCs. Naveen was the most obvious example, with his corpse literally being used as a puppet to give Medra trauma. Coregan was another instance - he only abruptly mattered to the plot when he challenged Blake's authority (for no reason at all lol). And then he got got! Kage is also relevant to the plot to serve as a fill-in-the-blank boy who could make Blake jealous by inviting Medra to the dance.
THEN we have all the absurd racial purity and blood quantum nonsense inherent in the "highbloods" and "blightbloods" designations. It reads like a purely colonial narrative in this regard, where the blightbloods must submit unquestioningly to the inherent superiority of the highbloods who are their saviors. The blightbloods, or what you might call mortal humans, are only alive because of the highbloods (vampires) and are expected to worship them and sacrifice themselves for the gain of the highbloods. The whole plot of having them as thralls and blood slaves is to ensure the continued survival of the highbloods. The ONE time we have Medra talk to a regular human being not at the stupid school (which is just filled to the brim with absurd "highblood" worship), this human is *too dumb* to understand what the word "exsanguinated" means lol isn't she so stupid!!!!!! Regan, a side character who only exists to be a wretched horrible mean girl that shows how DIFFERENT and NLOG Medra is, explicitly states how "House Drakharrow keeps its own thralls. The cleanest, most refined blood we can find." When another character dropped the line "'A fucking barbarian. I mean, is her blood even clean?'", my note on this verbatim read [I think i m gonna freakin losse ot on god] (lost all grasp on spelling because of how bad and gross this is).
And while the "cleanliness" of blood is a problem inherent to vampire canon that can easily dive straight into absurdly racist or imperialist territory, the entire world and narrative largely accepts this tacitly as being right. It is literally blood quantum to an absurdddddd degree. Medra is shown to challenge this presumption numerous times in the early parts of the book, but this point quickly gets lost and subsumed by the romantic tension or whatever the hell. She is challenged every time she tries to protest this idea by how "actually sweaty, all blightborns should be grateful that we highbloods haven't just fuckinf nuked them yet".
Next! The very obvious way every single woman in this book is treated as a thing to be consumed and a thing to be owned. The element of consumption is of course another potential issue that can be inherent to vampire stories, but this is amplified with the constant presence of the trope of "touch her and you die". It is done with the subtlety of blunt force trauma - just how much Medra is this bauble and special thing to be PROPERTY of Blake. The initial consort "ritual" nonsense was one thing - then we get "'You are not to taste her. She is mine.'", "It's not protection... It's a claim... No one touches what belongs to me.'" ad nauseam and forever. Medra is not her own person - instead, she is merely this man's THING. I guess it's supposed to be romantic or whatever because at least Blake has good intentions uwu, while the narrative also has men in these roles actively murdering their consorts. Any attempts for Medra to protest this treatment are seen in just quippy girlbossy lines that feel like they could've ended up on a goodquotes.net site or something. They are *meaningless* when anything she does to actually be an autonomous agent are ignored by the world or overtaken by Blake defending her actions. And since he says what she's doing is okay, or because he gives permission, then her girlbossery is fine! I guess this sort of protectiveness can be seen as romance or SOMETHING, but really it just feels like a deliberate softening of the subjugation of women by men throughout history. She lives only because he protects her, she lives only because he kills for her, she isn't assaulted only because he has a claim over her and this claim is the only thing other men respect, etc. It's gross!
And this subjugation and possession is only worsened by the end, as the bond between Blake and Medra functions as yet another way to remove any agency of hers. Medra's body isn't her own. Her will isn't her own. What she wants isn't her own. Sure, Blake may do some things because of and for her, but ultimately her voice and wishes Do Not Matter. We get this GEM of a statement, where she says "'I don't want you to kill for me.'", only for Blake to say "'It doesn't matter what you want, Pendragon.'" [to which my note read 'goddddd wnats thrrrfuckibg npoiny them jfc this os gaatbage']. And once their bond is complete, it doesn't MATTER that Medra HATES Blake. Because of this pheromonic bond or whatever the hell, her body still wants him and it still finds pleasure in him drinking her blood. Her consent is meaningless. She fights this at first, making clear how she does NOT want him to drink from her, but that is also meaningless! And now, because he can ONLY drink from her, if he actually respects her boundaries he DIES. Or goes crazy with bloodlust. Whatever. This is legit just a plot device to make "your body, my choice" a functional act and ideology that is *required*.
I imagine many of the romantasy/dark romance girlies, if having read this far, might go "don't yuck someone's yum! it's just fiction! who cares!". Which like yeah. Whatever. I'm not telling you not to like this or that you're a bad person because of it. I'm also not making any claims about the author's character. What this review is MEANT to do is highlight how these books can cloak really harmful ideas in fantasy and romantasy tropes without any interrogation of them. At a broader, societal level it is genuinely disturbing to watch such harmful and imperialist and patriarchal ideas get bundled up in uwu romance and marketing booktok language.
That's it. kthxbai.
The few characters explicitly identified as characters of color were largely pawns with practically no agency except as it related to the dumb tensions and problems of the two white MCs. Naveen was the most obvious example, with his corpse literally being used as a puppet to give Medra trauma. Coregan was another instance - he only abruptly mattered to the plot when he challenged Blake's authority (for no reason at all lol). And then he got got! Kage is also relevant to the plot to serve as a fill-in-the-blank boy who could make Blake jealous by inviting Medra to the dance.
THEN we have all the absurd racial purity and blood quantum nonsense inherent in the "highbloods" and "blightbloods" designations. It reads like a purely colonial narrative in this regard, where the blightbloods must submit unquestioningly to the inherent superiority of the highbloods who are their saviors. The blightbloods, or what you might call mortal humans, are only alive because of the highbloods (vampires) and are expected to worship them and sacrifice themselves for the gain of the highbloods. The whole plot of having them as thralls and blood slaves is to ensure the continued survival of the highbloods. The ONE time we have Medra talk to a regular human being not at the stupid school (which is just filled to the brim with absurd "highblood" worship), this human is *too dumb* to understand what the word "exsanguinated" means lol isn't she so stupid!!!!!! Regan, a side character who only exists to be a wretched horrible mean girl that shows how DIFFERENT and NLOG Medra is, explicitly states how "House Drakharrow keeps its own thralls. The cleanest, most refined blood we can find." When another character dropped the line "'A fucking barbarian. I mean, is her blood even clean?'", my note on this verbatim read [I think i m gonna freakin losse ot on god] (lost all grasp on spelling because of how bad and gross this is).
And while the "cleanliness" of blood is a problem inherent to vampire canon that can easily dive straight into absurdly racist or imperialist territory, the entire world and narrative largely accepts this tacitly as being right. It is literally blood quantum to an absurdddddd degree. Medra is shown to challenge this presumption numerous times in the early parts of the book, but this point quickly gets lost and subsumed by the romantic tension or whatever the hell. She is challenged every time she tries to protest this idea by how "actually sweaty, all blightborns should be grateful that we highbloods haven't just fuckinf nuked them yet".
Next! The very obvious way every single woman in this book is treated as a thing to be consumed and a thing to be owned. The element of consumption is of course another potential issue that can be inherent to vampire stories, but this is amplified with the constant presence of the trope of "touch her and you die". It is done with the subtlety of blunt force trauma - just how much Medra is this bauble and special thing to be PROPERTY of Blake. The initial consort "ritual" nonsense was one thing - then we get "'You are not to taste her. She is mine.'", "It's not protection... It's a claim... No one touches what belongs to me.'" ad nauseam and forever. Medra is not her own person - instead, she is merely this man's THING. I guess it's supposed to be romantic or whatever because at least Blake has good intentions uwu, while the narrative also has men in these roles actively murdering their consorts. Any attempts for Medra to protest this treatment are seen in just quippy girlbossy lines that feel like they could've ended up on a goodquotes.net site or something. They are *meaningless* when anything she does to actually be an autonomous agent are ignored by the world or overtaken by Blake defending her actions. And since he says what she's doing is okay, or because he gives permission, then her girlbossery is fine! I guess this sort of protectiveness can be seen as romance or SOMETHING, but really it just feels like a deliberate softening of the subjugation of women by men throughout history. She lives only because he protects her, she lives only because he kills for her, she isn't assaulted only because he has a claim over her and this claim is the only thing other men respect, etc. It's gross!
And this subjugation and possession is only worsened by the end, as the bond between Blake and Medra functions as yet another way to remove any agency of hers. Medra's body isn't her own. Her will isn't her own. What she wants isn't her own. Sure, Blake may do some things because of and for her, but ultimately her voice and wishes Do Not Matter. We get this GEM of a statement, where she says "'I don't want you to kill for me.'", only for Blake to say "'It doesn't matter what you want, Pendragon.'" [to which my note read 'goddddd wnats thrrrfuckibg npoiny them jfc this os gaatbage']. And once their bond is complete, it doesn't MATTER that Medra HATES Blake. Because of this pheromonic bond or whatever the hell, her body still wants him and it still finds pleasure in him drinking her blood. Her consent is meaningless. She fights this at first, making clear how she does NOT want him to drink from her, but that is also meaningless! And now, because he can ONLY drink from her, if he actually respects her boundaries he DIES. Or goes crazy with bloodlust. Whatever. This is legit just a plot device to make "your body, my choice" a functional act and ideology that is *required*.
I imagine many of the romantasy/dark romance girlies, if having read this far, might go "don't yuck someone's yum! it's just fiction! who cares!". Which like yeah. Whatever. I'm not telling you not to like this or that you're a bad person because of it. I'm also not making any claims about the author's character. What this review is MEANT to do is highlight how these books can cloak really harmful ideas in fantasy and romantasy tropes without any interrogation of them. At a broader, societal level it is genuinely disturbing to watch such harmful and imperialist and patriarchal ideas get bundled up in uwu romance and marketing booktok language.
That's it. kthxbai.
April 27, 2025
I need someone to tell me to give this book another shot… because I’m 15% in and seriously struggling. Is there a point where it all clicks and gets better, or do I need to accept that this one might not be for me?
Chapter 1 completely threw me. It was confusing AF, but I think this was intentional to introduce an air of mystery 🤔. However, the way information was delivered felt chaotic. Instead of breadcrumb clues that pulled me in, it just dumped details without much reason. I kept finding myself rereading whole paragraphs because I was convinced I had missed something important. It felt messy and hard to follow.
I persevered because of the explosive start. I mean the FMC being introduced to the story, while surrounded by bodies and covered in blood was unexpected
A lot of people compared this to a Draco and Hermione fanfic, but honestly… I’m not seeing it. Sure, there’s an enemies-to-lovers dynamic brewing, but beyond that…
I mean the MMC spent a lot of time smirking in that typical “villain” way, but so far he just feels like your average, run-of-the-mill morally grey guy. Nothing about him feels particularly Draco-coded.
At first, the MMC actually seemed kind of heroic — a bit noble even — but very quickly he morphed into this cringey, American high school “popular boy” stereotype. You know the type: full of smug, “you’ll never be good enough for me” energy. Honestly, it gave me secondhand embarrassment. I’m assuming this changes, but I didn’t like the switch.
The whole academy setting really reminded me of Fourth Wing, especially with the FMC being the scrappy underdog. I get where the plot is going I just don’t want to wait for it to get there.
Maybe I’ll try it again… but not today.
Chapter 1 completely threw me. It was confusing AF, but I think this was intentional to introduce an air of mystery 🤔. However, the way information was delivered felt chaotic. Instead of breadcrumb clues that pulled me in, it just dumped details without much reason. I kept finding myself rereading whole paragraphs because I was convinced I had missed something important. It felt messy and hard to follow.
I persevered because of the explosive start. I mean the FMC being introduced to the story, while surrounded by bodies and covered in blood was unexpected
A lot of people compared this to a Draco and Hermione fanfic, but honestly… I’m not seeing it. Sure, there’s an enemies-to-lovers dynamic brewing, but beyond that…
I mean the MMC spent a lot of time smirking in that typical “villain” way, but so far he just feels like your average, run-of-the-mill morally grey guy. Nothing about him feels particularly Draco-coded.
At first, the MMC actually seemed kind of heroic — a bit noble even — but very quickly he morphed into this cringey, American high school “popular boy” stereotype. You know the type: full of smug, “you’ll never be good enough for me” energy. Honestly, it gave me secondhand embarrassment. I’m assuming this changes, but I didn’t like the switch.
The whole academy setting really reminded me of Fourth Wing, especially with the FMC being the scrappy underdog. I get where the plot is going I just don’t want to wait for it to get there.
Maybe I’ll try it again… but not today.
lost-interest
July 9, 2024"... a dark academia fantasy romance featuring hate to love, slowburn to steam, villain gets the girl, all the tension and banter, an antihero FMC, a villain-to-morally-gray MMC with Draco Malfoy energy..."
Bold claims, I'm intrigued
Bold claims, I'm intrigued
March 24, 2025
It is absolutely CRIMINAL that people compare this to HP and FW
This is, without a doubt, one of the worst books I’ve read this year. Just because certain concepts might work well individually doesn’t mean that throwing them all together—vampires, academia, magic, world traveling, and dragons—will automatically result in a cohesive story. It absolutely did not work.
And the fact that the FMC is named Pendragon and set up to be a dragon rider? What am I, ten years old? Every time the hero called her Pendragon, I physically cringed.
The writing felt SO juvenile, and after the first 20%, nothing of significance even happened. I’ve tried to find something I enjoyed, but honestly? I can’t.
The fact that I did not dnf is a miracle in itself.
This is, without a doubt, one of the worst books I’ve read this year. Just because certain concepts might work well individually doesn’t mean that throwing them all together—vampires, academia, magic, world traveling, and dragons—will automatically result in a cohesive story. It absolutely did not work.
And the fact that the FMC is named Pendragon and set up to be a dragon rider? What am I, ten years old? Every time the hero called her Pendragon, I physically cringed.
The writing felt SO juvenile, and after the first 20%, nothing of significance even happened. I’ve tried to find something I enjoyed, but honestly? I can’t.
The fact that I did not dnf is a miracle in itself.
July 4, 2025
3.75/4 stars
I had such a good time reading this book on the airplane and I think because I didn’t have anything else to do I was able to really get into it and enjoy it way more!! The academy setting is one of my fave and I loved how it kinda reminded me of Harry Potter with the four houses but it also had fourth wing vibes but more dark! This series has so much potential and I feel like it was building up for the second book which makes me even more excited to continue it, especially after that ending!!!
Blake - there’s nothing I love more than a morally grey bully villain, who is also a hot vampire!! I loved getting his pov and seeing how down bad he was for Medra! He would do anything and sacrifice everything for her! The standard!! 😍🤭 But I need more from him!!
Medra - for being half-fae, she seemed really weak compared to the vampires but she was still badass! She did annoy me sometimes but overall I really liked her and her friendship with Florence was so beautiful and genuine!!
The banter and tension between her and Blake was so hot and fun!! Can’t wait to see what happens with them in the next book!! The slow burn!!
I loved all the different side characters and how new friendships and enemies were formed!!! I loved Theo and my mean girl Visha!!
I’m sat!! On to book 2!!
(Btw I’m writing this in the airport on my phone, so it’s not the best review haha)
Pre-read:
Dragons, vampires, academy setting, bully villian, fourth wing vibes! I’m sold!! I’m gonna go and devour this on the airplane! 🤭
I had such a good time reading this book on the airplane and I think because I didn’t have anything else to do I was able to really get into it and enjoy it way more!! The academy setting is one of my fave and I loved how it kinda reminded me of Harry Potter with the four houses but it also had fourth wing vibes but more dark! This series has so much potential and I feel like it was building up for the second book which makes me even more excited to continue it, especially after that ending!!!
Blake - there’s nothing I love more than a morally grey bully villain, who is also a hot vampire!! I loved getting his pov and seeing how down bad he was for Medra! He would do anything and sacrifice everything for her! The standard!! 😍🤭 But I need more from him!!
Medra - for being half-fae, she seemed really weak compared to the vampires but she was still badass! She did annoy me sometimes but overall I really liked her and her friendship with Florence was so beautiful and genuine!!
The banter and tension between her and Blake was so hot and fun!! Can’t wait to see what happens with them in the next book!! The slow burn!!
I loved all the different side characters and how new friendships and enemies were formed!!! I loved Theo and my mean girl Visha!!
I’m sat!! On to book 2!!
(Btw I’m writing this in the airport on my phone, so it’s not the best review haha)
Pre-read:
Dragons, vampires, academy setting, bully villian, fourth wing vibes! I’m sold!! I’m gonna go and devour this on the airplane! 🤭
November 8, 2024
DNF at pg 203. This just feels like it came straight off wattpad. It started well (setting wise) then once they got the academy it just felt silly?? I couldn’t take the characters or the story seriously.
I had enjoyed the authors previous work so I wanted to give this book a chance, the premise was intriguing but i just couldn’t get into it. Also there is zero need for this to be almost 800pgs long.
I had enjoyed the authors previous work so I wanted to give this book a chance, the premise was intriguing but i just couldn’t get into it. Also there is zero need for this to be almost 800pgs long.
May 31, 2025
I waited for the audio to release to read this because I love to torture myself and prefer immersive reading. Pretty sure this book ripped out my soul and now I’m ruined. Somehow all I can say is THANK YOU! 🤣
August 22, 2025
I could hug NetGalley, Briar Boleyn, and the publisher Starwater Press (Indie) for giving me the opportunity to read On Wings of Blood as an eBook. 📖✨ Published in October 2024, this gem is currently flying under the radar, and it's a crying shame that more readers haven't discovered it! 😱
On Wings of Blood is the first book in the Blood Wing Academy series, with Book 2 already out and Book 3 coming in May 2025. 🗓️ Briar Boleyn, the author (a pen name), made an impressive shift in genres, reeling me in from the very first page. This novel is a breathtaking mix of fantasy and intrigue and has completely captivated my attention. ❤️
The story begins with Medra, a female fae noble, who awakens in a bizarre new world, completely nude and surrounded by dead bodies. 😳 She was supposed to be dead, so how she ended up here is an intriguing mystery! Enter a weaselly character reminiscent of Sméagol from The Lord of the Rings—only, surprise! He’s a vampire. 🧛♂️ This world is dominated by vampiric forces, and as she navigates this dark territory, Medra is saved by Blake, the Prince of House Drakarro. 👑
The plot unfolds with a gripping pace; never a dull moment! 🚀 Medra finds herself bound to Blake's nephew as his betrothed, which sets her on a tumultuous path of learning the harsh ways of the vampire high court, while also attending the Blood Wing Academy. The potential for character and world-building is immense, and I can’t get enough of it! 🌌
I adored every single page—Boleyn has a knack for crafting engaging narrative threads that never slacken in tension. 💖 Although I felt the ending was a bit rushed, particularly the burgeoning relationship between Medra and Blake, there's so much room for growth. 🌱 I suspect that the next books will delve deeper into their dynamic. For now, I’m left craving more! 🤤
The world-building feels akin to an adult version of Harry Potter, only with dragons (well, at least one for now) and darker elements. 🐉 I can say without hesitation that I am completely obsessed, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds in the next installment! 🙌
On Wings of Blood is an enchanting story that deserves to be read and cherished. If you enjoy fast-paced fantasy with intricate world-building and complex characters, I urge you to dive into this series. Don’t miss out on this indie treasure! 💎✨
On Wings of Blood is the first book in the Blood Wing Academy series, with Book 2 already out and Book 3 coming in May 2025. 🗓️ Briar Boleyn, the author (a pen name), made an impressive shift in genres, reeling me in from the very first page. This novel is a breathtaking mix of fantasy and intrigue and has completely captivated my attention. ❤️
The story begins with Medra, a female fae noble, who awakens in a bizarre new world, completely nude and surrounded by dead bodies. 😳 She was supposed to be dead, so how she ended up here is an intriguing mystery! Enter a weaselly character reminiscent of Sméagol from The Lord of the Rings—only, surprise! He’s a vampire. 🧛♂️ This world is dominated by vampiric forces, and as she navigates this dark territory, Medra is saved by Blake, the Prince of House Drakarro. 👑
The plot unfolds with a gripping pace; never a dull moment! 🚀 Medra finds herself bound to Blake's nephew as his betrothed, which sets her on a tumultuous path of learning the harsh ways of the vampire high court, while also attending the Blood Wing Academy. The potential for character and world-building is immense, and I can’t get enough of it! 🌌
I adored every single page—Boleyn has a knack for crafting engaging narrative threads that never slacken in tension. 💖 Although I felt the ending was a bit rushed, particularly the burgeoning relationship between Medra and Blake, there's so much room for growth. 🌱 I suspect that the next books will delve deeper into their dynamic. For now, I’m left craving more! 🤤
The world-building feels akin to an adult version of Harry Potter, only with dragons (well, at least one for now) and darker elements. 🐉 I can say without hesitation that I am completely obsessed, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds in the next installment! 🙌
On Wings of Blood is an enchanting story that deserves to be read and cherished. If you enjoy fast-paced fantasy with intricate world-building and complex characters, I urge you to dive into this series. Don’t miss out on this indie treasure! 💎✨
August 27, 2025
4.5⭐️
I’m sorrrrryyyy but vampires? Fae? Dragons? War college? Yes yes YES I loved this so much!!!
Medra wakes up in a world different to the one she knows, she’s half fae, and Blake a high blood vampire captures her.
In Blake’s world the hierarchy is very important you’re either highborn (vampires) or blightborn (lowlife humans basically) and he blightborn are not treated well at bloodwing academy at all.
Medra has to enroll into bloodwing a prestigious school and become Blake’s betrothed because she looks different to them and they believe she has the blood of a dragon rider. She’s now betrothed to the leader of one of the 4 noble houses… whilst trying to find her way in this new world, trying to survive and trying to learn about all the history and politics of Sangratha
I literally couldn’t put this book down, it was everything I needed from a fantasy and more, I LOVED the vampire hierarchy in this! I don’t know if I like Blake yet but Medra was easy to root for, the world building was good and I can’t wait to start book 2 because the FORESHADOWING in book one?! Yepppppp
I’m sorrrrryyyy but vampires? Fae? Dragons? War college? Yes yes YES I loved this so much!!!
Medra wakes up in a world different to the one she knows, she’s half fae, and Blake a high blood vampire captures her.
In Blake’s world the hierarchy is very important you’re either highborn (vampires) or blightborn (lowlife humans basically) and he blightborn are not treated well at bloodwing academy at all.
Medra has to enroll into bloodwing a prestigious school and become Blake’s betrothed because she looks different to them and they believe she has the blood of a dragon rider. She’s now betrothed to the leader of one of the 4 noble houses… whilst trying to find her way in this new world, trying to survive and trying to learn about all the history and politics of Sangratha
I literally couldn’t put this book down, it was everything I needed from a fantasy and more, I LOVED the vampire hierarchy in this! I don’t know if I like Blake yet but Medra was easy to root for, the world building was good and I can’t wait to start book 2 because the FORESHADOWING in book one?! Yepppppp
May 10, 2025
upon reading book 2, knocking my rating from a 3 to a 2⭐️ “dark” urban fantasy romance
vampires, fae, dragons, & more
academic setting
Medra is a half-fae princess who defeats a god and sacrifices herself for her kingdom… but then she wakes up in Sangratha, an unfamiliar territory run by vampires. due to her unique appearance, the vampires immediately recognize her as a descent of dragon riders. dragons have been dormant for decades in Sangratha, but the vampires fear she may be an omen of their return. thus, Medra is forced to attend their Bloodwing Academy to hone her unique skills and the story begins.
loved our FMC Medra. she has no problem calling out the vampires for their dictatorship & abuse of blightborns (non-vamps)
it also provides a super interesting enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Blake. but Blake was just an average romantasy MMC. kinda hoping we get some other options in future books teheee
it felt like lots of interesting seeds were being planted for future plotlines & character dynamics, so i hope the other books can deliver 🙂↕️ (spoiler:they did not)
did notice a few typos & continuity issues
could use a good thorough editing team!
vampires, fae, dragons, & more
academic setting
Medra is a half-fae princess who defeats a god and sacrifices herself for her kingdom… but then she wakes up in Sangratha, an unfamiliar territory run by vampires. due to her unique appearance, the vampires immediately recognize her as a descent of dragon riders. dragons have been dormant for decades in Sangratha, but the vampires fear she may be an omen of their return. thus, Medra is forced to attend their Bloodwing Academy to hone her unique skills and the story begins.
loved our FMC Medra. she has no problem calling out the vampires for their dictatorship & abuse of blightborns (non-vamps)
it also provides a super interesting enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Blake. but Blake was just an average romantasy MMC. kinda hoping we get some other options in future books teheee
it felt like lots of interesting seeds were being planted for future plotlines & character dynamics, so i hope the other books can deliver 🙂↕️ (spoiler:they did not)
did notice a few typos & continuity issues
could use a good thorough editing team!
June 22, 2025
Sometimes, booktok hypes up a book and all I can do is forgive y’all. Full thoughts to come xxxxxx
April 22, 2025
FOURTH WING CRAWLED SO THIS BOOK COULD FLY. 😍
the vampire & dark academia vibes were perfection. another author that can make me actually visualize things in a fantasy book which is so rare! can't wait to read the sequel♡
the vampire & dark academia vibes were perfection. another author that can make me actually visualize things in a fantasy book which is so rare! can't wait to read the sequel♡
April 13, 2025
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✧
on wings of blood is a romantasy book filled with dragons, vampires, and mischief. the book centers around medra pendragon, the last dragon rider who has found herself in a new world. medra must navigate the challenges of bloodwing academy, all while dealing with her new betrothed mate. overall, i enjoyed this book very much. i was a bit confused in the beginning, as there is quite a bit of world building and information dropped, but eventually it picks up. the book made me feel all the feels with found family, betrayals, and surprising plot twists.
*although it is easier to understand this book if you’ve read the queen of roses series by briar boleyn, it is not necessary
features -
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- arranged marriage
- vampires
- academia
- dragons riders/dragons
- found family
---------
~ post read ~
im still having conflicting feelings about this one, but i think i enjoyed it??
~ currently reading ~
oh my my. he calls her little dragon now. 🫢 i can’t tell if i like it or not lmao
oh my god. i feel really petty right now, but i hateeee reagan. could she just… casually fall off a cliff? thanks. ✋😌
holdup - theres ANOTHER WOMAN?? he has two betrothed(s?)? no no no. i- just no.
~ preread ~
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion<33
i’m not rlly a vampire person, but maybe this will be good?? 🤞🤞
on wings of blood is a romantasy book filled with dragons, vampires, and mischief. the book centers around medra pendragon, the last dragon rider who has found herself in a new world. medra must navigate the challenges of bloodwing academy, all while dealing with her new betrothed mate. overall, i enjoyed this book very much. i was a bit confused in the beginning, as there is quite a bit of world building and information dropped, but eventually it picks up. the book made me feel all the feels with found family, betrayals, and surprising plot twists.
*although it is easier to understand this book if you’ve read the queen of roses series by briar boleyn, it is not necessary
features -
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- arranged marriage
- vampires
- academia
- dragons riders/dragons
- found family
---------
~ post read ~
im still having conflicting feelings about this one, but i think i enjoyed it??
~ currently reading ~
oh my my. he calls her little dragon now. 🫢 i can’t tell if i like it or not lmao
oh my god. i feel really petty right now, but i hateeee reagan. could she just… casually fall off a cliff? thanks. ✋😌
holdup - theres ANOTHER WOMAN?? he has two betrothed(s?)? no no no. i- just no.
~ preread ~
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion<33
i’m not rlly a vampire person, but maybe this will be good?? 🤞🤞
January 16, 2025
Honestly confused about all the high reviews on this book… the writing was so disjointed, there were typos, completely random change of topic with no transition, plot points that just fell short and were left unfinished/unexplained… and the FMC was incredibly immature and annoying.
April 20, 2025
This had literally all my favourite things: dark academia, enemies to lovers, forced bond, vampires, dragons, found family, banter, deliciously slow burn, it was spectacular. The vibes were vibing so hard and I had such a fun time.
Blake Drakharrow…I wasn’t sure about him at first because the name Blake does not give off ✨hot vampire prince✨ but that morally grey vampire and his mouth won me over completely😮💨 I am obsessed.
I loved our lil firecracker fmc Medra right away, she’s truly a girl after my own heart. Girl is such badass and I just need more backstory ASAP!! I have so many questions!!!!
The ending was so mad and I will be going into book 2 right tf now.
Blake Drakharrow…I wasn’t sure about him at first because the name Blake does not give off ✨hot vampire prince✨ but that morally grey vampire and his mouth won me over completely😮💨 I am obsessed.
I loved our lil firecracker fmc Medra right away, she’s truly a girl after my own heart. Girl is such badass and I just need more backstory ASAP!! I have so many questions!!!!
The ending was so mad and I will be going into book 2 right tf now.
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