On Wings of Blood Paperback – October 31, 2024

⭐ Rating: 5/5⭐On Wings of Blood completely swept me away. I devoured it in basically one sitting and immediately dove into book two without even pausing to breathe. And now that I know book three isn’t out until March 2026? I’m already emotionally unstable about it.Was it the most original or literary thing I’ve ever read? No. But did I have the absolute best time reading it? 100%. This book was pure dark fantasy romance chaos, and I loved every second. It’s one of those stories where the vibes carry you straight through, and for me? The vibes were vibing hard.This book gave me everything I crave: an academy setting, true enemies-to-almost-lovers energy, slow burn tension, and characters I couldn’t stop thinking about. Medra wakes up in a strange vampire-run world, finds out she’s the last dragon rider, gets forcibly bonded to a vampire prince, and it only gets wilder from there. She’s fiery, stubborn, and exactly the kind of heroine I root for. And Blake? The morally grey, fully tattooed vampire prince with a sharp tongue and dark past? Yeah... I fell hard. He’s broody and dangerous and the banter between him and Medra was perfection.One thing I really appreciated is that it didn’t skimp on plot. The worldbuilding was actually strong, and I found myself totally invested in the political tension, the magic system, and the mystery surrounding Medra’s past. Plus, the found family dynamic with Florence and Naveen was such a nice touch.The tension, the angst, the enemies-to-lovers push and pull, the forced bond, the slowwwww burn… it all worked so well together. And that cliffhanger? Absolutely unhinged.If you’re into dark romantasy with bite (literally and emotionally), a morally grey MMC, a strong-willed heroine, dragons, tension-filled slow burn, and just the right balance of spice and story, this is your next read.

On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn is a dark, thrilling, and utterly captivating fantasy romance that had me hooked from the very first page! As the first installment in the Bloodwing Academy series, it introduces a world filled with vampires, dragons, and a fierce heroine who refuses to be tamed.​The story follows Medra Pendragon, a fiery and headstrong young woman who finds herself in a world where magic is forbidden and danger lurks around every corner. When she is forced into an arranged marriage with the enigmatic vampire, Blake Drakharrow, Medra must navigate the treacherous halls of Bloodwing Academy, where secrets abound and trust is a rare commodity. As she uncovers the truth about her past and the power within her, Medra becomes a force to be reckoned with.​Medra is a standout heroine—strong, resilient, and unapologetically herself. Her journey of self-discovery and empowerment is both inspiring and relatable. Blake, with his brooding demeanor and hidden depths, is the perfect counterpart to Medra's fiery spirit. Their slow-burn romance is filled with tension, banter, and moments that had me swooning.​The world-building in this book is rich and immersive, with a unique blend of dark academia, supernatural elements, and intricate lore. The trials and challenges faced by the characters add layers of intrigue and keep the stakes high throughout the story.​I also loved the side characters, especially Florence and Naveen, who provide moments of levity and warmth amidst the darker themes. Their friendships add depth to the narrative and highlight the importance of found family.​Overall, On Wings of Blood is a compelling and emotionally charged read that delivers on all fronts—romance, action, and character development. If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers, supernatural academies, and strong female leads, this book is definitely for you. I can't wait to see where the story goes next!​⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Eh! Tik tok really hyped this book up like it was something special. It was boring. I don’t like to DNF a book so I pushed through but it wasn’t good in my opinion. The FMC keeps calling the MMC by his full name through the entire book. It becomes irritating after awhile. It’s readable but not that good. I will have to be really bored to read the next book. This was a let down. This review is based solely on the book.

On Wings of Blood is the first book in the Bloodwing Academy series. This book features vampires, a half fae who somehow finds herself in their world, and even a dragon (although that doesn’t happen until the very end). It also has the danger and intrigue that one would find in a dark academia romance so if that’s your cup of tea then I think you will love this!Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It gave me Zodiac Academy vibes especially when it comes to the jealousy and bullying from other members of the academy. The hate to love is STRONG too although I felt like Medra was much more on the “hate” side then Blake was. Blake is our morally grey vampire who has secrets of his own and watching them be revealed through the story was a lot of fun. That cliffhanger though? Not okay! I had to immediately download the next book.If you like academic settings, enemies, vampires, and fae in your fantasy books then this would be a great book for you. It’s well written (although a bit long), intriguing from start to finish, and has all the angst!𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5 stars)