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 when I stopped at 50% I realized I felt like 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.

Intriguing new dark academia vampire world. This book definitely gave off some Harry potter vibes with a little Zodiac Academy thrown in the mix.
This story starts off a little confusing. You are learning everything as Medra the FMC is learning them, which sucks you right in. The world building is easy to follow (although I do have my suspicions that there are lots of secrets about this world that are going to come out later). Definitely a ruthless world but I would say this is a light bully romance. Slow burn with some great tension. A Morally grey FMC who might get the girl. I would say that Blake is a little misunderstood. Don't get me wrong he is definitely wrong half the time, but I feel like there is some goodness in there and that he is mostly playing a part to survive. I think this book has serious potential to be a epic adventure and I cant wait to see where it goes.

I rarely rate books 5 stars but I truly looooved this one!! It was such a perfect blend of all of my favourite romantasy tropes! Really felt like a mix of Harry Potter, Fourth Wing and even Hunger Games? Highly recommend and can’t wait for the second one!

Hehehehehe. This was a blast and a lot of fun! I’m still getting more into romantacy I stead of fantasy romance. I had a good time, it was a lot of fun even if it wasn’t necessarily my all time favorite!

If you loved the Queen of Roses series you have to read On Wings of Blood. Ot brings the amazing style of writing we love from Briar as well as the incredible characters and world building into a realm of vampires!!!! It follows Medra from the Queen of Roses series who we didn't exactly know what happened to her at the end. She is in an entirely new world and of course there is a grumpy hot vamp prince!! Perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Clarissa Broadbent and Jennifer Armentrout!!! Don't sleep on this series!!!

Think HP meets Hunger Games with a splash of fourth wing but zero tension. In fact, there’s a multitude of similarities to HP: MMC is described closely to Draco Malfoy, 4 vampiric houses to HP’s houses, ans trials to Triwizard tournament. Too often, I’ll have these thoughts when reading a chapter/scene: “hey didn’t this happen in xx book? They had a plot twist like that too! This description sounds like HG arena”

Usually, I’m all for enemies to lovers trope but this didn’t quite hit the spot. Protagonists lack chemistry. The friendship between fmc and supporting characters feels bland too. Then again, maybe the problem is me and I just couldn’t click with the book?

Fortunately, the last couple of chapters had more action, hence, it was a bit more engaging. I’m curious to see how the next book pans out but I’m not desperately itching to read it. Trust me when I say I was 100% genuinely sold on the book's synopsis. But when it came to reading the book, it was a chore to push through.

Thank you Netgalley and Starwater Press for this arc!

Ooooh Briar Boleyn has done it again! When I say I was HOOKED from beginning to end, I mean it. Medra was so badass, all the other Booktok FMCs wish they were her. Blake was a bit meh for me, but I enjoyed the tension the two of them had together.

If you are looking for a romantasy with enemies to lovers, slowburn with delicious tension, and dragons, add this to your TBR right away!

"I fell asleep and dreamed of snow and dragons."

In this book, you will follow Medra Pendragon, our FMC, who's hallf-fae, and ends up in a world she doesn't know, betrothed to Blake Drakharrow, our MMC, who is a hot highborn (aka vampire). She's also forced to attend Bloodwing Academy and his told that she's the last dragon rider, but that there are no dragons left.

This book was a wild ride&I loved every second of it ❤️‍🔥

If you want a great romantasy in an academic setting then this one is for you 🖤 There’s vampires, friendships (Florence&Naveen have my heart), romance, delicious slow-burn, interesting political intrigues&mysterious side characters. I'm also a big fan of dual POV and you will get Blake's and Medra's POV. That helps getting to know the characters and the world so much more.

I laughed so many times reading this book! The dialogues between the characters are great and there's so many super cute, but also very heartbreaking moments. I was on edge until the very last page and the cliffhanger was amazing and won't disappoint you. You also won't get overwhelmed with the world building and get to discover this world with Medra which is very enjoyable.

I've recommended this book to everyone and honestly cannot wait for book 2; 2025 can't arrive soon enough!

Thank you Netgalley, Briar Boleyn and her publisher for this book and I can't wait to see what will happen next!

I loved this one! It's such a great escape and I loved the world building. Medra is the best and I loved following her journey. Can't wait to read more!

On Wings of Blood is a perfect read for those who love fae, vampires, and dragons. The FMC is a half-fae who finds herself accidentally in a world of vampires. Because of her fae-like characteristics, the court of vampires believes she has the blood of the dragon riders. The only problem is dragons and their riders have been extinct. Is she the key to bringing the dragons back? After betrothing Medra to his nephew, the leader of house Drakharrow sends her to Bloodwing which is the academy for vampires; however, Medra will have to fight for her place in the academy.

This book is very similar to Zodiac Academy in the sense that Medra is very unwanted by the other students. The tropes include bully romance, found family, and enemies to lovers. On Wings of Blood is also perfect for Harry Potter lovers as there are some similarities in the way the academy is set up in comparison to Hogwarts.

I recommend this book for anyone beginning their fantasy journey as this is a great intro book into the genre. The world-building is easy to follow, and it is a very fast-paced read. The cliffhanger at the end of the book will definitely have you reaching for the second book in the series.

I loved the fast paced blood thirsty elements of this book. I just couldn’t put it down one of my fav reads of the year. Treat yourself to it

I read this in the middle of the night and oh my god. Not a dull moment was found in the book. I need a fluffin RIGHT NOW and I need book 2 RIGHT NOW. So enjoyable in every way. I swear the book could have been 2000 pages long and I would of ate up every single page that came my way. I loved the characters. I love the direction the story is going. I laughed, cried, got angry, cringed out, every emotion I felt with this book. I will be putting myself into her other books because I LOVED this one.

I’d like to thank netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I was interested in this book by the authors post and from the description of the book. It had what I was looking for with vampires, dragons, strong fmc, and mild smut. It definitely gave Harry Potter, zodiac academy, slight fourth wing vibes. Good world building, I could have used a bit more with knowing about the world she is in, not just about the school as much. I definitely wanted a few more things to be explained. Definitely left off on a cliffhanger and wanting more. Definitely read the trigger warnings before reading book.

As a huge fan of Briar Boleyn, I can confidently say that On Wings of Blood is my favorite of her works so far! From the moment I started reading, I was completely captivated and found myself unable to put it down.

Briar’s storytelling is as immersive as ever, and the world she has created is rich with detail and emotion. The characters are incredibly well-developed, each with their own unique struggles and triumphs that kept me invested in their journeys. I felt a deep connection to the protagonist, whose resilience and determination shone through every page. The pacing of the story was perfect—just when I thought I had a moment to breathe, another twist would pull me right back in! The plot is filled with suspense and intrigue, making it impossible to guess what would happen next. I was on the edge of my seat, turning pages late into the night, eager to uncover the next revelation.

Briar’s writing style is both lyrical and engaging, making the emotional moments hit even harder. The themes of love, sacrifice, and the fight for freedom resonate deeply, and I found myself reflecting on them long after I finished the book.

I loved that the book had a mix of the Harry Potter world and fourth wing world and brought together with some good ol vampires. A half fae royalty finds herself in a whole new world that she knows nothing about and has to consistently fight for her place within that realm and finds herself in a arranged mating and a school she now has to attend without knowing a single thing about the world. There’s a good bully romance, found family, great banter. The plot holes were difficult but the story kept me around

Review of On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn
* * * * *
An amazing fantasy romance that has us following on from the events of a previous fantastic series, where our princess fights for her survival and makes a name for herself in this new world of bloodsuckers and secrets.

Medra wakes in a world that is not hers.
She's now trapped in the clutches of a powerful vampiric race, forced to educate herself and train to become something she first denies she is. Then there is the issue that she's betrothed to a moody grump.
She should hate Blake Drakharrow.
Though in dangerous situations, he's starting to prove helpful.
Not to forget, slightly possessive.
As dark forces rise, deadly challenges thrown her way, she's questioning who she can truly trust.
Not to forget, will she ever get back to the people she misses?

AND...CLIFFHANGER!
Epic cliffhanger! The introduced betrayal on top of a clusterstorm of shtick we know is going to make things in the coming book very interested and insane! So much more to learn on the history and the link from her world to this one, and how dragons are going to change it all!
God, I love dragons!
Psychotic consorts. Questionable teachers. Parties that are certainly interesting. Secrets hiding in plain sight. Who controls who?

Title: On Wings Of Blood by Briar Boelyn
Genre: Dark Academia/Romantasy
Pub Date: October 25, 2024

⭐️ 5/5

💭 HEY, BABES! Get ready for blood, power, and a whole lot of ✨forbidden romance✨ I just finished this one and I'm OBSESSED! This dark academia romantasy has it all: a snarky heroine, a brooding antihero, and enough twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. I can't wait for book 2!! If you love bully romance/Draco vibes, vamps, super slow burns, and dragons, it's a MUST READ!🔥

Thank you so much, NetGalley and author, for the digital review copy!

On Wings of Blood is book one of Briar Boleyn's Bloodwing Academy book series. I am not new to Boleyn's writing. I really enjoyed Boleyn's Blood of a Fae series! Boleyn did not disappoint with On Wings of Blood! If you enjoy an enemies to lovers plot, you'll definitely find this book worth while. There is a lot of world building in this first book and Boleyn is exceptional at it. I am looking forward to reading more of the Bloodwing Academy series. Vampires, fae, dwarves, dragons, Boleyn provides all the magic in this new series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for this arc copy! I will be purchasing my own to have in my personal library!

I very much enjoyed being introduced to the author by the Blood of Fae series (books 1-3) and was excited to receive an eARC of On Wings of Blood. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity.

On Wings of Blood felt like the story was made of two individual story lines both of which would have been great on their own but the mash-up made a right hash. The vampire plot and vampire world certainly harkened to a dark HP AU. In and of itself, this was the stronger (albeit less word count) plotline.

If I approach this as an homage to the JKR fandom this is a sophisticated fanfiction piece. However, I was unimpressed by the direct references to names, characteristics and world style. I understand it is difficult to be entirely original but, this was farcical at times. From a sorting rock to the colours and layout of college houses, to character names including Lucius, Pirini/Zabini, Theo, Why did I not DNF this book? Because it was like a fever dream, hoping that the weird and confused would finally form crystal clarity. This felt like capitalising on the evergreen appeal of HP and the current zeal for all things dragon. This just wasn't what I hoped for nor expected after the strong previous books.

This book was so good. The story is so unique and really enjoyable to read. And the romance was very well done!