On Wings of Blood

Bloodwing Academy, Book 1

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Book 1 of Bloodwing Academy
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Pub Date 25 Oct 2024 | Archive Date 21 Dec 2024

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Description

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Bloodwing Academy has dark themes and content interspersed with lighthearted moments. Please consult the full Trigger Warnings list found inside the book.



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.

Bestselling epic fantasy author Briar Boleyn returns with a new series perfect for fans of hate to love romance, heart-pounding action, and dark magic.

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. If you're a fan of original mythology, unique world-building, and character-driven romantasy books such as Crowns of Nyaxia, From Blood and Ash, and A Court of Thorns and Roses, you won't want to miss out on this riveting new saga.


TROPES & THEMES

Dark academia

Enemies to lovers

Bully romance

Forbidden love

Vampires

Slowburn dragons

Forced engagement

Power imbalance

Underpowered heroine

Training scenes

Magical creatures

Morally gray characters

Found family / unlikely allies

House of the Dragons meets Hogwarts

Dramione vibes

Villain gets the girl

Mentor-student bonding

Slowburn to steamy romantasy

Gothic/medieval vibes

Political intrigue

Dangerous secrets


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.

PLEASE NOTE: Bloodwing Academy has dark themes...


A Note From the Publisher

Cover Mock-Ups & Promotional Images may be found in the Press Kit below. Contact "author@briarboleyn.com" with any comments, concerns, or questions!

Cover Mock-Ups & Promotional Images may be found in the Press Kit below. Contact "author@briarboleyn.com" with any comments, concerns, or questions!


Advance Praise

★★★★★ “Deliciously decadent, bloodlustingly fierce, quick-paced atmospheric academia read that will have you praying to the Bloodmaiden to sacrifice yourself immediately.” – A Court of Words and Letters

★★★★★ "Briar Boleyn is the queen of romantasy! Her books always sweep you away into a magical world full of wonderfully complex characters and an intense plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I was immediately sold when I heard the MMC had Draco Malfoy vibes but as a vampire and Briar did👏 not👏 disappoint👏 I am once again obsessed with a fictional character and couldn’t get enough of him." - Lexi Rachelle Reads

★★★★★ "On Wings of Blood 🩸 is absolutely magnificent and the highlight of my book reviews in 2024!" - Ash Stevenson is Reading

★★★★★ "Actual rating: 6 i-need-the-next-book-now ⭐️’s . I think this might be my favorite book of the year—actually, it probably is! From the enticing plot to the angst-filled relationship, everything about it was perfect. I loved the female main character, Medra! She was a strong, badass character that I immediately enjoyed." - Emily, Goodreads Reviewer

★★★★★ "Welp!! Briar Boleyn has done it AGAIN! Book 1 of this dark academia series is amazing! Harry Potter, Hunger Games/Divergent, Fourth Wing vibes galore BUT with vampires, dwarves and dragons. Yes ma’am… I’m here for it!" - Tonya's Life in Pages

★★★★★ "Currently screaming into the void that I need book 2 ASAP. I get that this book just released but OMG!! Beautifully written. ... This book was a grown up Harry Potter, but make it vampires, and add some dragons and a fae. It is a perfect mesh of everything that makes Romantasy, Romantasy and I am HERE for it!" - Ashley, Goodreads Reviewer

★★★★★ "I was a huge fan of Briar Boleyn's Blood of a Fae series and book 1 of this new spin off series has me HOOKED once again! If you read the previous series, you'll be familiar with Medra and it was great to get to know her more. The setting itself is giving off Fourth Wing x Hogwarts x Zodiac Academy x Game of Thrones vibes. There is a dark, gothic feel." - Charlotte, Goodreads Reviewer

★★★★★ "If Vampire Academy, House of the Dragon and Harry Potter had a baby, this would be it! I was enveloped since the beginning. The world building? Amazing! The vampire school? Out of this world! Blake? SHEESH? 🥵 I NEED the next book ASAP." - Nyxie, The Dark Divine

★★★★★ "This was like a grown up Harry Potter, mixed with Crave (because this is currently at the forefront of my brain) and Fourth Wing. Magic, vampires, dragons, and a school with secrets. What is there to not love! ... This book had really great nods to some of my favorite characters and themes across the fantasy genre." - Autumn, Goodreads Reviewer

★★★★★ "If you like Dark Academia, Zodiac Academy, Vampire Diaries, dragons with the two main character influence by Draco and Hermione. Yes that’s right a blond morally grey MMC and I’m not mad about it. 🤣 Enemies to lovers hate filled lust and tension you should really enjoy reading this Romantasy." - Amanda, Goodreads Reviewer

★★★★★ "OH MY DAYS I LOVED THIS BOOK. If you love dark academia fantasy romance with vampires featuring a bully villain, this is the book for you. ...For those who like Draco Malfoy and Jacks (from Once Upon A Broken Heart) the MMC, Blake, is right up your street! The banter between the FMC, Medra, & Blake is immaculate. Its witty and fluid, I couldn't get enough." - Stefanie

★★★★★ "I’m a huge fan of enemies to lovers. It was pretty refreshing that it didn’t switch to an instant love sort like some of the enemies to lovers do. Pendragon and Darkharrow still have an edge to them at the end of book one, so the enemies to lovers can continue, unlike most other series where it disappears during the first book." - Samantha, Goodreads Reviewer

★★★★★ "He's the morally grey character you know you shouldn't love but you do anyway. " - Once More with Reading


★★★★★ “Deliciously decadent, bloodlustingly fierce, quick-paced atmospheric academia read that will have you praying to the Bloodmaiden to sacrifice yourself immediately.” – A Court of Words and...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9178752372253
PRICE US$5.99 (USD)
PAGES 525

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Average rating from 180 members


Featured Reviews

5/5 Star ⭐
1/5 Spice 🌶️

I had such a great time reading this first entry into the Bloodwing Academy series! I read the previous series, (Blood of a Fae) and LOVED it! I was a little skeptical at first because I struggled to part with Morgan and Draven and move on to Medra. I was pleasantly surprised! I will try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible and will mark them!

First off, I feel like the book hit all the described tropes, dark academia, enemies to... kind of lovers (we're getting there), definitely slow burn, huge bully vibes, forced betrothal and so much more! I absolutely devoured this 700 something page novel like it was a short story in a matter of hours! There is dual POV with Medra and Blake. I actually really love the dual POV and they definitely felt like 2 separate characters with their own voices.

We follow fiery, feisty Medra who has been transported to another world, full of vampires. Then we have Blake, who definitely gives Draco vibes if Draco hadn't submitted to his father's wishes. Blake is also betrothed to Regan who is a snotty jealous entitled highborn (vampires). It makes for an interesting first year at Bloodwing Academy! Medra makes a few friends, almost dies a few times, you know the drill.

While I was reading this, the school felt like Hogwarts, mixed with Basgiath (HP & and Fourth Wing). I think my one complaint is I reallllllly, realllllllllly wanted Medra to not show Regan mercy, AT ALL. LOL! There were heartbreaking moments and really cute and wholesome moments. I honestly cannot wait for the second book to come out in early 2025! I rarely start unfinished series anymore because I cannot stand the wait but for Briar I WILL ALWAYS!

Give this one a chance, if you haven't read the previous quartet featuring Morgan and Draven, I highly suggest reading that first. There is a lot of world building in this first entry, but I never felt overwhelmed or felt like it took away from the plot.

The next few sentences I will mark because they contain spoilers: [I LOVED Medra and her mother, Orcades' banter, I actually wish there was MORE of this. At first, I honestly thought that the voice she was hearing was a secret dragon no one knew about. I was super happy to have Orcades back. (hide spoiler)]

Thank you Netgalley, Briar and her publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I'm so glad to be a part of your street team and excited to see what happens next!

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"But you're right about one thing, Pendragon. Why should I fight so hard to leash the monster inside when you're so determined to bring him out?"

The Story
Medra Pendragon thought she'd died, going out in a blaze of glory to save her Camelot. Instead, she wakes up in a separate world, where vampires run the show. In her world, everything from her red hair to her pointy ears mark her as a half-fae member of the royal family. In this world, it means she is a rare, valued creature - a dragon rider. There are no dragons left, but the ruling vampires don't want to risk letting such a prize get away, so Medra is forcibly betrothed to the arrogant, awful Blake Drakharrow as his consort, and sent away to begin her training at Bloodwing Academy. Despite her rare status, it will be a miracle if she survives her first year.

The FMC
Medra Pendragon is a great FMC. She's capable and strong and skilled, with great reserves of loyalty and goodness that are a bit hidden under a fairly prickly exterior. She commits to her decisions and doesn't waffle, but is willing to revise her plans and opinions when presented with new information. Also, redhead supremacy forever.

The MMC
Do you really enjoy the romance/romantasy trope of "You're mine"? Boy, do I have the book for you. Blake Drakharrow uses that phrase and every possible variant at every possible point, and it thrilled me each time. Even while they still despise each other, he takes 'touch her and die' very literally from pretty much the first page. Blake is very Draco Malfoy-coded (and the Bloodwing Academy is Hogwarts meets Basgiath meets every depraved thing from Game of Thrones) - very arrogant, possessive, violent, etc., but he does seem to like dogs and dogs like him, so maybe we'll let him stick around long enough to find out if he's our new book boyfriend, yes?

The Spice
Spice was not frequent, but boy did it pack a punch! Their connection was palpable throughout the whole slow burn.

The Other Thoughts
I was generally captivated enough by the story that I would forget for long periods of time, but the one thing that kind of bothered me was how rarely Medra thought about her previous life in Camelot, or had much of her backstory come into play. That's not to say it had no impact, and if I had to guess it probably will play a major role in future installments, but right now it seems like the whole 'I'm a princess from Camelot who died to save my world' could have been just as easily replaced with 'I woke up with no memory of my previous life.' But really, that's just a personal quibble, and not any reason to not recommend what was a very engaging book.

Despite being a pretty lengthy book, I took this down in one day and never felt it was dragging on. In fact, as I reached the end I was sort of freaking out that there were only 30 pages left and I knew from the prologue that we still had Big Things left to come. And then it actually managed to end on not one, but TWO cliffhangers, one of which was heavily foreshadowed (but still devastating to read and see how it actually played out) and one of which took me by more surprise than it probably should have.

Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers(?)
- Vampires
- Dual POV
- Dragons and dragon riders
- Magical academy
- Touch her and die (like literally from the very first scene)
- Chosen one
- Arranged marriage
- Bully romance
- Slow burn spice

Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 2.5/5 (again, limited in amount, but bumped up an extra half a point for being high on the Scoville scale)

Thank you to NetGalley, Briar Boleyn, and the publishers for sending me an advanced copy of On Wings of Blood in exchange for an honest review!

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As soon as I read the synopsis I needed to drop everything and read this book! If you enjoyed fourth wing and love vampires this book is for you. It gave me all the vibes I was looking for, and I had a hard time putting it down.

Medra (FMC): love her feisty and strong nature with her take no sh*t attitude

Blake (MMC): It was easy to have a love/ hate for the MMC, which made this an addictive read and I can’t wait for the second book!

There are also great side characters in here, and very excited to see how things evolve as this series continues ❤️❤️

Tropes:

True enemies
Found family
Bully romance
Vampires
Dark academia
Slow burn 🔥 with tension and banter
Possessive and morally grey MMC
Trials ⚔️
Arranged betrothal

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𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (4.5 rounded up to 5)
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 🌶🌶🌶

I adored this book, and struggled to put it down!

While the characters are on the younger side (young adults), this is definately an adult book, and I felt the characters were reasonably mature.

Medra was a favourite of mine in the author's previous series, Blood of a Fae, and I love that she literally got a second chance at life in this book, but ended up in a different world. I teared up a little at the mention of her mother, and how she'd left all of her family back in her world, but enjoyed how she managed to find herself in this one.

I instantly liked Blake! He was such a compelling character, and I couldn't get enough of the few chapters from his POV. Personally, I found the bully romance aspect to be mild, but I occassionally read quite dark bully fantasy romances, so it's probably a me problem of wanting the MMC to be more of a bully 😅. I still adored the romance, and think it would be perfect for those who enjoy milder bully romance, or those just starting with it.

I was completely swept up in this story; everything was so vivid, easy to imagine, and immersive.

The ending had a small cliffhanger, with a few little plot twists and 'aha' moments, but I still need the next book now please!


𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕: second chance at life, found family, dual POV, dragon-rider FMC, vampire MMC, elite academy, steamy enemies to lovers, bully romance, biting, magic, plot twists.


☆I received an ARC of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own honest opinions.☆

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This hit such a sweet spot for me! A mix of Merlin and Harry Potter with the best slow-burn romance slipped in! I've been looking for a book to bring back the fall 2010 feeling when you get a good book and can't wait for the school day to end so you can get back to it, and this hit the bullseye! It's the first time I read this author, and I didn't feel I was missing anything by not reading the other books. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get lost in a great fantasy series, and I can't wait to read more from this author!

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★ ★ ★ ★ 4.25 Stars

THE ENDING.

I am a huge Briar Boleyn fan as I absolutely adore her Blood of a Fae series with Morgan and Draven. I was so excited when she announced she was releasing another book, and I had no idea it would be following Medra!

I loved that On Wings of Blood started off exactly where Knight of the Goddess left off in Medra’s story. I thought her character was over, but I’m so glad that we get to see more of it!

🚨I recommend reading the Blood of a Fae series prior to starting this book! It is not “necessary”, but it gives so much added insight into our FMC.

.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.٠ ࣪⭑

I am 100% obsessed with this world we are plopped into. It’s dark, greedy, luscious - filled with vampires with secrets and bloodlust. We get to attend Bloodwing Academy side by side Medra (and sometimes Blake), and gosh, why do I want to go to this school so bad? Even as a blightborn I’d happily oblige 😅

We see Medra learn the ways of this new world and their magic system (mostly only vampires have magic), how to thrallwield and thrallguard, and we also discover some very dark secrets with her.

Did I mention there’s DRAGONS?

.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.٠ ࣪⭑

So basically, Medra falls into a new world ran by vampires. She is bonded to a vampire prince named Blake by his powerful uncle, Lord Drakharrow, to ultimately be Blake’s consort (due to Medra being believed as a “dragon rider” [something that is extinct in this world]). Despite Medra being weaker than the highbloods since she is not a vampire, she is enrolled into Bloodwing Academy where she learns the history, magic, and fighting of the world. We also get a surprise “game” during the story which is an exciting addition to the plot!

.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.٠ ࣪⭑

Our characters are just as good as Morgan and Kairos Draven 🤭

Medra: If you read Blood of a Fae, you knew Medra was born to be a badass. Raised by Morgan and Draven with Odessa as her fighting instructor, Medra lived a really weird, quick life up until she sacrificed herself for all of Aercanum. Somehow, her dead mother Orcades manages to latch on to Medra in death and land up in a new world run by vampires.
Medra is just as arrogant and strong willed in this book as I hoped she would grow up to be in Camelot/Siabra. I absolutely adored her character in this book and can’t wait to read more on her in the next.

Blake: I mean, we all love a morally grey vampire right? Blake struggles with showing both sides of who he is, as behind closed doors his uncle’s brutality marks him if he does not succumb to his wishes. Despite this, Blake wishes to show Medra who he really wants to be.

.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.٠ ࣪⭑

We get found family, forced proximity, “forced arrangement”, enemies to lovers maybe???, bully romance, HP/FW

The vibes: dark, brutal, bloodshed, elite vampire school with dragons, strong FMC, deep secrets in everyone’s past

.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.٠ ࣪⭑

What can I say: I’m obsessed with Briar Boleyn’s writing. This book was another win, and I can’t wait for the next.

A big thanks to NetGalley, publisher and Boleyn for providing me with this ARC!

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🔥On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn had me hooked from the first heartbeat to the last dragon roar!

This book isn’t just a read—it’s a full-on experience packed with highblood drama, dangerous games, and that oh-so-irresistible enemies-to-lovers tension.

Medra Pendragon? Absolute queen. Fierce, rebellious, and caught between destiny and survival, she’s a powerhouse of grit.

Watching her navigate Bloodwing Academy, where highborn vampires feast on power and blightborns fight for every breath, kept me glued to the pages.

Her bond with Florence and the meddling with Naveen’s love life? Chef’s kiss—the kind of found family vibes that make you root for every victory.🩸👑

And let’s talk about Blake Drakharrow. The snark, the swagger, the everything. From brooding prince to that possessive anti-hero who will scorch the world before letting anyone touch his girl? Yes, please. 😈🔥

Their banter is electrifying, and the moments where Blake’s “cold” facade cracks? Pure gold.

I’m already preparing my heart for book two—Blake better be groveling on those perfectly toned knees!

Blake is absolutely magnetic, but I've got to admit: I’m rooting hard for Kage!💥 The way he surprises her with that breathtaking dress and the necklace (that claim, swoon) was next-level romance. And when Kage said, “You know he’s only going to break your heart, right? When that happens...Remember you have other friends,” my heart did a full somersault. 💘🔥

With epic trials, shadowy secrets, and a lore-soaked world that’s part Arthurian legend, part vampiric elite, this book is what happens when Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, and Vampire Academy have an intense love child. There’s no shortage of adrenaline, mystery, and dragon-sized twists. 🐉✨

If you love sharp, resilient heroines, morally grey princes with Draco Malfoy energy, and a story that blends dark academia with jaw-dropping magic, then On Wings of Blood is your next obsession.

Briar Boleyn has done it again, and I’m here, fully enchanted and ready for the chaos to continue.
💬 Favorite line: “It’s not protection, little dragon. It’s a claim.” (Cue heart-stopping tension. 😳)

Final thoughts? Add this to your TBR if you haven’t already. And to Medra and Blake: may your bond be as fierce and unbreakable as your will to defy the odds.🖤

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