On Wings of Blood (Bloodwing Academy)

Dragons, vampires, a badass FMC, and a forced betrothal? For context, I haven't read Briar Boleyn's other books, so I went in blind to this series. The world building is so vivid, and Bloodwing Academy is dripping with danger, magic and intrigue. I couldn’t stop reading and devoured this book in a few days. Think Harry Potter x Fourth Wing with Vampires.I loved Medra's strength and resilience, even when everything was stacked against her. I don't blame her for letting herself fall weak to Blake though because damn... that spice chapter was one of the best I've ever read. Thank you Briar for actually writing spice that doesn't make you cringe as you read it.If you’re into fantasy with all the tropes that make you weak (dragons, forbidden romance, high-stakes drama), this is an absolute must-read.

A bit slow at the beginning but gets better now I need to know what happens in book 2, maybe the story would benefit from an extra editing the writing seems different between the first and the last part of the book - would recommend though

If you love dragons, academia, trials, vampires, and spice, you will absolutely devour this book!I read this within a day; I could not put it down. The slow burn, the tension, the angst—it all kept me reading right up until the end.I absolutely loved the setting of the academy and the four different houses. It was a mix of *Fourth Wing* and *Harry Potter*, with all the different classes.The mystery behind the highblood and never knowing what to expect from them next—who's good, who's bad, and who's downright evil—was captivating.The FLUFFIN 😍😍😍 ITS A NEED NOT A WANT!The side characters are also all very lovable and draw you in; the heartbreak for a few was particularly affecting. It was all very emotional.I absolutely loved how much representation there is in this book.And that ending… well, you know I'm already planning on jumping straight into the next book.

May the book deities forgive me… Once more I have fallen into the trap of buying and reading a book recommended on social media… and I hate to say it but this one didn’t live up to the hype. 😢Despite having a strong beginning, there were several things that I thought were lacking in this book. The major problem that I had was with the world building. This happens more often than not in the romantasy genre (an unfortunate side effect of working outside mainstream publishing and without a really good editor). As I was reading, I couldn’t help but notice that there were certain details that felt anachronistic to the overall setting (Medieval? Castles, swordplay — Modern? Indoor plumbing and stretchy dress materials). Unfortunately, even though they were small inconsistencies, the effect was jarring and kept me from being fully engrossed because my mind became focused on the discrepancies.My second issue was the presence of plot holes in the overall story starting from the beginning and how Medra landed in this world so far from and different from her own. It also felt a bit contrived that she ended up in a school that is a cross between Hogwarts and Basgiath. There were a few other things but I don’t like spoilers in my reviews and, you never know, maybe there are some things that are explained later in the series.Lastly, on the negative side, this is quite a dark story with lots of triggers (the author kindly places these in the first few pages) most of which I did not mind because (1) I try not to judge even though some of them are not my cup of tea; and (2) this is a book that includes vampires so darkness is to be expected. The one that bothered me the most however was not the morally grey actions of the MMC but some of the dialogue where one female character throws shade at another by using sexual shame and this, IMHO, is not OK. Women get enough of it IRL, is it necessary in our fantasy books as well?All of the negative points aside, I thought that the writing was OK (do not expect Dostoyevsky) and the plot engaging enough to keep me interested enough to care about what happens next. Also, the rituals and political structure of this world are well developed enough to balance out the derivative setting.As for the violence and spice levels, as I said before, this a novel with vampires, so it should come as no surprise that you will find the levels to be 🩸🩸🩸🩸 and 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, respectively. This is a dark romantasy where the relationship between Medra and Blake is the main plot arc and it is a fun read, especially if you like a kick ass FMC, sexual tension (quite well done) and an overdose of “touch her and die vibes”. There are enough plot twists and political intrigue that prevent the book into collapsing into a story that is merely an excuse for wild spice time.This is a book that, despite its problems and lack of “greatness”, was different enough that I will be continuing the series. It all comes down to your tastes and what you’re in the mood for…3.75 stars 🤓📚#OnWingsOfBlood @BriarBoleynAuthor#booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookaddict #reading #bookstagram #booktok #bookreview #booksof2025 #bookdragon #bookworm #lovebooks #bookrecs #booklovers #booklove #booknerd #bibliophile #passionforbooks #readingcommunity #bookaddict#romantasy #romance #adventure #fiction #action #darkromance #vampires #fae

This book drew me in almost immediately and I had to have stern words with myself to actually put it down to sleep.Medra had me instantly intrigued and started the story having previously held a lot of power but waking up seemingly mortal in an unknown world.Things picked up even more for me when the boo became dual POV and we get a glimpse into Blakes inner world...what do you mean he's a secret softie and lusting after (and in denial about this) Medra who still very much hates him!If you are a fan of fanfic Draco Malfoy I think you will love BlakeThings I loved:- Dramione vibes- Games/trials- TENSION- Animal sidekick (I need a Neville!)- sprinkling of spice- MINE/Touch her and dieI cant wait to see where this series goes after that ending! Best believe I am running to request the next book as well.

Omg this book is so good! Not the same of fourth wing but the same vibes which I love as I was scared it’d be a copy. The story line is actually really good and I really love all the characters they are built so well

Good read though predictive. The main characters: Medra - not very convincing to me, sometimes immature, Blake and others - much better

What a beautiful edition of the book, high quality and an amazing story! As a fan of Blood of Faes series, I was excited to continue Medra story but omg I love this world! My best read of 2025 and I can’t wait to continue the story!!