On Wings of Blood Paperback – October 31, 2024

On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn is a wild, addictive ride that plunges you straight into the shadowy halls of Bloodwing Academy—a world filled with deadly secrets, simmering rivalries, and enough brooding vampire drama to make your heart race. It’s the perfect blend of dark academia, fantasy, and slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension that leaves you hanging on every page.Medra Pendragon is exactly the kind of protagonist you want leading a story like this—tough, clever, and stubborn as hell. Being a half-fae dragon rider with no dragons left is a harsh enough fate, but throw in being captured and dumped into a school run by vampire elitists who view her as little more than walking nourishment? That’s next-level brutal. Yet, Medra doesn’t cower—she fights back, and you can’t help but root for her as she navigates the twisted politics of Bloodwing Academy.Then there’s Blake Drakharrow. The cold, arrogant highblood heir who takes one look at Medra and decides to make her life a living nightmare—until fate intervenes and shackles them together in an ancient betrothal. Classic. But Blake isn’t just a cookie-cutter bad boy; there’s an undercurrent of something deeper in his tormenting ways. The slow unraveling of his motivations adds a layer of intrigue and makes their dynamic much more than the typical “hate at first sight.” There’s a real emotional push-and-pull as they’re forced into each other’s orbits. The sparks are undeniable—even if they’re mostly flung at each other like grenades.The world-building in this book is rich and immersive, with the academy itself serving as a battleground where allegiances are fragile, competitions are life-or-death, and every smile hides a dagger. The history of the dragons and the myths surrounding Medra’s bloodline add a compelling sense of mystery and destiny. And while there’s a lot of familiar "dark-academy-for-outcasts" territory, Briar Boleyn keeps it fresh by weaving in the dragon lore and giving Medra real stakes beyond just surviving her classmates’ venom.Now, let’s address the spice—or rather, the lack of it. If you’re expecting pages upon pages of steamy moments, this isn’t that book. The chemistry is there, absolutely—it’s sizzling just under the surface, all longing glances and biting banter—but it’s more of a slow-burn setup, clearly saving its fire for future installments. And honestly? It works. Instead of rushing into anything too quickly, the tension builds like a pressure cooker, making you crave the inevitable explosion. The emotional beats are strong enough to carry the story without needing constant heat.If there’s any slight critique, it’s that some of the "mean elite academy student" tropes can feel a little expected. There’s always the gaggle of rich vampires who sneer and try to get Medra killed, and while they serve their purpose, they don’t stand out quite as much as Medra and Blake do. That said, the stakes and pacing keep things moving so swiftly that it’s easy to overlook.At 4.5 stars, On Wings of Blood is an incredibly satisfying read that lays a strong foundation for an epic series. With its fierce heroine, tantalizing slow-burn romance, and pulse-pounding competitions, it’s everything you want from a dark, magical academy fantasy—and then some. Sure, the spice level is low for now, but you can feel the promise of future fire. If you love strong-willed heroines, complicated anti-heroes, and stories where survival means embracing the power inside you, this is one worth sinking your teeth into.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!Dark academia, vampires, strong FMC, mystery, romance, games and trials and interesting friendships.. sign me up.I absolutely liked the premises and thought behind the plot of the book. The characters felt multi layerd and had a clear own character which I enjoyd. It was nice to have some trials in there as well as the devision between vampires and non vampires. I perhaps didn't really catch on what makes her so special - physically different but perhaps that comes more in book 2? The pacing in the book was nice and enjoyable which definitely helped me to stay engaged with the story! The authors writing style is also very enjoyable.As much as I absolutely enjoyed this story I will say that I feel like it didn't reach its full potential. It was a bit confusing time to time and i didn't feel like many questions were answered throughout the story just leaving me to question the plot. But I am excited to see what book 2 has to bring!

If you like YA, this book will probably be a hit for you.If you came looking for an adult academy romance with vampires and dragons, then you may end up frustrated too.The story idea is solid, and the world-building is strong—vampires, dragons, academy setting—all great. Unfortunately, it just didn’t live up to the hype for me.I don’t understand the obsession people seem to have with this book. It’s a decent read, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not this amazingly written, mind-blowing, angsty, slow-burn romance to rival the ages as people are touting it to be.It’s... okay.This book is the latest viral “it” recommendation, and the way it’s been talked about, I genuinely expected to be blown away.It’s average.The slow burn is more of a slow warm.Angst? Where?Swoon? Who?Banter? Must’ve missed it.Dark fantasy? Huh?Are the dragons in the room with us??The tropes aren’t troping.The FMC is likable, but her flaws are frustrating. She’s just another heroine who can’t be bothered to tap into the power we’re told she has—should have—but doesn’t.The MMC is mid. He’s a bully with a heart, but he’s being touted as morally gray? Meh.Also—we KNOW his full name. We knew it after his first introduction. We definitely knew it after the second. Then we read it again. And again. Seventy times, to be exact. SEVENTY. TIMES.I think if I were a teen, this might’ve slapped. But I’m not. So it didn’t.Maybe I’m the problem here, but if you’re an adult reader who loves a true angsty slow burn with an eventual hookup as a reward, you might walk away just as underwhelmed as I did.Still, it’s a decent book and worth a read.