On Wings of Blood: Bloodwing Academy, Book 1

Brooksie

If Draco was a Vampire

"Medra Pendragon is tossed into a new realm without a stitch on her back and is found by a rude and arrogant vampire who unceremoniously throws her at his uncle who is the leader of a powerful vampire society. The uncle believes she is the last of the dragon riders, who apparently died out long ago, however, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But with her arrival, the vampires take that as a sign that the dragons may come back and she needed to be attached to the vampire leader at Bloodwing Academy (his nephew who dragged her there) and she was enrolled with zero choice in the matter. The highbloods run everything and blightborn like her were just blood in their veins, pawns in their games. Although, her blood was different. Blake Drakharrow, her new betrothed is cold, entitled, and unbelievably gorgeous. He tormented Medra the second they met (although he did save her so, that is one small thing to be thankful for). The big issue with their relationship is he acts like he owns her as if she is his property and that she should be grateful for it. Medra has a history of not following the rules, and where she came from she wasn't new to fighting. Blake underestimates her and will find out the hard way how stubborn she can be. Bloodwing isn't just a school, it's a live-in danger zone where Highblood vampires are constantly fighting with one another for power. The weak die and the humans are just there for food and entertainment unless they can prove their worth. Even then, the blightborn are constantly reminded that their life can end in an instant. Deadly competitions, lies that could get her executed, a jealous betrothed, and vampires that seem to want to see what she tastes like... will she survive this school? The powerplay between the houses are fierce. She needs to do well, adapt to this new realm and learn their ways to try and stay alive. And Blake her betrothed? He's as aggravating as he is beautiful and will be just as much of a challenge as this school. His uncle thinks they can control and use her but they don't know who she is. They will find out in time once things are awakened. On Wings of Blood is a dark academia fantasy romance with a cocky bully villain with Draco Malfoy energy who falls first and through trial and error gets the girl (sort of). Lots of tension, banter, and a dangerous blend of court and school set in an intricately crafted world with unique vampire and dragon lore. This fantasy had all the things I love. Sexy brooding MMC, a strong-willed FMC who doesn't put up with anyone's crap but is smart enough to know how to stay alive. A slow-burn romance with some spice. A new world with different creatures that take a slightly different approach to how vampires live and their hierarchy. Bloodwing Academy may have crossover characters from the world of Blood of a Fae but can be read completely independently. (I read that series first so I know where the FMC came from and her lineage. If you're a fan of original mythology, unique world-building, and character-driven romantasy, Check out this new series! Read the trigger warning, please. ["

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December 8, 2024 Verified Purchase

Megan

All the Vibes

"When Medra wakes up in a strange place, she has no idea how much danger she is actually in. She quickly finds out when she is taken to House Drakharrow, where she is labeled a lowborn dragon rider and offered up to the highest bidder. Ultimately, she ends up with Prince Blake Drakharrow and is told she will become his consort, an arrangement she is definitely not happy about. However, she is left with very few options since the Drakharrows are highborn vampires. Medra agrees to go along with the arrangement as she is enrolled at Bloodwing Academy and forced to study a culture and people she is not even sure she likes. She remembers who she is and where she came from, but she cannot share that information with anyone. She has to keep everything hidden just in case. Even worse, she has never heard of the place where she is now basically being held prisoner. Still, she quickly finds friends while learning more about dragons, her future husband, and her mother’s lost soul. First off, this book is a little slower because it is clearly setting up a larger series, so I would not judge it based only on the pacing. It is still well written and feels like the start of something really exciting. I loved the vibes. Dragons, vampires, and an academy setting all together was such a fun combination. I knew within the first ten chapters that this series was going to be good. Blake is also a very interesting male main character. He is not exactly likable at first, but he gives me early Rhysand vibes. He seems harsh, but at the same time he is protecting Medra in his own way. I really feel like he is going to turn a corner in book two and everyone is going to fall in love with him. I am really excited to see where this series goes and how everything develops with the dragons. ["

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May 18, 2026 Verified Purchase

ruts

An average slow-warm romance.

"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. ["

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April 17, 2025 Verified Purchase

Joleen Erb

Seductive, Vicious, and Full of Bite

"This book surprised me—in all the best ways. I came for the blood-soaked fae and morally gray lovers, but I stayed for the razor-sharp tension, deliciously dark worldbuilding, and that underlying ache that hums through every chapter. The heroine? Obsessed. She’s not here to be likable—she’s here to survive, seduce, and slay. There’s a cool elegance to her, like she’s always two steps ahead, even when everything is falling apart. And the love interest? Whew. That man is a walking red flag wrapped in shadow and silk, and I ate up every interaction like it was forbidden fruit. There’s a slow-burning cruelty to the romance—just enough softness beneath the brutality to make you care, but never enough to let you breathe easy. The tension is so well done. The power dynamics, the mind games, the magnetic pull they both hate to admit—it’s intoxicating. Why not five stars? A couple pacing dips pulled me out of the moment, and I wanted slightly more clarity on some plot threads toward the end. But honestly? Those are minor things compared to how deeply I was pulled into this world. Final take: On Wings of Blood is seductive and savage in all the right ways. If you like your fae untrustworthy, your heroines feral, and your romance toeing the line between love and ruin—this one’s for you. ["

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March 3, 2026 Verified Purchase

Chelsea

On Wings of Blood

"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. ["

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January 10, 2025 Verified Purchase