Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of On Wings of Blood
There were moments in this book where I felt that rare “five-star spark,” the kind that makes you want to shove a copy into everyone’s hands and say read this now. Parts of it genuinely reminded me of the magic and wonder I felt reading Harry Potter... especially the vivid descriptions of food and hunger, which gave me that same nostalgic, immersive pull.
The male vampires stood out most to me. They were written with a clarity that made them easy to picture: not just brooding predators, but creatures who hiss and sneer like rodents or cats, all pompous arrogance and sharp edges. Our MMC, in particular, carried a haughty, easy-to-read swagger that worked well for the story. I loved that the author didn’t stick to the usual “hidden vampires in a human world” trope. Instead, they’re royalty... out in the open, woven into the structure of power itself. That setup added a fascinating moral layer: a system where harm can be inflicted under the guise of respect and loyalty. Seeing the inner workings of a vampire-ruled society felt fresh and engaging, a bit of uncharted worldbuilding that the author clearly enjoyed exploring.
That said, there were times the writing threw me off. I could see the author’s hand too clearly in some passages... like she was reaching for a thesaurus to make words sound impressive, or slipping into the trendy, conversational style common among younger writers. The tone wavered between immersive and distracting. At times it leaned into those overdone beats: I just met him, he could kill me with a thought, he hates me... but he’s so hot. It’s entertaining, yes, but also familiar.
Still, the entertainment value is undeniable. I love a good bully romance, and this one delivered on that front. The constant tension kept me hooked, even when I could already predict where the series is going. There’s also a hint of something bigger: the idea that tradition and authority don’t make a system just, and that true respect has to be earned through trust, not forced admiration under threat. That theme gave the story weight beneath the drama.
The FMC surprised me. Normally I roll my eyes at the haughty, princess-like heroine archetype, but her narcissistic edge and inflated ego actually worked in her favor. She felt different, even if some characters around her were more two-dimensional... Blake, for instance, often acted far less mature than his role demanded. Still, the cast as a whole held my interest, and I found myself wondering if the author is hinting at a reverse harem dynamic, given the focus on pairings with multiple men and one woman.
When I turned the final page, I knew I’d be continuing the series. For all its unevenness, On Wings of Blood is highly entertaining, and it stands tall alongside heavy-hitters like Harry Potter, Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, and even a touch of Vampire Academy. An easy four stars... sometimes brilliant, sometimes flawed, but always worth the ride.
Review of On Wings of Blood
There were moments in this book where I felt that rare “five-star spark,” the kind that makes you want to shove a copy into everyone’s hands and say read this now. Parts of it genuinely reminded me of the magic and wonder I felt reading Harry Potter... especially the vivid descriptions of food and hunger, which gave me that same nostalgic, immersive pull.
The male vampires stood out most to me. They were written with a clarity that made them easy to picture: not just brooding predators, but creatures who hiss and sneer like rodents or cats, all pompous arrogance and sharp edges. Our MMC, in particular, carried a haughty, easy-to-read swagger that worked well for the story. I loved that the author didn’t stick to the usual “hidden vampires in a human world” trope. Instead, they’re royalty... out in the open, woven into the structure of power itself. That setup added a fascinating moral layer: a system where harm can be inflicted under the guise of respect and loyalty. Seeing the inner workings of a vampire-ruled society felt fresh and engaging, a bit of uncharted worldbuilding that the author clearly enjoyed exploring.
That said, there were times the writing threw me off. I could see the author’s hand too clearly in some passages... like she was reaching for a thesaurus to make words sound impressive, or slipping into the trendy, conversational style common among younger writers. The tone wavered between immersive and distracting. At times it leaned into those overdone beats: I just met him, he could kill me with a thought, he hates me... but he’s so hot. It’s entertaining, yes, but also familiar.
Still, the entertainment value is undeniable. I love a good bully romance, and this one delivered on that front. The constant tension kept me hooked, even when I could already predict where the series is going. There’s also a hint of something bigger: the idea that tradition and authority don’t make a system just, and that true respect has to be earned through trust, not forced admiration under threat. That theme gave the story weight beneath the drama.
The FMC surprised me. Normally I roll my eyes at the haughty, princess-like heroine archetype, but her narcissistic edge and inflated ego actually worked in her favor. She felt different, even if some characters around her were more two-dimensional... Blake, for instance, often acted far less mature than his role demanded. Still, the cast as a whole held my interest, and I found myself wondering if the author is hinting at a reverse harem dynamic, given the focus on pairings with multiple men and one woman.
When I turned the final page, I knew I’d be continuing the series. For all its unevenness, On Wings of Blood is highly entertaining, and it stands tall alongside heavy-hitters like Harry Potter, Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, and even a touch of Vampire Academy. An easy four stars... sometimes brilliant, sometimes flawed, but always worth the ride.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I absolutely devoured this book. I was listening at every possible moment that I could, and I was furious every time I had to stop! It drew me in from the very first chapter, with so much mystery and intrigue starting almost immediately! The audiobook narration was perfect, with Medra having the perfect amount of defiance and Blake the perfect amount of arrogance.
I think the stand out for me in this book was the wonderful worldbuilding. We learn about this realm along with Medra, and that means nothing feels forced or exposition-y. I loved the unique twist of our FMC being a dragon rider but without a dragon, and the academic setting is always a winner. I can't wait to learn more about the history of this world in future books (hopefully!).
I love Medra so much. She is a badass, refusing to cower from the highbloods, despite being at a disadvantage to them. She is forced into a situation she doesn't want but she adapts quickly, whilst still fighting back at every opportunity. I also adored seeing the relationship build between her and Florence, such a highlight of this book. Blake is also a great MMC - arrogant, protective and stupidly handsome. I loved the back and forth he and Medra had. Honorary mention for Neville, who may be my favourite character of the book.
I am super excited to read the rest of The Bloodwing Academy series, as well as The Blood of the Fae and I just KNOW Briar Boleyn is going to become a favourite author to me!! Highly recommend the dual narration audiobooks, and I'll absolutely be continuing with them.
I think the stand out for me in this book was the wonderful worldbuilding. We learn about this realm along with Medra, and that means nothing feels forced or exposition-y. I loved the unique twist of our FMC being a dragon rider but without a dragon, and the academic setting is always a winner. I can't wait to learn more about the history of this world in future books (hopefully!).
I love Medra so much. She is a badass, refusing to cower from the highbloods, despite being at a disadvantage to them. She is forced into a situation she doesn't want but she adapts quickly, whilst still fighting back at every opportunity. I also adored seeing the relationship build between her and Florence, such a highlight of this book. Blake is also a great MMC - arrogant, protective and stupidly handsome. I loved the back and forth he and Medra had. Honorary mention for Neville, who may be my favourite character of the book.
I am super excited to read the rest of The Bloodwing Academy series, as well as The Blood of the Fae and I just KNOW Briar Boleyn is going to become a favourite author to me!! Highly recommend the dual narration audiobooks, and I'll absolutely be continuing with them.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes