A review by kavuyi
On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn

adventurous slow-paced

4.5

Tropes: 

Magic School (Hogwarts meets House of the Dragon meets Zodiac Academy meets Fourth Wing)

Vampires 

Blood rituals 

Magic

Forced Engagement/betrothal

Slow burn 

Vampire MMC with Draco Malfoy Vibes

Steamy Enemies to Lovers

Dark academia 

Dragons

Found Family

Dual POV

Bully Romance

Trials 

Dark fantasy romance 

Waking up in a strange land, getting engaged to a vampire  (who is already engaged) and being enrolled in an academy was in a days work for Medra Pendragon. 

What could be worse than dying a horrible death, finding out you might have rider dragon blood, having your betrothed’s first partner hate you, having a half ghost in your head, being treated like nothing on the food chain and your betrothed despising your very existence? 

Well… trying to get killed again? This time, by vampires. Or going through trials to be an official consort? Or having your blood sucking betrothed want you? 

Loved this. 

I loved Medra’s stubbornness. In her own way, she is ruthless. I don’t like bullies, but Blake was a bully who was protecting her. These two were so good at being enemies. I didn’t even think one would fall for the other. There is the tension, of course; and the yearning in it but when you think this is it two pages later, the moment is ruined. And this is a slow burn. The burn burnt.

There was so much going on in the book from learning how to fight, finding friends, fighting enemies and getting to know Blake better. 

The last chapters were a lot. The cliffhanger!!!!! What next???

I am looking forward to book 2 just to see what happens next.