On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn — A Darkly Addictive Romantasy Review
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Rating: 5/5
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, forced betrothal, political engagement, dark academia, slow burn romance, vampires & dragon riders, powerful FMC, royal intrigue, magical academy, found family (in the making), high stakes power struggles
On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn is the kind of book that sinks its claws into you from the very first page and refuses to let go. It’s immersive, moody, emotionally sharp, and layered with just enough mystery that you keep telling yourself one more page until suddenly it’s 2 a.m. and you’re staring at a cliffhanger with your heart in pieces.
If you love romantasy with dark academia vibes, reluctant bonds, political power plays, and a slow, slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance, this book deserves a prime spot on your TBR.
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Book Overview
Medra Pendragon awakens to find herself inexplicably transported into a brutal new world ruled by highblood vampires. She doesn’t belong here and that alone makes her dangerous. But Medra isn’t just any outsider. She carries dragon rider blood, a legacy thought to be extinct, and that makes her the last of the dragon riders.
In this vampire-controlled hierarchy, dragon riders are considered a lower class, yet they’re also incredibly powerful. That contradiction makes Medra a highly coveted pawn among the four ruling houses of highblood vampires. All of them want her. All of them could use her. Except House Drakharrow simply found her first.
Before Medra can even fully understand the world she’s been thrust into, she’s betrothed, against her will, to Prince Blake Drakharrow. He’s cold, controlled, devastatingly powerful, and just as unhappy about the arrangement as she is. Their forced engagement is political, strategic, and deeply inconvenient for two people who would rather distrust each other than cooperate.
As if that weren’t enough, Medra is also enrolled at Bloodwing Academy, a prestigious and punishing institution designed to train the elite of this world. The academy setting immediately evokes that same sense of danger and discovery readers loved in Fourth Wing, particularly Violet’s unexpected journey through Basgiath College, but Bloodwing Academy has a darker, more gothic edge that feels uniquely its own.
A World Built on Blood, Power, and Secrets
One of the most compelling aspects of On Wings of Blood is the sheer depth of its worldbuilding. From the rigid social hierarchy to the unspoken rules governing highblood politics, Briar Boleyn crafts a world that feels ancient, cruel, and lived-in.
Medra’s status as both outsider and rare asset creates constant tension. She is underestimated, objectified, and maneuvered into positions of power she never asked for. Every interaction feels layered with ulterior motives, especially when it comes to the ruling houses.
There’s also a persistent mystery surrounding how Medra ended up in this world at all. That question hums beneath every chapter, adding an undercurrent of unease and anticipation. The glimpses we get of her past and lineage suggest a much bigger story waiting to be uncovered.
Honestly? I would love a prequel entirely devoted to Medra’s backstory. There’s something deeply fascinating there, something that feels intentionally withheld. Whether that story comes later in the series or as a standalone prequel, I’ll be reading it the moment it exists.
Bloodwing Academy: Dark Academia Done Right
Bloodwing Academy is one of those settings that instantly clicks if you love dark academia with a dangerous twist. This isn’t just a school, it’s a proving ground. Survival is not guaranteed. Weakness is exploited. Power is everything.
The academy setting amplifies Medra’s isolation and vulnerability, while also giving her space to discover her own strength. Every lesson, every challenge, and every interaction feels designed to either sharpen her or break her.
Fans of Fourth Wing will absolutely recognize the appeal here, but On Wings of Blood never feels like a copy. Where Fourth Wing leans into militarized training and adrenaline, Bloodwing Academy thrives on psychological tension, political maneuvering, and quiet threats.
The Romance: A Deliciously Painful Slow Burn
Let’s talk about Prince Blake Drakharrow. Cold. Controlled. Bound by duty. And very much not thrilled about being forced into an engagement with a dragon rider he doesn’t trust.
The romance in On Wings of Blood is a slow, slow burn. Its the kind that simmers beneath every sharp exchange and stolen glance. There’s no rushed intimacy. What we get instead is distrust, resentment, reluctant cooperation, and moments where vulnerability slips through the cracks.
Medra and Blake are constantly at odds, but the tension between them is undeniable. Their dynamic is shaped by power imbalances, political obligation, and their own internal conflicts. Watching them circle each other, testing boundaries, questioning motives, and slowly shifting perspectives is deeply satisfying.
This is enemies-to-lovers done with patience and emotional payoff in mind.
Spice Rating: 3/5
While this book is firmly a slow burn, the tension is delicious. The spice builds gradually, with far more emphasis on emotional connection and unresolved desire than explicit scenes. Readers who appreciate anticipation over instant gratification will be very happy here.
Characters That Feel Alive
Medra is a standout protagonist, resilient without being invincible, guarded without being closed off. She’s constantly navigating a world that wants to use her, define her, or control her. Watching her wrestle with her identity, her power, and her fear makes her journey feel deeply personal.
Then there’s Viktor Drakharrow, Blake’s uncle, whose motives remain murky and unsettling. Every scene involving Viktor carries a sense of unease, as though he’s always five steps ahead of everyone else. His role in the larger political game adds another layer of intrigue that I’m desperate to see explored further.
The supporting cast is equally vibrant, each character adding texture and complexity to the world without overwhelming the story.
The Ending (No Spoilers, I Promise)
This book ends on a cliffhanger. Not the mildly inconvenient kind. The emotionally devastating, heart-in-your-throat kind.
It broke my heart. And yet, somehow, it also left me hopeful. The kind of hope that only works when you’re already reaching for the next book before you’ve even finished processing the last page. Needless to say, I went straight into book two.
Overall Rating
⭐ 5/5 Stars
On Wings of Blood is richly written, emotionally compelling, and impossible to put down. While there are surface-level similarities to Fourth Wing, Briar Boleyn’s story stands firmly on its own thanks to its layered mystery, darker tone, and deeply compelling characters.
If you’re looking for a romantasy that will break your heart, frustrate you in the best way, and leave you desperate for more, this book is absolutely worth the hype.
About the Author: Briar Boleyn
Briar Boleyn is a fantasy romance author known for crafting immersive worlds filled with magic, danger, and emotionally charged relationships. Her stories often feature powerful heroines, morally complex characters, and slow-burn romances that reward patient readers.
With On Wings of Blood, Boleyn delivers a darkly captivating start to a series that blends gothic academia, paranormal intrigue, and heart-wrenching romance—cementing her as a must-read author for romantasy lovers.
Have you read On Wings of Blood? Or is it on your TBR? Let me know—I need someone to emotionally process that ending with.
