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Bloodwing Academy #3
The Wings That Bind
The night's chaos left us breathless. Now the real nightmare begins.
A second dragon has awoken–her heart tainted and her power commandeered by two ruthless highbloods whose cruelty knows no bounds.
My dearest friend teetered on the brink of death. A dragon saved her, but now she's tied to him in a way I can scarcely understand. What will this new bond do to the woman I've come to love as a sister?
And then there’s Blake. Once my relentless tormentor—he betrayed me again, nearly condemning Nyxaris to a cursed, stone-cold fate. Now something has shifted in him. His gray eyes hide a secret he’s desperate to keep.
I saved Blake’s life, despite everything. Yet now my every heartbeat questions where we go from here.
With Bloodwing Academy in turmoil and a new headmaster no one saw coming, only one thing is This is going to be one hell of a term.
At Bloodwing Academy, power comes with blood, and betrayal is as common as ambition. This dark fantasy series tackles mature themes. Readers are advised to consult the trigger warnings before embarking on this intense, morally gray/black journey through the realm of Sangratha!
A second dragon has awoken–her heart tainted and her power commandeered by two ruthless highbloods whose cruelty knows no bounds.
My dearest friend teetered on the brink of death. A dragon saved her, but now she's tied to him in a way I can scarcely understand. What will this new bond do to the woman I've come to love as a sister?
And then there’s Blake. Once my relentless tormentor—he betrayed me again, nearly condemning Nyxaris to a cursed, stone-cold fate. Now something has shifted in him. His gray eyes hide a secret he’s desperate to keep.
I saved Blake’s life, despite everything. Yet now my every heartbeat questions where we go from here.
With Bloodwing Academy in turmoil and a new headmaster no one saw coming, only one thing is This is going to be one hell of a term.
At Bloodwing Academy, power comes with blood, and betrayal is as common as ambition. This dark fantasy series tackles mature themes. Readers are advised to consult the trigger warnings before embarking on this intense, morally gray/black journey through the realm of Sangratha!
448 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2026
4802 people are currently reading
77697 people want to read
About the author
Briar Boleyn
12 books5,754 followers*** I am most active on Instagram!
Please Note: Goodreads won't let me follow any more people, but please feel free to add me as a friend! :) ***
Briar Boleyn is the New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today bestselling fantasy romance author of the Bloodwing Academy and the Blood of a Fae series. Briar once wrote scholarly papers on Dumbledore, Dragon Age, and King Arthur before finally realizing she could create her own worlds where all three might coexist–with significantly more kissing. After wandering through English literature departments at four universities across Canada, she took a detour to teach in the Arctic, where her students would sometimes run out of class to chase polar bears. When not raising fictional dragons from the dead, Briar enjoys reading all types of sci-fi and fantasy, cultivating an unhealthy Disney World obsession, and playing RPG video games. She has written fourteen historical romance novels as Fenna Edgewood.
Please Note: Goodreads won't let me follow any more people, but please feel free to add me as a friend! :) ***
Briar Boleyn is the New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today bestselling fantasy romance author of the Bloodwing Academy and the Blood of a Fae series. Briar once wrote scholarly papers on Dumbledore, Dragon Age, and King Arthur before finally realizing she could create her own worlds where all three might coexist–with significantly more kissing. After wandering through English literature departments at four universities across Canada, she took a detour to teach in the Arctic, where her students would sometimes run out of class to chase polar bears. When not raising fictional dragons from the dead, Briar enjoys reading all types of sci-fi and fantasy, cultivating an unhealthy Disney World obsession, and playing RPG video games. She has written fourteen historical romance novels as Fenna Edgewood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,076 reviews
January 21, 2026
Hey, so what the fuck was that?
The third installment in the Bloodwing Academy series dropped on Edelweiss, and I downloaded that bitch the very same day. Currently, it's unavailable to download, which leads me to believe there's more changes being made.
My history with this series is simple, I read the first two books, On Wings of Blood and The Bond That Burns back in May. I ate both up and gave them both four stars. Since May, the series has been traditionally republished in the US, with the second book rereleasing this Tuesday, November 10, 2025. I knew I wouldn't be able to put off The Wings That Bind until next year, so I apologize for reading this DRC 5-ish months before the release date. Forgive me?
However, I don't know if I'm somehow forgetting the first two books, which I don't do, or perhaps there is some editing that's been done with the new traditional releases, but even though I enjoyed the HELL out of this book, I felt like I didn't know these characters. Regan, for example, in an attempt not to spoil anything because this book doesn't come out until May, and I prioritize reviews that will enhance the reading experience, feels CRAZY different. Once again, this could be an editing issue. I read the independently published releases, and this book is also a proof copy, so things can and may have changed, but WHO IS SHE? She feels miles different than the character that I knew, but I am actually very excited to see where her story leads. Kage is someone I've LOVED from book one, in fact sometimes I was wondering what a romance with Medra could have looked like, and MMM MMM MMM I cannot wait for his plot to develop. Medra's best friend, Florence, becomes more important as the book grows, and even finds herself with a romantic development in this book that I am finding questionable LOL.
There was definitely an editor at hand here, because the writing is Boleyn's best so far. In the first two books, we are told it is a bully romance between Medra and Blake. Both of them detest each other and detest the way their hearts beat for each other the same. At the end of the second book, this HUGE moment happens that, while handled very well with Medra, I expected it to blow up in our faces in book three. However, that's not the case. In fact, these two have finally learned proper communication skills– at least when it came to that particular problem. In this book, the romance finally blossoms into something more than just a physical relationship, yet it still somehow feels like we're being held back from their potential.
In The Wings That Bind we now have more character POVs: Regan, Florence, Neville, Blake, Medra, and Kage. Boleyn opens up the scene to gather more towards the plot, and while I enjoyed the POVs, sometimes it began to feel like too little too late. With the introduction of new POVs, there were also more additions to worldbuilding, lore, and magic systems. We see snippets of what is to come in book two, but so much more gets built upon here that it also felt like we're doing too much. While I enjoy it and love the concept of unpredictability (is that a word?), the world we knew in book one with vampires and blightborn seems so far away from the present. Obviously, Boleyn knew what she was doing, and we can tell just from the covers what she’s been cooking up, so I can't say this book had concepts that came out of nowhere.
As for how readers will find this one, I don't know. On one hand, I think people will enjoy the romance and the smut as always. If you're in it for the politics, you'll enjoy this one too. But for plot development, I'm unsure. This doesn't really go anywhere in terms of Medra and Blake. Movements are made, and they are huge steps for them, but at the same time, I still feel stuck in quicksand. For the actual plot, things are once again happening, but for the bigger picture, I am still STUCK. It's a big book, clocking in at about 450 pages. It's not a filler book, but at the same time, reflecting on it, I feel as if we've only made a small chunk of progress, but HEY, don't take my word for it.
Now, I seem a bit negative, but I had a wonderful time. This book is so easy to get sucked into, and I found myself reading in very long sprints because I couldn't put it down. I LOVE the romance between Medra and Blake, and now that it's finally something more than just sex, UGH. Blake knows how to YEARN. I just wish they'd keep their word and be honest with each other for more than five seconds. Finally getting a Kage point of view excites me, and I'm glad the authors are opening the space for more POVs so we get more storylines. It is exciting, and hopefully, the other POVs carry their portions properly.
As for series ranking, I think this comes in second for me. On Wings of Blood was delicious, and this book is objectively their best work yet, but I ride or die for book one!
Thank you to the publisher, MIRA, for the DRC! This title is set to release on March 10, 2026. Apologies for the very early read, but I couldn't help myself :)
EDIT 01/21/2026: REMOVED "Briar Boleyn is a pen name for two authors, and from this book alone, 1 can see their growth as authors" as a comment made me aware of my mix-up, apologies!
Original review that got me all the likes lol
The release date getting pushed back to March 2026 is my villain origin story
UPDATE: just got an ARC for this, everyone SHUT UP WEFIJNS Dzbijxn
The third installment in the Bloodwing Academy series dropped on Edelweiss, and I downloaded that bitch the very same day. Currently, it's unavailable to download, which leads me to believe there's more changes being made.
My history with this series is simple, I read the first two books, On Wings of Blood and The Bond That Burns back in May. I ate both up and gave them both four stars. Since May, the series has been traditionally republished in the US, with the second book rereleasing this Tuesday, November 10, 2025. I knew I wouldn't be able to put off The Wings That Bind until next year, so I apologize for reading this DRC 5-ish months before the release date. Forgive me?
However, I don't know if I'm somehow forgetting the first two books, which I don't do, or perhaps there is some editing that's been done with the new traditional releases, but even though I enjoyed the HELL out of this book, I felt like I didn't know these characters. Regan, for example, in an attempt not to spoil anything because this book doesn't come out until May, and I prioritize reviews that will enhance the reading experience, feels CRAZY different. Once again, this could be an editing issue. I read the independently published releases, and this book is also a proof copy, so things can and may have changed, but WHO IS SHE? She feels miles different than the character that I knew, but I am actually very excited to see where her story leads. Kage is someone I've LOVED from book one, in fact sometimes I was wondering what a romance with Medra could have looked like, and MMM MMM MMM I cannot wait for his plot to develop. Medra's best friend, Florence, becomes more important as the book grows, and even finds herself with a romantic development in this book that I am finding questionable LOL.
There was definitely an editor at hand here, because the writing is Boleyn's best so far. In the first two books, we are told it is a bully romance between Medra and Blake. Both of them detest each other and detest the way their hearts beat for each other the same. At the end of the second book, this HUGE moment happens that, while handled very well with Medra, I expected it to blow up in our faces in book three. However, that's not the case. In fact, these two have finally learned proper communication skills– at least when it came to that particular problem. In this book, the romance finally blossoms into something more than just a physical relationship, yet it still somehow feels like we're being held back from their potential.
In The Wings That Bind we now have more character POVs: Regan, Florence, Neville, Blake, Medra, and Kage. Boleyn opens up the scene to gather more towards the plot, and while I enjoyed the POVs, sometimes it began to feel like too little too late. With the introduction of new POVs, there were also more additions to worldbuilding, lore, and magic systems. We see snippets of what is to come in book two, but so much more gets built upon here that it also felt like we're doing too much. While I enjoy it and love the concept of unpredictability (is that a word?), the world we knew in book one with vampires and blightborn seems so far away from the present. Obviously, Boleyn knew what she was doing, and we can tell just from the covers what she’s been cooking up, so I can't say this book had concepts that came out of nowhere.
As for how readers will find this one, I don't know. On one hand, I think people will enjoy the romance and the smut as always. If you're in it for the politics, you'll enjoy this one too. But for plot development, I'm unsure. This doesn't really go anywhere in terms of Medra and Blake. Movements are made, and they are huge steps for them, but at the same time, I still feel stuck in quicksand. For the actual plot, things are once again happening, but for the bigger picture, I am still STUCK. It's a big book, clocking in at about 450 pages. It's not a filler book, but at the same time, reflecting on it, I feel as if we've only made a small chunk of progress, but HEY, don't take my word for it.
Now, I seem a bit negative, but I had a wonderful time. This book is so easy to get sucked into, and I found myself reading in very long sprints because I couldn't put it down. I LOVE the romance between Medra and Blake, and now that it's finally something more than just sex, UGH. Blake knows how to YEARN. I just wish they'd keep their word and be honest with each other for more than five seconds. Finally getting a Kage point of view excites me, and I'm glad the authors are opening the space for more POVs so we get more storylines. It is exciting, and hopefully, the other POVs carry their portions properly.
As for series ranking, I think this comes in second for me. On Wings of Blood was delicious, and this book is objectively their best work yet, but I ride or die for book one!
Thank you to the publisher, MIRA, for the DRC! This title is set to release on March 10, 2026. Apologies for the very early read, but I couldn't help myself :)
EDIT 01/21/2026: REMOVED "Briar Boleyn is a pen name for two authors, and from this book alone, 1 can see their growth as authors" as a comment made me aware of my mix-up, apologies!
Original review that got me all the likes lol
The release date getting pushed back to March 2026 is my villain origin story
UPDATE: just got an ARC for this, everyone SHUT UP WEFIJNS Dzbijxn
Currently reading
March 15, 2026Edit: after 15 month’s of waiting… 😄 review soon!
This series… what was that? I devoured two parts in just a few days and want more! I really hope this series gets the recognition it deserves. As for me… I have no idea how I’m going to wait until May. It’s only the first books of the year, and it’s already at the top of my fav list!
This series… what was that? I devoured two parts in just a few days and want more! I really hope this series gets the recognition it deserves. As for me… I have no idea how I’m going to wait until May. It’s only the first books of the year, and it’s already at the top of my fav list!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“I feel like I’m burning alive when I’m with you. And the worst part is . . . I don’t care. I don’t want it to stop.”
I feel like Blake is probably the worst guy but, your honour, I love him so much.
Medra and Blake are amazing. Medra was strong and badass, which was no surprise, girl has been killing it. Blake is going through some changes (if you’ve read book 2, you know) and boy is losing his mind, poor thing. But also, yes! Like unhinged Blake from book 1&2 has nothing on this guy, lmao I love him, did I mention that?
“Love doesn’t begin to describe what I feel for you. It’s harsher. Darker. It’s consuming me. I told you to go because I knew if you took one more step, I might never be able to let you leave.”
4.25 stars
“You taste so sweet, Pendragon,” he whispered, nuzzling his mouth against me. “Do you like how I fuck you?”
Honestly, I just love those two so much (have I mentioned that??), and their spicy goodness (literally obsessed with the spice lmao). I would have liked an entire book 3 in their POV, please, so I can have more crumbs.
Neville, a king.
I am well, thank you for asking. The dragon sounded cross and slightly bored. I am perched at the top of the tower. Not that anyone has bothered to ask after my whereabouts.
Nyxaris, a little bitch that I love with all my heart. I SEE YOU, YOU SLUT.
Anyway, this was a slower book than the other two, but I feel it did a good job moving the story along in the right direction (right direction?? Lmao I’ve no idea what the direction is, but I like it). I’m excited for the next book because this had like cliffhangers from all POVs, which was…stressful, my little heart.
For some *negatives*
And because of these, I really struggled with the rating. I am still tempted to lower it to 4 but I still liked the writing and world-building/plot, so I dunno.
The main issue is that I’m reading these books for Medra and Blake (and Kage in book 1&2; book 3 Kage, I don’t know him, more later), who were our POVs before this book. And with the introduction of our new POVs, I realized this, but I hadn’t until now. But this one introduces not only Florence (who I loved in previous books) but Regan. Let’s talk about that bitch first.
I don’t like Regan. At all. I give zero fucks about her struggles or her life or anything. I want her dead. Nothing about her is likable. This book was no exception. WHY. WHY DO WE HAVE HER FUCKING POV??? The only redemption she deserves is death. sorrynotsorry. I can’t even. This made me rage so much throughout the book. I guess if you like her, or believe in her redemption, this won’t be an issue for you, so take this with a grain of salt lmao
KAGE. I LOVED THAT MAN BUT NOW I HATE HIM BECAUSE WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN HE LIKES HER? She is the worst, so Kage obviously has no common sense, and I’m not interested in him anymore. Fuck off, this whole situation. And the thing with Florence and Kage?? No. No no.
Okay. I can’t talk about Regan/Kage anymore, so Florence. I LOVED her in the last book but this one?? I really struggled with her POV. She was whiny and stereotypically weak. Even though she’s obviously not, which I can’t talk about without spoilers, so I, uh, won’t, but I just think hearing from her kinda ruined it. Ruined my little bubble. That being said, I am looking forward to more of her and Nyxrais lmao I’m just hoping to get a *little more* from her in the last one. Anyway, so I still love her, I was just annoyed with her for like 75% of the book.
All this to say, I still sped through this in like 2 days or something, so I still really liked it and will obviously continue to recommend this series!
Thank you so much to Briar for this eARC!
“With you, I’m always a starving man, Pendragon. My thirst is unquenchable.”
__________________________
Rtc closer to release date
*Sigh* GR get your shit together. I just had to switch all of this info from another edition instead of being able to combine them together.
_________________________
THE ARC HAS ARRIVED. I REPEAT THE ARC HAS ARRIVED AND I AM SCARED. AND DESPERATE. LIKE BLAKE.
I’m more obsessed about getting this book than Blake is obsessed with Medra, and that says something because he is gone for her. Please, have pity on me, Briar👁️🫦👁️
I feel like Blake is probably the worst guy but, your honour, I love him so much.
Medra and Blake are amazing. Medra was strong and badass, which was no surprise, girl has been killing it. Blake is going through some changes (if you’ve read book 2, you know) and boy is losing his mind, poor thing. But also, yes! Like unhinged Blake from book 1&2 has nothing on this guy, lmao I love him, did I mention that?
“Love doesn’t begin to describe what I feel for you. It’s harsher. Darker. It’s consuming me. I told you to go because I knew if you took one more step, I might never be able to let you leave.”
4.25 stars
“You taste so sweet, Pendragon,” he whispered, nuzzling his mouth against me. “Do you like how I fuck you?”
Honestly, I just love those two so much (have I mentioned that??), and their spicy goodness (literally obsessed with the spice lmao). I would have liked an entire book 3 in their POV, please, so I can have more crumbs.
Neville, a king.
I am well, thank you for asking. The dragon sounded cross and slightly bored. I am perched at the top of the tower. Not that anyone has bothered to ask after my whereabouts.
Nyxaris, a little bitch that I love with all my heart. I SEE YOU, YOU SLUT.
Anyway, this was a slower book than the other two, but I feel it did a good job moving the story along in the right direction (right direction?? Lmao I’ve no idea what the direction is, but I like it). I’m excited for the next book because this had like cliffhangers from all POVs, which was…stressful, my little heart.
For some *negatives*
And because of these, I really struggled with the rating. I am still tempted to lower it to 4 but I still liked the writing and world-building/plot, so I dunno.
The main issue is that I’m reading these books for Medra and Blake (and Kage in book 1&2; book 3 Kage, I don’t know him, more later), who were our POVs before this book. And with the introduction of our new POVs, I realized this, but I hadn’t until now. But this one introduces not only Florence (who I loved in previous books) but Regan. Let’s talk about that bitch first.
I don’t like Regan. At all. I give zero fucks about her struggles or her life or anything. I want her dead. Nothing about her is likable. This book was no exception. WHY. WHY DO WE HAVE HER FUCKING POV??? The only redemption she deserves is death. sorrynotsorry. I can’t even. This made me rage so much throughout the book. I guess if you like her, or believe in her redemption, this won’t be an issue for you, so take this with a grain of salt lmao
KAGE. I LOVED THAT MAN BUT NOW I HATE HIM BECAUSE WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN HE LIKES HER? She is the worst, so Kage obviously has no common sense, and I’m not interested in him anymore. Fuck off, this whole situation. And the thing with Florence and Kage?? No. No no.
Okay. I can’t talk about Regan/Kage anymore, so Florence. I LOVED her in the last book but this one?? I really struggled with her POV. She was whiny and stereotypically weak. Even though she’s obviously not, which I can’t talk about without spoilers, so I, uh, won’t, but I just think hearing from her kinda ruined it. Ruined my little bubble. That being said, I am looking forward to more of her and Nyxrais lmao I’m just hoping to get a *little more* from her in the last one. Anyway, so I still love her, I was just annoyed with her for like 75% of the book.
All this to say, I still sped through this in like 2 days or something, so I still really liked it and will obviously continue to recommend this series!
Thank you so much to Briar for this eARC!
“With you, I’m always a starving man, Pendragon. My thirst is unquenchable.”
__________________________
Rtc closer to release date
*Sigh* GR get your shit together. I just had to switch all of this info from another edition instead of being able to combine them together.
_________________________
THE ARC HAS ARRIVED. I REPEAT THE ARC HAS ARRIVED AND I AM SCARED. AND DESPERATE. LIKE BLAKE.
I’m more obsessed about getting this book than Blake is obsessed with Medra, and that says something because he is gone for her. Please, have pity on me, Briar👁️🫦👁️
March 11, 2026
Disappointed. What even is the plot at this point?
It changes every book and is never expanded on.
IM SO SICK OF THE ONGOING THING OF ONLY GIVING US GOOD CONTENT FROM 80-100%. The entire book could have been about what happened at the end, and then actually seeing how that plays out. Like why tf did we waste this entire book on bs when we could have watched the two work together. This really pisses me off.
I- just no.
Nobody asked for more Florence or any Regan content at all.
Like we didn’t pick this book up for her.
We also hate Regan so we don’t want or care about a redemption arc for her, a romance arc and we REALLY don’t want her pov.
Considering there is supposed to be only one more book, and there is still so much of the plot we don’t know about, I feel like adding in all those extra pov, that didn’t push the plot forward was kinda pointless.
We needed more background, more exposure so that the next book could take off. I feel like each book does the same thing of waiting until the very last 60-90% to actually give us any development, but then it’s over.
And the next book doesn’t pick up where the last left off, it pick ups in time sense yea, but we don’t get any more information, and everything is always just up in the air out until the very end.
Like please can we uh maybe get some plot focused on medra, Blake? Seems like they have kinda stopped being important to the plot… Why the hell did that plot switch from our fmc to fucking Florence? Like hello?
Like hey, we are in Blake’s pov.. can we be told how he lost his eye? What victors secret weapon was? Like why do we still not know any of that by 60%? (Still don’t find out until 86%)
I found myself wanting this over by 50%. Like I was tired, I was bored, I wanted action, discoveries, I wanted clues from book 1&2 to make sense finally in this book but we didn’t get that we got Florence and Regan.
The pov switched too much. Florence gets 11 chapters in the book which is 1 less than medra (our fmc) who gets 12 and actually 1 more than blake, our mmc, gets which is 10.
Not gonna lie tho, I did start to enjoy Florence pov when she got all sexy with her dragon 🔥 I’m so here for that relationship. 🫦🫦
I came here for medra , a fae princess dragon rider and her enemies to lovers story with Blake.. can you please just write Florence a spin off or something cause like i wouldn’t mind reading Florence and her dragon story but I’m not gonna read the next book if Blake and medra are background characters again in their own books. Like market her story somewhere else cause 442 pages of filler and Florence heavy content.. after pushing the original release date back a year is … rude
It changes every book and is never expanded on.
IM SO SICK OF THE ONGOING THING OF ONLY GIVING US GOOD CONTENT FROM 80-100%. The entire book could have been about what happened at the end, and then actually seeing how that plays out. Like why tf did we waste this entire book on bs when we could have watched the two work together. This really pisses me off.
I- just no.
Nobody asked for more Florence or any Regan content at all.
Like we didn’t pick this book up for her.
We also hate Regan so we don’t want or care about a redemption arc for her, a romance arc and we REALLY don’t want her pov.
Considering there is supposed to be only one more book, and there is still so much of the plot we don’t know about, I feel like adding in all those extra pov, that didn’t push the plot forward was kinda pointless.
We needed more background, more exposure so that the next book could take off. I feel like each book does the same thing of waiting until the very last 60-90% to actually give us any development, but then it’s over.
And the next book doesn’t pick up where the last left off, it pick ups in time sense yea, but we don’t get any more information, and everything is always just up in the air out until the very end.
Like please can we uh maybe get some plot focused on medra, Blake? Seems like they have kinda stopped being important to the plot… Why the hell did that plot switch from our fmc to fucking Florence? Like hello?
Like hey, we are in Blake’s pov.. can we be told how he lost his eye? What victors secret weapon was? Like why do we still not know any of that by 60%? (Still don’t find out until 86%)
I found myself wanting this over by 50%. Like I was tired, I was bored, I wanted action, discoveries, I wanted clues from book 1&2 to make sense finally in this book but we didn’t get that we got Florence and Regan.
The pov switched too much. Florence gets 11 chapters in the book which is 1 less than medra (our fmc) who gets 12 and actually 1 more than blake, our mmc, gets which is 10.
Not gonna lie tho, I did start to enjoy Florence pov when she got all sexy with her dragon 🔥 I’m so here for that relationship. 🫦🫦
I came here for medra , a fae princess dragon rider and her enemies to lovers story with Blake.. can you please just write Florence a spin off or something cause like i wouldn’t mind reading Florence and her dragon story but I’m not gonna read the next book if Blake and medra are background characters again in their own books. Like market her story somewhere else cause 442 pages of filler and Florence heavy content.. after pushing the original release date back a year is … rude
March 8, 2026
4.75☆ ok but… what was that?! briar, how dare you make me wait for book four after that ending!! this is hands down my favorite book of the series so far!!
after that absolutely unhinged cliffhanger in book two, I genuinely had no idea where the story was going to go next…but this? this was a wild ride in the best way. the twists, the tension, the emotional chaos… I was hooked the entire time.
I’ll be honest, I was pretty iffy about blake in books one and two. I didn’t fully trust him and wasn’t sure how I felt. but after this book? oh no. I get it now. I’m officially starting to love him (and I’m not mad about it hehe).
the only thing I found myself wishing for was more medra and blake scenes but I completely understand why we got multiple povs this time. it added so much depth to the world and definitely has my brain spinning with theories about where everything is headed. I have thoughts. and I cannot wait to see if I’m even remotely right.
book four cannot come soon enough. I am not okay…
ty briar for the e-arc! I’m thankful to be a part of the street team!!
after that absolutely unhinged cliffhanger in book two, I genuinely had no idea where the story was going to go next…but this? this was a wild ride in the best way. the twists, the tension, the emotional chaos… I was hooked the entire time.
I’ll be honest, I was pretty iffy about blake in books one and two. I didn’t fully trust him and wasn’t sure how I felt. but after this book? oh no. I get it now. I’m officially starting to love him (and I’m not mad about it hehe).
the only thing I found myself wishing for was more medra and blake scenes but I completely understand why we got multiple povs this time. it added so much depth to the world and definitely has my brain spinning with theories about where everything is headed. I have thoughts. and I cannot wait to see if I’m even remotely right.
book four cannot come soon enough. I am not okay…
ty briar for the e-arc! I’m thankful to be a part of the street team!!
March 12, 2026
October can't come fast enough for the 4th and final book in this series. Florence is amazing and is IMO the strongest FMC in this installment. Neville the loveable fluffkin is so much more than a cute pet. Everyone brings their characters to a higher level.
There are so many questions left to be answered:
- Will Blake be able to control Vorago?
- Will Medra ride Blake in the skies as well as the bedroom?
- Is Regan really dead or just severely injured? Can she be forgiven?
- Will Quinn and the rest of the Mortis house finally be taken care of?
- Will Florence find a cure for the plague?
- Did Florence and Neville save Nyxaris?
- Is Viktor really dead this time (I hope so)?
There are so many questions left to be answered:
- Will Blake be able to control Vorago?
- Will Medra ride Blake in the skies as well as the bedroom?
- Is Regan really dead or just severely injured? Can she be forgiven?
- Will Quinn and the rest of the Mortis house finally be taken care of?
- Will Florence find a cure for the plague?
- Did Florence and Neville save Nyxaris?
- Is Viktor really dead this time (I hope so)?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
anticipated-releases
April 11, 2025the cover of this book has OFFICIALLY been released!! it’s actually on the authors intsa, and not posted on gr yet… i love it though!! 🩶
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yall i am so excited for this book!! i can’t believe we have to wait until june though… 🥲🥲 i can’t wait to see this cover! 🥰🥰
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yall i am so excited for this book!! i can’t believe we have to wait until june though… 🥲🥲 i can’t wait to see this cover! 🥰🥰
March 9, 2026
The Wings That Bind (Bloodwing Academy, #3) by Briar Boleyn
Book Blurb: A second dragon has awoken–her heart tainted and her power commandeered by two ruthless highbloods whose cruelty knows no bounds.
My dearest friend teetered on the brink of death. A dragon saved her, but now she's tied to him in a way I can scarcely understand. What will this new bond do to the woman I've come to love as a sister?
And then there’s Blake. Once my relentless tormentor—he betrayed me again, nearly condemning Nyxaris to a cursed, stone-cold fate. Now something has shifted in him. His gray eyes hide a secret he’s desperate to keep.
Rating: *****
Feels: Excitement, Anticipation, Giddiness, Vengeful
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Dragons, Romance, Vampires, Dark Academia, Fantasy Romance
First published March 10, 2026: 448 pages
Welcome back to Bloodwing Academy !! Many late nights were spent enjoying the return to the academy, seeing my favorite couples and new surprises !!!! I did not think this story could get sooo much better and I was sooo completely wrong. I was giddy with enjoyment and literally could not put this book down. I am so glad I set aside dedicated time to enjoy this because I needed the time to dive headfirst into this story. Blake just keeps getting hotter with a side of I want one of these !!! Medra just keeps getting even more of a boss every book and I adore her !! The found family aspect of this book is really so well done and you end up rooting for so many of this group that I cant wait to see how their story all pans out. This book was sooo worth the read and we found out so much more about the lore of the world that I was enthralled. I just absolutely love this series and highly recommend it !!!
Favorite Quote: I wanted to stop holding everything in. Stop pretending. I didn't want to be calm anymore. I didn't want to be good. I wanted to burn.
This book has:
Strong FMC (Stabby)
Morally Gray MMC
Enemies to Lovers
Vampires vrs Humans
Touch her and die
Dark Academia
Found Family
Revenge Plot
Deep world building
Politics
Magic
**Bully Romance
Book Blurb: A second dragon has awoken–her heart tainted and her power commandeered by two ruthless highbloods whose cruelty knows no bounds.
My dearest friend teetered on the brink of death. A dragon saved her, but now she's tied to him in a way I can scarcely understand. What will this new bond do to the woman I've come to love as a sister?
And then there’s Blake. Once my relentless tormentor—he betrayed me again, nearly condemning Nyxaris to a cursed, stone-cold fate. Now something has shifted in him. His gray eyes hide a secret he’s desperate to keep.
Rating: *****
Feels: Excitement, Anticipation, Giddiness, Vengeful
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Dragons, Romance, Vampires, Dark Academia, Fantasy Romance
First published March 10, 2026: 448 pages
Welcome back to Bloodwing Academy !! Many late nights were spent enjoying the return to the academy, seeing my favorite couples and new surprises !!!! I did not think this story could get sooo much better and I was sooo completely wrong. I was giddy with enjoyment and literally could not put this book down. I am so glad I set aside dedicated time to enjoy this because I needed the time to dive headfirst into this story. Blake just keeps getting hotter with a side of I want one of these !!! Medra just keeps getting even more of a boss every book and I adore her !! The found family aspect of this book is really so well done and you end up rooting for so many of this group that I cant wait to see how their story all pans out. This book was sooo worth the read and we found out so much more about the lore of the world that I was enthralled. I just absolutely love this series and highly recommend it !!!
Favorite Quote: I wanted to stop holding everything in. Stop pretending. I didn't want to be calm anymore. I didn't want to be good. I wanted to burn.
This book has:
Strong FMC (Stabby)
Morally Gray MMC
Enemies to Lovers
Vampires vrs Humans
Touch her and die
Dark Academia
Found Family
Revenge Plot
Deep world building
Politics
Magic
**Bully Romance
Review of advance copy received from Auteur
Thank you Briar for the ARC. I feel so blessed to have been able to read this book before its official release!
Once again, Briar has brilliantly managed to stir up a whole cocktail of emotions with this story. My anxiety level has probably never been so high in my life... What a story! What emotions! And what tension! I will never tire of this academy and all its plots... and even less so of its characters, who are so endearing yet so raw. I can only recommend reading this third volume, which is so epic and is, so far, my favorite (even if the other two are not far behind... I have been a huge fan of this story since the very first pages).
Once again, Briar has brilliantly managed to stir up a whole cocktail of emotions with this story. My anxiety level has probably never been so high in my life... What a story! What emotions! And what tension! I will never tire of this academy and all its plots... and even less so of its characters, who are so endearing yet so raw. I can only recommend reading this third volume, which is so epic and is, so far, my favorite (even if the other two are not far behind... I have been a huge fan of this story since the very first pages).
Read
March 4, 2026Praying to the Bloodmaiden that I get my hands on this book soon 🙏🏻
The ending to TBTB has absolutely wrecked me 😭🔥🤌🏻
The ending to TBTB has absolutely wrecked me 😭🔥🤌🏻
March 12, 2026
This book HAD ME HOOKED! So much happened, so many new plots that I’m LOVING, and so many more questions! I loved that we were finally starting to learn more about the history and what happened with the dragons all those years ago. I was worried about new POVs but it felt super purposeful and moved the plots along. I’d say around like 50% I was getting so excited in the direction things were going. I did not see some things coming but actually loved that they were happening!(sorry about being vague, trying to make this spoiler free lol)
Blake!! My MAN! My heart hurts for him so much. He has truly grown so much from book 1. He still is struggling and I feel for him!! I love how his and Medras relationship has developed from book 1 to now. My only critique is that I wanted MORE of them! I get that having more POVs means less of Blake and Medra, but still I wanted more of them and maybe more moments where they grew emotionally.
I love Florence’s POV and I’m so curious what the heck is happening with her and Nyxaris… I’m a bit confused but I’m just going to see how it plays out hahaha. Neville, i love him! If anything happens to him I’ll sue. Regan. Color me surprised that I’m actually starting to like her? And kage, he has always been so interesting to me and I’m hoping his POV will be added in the last book.
NOW THE ENDING. Wtf??? I have so many questions. I’m honestly unsure how there will only be 1 book left. So much is going on and so much needs to be resolved. I’d just like to petition for more Blake and medra scenes in book 4, thanks!
Blake!! My MAN! My heart hurts for him so much. He has truly grown so much from book 1. He still is struggling and I feel for him!! I love how his and Medras relationship has developed from book 1 to now. My only critique is that I wanted MORE of them! I get that having more POVs means less of Blake and Medra, but still I wanted more of them and maybe more moments where they grew emotionally.
I love Florence’s POV and I’m so curious what the heck is happening with her and Nyxaris… I’m a bit confused but I’m just going to see how it plays out hahaha. Neville, i love him! If anything happens to him I’ll sue. Regan. Color me surprised that I’m actually starting to like her? And kage, he has always been so interesting to me and I’m hoping his POV will be added in the last book.
NOW THE ENDING. Wtf??? I have so many questions. I’m honestly unsure how there will only be 1 book left. So much is going on and so much needs to be resolved. I’d just like to petition for more Blake and medra scenes in book 4, thanks!
March 10, 2026
Okay… I need to vent. 😤
I was actually excited for this book. I discovered this series last fall and was curious to see how the story would continue after book two. But honestly? I’m still not a huge fan of this series. The first two books didn’t impress me much either. The only reason I keep picking up the next one is because the author somehow always ends the book in a way that makes me curious enough to continue.
I am struggling with the writing style. I just don’t enjoy it. The sentences are short, there are tons of one-word descriptions, and it makes the whole story feel choppy instead of flowing naturally.
The story itself… well…
Somehow the main characters felt like side characters in their own book. Like why??? Most of the story was about Florence. And on top of that we also got Reagan’s POV, which I honestly could not care less about. 🙄 I wanted Blake. I wanted Medra. Instead… I kept getting Florence chapters.
And Florence… oh my god. She annoyed me in this book. I’m also really not a fan of the whole idea that she has a dragon while Medra doesn’t. If I were Medra, I’d be jealous. Yes, it saved Florence’s life and I get why it happened, but I still don’t like the concept. And Florence spends half the book repeating how weak she is and how she can’t do anything. Girl… stop saying it and actually DO something!!! BUT I am curious about her connection with Nyxaris in the next book — that part is interesting.
The Medra and Blake storyline also felt a bit weird to me. Suddenly Medra wants him so badly, even though she spent most of the story hating him. Yes, they got closer at the end of book two, but I feel like we skipped some emotional development with Medra. I mean I did enjoy their moments together - they were finally together but something felt wrong for me.
And the spicy scenes… listen. They weren’t bad, but it felt like the author was like: “Fine, here’s a quick scene so the readers stop asking.” I wanted longer scenes. More tension. More detail. More lust and passion. Just more 🫤
Blake… my boy. You barely existed in this book. And the sad thing is that whenever he did appear, those chapters were actually interesting. I loved reading about him and the second dragon. Those were some of the only parts that actually held my attention.
Another thing that drove me insane: Medra constantly ignoring obvious signs that something was wrong with him. Every time something strange happened she just convinced herself she imagined it. And somehow she didn’t hear anything that night? Really? Okay…..
Also… can characters PLEASE just talk to each other for once? Without interruption. I swear every fantasy book lately is built entirely on characters avoiding basic conversations.
And don’t even get me started on the POV switching! 😡One chapter Medra. Then Reagan. Then two Florence chapters in a row. And when we finally got Medra or Blake, those chapters were shorter than Florence’s. It honestly drove. me. crazy. I was annoyed every time when I wanted Blake’s POV because I hadn’t read one in a while and the I got Reagan’s POV instead.
The ending was good though. I will give the author that. The endings are always strong and that’s the only reason I keep continuing this series. 🐉 I will probably read book four because at this point I want to see how everything ends.
But this book? Honestly nothing really happened for most of it. I didn’t go into this with high expectations since the previous books were already just “okay” — not terrible, but not amazing either. But this one actually managed to annoy me. 😐
I was actually excited for this book. I discovered this series last fall and was curious to see how the story would continue after book two. But honestly? I’m still not a huge fan of this series. The first two books didn’t impress me much either. The only reason I keep picking up the next one is because the author somehow always ends the book in a way that makes me curious enough to continue.
I am struggling with the writing style. I just don’t enjoy it. The sentences are short, there are tons of one-word descriptions, and it makes the whole story feel choppy instead of flowing naturally.
The story itself… well…
Somehow the main characters felt like side characters in their own book. Like why??? Most of the story was about Florence. And on top of that we also got Reagan’s POV, which I honestly could not care less about. 🙄 I wanted Blake. I wanted Medra. Instead… I kept getting Florence chapters.
And Florence… oh my god. She annoyed me in this book. I’m also really not a fan of the whole idea that she has a dragon while Medra doesn’t. If I were Medra, I’d be jealous. Yes, it saved Florence’s life and I get why it happened, but I still don’t like the concept. And Florence spends half the book repeating how weak she is and how she can’t do anything. Girl… stop saying it and actually DO something!!! BUT I am curious about her connection with Nyxaris in the next book — that part is interesting.
The Medra and Blake storyline also felt a bit weird to me. Suddenly Medra wants him so badly, even though she spent most of the story hating him. Yes, they got closer at the end of book two, but I feel like we skipped some emotional development with Medra. I mean I did enjoy their moments together - they were finally together but something felt wrong for me.
And the spicy scenes… listen. They weren’t bad, but it felt like the author was like: “Fine, here’s a quick scene so the readers stop asking.” I wanted longer scenes. More tension. More detail. More lust and passion. Just more 🫤
Blake… my boy. You barely existed in this book. And the sad thing is that whenever he did appear, those chapters were actually interesting. I loved reading about him and the second dragon. Those were some of the only parts that actually held my attention.
Another thing that drove me insane: Medra constantly ignoring obvious signs that something was wrong with him. Every time something strange happened she just convinced herself she imagined it. And somehow she didn’t hear anything that night? Really? Okay…..
Also… can characters PLEASE just talk to each other for once? Without interruption. I swear every fantasy book lately is built entirely on characters avoiding basic conversations.
And don’t even get me started on the POV switching! 😡One chapter Medra. Then Reagan. Then two Florence chapters in a row. And when we finally got Medra or Blake, those chapters were shorter than Florence’s. It honestly drove. me. crazy. I was annoyed every time when I wanted Blake’s POV because I hadn’t read one in a while and the I got Reagan’s POV instead.
The ending was good though. I will give the author that. The endings are always strong and that’s the only reason I keep continuing this series. 🐉 I will probably read book four because at this point I want to see how everything ends.
But this book? Honestly nothing really happened for most of it. I didn’t go into this with high expectations since the previous books were already just “okay” — not terrible, but not amazing either. But this one actually managed to annoy me. 😐
March 14, 2026
After all the wait we are finally back in Bloodwing academy 🐉 🔥
I'm not sure whether it was the time between book 2 and 3 or what but it was a bit of a rough start. The tone changed. All of a sudden Medra no longer was the main POV, we actually got 4 POVs. I feel like something was missing. Perhaps I wanted more of Medra and Blake together, but their love story kind got pushed to the background because, well, the villain is doing evil villain things and everyone has to deal with that. I did enjoy the book, but I think it felt a bit like a filler setting us up for other books. Which is fine but I wish I got a bit more.
I still enjoyed it, I loved Neville being the little fluffy rockstar 🦊
I'm also VERY curious as to what Florence will be doing with her dragon cause them dreams 👀🤫🔥
Please deliver us the next book 🙏🏼
I'm not sure whether it was the time between book 2 and 3 or what but it was a bit of a rough start. The tone changed. All of a sudden Medra no longer was the main POV, we actually got 4 POVs. I feel like something was missing. Perhaps I wanted more of Medra and Blake together, but their love story kind got pushed to the background because, well, the villain is doing evil villain things and everyone has to deal with that. I did enjoy the book, but I think it felt a bit like a filler setting us up for other books. Which is fine but I wish I got a bit more.
I still enjoyed it, I loved Neville being the little fluffy rockstar 🦊
I'm also VERY curious as to what Florence will be doing with her dragon cause them dreams 👀🤫🔥
Please deliver us the next book 🙏🏼
March 11, 2026
THE END OF THIS FUCKING BOOK!!!!!!!!!
what am i supposed to do with my life right now? i'm on a fucking limb and i have no idea how to crawl out of here.
what am i supposed to do with my life right now? i'm on a fucking limb and i have no idea how to crawl out of here.
March 12, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
I’m so sorry, but what the hell was that?
Minor plot point spoilers below.
.
I’m disappointed. I loved books 1 and 2 and was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy reading it nearly as much.
I’m so sorry, but what the hell was that?
Minor plot point spoilers below.
.
I’m disappointed. I loved books 1 and 2 and was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy reading it nearly as much.
February 16, 2026
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Wings That Bind is hands down my favorite book in the Bloodwing Academy series so far!!!
What I love most about this series is that it gives Harry Potter vibes but very much for adults and definitely with spice. The academic setting is so vivid and immersive, and it honestly just feels like such a fun world to escape into.
You can really tell how much Briar Boleyn’s writing has grown as the series has gone on. This third installment felt tighter, more confident, and SO emotionally engaging. It was descriptive without dragging, fast paced but still impactful, and had me feeling stressed, excited, and completely hooked the entire time.
The character development in this book was unreal. I truly never thought I would be rooting for or feeling bad for a character who was once very clearly a villain, yet here I was. The tension between Medra and Blake is still very much there and absolutely delicious. Our morally grey MMC might not be as morally grey as we originally thought, and I loved watching those layers slowly come undone. Florence once again completely stole my heart and is easily one of my favorite characters in the series.
And let’s not forget the dragons. The worldbuilding around them continues to expand in really creative ways, and I loved learning more while still being left with plenty of unanswered questions.
I am SO grateful to have received an ARC of this book, and I genuinely cannot believe I now have to wait for the next one….. The hold this series has on me is unreal, and I cannot WAIT to see what happens next!!!!
Thank you so much to Briar, Netgalley, and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Wings That Bind is hands down my favorite book in the Bloodwing Academy series so far!!!
What I love most about this series is that it gives Harry Potter vibes but very much for adults and definitely with spice. The academic setting is so vivid and immersive, and it honestly just feels like such a fun world to escape into.
You can really tell how much Briar Boleyn’s writing has grown as the series has gone on. This third installment felt tighter, more confident, and SO emotionally engaging. It was descriptive without dragging, fast paced but still impactful, and had me feeling stressed, excited, and completely hooked the entire time.
The character development in this book was unreal. I truly never thought I would be rooting for or feeling bad for a character who was once very clearly a villain, yet here I was. The tension between Medra and Blake is still very much there and absolutely delicious. Our morally grey MMC might not be as morally grey as we originally thought, and I loved watching those layers slowly come undone. Florence once again completely stole my heart and is easily one of my favorite characters in the series.
And let’s not forget the dragons. The worldbuilding around them continues to expand in really creative ways, and I loved learning more while still being left with plenty of unanswered questions.
I am SO grateful to have received an ARC of this book, and I genuinely cannot believe I now have to wait for the next one….. The hold this series has on me is unreal, and I cannot WAIT to see what happens next!!!!
Thank you so much to Briar, Netgalley, and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2026
The Wings that Bind – Briar Boyelyn
WOW. Just… WOW.
The third instalment in this series absolutely delivered. From the first chapter to the last, it was a wild ride filled with tension, twists, and moments that had me completely hooked. Briar Boyelyn somehow keeps raising the stakes with every book, and I could not put this one down.
And that ending… WHAT?! I’m genuinely speechless.
Now excuse me while I impatiently wait (and beg) for book four because I need to know what happens next.
WOW. Just… WOW.
The third instalment in this series absolutely delivered. From the first chapter to the last, it was a wild ride filled with tension, twists, and moments that had me completely hooked. Briar Boyelyn somehow keeps raising the stakes with every book, and I could not put this one down.
And that ending… WHAT?! I’m genuinely speechless.
Now excuse me while I impatiently wait (and beg) for book four because I need to know what happens next.
March 11, 2026
Not going to spoil anything.
But I knewwwww when she said “don’t throw your kindles too hard” I was going to fucking lose it.
And that I did.
I completely lost it.
I need the next book NOWWWWW.
I love Blake and Medra together. Literally my favorite.
The different POVs I actually enjoyed. The audio was spectacular and really helped follow everyone’s perspective easily.
When I tell you I read this one so fast. I mean my hands did not lose possession of it for hours.
Probably my second favorite of the entire series.
5/5⭐️
But I knewwwww when she said “don’t throw your kindles too hard” I was going to fucking lose it.
And that I did.
I completely lost it.
I need the next book NOWWWWW.
I love Blake and Medra together. Literally my favorite.
The different POVs I actually enjoyed. The audio was spectacular and really helped follow everyone’s perspective easily.
When I tell you I read this one so fast. I mean my hands did not lose possession of it for hours.
Probably my second favorite of the entire series.
5/5⭐️
February 1, 2026
500 stars. Best book in the series. I am emotionally unwell.
I have been waiting for The Wings That Bind for SO LONG, and I am officially screaming from the top of the last remaining stone dragon: THIS IS THE BEST ONE YET.
If you haven’t started this series yet — don’t walk, RUN. Read On Wings of Blood, then The Bond That Burns, and prepare yourself, because this installment delivers on everything the series has been building toward.
The bar was already incredibly high, but Briar Boelyn is the kind of author who delivers every. single. time. Her writing is immersive, powerful, and emotionally devastating in the best way. The worldbuilding, character arcs, and long-game plotting are masterfully done, and her ability to weave complex, painful, hopeful threads together is honestly unreal.
I’ll be honest — I struggled a little in the first few chapters, but that was entirely my own internal conflict. Certain character choices and shifts (iykyk) challenged me emotionally, even though they were clearly and expertly set up in Book 2. The writing itself never wavered, and once I settled in, I was completely locked in.
And those final chapters?
I was sobbing. Fully wrecked. I did not throw my Kindle (a miracle), but the emotional payoff — and the number of cliffhangers — should honestly come with a warning label.
This book shattered me, healed me, and left me desperately needing Book 4, answers, and possibly therapy. I have so many thoughts, so many theories, and no one to scream about them with.
Thank you to Briar Boelyn, NetGalley, and MIRA (HarperCollins) for the eARC. This series continues to level up, and The Wings That Bind is a stunning, unforgettable installment.
I have been waiting for The Wings That Bind for SO LONG, and I am officially screaming from the top of the last remaining stone dragon: THIS IS THE BEST ONE YET.
If you haven’t started this series yet — don’t walk, RUN. Read On Wings of Blood, then The Bond That Burns, and prepare yourself, because this installment delivers on everything the series has been building toward.
The bar was already incredibly high, but Briar Boelyn is the kind of author who delivers every. single. time. Her writing is immersive, powerful, and emotionally devastating in the best way. The worldbuilding, character arcs, and long-game plotting are masterfully done, and her ability to weave complex, painful, hopeful threads together is honestly unreal.
I’ll be honest — I struggled a little in the first few chapters, but that was entirely my own internal conflict. Certain character choices and shifts (iykyk) challenged me emotionally, even though they were clearly and expertly set up in Book 2. The writing itself never wavered, and once I settled in, I was completely locked in.
And those final chapters?
I was sobbing. Fully wrecked. I did not throw my Kindle (a miracle), but the emotional payoff — and the number of cliffhangers — should honestly come with a warning label.
This book shattered me, healed me, and left me desperately needing Book 4, answers, and possibly therapy. I have so many thoughts, so many theories, and no one to scream about them with.
Thank you to Briar Boelyn, NetGalley, and MIRA (HarperCollins) for the eARC. This series continues to level up, and The Wings That Bind is a stunning, unforgettable installment.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5⭐️ 2.5🌶
If I had to describe this book in four words, it would be “NO CHANCE TO BREATHE.”
I had my heart in my throat for most of the story, and the sweat stains on my shirt are no joke 🤣.
The story is told through multiple POVs, and it truly feels like every single chapter matters. Something significant happens in each one, making it impossible to put the book down.
And the twists… OH MY GOD!! I genuinely lost count of how many times I just stared at the pages thinking, “But what do you mean??” 🤯 The plot twists kept coming from every direction, completely catching me off guard again and again.
The multiple POVs were incredibly refreshing, and the romance? Absolutely top tier. I won’t spoil anything, but I honestly didn’t think it was possible to top the romance from the first two books. I was very, very wrong. One specific moment, in particular, has left me desperately curious about what’s coming next 🤭😉
The final 100 pages were pure torture in the best possible way. I was so stressed, almost afraid to finish chapters because I knew something awful was about to happen. And the final fight (surely I can say that much?) was EPIC! I could see everything so clearly, like a movie playing in my head.
And of course, the book ends with massive cliffhangers in every possible direction. I genuinely have no idea what I’m supposed to do with my life until the next book comes out… 😭
Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC ❤️.
If I had to describe this book in four words, it would be “NO CHANCE TO BREATHE.”
I had my heart in my throat for most of the story, and the sweat stains on my shirt are no joke 🤣.
The story is told through multiple POVs, and it truly feels like every single chapter matters. Something significant happens in each one, making it impossible to put the book down.
And the twists… OH MY GOD!! I genuinely lost count of how many times I just stared at the pages thinking, “But what do you mean??” 🤯 The plot twists kept coming from every direction, completely catching me off guard again and again.
The multiple POVs were incredibly refreshing, and the romance? Absolutely top tier. I won’t spoil anything, but I honestly didn’t think it was possible to top the romance from the first two books. I was very, very wrong. One specific moment, in particular, has left me desperately curious about what’s coming next 🤭😉
The final 100 pages were pure torture in the best possible way. I was so stressed, almost afraid to finish chapters because I knew something awful was about to happen. And the final fight (surely I can say that much?) was EPIC! I could see everything so clearly, like a movie playing in my head.
And of course, the book ends with massive cliffhangers in every possible direction. I genuinely have no idea what I’m supposed to do with my life until the next book comes out… 😭
Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC ❤️.
January 23, 2026
I have so many questions 😂😂 I feel like this book was sooo different to books 1 and 2! But in a way that refreshing and new and fun.
Things I liked
Getting a lot more first hand POV of Florence
Seeing a different side to Regan
The side plot about the plague
Blake’s character growth and development..turning into a full on softy
Communication with Medras mum..shes such a hoot I love her quirky personality and the fact she speaks in metaphors and riddles sometimes 😂
Things I didn’t like
Victor LOL
Sooooo can we get another book soon please 😂😂
Things I liked
Getting a lot more first hand POV of Florence
Seeing a different side to Regan
The side plot about the plague
Blake’s character growth and development..turning into a full on softy
Communication with Medras mum..shes such a hoot I love her quirky personality and the fact she speaks in metaphors and riddles sometimes 😂
Things I didn’t like
Victor LOL
Sooooo can we get another book soon please 😂😂
March 13, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ This book had so many moving parts which I absolutely love! The side romances brewing and one that I am truly excited to see blossom. The plot is getting thicker and it will be nice to see how this all plays out. All the characters have grown so much in this book which is always appreciated. I will say I was not a fan of the SJM references in this book I did kinda get the ick, but not too much.
February 26, 2026
OMG. Ok, first, thank you so much to Briar for the gifted eARC. I nearly peed my pants when I received it, and holy cannoli, this book delivered! I am on Briar’s Street Team, but all of these opinions are my own and I AM SO EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK.
This book picks right back up where book 2 ends and gives us even more context for what happened during the events of book 2. The Wings That Bind is absolutely non-stop - things start off as very intense and then just keep going. Without giving any spoilers, we get themes of elitism, abuse of power, bigotry, all while giving us the quintessential dark academia romantasy. Briar’s writing is flawless - you just slip right back into the world of Bloodwing Academy, which feels like coming home, but in this book, also significantly darker.
The friendships and relationships in book 3 are truly so beautiful. These characters go through A LOT in this book (which, after the first two books is really saying something), and everything we know and love (and hate) is challenged. The relationships are fraught and there are so many hurdles, but the way Briar weaves the story together, incorporating all the nuances of new information and an ever-shifting landscape, is masterful. I know a lot of this is vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything!
We get points of view from other characters in this book and the level of depth that adds to the story is incredible. There were perspectives I didn’t know I wanted and needed, but Briar knew we needed them, and she delivered. Briar is a phenomenal writer, and I think this book is the perfect case-in-point. Briar has a way of developing characters so thoroughly that we think our opinion about them is infallible. AND THEN. Then, Briar strikes. She is able to humanize and create empathy for characters that we didn’t think we could ever feel anything for at all. SNEAKY. This book forces you to challenge what you think you know about characters and the established perceptions you have about them.
This book feels a little more spicy than the previous books, and let me tell you I ATE IT UP. All of it.
Fair warning, you’re going to want to chuck your ereader/phone/physical book, however, you choose to read this, right across the room. Warn your loved ones of impending screams and gasps. The gasps I gusped….you wouldn’t believe. Brace yourselves, little dragons.
This book picks right back up where book 2 ends and gives us even more context for what happened during the events of book 2. The Wings That Bind is absolutely non-stop - things start off as very intense and then just keep going. Without giving any spoilers, we get themes of elitism, abuse of power, bigotry, all while giving us the quintessential dark academia romantasy. Briar’s writing is flawless - you just slip right back into the world of Bloodwing Academy, which feels like coming home, but in this book, also significantly darker.
The friendships and relationships in book 3 are truly so beautiful. These characters go through A LOT in this book (which, after the first two books is really saying something), and everything we know and love (and hate) is challenged. The relationships are fraught and there are so many hurdles, but the way Briar weaves the story together, incorporating all the nuances of new information and an ever-shifting landscape, is masterful. I know a lot of this is vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything!
We get points of view from other characters in this book and the level of depth that adds to the story is incredible. There were perspectives I didn’t know I wanted and needed, but Briar knew we needed them, and she delivered. Briar is a phenomenal writer, and I think this book is the perfect case-in-point. Briar has a way of developing characters so thoroughly that we think our opinion about them is infallible. AND THEN. Then, Briar strikes. She is able to humanize and create empathy for characters that we didn’t think we could ever feel anything for at all. SNEAKY. This book forces you to challenge what you think you know about characters and the established perceptions you have about them.
This book feels a little more spicy than the previous books, and let me tell you I ATE IT UP. All of it.
Fair warning, you’re going to want to chuck your ereader/phone/physical book, however, you choose to read this, right across the room. Warn your loved ones of impending screams and gasps. The gasps I gusped….you wouldn’t believe. Brace yourselves, little dragons.
March 13, 2026
Wthhhh this isn’t the final book????
Also, how did Florence become the main character? What a switch.
And I don’t get how quickly Tanaka and Reagan got together so fast?! Hate each other for two whole books then basically lovers at first sight? - love at first ‘wolf’ sighting?
Then there’s Medra and her m8 Blake the Magic dragon, uncle Vik the psychopath, Theo the cutie cousin and his loverrrrr Vaughn.
Shout out to fluffins you siren, and of course Nyx the baddie.
Also, how did Florence become the main character? What a switch.
And I don’t get how quickly Tanaka and Reagan got together so fast?! Hate each other for two whole books then basically lovers at first sight? - love at first ‘wolf’ sighting?
Then there’s Medra and her m8 Blake the Magic dragon, uncle Vik the psychopath, Theo the cutie cousin and his loverrrrr Vaughn.
Shout out to fluffins you siren, and of course Nyx the baddie.
March 11, 2026
Genuinely. What the fuck are we doing? The answer is too much. There is so much going on and yet it feels repetitive.
The characters are able to find the answers by guessing which feels super convenient. Another convenience is the herbs Florence is doing her thesis on just happens to be the herbs they need even though dragons have been gone for hundreds of years.
And also is she dream fucking her dragon? Is he a dragon when they’re banging because if so literally how since he’s supposed to be as big as a house and has literal talons.
I’m getting fired up I need to go touch grass.
The characters are able to find the answers by guessing which feels super convenient. Another convenience is the herbs Florence is doing her thesis on just happens to be the herbs they need even though dragons have been gone for hundreds of years.
And also is she dream fucking her dragon? Is he a dragon when they’re banging because if so literally how since he’s supposed to be as big as a house and has literal talons.
I’m getting fired up I need to go touch grass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2026
The last 25% of this book is five stars, but the rest, I would have to say three. A lot of the book feels like filler, and the main characters take a back seat, even though Blake’s storyline was really interesting. It does ramp up and answer a couple things, and I have faith the next book will be really good.
March 15, 2026
I LOVED ALL OF THE NEW POVs!!! The chemistry between Regan and Kage had me squealing!! Never did I imagine feeling bad for Regan after everything, but her redemption arc was everything! I loved the Florence and Nyxaris storyline so much! Blake and Medra continue to have my heart! I was dying with Blake’s storyline!! From flying for the first time to all the dark changes that happened and then Vorago!! I was at the edge of my seat the entire time! Neville gets cuter and more lovable with every book! I love all of these characters so much! I’m pretty attached at this point. This plot is EVERYTHING!!! I cannot wait for the next book to come out!!!!
February 27, 2026
“because she was it. she was everything. she was the line I could never, ever cross.”
—
oh wow this was wild. i will say this was my favorite book in the series so far! i loved seeing the side characters help advance the plot.
blake and medra’s development this book was everything. i’m so glad they are moving past the constant hating each other, and blake is definitely becoming a much better person. this made the ending so much more emotional and i feel so bad for him!!
there was a certain questionable scene in this… i think we all know why and where it’s leading to but the way my jaw was on the floor??? i was uncomfy lol.
kage and regan i loved. nothing like a good villain you hate to love. it gave me very malina in the plated prisoner series!
overall this was a great installment in the series! i can’t wait for book 4 because i have so many more questions than before.
thank you so much briar for this e-arc and allowing me to be a part of the street team! ♥︎
“𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍. 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏.”
—
oh wow this was wild. i will say this was my favorite book in the series so far! i loved seeing the side characters help advance the plot.
blake and medra’s development this book was everything. i’m so glad they are moving past the constant hating each other, and blake is definitely becoming a much better person. this made the ending so much more emotional and i feel so bad for him!!
there was a certain questionable scene in this… i think we all know why and where it’s leading to but the way my jaw was on the floor??? i was uncomfy lol.
kage and regan i loved. nothing like a good villain you hate to love. it gave me very malina in the plated prisoner series!
overall this was a great installment in the series! i can’t wait for book 4 because i have so many more questions than before.
thank you so much briar for this e-arc and allowing me to be a part of the street team! ♥︎
“𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍. 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏.”
December 23, 2024
I can't wait until May!!! 🩸🖤
March 2, 2026
⋆｡°✩ ᴀʀᴄ & ᴀʟᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ✩°｡⋆
ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ : The Wings That Bind
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ : Briar Boleyn @briarboleynauthor
ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ: E-Book & Audio Book
ʟᴇɴɢᴛʜ: 16H 48M
ᴘᴀɢᴇ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 442
ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 10th March 2026
Tropes:
⚬ Dark Academia
⚬ Vampires x Humans
⚬ Dragons & Dragon Riders
⚬ Slow Burn
⚬ Found Family
⚬ Multiple POV
I was truly honoured to be given an early copy of this book. Briar is my favourite authors and i love her books so so much! I could NOT put this book down. From start to finish this book was an emotional rollercoaster. WHICH I LOVED! I was so happy we got to see more side characters in book 3 and as always more dragon action was amazing!
Im book 3 we got more POVS, such as Florance, Regan, Kage and even little Neville!!!!! The wings that bind explored more into Nyxaris and Florence together. You was able to see more into the connection between Florence and Nyxaris after the ending of book 2. Trying not to spoil too much!
Plus you got an insight into Regan, who she is and what she is going through which i thought was very important to the story. It helps show you another side to her but also another side to the main villain, Viktor. Her story had me going from hating her, to feeling sorry and sheddign a tear for her in the next paragraph! You know a book is good when it moves you so emotionally on the scale! The scene that really sticks in my head is when she feels "repulsion" when seeing something she normally didn't care about, i was fist pumping the air like YES REGAN give us that 180!!!!
Plus with the extra POVs you can see how it is, in fact, more than just Blake and Medra who are against Viktor, that guy is really, awful!!!!
In this book you get thrown a little curvball towards the end which i think OMG IT WAS AMAZING and has not stopped living in my mind since.... I swear, i just need to know ALL the answers now! Briar did such a good job at dropping little clues here and there and when the penny is near dropping, all the puzzle pieces finally start fitting together!
The spice in this book?! OMFG looooooved it! I mean Blake with wings?!?! That was such a H O T chapter! More of this please?!?! Professor Drakharrow..... Swoon!!!
PLEASE tell me other people spotted the other romance?! I don't want to say and spoil but OMFG please let it happen!
The ending to this book was utter perfection! I cannot wait for book 4 and to see how Briar wraps it all up! Especially with the Veil and the Bloodmaiden! I need to know more! ASAP!
Chapter 11 - Page 134 - Medra
“No,” He whispered, as if he were reading my thoughts. “Not even that. Let me see all of you, even your darkness. Let me be the one who will never, ever look away. I treasure you, all of you. The darkness and the light”. He chuckled, “Maybe the darkness a little more”
Chapter 11 - Page 147 - Medra
“There are things in this world that are worth saving.” I said slowly. “But I’m not stupid enough to think I can save everyone. All I can do is try to help my friends.”
“You brought me hope. You’ve given me something to live for.” Blake said, softly tracing the lines of my shoulder blades.
Chapter 31 - Page 368 - Medra
We’re Avari. We’re Orphos. We’re Mortis. We’re Blightborn. We are every house you’ve tried to shatter. We’re the enemy you've always feared would someday appear at the front door.
ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ : The Wings That Bind
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ : Briar Boleyn @briarboleynauthor
ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ: E-Book & Audio Book
ʟᴇɴɢᴛʜ: 16H 48M
ᴘᴀɢᴇ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 442
ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 10th March 2026
Tropes:
⚬ Dark Academia
⚬ Vampires x Humans
⚬ Dragons & Dragon Riders
⚬ Slow Burn
⚬ Found Family
⚬ Multiple POV
I was truly honoured to be given an early copy of this book. Briar is my favourite authors and i love her books so so much! I could NOT put this book down. From start to finish this book was an emotional rollercoaster. WHICH I LOVED! I was so happy we got to see more side characters in book 3 and as always more dragon action was amazing!
Im book 3 we got more POVS, such as Florance, Regan, Kage and even little Neville!!!!! The wings that bind explored more into Nyxaris and Florence together. You was able to see more into the connection between Florence and Nyxaris after the ending of book 2. Trying not to spoil too much!
Plus you got an insight into Regan, who she is and what she is going through which i thought was very important to the story. It helps show you another side to her but also another side to the main villain, Viktor. Her story had me going from hating her, to feeling sorry and sheddign a tear for her in the next paragraph! You know a book is good when it moves you so emotionally on the scale! The scene that really sticks in my head is when she feels "repulsion" when seeing something she normally didn't care about, i was fist pumping the air like YES REGAN give us that 180!!!!
Plus with the extra POVs you can see how it is, in fact, more than just Blake and Medra who are against Viktor, that guy is really, awful!!!!
In this book you get thrown a little curvball towards the end which i think OMG IT WAS AMAZING and has not stopped living in my mind since.... I swear, i just need to know ALL the answers now! Briar did such a good job at dropping little clues here and there and when the penny is near dropping, all the puzzle pieces finally start fitting together!
The spice in this book?! OMFG looooooved it! I mean Blake with wings?!?! That was such a H O T chapter! More of this please?!?! Professor Drakharrow..... Swoon!!!
PLEASE tell me other people spotted the other romance?! I don't want to say and spoil but OMFG please let it happen!
The ending to this book was utter perfection! I cannot wait for book 4 and to see how Briar wraps it all up! Especially with the Veil and the Bloodmaiden! I need to know more! ASAP!
Chapter 11 - Page 134 - Medra
“No,” He whispered, as if he were reading my thoughts. “Not even that. Let me see all of you, even your darkness. Let me be the one who will never, ever look away. I treasure you, all of you. The darkness and the light”. He chuckled, “Maybe the darkness a little more”
Chapter 11 - Page 147 - Medra
“There are things in this world that are worth saving.” I said slowly. “But I’m not stupid enough to think I can save everyone. All I can do is try to help my friends.”
“You brought me hope. You’ve given me something to live for.” Blake said, softly tracing the lines of my shoulder blades.
Chapter 31 - Page 368 - Medra
We’re Avari. We’re Orphos. We’re Mortis. We’re Blightborn. We are every house you’ve tried to shatter. We’re the enemy you've always feared would someday appear at the front door.
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