Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry: A Spoiler Free Review
Perry's jump from genre romance to romantasy nails the landing
The dog days of summer are here! Hopefully you are well into your 2025 TBR pile. Although Mercury Retrograde has slowed down my forward momentum, I do prefer to savor my favorite stories instead of gulping them down in one go.
But if you feel differently—you do you💖
Then again, Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry just made me a liar. As someone that lives with several auto-immune diseases, sleep is very precious to me. There are few books that keep me up past my bedtime, but this title can be counted among those that left me sleep deprived more than once.
In other words, 5-star read. The synopsis on Goodreads and even this review—due to its spoiler free status—doesn’t do a great job of conveying how this story hooks you from the start and doesn’t let go.
FMC Princess Odessa Cross of Quentis lives an unremarkable life. She has taken to diving from cliffs to feel something—anything—amid her dull days. As the literal red-headed stepchild, she is overlooked in favor of her younger sister, Mae, the ‘Sparrow’ chosen to marry the prince from the monster-infested northern kingdom of Turah.
Odessa’s world is turned upside-down when Prince Zavier decides to marry her instead—three hours prior to the ceremony. Each of her Father’s objections to the match is dismissed by the Prince via his spokesman and guard, the irritating man referred to only as the Guardian. Odessa finds herself married to a prince she doesn’t know, and worse, isn’t interested in knowing her. In the hours following the ceremony, her father demands that Odessa become a spy and uncover the hidden location of the secret capital city of Turah.
Has she had any training whatsoever to help her accomplish this task? Of course not. Also, not a great way to spend one’s wedding night.
What follows is a wild journey in which Odessa is overwhelmed by the newness of everything. Her sheltered life becomes a liability in a land rife with monsters and political intrigue. She asks more questions than Poppy in the Blood and Ash series, which will either endear her to you or drive you insane.
The thing that kept me so intrigued was the fact that I too kept asking questions, mainly, “What the hell is happening?” followed by “What IS this book about?” That, and the fact that a scene could be brought to a screeching halt with the arrival of ravenous, blood-thirsty monsters continued to keep me fully invested.
As soon as I thought I had the politics and/or the love story figured out, I was proven wrong. Rinse. Repeat. What a WILD ride. I loved it!!!
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Romance: 🌶️🌶️ 2 out of 5 hot peppers.
👰🤵 Arranged marriage
🔗 Forced proximity
🔥 Slow burn
⚠ Love triangle (sorta)
Worldbuilding/Fantasy Elements:
🏰 Original Secondary Fantasy World
🏞 Treehouse village
👹Monsters
⚔ Broody Monster slayer
👸 Hapless princess
🤴 Aloof crown prince
Trigger Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, dismemberment, and death
The Romance: Is There a Love Triangle?
The romance plot in this book hits all the beats, but in unexpected ways. The author had me questioning my own sanity for many pages. I was certain I knew what was happening, but a few pages down the line, I wasn’t. Another question I kept asking was, “This does have a romance, right?” After all, the inciting incident results in Odessa’s marriage.
Then . . . the girl who was ignored by her father is now the woman ignored by her husband.
This might be hard for some to read because Odessa accepts this treatment as par for the course, perhaps because she is accustomed to being pushed aside for the sake of her sister’s education as the Sparrow. Or the fact she remained engaged to a man that clearly did not like her, but wanted brownie points from her dad.
This doesn’t mean Odessa lacks emotion. Her ire is piqued by this unfair, crappy situation. Said ire is directed squarely at the mysterious, hated Guardian, renown monster slayer and murderer of Odessa’s former fiancée’s brother. The Guardian is annoyed that he is forced to train her in both weapons and politics, all the while trying to keep her safe. But he is as ruggedly handsome as her princely husband, and as they banter, Odessa cannot help but notice the guy is hot, especially when swinging a sword.
Odessa could have also come across as pathetic, but she decides to make the most of her terrible situation. If she is to become a spy, she will get the info her Father requested and prove her worth to the crown of Quentis. If she is to become a warrior, she will train with her all her heart and prove her mettle to the Guardian.
As she does, both men in her life take notice of the changes within her.
The Worldbuilding: A Land of Monsters and Mayhem
Perry did a great job creating a fantasy world in which humans are not the apex predator. No one seems to have access to magic beyond a few tricks performed by the priestly elite known as the Voster, keeping the stakes sky high. One of their tasks is to ensure that the Shield of Sparrows treaty is enforced by all five countries on the continent.
Why is this treaty so vital?
The monsters.
There are terrifying, human eating monsters everywhere. In the seas. On the land. And worst of all, every twenty-five years or so, there is a migration of dragon-like creatures called the Crux that descend from the northern skies and lay waste to the human realms.
The existence of the monters shapes the political landscape of Calandra. The humans must work together in order to ensure their survival. Nonetheless, Turah is intent on keeping its secrets.
My Favorite Romantic Quote
“Tell me you want to leave, and I’ll take you back to Roslo myself.” He was giving me the choice. All I had to do was say yes. “No,” I whispered. His eyes drifted closed, his forehead dropping to mine. “Good. I have no desire to live in Quentis.” “Wh-what?” I leaned away. “You are mine.” His hands dove into my hair, fingers threading through my curls. “Even if we are kingdoms apart, you are mine. But I’d rather not be a kingdom apart.”
Final Thoughts:
Why oh why isn’t there a pub date for book two? The final chapters were a wild ride with reveals and drama glore, which left me with yet another question. “WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?”
You know, this makes me think of the Celaena, Dorian, Chaol love triangle, LOL. But yeah unexpected romance plots ftw!