Shield of Sparrows: An Enemies-to-Lovers Epic Romantasy

Shield of Sparrows seems to be the buzzy book of the season, and count me in on that buzz because I thought it was terrific! From the same publisher who brought us Fourth Wing, this is a fast-paced romantasy that excels at world building and character development but is surprisingly light on spice. There’s only one rather tame sex scene near the end of the book, so readers who would rather skip those parts will appreciate the emphasis on the slow burn romance and snarky banter between the two main characters. I had never heard of Devney Perry before, but she’s a skilled writer with over fifty published books (!), so I wasn’t that surprised at how well this book is written. Some of the fantasy elements and tropes are very familiar, but Perry has a lot of surprises in store as well. In the land of Calandra, vicious monsters roam free, threatening everyone who lives there. Odessa Cross is the “back up” princess of the Kingdom of Quentis, while her younger sister Mae has been trained from childhood to be married off to the Prince of Turah in a treaty called the Shield of Sparrows, a blood agreement that ensures peace among the five kingdoms. But on the day Prince Zavier Wolfe and his entourage arrive in Quentis to meet Mae and sign the treaty, everyone is shocked when the Guardian, Zavier’s sworn protector, proclaims that Odessa will become the Sparrow and marry Zavier instead of Mae. Unbeknownst to Odessa, their father has been training Mae to be a spy. Her job once she married and journeyed to Turah was to infiltrate the mysterious capital city of Allesaria and then kill the Guardian. Now Odessa must take over her sister’s duties, even though she has no experience at all. Forced to leave her home and marry a stranger, Odessa vows to make her father proud and find Allesaria. But her new husband refuses to talk to her, and the journey to Turah is filled with danger. Only the Guardian will have anything to do with her, but unfortunately he’s an insufferable man who has a knack for annoying her and—even worse—seems to know what she’s up to. Odessa knows she must find Allesaria and report back to her father, but can she actually kill the Guardian? As the days go by and the danger mounts, she finds her loyalties start to shift. Perry’s world is rich and complex, full of political intrigue, secrets and best of all, deadly monsters. The monsters were probably my favorite part of this book, and there’s even a bit of folklore and backstory as to how they came about. From the marroweels, sea creatures who attack and destroy ships, to the crux, huge winged beasts who migrate every generation and leave death and destruction in their wake, the monsters are beautiful but deadly, and the author doesn’t shy away from some very graphic attacks. Check out these beautiful artistic interpretations of the monsters at this Instagram post! Perry also has a knack for creating interesting and believable characters. Odessa is sort of a mess at first. She has no real skills, she can’t fight, and she is the worst spy ever. But she’s loyal to her father and her kingdom and is determined to do something right for a change, so she grits her teeth and learns how to fight when the Guardian insists on training her (the training scenes were awesome!). She keeps notes in her journal about the possible location of Allesaria, going so far as to draw a secret—and illegal—map as bits of information fall into her lap. The Guardian (whose real name we learn later in the book) is your typical angry, gruff and hot as hell warrior who is hiding a huge secret, and I absolutely loved their very slow burn romance, although it isn’t the focus of the story. Odessa’s headstrong actions land them in extreme danger more than once, but these events eventually bring the two together. Expect lots of inner dialog as Odessa comments on the Guardian’s extreme good looks and bulging muscles, but honestly, the threat of monster attacks kept the romance in check so it didn’t overwhelm the story. Shield of Sparrows is full of thrilling action, including a dangerous sea crossing when Odessa leaves her home for Turah. Perry keeps her story interesting by having the characters move around a lot, instead of staying in just one location. The scenes when the monsters attack are really well done, and even the Guardian struggles at times to kill them, even though he has, let’s just say extra special abilities (which you’ll learn about when you read the book). The characters are constantly in danger, first from the monsters and later from the threat of an invading army. Of course, the more I came to know and love them, the more worried I became, and there are some deaths that hit me hard, I won’t lie. There’s one big twist about a third of the way through the book, one I didn’t see coming! And wow, the ending, while not strictly a cliffhanger, was another huge twist, one the author drops hints for, but you’ll have to read carefully to pick them up. Perry sets things up for the next book in the series (on the way but yet to be officially announced), and I couldn’t be more eager to find out what happens next. I haven’t gone too deep into the plot to avoid spoilers, but trust me when I say there’s a lot more to the story than what I’ve revealed here. Lots of fun and beautifully crafted, Shield of Sparrows is a must read for fantasy fans.

This is a great read worthy of the praise it is getting. It uses several romance tropes that aren't to my personal taste, but ypur mileage may vary. Odessa, our MC, fun, snarky, and dealing with multiple levels of issues to make her an endearing character. However, she is generally largely passive but quite capable when she actually tries. Unfortunately, the narrative puts her against obstacles that she has no chance with. At least she's not a damsel. The ending (no specific spoilers) is an action packed, brutal cliffhanger. It is well written and tense, but to some extent feels like it invalidates most of the characters we've been following the whole story. In retrospect, Odessa is so focused on the Guardian that many other characters feel flat. Thier reveals/heel turns while not unreasonable in terms of the world, blindside us and Odessa too often. She is so far over her head in the midst of secrets and conspiracies (e.g. everyone but her seems to know where she is and knows her secrets even when she tries to hide them) that it makes one wonder if any of her actions mattered in the overall plot. Spice was good, but a slow burn. The Guardian twists were obvious, but mostly out of the result of being the MMC. Will check out the rest of the series.

This romantasy follows a young woman thrust into a world of political intrigue, dangerous alliances, ancient threats, and unexpected destiny. As kingdoms collide and loyalties are tested, she finds herself navigating a life she never asked for while discovering strengths she never knew she possessed. Filled with adventure, tension, danger, and a slow-burning romance, the story blends fantasy and emotion in a way that keeps the pages turning. ⸻ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I absolutely loved this book!! As soon as I finished it, I just sat there thinking, Why did I wait so long to read this?! After discovering romantasy this year, I’ve quickly learned that when a book combines adventure, tension, emotional depth, and a romance that keeps me completely invested, I am all in—and Shield of Sparrows delivered all of that and more. The story hooked me from the very beginning. The world-building was detailed enough to feel immersive without ever becoming overwhelming, and I found myself completely invested in the characters and what would happen to them. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, something would happen that pulled me even deeper into the book. One of my favorite things was the balance between the fantasy elements and the relationships. Neither overshadowed the other. The adventure, danger, and political intrigue kept the story moving, while the character development and romance gave it so much heart. And can we talk about the tension for a minute? 😳❤️ Devney Perry does it again!! She knows exactly how to write chemistry that keeps you turning pages long past when you should have gone to bed. The emotional connection felt earned, the banter was fantastic, and I found myself completely invested in every interaction. What continues to amaze me is that just a few months ago I was convinced fantasy and romantasy weren’t genres I would enjoy. Now I’m over here devouring dragons, magic, kingdoms, dangerous heroes, and slow-burn romance like I’ve been reading them my entire life 😂 This book was exciting, emotional, addictive, and impossible to put down. Devney Perry absolutely knocked it out of the park, and I will starting book 2 TODAY!🖤✨📚

I read this book when it first released last spring, but I decided to give it a reread to prep for the sequel, Rites of the Starling, which just came out on April 7th. It absolutely held up the second time around, and I actually caught a few more details that made some of those big end-of-book revelations hit even harder. Odessa has spent her life in the shadows of her sister, Mae, and their father, King Cross of the Quentis empire. As the dutiful yet eccentric princess, she was never destined for the throne—until an unexpected twist of fate finds her on a ship bound for Turah, the most formidable empire on Calandra, due to its size and secrets. Now betrothed to Zaviar, the Prince of Turah, Odessa is escorted to her new home by the legendary Guardian, the continent’s most powerful warrior. Venturing into a land largely unknown to the people of Quentis, she carries a secret mission from her father: locate the location of the secluded capital city, Allesaria, and uncover the source of the Guardian's power. In exchange, the King promises to bring peace to the entire continent and dissolve her unwanted engagement. Odessa is far from the seasoned warrior Mae is, and a crown was never part of her plan. Yet, as she traverses uncharted lands, she begins to realize that the stakes are much higher than her own survival and mission. A dark force is stirring in the northern reaches of Calandra—an ancient evil that threatens to shatter a world already teetering on the brink of political collapse. While Deveny has written numerous romance series, Shield of Sparrows is a masterful breakout into the romantasy genre. She has crafted a world and magic system that strikes the perfect balance: it’s unique enough to feel fresh, yet straightforward enough that it never overshadows character development or world building. Unlike other romantasy series where an overly complex magic system can pull you out of the story, Deveny keeps the focus on the emotions of the characters and the whimsical, immersive world she’s built. The pacing in this book is spot on—it gives the reader exactly enough information to keep them hooked while leaving you desperate for more. Fair warning: it ends on a cliffhanger! I finished it and immediately dove into the sequel, Rites of the Starling, because I simply wasn't ready to leave this world behind.

I wasn't prepared to love Shield of Sparrows as much as I did, but it slowly hooked me until I couldn't put it down. Odessa begins as the spare princess, a young woman without much of a destiny in her kingdom while her younger sister is destined to be the Chosen One, The Sparrow. Everything changes when the Prince of Allesaria invokes an age-old clause that allows him to choose his bride, and suddenly Odessa becomes the chosen one—completely unprepared for what lies ahead and given no time to adjust to her new reality. With the Crux looming and death drawing near, Odessa sets out determined to honor the task her father has given her. However, life has a way of changing even the most carefully laid plans, and watching Odessa's journey unfold was one of the highlights of the story. I guessed one of the major twists early on, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment or excitement for where the plot was headed. The relationship between Odessa and her prince felt fated from the start, yet the growing threat of the infected monsters and the approaching migration constantly pulled them onto different paths. The balance between romance, duty, and survival kept me invested throughout. Odessa's growth as a character was compelling, and by the end I was completely invested in her future. And then there was that ending. It absolutely rocked me—the betrayal, the shock, and the way everything unfolded left me reeling. Just when I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, it delivered an emotional punch that left me desperate for more. The final chapters heightened every feeling I'd built up throughout the book and made the wait for the sequel feel almost unbearable. I can't wait to see where Odessa's story goes next. Shield of Sparrows was an engrossing fantasy filled with memorable characters, high stakes, romance, and twists that kept me turning pages long into the night. Bring on the next book!

It was time for a new book. I decided on Sheild of Sparrows by Devney Perry. After I grabbed my new book, I brewed a cup of tea, grabbed a cozy blanket, and snuggled into my favorite chair to getlost in the story. I am not a fan of spoilers so I will try to summarize and express my thoughts on the book without giving anything away. Summary: Odessa has spent her life being the dutiful spare princess. Even though Odessa is the kings first born, her little sister is the princess the kingdom prefers and who is betrothed to Zavier, the prince of the wild and mysterious kingdom of Turah. Odessa’s world is turned upside down when Prince Zavier arrives in her father’s kingdom and invokes an ancient law and demands Odessa’s hand in marriage instead of her sisters. Suddenly Odessa is thrusted into a new kingdom where she must survive or be eaten by deadlymonsters, wade through lies and dangerous mysteries that seem to be everywhere and grapple with her growing feelings toward the infamous monster hunter. What I Liked: The Monsters- I really enjoyed reading about the different types of monsters. Each monster was different and had unique characteristics that made it formidable and dangerous. The MMC/ Ransom- I enjoyed Ransoms personality and character. I liked that he had humor even though he was this infamous grizzled hunter. I also enjoyed reading and learning about the mystery surrounding Ransom. The Ending – The ending had me sitting up straight and white knuckling the book. The end is full of fast paced action and chaos. What I didn’t Like: The FMC’s naivety and helplessness – I understand that Odessa was raised as a somewhat pampered princess and was supposed to fill a specific roll. I also understand that by being thrust into a new and dangerous kingdom, Odessa will struggle at first. However, I felt her helplessness and naivety went on for far to long. For while it was chapter after chapter of Odessa training with Ransom and others and never improving and running from monsters and/or having to be saved all the time. The character development and world building – There was so much character development and world building in this book. Personally, as a reader I like a healthy mixture of character development, world building and plot flow. This book is mostly world building and character development, but the author sprinkled in just enoughaction and mystery to keep the plot moving forward (just at a slower pace than I prefer). My Overall Thoughts: I truly enjoyed reading Sheild of Sparrows. I honestly devoured this book and finished it within a few days of starting it. As mentioned earlier in my review, I wasn’t a fan of all the world building and character development. However, after finishing the book I understand the need for it. Shield of Sparrows is the first book in this series, and I understand the first book is what is going to set the scene and tone for the readers. Sheild of Sparrows is part of an unfinished series and leaves off on an exciting cliff hanger. I cannot wait for the next book to be released. Based on the ending of Shield of sparrows, I think the rest of this series is going full of action-packed monster adventures, mystery solving and epic romances. • The above review is based on my personal thoughts and opinions. If a reader is interested in this book, I encourage them to read it for themselves and form their own opinions. The world would be a boring place if we all had the same thoughts and opinions.

I have so many thoughts about this book that I don’t even know where to begin. The author crafted these characters so beautifully. I honestly didn’t expect to love Odessa as much as I did because I’m usually not a fan of an FMC who starts off seemingly weak. But the strength she displays throughout this story is nothing short of incredible. Watching her grow into herself was so rewarding, and I completely fell in love with her wit, resilience, and unwavering determination. She’s officially earned a spot in my top ten favorite FMCs of all time. The Guardian is now my fourth favorite MMC ever. The angst? Immaculate. The yearning, the heated glances, the stolen touches, the slow burn, the forbidden romance—it was everything I could have wanted. He’s brooding, arrogant, protective, and completely no-nonsense, yet every little crack in his armor made me love him even more. I couldn’t get enough of this man. The plot is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Every twist caught me off guard, the battles were vividly written, and the pacing was absolutely flawless. There wasn’t a single point where I felt the story dragged or lost momentum. I genuinely have zero notes. This is an easy five-star read and an absolute must-read for me. I’ll be diving straight into book two because there is no way I’m leaving this world anytime soon.

Shield of Sparrows was exactly the kind of fantasy I love—the kind where I stop noticing the words on the page and feel like I’m actually inside the story. The world-building was fantastic. With multiple kingdoms, towns, landscapes, and so many different places to explore, everything was described well enough that I could picture it without ever feeling like I had to work to understand the world. I also loved how much this book kept me guessing. There were several times I was so sure I knew what was going to happen, only for the story to go somewhere else entirely. I even went back and reread parts because I needed to make sure I had actually read what I thought I did! And even when I correctly suspected something, the story sometimes made me doubt myself before finally revealing the truth. But Odessa and Ransom were probably my favorite part. I loved the tug-of-war between them and watching them dance around each other as Odessa slowly fell in love. Their relationship developed throughout the story before the spice ever really entered the picture, and that balance was perfect for me. By the time the romance progressed, it felt completely natural and earned. I became attached to so many of these characters—Odessa, Ransom, Evie, Faze—and caught myself smiling, rolling my eyes, worrying about them, and occasionally wanting to knock some sense into somebody. 😂 This was a completely immersive, cinematic read that kept me engaged from beginning to end. And that ending? I need more Odessa and Ransom immediately. ⭐ 5/5 — and I’m going straight into the next book.

From the very beginning, Shield of Sparrows pulled me in completely. It’s the kind of book that immediately captures your attention and refuses to let go. I read all 634 pages in under 48 hours, fitting chapters into every spare moment I had. The story centres on two princesses with very different relationships to royal life. Odessa, the eldest, has spent much of her life in the background, while her younger sister Mae embraces the expectations placed upon her, including a marriage meant to uphold a magical treaty. When events unfold differently than planned, the story takes a sharp and compelling turn that sets the tone for everything that follows. One of the book’s greatest strengths is how approachable its fantasy elements are. While the world includes magic, kingdoms, and mythical creatures, the writing never feels overwhelming or overly complex. The presence of familiar, everyday details helps ground the story and makes the world easy to sink into, even for readers who don’t typically gravitate toward epic fantasy. The pacing is fast and engaging, filled with twists that kept me eager to turn the page. There are layered character dynamics and subtle hints throughout that suggest more is happening beneath the surface than is immediately clear. Even when you think you’ve figured something out, the story continues to challenge those assumptions. The monsters add both tension and intrigue, ranging from unsettling to unexpectedly memorable, and they play an important role in shaping the atmosphere and stakes of the story. Romance develops slowly, blending enemies-to-lovers tension with an arranged-marriage storyline and a strong sense of danger. The balance between plot, character development, and world-building is well executed, making the story feel both immersive and accessible. The ending leaves plenty of unanswered questions and a strong desire for the next book in the series. Highly recommended for fans of romantasy and for readers who are curious about fantasy romance but want something engaging without being overly dense. ⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5

If you’re anything like me and deep in your Romantasy Book Era, then this book is an absolute must-read! Not only does it have the most stunning sprayed edges, but it’s hands down one of the best novels I’ve read all year. From the very first page, you’re pulled into a world brimming with monsters, myths, magic—and a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance that will leave you swooning long after the final chapter. Odessa Cross, once the forgotten spare princess, is suddenly thrust into an arranged marriage and a perilous journey that forces her to navigate not just dangerous lands, but her own identity. With rich world-building, deeply layered characters, and twists I never saw coming, this book is a masterclass in fantasy romance. I’m already counting down the days until the next one!!

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry ⭐ Rating: 5 stars 📄 Page Count: ~650 pages 🌶️ Spice Verdict: High-stakes romantasy, monsters & political intrigue (not ultra graphic, but emotionally intense) Oh my heart! I loved this book. From the moment I picked it up. I needed something that would make me feel and this delivered. The world of Quentis and Turah, monsters that feel real and deadly, betrayals, political schemes — it’s a full ride. What I adored most: Odessa is not your stereotypical whiny heroine. She’s strong, growing, courageous. She might start overlooked, but she doesn’t stay that way. And the romance? The Guardian? yes, THE Guardian! Caught me from his very first scene. I loved him from the moment he appeared. No spoilers, but you’ll know. He’s brooding, layered, dangerous, and yet kind in his own way. Then there’s Zavier, mysterious and intense, but the Guardian stole my heart. The pacing? Brilliant. The book is big, but I never once felt bored. Every chapter had something happening. Big reveals, small reveals, training, monsters, missions — it never drags. And then the ending? Wow. So many twists I didn’t see coming. But because the story never stalled, the payoff was epic. If you’re looking for a romantasy that gives you magic, monsters, a heroine you can root for, and a hero (or two) you’ll fall for — this is it. I truly don’t understand who wouldn’t like this, because for me it ticked all the boxes: original monsters, mesmerizing world-building, characters I cared about. I super recommend it. Tropes: 💍 Arranged/forced marriage 🏹 Enemies-to-lovers 🏰 High fantasy kingdom politics 👑 Overlooked princess / self-discovery 👹 Monster hunt / fantasy world-building 🔄 Twisty plot with constant surprises

I read it viciously. The rhythm is slow, but the journey is enjoyable. The universe the writer created is just so full of details, it's amazing. The plot is - CINEMA.

From the time I started reading until I got to the end, this book held me in its grasp. It's the sort of book you stay up all night reading and hole up with until you finish working through the intricate plot, gasping for breath. I've really enjoyed the other things Devney Perry has written, but this one. Wow. The depth of her writing, the characters.... A masterpiece! I'm so happy I get to start on the second book straightaway!