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

The book came in good condition, but it has a slight dent on the cover. Since I purchased it at a promotional price, it’s okay.

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!!

Perfecto estado y la historia es súper adictiva u fácil de leer sin embargo no me sentí enganchada con el romance pero la construcción del mundo considero que es muy completa y no puedo esperar a leer el segundo por que ese cliffhanger me dejó en shock

After I saw a fable book club reading this book that has been hyped up by so many people already, I got my hands on the sprayed edges edition and after finishing another book club book I dived right into this one and oh my god it did not disappoint. The book I’m talking about is “Shield of Sparrows” by Devney Perry which has been all over booktok / bookstagram but has been absent in local bookstores near my city and I don’t get why. This story, it’s gold. I can’t even properly review this book because it was so long and yet way to short and there was so much happening, I’m not going to spoil this amazing story, so it’ll be a bit of a story outline review. Odessa Cross, firstborn Daughter of the Gold king of Quentis. Always overlooked, always overshadowed and never in the inner circle. Which gave her a lot of leeway in the castle to just roam around. But not today, today she has little time to roam because some guards from Turah are coming. With a younger sister Mae being appointed as the Sparrow, to be wed of to a Prince of one of the other lands to unsure mixed bloodlines and peace among lands due to an old accord that’s been sealed with magic called “The shield of Sparrows”. But nothing goes as planned, as the king has planned. The prince of Turah demands a Bride prize and the bride to be has to be Odessa. The marriage having to take place that same evening to they can go back to Turah the next day. Once in Turah, Odessa can’t have imagined all the dangers lurking about. All the monsters that seem to be drawn to them. After being locked up, she has a demand. To wield a sword, which wasn’t the brightest idea, since she has to train with the best guard of Turah, the one her folk loathe with a vengeance called the guardian, but who even is he? How did he get his ‘powers’ and surely he had a name? With the king of Turah of burning books and on a hunt, Odessa can’t seem to find the reasoning of, she sets about finding out truths. The truth about monsters becoming more feral than they are supposed to, the truth about the capital that seems more than a myth then an actual place. The truth about the guardian but also, adventure. To find out what caused the infection that makes the monsters kill hundreds of people, but also to find out if it can be cured. Because the monsters aren’t the only infected among them. Live as she has known it her entire life had changed so much. She’s become a warrior, a savior, a “sister”, a keeper of secrets and hasn’t let the shadows pull her back, gone is the little mouse and risen has a woman with a purpose. Absolute ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star read; can’t wait for the next one.

Shield of Sparrows completely captivated me from the very first page. This is the kind of romantasy that reminds me why I love the genre. The world building was immersive without being overwhelming, the characters felt incredibly real, and the writing was so addictive that I found myself constantly saying, “Just one more chapter.” The slow-burn romance, political intrigue, action, and emotional moments were woven together beautifully. Every reveal pulled me deeper into the story, and I became so invested in the characters that I never wanted to leave their world. What I loved most was how effortlessly everything flowed. Nothing felt rushed, and every chapter added another layer to both the story and the relationships. It had the perfect balance of heart, tension, and adventure. The biggest compliment I can give this book? The moment I finished, I immediately picked up Rites of the Starling because I simply wasn’t ready to let these characters go and that cliff hanger! If you’re a fan of romantasy with unforgettable characters, compelling world-building, high stakes, and a romance that keeps you hooked, don’t hesitate to pick this one up. I absolutely loved every page and can’t recommend it highly enough.

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.