Shield of Sparrows

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲⁠🗡Enemies to Lovers⁠💍Arranged Marriage ⁠✨Gods, Monsters & ⁠Magic ⁠🐎Only One Horse⁠❤️‍🔥Slow Burn ⁠⁠𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:⁠Devney Perry said “fantasy debut” and then dropped a romantasy BOMB with Shield of Sparrows — and I’m still recovering. If you’re coming for her signature emotional pull and intensely addictive romance, don’t worry: she packed it in right alongside magic, monsters, and more twists than a haunted hedge maze. Odessa? Absolute QUEEN energy. She’s all sharp edges, stubborn sass, and impossible choices — and watching her evolve from pawn to power-player had me fist-pumping through the pages.⁠ The Guardian. A broody, bossy, cold-as-ice warrior who did NOT come to play. The second he showed up, I was feral. This man is book boyfriend material with a capital B: protective, deadly, and infuriatingly hot. Their enemies-to-lovers tension was delicious — slow-burn to the point of pain, but oh-so-worth it. And the banter? Delicious. I lived for every glare, every near-kiss, every cutting word that really meant the exact opposite. Add in a vividly immersive world, political intrigue, monsters with teeth (literal and metaphorical), and a cliffhanger that had me SCREAMING into the void — and Shield of Sparrows cements itself as a must-read for romantasy lovers. We’re talking magic + angst + heat + heartbreak, all rolled into one spellbinding adventure. Devney Perry didn’t just step into fantasy — she conquered it.⁠ More, please. Like, yesterday.⁠⁠🎧️Audiobook Thoughts:⁠Samantha Brentmoor’s narration as Odessa brought every ounce of emotion and edge to life — fierce, vulnerable, and completely immersive. And that final chapter, voiced by Jason Clarke? Whew. His performance as the Guardian landed like a dark promise. Their voices together elevated this slow-burn romantasy to another leve

From the moment I heard that Devney Perry was writing a fantasy book I KNEW I had to read it. Was I expecting to love it as much as I did? Yes. I KNEW it would be good. She’s already an incredible writer and has written many of my favorite small-town romances so it really came as no surprise that this one would become a favorite too. It’s also unique. There’s no big magic system per se (like we expect in these types of books) but there’s a possibility for it to come about in more books as the series progresses. The world we’re taken to is well written and you can picture the places being described to us. Then you have MONSTERS. I love how many of their names resemble what we may see in real life only she made them more vicious and scary. It was easy to picture, and it all played out like a movie in my head. I loved that! Now on to the romance. Ladies, it’s a SLOW BURN. There’s a lot of tension and angst along with a bit of a twist that I wasn’t expecting but when it hits your heart will absolutely burst with joy. I can’t wait to see how it continues to play out in the next book. Finally, the plot. I suppose some may say it follows a formula similar to other fantasy books and sure, I’d agree to a point. But what makes it stand out is the characters, the conflict they’re going through (more will be revealed in later books), the romance and the world building. Every piece of this one is unique in its own right so even if it does follow a formula I’m okay with that.Would I recommend it? Absolutely 100 percent! Just remember this is a slow burn romantasy that’s over 500 pages. It takes time but the time is well spent and intriguing. I loved it!𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙❥ Romantasy❥ Arranged Marriage with a twist❥ Slow Burns❥ Monsters

“𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙙𝙨, 𝙢𝙮 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙣. 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚."Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️||🌶️This book demands your full attention. The world-building is IMMENSE-layered, political, myth-soaked, and unapologetically complex. Every kingdom, every creature, every ancient secret feels like it's been carefully etched into the bones of this story.You're immediately assailed with court plotting and intrigue all while navigating a strange, tangled start in this world. The dynamics here are layered and so suspicious, following Odessa, who isn't some dazzling chosen one but a woman navigating wild twists with nothing but grit and gut instinct-literally figuring it out as she goes (like us all). She's relatable, flawed, and fierce in all the right ways.And the Guardian had me at "my queen". The perfect storm of mysterious, morally grey, battle-scarred protector energy.The banter was sharp and filled with tension. The slow evolution of their relationship was one of my favorite threads in the story-especially the quieter moments, when he's SEES her for who she is, not who everyone else EXPECTS her to be.The slow burn is SLOW... 80% of longing, heated glances, and a record breaker of emotionally charged survival situations, we get a small-yes, SMALL- taste of their passion for each other. I love life & death situationships but I would have also LOVED to breathe in the love just a little more.The plot twists twisted. But. That. ENDING. The final 50 pages are a whirlwind of chaos, revelations, betrayals, and heartbreak. If you've read Onyx Storm, then you already know the pain—no one is safe. The last scene left me with more questions than answers and a desperate craving for book two. Make no mistake— this story is bold, brutal, and beautifully built with high fantasy, rich lore, emotional damage, and a need for the story to continue.⚔️ Arranged marriage⚔️ Secrets & betrayals⚔️ Monsters & adventure⚔️ He trains her⚔️ Banter & tension

Shield of Sparrows is unlike any romantic fantasy I have ever read. Told from the point of view of Odessa Cross, princess of Quentis, Shield of Sparrows is about the journey of a forgotten, looked down upon princess who fights to find her place in a world she never wanted to be a part of, while on a collision course with her destiny.It wasn’t supposed to happen. It should have been her eighteen-year-old half-sister. But in less than twenty-four hours, twenty-year-old Odessa finds herself in an arranged marriage to Prince Zavier Wolfe of Turah and sailing across the marroweel-infested waters of the Krisenth Crossing to Turah, a kingdom she knows nothing about.In Turah, Prince Zavier barely speaks to Odessa and doesn’t spend any time with her, choosing instead to have his second in command, known as The Guardian, interact with her. Odessa’s disdain for The Guardian runs deep. He doesn’t trust her, and she views him as a barbarian. But the more time they spend together arguing and fighting, her attraction to him blooms. Between being attacked by monstrous animals, failing to spy for her father, being taught how to fight and wield weapons, and discovering what Turah is really about, Odessa learns to stand on her own two feet and, for the first time, finds a place where she belongs, one where she’s truly loved.Shield of Sparrows was so much more than I ever expected. I loved the characters of Odessa, The Guardian, Prince Zavier, and several secondary characters. I'm not sure if I'm truly a fan of enemies-to-lovers, but these characters made me forget about the enemies part pretty quickly. I loved their playful banter that came through whenever they were together. When they finally gave in to their attraction, spicy, passionate moments ensued. Shield of Sparrows provided many great moments, but this isn’t a story for the faint of heart. There’s a lot of blood, gore, and death. There are also loving and tender moments. One of the best parts of this story is all the many plot twists and surprises. I really loved and appreciated that the ending didn't fill me with dread, but actually gave me hope.I can’t wait to see what happens next.~ Favorite Quotes ~“You are strong. Stronger than you realize.”“A promise is a promise.”“Love had its way of building us up. And bringing us down.”**Received an ARC from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a deluxe hardcover copy.**

a charming, albeit less dark, take on a Witcher-esque vibe, complete with a cursed realm and formidable monsters. While enjoyable, I ultimately found it to be slightly overhyped. I managed to predict all the major plot twists well in advance, and in my opinion, the ending didn't deliver the climactic punch many had described, leaving me wanting more. However, the core of the story, centered around a forgotten princess, Odessa, who is thrust into an arranged marriage and a dangerous mission, truly shines as a fun enemies-to-lovers tale. The romance is a delightfully slow-burn affair, allowing the relationship to develop organically amidst political intrigue and perilous journeys. The narrative itself is remarkably easy to follow, a refreshing change in a genre that can sometimes be overly complex.Odessa's transformation from a sheltered princess to a burgeoning warrior and spy is engaging, even if her initial attempts at espionage are endearingly clumsy. The world-building, featuring various kingdoms and their unique challenges with gods and monsters, provides a rich backdrop without being overwhelming. As the saying goes in the book, "A sparrow, no matter how small, can still carry a message." This encapsulates Odessa's journey perfectly, as she, an underestimated figure, becomes pivotal in uncovering hidden truths and forging her own destiny. While Shield of Sparrows might not be as "insane" or groundbreaking as some fantastical romances, its accessible plot, compelling characters, and satisfying slow-burn romance make it a truly entertaining read for fans of romantasy.

From the very first chapter, Shield of Sparrows completely swept me away. This was a five-star plus listen through and through intense, mysterious, emotionally loaded, and oh-so-addictive. Devney Perry gave us a slow-burn romantic fantasy laced with danger, longing, and a heroine I absolutely adored.Odessa was the heart of this story and what a character. The forgotten, cast-aside older sister, living in the shadow of her royal younger sibling. When a prince shows up to claim her sister’s hand, no one expects Odessa to be the one he ends up marrying. But as political tensions rise and secrets unfold, it becomes clear there’s much more to this arrangement than anyone is letting on and Odessa is at the center of it all.But the real tension? It ignites with the Guardian who travels with the prince. The way the slow-burn between Odessa and the Guardian builds had me hanging on every single word. You could feel it simmering beneath the surface a spark that kept crackling through moments of danger, whispered truths, and forbidden glances. Add in the creeping presence of monsters and the constant sense of being watched or hunted and you’ve got a plot that stays sharp and suspenseful until the very end.Now let’s talk audiobook, because it absolutely elevated this story.Samantha Brentmoor was phenomenal as Odessa. She was Odessa, every moment of fear, frustration, longing, strength, and heartbreak poured through in her voice. I didn’t just hear Odessa’s journey, I felt it. She brought so much depth to her performance that I forgot I was listening to a book. It felt like I was living it.And then there’s Jason Clarke. Oh. My. God. That last chapter? When we finally get his POV? I was not prepared. The switch flipped, the stakes got higher, and his voice brought an entirely new intensity to the story. When he stated, “To find my wife,” I just about melted. So hot. So commanding. I was immediately hungry for more of his side of the story! I need book two ASAP.This audiobook was everything I wanted and more a gothic fairytale feel with modern romantic tension and a touch of slow-burn spice. If you love fantasy romance with mystery, monsters, and unforgettable characters, Shield of Sparrows is your next listen.

I am so unwell. This book took me out. I went into Shield of Sparrows pretty intrigued, not fully knowing what to expect, and about a quarter of the way in I thought, “Okay… Odessa sure knows how to yap.” Like girl, breathe! I was fully convinced there was no way I’d survive 700 pages of her inner monologue. But ohhhh, Devney Perry said, “Sit down, stay awhile,” and just like that—I was hooked.Somewhere along the way, the pages just started flying and next thing I knew, I was kicking my feet like a teenage girl at 2AM, grinning like a fool because it was getting so good. The last 25%?? UNREAL. I felt every single emotion—anger, joy, heartbreak, lust, love, full-blown sobbing and I didn’t want it to end. Like truly, I wasn’t ready. And that cliffhanger??? I’m in shambles. I want to reread it immediately just to feel it all over again.This was my first real dip into fantasy, and leave it to Devney to be the one to pull me in. I don’t know how she does it—one moment she’s making me swoon over cowboys and the next she’s out here slaying monsters and spinning magic like it’s nothing. She’s a powerhouse, and this book proves it.

Deveney Perry is a word master, interictally weaving plot with world building and character development. The story feels like an exciting rollercoaster ride, steadily building the story, planting the seeds, and then the action surges before slowly leveling out.Odessa, the FMC, is a treasure, and we’re privy to many of her internal thoughts, which are well done and often hilarious. Her attitude towards the Guardian is quite murderous, and I lost track of the number of times she wanted to harm or end him. Their witty banter and barbs made me laugh so hard, while the words “my queen,” whether used as a taunt or an endearment, made me melt.When I describe Shield of Sparrows as “unputdownable,” it’s the truth. I stayed up past 4 a.m. reading because I needed to find out what happened next. Sleep claimed me while thoughts of Odessa, the Guardian, and Zavier raced on an endless loop through my mind. When I woke, I couldn’t wait to pick up where I left off. The ending left me with so many questions. Waiting for the release of book two is going to be painful. A reread (or two) is inevitable.Finally, I need to give props to Samantha Brentmoor. Her narration is magical and seamless, and I was stunned to discover she voices both the female and male characters (except one chapter). Her talent blows me away! I will definitely be seeking out more books narrated by her.• One horse• Slow Burn• Arranged marriage• Political intrigue• Book burning• Magic & monsters

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨𝙎𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙀𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨-𝙩𝙤-𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 & 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨𝘼𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 💀“ 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥,” 𝘐 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥.𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩. “ 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥?”𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘵? 𝘕𝘰, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.Okay, this book was fantastic. Since I am aware of how well-liked this book is, I will keep my review brief. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.“𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶”“𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰. 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵.”“𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳”While much of the book was predictable, I didn’t mind. The story drew me in completely, and I found myself fully engrossed in the plot throughout the book. However, it was evident that someone was fated to die in this story. Did it leave me in tears? Absolutely. The cliffhanger at the end has me eagerly anticipating the second book. This book undoubtedly ranks among my top 10 reads of the year. I feel like I fell in love with The Guardian the moment his character entered the book. The angst and tension throughout the story was worth the slow burn. I did go back and forth from reading the book to listening to the audiobook, which added another layer to the experience. The narrator brought the characters to life in a way that made me feel even more connected to the book. Samantha Brentmoor did an amazing job as always.“ 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘯. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸.”“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴,” 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥. “𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺.”“𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮, 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.”

I’m not the typical Romantasy reader. I don’t regularly read the Romantasy genre; when I do, I look for specific themes and characters that will pique my interest. Devney Perry’s Shield of Sparrows immediately grabbed me with tropes, including Arranged Marriage, Enemies-to-Lovers, and all the Magic and Myths.Book 1 is the start of a three-book series. An incredible amount of detail has been put into the various characters and their interactions with Odessa (FMC), plotting their importance to her, which is critical to the story as it cumulates. It is pretty high in adventures; as Odessa goes from being the type of princess that wears a crown to unexpectedly having to be a warrior, she faces many challenges, and those challenges are all new to her. I liked seeing her grow as the story progressed.Though I try not to read spoilers about books I am currently reading, I did hear that Shield of Sparrows contained twists, but I did not know what they were. I couldn’t predict these at all. They were good, though. Author Devney Perry got me good. And, of course, the questions. I have so many questions, yet I will have to wait until Book 2.

A lot of Romantic fantasy books are pretty crappy, though I have been reading quite a few lately. I must say this is not one of them.I think the author's long history in Romance is how she is able to make this one good as she has a definite grasp on what romance should be. For one, the lead guy in this story is decent which you see in too few romance books where sociopaths seem to be the leading men. I don't really like romance but I hate when the man is a jerk.Thing is, if you don't like romantic fantasy, you don't have to pass this one up. as a fantasy story without or without romance, it is pretty good. there are a couple sex scenes but the author knows the difference between pointless sex and romance that is good for the story. the worldbuilding and the setting alone, as well as the well-developed characters make this read a good one even if romantic fansy isn't your thing, like it isn't for me.you have a bright world full of lots of mystery, intrigue, fascinating unique magic, and well-developed characters. There isn't a moment of this book I didn't like. If you want it to be about female empowerment with a woman learning to stand up for herself, you got it, if you want a story of espionage and conspiracies, you have that too, and heck, some of it even channels kaiju stuff so you got that too.I rarely find books like this that I give 5 stars, but this is one of them.

This book was such a wonderful departure from Devney’s contemporary series and though romantasy is a genre I’m only now beginning to explore, this was an absolutely fabulous read. I devoured this story, and despite its length, I was hooked from page one all the way to the end that left me reeling. I feel so many things – elation, frustration, sadness, and awe over how amazing this story is. I want to hug all the characters, and I’m absolutely DYING for the next book in the series. The world she created is familiar and yet foreign all at the same time; a world populated by monsters and people like us trying to survive them. Devney had the kindness to leave readers on a soft cliffhanger, but I have so many questions and a deep desire to spend more time with these amazing characters on page.This story has passion, violence, myth and legend, magic, love, and betrayal. It is a story that will stick with you long after you put the book down. Odessa is an FMC who fights against the roles she has been boxed into and our MC is bold, brave, and desperately trying to serve and save his people. I loved how Odessa constantly pushed for more and demanded to be taken seriously. The love story is slow burn and very sweet, but left me wanting so much more for these fantastic characters who deserve their HEA. I loved how Devney built the world alongside the plot which kept the story moving and there were so many surprises along the way. I couldn’t have asked anything more from this story and it’s going to be such a long wait for the next book. In the meantime, I grabbed the audio and let me just say that Samantha Brentmoor was the perfect choice for this project. She dominated the role and made you forget there was only one narrator all the way until the last chapter.

This is easily the best book I have read this year. I devoured it, growled whenever I was interrupted and became angry whenever life decided I needed to set it down. I became sad when I was getting to the end knowing I would have to wait far too long for the next one. I cried out when the twists and turns were finally realized and laughed and kicked my feet...I gasped and was calling friends not even halfway through insisting they read this right now. Did I care that they have other books going or are busy? No... right now. RIGHT NOW! YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE!Were there some obvious twists? Yes, but I loved them all the same, especially because there were also twists that I never saw coming that evened the score. It was a good balance of things I could see happening and those that blindsided me. Also, and I feel this important...the twists do not come off as the author grasping for straws to keep things interesting. They are not manufactured in a way that feels forced or just there to fill the page with more drama or that feels formulaic...each situation has a purpose and that makes me want more and appreciate the development of the characters on a deeper level. I will even admit that if the twists I had so badly wanted to happen didn't, I would have been disappointed and so I am really glad that thing was that thing and the thing over there worked out to be the thing I wanted most.The characters were beautifully flawed and addicting. The betrayals hurt...and the way the pieces are put together forms a wonderfully complicated puzzle that falls into place naturally. I could go on and on, but I fear I will give too much away, and I don't want to do that. Please read this book. Devour and savor...also note you will struggle after to read other books feeling that hangover, and will keep saying, "well it isn't Shield of Sparrows, but I guess it's fine...it's fine all is fine. But let me tell you Shield of Sparrows...gah I need more of it now!"

This book will. change. your. life. Infinity stars. Best read of 2025. Personal best fantasy read since 2023. I AM ALWAYS DRAMATIC BUT I AM NOT HYPERBOLIC IN THESE ACCOLADES!I cannot think of a time I was so utterly absorbed in a fantasy story - not since a wildly recognized book about fae that has taken the world by storm (and is known for its feral fandom). Don't misunderstand - this book is NOT like any other series. But the way it makes you feel is PRECISELY the same way you felt when you read it for the first time.I feel compelled to stay as vague as possible to not only avoid spoilers but to also intrigue readers JUST ENOUGH to want to jump into the story. Odessa as the FMC is perfection; an oldest sister overlooked for her entire life only to find out at the last minute she will be the bride sent to a foreign land to fulfill a treaty obligation. The story encapsulates her emotional and mental struggles so beautifully while also honoring her determination to find worth and prove herself not just to those who would doubt her, but to herself.The political aspect of the story is WILD. We learn alongside Odessa, having been kept in the dark her whole life as the unnecessary princess, and each discovery we make will have you straight up gasping. The number of times I thought I knew where we were going only to be surprised? Uncountable.Like so many have already said, this fantasy reads like Devney has written fantasy stories for her entire writing career - and her back catalogue is not only stacked but it is fantastic. I will be grateful for eternity that she embraced this story and put it out into the world for us to enjoy.If you like:- fresh takes on magical worlds with a building/concept presentation that is both easy to follow and still intricately detailed- FMCs who would be completely justified in just giving up and rolling over, but refuse to give in and stand up for themselves out of principal (and a healthy dose of spite tbh)- SO. MUCH. ACTION! the story is hailed as a romantic fantasy, but it is epic from start to finish as we witness political exchanges, dangerous cross-country treks, and monsters sent by the gods to remind the people who is really in charge- satisfying and fulfilling character arcs ;) (in my Forrest Gump voice) And that's all I've got to say about that...READ THIS BOOK. Whether you're a fan of Devney's from her small town stories, a huge romantic fantasy reader, or someone who enjoys an epic fantasy - you will not be disappointed in this incredible story.

I've read so many duds lately that I fully expected this books to be just as bad as the rest have been.Oh. My. Gods.What do you MEAN I READ THIS WITHOUT REALIZING BOOK 2 ISNT EVEN A BLURB YET!? I'll just jump right in, shall I?My interpretation of the monsters was what was done in the movie Annihilation, and the dread when they'd appear was breathtaking at times.I rarely like the heroine in most books because they just copy/paste the whole "raised to kill, not like other girls, grew up training with weapons to unironically save the world," repeats we always get. Odessa was truly a different main character from the start, and she was so freaking believable. Not only did she listen when it was wise to do so (unlike in 90% of other books like this) she really was trying to figure out what waa going on for herself and she didn't spend chapters agonizing over what side to switch to. Her observation to figure out what was happening for mainly herself was beautiful and so naturally done. Because I've read so many stories of this genre, I kind of knew what was up with the Guardian from the start, but the reveal was still really interesting, and I loved the relationship dynamic. So many authors rush the steam and forget that the forehead touches and the intimacy in the relationship itself is so powerful. That being said, I would not label this book as a steamy romance. A lot of foundation was laid for the overall relationship with an appropriate amount of steam. The naughty side of me hopes the steam is cranked up more from here on out. "Praises are for the bedroom."Prove it, Your Highness.Can't wait for the next one!

I'm not a huge romantasy reader, but with all the hype surrounding Shield of Sparrows, I was nervous, but had to give it a shot. And I have to admit, Devney Perry brought it! She not only succeeded in her world building, but it was all about the characters (and the monsters) for me in book one of a whole new genre for Perry. She made it easy to follow along on the journey across the lands while the characters battled monsters along the way.Odessa is a "spare" princess. She's overlooked in every way. From her clothing to how she is treated by her family. But when she is summoned to marry the future king of Turah, she and her family must abide. Only her father has an ultimatum for her. She will go as a spy and bring information back to her father. If this is what she must do to be in her father's good graces, she will agree. But Odessa is no pawn in this game. She knows there is more to this journey than meets the eye. Her curiosity and fire is what endeared me to her. As they travel across the lands she begins to see that not everything is as it seems.Perry came out swinging with a beautiful, magical and battle-filled story that is easily digestible for any level of fantasy reader, especially a "beginner". From the truly amazing characters to the mythical, disease-filled monsters, you are immersed into a world full of danger, blood oaths and secrets. The slow burn romance is SSSSLLLOOOWWW, but with that was ALL the best tension and exquisite banter that will have you swooning and wondering "will they or won't they". And finally, I can't forget the action. The battle scenes are intense, vivid and downright bloody. The writing will have you holding your breath while your heart beats out of your chest.Obviously I'm keeping the majority of this review and the plot points pretty vague because as the story builds more and more secrets are unveiled. So, go in blind and be ready to fall in love with the cast of characters and the journey they are about to take you on. And be prepared for an ending that will having you wanting the next book PRONTO!