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adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The only downside to this book is that the whole series isn't out yet - absolute perfection.
Grasped me from the very first page and never let go.
Love the FMC's growth/character arc.
MMC is top tier.
Grasped me from the very first page and never let go.
Love the FMC's growth/character arc.
MMC is top tier.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Gore, Toxic friendship
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Guardian was insufferable for the first half of the book but the plot was good enough for me to push through, and Iβm glad I did. I loved the worldbuilding and found a lot of the characters to be interesting. The training scenes were a bit monotonous at times, but it was nice to see Odessa actually improve over time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, this was pretty dang good! Great world building, the romance was not the only focus of the book, but was done well and pleasantly spicy.
I had a hunch at the beginning and it utterly paid off, but not till near the end, which was super fun!
Incredibly enjoyable read. Itβs a great easy fantasy, it hits the fun tropes in a way that felt familiar without being worn out. The worst part is waiting for the next book to come out!
I had a hunch at the beginning and it utterly paid off, but not till near the end, which was super fun!
Incredibly enjoyable read. Itβs a great easy fantasy, it hits the fun tropes in a way that felt familiar without being worn out. The worst part is waiting for the next book to come out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Rape, Trafficking, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Thank you to Red Tower for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
What itβs about:
Odessa was never supposed to be the sparrow. It was supposed to be her sister that would marry a foreign prince to keep an alliance. Her sister trained her whole life for that role, yet Odessa is the one chosen by the prince to marry him and come back to his land full of deadly monsters.
What I thought:
I loved this book! The world building was interesting and unique. It was fun learning about different monsters and how the people learned to survive. I also loved the characters and all the surprises throughout the plot.
β οΈ swearing, blood, murder, death of a child and parent, violence, gore, alcohol, fire, & infidelity (off page)
πΆοΈ 2 open door scenes with explicit details
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Miscarriage, Trafficking, Pregnancy, War
adventurous
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Red Tower Books for providing a physical copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I can sincerely state that this is the first fantasy novel that has truly sucked me in since Fourth Wing. I went into this novel completely blind knowing only that it was of the romantasy genre. As I kept reading, I realized the romance would not be between the two people I initially assumed would fall in love. When I figured out the male interest, it was like a light bulb went off in my head and I became fully invested. The chemistry and banter was absolutely there!
There was also a lot more to this story than what was unfolding between Odessa and _____ (no cheatingβ¦ you have to read it to find out his name π€ͺ). Fighting monsters, standing up for what is right, becoming a queen, and the list goes on. I wasnβt bored at any point, and THE ENDING, BRO! How long do I have to wait for book two????? I really hope this series blows up as big as ACOTAR and Fourth Wing have. It deserves it.
My new favorite motto: βIβm not made of glass.β π£π₯πͺ
βThis was not an adventure of my choosing, but it was still an adventure.β
I can sincerely state that this is the first fantasy novel that has truly sucked me in since Fourth Wing. I went into this novel completely blind knowing only that it was of the romantasy genre. As I kept reading, I realized the romance would not be between the two people I initially assumed would fall in love. When I figured out the male interest, it was like a light bulb went off in my head and I became fully invested. The chemistry and banter was absolutely there!
There was also a lot more to this story than what was unfolding between Odessa and _____ (no cheatingβ¦ you have to read it to find out his name π€ͺ). Fighting monsters, standing up for what is right, becoming a queen, and the list goes on. I wasnβt bored at any point, and THE ENDING, BRO! How long do I have to wait for book two????? I really hope this series blows up as big as ACOTAR and Fourth Wing have. It deserves it.
My new favorite motto: βIβm not made of glass.β π£π₯πͺ
βThis was not an adventure of my choosing, but it was still an adventure.β
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
ππ―ππ«ππ₯π₯ ππππ’π§π β‘οΈ 5π
β‘Β΄ο½₯α΄ο½₯`β‘
5 stars! 5 freaking stars! Letβs start off with the plot! OBSESSED! Freaking drags you in from the very beginning, especially because the love interest are introduced in the beginning of the book! You already have so many questions and suspicions about whatβs going on and every time you think you have something figured out a plot twist ends up happening that you never see coming!
Itβs suspenseful, twisty and mainly plot driven with a subplot of romance but throughout the book the tension between the romantic couple is there! The spicy scenes arenβt too much and doesnβt drag on and you find yourself enjoying the side characters and the roll they play in the story. Very much a found family. π
The way that this book is set up leaves you with questions unanswered which I hope/expect will be revealed in the next book, which I need like NOW! π With the cliffhanger at the end, I felt unsettled, anxious and all of the above. I need to know whatβs going to happen next with these characters and what journey awaits them!
Thank you, Entangled Publishings & Red Tower Books for the physical copy!
Highly recommend for fans of fantasy romance! π₯
β‘οΈ ππππΊπππΊππβ₯οΈ
β‘οΈ ππΊπππΌοΌππππππ§
β‘οΈ πΊπππΊπππΎπ½ ππΊππππΊππΎπ
β‘οΈ πΎππΎπππΎπ ππ π
πππΎπππ
β‘οΈ ππ
ππ π»ππππ₯Ή
β‘οΈ ππ
ππ ππππππ π
β‘οΈ ππππΌπΎπ₯
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you again to @devneyperry @redtowerbooks and @entangled_publishing for this gifted arc in exchange for an honest review. π«Ά
πΈBook ReviewπΈ
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Romantasy
Pub date: 5/6/25
4βοΈ
A slow burn romantasy with a lot of much needed world building. There is angst, yearning, flirtation, banter, monsters, magic, betrayal, kingdoms, war, enemies to lovers, you name it.
And that cliffhanger? π€―π€―π€― Iβm gonna need book two IMMEDIATELY! Please & thank you. ππ
Add this to your tbr π you wonβt regret it.
πΈBook ReviewπΈ
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Romantasy
Pub date: 5/6/25
4βοΈ
A slow burn romantasy with a lot of much needed world building. There is angst, yearning, flirtation, banter, monsters, magic, betrayal, kingdoms, war, enemies to lovers, you name it.
And that cliffhanger? π€―π€―π€― Iβm gonna need book two IMMEDIATELY! Please & thank you. ππ
Add this to your tbr π you wonβt regret it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War