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adventurous
emotional
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
I really did enjoy this book. I love characters whose vices are virtues being used wrong, or at the wrong time, and Perry does this fabulously. Odessa's hobbies are things that don't serve good purpose in this world. She's inquisitive, but doesn't know how to ask the right questions. She hates gossip, but because of that is missing key information. I live for these kinds of characters.
The world building is also fabulous. There are a lot of minor details that show the amount of thought Perry put into it.
That being said, I am pretty sure you could shave at least 100 pages off this book and not actually lose anything.
The level of description of deaths was higher than I usually enjoy. I wouldn't call it graphic, but prepare yourself for descriptions of blood and exactly how people die.
The pacing also seemed to waver towards the end, to the point where I was skimming most of the lead up to the big ending; that could also be because I called every reveal in the first 25% of the book. So YMMV on the pacing there.
I can't wait for book 2!
The world building is also fabulous. There are a lot of minor details that show the amount of thought Perry put into it.
That being said, I am pretty sure you could shave at least 100 pages off this book and not actually lose anything.
The level of description of deaths was higher than I usually enjoy. I wouldn't call it graphic, but prepare yourself for descriptions of blood and exactly how people die.
The pacing also seemed to waver towards the end, to the point where I was skimming most of the lead up to the big ending; that could also be because I called every reveal in the first 25% of the book. So YMMV on the pacing there.
I can't wait for book 2!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse
adventurous
emotional
funny
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: Genocide, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic
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
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 it’s 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.
⚠️ swearing, blood, murder, death of a child and parent, violence, gore, alcohol, fire, & infidelity (off page)
🌶️ 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
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
Loved, Loved, Loved it!!!! I devoured this book! The story was beautiful. The characters were amazing! The slow burn had the greatest gut punch when you finally got there. I will say though that some of the twisty parts were predictable. I totally called it from the marriage scene in the sanctuary that The Guardian was going to really be her husband Xavier Ransom Wolfe. The big twist and reveal at the end was the biggest shock. The Crux was Odessa’s mother?! That was not expected for sure.
And then there are the betrayals and lies. I am so angry on Odessas behalf. The lies from Ransom are somewhat understandable and are forgivable. The ones that are not however, are those of her so called ladies maids and that piece of crap ex-fiancé that didn’t deserve her. I’m glad Jocelyn, Brielle and Banner got what they deserved.
Odessa was a great heroine. I felt like it was more relatable that she didn’t become this amazing untouchable hero by the end. She’s grown a lot and her self confidence is building but still has so much more to go. I can’t wait to see her development in the next book.
And Ransom! Oh. My. God! He was magnificent. I loved how his relationship with Odessa grew over time. I loved how he would always just pop up and be there. And when he went to her after she thought Jocelyn had betrayed her with her husband, oh!, be still my heart!! You could feel the love growing between them at each turn of the page. Welcome, Ransom, to the ranks of beloved book boyfriends.
I had not heard anything about this book prior to its release but considering that cliff hanger I really hope there another book to follow. There better be a next book!!
And then there are the betrayals and lies. I am so angry on Odessas behalf. The lies from Ransom are somewhat understandable and are forgivable. The ones that are not however, are those of her so called ladies maids and that piece of crap ex-fiancé that didn’t deserve her. I’m glad Jocelyn, Brielle and Banner got what they deserved.
Odessa was a great heroine. I felt like it was more relatable that she didn’t become this amazing untouchable hero by the end. She’s grown a lot and her self confidence is building but still has so much more to go. I can’t wait to see her development in the next book.
And Ransom! Oh. My. God! He was magnificent. I loved how his relationship with Odessa grew over time. I loved how he would always just pop up and be there. And when he went to her after she thought Jocelyn had betrayed her with her husband, oh!, be still my heart!! You could feel the love growing between them at each turn of the page. Welcome, Ransom, to the ranks of beloved book boyfriends.
I had not heard anything about this book prior to its release but considering that cliff hanger I really hope there another book to follow. There better be a next book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail
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. 🫶
🌸Book Review🌸
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Romantasy
Pub date: 5/6/25
4⭐️
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? 🤯🤯🤯 I’m gonna need book two IMMEDIATELY! Please & thank you. 😍👏
Add this to your tbr 💕 you won’t regret it.
🌸Book Review🌸
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Romantasy
Pub date: 5/6/25
4⭐️
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? 🤯🤯🤯 I’m gonna need book two IMMEDIATELY! Please & thank you. 😍👏
Add this to your tbr 💕 you won’t 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