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adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, Violence, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, and thought the worst when I thought Odessa was suicidal at the very first chapter, but was relieved to see that not only wasn't she, but that the monsters and lore in this world were as rich and colorful as her hair.
I'm dying for the next book!
I'm dying for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, War
adventurous
dark
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
FMC is a princess who's sister is promised to a royal from another kingdom that doesn't speak. She married him instead. Shield of Sparrows or Warbreaker?
She is sent with a mission from her father to learn the mysterious kingdom's secrets, especially the hidden capital. Shield of Sparrows or Bridge Kingdom
She is sent with a mission from her father to learn the mysterious kingdom's secrets, especially the hidden capital. Shield of Sparrows or Bridge Kingdom
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Animal death, Vomit
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, 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: Death
Moderate: Child death, Violence
Minor: Animal death, Blood
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I haven’t read a fantasy that gripped me like this in a long time.
There is only so much I can say without spoiling, but I think the build of the world and the mysteries behind it kept me on my toes and I didn’t expect the ending and some of the twists, which is hard to do with romantasy now. The romance of this romantasy did not overtake the book, and the fantasy plot line was still present and for front.
The main character is a princess who was meant to be the spare, her sister taking the charge of being arranged for political marriage and trained in combat and court etiquette. When they meat her sisters to be husband, he declares he wants to marry the FMC. From there she travels to his realm with new monsters, and a body guard who can’t quite leave her alone.
There is only so much I can say without spoiling, but I think the build of the world and the mysteries behind it kept me on my toes and I didn’t expect the ending and some of the twists, which is hard to do with romantasy now. The romance of this romantasy did not overtake the book, and the fantasy plot line was still present and for front.
The main character is a princess who was meant to be the spare, her sister taking the charge of being arranged for political marriage and trained in combat and court etiquette. When they meat her sisters to be husband, he declares he wants to marry the FMC. From there she travels to his realm with new monsters, and a body guard who can’t quite leave her alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Sexism, Death of parent, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 / 5
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️ / 5
----------
My Thoughts: Holy plot twists, Batman! Shield of Sparrows had me on the edge of my seat and wanting more. Though the novel does start off rather slowly, the tension builds throughout the first two acts and comes to a head in the last 100 pages or so, leaving readers breathless and eager for book 2.
Odessa is a princess who has always known her place--to stay quiet and marry the man her father chooses for her. But when Prince Zavier of Turah decides that Odessa is who he wants to marry and not her sister, her life turns upside down. Instead of living the quiet life she imagined for herself, she is forced to live in a foreign, monster-filled land she wasn't trained to understand with a man, the Guardian, who despises her.
But Odessa discovers that she isn't a woman who wants to just sit still and look pretty. She wants to learn how to defend herself and find out what's really going on with the monster attacks in her new kingdom. I appreciate her feisty spirit and the way Odessa really comes into her own the more she gets to be herself away from the people who raised her. The supporting characters are just as captivating. From the Guardian to Prince Zavier to little Evangeline, the author creates a rich cast of personalities with differing motivations that still bring them together.
Shield of Sparrows doesn't feel like a typical romantasy book, though there are definitely familiar, well-loved elements and tropes of the genre. The world building in the novel definitely makes it feel like a fresh take--one I've been itching for. Odessa's world is one full of monsters, but not the typical kind. Truly terrifying monsters you've never seen or heard of before. And, to top it all off, some of them are "sick" with a type of contagion that makes them more bloodthirsty and dangerous than ever.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and cannot wait for the upcoming installments in the series. If you're a fan of romantasy novels but also appreciate some political intrigue and a unique world, I definitely recommend Shield of Sparrows.
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️ / 5
----------
My Thoughts: Holy plot twists, Batman! Shield of Sparrows had me on the edge of my seat and wanting more. Though the novel does start off rather slowly, the tension builds throughout the first two acts and comes to a head in the last 100 pages or so, leaving readers breathless and eager for book 2.
Odessa is a princess who has always known her place--to stay quiet and marry the man her father chooses for her. But when Prince Zavier of Turah decides that Odessa is who he wants to marry and not her sister, her life turns upside down. Instead of living the quiet life she imagined for herself, she is forced to live in a foreign, monster-filled land she wasn't trained to understand with a man, the Guardian, who despises her.
But Odessa discovers that she isn't a woman who wants to just sit still and look pretty. She wants to learn how to defend herself and find out what's really going on with the monster attacks in her new kingdom. I appreciate her feisty spirit and the way Odessa really comes into her own the more she gets to be herself away from the people who raised her. The supporting characters are just as captivating. From the Guardian to Prince Zavier to little Evangeline, the author creates a rich cast of personalities with differing motivations that still bring them together.
Shield of Sparrows doesn't feel like a typical romantasy book, though there are definitely familiar, well-loved elements and tropes of the genre. The world building in the novel definitely makes it feel like a fresh take--one I've been itching for. Odessa's world is one full of monsters, but not the typical kind. Truly terrifying monsters you've never seen or heard of before. And, to top it all off, some of them are "sick" with a type of contagion that makes them more bloodthirsty and dangerous than ever.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and cannot wait for the upcoming installments in the series. If you're a fan of romantasy novels but also appreciate some political intrigue and a unique world, I definitely recommend Shield of Sparrows.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Sexual content, Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Medical content, Trafficking, Pregnancy
adventurous
challenging
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
Genre: Romantasy
What I Liked
Odessa is a strong female character who has spent her entire life in her younger sister’s shadow. I can relate to that. She prefers swimming and reading to swordplay, though she becomes proficient at that throughout the book, too. She’s curious and asks a lot of questions—some readers have criticized this character trait and writing style, but I found it endearing. She’s teased about it by other characters as they get to know her, and it is a way for the reader to wonder about the curiosities of Turah along with Odessa.
What I Liked
Odessa is a strong female character who has spent her entire life in her younger sister’s shadow. I can relate to that. She prefers swimming and reading to swordplay, though she becomes proficient at that throughout the book, too. She’s curious and asks a lot of questions—some readers have criticized this character trait and writing style, but I found it endearing. She’s teased about it by other characters as they get to know her, and it is a way for the reader to wonder about the curiosities of Turah along with Odessa.
The side characters were splendid—Evangeline, Luella, Cathlin, Brielle, and Jocelyn all performed their parts perfectly. I felt drawn in by the camaraderie between these women and resonated with Odessa’s desire for friendship in a foreign land.
What I Didn’t Like
Shield of Sparrows is in many ways a classic romantasy novel—the protagonist is thrust into forced proximity with a male character who is an enemy and supposedly a brute, and sparks ensue. I didn’t like the initial brutishness of the Guardian. He borders on verbally abusive and encroaches on Odessa’s personal space far too often for a casual acquaintance. I felt violated by his intrusion on Odessa’s behalf. Of course, as secrets are revealed, he’s not such a brute after all, and Odessa’s feelings are justified. It’s one of my least favourite tropes; why must male characters be entirely unlikable to start?
Shield of Sparrows is in many ways a classic romantasy novel—the protagonist is thrust into forced proximity with a male character who is an enemy and supposedly a brute, and sparks ensue. I didn’t like the initial brutishness of the Guardian. He borders on verbally abusive and encroaches on Odessa’s personal space far too often for a casual acquaintance. I felt violated by his intrusion on Odessa’s behalf. Of course, as secrets are revealed, he’s not such a brute after all, and Odessa’s feelings are justified. It’s one of my least favourite tropes; why must male characters be entirely unlikable to start?
Secondly, the various nations of Calandra are identifiable by ‘starbursts’ of various colours around the irises of the characters. What is it about fantasy authors and weird eye colours? My conclusion is that this is a way to identify various races and nationalities without drawing attention to skin colour. In fact, I don’t recall a single description of skin colour in the book. It makes sense, given our present-day sociopolitical climate around skin colour and race, but eye colour still strikes me as a strange racial identifier.
Major Themes
Curiosity and Secrets: Odessa is by nature curious. She has a million questions, and the reader feels the tension of her questions compared to the slow reveal of answers. Treow was brilliantly written as a sheltered location where Odessa was kept from any outside knowledge. I felt stifled, claustrophobic even, during these scenes. I felt that tension deeply, so that when secrets are finally revealed, it was a great physical sense of relief, a weight off my chest.
Curiosity and Secrets: Odessa is by nature curious. She has a million questions, and the reader feels the tension of her questions compared to the slow reveal of answers. Treow was brilliantly written as a sheltered location where Odessa was kept from any outside knowledge. I felt stifled, claustrophobic even, during these scenes. I felt that tension deeply, so that when secrets are finally revealed, it was a great physical sense of relief, a weight off my chest.
“I’d gotten bored, and bored meant curious.” (84)
Patriarchy and Underestimated Women: Odessa has spent her life being shunted to the back corner of the room. Her sister was groomed for espionage and warfare. Odessa simply existed for the whims of the men who bartered for her life. Nearly all of the women in the book are underestimated by men—an interesting theme drawing attention to the subtle work of those who aren’t in power. Women have historically been known to do amazing work in medicine, politics, theology, social work, and humanitarian efforts. It was interesting to see Perry draw these themes into a fantasy world entirely unlike our own.
Patriarchy and Underestimated Women: Odessa has spent her life being shunted to the back corner of the room. Her sister was groomed for espionage and warfare. Odessa simply existed for the whims of the men who bartered for her life. Nearly all of the women in the book are underestimated by men—an interesting theme drawing attention to the subtle work of those who aren’t in power. Women have historically been known to do amazing work in medicine, politics, theology, social work, and humanitarian efforts. It was interesting to see Perry draw these themes into a fantasy world entirely unlike our own.
“Who would I become if I wasn’t at the mercy of men?” (220)
Power in Knowledge: Books are burned, secrets kept, and maps eradicated. Knowledge is power. Those who control knowledge control the masses; they control empires. Truth is dangerous, because it undermines power.
Soldiers were throwing books from the doorway into a heaping pile. Another man came from a nearby treehouse, a stack of children’s books in one hand. They were tossed in the same heap before he turned on a heel, probably to search other treehouses for more. (195)
Power in Knowledge: Books are burned, secrets kept, and maps eradicated. Knowledge is power. Those who control knowledge control the masses; they control empires. Truth is dangerous, because it undermines power.
Soldiers were throwing books from the doorway into a heaping pile. Another man came from a nearby treehouse, a stack of children’s books in one hand. They were tossed in the same heap before he turned on a heel, probably to search other treehouses for more. (195)
Writing Style
Odessa’s POV is given in first person, drawing attention to her inquisitive nature and emotional depth. While first-person is not my favourite, I enjoyed Odessa’s myriad questions and internal dialogue. The worldbuilding was done carefully as Odessa encounters different landscapes, cities, and towns. Each location is wonderfully unique. I loved Treow in particular. Action is balanced with introspection, and while it starts slow, the final 100 pages flew by.
Tropes
- Arranged marriage
- Enemies to lovers
- Oppressive kingdom with hidden secrets
- Warrior training arc
Others Like This
- The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
- The Serpent & the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent
Spice: severe: open door content in ch. 52, 55.
Violence: severe: blood and sword violence, death
Profanity: severe: frequent use of f*ck
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Gaslighting
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Chronic illness, Blood
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship