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A review by heamuse
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Summary
Odessa wasn’t supposed to be the bride prize, the Sparrow to continue the centuries old pact between the kingdoms.It should’ve been her sister. But when the Prince of Turin arrives with the mysterious and deadly man known only as The Guardian, she finds herself suddenly married and traveling across the ocean. Before she boarded the ship, her father tasked her to be a spy and to find the secret location of Turin’s capital city. Completely unprepared, she agrees.
Time is speeding by as people around the continent try to prepare for the great Migration of Cruxes, massive birds who destroy cities once a generation as they pass the kingdoms. Odessa learns about Turin, its customs, its people, and the monsters wreaking havoc on its people. Monsters that require many men to take down… or one Guardian. He’s unbelievably strong, silent on his feet, and heals faster than any man. Where did his power come from? Who is he? As many questions as she has, Odessa doesn’t want to spend another minute with the rude soldier.
As she learns secrets about the royal family and the goings-on of Turin, Odessa finds herself in a much more complicated situation than she had even imagined.Hostility between the king and his son, a secret royal child, a man-made plague, and so much more.
Review
There’s so much world building going on in this book and I loved every last nibble of it! I’m very sad that I discovered this book so soon after the first of the series was released because the wait for more is going to be brutal. The big “twists” are actually incredibly predictable, and all the sexual tension leads to minimal sex scenes (so if you're into spice or smut, this isn't going to fulfill you), but the action in the book is fantastic. It’s no Fourth Wing but it’s still really good. I love the Witcher Meets Princess vibe and I love the layers of this story: disease, espionage, magic, monsters, royal secrets-- so much going on.
The epilogue from Ransom’s POV is quite an excellent cliffhanger!
Tropes: Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Secret Identity
Odessa wasn’t supposed to be the bride prize, the Sparrow to continue the centuries old pact between the kingdoms.It should’ve been her sister. But when the Prince of Turin arrives with the mysterious and deadly man known only as The Guardian, she finds herself suddenly married and traveling across the ocean. Before she boarded the ship, her father tasked her to be a spy and to find the secret location of Turin’s capital city. Completely unprepared, she agrees.
Time is speeding by as people around the continent try to prepare for the great Migration of Cruxes, massive birds who destroy cities once a generation as they pass the kingdoms. Odessa learns about Turin, its customs, its people, and the monsters wreaking havoc on its people. Monsters that require many men to take down… or one Guardian. He’s unbelievably strong, silent on his feet, and heals faster than any man. Where did his power come from? Who is he? As many questions as she has, Odessa doesn’t want to spend another minute with the rude soldier.
As she learns secrets about the royal family and the goings-on of Turin, Odessa finds herself in a much more complicated situation than she had even imagined.
Review
There’s so much world building going on in this book and I loved every last nibble of it! I’m very sad that I discovered this book so soon after the first of the series was released because the wait for more is going to be brutal. The big “twists” are actually incredibly predictable, and all the sexual tension leads to minimal sex scenes (so if you're into spice or smut, this isn't going to fulfill you), but the action in the book is fantastic. It’s no Fourth Wing but it’s still really good. I love the Witcher Meets Princess vibe and I love the layers of this story: disease, espionage, magic, monsters, royal secrets-- so much going on.
The epilogue from Ransom’s POV is quite an excellent cliffhanger!
Tropes: Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Secret Identity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, War
Minor: Abandonment