Review & Favorite Quotes: Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

Title: Shield of Sparrows
Author: Devney Perry
Series: Shield of Sparrows #1
Pages: 528
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
Publisher: Red Tower Books
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:

Shield of Sparrows is a slow-burn, high-stakes romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros―where enemies become lovers, monsters stalk a cursed realm, and a forgotten princess finds the strength to tear off her crown and become the warrior she was never meant to be.

The gods sent monsters to the five kingdoms to remind mortals they must kneel.

I’ve spent my life kneeling―to their will and to my father’s. As a princess, my only duty is to wear the crown and obey the king.

I was never meant to rule. Never meant to fight. And I was never supposed to be the daughter who sealed an ancient treaty with her own blood.

But that changed the fateful day I stepped into my father’s throne room. The day a legendary monster hunter sailed to our shores. The day a prince ruined my life.

Now I’m crossing treacherous lands beside a warrior who despises me as much as I despise him―bound to a future I didn’t choose and a husband I barely know.

Everyone wants me to be something I’m not―a queen, a spy, a sacrifice.

But what if I refused the role chosen for me? What if I made my own rules? What if there’s power in being underestimated?

And what if―for the first time―I reached for it?

LINKS: Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon | Bookshop.org

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My Thoughts on Shield of Sparrows:

Wow. This was such a fantastic read! Shield of Sparrows is one of those stories that grabs you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go until the last page. I loved the writing style and the richly imagined world where gods punish kingdoms with monsters and a sheltered princess finds herself at the center of political games, ancient treaties, and dangerous truths. The world is dark, immersive, and detailed without being info-dumpy, and the slow build of tension, both in the plot and the romance, kept me completely hooked.

Odessa is a remarkable and dynamically developed protagonist who shows tremendous growth, and the story is told from her point of view, so you really get to understand her in a way that feels deep and relatable. At the beginning, she’s obedient, overlooked, and quietly yearning for someone to see her worth, but being away from her family allows her to see some truths about them and herself. Watching her transformation was great, and I love that she finds her autonomy and voice.

Other characters are fantastic, too, especially The Guardian. He’s dangerous and mysterious, and his sharp, sometimes acerbic wit is perfection. Odessa’s times with him are definitely my favorite parts of the story. I also love the found family Odessa gains. It’s so deserved because her family is the worst, and I really wanted Odessa to have people she could depend on and who saw her value. Of course, lies, betrayal, and threats against her life cause major trouble in her new and growing bonds, and some of the characters’ actions completely shocked me. Like mouth hanging open, rereading the scene because I was so surprised by some turns of events. I love it when an author can completely take me by surprise, and Devney did that many times over!

And the romance!!! My word, this is slow-building, enemies-to-lovers swoon-tasticness! The banter and chemistry, the way they torment and tease each other, the nickname he has for her!!! Whew! It was fantastic in every possible way. I loved their conversations and how they drove each other to distraction. Their banter, mistrust, and slow-building respect gave me everything I want in a romance.

The plot is super engrossing with high stakes, political intrigue, and monsters that are both literal and metaphorical. I was constantly trying to piece things together, and just when I thought I had figured things (and people) out, the story would veer in a totally unexpected direction. The twists were AMAZING. And the ending? SPEECHLESS. The build-up leading to the last 100 pages was excellent, but the last 100 pages were BRILLIANT.

Shield of Sparrows was not a book on my radar at the start of 2025, but it’s officially one of my top reads of the year. Every element, from the rich and immersive setting to the layered characters and plot to the epic romance to the super intense action and deadly battles, worked seamlessly together.

I’m so grateful to Entangled and Red Tower Books for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Be sure to check below for some of my favorite quotes from the book!

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• enemies to lovers
• touch her and die
• arranged marriage
• slow burn
• secret identity

“To the characters who came before. To the stories that led us here. To the chances we take. To the dreams we chase. Trust your wings.”

“I don’t like holding hands.” “How do you know? You’ve never held mine.”

“Did you ever stop to think that maybe the door to your cage has always been unlocked, Sparrow? And all you had to do was push it open?”

“Gods save the men who make you mad.”

If I truly wanted to be in control of my destiny, then I couldn’t wait for someone else to save me from danger. The only person who was always going to fight for me was me.

“Not all monsters are born from gods, my queen. Some of us were made.”

Devney is a #1 Amazon, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over forty romance novels. After working in the technology industry for a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to pursue her passion for writing. She was born and raised in Montana and now lives in Washington with her husband and two sons.

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