Review: Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Series: Shield of Sparrows #1
Published by Entangled: Red Tower Books on 2025-05-06
Length: 528 pages
Reviewing Kindle from Kindle Unlimited
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2025 New Release Challenge

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?

It’s rare that a book lives up to its hype, but this was an unexpected treat. Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry is the first in a new romantasy series featuring monsters, an unwanted princess, a mysterious prince, and ruthless fighter. Odessa has spent her life as the eldest princess, unwanted and forgotten. Her mother dead and her father remarried, she’s accepted that she will marry who her father chooses and never get to be who she wants to be…even if she doesn’t know quite what that is. But everything changes when the Turan prince answers the king’s call for aid in killing a monster plaguing his ships. The prince calls for a bride as his payment. Everyone believes it will be May, Odessa younger, prettier, and deadlier sister. Instead he chooses Odessa.

Odessa is my favorite kind of heroine in fantasy. She doesn’t know it all, she isn’t the chosen one, she isn’t even the people’s choice. She’s just a girl who is also a princess. Odessa’s life has been governed by what is expected of her: marry the guy her father chose and stay quiet. As a result, she’s been left mostly to her own devices which means she is well read, highly curious, and longing for true companionship. She gets this in the unexpected form of the Turan prince and the Guardian.

The story truly begins with her impromptu wedding and a trip across the sea to Turah. There is so much happening that I could spend days writing about it. Everything is presented through Odessa’s POV, which is limited. She knows the Turan prince and the Guardian do not trust her, and for good reason as she’s been tasked by her father to spy on them. She’s intentionally left in the dark, the prince who chose her barely spends time with her, and the Guardian has become her babysitter. After a near death experience, Odessa insists on being trained so she can save herself if need arises, and to her surprise the prince agrees.

The Guardian quickly caught my attention. His banter with Odessa is close to perfection. Some of my favorite scenes is him goading her into a fight. The Guardian is shrouded in mystery and infamy. To the other kingdoms, he is a ruthless killer, but what Odessa finds is that he is more a protector of innocents. He puts himself in harms way over and over again to protect the Turans and her.

Overall, I really enjoyed Shield of Sparrows. The fantasy, the romance, the action, and the monsters all tie together for an exciting read. I loved seeing Odessa’s growth throughout the book, as well as the new relationships she forges. This one does end on a cliffhanger, so I’m dying to read what happens next. If you are a fan of fantasy, adventure, and romance, I highly recommend this one.

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