Shield of Sparrows + Rites of the Starling

Double Review: Sheild of Sparrows and Rites of the Starling

I am not an avid Fantasy reader but like to dip my proverbial toe into this genre now and again. I prefer an easy-to-slip into story with world building that's not overly complicated. Is that too much to ask?

The first two books of the Shield of Sparrows series had the perfect blend of world building, romance, interesting characters and adventure. It also had great banter and a lot of fantastical creatures (which, admittedly, were a bit of a struggle to remember while listening to the audiobook). 

Book 1: Shield of Sparrows

This first book in the series is a quest across dangerous lands with a strong female main character in Odessa. There's some good romance and spice, but honestly it wasn't overly swoony. There are a lot of mythical monsters and adventure, but the main strength of this book is the cliffhanger ending. It's a doozy so you may want to keep Rites of the Starling close by so you can immediately jump into it!

(scroll down for my review of Rites of the Starling)

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Devney Perry

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Series: Shield of Sparrows 1

Type and Source: eAudio from public library

Publisher: Tantor Media

First Published: May 6, 2025

Narrators: Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke

Run Time: 20 hours

Read: April 20 - May 3, 2026

Book Description from GoodReads: Devney Perry's Shield of Sparrows, a swoon-worthy romantic fantasy filled with legends and monsters, is The Witcher meets Cinderella.

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?

Book 2: Rites of the Starling

Sometimes the second book of a series hits stronger and that's what we have here. A big part of that may be the amazing cliffhanger at the end of Rites and how this book hit the ground running! I felt the story and characters in Rites felt more well-rounded than Shield and getting the POVs of two pairs of characters on their own journeys (with Caspia's outshining Odessa's just a smidge) added a lot more depth to the story. 

There is a big reveal later in the story which I loved, and I just generally felt like I stayed in the moment as I listened to this audiobook instead of trying to figure out the twists. 

Beasties, action, prophecies and secrets abound and will keep listeners glued to their headphones.

The narration: The two books were decently narrated. I liked Samantha Brentmoor's narration, but I found Jason Clarke's voice to be MUCH too deep and so low that I had a very hard time hearing what he was saying. One does not need a bass voice to be manly. 

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Devney Perry

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Series: Shield of Sparrows 1

Type and Source: eAudio from public library

Publisher: Recorded Books

First Published: April 7, 2026

Narrators: Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke

Run Time: 18 hours

Read: May 9-20, 2026

Book Description from GoodReads: A princess journeys across a cursed realm to find the truth about her family, only to discover her quest intertwines with the fate of a lost warrior. Love, danger, and magic collide in a captivating romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros.

​Calandra's five kingdoms are on the verge of destruction. The crux migration is coming. And in the wake of a devastating attack, I've been separated from the man who owns my heart.

​I'm lost. Terrified. Homesick. Hunted by monsters, driven to exhaustion, and kidnapped by a powerful priest, the only thing keeping me going is the little girl counting on me to keep her safe. ​It's my turn to become the Guardian.

​Our lives change one fateful night. A night of death. A night of monsters. A night of truths. That night, when I learn the real meaning of fear—and the depth of my own strength.

​Everyone wants me to be something I'm not—a queen, a spy, a sacrifice. But what if I embrace my crown? What if the secrets I uncover save our realm? ​What if my sacrifice means salvation for the man I love?

For too long, I've feared the monsters we make. ​It's time to discover the monster within.​