I had sworn to never read another book of Devney Perry! Shield of Sparrows the Romantasy That Changed My Mind

When strong storytelling wins over even the most reluctant reader.

Now in development as a feature film with Amazon MGM Studios, with John Wick screenwriter Derek Kolstad attached to write the script!



A TREATY SEALED IN MAGIC. A FATE BORN OF MONSTERS. A LOVE FORETOLD BY LEGEND.

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?

Audiobook Review

Narrator : Samantha Brentmoor

Rating: 4,5 stars

Never say never…

I swore to never read another book written by Devney Perry years ago. Not because she was a bad writer but because of two instances where she had treated her reviewers very poorly and it turned me off from who she was as a person.

I didn’t meant to read Shield of Sparrows.

Yet the hype it got and especially the raving review of Eva @bookishyou had me reconsidering my choice.

All that to say I was intrigued, curious but also I had a very negative view of Devney. The fact that I am giving that book 4,5 stars is a feat  and that yes, Devney wrote a very good story.

I will admit albeit begrudgingly that this is a very good romantasy and that if you love the genre, you should probably give it a chance.

But what makes it so good?

First, the world building.

Devney chose to set her story in realms where God’s monsters exist, devouring everyone they can. In one realm though the monsters are mor “special”, I won’t explain as I don’t want to spoil your fun.

Add to it “priests” or priests alike beings owning magic, towns located on the top of  trees, a deadly migration that is killing people every thirty years or so and the existence of a sexy , powerful Guardian whose eyes shift colors and you have a solid world building to begin with.

Second: the characters.

The main character is Odessa, an overlooked princess, a spare, whose hobbies consist in diving from high cliffs, swimming and sketching. She also is helpless with a sword or a bow or anything related to fighting. And she has to hide her hair color (something intriguing from the start).

Odessa will have a huge character growth in the book, revealing her true colors: that of a fighter and a protector.

She was the underdog in everyone’s eyes , overlooked by her father. Yet she will be sent on a spy mission (with low expectation of success ) forcing Odessa to embrace her inner strength revealing someone reliable, kind, strong and extremely determined.

The Guardian was very intriguing. Sexy, strong and of course, the one Odessa despises from the beginning. But does she, really? Note: I had guessed a very important information about the Guardian but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment.

The side characters are well fleshed out, added new layers to the story, one small girl in particular.

Third: the story and the challenges.

There is a real race against the clock as everyone has to prepare against the next migration, time where deadly flying monsters raid the continent and kill as many as they can.

A second element is another race against something that will prove just as deadly. Again, no details as I don’t want to give away spoilers.

And there is also the mystery surrounding  Odessa’s mother and her death.

Add to this a king who is determined to burn every library, a capital city hidden God knows where and you have many elements to keep you intrigued and engaged.

Fourth: the romance.

I won’t give any details, just that it’s an enemies to maybe lovers doubled with a slow burn. And it was well done, with the attraction subtle at first and mounting the more the story progresses.

It ends on a cliffhanger and a surprise of course!

Is it groundbreaking and extremely original? No.

But the execution is very well done, everything runs smoothly, relationships grow organically and all in all, I had a great time listening to that book.

The narrator has to be praised as she does make the story come alive! I think this is a very worthy romantasy and if you love the genre then you should give it a try.

Thanks for reading.

Sophie