Book Review – Shield of Sparrows

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Narrator: Samantha Brentmoor
Series: Shield of Sparrows, #1, #1
Published by Tantor Media on May 6, 2025
Length: 19 hours 51 minutes
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy
Pages: 528
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads

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?

 

Julie’s Review:

I am having some feelings… and most of these feelings are confusion. What in the actual was that ending? I know this book gets a lot of hype and maybe I had my expectations higher than they should be. I did enjoy this book, I listened to it quickly and for many hours at a time. I didn’t get bored, but at the same time, I’m not yet making this my new personality for the next 5-10 business days.

This book was heavy on the world building, and light on the plot, until that last maybe 30% or so when everything goes down! The monsters in this book are so interesting. I kept looking up illustrations to fully see them because my imagination is weak sauce. The descriptions of the monster encounters were great. The book does hit a bit of that journey dislike for me, because there isn’t much plot development for a long time. It’s a slow burn, not just the romance but the story. And you are suffering alongside our FMC not understanding what is going on. She’s kept in the dark for so long, until she either uncovers the secrets, or finally gets someone to answer her questions.

I really liked Odessa. She’s curious, and stubborn, and a little ADHD, and also has a big heart. I didn’t mind the writing style and thought it worked well on audio. From what I’ve seen some reviews show, the sentences are short and the questions are endless. Yes, but the narration of this sheltered girl who wasn’t raised to be anyone special is believable. My inner monologue is also bullet points and question marks. I don’t think in complete paragraphs. So this felt fitting, and the flow was good. It kind of reminded me of reading Shatter Me, in the similar overthinkers anonymous narration style.

Now for the plot, once we get to plotting, it PLOTS! Well, I did predict one major plot point. I do read a lot. And I’ve watched Star Wars. So… yes I was really expecting that reveal when it came.  But out FMC did not and her reactions were believable. And the banter between the FMC and MMC was it! Taunting to teasing to training to romance igniting. I did want more emotions between them, I didn’t quite believe it on his end, but as a character the MMC is super closed off, broody, secretive, and has more secrets and walls up than Kiamo Ko. But when he softens up and opens up to her, somewhat, you really gotta root for his story arc. Then we have the betrayals and the migration of the monsters causing end of book chaos energy. I also loved little Evie and all the secrets kept about her. Man that ending though. 

Audiobook: Fabulous. Samantha Brentmoor is *(chefs kiss)* an amazing narrator. Her male voices were especially amazingly done. In fact, I really don’t understand why this book got a separate Graphic Audio production, when it’s mostly the FMC’s POV and any conversations are just perfectly handled by Samantha Brentmoor. Then we have one POV chapter from the MMC in another narrator’s voice. This production is already great!

I have some theories for the second book. I know people are already freaking out about the ending and I am super curious to know what unfolds after that ending.

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Lynn’s Review:

All the vibes. Loved this. 6/5 Stars. Especially given that most of the books I’ve been reading have been meh.

• Plot kept me wondering and guessing and questioning. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON. Which, for me, is pretty unusual. I seem to figure out what’s happening in a lot of books. This kept me listening with rapt attention. I did not want to stop listening. I think that (author) Perry’s plan of keeping Odessa (FMC) in the dark really helped here. Odessa is dropped into a a whole different world with no preparations and is completely out of her element.
• I really liked Odessa. It’s easy to empathize with her as a reader. She shows a lot of gumption and character growth throughout the novel. She has a wild and adventurous side. And she’s a reader. More characters like her, please, authors! 
• Odessa’s theme song throughout the novel (per me!) is definitely Where Is My Husband. Or maybe WHO is my husband. 😉 She spends a big portion of this novel being left at various places while everyone goes off to fight the monsters. With no idea what is going on. (Everyone has trust issues in this book!) All while falling for The Guardian.
• Dang. That Guardian. He definitely rivals some of the great MMC love interests. Broody. Mysterious. Excellent at the flirty banter. Definitely powerful and handsome. I’m looking forward to his pov in the next novel.
• Excellent narration by Samantha Brentmoor. I did struggle a bit distinguishing the male voices, especially The Guardian and Xavier. But also think that was an intentional plot-driven decision. I did see after I was almost finished listening that there is a full-cast version. If you listened to that version, let us know how it was! 

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