Fresh Fridays: On Friday, I review a brand new series (ie. only has one book released so far) to see if the series is worth keeping up with. Here is this week’s offering:
Shield of Sparrows Series
Other books planned to be in the series:
Synopsis for Shield of Sparrows (from Goodreads):
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?
Author: Devney Perry
Series: Shield of Sparrows
# of Books: 2 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: No
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Action
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Date: May 2025 – ongoing
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
The cover drew me in when I was looking at new additions to my library. When I saw how long the waitlist was, I put myself on it and waited. A coworker had also read this book and enjoyed it so when my hold was finally ready, I was looking forward to it. I liked the idea of monsters, a hate to love you romance and a heroine rebelling against expectations.
What I Didn’t Like:
-Very Slow Start-
Normally, I start with What I Like but I have to be honest that I contemplated DNFing this one a few times before the 50% mark because it was dry. You could very easily cut out 150 pages of the first half and still get the same points across and you’d have a much stronger story for it I think.
The first half felt very repetitive to me. I got bored listening to Odessa drone on about her situation and generally being a pawn in everyone else’s games. I wasn’t vibing the romance (that might have been the audiobook’s influence) either or any of the side characters – things that usually save books for me.
But then the book clicks with a few good twists and the action picks up and things get much better.
What I Liked:
-Easy to Understand World-
I was worried I’d get lost with the monsters and magic but it was easy to keep straight. I never felt like I was getting info dumped on. I really enjoyed the direction the book went when it came to understanding the monsters origins and how everything is tied together.
-Plot Direction-
As I said above, once we got through the repetitive nonsense of the first half, I really did start to enjoy how the plot started to evolve and weave together. It’s what kept me invested.
My Audiobook Experience:
So I actually listened to two different audio versions of this book because my loan expired with 25% of the book left. The first version I listened to was the traditional audiobook. I really enjoyed the narrator’s, Samantha Brentmoor, style. However I didn’t love her male voices, particularly for Xavier and the Guardian as I had a hard time distinguishing who was speaking sometimes. I actually think it impacted my feelings towards the romance a bit because of that aspect.
The other version I listened to was the Full Cast version and I really enjoyed it. It had lots of sound effects and different voice actors so it was a much more engaging experience at times. I might have even enjoyed the first half of the book a little more.
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
Very curious to know how this is going to go next!
My Rating: 3/5
Shield of Sparrows 3/5 | Rites of Starling TBP
I’m holding my breathe that the sequel will keep up the great pacing of the later half of the first novel.
Read if You Like: slower stories, romantasy, slow burn
Avoid if You: dislike slow stories, want faster romance
- The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller (The Stathos Sisters Series #1)
- Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong (Age of Legends Series #1)
- Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer (Defy the Night Series #1)
- Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series #1)
