I LOVE AND AM OBSESSED with this world that Devney Perry created!!! OMG. I can't stop thinking about it!!!⁣
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I seriously want to say more, but at the same time I don't because you NEED to experience this book for yourself. I am so in love. It's DEFINITELY MY FAVORITE READ OF THE YEAR!!! All the stars!!! It is so addictive, and I cannot stop reading it. Literally at the edge of my seat!! So many twists and turns. The characters, the angst, the sexual tension 🤭, the monsters, the banter, the magic, the mysteriousness of everything, it was PERFECTION!! ⁣
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Even if you're not a huge romantasy reader, you do not want to miss out on this. I REPEAT, YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS OUT ON IT. 😂 ⁣
⁣
How am I supposed to wait for the next book?!? 😭

I gobbled up Shield of sparrows like it was my last meal- an enemies to lovers romantasy that gripped me from the first page with the promise of gods, monsters, and princesses. I was captivated by the world building and the even better tension and banter. The actual shield of sparrows is a marriage treaty that’s meant to keep peace within these 5 kingdoms. And although Odessa is the King’s oldest daughter, he’s chosen her sister as the sparrow, set to marry the crown prince. But that’s not what ends up happening. The journey this story takes is so full of twists and turns, it keeps you guessing
I was actually so gagged like multiple times!!!

I genuinely haven’t had this much fun reading a book in so long. . I would lay my life down for these characters. The ending left me utterly speechless. I need the next book stat!

I didn't know how much I needed Samantha Brentmoor to narrate and audiobook until now. 10/10 performance.

my top book of the year so far. wow as someone who does not read romantasy- I was very excited to read this one because I absolutely love Devney's writing. this enemies to lovers slow bur was everything I didn't know I needed. the world building was so freaking good. the tension and banter was top tier. this story was addicting, captivating, and gut-wrenching. I was kicking my feel giggling and then ugly sobbing over so many different elements about this story. there were so many twists and turn throughout the story that it kept me on my toes. I loved this story with my whole heart that I started it over again immediately. I could not love this story more and I am going to be anxiously counting down until the next one.

THE SAMANTHA AND JASON COMBO IS ELITE

dare i say my favorite romantasy of the year?!?! This truly is the blueprint for the perfect romantasy in my eyes. The perfect balance between romance, unique plot and fantasy elements! I love Devney’s writing and small town romances, so when she announced a romantasy book, I knew I was going to be obsessed! And I want correct 🤭

What to expect:
-romantasy
-arranged marriage
-enemies to lovers
-plot twists
-spice, banter & tension
-slow burn
-magic, monsters & myths
-adventure & intrigue

So as I already mentioned: NEW FAV ROMANTASY BOOK UNLOCKED 🔓 Devney entered her romantasy era and left absolutely zero crumbs. I was hooked from the first chapter and didn’t want to put it down. Not only was I obsessed with the characters, I was also sucked into the plot and immediately theorizing. I did a hybrid read with the audio and HIGHLY RECOMMEND. We know Devney can write an addictive contemporary romance, but add addictive romantasy writer to her resume! The plot is something I feel like you have to kinda go in blind for the best reading experience! The plot twists will have you on the edge of your seat. The enemies to lovers romance was CHEFS KISS!! I was obsessed with the banter and tension between the two main characters. Who doesn’t love a fierce fmc and a grumpy mmc combo??? Also adored all the side characters. I really think a new fantasy reader and a seasoned fantasy reader would love this one! My jaw was on the floor at the ending and I’m going to need that second book immediately!!

Thank you so much Devney & team and Redtower for the ARC and ALC of Shield of Sparrows!

“You are not a pawn, Odessa. Not to me. You are the Sparrow. You are my wife. You are the future queen of Turah.”

Consider me OBSESSED!!! I was absolutely engrossed in this story and have to say it absolutely CONSUMED me. I could not stop thinking about it, every twist, every turn, every secret revealed, this story was everything I love about reading books. It transported me to another world where a princess was used as a bargaining chip in a centuries old magical treaty to keep the kingdoms from war. But all was not as it seemed as Odessa began her journey to her new home, each stop along her journey revealing something to make her question everything she thought she knew. Her resilience and strength was tested at every turn and I loved watching her grow into something so fierce, even her new husband couldn’t help but be impressed. With every utterance of “my queen”, I absolutely melted and as the book progressed the sarcastic tone changed into something of reverence and I knew there was no turning back for either of them.

“Love shouldn’t come with this many lies “

Whether you are a reader who is well versed in the Romantasy genre or you are a contemporary reader who wants to start their fantasy journey, this book is a must read! The story is character driven so that the fantasy world building feels natural and not overwhelming, a true testament to Devney’s storytelling. Be ready to become obsessed!! I think my jaw is still on the floor from that ending!

Samantha’s narration in the audiobook was stellar, she portrayed Odessa’s strength and resilience perfectly and made me fall hard for the prince. Her differentiation for the cast of characters gave a great amount of depth to the audiobook and made this a standout performance for me!

For once, you can believe the hype, my friends. OBSESSED. ENCHANTED. MESMERIZED. AND !00% ADDICTED. Shield of Sparrows is undoubtedly one of the best reads of the year! I was swept away into this alluring romantasy world of monsters and cursed kingdoms, intrigue and secrets, the most delicious slow burning romance, and a heroine so endearing and charming that you can’t help but fall madly in love with her. Did I devour this book/audio or did it devour me?! Either way I am wildly in love with this story and AM DESPERATE FOR MORE.

The spare princess- everyone’s pawn. The girl who hides parts of herself, while others are overlooked and forgotten. What a compelling and lovable heroine Odessa is. I loved her softness and her fire, her strength and vulnerability, her curiosity and her cleverness. Deveny immerses us so brilliantly in this character- the interiority, the character voice, her big beautiful, brave heart. I just adored her! The character growth, the emotional journey, it’s just chef’s kiss. And oh my did Samantha Brentmoor SLAY the narration. She brings so much emotional nuance and gripping expression to the performance. She brings Odessa to live

The world building is so deftly and artfully created. I felt swept away into these magical settings full of mythical monsters and so much palpable danger! As an infrequent fantasy reader, I found everything so inviting and immersive, beautifully constructed that truly transported me to this amazing world, as if Devney has written a thousand romantasies before.. I don’t want to say too much about the plot or the love story because you just have to dive in blind- but the banter, the angsty longing, the romantic tension EATS YOU UP. It is a slower burn…and it has a bit of a travel/danger pattern vibe in the middle that did move a little slower, but it’s because I wanted answers and also was waiting to figure out just WHO was our hero- but once things become clear I was even more hooked. And the adventure and jaw dropping twists- some I predicted and some I never saw coming. And the last 30%?! Let’s just say I was CONSUMED and gasping for more at the end.

Truly a mind blowing romantasy debut for seasoned story teller Devney Perry- still with ALL of the hallmarks we love about her writing- amazing settings, explosive enemies to lovers chemistry, a full cast of charming characters, and a tender emotional affecting story. But now with monsters, and myths, and curses, and lore, and SO much magical fantasy charisma. Hands down my favorite Devney book of all time (gasp) and one of my favorite romantasies ever. AND THAT ENDING?! SOMEONE HOLD ME. Brava, Devney- Brava.

Audio Review:
Samantha Brentmoor is always amazing, but this is perhaps her best narration ever. She’s phenomenal. The emotional range, the vulnerability, the expressive nuances she brings to the table. Odessa is such a dynamic character, and with the majority of the book in her POV, she does some heavy lifting as a character and with her character arc. And Samantha effortlessly and perfectly brings it to life. I also loved how thoughtfully she voices the other characters in Odessa’s POV. And Jason Clarke is yummy as always- we only have a smidge of him, and while I was THIRSTY for that POV, given the plot and twists and storyline it makes sense we don't get our hero’s interiority until the end. And Jason comes in and slays the moments he has. This is a longer story (and a long audio) and it flew by- I could not stop listening..


👑Romantasy
⚔️Enemies to lovers
👑Arranged marriage
⚔️Magic, monsters & myths
👑Plot twists
⚔️Tension, banter and light spice!
👑Very slow burn
⚔️adventure, secrets, & intrigue
👑Forced Proximity
⚔️Travel
👑She learns to fight/is discovering her power
⚔️Found Family

TOP TIER READ🎧🤭
5⭐️
5🎧
.5🌶️
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: romantasy, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, slow burn, tension, magic, ends on a cliffy
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟐
𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤: Samantha Brentmoore + Jason Clark

THIS BOOK WAS TOP FREAKING TIER. I simply will not and cannot get over that cliffy. Like what am I supposed to do having to wait for the next book?!

The fantasy romance girlies are getting FED this year and I am EATING. IT. UP.👏🏻 The tension and chemistry between these two was FIRE.🔥 While I did feel like there is a good balance between fantasy elements and romance, this is what I would say a little heavier on the romance. So don’t go into this expecting romance as a subplot because it simply is SHINING in this one okay? And we love it because oh my gosh I am kicking my feet with how much I love them.

This is one of those stories where you just need to dive in and don’t look back. Devney did a beautiful job of creating a beautiful world what you really do just want to get lost in.

The ending to this one is giving MAJOR I need this book yesterday energy because WTF! I need everyone to join in on my pain of having to wait for the next book.

HUGE thank you to Devney & Red Tower for a physical arc and stunning t shirt to read in💚🫶🏻

WOWOWOWOW i am speechless after reading this!! you would never guess this was devney’s fantasy debut, reading this felt like reading a seasoned fantasy author. this book is the epitome of everything i love about romantasy books, great banter, digestible world building/fantasy elements, slow burn enemies to lovers, a fierce fmc, a swoon worthy mmc, unique plot that holds your attention (seriously could not out this down), and amazing side characters that make the story feel well rounded🫂

here what i love:
👑 already loving the world building seems really easy to follow and understand
🏹 already obsessed with odessa, she is feisty & fierce!!
👑 the vosters are kinda creepy, idk if i trust them idk if i trust anyone but odessa,
🏹 the guardian & zavier are hot🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️
👑 i LOVE seeing odessa wearing colors!!!
🏹 that scene had my heart RACING!! the marroweels seem so scary
👑 so many theories are swirling in my head
🏹 odessa & the guardian having top tier banter!! i love their back & forth so much🙂‍↕️
👑 love seeing odessa wanting to learn how to fight & defend herself & i love even more that it’s the guardian who’s teaching her
🏹 obsessed with the journey aspect in this one
👑 THE TENSION PLEASE JUST KISS ALREADY!!! the slow burn is slow burninggggg
🏹 the monsters are SO cool (but also scary) and i love the art devney posted, it helps me be able to visualize them so well!!
👑 “MY QUEEN” crying!!!
🏹 i don’t know who’s sassier odessa or the guardian
👑 “praise is for the bedroom, cross. not the training ring” OKAY GUARDIAN I SEE YOU
🏹 i love the guardian so much he’s so protective of odessa
👑 enemies to lovers hitting so good😮‍💨
🏹 I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT
👑 i love how determined odessa is
🏹 the monster scenes make my heart RACE
👑 omg how could you not love evie!! i’m obsessed with her
🏹 they’re so down bad for each other
👑 HIS NAME
🏹 i love faze🫂
👑 my heart hurts for odessa right now - heavy on the mirrorball vibes in this scene
🏹 I FREAKING KNEW IT OMG IM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW - me when i guess one of the twists right
👑 my heart is bursting
🏹 “my choice is you”🥹🥹
👑 my face right now 😮😮😮
🏹 oh my goddd what is happening?? so much chaos what is going on, i’m scared!!!
👑 jaw is literally on the floor
🏹 THE ENDING!!? i knew that was going to play an important part but i didn’t think it was THAT?!?
👑 I NEED BOOK 2 OMFGGGG

i listens to the alc and followed along in my arc and seriously had the best time!! the production was phenomenal it felt like i was watching a movie!! i can’t believe o have to wait for book 2 now, the ending of this one has me spiraling i have so many questions but also so many theories. i got to experience reading this with a group of friends who all had arcs and we had the best time bouncing thoughts & theories off each other! this is EASILY one of my top reads of the year! if this is devney’s fantasy debut i can’t wait to see what else she has up her sleeve for the rest of this series and for future fantasy books. this book has gotten a lot of praise so far and honestly, it deserves even more because this book was seriously just that freaking good!!!

STRONG contender for my favorite book of the year!! I’m still obsessing over this book a week after reading it!⁣
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What to expect:⁣
✨ Magic and myths⁣
🩶 Enemies to lovers⁣
✨ Arranged marriage⁣
🩶 Slow burn⁣
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I was completely immersed in this new world that Devney built! Sometimes all the information can be overwhelming in the beginning of a series, but that wasn’t the case here. Everything came together seamlessly! ⁣
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The characters…oh, the characters! I loved them! Odessa as a main character really came into her own as the story unfolded. I knew I was going to love her from that first chapter. ⁣
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Did I adore the MMC? Yes. Incredible. No notes. 😍⁣
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The monsters in this series were amazing, and I love that Devney released photos of them so we could see them before/as we were reading! And the Voster…I need to know more!! As creepy as they were, they’re one of my favorite parts of this book!⁣
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Overall, the characters, the banter, even the characters I wanted to punch in the face, made this story for me! You don’t want to miss this incredible start to the series!⁣
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For the audiobook fans - Samantha Brentmoore completely knocked this one out of the park!! Absolutely fan-freaking-tastic performance! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 She’s my favorite for a reason!⁣ Samantha AND Jason Clarke? Best pairing ever!!
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Thank you to the author and Red Tower Books for a physical arc and Tantor Audio for an ALC. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

My new go-to fantasy romance book recommendation!

If there were ever a time I wished time travel existed, it would be now, just so I could go back and experience this book for the first time all over again. I'm very jealous of everyone who still gets to read it for the very first time. EASILY one of the best new fantasy books that I have read in years.

Shield of Sparrows is the author's first fantasy book, and OMG...I am so impressed. It has everything that I love in a fantasy romance novel: delicious enemies to lovers tension, an arranged marriage dynamic, monsters, secrets, magic, banter, brooding men, and an amazing female main character.

What stood out most to me was just how fresh and original the story felt. The fantasy world of Calandra was introduced in a way that felt natural and easy to follow (without being dumbed down), and there was no info-dumping. I found myself constantly looking for breadcrumbs and trying to guess twists. There were moments when the tension had me so far on the edge of my seat, it’s honestly a miracle I didn’t fall off my couch.😂😅

I loved the female main character, Odessa, and found the side characters equally intriguing. This book had the same “feel” as Devney’s small town romance books, but in a completely new and magical way.

This book is a must-read for fantasy romance fans. Seriously…please read it ASAP and then we can all sit and stare at the ceiling together, unable to move on with our lives until book 2 comes out.🙃

I listened to the audiobook and WOW WOW WOW. My favorite audiobook of the year. Thank you so much to Devney and Red Tower for the advanced copies.

Devney Perry's transition from romance to romantasy felt natural and effortless. Everything you love about Deveny's writing is present in this story, with the added element of it being set in a very accessible fantasy world. Shield of Sparrows was a romance forward story with palpable tension, heartfelt friendships, and a beautifully personal growth story line for our FMC. In addition, the world Devney has created truly feels one of a kind. Despite the fantasy elements being easy to understand, the story and conflict remained complex. Every time you think you know what is coming next, you are met with another twist that keeps you turning to the next page.

To me, this was unputdownable. When I was not reading Shield of Sparrows I was thinking about Shield of Sparrows, and even now, as I have finished the story, it remains on my mind.

Samantha Brentmoor brought this story to life with a phenomenal first person single POV narration performance. She was able to perfectly embody each character and provide another level of connection to the story.

If I have not made myself abundantly clear, this book was beyond a five star read for me. Shield of Sparrows...welcome to my Roman Empire.

All I can say is: WOW. Devney Perry absolutely blew me out of the water with her romantasy debut. From beginning to end, I was absolutely invested in Odessa's story.

Shield of Sparrows follows Odessa Cross, the underestimated, undervalued princess who is suddenly thrown into an arranged marriage against her will. She travels across the continent to a kingdom far different from her own; One filled with dangers that she has yet to understand. Shield of Sparrows is gripping, action-packed, and filled with beautiful world-building and storytelling. The twists & surprises within this story had me so deeply intrigued in how the story would unfold.

Odessa is an incredible female lead with a wonderful character arc. Her development throughout the story was so special. Getting to see her strength, witness her bravery, and explore her incredibly caring & intelligent personality was absolutely wonderful.

The romance in this story was beautifully done. The tension and chemistry was off the charts, absolutely radiating off the pages. I absolutely cannot wait to see where Devney goes with the rest of their story!!!

This audiobook was so incredibly well done. Both Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke's narration was done incredibly well & they both truly embodied the characters for me. I felt fully immersed in the story and really enjoyed getting to experience the story through the audio.

Devney Perry has long been a powerhouse in the romance genre, but her foray into romantasy with Shield of Sparrows is nothing short of spectacular! Chefs kiss! She didn’t just dip her toe into the genre, she dove in headfirst and absolutely nailed it.

Shield of Sparrows is everything a romantasy should be. The world-building is immersive and vivid, layered with political intrigue, thrilling action, and yes, monsters that are just the right mix of terrifying and fascinating. And let’s not forget the broody, complex MMC we all instantly fell for.

What sets this book apart are the jaw-dropping revelations. Devney masterfully kept us in the dark alongside our heroine, delivering twists that truly shook me. It’s rare for an author to blindside readers so effectively, and she did it with precision.

The characters are another standout. Each one feels so real. They are flawed, layered, and easy to get attached to. Their arcs develop organically, and you find yourself deeply invested in every moment. Odessa, once seen as the “spare” sister, comes into her own with strength, resilience, and heart. She’s a force to be reckoned with. And The Guardian? There’s something endlessly compelling about him. He is mysterious, richly developed, and impossible not to be intrigued by.

I am already counting the days until books two and three release (we don’t have dates yet…but I’m eager!) If Shield of Sparrows is any indication, Devney Perry is well on her way to claiming the crown as the new Queen of Romantasy.

I’ve almost read through Devneys backlist and obsess over her small towns …. So you can imagine I was PUMPED when she announced she was writing romantasy!

You can not tell this is her first book in her Romantasy era, and I am so excited for more to come. The banter & angst were top tier. The world building sucks you into this story right from the start.

And the twists had me literally shook. I was so shocked and sad it was over. I can’t wait for the next one!

THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!! One of my favorite fantasy books and audiobooks! I loved this book so much! The world-building and magic were so intriguing! It was so easy to understand and get into! I love how we got right into the story and the plot. I was absolutely in shock with some of the plot twists that were revealed!! I cannot believe this is Devney's first fantasy novel. I will be patiently waiting for the other books in the series! The narrators did such an amazing job with these characters! The tension they enhanced was incredible!! They encaptured the characters so well!!

infinity/5 stars

no notes.

Devney has shown that she truly is an amazing story teller no matter the genre. She has created an epic world full of mysteries, monsters, a swoony hero and a princess we can all see a bit of ourselves in. The plot had me guessing and on the edge of my seat the entire time. The way Devney wove the details of the world and story together were truly masterful. The relationship between our two main characters was nothing short of epic. I'm rooting so hard for them. The banter, the tension, the slow burn, it was all SO GOOD!!! (Not so) patiently waiting for book 2.

I was gifted an ALC of this story and once again Samantha Brentmoor proves she is one of the best narrators of our time. Her ability to portray a variety of characters all with such depth of emotion is unmatched.

Thank you Devney and Red Tower Books for an ARC and ALC of this epic tale. It was my honor.

Probably one of the best romantasy books I’ve read. This 100% will be a top Romantasy of the year. The audio was incredible! I absolutely loved the female narrator and the emotions she portrayed! I cannot wait for book 2!!

4.5 Stars, but I'm rounding up to 5 because it made me cry and I already miss the characters. 🥹

I loved this. Truly. It was Devney's first romantasy and I was blown away! From the start I was hooked. I loved the FMC Odessa immediately and I found myself invested in her and her story right away. I was intrigued right away as Odessa entered into an arrange marriage, but also found herself attracted to (and annoyed by) the infamous Guardian. As the book went on I absolutely loved the characters she met a long the way, the relationships she built, the world building (not too hard to understand), the monsters, the focus on reading & knowledge, the training, and the grade A, top notch banter.

🎧 The audiobook? It will be one of my top audiobooks of 2025 FOR SURE. I lovedddd Samantha's narration and the way she so perfectly embodied Odessa. She had me feeling her fear, her apprehension, her desire, her love, and so much more. I was straight up SOBBING at the end of the book and so much of that had to do with Samantha's ability to put me in the story.

Read if you like:
-Enemies to lovers
-Arranged marriage
-EXCELLENT banter
-Hidden Identities
-Training montages 😂
-Found family
-Dark magic & monsters
-Opinionated, independent fmc
-🌶️🌶️

The only reason I'm rating it a 4.5? I found the middle of the book a bit slow, but I also understand the importance of world building and introducing the many characters and monsters that are essential to this story.

I truly miss every character already and will be counting down the days until book 2. Highly recommend adding this one to your TBR!

Thank you so so much to Red Tower Books for the physical ARC and to Tantor Audio for the ALC.

I have been anticipating reading this book for so long and I am left speechless now that it is over. It was simply amazing!

The world building was wonderful and (for romantasy rookies like me) easy to follow. The angst of where this adventure was leading these characters held me on the edge of my seat. The secrets and plot twists were many and I never saw them coming. Devney Perry delivered with this story and I cannot express how much I loved it. Can't wait for more!

I both read and listened the audio since I couldn't put it down. Samantha Brentmoor is a huge favorite of mine and she did amazing narrating 98% of this book. Jason Clarke jumped in at the end and of course I'll take any listening time with him.

Also where do I sign up for a pet tarkin?!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!

this book was incredible!! i don’t even have words to encapsulate all that this story was. it was such a riveting, unique fantasy novel, brimming with wonderful characters, rich world-building and lore, and a plot full of unexpected turns. just when i thought i had everything figured out, devney pulled the rug out from under my feet and took the story in a completely different direction.

i loved odessa — she was charming, quick-witted, and so very fierce. her strength was so awe-inspiring. the way she stayed true to herself and fought for herself was something special to witness. and don’t even get me started on the hero!!! i’m obsessed with him. their love story was so wild and unexpected, but i can’t wait to see where the next book takes it.

over all, i think this book is yet another testament to devney’s talent. she pivoted and wrote a flawless story in a brand new genre, one that i feel is notoriously hard to tackle, and she did is immensely well. i have always loved devney’s writing, but i appreciated it 10x more in this novel because she made the romantasy genre so accessible. that she wrote a fantasy novel that wasn’t intimidating to read or hard to enjoy is amazing!

also, the narration of this audiobook was incredible. samantha brentmoor did such a terrific job of portraying odessa’s voice authentically and vividly. it’s hard to capture the voice of a younger, somewhat naive heroine, but samantha did her justice while also injecting in her strength and a spine of steel.