Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry (May 6, 2025) I finally picked this one up after hearing rave reviews – and wow, you were all so right. This book completely consumed me from page one.
Odessa is the eldest daughter of the king… and yet, she’s always been second-best. Her stepsister is set to marry a prince from a rival kingdom to secure an ancient alliance, and Odessa is totally fine staying out of it. She dreams of a life beyond crowns, courtships, and loveless royal marriages. But everything changes when the prince’s terrifying monster hunter rejects the chosen bride and demands Odessa instead.
In less than a day, Odessa is forcibly married to a distant, disinterested prince and shipped off to a foreign realm – with secret orders from her father to spy on the kingdom, assassinate the monster hunter, and report back. Except… nothing is what it seems. The kingdom is fierce but beautiful, the people are warm, and the guardian (her enemy and protector) is maddening, magnetic, and far more complex than anyone warned.
OH. GOOD. GRIEF. This book slaps. The tension. The longing. The slow unraveling of secrets. Odessa’s character arc is powerful – she’s smart, layered, and resilient in the face of impossible choices. And the guardian? Let’s just say the brooding protector trope has never looked so good. The love story is complex and deliciously slow-burn, the supporting cast is full of heart, and the political intrigue is genuinely gripping. There’s danger, found family, betrayal, a third-act twist I did see coming but still loved and a final twist that was…I don’t even know what!
This is epic romantic fantasy at its most entertaining. You will fly through all 600+ pages and immediately want more.
🎧 Audiobook Notes: Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke are absolute perfection. Their voices bring so much depth and emotion to these characters. Honestly, they could narrate IKEA instructions and I’d still be hooked. But luckily, this story is spellbinding. (19 hrs 51 mins, duet narration)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Audiobook Performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 