I just wrapped up listening to Shield of Sparrows and Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry, and they completely pulled me in.
I borrowed both for free through the Libby app from my library, which always feels like such a win. They fall into the romantasy category, which blends fantasy and romance in one of my favorite styles.
Shield of Sparrows
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?
Rites of the Starling
Calandra’s five kingdoms are on the verge of destruction. The crux migration is coming. And in the wake of a devastating attack, I’ve been separated from the man who owns my heart.
I’m lost. Terrified. Homesick. Hunted by monsters, driven to exhaustion, and kidnapped by a powerful priest, the only thing keeping me going is the little girl counting on me to keep her safe.
It’s my turn to become the Guardian.
Our lives change one fateful night. A night of death. A night of monsters. A night of truths. That night, I learn the real meaning of fear―and the depth of my own strength.
Everyone wants me to be something I’m not―a queen, a spy, a sacrifice. But what if I embrace my crown? What if the secrets I uncover save our realm?
What if my sacrifice means salvation for the man I love?
For too long, I’ve feared the monsters we make.
It’s time to discover the monster within.
What I loved most is how easy it was to get lost in. If I had 5 free minutes, I was listening. The world-building is rich, the main character is strong but relatable, and the story keeps you fully invested. The names of people and places are not so crazy that I couldn’t keep track of who’s who and where they were in the land. It all felt very cinematic to me, like I could see it playing out as I listened.
And as someone who listens to a lot of audiobooks, I have to mention the narrator. That can truly make or break the experience, and in this case, it absolutely made it.
The real surprise was that Honey listened too and enjoyed it just as much. We don’t often overlap on books, so it was fun to have something we were both into and could talk about along the way.
We’re already looking ahead to the third book coming out next March, which feels like a torturous wait.
What are you listening to?!
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