Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry - an addictive romantasy read

From the first chapter, I was pulled into Odessa’s world of gods, monsters, cursed kingdoms and political bargains.

A princess bound by an ancient magical treaty to marry a stranger and journey into a dangerous foreign land isn't a new story, but this felt familiar in the best way. Devney Perry’s execution made it fresh and cinematic.

The world-building and atmosphere are phenomenal... the landscapes, the monstrous threats and the constant feeling that something terrible might be lurking just off the page made this feel genuinely high-stakes. I loved discovering the magic and history gradually rather than being dumped with information; it kept me turning pages to find out more.

Odessa herself absolutely sold the book for me. She isn’t a perfect warrior princess or a helpless pawn—she’s somewhere in between, growing into her strength in a way that feels genuine and hard-won.

Her internal struggle between duty, fear and desire gives the story real emotional weight. And then there’s the slow-burn romance. The tension, the banter, the moments of tenderness breaking through all that resentment… it’s exactly the kind of enemies-to-lovers arc I want in this genre, with a payoff that feels earned rather than rushed.

That said, I wouldn't complain if the slow-burn hadn't been quite so slow!

“If the last kiss had ignited the spark, this kiss set me aflame."

The main twist was one I saw coming, but it was executed flawlessly and didn't annoy me, probably because I was captivated by the intensity of the emotions. I swooned every time he called her "My Queen" *sigh*