Recap of our June-July book club pick: Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Shield of Sparrows promised fantasy adventure—and it delivered! But not without sparking some strong (and very divided) opinions in our book club. This novel packed in everything from monster battles to romantic tension, with a healthy dose of world-building that had us reaching for the author's character illustrations.
This book made us feel things
Shield of Sparrows follows a princess who's far from the typical fantasy heroine we're used to. Instead of arriving already skilled in combat and magic, she has to learn everything from scratch––and we appreciated that refreshing take! One member noted how much they liked that "she was not already fit and experienced in all these things that fantasy novels" usually feature, and instead had to be taught.
The book sparked plenty of discussion. The story follows Odessa as she navigates political intrigue, learns to fight, and discovers shocking family secrets, all while forming an unlikely bond with a certain MMC (The Guardian, as I prefer to call him––I’m still not fans of the name "Ransom").
The romance debate
Here's where things got heated in our discussion. The central relationship between Odessa and her Guardian sparked some passionate reactions, and not all positive ones. The issue of lies, trust, and forgiveness became a major talking point, with some members feeling the resolution came too quickly and easily.
One member was particularly frustrated with how instantly Odessa forgave certain revelations, taking a break from reading when "everything came out and she almost instantly forgave him." Others felt more sympathetic to both characters' positions, pointing out that both had been keeping secrets.
World-building that works
Credit where it's due: the author created a vivid world that made us want to see more. For example, the descriptions of the tree town evoked "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves when they were in the forest" for some of us, and the monster designs were compelling enough that we sought out visual references.
The magic system and the mystery surrounding the creatures (especially the connection to family histories) kept us engaged, even when other elements frustrated some of us. And let's be honest, we're all worried about what happens to Faze, Odessa’s adorable creature companion. If anything happens to that little guy, we're rioting!
Plot twists and slight spoilers ahead
Without revealing too much, let's just say the revelation about certain characters' true loyalties had us genuinely surprised. The Banner and Jocelyn plot twists caught us completely off guard, but not necessarily in a bad way. As one member put it, those were the moments that "completely shocked" them in the story.
The climactic battle scene at the end was particularly intense, with plenty of blood and gore that satisfied our more bloodthirsty readers. Though we did joke that it felt a bit like "Twilight Breaking Dawn part two" with all the dramatic deaths that may or may not have stuck.
Questions remain…
The book raised plenty of questions for future installments:
Can we trust the Voster?
What’s really going on with Odessa’s father?
Will her sister be an ally—or an enemy?
And what’s with the sparrows?
During our discussion, we looked up the symbolism behind sparrows. Turns out, they can represent “new beginnings, hope, and a connection to nature," which certainly fits with Odessa's journey and her unique link to the creatures.
The verdict
Shield of Sparrows succeeds in creating a fantasy world that feels fresh while dealing with familiar themes of family, loyalty, and finding your place in the world.
The story kept us turning pages and left us wanting more. It's the first in what promises to be an engaging series, and we're curious to see how the author develops the relationships and political intrigue in future books. Even our most critical members admitted they want to know what happens next!
So... what are we reading next?
We've moved on to An Ember in the Ashes for our next discussion. This is a completed series that promises to give us all the answers (unlike some other series that shall remain nameless).
As always, our book discussions continue to be a mix of passionate literary analysis, wild tangents about publishing mysteries, and the occasional debate about movie adaptations. It's exactly what a book club should be.
Until next time, happy reading!
Erin ♡
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