Odessa, the main character from which the story is being told ended up being someone I really loved immediately. She is the castoff princess, feeling as if she has no place with her family and her people, like she is unnecessary and unnoticed, with no real use to anyone.
I felt such a kinship for this character who was just trying to find her way in the world and feel like she was someone to the people around her, and who is then thrust into a role that throws her completely off kilter. Suddenly she is expected to be the Sparrow, meant to marry into another kingdom to maintain their alliance, when it was her sister trained for this role from birth. As a result, Odessa is fumbling her way through a position her father intends to work as both spy and assassin, with exactly zero training to help her accomplish this task. Despite her lack of preparation, Odessa embraces the role of Sparrow and shows what a tough, yet empathetic individual she is which made me adore her character more with every bit I learned about her, particularly as I watched her grow and come into herself more.
The Guardian is an enigma who is impossible not to be intrigued by and honestly not to fall for bit by bit. His relationship with Odessa is everything from the moment the meet, filled with sarcasm and barely contained exasperation for one another. And tension. Did I forget about the tension? Despite her marriage to Xavier, the King, she cannot help but be drawn to the Guardian and I felt this in my soul.
Even side characters that weren’t necessarily in a majority of scenes were so lovable. Evie was a ray of sunshine I couldn’t get enough of, and her relationship with others was so adorable and pure. And despite the nature of the arranged marriage between Zander and Odessa, I couldn’t help but like his character immensely as well. Despite clearly rooting for a certain other mysterious badass to win her heart.
The world created in Shield of Sparrows is fascinating and just incredible. I was so pulled into the world building immediately and left with a number of questions that I hope answers will be forthcoming on, as well as such interest in the details that were revealed throughout the course of the novel.
There’s the monstrous creatures, the crux, the migration, the blood affliction popping up in the monsters and making them even more vicious, the Brotherhood, and right down to the Shield of Sparrows itself, tying the kingdoms together. I could go on and on about what I loved about the world building and how much I loved it but it’s better read for oneself so all I can do is encourage others to read this book and say just how much I recommend it.
I adored this fantasy book in its entirety. There wasn’t a moment where I was bored or could have done without the scene, etc. I was obsessed with this book and its world and characters in its entirety and I am already suffering from withdrawals and entirely desperate for the sequel to come out. I need more ASAP.
