Book Review :: Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry

Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry
ISBN: 1682816753
Series: Shield of Sparrows #2
Also in this series: Shield of Sparrows
on 7 April 2026
Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy
Pages: 468
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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.

Last updated on 5 September 2026

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What is Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry about?

In Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry, we continue the story we left off in Shield of Sparrows. The Crux migration is coming, and Odessa is missing. 

After a big monster attack, Odessa is separated from Ransom and is now trying to make her way back to him. As she travels across Calandra (while trying to figure out where on the continent she actually is), she meets some priests, specifically Brother Dime (then later Brother Skore), who help her out. But she also meets Evangeline, a young girl who needs her help. Meanwhile, Ransom is trying desperately to find Odessa, deciding to travel to Qunitis to see if she’s there.

Over the course of the story, Odessa is learning more and more about the Crux, these monsters that the continent is plagued with, and what they actually are. And how she’s actually more involved and connected to them than she thought. She gets into all sorts of trouble, discoveres who is trustworthy and who really isn’t. 

“Good will always battle evil. Light will always fight the dark. In those moments, you’ll learn who you truly are. Continue.”

The other POV in Rites of the Starling is that of Caspia. Her visions about her sister Emery’s death run rampant in her mind, and while her aunt dismisses her visions, Caspia is drawn away from her homeland to try and find answers. She jumps on a ship leaving her home with her cousin Xandra, and while they’re on board, Xandra transforms into a monster and attacks. Caspia leaps into the sea to escape and is rescued by Andreas. 

He doesn’t speak her language; she’s in a new land, in a new culture and place. Eventually the two begin to understand each other, and they form a tight bond.

The book follows Caspia and Andreas in one part of the country, and also Odessa, Ransom, and Evangeline in the rest. It has twists and turns, intense action, and of course, love and friendship. 

My thoughts on Rites of the Starling

Phoar, what a book. 

Looking on Goodreads at other people’s reviews, people either loved it or hated it. Most, however, fall into the former camp, and I am one of them. 

I so enjoyed Shield of Sparrows, so when Rites of the Starling came out, I was right there at the bookstore picking up a copy. And I thoroughly enjoyed this one too. 

The mystery around the origins of the Crux plays out a lot more in the book as we begin to understand more of the backstory and the history there, and then some of the characters’ connections to the monsters. And it was so good having another POV through Caspia and her storyline throughout the book, too. 

The way Perry weaves the story together, and the things you sort of realise as you read each chapter … brilliant. 

Something I didn’t enjoy so much in Shield of Sparrows was Odessa’s inner monologue, and how many questions she just outright asked herself. It was a bit annoying and repetitive. I don’t think this book was as bad. And I don’t know if that’s just because Odessa was asking fewer questions, or if we spent less time with Odessa so the impact wasn’t as compounding. Unsure. 

If you read Shield of Sparrows and enjoyed it, I think you’ll enjoy this one even more. I’m looking forward to book three in this fantasy series, Seven and the Swift, which releases in 2027. 

Have you read this series? Without spoilers, what did you think of book two?