Honest Book Review of Rites of the Starling
Author: Devney Perry
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This is one of those books where I finished it and just sat there for a second like… okay, now what am I supposed to do with myself?
This is the second book to the Shield of the Sparrows and this romantasy did NOT disappoint. If you need a recap of Shield of Sparrows, you can read the recap HERE
Going into Rites of the Starling, I already cared about the story, but this one pulled me in even deeper. The stakes feel higher, everything feels a little more intense, and there’s this constant feeling that something isn’t quite right beneath the surface.
We’re still following Odessa, but she’s in a very different place mentally. She’s not just going along with what’s expected of her anymore—she’s questioning things, pushing back, and starting to see that the Shield of Sparrows agreement might not be the peaceful solution everyone claims it is. The more she learns, the more uneasy everything feels, and I loved that slow unraveling of truth.
But the biggest shift (and honestly one of my favorite parts) is getting Caspia’s POV.
Her chapters add so much. Where Odessa is more emotional and caught in the middle of everything, Caspia feels more observant, more calculated. You get this wider view of what’s actually going on, especially when it comes to the politics and the quiet manipulation happening behind the scenes. There were multiple moments where I’d read something from Odessa’s perspective and then switch to Caspia and go… oh. OH. That’s what’s really happening.
It made the whole story feel more layered and a lot more tense because you’re constantly piecing things together.
Curious how this one compares on the spice scale? I break it all down here…Ultimate Guide to Spicy Fantasy Romance
The romance also builds in a way that just worked for me. It’s not easy or perfect—it’s complicated, a little messy, and full of hesitation. There’s still that tension and pull between the characters, but now it’s mixed with everything else they’re dealing with, which makes it hit harder.
I also really liked how the world expands without feeling overwhelming. You get more insight into the kingdoms, the magic (especially the crux), and how everything connects—but it never feels like info-dumping. It just kind of unfolds naturally as the story moves forward.
And the ending?? Without spoiling anything, it definitely left me needing the next book immediately. Like… no hesitation.
Overall: this felt like one of those sequels that actually adds to the story instead of just continuing it. More depth, more tension, more emotion—and that Caspia POV really sealed it for me.
Honestly, Rites of the Starling ended up being one of my favorite reads on Goodreads.
Learn more about the author….Devney Perry
Books to Read After Rites of the Starling
⚠️⚠️SPOILERS⚠️⚠️
The Caspia POV reveal?? I did not catch that right away. It took me to about 60% before it fully clicked that Caspia is actually Odessa’s mother, and once that realization hits, it completely changes how you read everything before it. All those moments that felt slightly off suddenly make perfect sense.
And honestly… it makes her storyline even more tragic.
Especially when you factor in the visions. There’s that moment where she sees her sister being killed by a silver-eyed warrior, and at first, it feels like a memory—like something that already happened in the past. But as the story unfolds, you realize it’s actually a glimpse of the future. And not just any future… but one where Ransom is the one who kills her sister during a crux attack. That realization is gut-wrenching because it reframes everything—her fear, her decisions, and the way she tries to protect Odessa.
It makes her actions feel less like overreaction and more like someone desperately trying to prevent a future she’s already seen pieces of.
By the end, you don’t just understand Caspia—you genuinely feel for her. The weight of knowing (or thinking you know) what’s coming, and still not being able to fully stop it? It’s heartbreaking.
And then when you tie that into her dreams of protecting Odessa… it makes you wonder how much more she saw. I had the same thought—there are hints that she may have seen further into Odessa’s future than we realize. Possibly even something like a future pregnancy or continuation of her bloodline. It feels like something that could definitely come back in the next book.
As for Ransom and Odessa, one of my fav romantasy couple, yes they’re separated for part of the story, but thankfully it’s not dragged out forever. Their connection still feels present, and it never gets to that frustrating point where you’re just waiting endlessly for them to reunite.
Now the Vosters… I’m still a little ??? about them. We know they’re dangerous, and clearly have some kind of issue with the starlings, but the deeper reason behind why they want them dead isn’t fully clear yet. It feels intentional though—like we’re only seeing part of the puzzle.
My guess is that’s going to be a big reveal in book three, especially with how everything ties back to the crux and these bloodlines.
But overall, that Caspia storyline? Between the reveal, the visions, and that devastating connection to Ransom—it’s what made this book hit so much harder.
