Rites of the Starling, by Devney Perry - Book Review

***This review is spoiler-minimal and focuses on overall impressions rather than major plot reveals.**

Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry is a fantasy sequel that continues the Shield of Sparrows trilogy with expanded worldbuilding, layered character development, and a deeper magic system. While more complex than Book 1, it delivers a strong emotional payoff for fantasy romance readers, especially for fans of Devney Perry's work.

Recommended for fans of:

• epic fantasy adventure

• dual POV storytelling

• dual timelines

• found family dynamics

• romance with emotional depth

“Good will always battle evil,” he said. “Light will always battle the dark.”

Overall Impressions:

Rites of the Starling was one of my most anticipated April releases for 2026. After devouring Shield of Sparrows, Book 1 of the fantasy series, in one obnoxiously long reading sprint, I couldn’t wait to see where Devney Perry's characters ended up next. As I did with the first book of the trilogy, I continued to find myself fascinated by the magic system and creature lore. I am a sucker for anything that includes monsters, and my imagination went wild with the descriptions laid out in these books. I knew going into Book #2 that I wanted to know more about the monsters and where they came from, which was a wish granted…almost too much.

Unlike the first book, which felt like the adventure unfolded very naturally, this installment is more complex and requires a higher level of attention from the reader. It is not a negative change, but it may feel a bit jarring for some readers.

For that reason, I recommend immersion reading to help fully orient yourself with the story. The audiobook features Jason Clarke, Samantha Brentmoor, and Megan Wicks, with a runtime of 17 hours and 23 minutes at regular speed (though faster listeners at 2x speed can finish it in just under 9 hours if they drink enough coffee).

Returning Characters and Relationships:

Rites of the Starling continues Odessa’s journey of self-discovery, and one of the most compelling parts for me was her growing, almost maternal relationship with Evie. Their dynamic highlights Odessa’s emotional growth, especially in how she learns to balance love and strength into something powerful and grounded.

The romance between Odessa and Ransom is still present in Rites of the Starling, and their reunion was definitely a “kick your feet” moment. I love how protective Ransom is and how genuine their relationship feels. It isn’t just steamy scenes with no depth. It feels real, which makes me even more invested in them. That said, their relationship takes more of a back seat in this installment as a new romance arc becomes more central, which some readers might find frustrating.

We also see the return of familiar Shield of Sparrows characters like Zavier and Cathlin, who were some of my favorites from Book 1, though I wish they had more time on the page. We also get more insight into the Voster, and while the dual timeline structure can be confusing at times, I found that by the end their role in the story became much clearer.

An honorable mention has to go to Faze, the adorable little Tarken, who I already suspect will become a major force in the next installment.

New Characters and Relationships:

I’m usually skeptical of new character POVs, as they don’t always manage to make me care about them and often lead to skimming. That wasn’t the case with Caspia’s storyline. Her perspective quickly became one of my favorites, and learning more about the Starlings and their home in Nelfinex was genuinely fascinating.

At times, I even found myself wanting to stay in her POV more than Odessa’s, especially as her relationship with Andreas developed. Their dynamic added a softer, more emotional layer to the story, and Andreas himself stood out as a protective yet gentle love interest that I really enjoyed reading.

Caspia’s role in Rites of the Starling, though unexpected, made me more emotionally invested in the story as a whole. I know not every reader will feel the same way, and some may find the introduction of new characters and POV shifts a bit jarring or frustrating. For me, though, it worked, and it reinforced why Devney Perry is so effective at telling this story in a way that feels uniquely her own.

Final Thoughts:

Keeping track of the timelines made my head spin at times, but by the end of Rites of the Starling, I felt it was well worth it. My heart broke more than once, and I found myself desperate to get my hands on Book #3, even though the ending wasn’t a dramatic cliffhanger.

Most of my questions were answered, sometimes through moments that leaned into info-dumping, but I still welcomed every bit of it, bucket outstretched and ready to collect. By the end, I was fully invested and emotionally engaged, and the character growth throughout the story felt earned.

Overall, this installment delivered emotional payoff, deeper worldbuilding, and enough unanswered threads to keep me tied on tightly for the final book.

The third and final installment is set to release on March 9th, 2027.