FreshVidaLife

Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I read Shield of Sparrows last year and really liked it, so I went into Rites of the Starling with high expectations. But my god, this sequel is so much better. It’s one of those rare follow-ups that takes everything you loved about book one and expands it into something even bigger, deeper, and more emotionally satisfying.

The World-Building

Devney Perry leveled up in every way here. The world feels richer and more immersive this time around, with new corners of the story opening up in ways that felt earned rather than forced. If book one laid the foundation, book two built something beautiful on top of it. The lore, the settings, the politics, all of it felt more fully realized, and I found myself wanting to linger in this world long after I turned the last page.

The Dual POV

One of the boldest choices in this book is the shift to two perspectives, one of them belonging to a new character. I’ll admit, at first I was a little thrown, but it didn’t take long before I was completely hooked. I spent most of the book trying to piece things together, genuinely confused in the best way, constantly second-guessing my theories. And yet, even with all my guessing, the ending still managed to surprise me. Everything came together and blended so seamlessly that I closed the book feeling like every thread had been placed with intention. That kind of payoff is so rare, and it’s a sign of a truly skilled writer.

The Romance and the Spice

The romance was delicious. The tension, the longing, the moments that made me want to scream into a pillow, all of it hit. The spice was nice too, written in a way that felt connected to the emotional arc instead of just thrown in for heat. For me, the best romantasy is when the romance actually serves the story, and this one absolutely does.

The Adventure

But what really sets this book apart for me is the adventure. I love my romantasy mixed with great adventures, and Rites of the Starling delivered on that so wonderfully. The pacing, the stakes, the way the journey kept unfolding, it all worked. There was never a moment where I felt the story dragging or losing momentum. Every chapter felt purposeful, every twist kept me turning pages well past when I should have put the book down and gone to sleep.

The Ending

And the ending. I cried ugly tears. It wrecked me in the best way, the kind of emotional gut-punch that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place. I’m still thinking about it days later.

Final Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed every single page. 5 out of 5, no notes. If you loved Shield of Sparrows, you’re going to adore this one. And if you haven’t started the series yet, this is your sign. My only complaint is that I wish the third and final book was already out, because I am not ready to wait. Devney Perry has me in a chokehold and I am here for it.



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