Shield of Sparrows Immediate Thoughts & Reactions | Fangirl Breakdown

Summary

Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast: Shield of Sparrows Immediate Thoughts & Reactions | Fangirl Breakdown

Release Date: June 12, 2025

Welcome to this detailed summary of the "Shield of Sparrows Immediate Thoughts & Reactions | Fangirl Breakdown" episode from Season 3 of the Dear Fantasy Reader podcast. Hosted by Hannah and Carly, this episode delves deep into Debney Perry's "Shield of Sparrows," offering listeners an engaging exploration of the book's characters, plot twists, and underlying themes. Below is a comprehensive overview of their discussion, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

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1. Introduction to the Episode

Hannah and Carly kick off the episode with a casual and enthusiastic tone, emphasizing their eagerness to discuss "Shield of Sparrows." They set the stage by highlighting the book's gripping narrative and the anticipation surrounding its conclusion.

• Hannah [00:19]: "I finished this book less than at this point, probably two minutes. It's literally 1am for me."

2. Initial Reactions to "Shield of Sparrows"

The hosts share their immediate feelings upon completing the book, touching on emotional highs and the intense connection they felt with the story.

• Carly [01:25]: "With that content warning and spoiler alert for Shield of Sparrows. If you haven't read it in its entirety, you should save this episode."

3. Character Analysis

Odessa Ransom

Odessa emerges as a relatable and strong protagonist. Hannah praises her as an FMC (Female Main Character) who balances reluctance with leadership, making her journey compelling.

• Hannah [07:07]: "Odessa. I find her so relatable. Yes. I love the audio narrator's voice for her."

Ransom and Xavier

Ransom's character, initially known as Xavier, undergoes a significant reveal. The hosts dissect his motives and the cultural implications of his dual identity.

• Hannah [11:17]: "I love him."

• Carly [32:03]: "He helped rip this girl from her home, drag her here."

Side Characters: Faze, Evie, Luella, Talia

The discussion extends to beloved side characters like Faze and Evie, whose presence adds depth and charm to the narrative. Luella's tragic fate and Talia's role as a supportive figure are also highlighted.

• Hannah [22:37]: "I really liked Luella. I was really, like, gasped when she died."

• Carly [23:58]: "She was great."

4. Relationship Dynamics

The slow-burn romance between Odessa and Ransom is a focal point. The hosts commend the authors for building tension and delivering satisfying romantic developments.

• Carly [16:57]: "I would call it a medium burn, but like an incredibly satisfying medium burn."

• Hannah [09:04]: "I really enjoyed how we got character development and relationship development between herself and Ransom as almost like frenemies before it was lovers."

5. Plot Twists and Revelations

Marriage Reveal

A pivotal moment in the book is the revelation of Ransom's true identity, which reshapes the entire relationship dynamic between him and Odessa.

• Hannah [05:33]: "They actually like, it's not just that he married for Xavier. Like, he... They're married. That's definitely my favorite moment of the whole book."

Jocelyn's Betrayal

Jocelyn's role as a spy and her betrayal adds complexity and tension, leading to mixed feelings among the hosts.

• Carly [29:35]: "She was a spy the whole time. I was so mad at her because I was like, I'm sorry, you already had somebody."

6. Magic and Mythology

The hosts delve into the book's magical elements, discussing theories about fated mates, corrupted magic, and the mysterious Crux.

• Carly [16:59]: "Do you think it's possible that they are fated mates? Oh, yes, without a doubt."

• Hannah [37:43]: "They're better fucking beacons."

7. The Crux's Violence and Possible Origins

The violent nature of the Crux is scrutinized, with hosts speculating on their origins and motivations, linking them to the Lysa infection and corrupted magic.

• Hannah [50:14]: "How is it that the Crux are so violent? Like, if they're also people and they just wanted Odessa, why not just pop on by, try and just grab Odessa?"

• Carly [50:35]: "I think figuring out the solution to the LYSA is gonna help them figure out a solution to the crux and allow the crux to not be, like, driven to do this weird 30 year violent massacre."

8. Anticipation for Sequel

Both hosts express immense excitement and curiosity about the upcoming sequel, "Onyx Storm," discussing potential plot developments and unanswered questions.

• Carly [56:05]: "I just feel like so much of what I loved was the tension and the, like, what's going on between these two and will they, won't they?"

• Hannah [62:55]: "I can't wait to see how I feel about them in book two as we get to experience what Odessa does as being a monster and whether or not it's, like, a negative thing."

9. Conclusion and Overall Impressions

The episode wraps up with the hosts summarizing their overall feelings about the book, rating it highly, and sharing their eagerness for future discussions and the next installment.

• Hannah [60:31]: "Appropriately whelmed with moments of overwhelmed excitement."

• Carly [62:39]: "It was so much fun to read. It was so much fun."

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Notable Quotes:

• Hannah [05:33]: "They actually like, it's not just that he married for Xavier."

• Carly [16:57]: "I would call it a medium burn, but like an incredibly satisfying medium burn."

• Hannah [37:43]: "They're better fucking beacons."

• Carly [56:05]: "I just feel like so much of what I loved was the tension and the, like, what's going on between these two and will they, won't they?"

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Final Thoughts:

Hannah and Carly deliver a passionate and thoughtful breakdown of "Shield of Sparrows," balancing critical analysis with genuine fangirl enthusiasm. Their discussion navigates complex character relationships, intricate plot twists, and the rich magical tapestry of the story, making this episode a must-listen for fans eager to dive deeper into Debney Perry's latest work.

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Stay tuned for more in-depth analyses and wild theories as the Dear Fantasy Reader podcast continues to explore the beloved Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros.

Transcript

[Carly]

You surviving over there?

[Hannah]

I am. I understand now why you've been freaking out.

[Carly]

Yeah. Yeah. I'm like, you gotta read this book right now.

[Hannah]

Dearest fantasy readers, welcome to the Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast, where we travel through the pages of our favorite and most cliffhangery romantasy novels. I'm Hannah.

[Carly]

And I'm Carly.

[Hannah]

Today we are going to be sharing our initial thoughts and reactions to Shield of Sparrows by Debney Perry. I kid you not. I finished this book less than at this point, probably two minutes. It's literally 1am for me. But Carly's been waiting for me to finish this book so. So we could talk about the end. And so, like, it literally could not wait.

[Carly]

I have been dying for you to finish this so we could talk about that. With that content warning and spoiler alert for Shield of Sparrows. If you haven't read it in its entirety, you should save this episode. Go do that. And we'll be here waiting when you are done. That means you too, Kenzie. I am sure we have an emergency FaceTime call with you in our near future so you can spiral.

[Hannah]

Also, this podcast is rated R in content and language. Okay, Carly, where do you want to start?

[Carly]

I want to start with the fact that I texted you 90 minutes ago and was like, man, I really wish we could film an episode as soon as you were done. And you were like, let's go, let's go.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

And you had about.

[Hannah]

Well, I still have my 11am makeup on. Let's do it.

[Carly]

Might as well. Okay, I want you to fangirl too close to the sun. What are your just initial feelings on this book? How are you feeling?

[Hannah]

Oh, okay. First of all, I don't love Ransom as a name, but, oh, my God, I love devotion. I was, like, kicking my feet and squealing. I kept bookmarking because I listened to Van via audiobook the entire time, and I would just, like, bookmark, bookmark every couple seconds. And he would talk because, like, those lines. My queen me up. Loved that some context is like, Carly and I have shared some audio memos the last couple days, like, in my journey of trying to catch up. And I totally clocked something really early on that I was like, throwing out as, like, this could be fun to read in general. And then when we got that reveal, which I guess I don't know if you want to start there.

[Carly]

I have it in our plot twist section.

[Hannah]

Perfect. We'll hold for a second. But, like, overarchingly, I really love. I need to, like, look at A character list. Odessa Ransom. Yeah. No, like, I. Yeah, I. First of all, Odessa. I find her so relatable. Yes. I love the audio narrator's voice for her. I, like, genuinely need her to narrate every romantic for me. Now I found myself in line with her progression of her thoughts and things. I love that she connected things. And it was. While there's still missing pieces, it still feels like you're kind of being looped in as you go, while still also wondering, alongside Odessa, what else is there to put together? And I felt like, emotionally I was with her through every stage of their relationship, which is really important to me. I want to see her powers, which. We'll get to that. I don't even know, like, where else to. What's his name? The little monster.

[Carly]

Oh, Face.

[Hannah]

Oh, my God, So cute. I love a little sidekick. So, yeah, I was, like, terrified, and I was like, Carly would not let me read this book if something bad happened to that little guy. Like, I would.

[Carly]

I would have to warn you.

[Hannah]

I almost DNF'd because I thought that horse was gonna get tortured like I am.

[Carly]

I did get. I do feel like this is a good time to give our listeners a trigger warning. There was a trigger. We discussed prior to reading the book. I wanted to let everybody know that there is an on page child death, that while it is quick, it is gruesome.

[Hannah]

Well, and at this point, if they're listening, they've already finished the book, so I suppose they already know that part. But. Yeah, I actually skipped ahead of it because Carly gave me a heads up of that, because I just. Yeah, so I skipped, I think, a whole minute and, like, it covered the whole thing. Like, I didn't have to. I really felt like, even after coming out of Empyrean, how kind of like, death is so normalized that it just becomes, like, unless it's like a character you really care about, you know, very passive about it. But I felt it with everybody.

[Carly]

Yeah, I felt like this book, like, it was violent, but it didn't feel like gratuitous, like, unnecessary. Like, it felt like an important part of the story. Any favorite moments?

[Hannah]

I need to look back on my. I have no technical time to prepare. Probably the moment we find out that.

[Carly]

Is it a romantic moment? I'm assuming it's a romantic moment. Oh.

[Hannah]

I mean, all of the moments with Ransom, but, like, I guess when you get that reveal where he's like, what if I am yours? And then we find out that he actually is the one and that they actually like, it's not just that he married for Xavier. Like, he. They're married. That's definitely my favorite moment of the whole book. The next is finding the little guy. The little monster phase. We should have gotten phase. This is why audiobooks are rough. The moment she found faze, the baby bottle, the baby wrap. Are you kidding? I love a sidekick character like that.

[Carly]

I love little tag along creatures.

[Hannah]

Any scene with Evie except for the last couple chapters. She's so precious. She's so precious. Yeah. Those are my favorite moments.

[Carly]

I love the line when they are like, training Spartan. I don't have the exact one in front of me where she's like, giving him a hard time because she's like, you know, a good job would be helpful or something like that. He's like, praises for the bedroom. And I was like, oh, my God.

[Hannah]

You know, one audio memo that I sent before the reveal to Carly was, man, you know, it's really too bad that Odessa, like, shot down the whole offer for Xavier to share because I volunteer. I volunteer as tribute. And I said early on, I was like, I know that we're supposed to, like, love ransom, but Xavier. Xavier is a sweetie pie.

[Carly]

He. I have mixed feelings on Xavier.

[Hannah]

Really?

[Carly]

We can get to that in a moment. I've got mixed feelings on him. So what do you think of Odessa as a character? What were your feelings on her?

[Hannah]

Ooh.

[Carly]

Because I just loved. I did feel like she is one of the most just relatable character FMCs where she's just like, I'm just a girl. Like, I'm capable of more than these men think I am, but I also don't really want power. And I. This all seems like a bunch of nonsense. And I'm like, yes, I loved that.

[Hannah]

And I also loved that as much as she didn't desire to be queen, even there at the end where she was like, but I will be queen.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And it really felt like an FMC that you could root for in, like, I know she doesn't necessarily want this, but it would be so good for everyone involved if she was in this position because she doesn't want it.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And I also really loved, like, her thought process behind a lot of things. Her thought process behind their relationship when she was, like, technically thinking that it was Xavier and how she was feeling. Like, even though he may be with someone else and like, Banner had someone else, she felt like she still wanted something with him. To give it the chance to be something.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And so I actually really enjoyed how we got character development and relationship development between herself and Ransom as almost like. I know it was like frenemies before it was lovers.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And I really enjoyed that. And I liked the balance. I think this goes more to the writing and the author than, like, necessarily the character, But I love the balance of slow burn up to that reveal, because you almost, like, feel like you are doing something wrong because it isn't her husband, but then you find out that it is.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I love that.

[Carly]

I appreciate her maturity and how she was dealing with this situation. Like, when they're on the ship over, her lady's maids are, like, falling apart, and she is taking care of them, and she just seems like a very kind, grounded character that really just wants to take care of the people around her. And I just really appreciated that in this fmc. I. She felt so grounded that it made her very relatable.

[Hannah]

Well, I think that's also one of my favorite moments, is when she was telling one of her lady's maids that they could sleep on her bed, and she was like, can I get you anything? And whichever one it was was like, I'm supposed to be the one asking you that.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And I was like, oh, this is their. Which sucks, because you find out that, like, both of them betrayed her and.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Various capacities.

[Carly]

Oh, yeah, we'll get into that. Don't worry. Yeah.

[Hannah]

But from her perspective, this whole time, like, even going and being a spy, like, there was never a moment where I was like, she's like, I'm kind of frustrated that she can't see what's going on. I felt like I was with her and seeing her make decisions about. I know I'm supposed to be finding this information out or killing him for my father as a spy, but I'm reserving this because something feels a little bit off, and it ended up being good decisions on her part.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Which I guess lends into the maturity that you're referencing.

[Carly]

Yeah. I think it was like, a character. I liked the fact that I felt like she consistently made good decisions and it wouldn't always go right. But it wasn't because she made a bad decision. I felt like it was like she just felt so reasonable to me. How did you feel about Ransom as a character?

[Hannah]

Is that unclear? I love him.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

For some context, I had also sent Carly a message being like, his name better be hot. You did, because there was so much, you know, the guardian. First of all, I would rather just call him that because, I mean, at this point, he's the prince. Right. So, like, that's gonna be, you know, the. The number one nickname.

[Carly]

But.

[Hannah]

I love his rationale for why he did and didn't reveal who he actually was. And I like that. It wasn't, like, about her necessarily, because when I'd sent that voice memo to you, which I think I, like, tried to beat around it to save it for later, but that was kind of like what I had somewhat predicted. But what I was thinking when I thought, oh, it'd be really cool if he was just having Xavier stand in for him for the sake of, like, knowing that someone's going to be a spy. Like, they're. They're not dumb. They're. They know something's going on with the dad that he. He would have been preparing that daughter for her whole life. Right. So why. You know, why not switch it and then not tell her who the right prince is? Get to know her personally and then, you know, navigate it from there. And I thought it would be about that. And I. But I love that it's actually tradition. They do that for all of their princes. They have, like, a body double. And so it made it, like, not about her, which was, like, less slimy, I guess, but his rationale, how he wanted to tell her so many times, but he didn't, which all makes sense because she literally made it clear that her dad did send her and that she wanted to kill him. I am convinced that he can read her thoughts. I don't think that's, like, this super uncommon thing in our books that we like to read, but there were so many moments where it was like he was responding to her thoughts, like, directly. And so I think that's really interesting to consider their dynamic. I want to know what she kept talking about, what his powers were. And I don't know if it's just. Does he have more than just, like, the superhuman stuff going on? Like, does he have. Because she would say at the beginning, like, is that his gift? Is that his gift?

[Carly]

You know, it doesn't specify. I have some thoughts on that. I'll get into that later. But, like, that whole thing, like, was interesting to me. Like, the whole Lysa infection is so suspicious.

[Hannah]

Yeah, it is. If he has powers, that's definitely. First of all, I fucking love that.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Like, I would be more intrigued to see him have multiple. To make it a little different, you know, from, like, the Zaden reveal. You know, I think he's so lovable and devoted, and that's like my two. I will say. And you've heard this because I was very clear about it. I am fucking over. There is no cure. I'm gonna die. There's no hope. Being a personality trait of MMCs. This is it for me. If I find out there's another book that has the same story like that, that's to be clear, I think that that is a perfectly valid thing to have in the book. It's not like it's copying Empyrean. There's plenty of series with it. But I'm. I have fatigue.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I. I don't want the, like, hopeless. It's not even hope. It's not hopeless romantic. It's just hopeless. Hopeless. Yeah, it's just, you know, like.

[Carly]

I understand what you're saying, so I'm over that. I get you. I do get that. I think because I have a different feeling of what's going on with the Lysa. I think I have a different feeling about this because I think there's a twist there. So I'll talk about it when we get to that part, but I'm hoping it makes you feel a little better because I think there's a twist to this.

[Hannah]

You usually do.

[Carly]

I always do. I can't help it. I want a twist on a twist. Did you think that their relationship was slow burn enough?

[Hannah]

You know, I think I could have had it slightly longer. Slightly longer. I don't know if it was like. If there were a couple more chapters leading up to the reveal or there's still being more development that needed to happen in between the reveal and, like, them just going to 100, which I get why. Because at this point, she's, like, wanted him for so long and then finds out she can have him. I didn't love that she was, like, super angry about it, but I get it because she was lied to. But I do. I do think it was slow burn. It was like. It was a unique. Like. Now let me be clear. There are some series that are slow burn. This is not really something I would be like. If you want a slow burn, you want this book.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

This is not. If you want a slow burn. Kindred's Curse.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And you will understand that soon, Carly.

[Carly]

Okay. I would say, though, I'm not exactly sure how many books are gonna be in this series. I haven't actually heard a number yet. So if it's a duology, to me, that's slow burn enough. Like. Yeah. But if it's like three books or more. I get what you're saying.

[Hannah]

To be clear, I loved it.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I would call it. I was Perfectly satisfied with it.

[Carly]

Yeah. I would call it a medium burn, but like an incredibly satisfying medium burn.

[Hannah]

Yes. That's the perfect way to describe it.

[Carly]

Okay. Little bit of a theory question. Do you think it's possible that they are fated mates? Oh, yes.

[Hannah]

Yeah, without a doubt. The gold eyes changing.

[Carly]

Yes.

[Hannah]

And matching hers. Yeah.

[Carly]

So your, your thing on the thoughts, like, oh, him. Like, it seems like he's reading her thoughts. I also, very early on I was like, what if it's like, I think that might be a fated mate thing. And I'm. I'm wondering. Not that he's reading their thoughts, but maybe he can like feel her internal emotions, which is like intentions. Yeah. Feelings.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Cause there's like another series I read where like when people are fated mates, like, they feel like their emotions really intensely.

[Hannah]

It's like intuitive almost to that person.

[Carly]

And so I'm like, maybe that's it. Because he does seem to be like responding to her in a way where I'm like, she doesn't say that at all.

[Hannah]

She can physically sense him. I mean, how much of it is what's actually going on with her unknown half or part, whatever part of her that we're gonna find out more of in the next book. How much of it is that? Because she can seemingly sense like the magic in other beings and he's sort of part magic. So maybe it's that. But there are quite a few clues about. Even when they like first met, she would think something and he'd be looking like it felt like they could communicate in interesting ways. But I will say to kind of like counter that Xavier and Ransom had a lot of very silent conversations. Like completely silent. I say very. But it was completely. Where it's like maybe he could read minds and Xavier knows and that's how they would just communicate. Like, very confidential.

[Carly]

Yeah. They do explain it a certain way where they say, like they let him speak for him and like that was them having those. And I totally. And like, maybe that's what's going on. But it was weird.

[Hannah]

So I'm talking about slightly that also happens. But it will have been like she was talking with him about something. He says they're gonna go do something and then she literally says, and then they have a silent conversation. Like they do. But it's like there's no follow up verbally of him looking at him for confirmation of something like that happened separately. So I feel like could be different. I don't know.

[Carly]

Yeah, it is interesting. We'll see if there's more to it. But, yeah, I do kind of think that they have. That they might be fated mates, which would help forgive the one thing I didn't love about how their relationship started, which is that he was like, I needed to save you from your life, which I didn't love. I was like, but I can forgive a lot for fated mates because I'm like, well, there's like, some sort of mystical element propelling them to do these things.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I didn't really love that either, because she was fine.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Like, clearly this is where she was meant to be, but, like.

[Carly]

Yeah, I mean, I get where he was coming from, where he felt like she was a bit trapped and, like, he wanted to, like, release her from that. And, like. And I'm like, yeah, to a certain extent, like, she was living kind of a kept life, and, like, she didn't have a lot of choice. And, like, maybe if she was ever given one, she would have chosen differently. But. But he didn't also give her a choice. He just made her do something that, like, maybe she really didn't want to.

[Hannah]

Her, like, she was pretty clear that she was shocked by, like, they knew that that would be such a shock, that she had thought her whole life would be different. Like, to thrust that on someone within, like, a couple hours is wild.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

So that was one thing. I was like, I don't love that reasoning. But again, if it turns out they're some sort of fated mates, I can forgive a lot in that universe. I'm just saying.

[Hannah]

I love fated mates.

[Carly]

I do, too.

[Hannah]

I could read every book. Fated mates.

[Carly]

I'm so feral for fated mates. It's ridiculous.

[Hannah]

I will say. I know the argument against fated mates is that they don't want it to be insta love. The argument is that they want it to feel like the relationship's developed before. It's sort of like uber proximity, like, forced proximity. And I just. If it's done with enough progression of a relationship, like, this was. I love it.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Like, I would rather find out it's not just any, like, relationship. Yeah, I don't know.

[Carly]

I totally get that. I know we've already kind of touched on some of your favorite side characters. You love Evie, you love, Faze. Any other side characters that you just love.

[Hannah]

I really liked. Is it Luella or Luella?

[Carly]

Louella.

[Hannah]

Luella. I really. I was really, like, gasped when she died.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

That makes me so sad for Evie and Ransom. I really liked her, and I really liked Kathleen. Catherine. I think it was Catherine, her partner, seemingly. I Think they were in a relationship. I really enjoyed the conversations with her. I don't like the Lady's Maids.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Don't think that needs a ton of explanation there.

[Carly]

Yeah. I think that they deserved worse than they got. I went on a complete rant in my Instagram stories about them because I was just. I'll get into it during the plots and twists, but I don't like them so much. I also have strong feelings about Xavier, but we'll get into that later.

[Hannah]

I'm so intrigued. Yeah. Who else are we missing? Any other favorites you have that I'm just not coming to mind?

[Carly]

You know, I think I'm right there with you. For me, it was Faze and Evie that were like. I really loved them. And then obviously we have our main characters, but I think for me, the side characters, those two, I just really love them. Oh, you know what? I also loved. Oh, I can't remember her name right now, but the female guardsman that also trained her.

[Hannah]

Is it Talia?

[Carly]

Talia. Yeah.

[Hannah]

I really like that.

[Carly]

She was great.

[Hannah]

Oh, but her husband. Is that the right character at the end?

[Carly]

Halston.

[Hannah]

Oh, but he's okay as of right now.

[Carly]

Yeah. That's why I was like, you gotta record your reactions, because at the end, you think he's maybe dead.

[Hannah]

Oh, I cried. I literally have tissues.

[Carly]

Yeah, you sounded like maybe you had been crying when we first got on. I was like, yeah, I'm glad I.

[Hannah]

Made you record your reactions.

[Carly]

I really liked her. For me, she was one of the only girls. Girls in this book that was, like, really there for her.

[Hannah]

Oh, and you said this book needed more girls.

[Carly]

Girls.

[Hannah]

Okay, that makes sense now. Yeah.

[Carly]

I'm like, it did. And how many people are actually choosing her? And she doesn't have anybody from her previous life that was like, I'm here for you, girl. I've got your back. Like, no one. I'm like, this sucks for her. I felt bad for her.

[Hannah]

She needs a bestie.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

I need that in my head.

[Carly]

I think it's probably gonna be Talia. Yeah. At least I'm hopeful. I like her a lot. Okay. Getting into some of these insane plot twists.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

The marriage to Xavier.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Like, reaction to that. And then when did you figure out it wasn't really him?

[Hannah]

Okay, well, so this is the. This is the one that I sent early. Early on. Early on, I think, like. Like after the marriage happened, they were on the boat still when I sent an audio message, and I was like, it would be so cool. And I was like, I'm not saying it's this book, but I would love to read a book where you find out that it's actually the Guardian's actually the prince. And he is basically doing, like, this test to see, like, who she really is. And not knowing that he's a prince. Right. Or that vice versa is the. Yeah. And so I was like, I'm not super convinced that that's what's going on here, because you would think that people would recognize the prince. And so that was kind of what had talked me down from thinking that was what was going on. But literally earlier today, I was. It's like around the, like, what, 70% mark the reveal. I literally FaceTimed Carly and, like, did happy dances and my mind was blown. Like, I was actively texting her as I was listening to the scenes. Like, I was right.

[Carly]

But.

[Hannah]

But it was set up in a way that, like, even though I knew, like, I had that in the back of my mind, I had gotten away from it at that point. Like, I had kind of convinced myself out of it. And the twist that came along with it of the why of it being a cultural thing, of the blood. I didn't even think of the blood vial. Like, for me, I just remembered that he spoke for Xavier, but Xavier signed it. And so I was just like, those things were still twists how he told her the whole lead up to it. Again, the what if I was yours? I loved it because part of what I wanted to get out of that is one, that she'd still be able to be queen.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Two, that she would actually be able to be with him. Because if Xavier really was the prince and she was falling for him, this was an enemies to lovers. It was very clear from early on that it was supposed to be the Guardian. Right. But it was like, this is a sticky situation. How do you even. Unless you just, like, find out he's also a prince. But then that's. But then she's already married and there's this whole, like, signed blood oath document. Like, so I just really loved how it. All the pieces with them really fell together with that reveal.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

That was a really long winded way of saying I fucking loved it.

[Carly]

I loved it too. I was there with you during the marriage ceremony. I'm like, this is so fucking suspicious. Okay.

[Hannah]

Him not speaking.

[Carly]

Yeah. I'm like, this is. Everything about it was just written in a way that I was like, I am not buying this. And then she kept. There was this very obvious attraction between them the whole time. And I'm like, obviously, this is the guy she's gonna end up with. Cause he mentions, oh, Xavier likes to share. And I'm like, whoa.

[Hannah]

I was gonna say the only other I knew this wasn't a why choose. Yeah. But the only other situation I would have accepted was a Y choose.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And so it was like, if that's not it.

[Carly]

Yeah. Which very clearly wasn't gonna be because Xavier was just so clearly indifferent to her. And I was like, which makes a.

[Hannah]

Lot of sense in retrospect. It's not his wife, and it's literally his, you know, prince. That. Yeah. Yeah. And also the my queen makes so much sense now in retrospect. And it's like she even points out. Odessa points out that, like, he never called her Xavier's wife. And I'm like, I noticed that, like, there's so many moments he would call.

[Carly]

Her my queen and everybody else would refer to her as princess. And I was like, that's odd.

[Hannah]

Which I fucking love.

[Carly]

And I was like, why is he calling her something different? And I. But I was like, this is all suspicious. I'm like, I feel like somehow it's going to turn. She's married to him. And I was with you. I was like. I got to the point because they also talked about. Which was also a very much Bodhi Zaden thing, where they kept talking about how much they looked alike. And I was like, oh, yeah. And so I was like, are they brothers? And he's actually the high prince. And for some reason, they're keeping that secret, and they don't want, like. They don't want that kingdom to know that he's actually the high prince. And I'm like, that's what's going on. And to a certain extent, I was right. They just weren't brothers. I was like, they're cousins. Which I'm like, still pretty close.

[Hannah]

What did you think when you got my audio message?

[Carly]

I was like, keep reading, Hannah, because I didn't want to spoil anything.

[Hannah]

What did you think, though? Like, were you just like. I was like, damn, that's early. Yeah.

[Carly]

No, I was like, chill.

[Hannah]

You're gonna ruin the book for yourself.

[Carly]

I was like, I hope the reveal is still exciting for her, because some people get really excited when they're right, and some people feel like, oh, well, that was too easy, and that was a letdown.

[Hannah]

And I'll be honest, there's a couple things I expected from this book, but everything that I expected that turned out to be true also had other twists that made it such a Cool experience. So I feel that way about all of them.

[Carly]

And I feel like the reveals were so good. Which gets me to the whole cheating thing, where for five minutes she thinks her husband has cheated on her.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

And I'm like, I'm gonna rip them all limb from limb. Like I'm about to burn this kingd down for her.

[Hannah]

I love how she was like, I'm done. Yeah, I'm done. I. I am over today.

[Carly]

Yeah. I'm like, that. That moment with Jocelyn, I was so like mad at her because I was like, I'm sorry. But she's like, I was just needed to feel something because I'm sad. Which was all a lie because she was a spy the whole time. Which I will say I did not call that because at first I was like, there's something going on with Jocelyn. She's been missing this whole time. Where the fuck is she? She just like drops from the plot for like.

[Hannah]

I kept getting them confused because she was gone too much. And I was like, it's like literally.

[Carly]

Only Brielle with her from the time they get there. Like, Jocelyn just disappears. And I'm like, okay, what's going on here? This is super weird. And I'm like, she's up to something. And when it was the cheating reveal, I was like, oh, that's what it was. But then it wasn't that she was like integrating herself because she was a spy. Which I will say was a really great twist at the end because I was like, I wasn't see coming. But that being said, I was so mad at her because I was like, I'm sorry, you already had somebody. And he was like, can we invite somebody else? You know, your princess's husband? And she was just like, yeah, sure. Like, which I'm sure for her was because she was a spy and she wanted to get more information. But I was, I'm sorry, she has no loyalty to Odessa. And fuck that girl. I don't like her. And I also don't like Xavier.

[Hannah]

I will say that the cheating part actually is part of what convinced me that that wasn't the twist. Like, that the Prince's swapping wasn't the twist. Because I was like, oh, maybe this was just to open up so that she could have this relationship with him. Something happens to the Prince, they're not technically married anymore. Cause he's dead now. She could be with the Guardian. But I was like, damn, that's like a lot of hoops to have to jump through to be together.

[Carly]

See, for me, I Felt like. I felt like there was going to be this twist. I was like, I feel like this is what's coming. Because Xavier is written to be such an important character to ransom, and they have so much trust in each other that I was like, I don't think he's a bad, bad guy. But that being said, I'm sorry, this.

[Hannah]

Guy, please ruin this character for me.

[Carly]

He helped rip this girl from her home, drag her here. She gets to bring two people that are supposed to be there for her, the only two people that are supposed to be totally there for her. And he could have fucked anybody. Okay, that's fair. And he fucks around with Jocelyn. And I'm like, you helped the one person that shouldn't betray her betray her.

[Hannah]

That's valid. That's so valid.

[Carly]

And I'm like. I was just, like, I was in my Instagram stories, like, xavier's a fuckboy, and I will not be, like, hearing anything on this. I will say, I do think it's very commendable that, like, he. He took in Evie. Like, she is basically his blood, even though she's not his blood. He loves her as if she were his own. And, like, that's commendable. But I'm sorry, Like, literally, there were two girls you weren't supposed to fuck around with out of all the girls.

[Hannah]

I mean, this is more on the girls, but, like, how is it that both of her ladies maids are, like, with her? Like, what they think is her current husband and her previous fiance? Yeah, yeah, it did sound like Brielle. What's her name? Brielle actually was seeing Banner first, and then the engagement happened. So, like, I'll give her that, but damn.

[Carly]

No. When they left and Brielle was so upset, I was like, this isn't just a girl missing her mom. Like, she's a full adult. Like, there's something weird going on here. There's gonna be some other connection she has. And the second she talked about how, like, oh, Banner had some girl in the city and, like, she didn't even really care.

[Hannah]

Oh, you clogged it.

[Carly]

I was like, that's fucking Brielle. Oh. I was like. That moment. I was like, it's Brielle. That's why. Wow.

[Hannah]

No, I didn't get. I didn't catch that. I love that, though.

[Carly]

Yeah. Cause I was looking for something for Brielle because she was trusting her too much. And I'm like, I just wanted her.

[Hannah]

To have a friend, but she wanted.

[Carly]

Brielle to be her friend, too. Bad. And she was trusting her too much. And I was like, I don't know about this.

[Hannah]

You know, Odessa talks a lot about, like, how no one trusts her, and I'm like, girl, you shouldn't trust them. Like, there's a lot of value, and I think that shifts toward the end, right. With her character growth. But there's a lot of value placed on, like, how other people see her as far as being trustworthy or accomplished and not how she actually feels about who they are and what decisions they're making and their character. But we definitely see that progress at the end where she, unfortunately, really has nobody who she could trust.

[Carly]

But she's got Faze.

[Hannah]

Nothing better happen to that little guy. I am obsessed with him.

[Carly]

I am, too. Okay, I want to really quickly talk about before we get too close to the end, because I know we keep kind of inching towards things that are revealed at the end. Yeah. The monsters. Okay. So we get to a point where, like, you're realizing they're. They're attracted to one of them. Okay. And they are. Like, I started to realize that when she went. She snuck off to the town, and then he shows up, and I'm like, this is weird. Like, the second they're there, the monsters descend on this town.

[Hannah]

I thought that was just what happened in their cities.

[Carly]

And that's when I started to realize. I'm like, okay. So they seem to think it's her, Right. They start to insinuate that it's her that the monsters are attracted to. But I want to point out that she's alone a lot, and they're not descending on her every time. Ransom's gone. So are you feeling like it's her, Ransom, or them together?

[Hannah]

I feel like I need a reread. Conveniently together. I think so, too, because. Yeah, I think. I think it's together because we've had. Yeah.

[Carly]

Cause, like, when he even.

[Hannah]

Even the one with the kid, right. He showed up right before they had just long enough to walk down a alleyway and make out for a second before they attacked. Like, I think it's both.

[Carly]

I kind of think it's them together, too, because he goes off and hunts them, and he has to hunt them. They're not coming to them. So I'm like. I think it's them together, personally, which.

[Hannah]

I really hate, because if that's how they're, like, you know, gonna keep them apart, you have to have conflict and keep them apart.

[Carly]

Yeah. Keep the monster attacks to a minimum.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

It would be a good plot device. For the next book. Because she'll have to do that.

[Hannah]

I already don't like it.

[Carly]

I'm sorry. But I do think it's interesting. Okay, so we have the Lysa infection. What was your reaction to finding out that the mom, Luella, helped create it on accident?

[Hannah]

I don't hate her. I feel bad for her. I don't know. Like. Yeah, I. I think that was one of the times I didn't have the exact react. I understood Odessa's reaction to it, but for me, it was like, yeah, she helped create it, but it was thinking it was helping her son.

[Carly]

Yeah. I felt bad for her.

[Hannah]

Which Odessa did acknowledge that.

[Carly]

I will say, do you? Not. Not Ransom, but for the Beast. Do you think there'll be a cure?

[Hannah]

They're better fucking beacons.

[Carly]

There has to be, right?

[Hannah]

If not. But I'm also coming from a totally biased point of view where I am so burnt out on these fucking cure.

[Carly]

I know it's not a trope.

[Hannah]

It's plot.

[Carly]

Plot device.

[Hannah]

Plot device. Like plot, lines, storylines. There's gotta be. Especially because it's not like Venon, where it's like a type of being. Right.

[Carly]

It's just a monster.

[Hannah]

Yeah. This is. He was injected.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

You know, so you'd think it would be like an antidote.

[Carly]

Yeah. So for ransom. I don't actually think he's dying of this.

[Hannah]

I don't think so either.

[Carly]

I don't think so either. Yeah. I'm like, so this whole thing where he needs to cure and he's hopeless, I'm leaning towards hope of, like. I don't actually think he's dying. I am worried there is something happening to him, but I don't think he's dying because the animals aren't dying.

[Hannah]

I don't think he's dying. I think he's worried that it's gonna progress to where he can't control it and he's gonna just become a monster and someone's gonna need to kill him.

[Carly]

Yeah. I do worry that he's gonna turn into something. I'll get into that in a second. But I don't think.

[Hannah]

I mean, it could be hot.

[Carly]

Yeah. Because I'm gonna point out that the dose that she gave him to help him get better, that worked on everybody else, didn't work on him. So I'm like, there's something different about him because it didn't work on him in the first place. It didn't actually help him get better.

[Hannah]

That's why I feel like he's not the Same as Odessa, but their eyes being able to change the same, which also. The gods. The gods have something to do with this. Like, there were way more God references in this book than I expected. Keep your eyes out. We will definitely be doing a guide, because the third time I heard a very specific reference to a God in, like, extra context, I was like, oh, yeah, we need.

[Carly]

Yeah, we're gonna have theories for diving onto this, because there. There's something going on there with them. But I think Ransom isn't like. I think there's something different about him, just like there's something different about Odessa.

[Hannah]

Do you think it's the same thing, though?

[Carly]

I don't think it's the exact same thing, but I think it's a similar thing.

[Hannah]

Hmm.

[Carly]

I'll get into that.

[Hannah]

Are you holding that?

[Carly]

Yeah, we'll get into that. Just a second. Do you think the Lysa infection also, like, I think there's a connection to the Voster, not because I think that they created it, but I think that they have something similar going on. Because she talks about how, like, the color under their fingernails is green and, like, the poison blood is green. And I'm like, there's something going on with these magic. Like, people with magic, when they go, like, turn green like this, like, something weird is going on here. So I think because they're magical creatures, they have something going on with them as well. That's like. It's like the green blood is almost like a sign of, like, corrupted magic or something like that. I think the Vosters have, like, something similar going on with them.

[Hannah]

I do, like. And also distrust what we're supposed to think. Right. Because Odessa is like, oh, yeah, they're bad. I. She, like, is hurt by them, which could connect to, of course, like, what the reveal is at the end. But Ransom is. Is, like, totally on board with them. Trust them.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And I think that is what's keeping me to be like, all right.

[Carly]

I.

[Hannah]

Think something's going on. I can't wait for it, because it's gonna be a twist. And I think there's a reality in which they could still be doing something good.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And I'm intrigued, because that's tricky.

[Carly]

Yeah. Okay. Before we get into the crux, which is what I really want to talk about.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Banner arriving with Jocelyn. I was so surprised that Banner was there, that Jocelyn was there.

[Hannah]

Oh, that they were there. Yeah.

[Carly]

That they were there at all. I'm like, they're, like, teaming up with these people. I thought we were going to have a War on two fronts here I thought that's what we were working towards.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

And I'm like, banner and Jocelyn. And Jocelyn's the spy again. Fuck. Jocelyn never liked Banner.

[Hannah]

Oh. I really didn't love him either.

[Carly]

But I was shocked that they. I was shocked. I don't know. Were you?

[Hannah]

I mean, I didn't know what to expect in those last couple chapters. I think I was thinking that the other king was also there. Because they were. At first, when I was listening to it, I was like, oh, if she sees them, then that must mean, like, again, war on, you know, from two fronts. So by the time it clicked that the king wasn't there, that they were working with this king, we got the Brielle reveal, and I was like, oh. And so then that's kind of like, what took over for me. But, yeah, no, I did not see it coming, that they would be involved at all. Yeah.

[Carly]

I didn't see them working together. That was a good twist. I was like. I just was like, it's gonna be a war on two fronts. And it was not so much. I was like, all right, okay. The crux. Fucking show up, what, three months early.

[Hannah]

Interesting. It was, like, a single one, which I thought. I don't know. I thought it was plural the whole time. And I know that there are more, but it was kind of hard to tell when they were referring to the crux in, like, as a singular or multiple.

[Carly]

Oh, yeah, there's lots.

[Hannah]

Clearly. This one was a single, which. Why was it just one? That's weird.

[Carly]

Well, no, but more show up, Po.

[Hannah]

I thought it was just the one woman.

[Carly]

Wait, I'm pretty sure more show up at the end. There's multiple of them. Like, it's one at first, I think, and then I need to reread it.

[Hannah]

Literally. I was just so shocked.

[Carly]

No, because, like, there has to be. Because, like, one tries to take Ransom away and he has to kill it to get down. And there's. Right, but the crux, Right, like, they're these winged creatures, and the whole time, our FMC Odessa, is running around with a necklace with a wing emblem on it that her mom left her.

[Hannah]

You know, especially because, like, she saw Luella's book.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

And I was like, you didn't ask her about that, like, immediately.

[Carly]

Yeah, well, I don't think that there was time. Right. That all happened really close together. Technically, no, but because she was gone when that happened.

[Hannah]

Well, wasn't Louella right there? But Odessa left so that she could go chase after Ransom because he was Upset about Louella's reveal. Like, I think that was all in the same scene. But she was like, I'll ask her later.

[Carly]

Yeah, I just don't think there was time. There was a lot going on in a short period of time. But I'm like, what does this girl have to do with, like, the whole time? I'm like, she's got this necklace of wings. There's these winged creatures coming in. She's hiding her hair for some mysterious reason. They're like, oh, yeah, hide your hair, your red hair.

[Hannah]

Her dad always told her to do it, so her dad must know something's going on.

[Carly]

Well, yeah, but it's never really explained why, other than, like.

[Hannah]

Well, part the treaty was that she had to be brunette. Like, the. The sparrow always had to be brunette.

[Carly]

Oh, I missed that part.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Because I thought that was fucking strange. And I was like, but she was never supposed to be the sparrow, so why would her dad make her dye her hair brunette? But, yeah, it's in the treaty that the prince would marry a brunette. Yeah, I don't think I'm making that up.

[Carly]

For some reason, I was thinking that she thought the king wanted a brunette, not that she had to be a brunette. So that's. I just don't remember that. But I believe you.

[Hannah]

Xavier had bargained for a brunette wife, so a brunette wife I would remain.

[Carly]

But was it part of the treaty, like, the actual original Shield of Sparrows treaty? I don't remember that part.

[Hannah]

Maybe not. Maybe I overspoke on that. But that's what comes up when I type the word brunette.

[Carly]

Yeah, but I'm like, why he made her stay that way from, like, the time she was a kid. Like, they dyed her hair forever.

[Hannah]

That tells me he knows what red hair means.

[Carly]

Yeah. And I'm like. I felt like at one point she made some insinuation that, like, her dad didn't want to be reminded of her mom or something along those lines. But I'm like, that's a shitty reason. Like, these reasons don't make sense. And I'm like, I want more reason. Like, this is so weird. And then I was not expecting the Crux to be killed and turned into a redheaded woman.

[Hannah]

I wanna. I'm gonna derail. I'm gonna ask you if you have thoughts on the fact that there was a rumor that Sam, the, like, town paper guy, wrote a book about Odessa Red where it basically said that her father killed her mother, and she never, like, asked him, like. Or got to know, like, what that rumor was. Like, exactly. And like, who was spreading it and the context behind it. Do you think he killed her because she was also a monster?

[Carly]

I think it's possible, but I think her mom turned into a crux.

[Hannah]

Okay. So I was just kind of seeing them as like shape shifters. Like, they just are inherently. And something triggers it to where you can like, all right, now you've like unlocked your power and now Odessa's gonna be able to just turn into a crux. So you're saying you don't think that, like, maybe it was before she knew that she could.

[Carly]

I think it's likely that like, she became one and they realized it. That she could become one and that she'd have to go on this migration because, like, they obviously have to. Right.

[Hannah]

What even is the migration?

[Carly]

They have this like, migrate, like they move through every 30 years. And they migrate across the continent. And they don't know where they disappear to. And they like. They're these mysterious creatures. And I don't know how much of the, like you can actually control it. So I think the mom turned into one and like, had to migrate and had to leave her family. And so how old is Odessa? She's like in her 20s, I think. And the migration happened 30 years ago, the last migration. So the mom would have had to like turn in one and leave and go off.

[Hannah]

Yeah, but before Odessa was born.

[Carly]

No, but not during the migration. I think, like, you're right, like something triggered it and she like, took off to wherever her.

[Hannah]

You're saying, like, didn't have to be when that 30 year mark was, but you're saying, like, it was almost like she was called to wherever they had migrated to.

[Carly]

Yeah. Oh, and I could be off on the timing on that, but, like, it's just weird. I think it's possible her mom is still alive. I also think it's possible Brielle is alive because they scooped up Brielle. They don't see him kill her.

[Hannah]

I thought that was fucking dumb.

[Carly]

If she's not dead, I think they're looking for Odessa. She sees Brielle holding one of her knives. And I think they're looking for Odessa. And she must have smelled like her because she had her stuff and they took her.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I figured she was still alive because it was notable that she. First of all, why the. I thought it was dumb as shit. You'd stand there like, arms wide open. Kind of makes me wonder what Brielle knows or if she's just really like. I don't know. I don't Love how she responded to that. But I did note that they never noted her as dead.

[Carly]

You know, I think that they have.

[Hannah]

Her, which is interesting, because, like, if these are people, like, they're not infected, why are they so brutal?

[Carly]

Well, I think that this is gonna connect back to whatever is connecting Ransom and Odessa, because I think that they both have a connection to magical creatures in some way, and that's what's different about them. And that they are some sort of fated mate and that it has to do with the magic in their system, and that he maybe has a connection to maybe a different magical creature potentially, or also the Crux. But, like, she clearly has a connection to the Crux. Like, there's just no way she doesn't at this point.

[Hannah]

Yeah. But I'm just wondering, like, why are the Crux so violent? Like, if they're also people and they just wanted Odessa, why not just pop on by, try and just grab Odessa?

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Like, why are they killing people violently?

[Carly]

Yeah. Well, I think this is going to be. We're going to find out that this is connected to the Lysa. Like, whatever. Whatever is.

[Hannah]

You do think they're somewhat. They're somehow infected?

[Carly]

I don't know that they're infected, but maybe, like, the same thing is wrong, like, their magic has become corrupted in some way, or something went wrong.

[Hannah]

Or. Do we know when the first migration was? Because they're clearly scared. There's a precedent set that the Crux comes in and is violent.

[Carly]

So.

[Hannah]

So if they're known for being. Violet. Violet. If they're known for being violent, then that 30 years ago they would have been that way. I don't know if that was before that, that it also. But at some point they had to have said every 30 years.

[Carly]

It does say every 30 years. I don't remember it saying, like, if they know when it started or if it's just been since always. Because essentially what it said was that, like, the gods created all the animals, and then the children of the six children of the gods created the monsters to remind the people and the animals, like, the kindness of the gods and that. Like, yeah, some bullshit reasoning.

[Hannah]

I'm gonna have to read that again.

[Carly]

Yeah, but, like, the six children of the gods created the monsters, and one of them is the Crux. And so I think that's gonna mean that Ransom and Odessa have a connection to these children of the gods somehow, and that's what's different about them. But I think we're gonna find out that, like, I don't know that all of the Crux are people, but I definitely think some of them are.

[Hannah]

Well, I wanted to bring that up because he even says there at the end, like, they've killed plenty of them and they never turned into humans.

[Carly]

Yeah. So, yeah, that's what I mean. I don't think all of them are, but I think some of them are. But I definitely think that figuring out the solution to the LYSA is gonna help them figure out a solution to the crux and allow the crux to not be, like, driven to do this weird 30 year violent massacre. So I think those things are connected. And I think because of that, if they find out that if Ransom is infected and dying, if that's true, I think realizing that something similar is going to happen to Odessa is going to drive him to figure out a solution for both of them. So that would be nice to see. I agree.

[Hannah]

Well, okay, hang on, because what did you even think? Like, what was your reaction when he talks about the naked woman in the middle of the street with red hair? Did you see that coming?

[Carly]

No. I knew she had to have a connection to the Crux. I was like, that to me seemed obvious. But them shape shifting into people. No, I was like, I called up. Oh, really?

[Hannah]

I did. I did. There's another series that we've read that made me clock pretty. Like it kind of planted that seed.

[Carly]

Oh, okay. What series?

[Hannah]

I don't want to say because I don't want to tell me People. Yeah, that kind of planted in my mind that, like, the possibility of, like, how you can think that it's not, and then it is. But mostly what made me start thinking it is a combination of how she would describe looking into the eyes of certain monsters.

[Carly]

Oh, like, communicate with her.

[Hannah]

Even Faze. Like she said, like, there toward the end, she was like, it's as if he understands my emotions and wants to talk to me, but we don't speak the same language. And I'm saying this on the record right now. If she comes to be able to communicate with Faze, this will become one of my favorite series ever.

[Carly]

Yeah, you know, I just. Shape shifting wasn't in my, like, line of thought, to be fair. I feel like I was trying to maintain a lot of plot lines really quickly. I was like, well, there's a connection. And I was like, well, maybe these. Maybe her people could control them. Like, maybe there's a lost kingdom somewhere and they're, like, controlling them somehow or. But, like, turning into them. That. That wasn't where I was going with, like, Where I thought this exactly was going.

[Hannah]

I clocked that they were. At least some of them were people. I kind of thought that it would mean that all of them were. But then we find out, like, clearly she's killed monsters and seen them die in front of her. And that's not happened.

[Carly]

Right.

[Hannah]

So it's only a couple.

[Carly]

But.

[Hannah]

So when he said the naked woman laying on the ground, that she'd flown in the air, I was like, oh, my God. I was right. But then he mentioned the red hair, and I was like, oh. Because I didn't connect that it would be Odessa and specifically red hair. And I'm like, is Odessa, like, from this, like, one family of shape shifters that happen to be crux that are all redheaded or something? Was that her mom? Like, was that a sister? How big is this family tree? Also, I don't want it to be her mom. I want that to be, like, a bigger impact.

[Carly]

I think that would be crappy if that's how her mom died. Like, she thinks, like, it turns out her mom was alive, but then she's just killed at the end and you don't even know it's her mom. That would, like. It wouldn't be meaningful.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I'm not buying into that, but I do think that, like, it's super sick. I just feel like, how is. Are we talking hundreds here? So it's. It's not like it's a sister or a cousin or it's not a. It would have to be like a super distant relative. I'm very curious about how that's going to play out.

[Carly]

Yeah. If there's not a relationship, it's like, again, some sort of magical connection or something along the lines like. Something like that. But I am so excited for book two because I am just theorizing like crazy. And mind you, we are both here off of one.

[Hannah]

Ready?

[Carly]

Not audiobook.

[Hannah]

It is 2am for me, Carly. That's midnight. For you, it is late.

[Carly]

We are tired. We have read the book once, so.

[Hannah]

I already can't wait to reread it. And I do not feel like that about many books. In fact, the first book that I like, the last book, the only other book I've ever felt like, oh, my God, I need an immediate reread, is Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, of course.

[Carly]

But I immediately reread Iron Flame and then read it again and again and again.

[Hannah]

Yeah, yeah.

[Carly]

Because I have a problem. But this is one of those for me.

[Hannah]

It has a lot of Easter eggs sprinkled in, a lot of room for theorizing, which is, of course, right up.

[Carly]

Our alley and just, like, addicting characters. I just want to be with them. Yeah.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

All right. So last main topic I have for us is just, like, the ending. I know there's a lot going on at the end. We get Halston almost dying. We get Xavier. You think he's dead. We get the fight with Banner.

[Hannah]

I mean, I feel like we've covered a lot of it, except for her getting on Freya and where is she going?

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Do you have any initial theories on that?

[Carly]

I think he's taking her to the Voster. Cause, again, like, I think the Vosters know.

[Hannah]

Wait, we know. Cause I know she was trying to go to. I need to look at how these are.

[Carly]

She was going back to the treehouse to meet back up with Ransom. He was supposed to meet her and Evie in a couple days, but the Voster intercept her and are like, let's go.

[Hannah]

I thought she was trying to get out of the city first and he was gonna go meet her there.

[Carly]

No, I think they were supposed to meet at the tree. He's like, meet, I'll stay at the treehouse. If I'm not there in a certain amount of time, leave and go back to your kingdom for safety. Take me with you. And so I misheard that. But the Voster obviously intercept her, but I think he's taking her to the other Voster. Like, there is something weird going on here with, like, they're dueling magic, like. Because, like, every time the Voster touches her, it's, like, painful, and I'm like, that's not a great sign. So I think that's what's going on.

[Hannah]

What do you think about this mysterious, secretive, hidden city?

[Carly]

I think that's a really interesting. Like, it was giving Bridge kingdom. Like, nobody's ever seen the inside of the bridge, and it's, like, very secretive. And they, like, blindfold people.

[Hannah]

Like, Belarus vibes.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Like, and I was like, maybe not as shiny.

[Carly]

Yeah. Like, less magical, though. Like, just everybody who's been there has a blood oath, and they can't reveal its location.

[Hannah]

Which is a cool twist on that.

[Carly]

Yeah, it's really cool. But you have to think, like, someone has accidentally stumbled across its location, like, traveling and been like, oh, no. And then they know where it is. But she seemed. I think at the end, she was kind of hinting at, like, she thought she had kind of figured out where.

[Hannah]

It was for whatever reason. I immediately connected that she was either already trying to get there, and that's where Ransom was going to meet her. I don't know. I guess it's because I listened so late. Or that that was where the Voster was gonna take her.

[Carly]

Well, I think that is where the Voster's gonna take her because that's where the Voster are located.

[Hannah]

Does he say that, though, or was that just an essential?

[Carly]

I don't think it's said. I think it's kind of implied. So.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Man, I want book two so bad. I can't believe I have to wait for book two.

[Hannah]

I know. I'm so excited for it, though. Like. Yeah, need it now.

[Carly]

Right. Any other plot points or twists you wanna spiral over?

[Hannah]

I think I should need a reread. I do, too.

[Carly]

We're gonna have to do a reread and then discuss with Kinsey once she reads it. Yes. Yeah, I'm excited for that.

[Hannah]

I'm sure we're gonna have theories, so at some point we'll come back on here and talk about those. Definitely putting the idea of doing a prep season for book two out there as a potential thing we might do.

[Carly]

That could be really fun.

[Hannah]

This is going to be one of my most anticipated reads.

[Carly]

Me, too. For sure. I can't wait. I need to know when the next one's going to be out. I don't even need to know when it'll be out. I just need it now, but that's okay. All right. So overall, this book, were you underwhelmed, appropriately whelmed, or overwhelmed with your excitement?

[Hannah]

Appropriately whelmed with moments of overwhelmed excitement.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Hannah]

I think is the best description.

[Carly]

So did it feel well balanced for you?

[Hannah]

Felt really well balanced. I wasn't hooked until the marriage reveal.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Hannah]

Because I felt a little distant because of the constraints put on the relationship and also not knowing what the fuck was going on. So that felt. I would have liked that a little bit more, but the way that the twists were written in how strong the FMC was, like, balanced that out for me because she was still so enjoyable to read. And honestly, I could listen to that audiobook narrator for hours. Yeah. Indefinitely.

[Carly]

Yeah. I was very much enjoying her inner turmoil with wanting to please her dad and prove herself, but also feeling like it wasn't the right thing. And she was really torn for a while. And I was really enjoying her realizing that there's a mystery behind the mystery. And, like, what is that? And, like, that she was smart enough to see it and be like, what's really going on here? So I. Yeah, I was obsessed with the book from pretty early on, I.

[Hannah]

Was like, so you would say overwhelmed with excitement.

[Carly]

I was overwhelmed with excitement most of the book.

[Hannah]

I think for me, a reread is going to balance that experience out for me, because I think for the first read, the twists were it for me. And now I get to go back through on a reread and be like, okay, knowing what I do about the relationships and what's going on here, I think that will be more of that excitement about picking up those things and the relationship, really being able to lean into the relationship.

[Carly]

I am excited to go back and, like, reread and do a physical book and annotate and, like, compare notes with you guys and, like, do all that.

[Hannah]

Oh, I know.

[Carly]

I'm excited.

[Hannah]

I can't wait to see.

[Carly]

I haven't been this. I feel, like, excited after reading a book in a while.

[Hannah]

Like, I've had some since Empyrean.

[Carly]

Yeah. I would say I've had some really good reads in the last year, but this one is definitely gonna be, like, a top five book for me this year. It was really good. It was so much fun to read. It was so much fun.

[Hannah]

I never thought I would be a monsters girly, but I don't mind it.

[Carly]

Well, you will be when you're done reading what I've been writing.

[Hannah]

Oh, really? Yeah.

[Carly]

I've been working on it for, like, a year, but it's.

[Hannah]

I'm excited.

[Carly]

Yeah. There. There's a reason why I told you that the theme song I've been listening to when writing that is we are the Monsters by Ruel.

[Hannah]

I didn't know that. Wait. Well, this was just a little introductory book for me for. Yeah, the world will be a warm upstairs.

[Carly]

Honestly, it's not gonna meet these expectations. It's okay. It's fine. This was so good. You're like, bring your expectations down, but good to know I've gotten you into that pool now so I can read it.

[Hannah]

I'm really excited to see how I feel about them in book two as we get to experience what Odessa does as being a monster and whether or not it's, like, a negative thing or we find out that there's more to almost this oppressed group of monsters that are just trying to survive. I don't know how you can justify how violent they are, but there's definitely puzzle pieces missing that I think are going to.

[Carly]

Well, I think that this is something that's happened to them, much like the other monsters that have been going rabid, for lack of a better word. Like what's happened to them? I think there's something similar that's happened to the crux, and I don't think they have the exact same thing, obviously, because the mom created it. In between these migrations, the crux have already been this way. But I think it's gonna turn out to be a similar problem with some sort of corrupted magic that's driving this. But maybe they're just, like, full of female rage and angry.

[Hannah]

I also love that idea. Ooh.

[Carly]

You know what I thought of? What if it's only the female crux that are people?

[Hannah]

I was thinking it was interesting that for whatever reason, in my head, I'd never even pictured a man being involved.

[Carly]

Yeah. I feel like we're gonna get some interesting female rage in the next book, so we shall see.

[Hannah]

I just thought it was really interesting that Odessa says that her stepmother was never really able to, like.

[Carly]

Like, she lived in the shadow.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Of her mother for her father. Right. The king, that he was just so in love with her mother that when you know who, by the way, the stepmom was her lady's maid. That's fucking nuts to me.

[Carly]

Yeah. Also seems to be a running theme.

[Hannah]

Probably means that the stepmom does know that Odessa is whatever this situation is and is probably also why they were having her color, her hair.

[Carly]

Yeah. I just think it's interesting that, like, she never got a better answer about this. For so long, I've been going back and forth on whether or not the king, her dad, actually managed to orchestrate all of this and get her secretly taken as, like, the princess that they took, because he was like, I've been training your sister all this time. Of course I didn't have anything to do with this. We're just making the best of a bad situation. But Jocelyn was trained as a spy. Why was he training Jocelyn that she was her lady, like, to go with her. So I'm like, did he know that this was a possibility, or did he actually orchestrate this? Because I've been wondering that. I'm like, jocelyn was her lady's maid. Why was it just that he was gonna send her with the other sister if, like, she was gonna, like, lose her?

[Hannah]

Well, and that's. She even says, like, she chose to keep her own lady's maids. Like, she could have taken her sister's ladies mates who had prepared their whole lives for this.

[Carly]

Yeah. But she chose to take the ones that were closest to her. And I'm like, so did the dad somehow know that, like, they were gonna. That These dominoes were gonna fall. I've been going back and forth on that. Cause I'm just like, why would he train Jocelyn as a spy? Unless he's just training as just in case.

[Hannah]

Or he assigned because he didn't trust his own daughter that he assigned a spy to her long ago.

[Carly]

Yeah, maybe it was her he was spying on, but she seemed pretty well trained to be spying on a pampered princess.

[Hannah]

That's true.

[Carly]

So I don't know.

[Hannah]

That would be a long game in the making.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

Wow. What a book.

[Carly]

Well, I think we'll definitely. This won't be the last of us talking about this book.

[Hannah]

Oh, absolutely not. Especially because it's our book club for June, so that's where we're gonna get Kenzie's reactions. I'm super excited. This is just like. First of all, this book has taken the book community online spaces by storm for good reason. This one deserves the hype.

[Carly]

Yeah, it was great.

[Hannah]

It's so good.

[Carly]

It was definitely a five star.

[Hannah]

It's gonna be hard to follow this one up.

[Carly]

Yeah, it will be really hard because, like, I feel like so much of what I loved was the tension and the, like, what's going on between these two and will they, won't they? And like, so we'll see. But I'm still very excited. I'm very hopeful. I. I just. I need to know the mystery behind the mystery. What is going on here?

[Hannah]

I can't wait for that too.

[Carly]

Yeah, you do. All right, that wraps up our initial thoughts on Shield of Sparrows. Stay tuned. We may drop more pod coverage soon and we'll definitely be keeping an out for book two news. If you're not in our book club yet, this is our June pick and we'll be discussing it live on June 25th at 7pm Eastern. You can join us over on Patreon. All of our episodes drop ad free a day early and on full video for patrons. You can check out our three tiers with perks like my PDF annotations of Onyx Storm shoutouts, bonus resources and full access to the book club and more.

[Hannah]

If you are new here and want more chaos, we've got three seasons worth of Empyrean deep dives waiting for you. We're wrapping our 18 episode, maybe more by the end. Chapter by chapter breakdown of Onyx Storm packed with Easter eggs, wild theories, lore, spirals and more fangirling than you could ever ask for.

[Carly]

You'll find everything linked in the show notes, Patreon socials, Discord, all of it. Whether you join a tier, leave a review or send the pod to your favorite Romantasy girly, we're just so glad you're here.

[Hannah]

Until next time dearest fantasy readers, may your chapters be devastating, your book boyfriend's feral monsters and your TBR just one pre order away from collapse.

[Carly]

And it.

[Hannah]

Is officially 2:30 in the morning.

[Carly]

You officially need to go to bed. You are are gonna turn into a pumpkin.

[Hannah]

But now I'm like I wanna read more cause it's such a the ending.

[Carly]

Well thank you for rallying. I thought it would be fun to do it as soon as you're done reading.

[Hannah]

It was fun.

[Carly]

I'm glad. I'm sorry you're so tired.

[Hannah]

This is gonna be dangerous though cause I'm gonna be like Carly, did you just also happen to finish the same book I did? Do you wanna hop on and record this?

[Carly]

3Am you wanna throw together an outline in 15 minutes.