Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry | JULY BOOK CLUB

Summary

Podcast Summary: "I'll Read What She's Reading" – July Book Club Episode on Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

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Introduction

In the July episode of I'll Read What She's Reading, hosts Kennedy, Reggie, and Mikayla delve into Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry. This book club session, released on August 6, 2025, offers a comprehensive discussion on the novel, exploring ratings, favorite and least favorite moments, character analyses, and engaging theories about the story's progression. The trio also shares their excitement for the upcoming August selection and interacts with their audience through fan casts and social media insights.

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Overall Impressions and Ratings

The hosts begin by sharing their overall ratings and initial impressions of the book. Reggie takes the lead, stating:

“I'm feeling good about this rating. I'm gonna give it a 4.5.” [01:52]

Reggie elaborates on her rating, highlighting the book's enjoyable reading experience despite not being a perfect five-star read. She mentions being pleasantly surprised by her deep investment in the story, often reading into the late chapters, as evidenced by her husband noticing her reading chapter 62 [02:01]. Reggie appreciates the brutal honesty and realism in the narrative, particularly the high stakes and character deaths towards the end.

Kennedy follows with her own rating:

“I think I'm gonna give it four stars.” [05:09]

Kennedy echoes many of Reggie’s sentiments, praising the character development, especially Odessa’s inquisitive nature, which she found relatable and engaging. She values the slow-burn romance and the balance between tenderness and toughness in the Guardian’s character. Kennedy also notes the refreshing elements in the magic system and the overall pacing of the book, despite a slightly slow start [05:28].

Mikayla chimes in briefly, adding to the positive feedback without assigning a formal rating, emphasizing her excitement about the book and its reception.

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Favorite Moments

The discussion transitions to favorite moments within Shield of Sparrows. Reggie highlights her attachment to Evangeline’s character, appreciating how the inclusion of a young character adds depth and intrigue:

“I really loved Evangeline. I just felt like her character just made the book a lot more exciting and interesting.” [16:25]

Kennedy shares her enjoyment of the treehouse town, Trio, praising its unique setting and vivid descriptions that evoke strong imagery:

“I loved the treehouses... It gave me Tarzan vibes.” [22:22]

Both hosts express enthusiasm for the book’s setting and character dynamics, particularly valuing the balance of romance and fantasy elements that keep the story engaging without overshadowing the plot.

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Shocking Elements

A significant portion of the conversation centers around the book’s shocking plot twists. Reggie recounts her reaction to major betrayals and unexpected revelations:

“The betrayal of Jocelyn... I recorded my reaction to the ending, and I was not prepared for how brutal it was.” [19:18]

Kennedy concurs, noting the high stakes introduced by these brutal events:

“I liked that because it shows how dangerous they really are... It made the stakes feel much higher.” [19:53]

They both discuss the introduction of the Crux and its impact on the story, emphasizing how these elements contribute to the book’s tension and excitement.

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Dislikes and Criticisms

Despite the overall positive reception, the hosts share certain dislikes. Reggie expresses her frustration with the predictability of a major plot twist:

“I didn't love how obvious the plot twist was... I would have loved to have questioned it more.” [27:32]

Kennedy adds that the beginning felt slow for her, which took time to overcome:

“It took me a long time to get into this book. I've been in a really bad reading slump...” [30:13]

Both acknowledge that while these aspects slightly detracted from their experience, they did not overshadow the book’s strengths.

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Theories and Speculations

Engaging with the narrative’s mysteries, the hosts brainstorm various theories about unresolved plot points and future developments. They speculate on Odessa’s true nature and the significance of her pendant, pondering whether she might be connected to the Crux or hold a key role in defeating it:

“The pendant is keeping her from being a Crux... She could be related in a way we don't know yet.” [33:10]

Reggie and Kennedy discuss the potential implications of these theories, considering character motivations and unresolved questions about Odessa’s family and the Voster’s intentions.

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Fan Casts

A fun segment ensues as the hosts propose actors to portray the book’s characters in a potential movie adaptation. Kennedy suggests Henry Cavill for Ransom, visualizing him as the Witcher-like Guardian:

“Henry Cavill... he would be great.” [38:40]

Reggie focuses on characters like Odessa and Xavier, debating suitable actresses. She leans towards characters who naturally embody Odessa’s fierce yet vulnerable nature:

“Sadie Sink would be a perfect fit for Odessa.” [40:28]

The conversation highlights their creative interpretations of the characters, blending their visions with popular culture references.

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Upcoming Book Announcement

The episode concludes with the hosts announcing their August book club selection: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson. They express excitement for this shift to the thriller genre, noting Jackson’s reputation for compelling mysteries:

“We're doing a thriller in August. It's gonna be good.” [46:27]

They briefly discuss Jackson’s previous works and speculate on the concepts that Not Quite Dead Yet might explore, such as a time-loop scenario where the protagonist attempts to prevent her own murder.

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Conclusion

Wrapping up, Kennedy and Reggie encourage listeners to join their Fable group chat for real-time discussions and to follow their social media accounts for updates and fan interactions. They express their enjoyment of Shield of Sparrows and anticipation for the next book, fostering a sense of community among their audience.

“We hope you'll join us next month for our book club. We'll see you next week.” [48:22]

Overall, this episode of I'll Read What She's Reading offers insightful analysis, engaging discussions, and a lively exchange of ideas, making it a valuable listen for both seasoned book club members and casual readers alike.

Transcript

[Kennedy]

Foreign. Hi, guys. Welcome back to. I'll read what she's reading. I'm Kennedy.

[Reggie]

I'm Reggie.

[Kennedy]

I'm Mikayla. And today we are here to discuss our July. Right? July. Yeah. July Book club book of the month, which was Shield of Sparrows by Dev. Do you pronounce your name? Deveney.

[Reggie]

Devni.

[Kennedy]

Devnee. Perry. Perry. And I know we say this at the beginning of every single book club episode, but usually we've talked a teeny, tiny, itty bit about the book with each other, but when I say I don't think we've said anything to each other about it, I think Reggie just asked a question and it was crickets. And she's like, never mind. I figured I had to keep reading legitimately. We haven't said a single word.

[Reggie]

Yeah, we haven't. So maybe, like, we've seen things from updates on Fable.

[Kennedy]

Oh, that's true.

[Reggie]

But, like, so this is true. I'm gonna get my notes out because I've got some.

[Kennedy]

We're excited. And if you're new here and this is the first time you're listening to our podcast or a book club episode, how we kind of do it is we share our overall thoughts and rating, and then we go into our favorite moments, least favorite moments, and then a fan cast, and then we announce our next book club book. So stay to the end of the episode or fast forward to the end of the episode if you didn't read this book to see what we chose for August. Yeah. Who wants to go first? Who wants to share their thoughts? Are we starting with the star rating? Yeah. Yeah, Star rating and your overall thoughts. Okay, I'll go. But I'm so scared. I don't know why I'm so scared. I feel like you always go first. Okay, then I'm gonna click Episodes. You go first.

[Reggie]

You want me to go first? Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Reggie]

I'm sitting. We're gonna see if things change. I'm feeling good about this rating. I'm gonna give it a 4.5.

[Kennedy]

Okay. Yeah.

[Reggie]

I feel there was. When I was writing down all the things I loved about it, I was like, no, this might be a 4.5 instead of a 4 star read. I knew it wasn't a 5 star read because there wasn't. There were a few things that really surprised me and that I really loved, but nothing that, like, really, like, knocked it out of the park for me, you know? But my reading experience was so enjoyable. At one point, I had said something to my husband. Well, like, I had just started the book. And I was like, I have to finish this book by, like, Monday or whatever. And I was telling how many pages, and then he, like, saw me reading and, like, the chapter I was on, I was on chapter, like, 62. Like, that's towards the end. And he's like, how many chapters are in this? I'm like, oh. I'm like, almost done. He's like, oh, you're reading. Like, I would any second. I was like, I need to sit down and read this. I think I was just really invested, which I wasn't expecting because I went in with really low expectations because so many people were talking it up. So I didn't think I was going to enjoy it, but I really loved it. I loved the magic and the monsters and the betrayal and how brutal it was. Like, literally the end of the book, someone put on people, they were like, oh, so we get to the end of the book and literally, oh, I don't know, like, how they phrased it. I wonder if I screenshot it. But they're like, literally almost every single main character is dead or brutally injured. Like, and I loved that.

[Kennedy]

Like, I hate.

[Reggie]

It's, like, sad. But it was so fun to. It was refreshing to read something that was as brutal as it was because it just felt a lot more real. I liked that it was pretty slow burnie, and I didn't think I kind of have given up on enemies to lovers a little bit, or I'm just kind of like. If it book says it's like a slow burn or enemy silvers, I'm kind of just like, rolling my eyes like, okay.

[Kennedy]

Is it really, though?

[Reggie]

Is it really? Like, we see this a lot in Romantasy books. I didn't think that I was gonna eat it up as much as I did, but it worked for me, and I enjoyed it a lot. And then I think the thing I really liked the most was I really liked Odessa's character. I just felt like she actually asked questions. She had a lot of them, but so did I. But everything that she was saying in her brain, I'm like, yeah, I'm wondering the same thing. And I like that she was asking those, because I feel like in some books, I'm like, girl, why are you not, like, asking questions and trying to figure stuff out? But she was like, I was going on that journey with her, and I liked that a lot.

[Kennedy]

I liked how she was also a little bit in the dark, though.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Like, I feel like a lot of the times you ask a question and immediately get answers but it was nice that she was in the dark, making us in the dark.

[Reggie]

It was just refreshing. Yeah, there was something really refreshing about her character too. Like, she wasn't. She hasn't been training for her whole life. Like, yes, she's a princess, but she doesn't really care about, like, being royalty. Like, I just. I really enjoyed her character a lot.

[Kennedy]

Love it. Am I going next yet? I don't care. What do you want to do? I can go next. You can go next. Okay. I think I'm gonna give it four stars. And honestly, Reggie said most of the things that I loved and whatever about the book, I think so. It's funny that you say that you like she. That she asked a lot of questions.

[Reggie]

Because it drives crazy.

[Kennedy]

No, honestly, it didn't. There was someone that updated in Fable and said something about her asking questions every other sentence, and I didn't even notice it until I read that person's Fable update. And then I also saw a Goodreads review where someone rated it two stars because of that. But what I really liked about this book, and I don't know if you guys had the same experience. When I opened show the Sparrows and I saw how many books Deviny Perry had written, I was like, I had no idea she had a repertoire of like 30 books under her belt. And come to find out, most of them are kind of like mystery romances. So going into this book, kind of knowing that after I looked at some of the books that she'd previously written, it makes a lot of sense why there were so many questions and why I almost felt mystery like, because there were so many things we didn't know. And I actually liked that I didn't know a lot of the stuff. I thought I would finish the book feeling really frustrated if all of my questions weren't answered. And obviously one of the main ones was who's her mom? Which we don't know. Still don't know. But I like that not all the questions were answered because sometimes when you have all the questions answered in a book, you're not excited for the next next one.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I'm stoked about it.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. I also really loved the Guardian. I think sometimes authors try to make these male main characters mean to the point where it's a turn off, where they're so mean and aggressive. But I feel like he was a good balance of mean, but also sweet and tender. Not to bring another book up, but it's like, what? Not gonna say what book? But if you guys know this podcast, we had it as a book club book. It's like what everybody wanted, a certain character that starts with a K to be like. That's what the Guardian is. Yeah. You know, so it's been a long time since I read a fantasy book and have been excited, and it's been a long time since I've read a fantasy book that felt new and fresh, and that's exactly what this book was. It didn't feel like the magic system was regurgitated. It felt like a legitimate slow burn, which appreciated. There was kind of that underlying tension, but it wasn't like they were jumping each other's bones. From the time that they met each other, there was kind of sort of maybe like 20 pages where I was questioning who the love interest was. Kind of. It just was kind of everything I've been wanting in a fantasy book. The only reason I did give it five stars was just this. The beginning felt a wee bit slow for me. I kind of wanted it to, like. I don't know.

[Reggie]

Gotcha.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Yeah. Other than that. Yeah. Amazing. Yeah. I'm also gonna give it four stars. I really, really liked it. I. I don't know why. Maybe even my dislikes. I'll say, like, that will be the reason why I didn't give it five stars. But there's something about it that wasn't quite five stars, but it was still really, really good, and I really enjoyed it, and it just felt like something different and new, but also familiar at the same time. Yeah. Like, the. I feel like the. I mean, there is a lot of things that we have questions about when it comes to the magic system, but I feel like it's not that confusing. Yeah. Like, it's pretty straightforward, but there's still some questions about logistic logistics of things. Right. And I also really liked, like you guys have said, Odessa's character, where she. She would ask questions that I was thinking in my brain, and so it's almost like it's. She was asking questions that the readers were having. That's how I interpreted it.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I. I don't know. I was like, what about this? And then she'd be like, what about this? And I'm like, oh, yeah, she's asking the questions for me. And it. And I feel like it makes more sense for these people to not just like, not know her, be from a different kingdom and just like, openly expose all of their secrets. Because I feel like in a lot of fantasy books, they're just like, we've known each other for five days. Let me openly Express all of our secrets from this kingdom and stuff. So it made a lot of sense why she was in the dark. And if I were her, I'd be asking all these questions too. She just got put in a really unfortunate situation which I think really made it fun. I don't know. So like if she was training her whole life, I feel like it wouldn't have been as fun. Yeah, yeah. Like to be a spy.

[Reggie]

Well, and like where she kept saying like what was her sister's name? May.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

She just kept being like, oh yeah. Like this is, this is definitely what my sister should be doing. I should. She should be in my place. And she just really knew who she was and who her sister was. And so yeah, it's it.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And we've talked about the fable a lot, but I feel like you haven't joined the fable group. Chat the group. Some people were being so funny. So funny.

[Reggie]

So funny.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I was like, I was like, I hate when people are funnier than me. It was so good. Like I didn't even think about it. And it wasn't that funny to me like reading it. But then as soon as I opened a fable, I was like, wait, this is holy.

[Reggie]

Yeah, there were some good.

[Kennedy]

So funny. So good. And so I think that also added to the reading experience was just pat yourselves on the back in the fable group because you guys were funny. You guys made me laugh and giggle. So. Yeah, I think it was just. I'm really excited about the next book. Me too. It's. I feel like been a while since I've felt really excited about another book like that hasn't been out yet.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Well, like I said, it left you with enough questions to be excited for the next book but gave you enough answers to feel satisfying. Yeah. You know, there's a few books. Like one that comes to mind that I didn't enjoy as much was when the Moon Hatched because I just had so many questions and I felt like this, the book was so long and none of them were answered. Yeah. So I'm really, really excited. I'm looking up right now. When does it come out? I also feel like the book was too long.

[Reggie]

I don't think there's a date for hurt the next book.

[Kennedy]

Like that's what was also really nice about it. It wasn't like this like 800 page book. It was felt very fast paced. Yes. Because you had a lot of questions and so like, I don't know, there's just a lot going on, especially with like the Monsters. I loved the monster aspect. Instead of it being like. I mean, I feel like there's an overall tone of someone maybe controlling the monsters. I don't know. That's what maybe I'm getting at. But the monsters added a different vibe compared to someone just being the villain. Yeah. Did you guys see the. I think someone posted in the fable. Sorry to bring up the fable again. The. That the author posted fan art of all the monsters. No.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

I haven't looked it up yet. And we'll share this on our Instagram Stories screenshots. Because the monsters, they. Sometimes they were kind of hard for me to picture, but the fan art of them is quite terrifying. I'll find it. Oh, yeah. She was like. They were very. Look at them all. They're so good. They were really descriptive, but I feel like I could only envision what she was describing. Like, when she said, like, red fur, that's the only thing I could see. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Not like a whole picture. So that's really cool to, like, see that.

[Reggie]

She have them posted.

[Kennedy]

It's on her. Yeah, it's on her Instagram. We'll share it to our Instagram story when this comes out.

[Reggie]

Honestly.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, they're. They're all terrifying. Yeah, they're. They're terrifying. Yeah.

[Reggie]

I. I was getting a little scared.

[Kennedy]

And there's no release date for the next book, unfortunately. I sad. I. I have to say this is what I envisioned. I should have put it in the fable, but I didn't have the time to go and find it. So. You guys know in the Glen, pal. Sydney Sweeney. Yeah. Anyone but you. Where the Australian guy is, like, swimming really fast. That's what I envisioned the Guardian doing when he was, like, going from ship to ship.

[Reggie]

Well, yeah, because he's, like, got this in crazy speed.

[Kennedy]

Anyways, I just. That that's what I envisioned. I need to, like, find a clip. You guys know what I'm talking about. He's like, oh, that's funny. That's. I don't know. In the ship. Just loved it. It was just. Yeah. It was so refreshing. Just refreshing. Tree houses. I just can envision it being a really good movie. Oh, my gosh. Which. Yeah, it's been. If you're. If you guys didn't know this, it has been picked up for a movie, which is really exciting. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Which is. I think it got picked up literally right after it came out.

[Kennedy]

Which is wild because this is her first fantasy book. Like, if you go to the author's note or the acknowledgments One of her first sentences says something like, you have your books, don't you? Oh. It says something like, she's wanted to dive into fantasy for so long. And honestly, as this being her first fantasy book, I'm so incredibly impressed. I'm so impressed. It had the recipe for everything that you could want in a fantasy book. And lately TikTok has been, you know, hyping books up and they've been disappointments. But this one, this one was really great. I also Kennedy mentioned this in a Marco Polo, that this is the same publishing House as 4th Wing. And I wonder if that has something to do with it getting picked up. Maybe, maybe the publishing. Maybe Red Tower has some sort of connection relationship with certain production companies. I don't know. We should probably look up who's picked it up.

[Reggie]

Yeah. The acknowledgment says, I wanted to delve into romantic fantasy for years. And I'm so very grateful to Liz Pelletier for giving me this opportunity to stretch my wings.

[Kennedy]

Okay, you guys ready for this? It is picked up by Amazon, MGM Studios. Derek Kolstad, known for the John Wick franchise, is writing the screenplay. Oh, John Wick's insane.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I'm excited for that. I'm excited to see the monsters on screen. I'm excited maybe. And you know, we should have talked about this at the end when we get into fancast. But we'll circle back to fancast. We'll circle back. Yeah, I'm really excited. So great job. Well, favorites.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I feel a little bad because I kind of just went all. I spouted alt mine out with my review. But I mean, some things I didn't mention. I really loved Evangeline.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Unfortunately, I couldn't help but like picture her as my own child. So that kind of got me in the heart a little. But I will say she talked a little older than she's five, right? She's like four. She talks a little older than I would say a four year old talks. But I kind of liked how she. I feel like her character just made the book a lot more exciting and interesting with like, who her family is and her relationship with Odessa and, you know, there's so many secrets and adding a child into the mix just kind of made it interesting. And I feel like a lot of fantasy books, you don't really have someone that young.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, that's true.

[Reggie]

That was kind of cool to like see how this 4 year old was gonna play a role in the plot. I just loved the betray like what was the most shocking part of the book for you guys? Because I felt like I did make a note in my phone. I don't know where I was at in the book at this point, but I literally made a note on my phone, timestamp everything where I said, the Guardian is actually Xavier. Because I knew. I knew that he actually married the Guardian. Actually married her.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah.

[Reggie]

But I was like, his name has got to be Xavier. If, like, why is we not. Why do we not know what his name is? And when he said Ransom, I was like. But then I was like, no, I. I don't know. So that wasn't, like, super shocking to me. But the betrayal of Jocelyn.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Yeah, that got me that. Yeah, it was like this little. Oh, yeah, yeah, that was good.

[Reggie]

I was on the treadmill, and I literally was, like, walking really fast, and I literally, like, stopped and was like.

[Kennedy]

I think for me, the betrayal. Jocelyn's betrayal was a very big shock to me. But also, I mean, going back to when it's finally revealed that Ransom is actually the prince and he's actually married to her, I had no question the entire time once, like, Xavier wasn't talking, and I just was like, he's the real prince. I was giggling, though, just like, because I. You know how it's so satisfying when you have an idea? And I just was giggling. And I knew it. I knew it. But I would also say that something that shocked me was when the crux came in and literally cut Louella in two.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I was like, oh, so we're gonna kill his mom right here, right now. Just slice her in half or the little boy. Oh, my. Yeah.

[Reggie]

So sad.

[Kennedy]

I. That was my good reason.

[Reggie]

I recorded my reaction to the ending, and I was not.

[Kennedy]

Okay, my job. I was like, this is. This is when things were starting to ramp up. Like, everything was so brutal.

[Reggie]

Well, when the crux was introduced, it was pretty late into the ending. Like, it was right towards the ending of the book. So I didn't think the crux was gonna, like. I thought it was gonna end with it coming, like.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And in came the crux.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But then when it was like, nope, it's dropping down, ripping her into two, I was like, but I'm buckling up. I was like, okay, let's do this. I was not expecting that to be so brutal and happen so quickly, but.

[Kennedy]

I liked that because it shows how dangerous they really are. You know, sometimes with fantasy books, you have this big, bad thing that's talked about, and it's supposed to Be so scary and intim and powerful and then it shows up and it's easily defeated. Yeah. You know, I kind of liked the brutality because it made it feel way more high stakes. And going into the next book, it feels like, yeah. Really? All these people are dying. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel like. Kind of like what you said with Evangeline, she also makes things more high stakes.

[Reggie]

Yeah. You know, like she's touch my Evangeline.

[Kennedy]

You know, what also got me was the sister part. Like, her being his sister. I had no. I. You know, I knew kind of like, you know, maybe I shouldn't have put in the fable. Do you think people were mad that I put it in the fable? No, no. About the prince.

[Reggie]

Because I think everyone was picking up on that.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And see, when I started the book, I was like, kind of rolling my eyes because I'm like, okay, this is going to be the big plot twist of the book and we're all going.

[Kennedy]

To be like, woohoo.

[Reggie]

But it just worked. Like, even though I knew it was coming, I was, like, so satisfied with it.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Well, I also. It. I knew, but I was like, how does everything fit into place?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

With like, them saying Evangeline's Xavier's daughter. But I was like, she said. She said she was a princess. Are they lying to her? She's just saying she's a princess to like, make the whole thing. I don't know. You know, it was. It was very satisfying getting all those answers of, like, how does everything, like, fit into place where it makes sense? Part of me wonders if really it was so satisfying and worked so well because she has written mystery. Yeah. Because to be able to draw all those. Like, not saying that. Not all fantasy authors can do that, because they can. But I feel like it was with mystery. Not to say that's all you have, because that's not all you have. But with fantasy, there's so many other things that can bring intrigue and interesting aspects into a book. Whereas with, like, a mystery book, it's straight up just solving what's happening. I don't know. She did a very good job. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Do you have any other favorites? Oh, I really like their first kiss.

[Kennedy]

Guys, I'm not even gonna lie to you. And I'm so ashamed to admit this. I was listening to it while I was packing up to go to Bear Lake, and I don't remember it.

[Reggie]

That's okay.

[Kennedy]

I don't remember their first kiss.

[Reggie]

It's when they were in, like, the. The field and they're like just getting in each other's face. They're like angry with each other. Oh, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Because it's after he tells her.

[Reggie]

Yeah, it's the training, the training thing. Yeah, yeah.

[Kennedy]

And he's like pushing her.

[Reggie]

Yeah. She's all like, I hate you. You lied to me.

[Kennedy]

I'm so sad. I was zoned out during that.

[Reggie]

Oh, do you want me to read it to you?

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Will you read it to me? Yeah.

[Reggie]

I just like, I also think it's just. I just don't have a lot of love for a fantasy book where there's just this like, sexual attraction from the get go. And it's kind of driven by sexual attraction. Not there's anything wrong with that, but like, obviously this entire book, you know, she's got eyes for him and. But she's like her internal dialogue, she was really paddling it. It wasn't just like, yeah, I don't really like him, but oh my gosh, he's so hot. It was. I felt like there was really like. I felt the internal battle with it, which I really appreciated. And I could see why, like, I kind of hated him too for like leaving her in the dark, lying to her. I can see why she would be so angry. So. So I really felt that like, love, hate. And it wasn't this big, like sexual attraction thing. Like, yes, he made jokes to her that were kind of like. But it wasn't anything where I was like, okay, we get it. You know what I mean?

[Kennedy]

Yeah. So, yeah, it was just too good. It was like the perfect, perfect amount of like romance to like actually the fantasy world. I don't know. And it wasn't even very much romance compared to the rest of was just like, I don't know, just the perfect amount. Wasn't too much, wasn't too little. I would give it like 30% romance, 35% romance. I don't know. I'm very interested to see how the next book. Is it supposed to be two books?

[Reggie]

I don't know, actually.

[Kennedy]

I guess we probably don't know. Do you want to give your favorites? Oh, have I not given my favorites? Do you want to add any others? I feel like I just really kind of like the same as you. I really. You know, my favorite part is when he goes and checks to see if she's okay. Like he's checking to see if she's wounded. I don't know. You got. You didn't get your 10 to wounds moment though. I didn't get my 10 to wounds moment, but just like, him immediately going over there and checking her. I don't know. So cute. And then the whole kind of like, you. The whole reveal where, you know. But it was just like, you know, you're like, I'm so excited on the edge of your seat to, like, finally hear a confession from him. And then it just, you know, her internal dialogue of, like, he's my husband. I can have feelings. Yeah. She's like, oh, I got the green light. So I think. Yeah, I really liked it. So there were a lot of likes. One other, like, I wanted to say, because we kind of have touched on. I think Mikayla touched on it, but Trio. Is that how you say it? The. The tree house town. Oh, I loved that. It was so cool, so unique. I feel like I could picture it vividly. It also helped that the inside cover of the book is Trio, but just such a cool way. Like, it's not a cool way. It's such a cool environment. And a good chunk of the book took place there. Yeah. Gave me Tarzan vibes, you know, living. I honestly would love to live in a tree house. Yeah. So I just loved the setting. Let's do a reading retreat in a treehouse.

[Reggie]

Well, I was thinking of that resort I stayed at when I went to Cabo.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Reggie]

It was like, giving that. And then there's also this, like, insanely cool. This is probably not interesting to anyone, but, like, there's this really cool Airbnb I thought wanted to stay at when we go to Norway that they literally, like, it's built onto the tree. It's not just like a. It's literally like. It's suspense. Like, the tree is what's holding. I don't know how to explain it.

[Kennedy]

You gotta do it.

[Reggie]

It's not like. Anyways. And so, yeah, it just, like, felt well. And then, like, the rope to get down. Like, I just. It was kind of giving, like, you know, like. You read Magic Treehouse as a kid.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Watched Tarzan. It was just like, this is it. But growing up.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. No, seriously. Loved it. Yeah. So good. Now that we've gushed about it, you guys are probably like, well, why didn't you give it five stars? Who wants to go first and give a dislike?

[Reggie]

I guess I am. I. For me, I didn't love how obvious the plot twist was. Obviously, it worked for me and I enjoyed it. But I would liked it for me to be like. I would have loved to have questioned it more than I did. I didn't really question it. I was just kind of like, oh, yeah. And I don't know if it's just because I've read enough fantasy books that, like, I kind of know where authors are going sometimes with major plot points, you know, But I wish it would have been, like, not so obvious. I don't know how she would have done that, but that was like, one thing.

[Kennedy]

I wonder if, like, Xavier would have put in more effort. Maybe I would have questions it. Yeah. But obviously he didn't really care that much. He was nowhere to be found 24 7. Yeah. No, but I. Yeah, for sure.

[Reggie]

My other dislike is. I just dislike that we don't know when the next book is gonna exit.

[Kennedy]

I'm gonna dock the stars because you don't have your book out.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I don't know, I just think that there was something. Yeah. Like I said in the beginning of the episode, like, I just. There wasn't anything that absolutely knocked my socks off where I was like, this is. I don't know, I. I really, really, really enjoyed it. But there was just a little something. I don't know exactly what it was that it was missing for me to be able to say, like, this is five stars.

[Kennedy]

So listen, a five star read is a feeling and I think the three of us are rather stingy with our five star reads, so a little too much, probably for me. That's okay. That's a good thing. Yeah. What did you not like? I think looking back at the book in whole, I. No, I understood where her family was coming from with like her mom being like her stepmom and her mom and dad having that biological daughter. But I felt like. I don't know, I just felt kind of like she was cast off. But her dad claimed to have loved her mom so much. I don't know. Part of me wonders if there's some truth to what's his name? Samuel. Yeah. What he wrote in that book. Yeah, yeah. Her. Maybe it will be answered and it won't be a dislike. But I was like, she's a princess and she's literally had. I mean, she's had some training, but I was like, you know. Yeah. But I think it added the overall. It needed to be that way. But I think I was just bugged.

[Reggie]

By it a little.

[Kennedy]

I don't know why. Yeah. So I think that was pretty much it. I think for me, my only main dislike that I can really think of is it took me a long time to get into this book. And that's, I think, more of a me problem than anything. I've been in a really really, really bad reading slump. And also I had a bad attitude when I first started this book. I think I told these two, I'm like, this is not what I want to read. I am not in the mood to read this. I updated in fable and said I'm not in the mood to read this book. So hopefully it doesn't change my opinion on it. And thankfully, I still really enjoyed it. But it took me probably 35% to be like, excited to pick up the book. But that's a me problem and that's on me. But.

[Reggie]

Well, yeah, but you're reading is still a place of heart. Interrogating.

[Kennedy]

But I will say I had the audiobook on Hoopla. I had the Kindle copy on Kindle Unlimited, and I had the physical copy. That is like what dreams are made of right there. And I'm here to say this is such a tangent. I'm so sorry, but you guys, Mikayla has a Kindle. It happened. We got her a Kindle on Prime Day. So now she's gonna have peak reading experience to have all three as well. Peak reading experience. Sorry, that was a tangent.

[Reggie]

Anyways, everyone clap for Michaela.

[Kennedy]

Yes, please, please, please, please. So, yeah, I opened it. It's okay. You just got it today. As you can tell, we all really enjoyed this book. Hopefully you guys enjoyed it too, because it was a good one. It was a good pick.

[Reggie]

We got to talk about the ending.

[Kennedy]

Oh, for sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Reggie]

Sorry. Unless there's any other dislikes. I was gonna go into it that we're like, you know. Yeah, we don't. I don't know. I was so. Were you guys so confused for a second when he was, like, looking at that woman for. I was like, why does he keep staring at this naked woman's body?

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Reggie]

And for a second then I was like, wait, that's not her.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And then it was like when he said that.

[Kennedy]

That what the craft. But the. Yeah.

[Reggie]

I was like, oh. I had a feeling like, yeah, there's something special about her.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But I wouldn't have get. I don't think I would have guessed that. She is pretty much. She could. She's a crux. She.

[Kennedy]

Because she also has that pendant that matches the book with all of it's.

[Reggie]

Like, is the pendant keeping her from.

[Kennedy]

Is she a goddess? Is there God?

[Reggie]

We don't.

[Kennedy]

Gods or their goddesses. I don't know. I think there's goddesses as well.

[Reggie]

But also I should have taken better notes because I'm like, I want to know how it would make sense. Like, obviously her hair.

[Kennedy]

Oh, is she the mom? Huh? She wasn't red. Yeah, the naked woman. Her hair was red. But apart, it could just be that, like, she's a.

[Reggie]

He said it's the same hair. It was the same hair. Like, he touched the hair or he. With the same hair as my Odessa or whatever.

[Kennedy]

I mean, obviously there's something with her mom because we have the Voster. Is that how you pronounce it?

[Reggie]

Voster?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I think so. That want her. She can feel magic from them. She has the pendant. The crocs have red hair. There's obviously something going on there. And maybe the pendant is something that's keeping her from being a crux.

[Reggie]

We didn't get a ton of responses on this, but I post. I don't know if you guys saw. I posted on our stories today and said, what are your theories? Someone said that they think that Odessa is going to shift into a crux the next book. Someone says that she's queen of the.

[Kennedy]

Monsters and that's why they're attracted to her.

[Reggie]

Someone also said that the crux that he killed was Odessa's mom.

[Kennedy]

I think I would hate that.

[Reggie]

Did you also guys get the vibe that he can read minds? Yeah, I was getting that vibe sometimes because there were a few times where he would say something and then like. Or she would say something and then he would respond, but it was like her inner dialogue. And I was like, or are we.

[Kennedy]

Gonna have a you know who situation?

[Reggie]

Yeah, I was like, this is kind of reminding me of a different book, which I never picked up on that the first time I read it, but I'm like, didn't she say a lot.

[Kennedy]

Of things in her brain but accidentally say them out loud a lot? I think she did do that as well, because I remember being like, oh, did I say that out loud? Yeah, I don't know. Maybe.

[Reggie]

But her. Her blood isn't green. Only his is green.

[Kennedy]

I mean, I think that she is going to be like a major point in defeating the crux somehow.

[Reggie]

Well, think about it. If she's gonna second, she has to. There was never any reason for why she has to dye her hair, right?

[Kennedy]

No.

[Reggie]

She's just always been told that she has to dye her hair.

[Kennedy]

That's why I'm thinking her mom. Yeah, it's the red hair has to signify something along those lines.

[Reggie]

But her dad. Does her dad know that she's that then, like, why would he.

[Kennedy]

I don't know. What? I don't know.

[Reggie]

But then why Would he tell her to dye her? I don't know. I have so many questions.

[Kennedy]

The mom is going to be the missing puzzle piece to it all. And I. I do wish maybe a little bit that we got a little bit more answer to the Voster thing. You know, when they're standing and banners there and the Voster wants to take her and there's this scuffle. Yeah. And then it cuts to the chapter I was. To the next chapter. I was so mad. I was waiting for there to be some sort of revelation about them, and then it never was revisited, so that kind of bugged me. But she's got to be crux. Yeah.

[Reggie]

I feel like the necklace is, like, keeping her from, like, turning or something. Like. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I don't know. We'll see. It's all vibes for me in my brain. Correct me if I'm wrong right now. They're currently separated. She's going back to her dad. No. Unless she's going to the city. That one city that the.

[Reggie]

Oh, what's it called?

[Kennedy]

I can't remember. Alice area. She's. She's with the dime guy. He took her and Evangeline on a horse. Yes. And he's in Elder. He. He is. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, yeah.

[Reggie]

They're separated.

[Kennedy]

Yes, they're separated. Can't wait. All Asaria.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I don't think it's on the map because we don't know.

[Kennedy]

Sorry. She's not going back to her dad. That's right. That is correct. Because I don't. I don't think she would go back. But also, I don't think the Voster. Evil. I don't know. I don't think they are getting mixed signals, because I remember in the last chapter, before we get Ransom's point of view, she was like, if Ransom trusts them, there's a reason he does. Yeah. So I'm gonna put my faith in Ransom that they're gonna be good. Hopefully. Yeah. Guess we'll see. Hmm. Hmm. I don't know. Do you guys have any other theories?

[Reggie]

Um, I don't think so. I was just looking at a Reddit thread of people's, like, thoughts, but I.

[Kennedy]

Have a theory that maybe. What do they call him? Ran. Ransom. Ran. Ransom. Ransom. Ransom. He's not keen on looking for a cure, but I feel like he's gonna have to find a cure for someone else, maybe her. Oh, it's gonna force him to find a cure because someone else gets it. Yes, I could see that. Like, I don't know. This may be a theory.

[Reggie]

Ish.

[Kennedy]

How crazy was it that we found out his mom created Lysa? Yeah, but it was activated by a bite. I just thought that was so cool. And I just. The entire time that whole chapter was playing out, I just kept thinking to myself, oh, it's a super soldier serum. Yeah. Cool. I just think that's so cool. Yeah. There are just so many cool things about this book that. We've said this 500 times that just were unique. Mm. Mm. So, yeah, I think I'm really excited to see how everything's gonna go down in the next book. Me, too. And may it continue to be brutal. Unique. That's my expectation. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Well, I just thought. I just saw something that. I thought it sounded interesting. Someone said this is just on a Reddit thread. Okay. They said, interesting how? She took off of the cliff, like, jumped off the cliff. She said herself that she felt like flying, and the Guardian said she was like a bird, and that's why he called her Sparrow. Well, but isn't she the. She is.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. She's called.

[Reggie]

Yeah, but still Sparrow. And then as it turns out, she's likely going to end up being related. Or is it crux in a way that we don't know yet? So just kind of all those bird foreshadowing.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, that's got to be what it is. But once again, the thing about theories is that sometimes I get disappointed in the actual book. Yeah. So I got to kind of not dig too deep. Yeah. So. Okay, fan casts. You guys ready? Let's do it. Okay, I'll go. Let's do Ransom slash the Guardian first. Okay, listen, someone in the fable group said that he was the Witcher, and then the only person I could picture was Henry Cavill the rest of the time. And I know that's basic, but that's just what I pictured in my brain. Okay. You know, he would be great. I'm not saying that's who should be cast because he's a little old. Maybe cast the guy who is playing Superman because he's a Henry Cavill look, like, you know. Yeah, no, I don't think that's bad. I know, but it was. You know how when someone says something to you and then you can't picture anything? I just couldn't get it out. Yeah, because if you guys have seen the Witcher, he's got, like, the hair and just like it. Just the macho. Yeah, yeah, he's got the macho. Anyways, you guys probably have, but I like it. Well, it's not like it's a good fan cast. It's just my realistic of who I actually picture. Yeah.

[Reggie]

So I didn't have one. I have someone for Odessa and Xavier.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Reggie]

But I don't have one for him. Like, I just couldn't. And I think because I had someone in my mind for Xavier, once I realized that they're like cousins, then I was like, oh, they kind of need to look similar. Ish. Not that they have to. I was struggling.

[Kennedy]

That's okay.

[Reggie]

But, yeah, I couldn't think of anyone in my brain. This man doesn't exist. I don't know who you got. Mikayla.

[Kennedy]

Um, his name is Kyle. She has Google pulled up, so you know it's some model. No, it's not a model. K. Callahoon. Segomen. He was in Shadow and Bone.

[Reggie]

Let me, let me.

[Kennedy]

What are you playing? Shadow.

[Reggie]

Let me see a little look. See?

[Kennedy]

I don't know. He's a macho guy. What are you playing? Shadow and Bone. He's like the side character. I don't. Matthias. I don't know. I don't know. The high 2 of men who he played. He's like the one where they're like, oh, from. Yep. Yeah, I think that's Matthias. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look at him.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah, he's ripped.

[Kennedy]

He's ripped. He ripped. I think he's also tall. He's a big guy. Anyways, I was trying to be. Trying to do someone new, something different, and I. What was his. Did he have dark hair? Okay, he's got light hair. Could change. Give him some hair dye. Sorry. He's six four. That's pretty dang tall. Pretty tall. Anyways, that's who I pictured.

[Reggie]

That's like.

[Kennedy]

Love it. First person that came to my head. I've only watched like a few episodes of Shadow Bones, and that's who came to my head.

[Reggie]

Interesting. No, I like it.

[Kennedy]

Dwayne the Rock Johnson. Okay.

[Reggie]

With a beard and long hair.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. With a wig. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Him be the king. Yeah. Okay. Odessa. I don't have one for Odessa. I mean, who pictured in my brain was friggin what's her name? The Cohen girl. Yeah. She has red hair. My fan casts are never good, so I'm gonna leave it up to you guys. I picked her.

[Reggie]

I picked her too.

[Kennedy]

And Sadie Sink. Yeah. Might be too young.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Here's the thing is, I know that, like, whenever there's a redhead, you automatically think of those two people, but I think it's because one, they are really great actresses. And two, they're, like natural redheads. And I feel like, especially from, like, fan art that I've seen, Odessa is, like, a true redhead. Like, I feel like you'd have to cast someone that has, like, she's got the freckle. Not that every redhead has, like, fair skin and freckles.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Maybe. Is that bad to say? But, like, I feel like that's what I've seen of the fan art, and you've kind of got a picking. A natural redhead would just make it, especially with her dyeing her hair. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

My Abigail Cohen, my unhinged fan cast was the main cartoon girl from Brave.

[Reggie]

Merida.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

You know, she'd be great. She knows how to shoot an arrow. Hire her.

[Kennedy]

I think. Honestly, I think I would pick Sadie Sink over Abigail Cohen.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

Not. I just think stacync would be able to play a funnier character, like a wittier character.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. But Abigail Cohen is gorgeous and beautiful, and she's 28. Sadie Sink is 23. I looked them up. So I feel like City Sink would have to be a little bit older, because I think they're older. Ish characters. Yeah. But I think she could do it.

[Reggie]

Yeah, she could do it.

[Kennedy]

She's very talented.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

They're both very talented. I really like both those characters. And Abigail Cohen got cast in what freaking movie every summer after. That's right. Yeah. Or every. Yeah, summer. What is it? They called it something different. It's not every summer after. It's because it's a TV show. It's not every summer after they are.

[Reggie]

I can't remember what they're calling it.

[Kennedy]

I don't know. But the Carly Fortune book. Yeah.

[Reggie]

All right.

[Kennedy]

Do you have a Casper?

[Reggie]

I have a caster there. Don't ask me why this man popped into my brain, but I pictured him the whole time, and I just. It really enjoyed it. Okay. I don't know how you say his last name. Lucien. Let me see this guy from. He plays Alfie on Emily in Paris. Because I feel like he's kind of a quiet cutie, but he's, like, really strong. And he's kind of got that, like, loving, like, sweet lovey, but Prince, but then also, like, he fights.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And, you know, he's got, like, good face card.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

You know, we're, like, beautiful.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Because she was attracted to him.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

You know, I can. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Hear me out. Hear me out. What if he was the Guardian and Rajon Page was Xavier?

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

Hey, wait a minute.

[Reggie]

But I wasn't sure if they felt big enough. I just picture him being so much bigger, but I feel like they could bull him. I mean, he's. He's ripped.

[Kennedy]

He's big. Oh, I think.

[Reggie]

Yeah. But which one's older? I feel like Renee.

[Kennedy]

I feel like Renee is older, but they would.

[Reggie]

They would be a good duo. But then I almost feel like them looking this. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I actually kind of love that.

[Reggie]

I don't. I don't see him as the Guard. I would see Lucian as a guardian a little more.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, for sure.

[Reggie]

Okay. I don't see rage as Xavier.

[Kennedy]

Oh. I see him as savior. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I would see Lucian.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I would see Lucian more as the Guardian.

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Reggie]

But for some reason, I just can't. I just want to see him a lot bulkier. Not that he isn't bulky and strong, because he is, but, like, I don't.

[Kennedy]

Need to be a little bigger. Yeah. Get that man some. That's a good one. That is a good one.

[Reggie]

That's good.

[Kennedy]

I, I, I approve of that.

[Reggie]

I do.

[Kennedy]

Ooh. Ooh. Is that it, guys?

[Reggie]

That's it.

[Kennedy]

That's it for Shield of Sparrows by Deveny Perry. Very good. We love to see it.

[Reggie]

Beautiful book.

[Kennedy]

And you guys, are you stutter over here. Are you guys ready for our August book club book of the month? Can we get a drum roll, please? We're flipping the switch, you guys. We're doing not quite dead yet. Bye. None other than Ms. Holly Jackson. Yes, that's right. You heard correct. We're doing a thriller in August. It's gonna be good. It is gonna be good.

[Reggie]

I. We did. What was her last book? We did her a book club book of hers before the disappearance reappearance of Rachel Price and this one. So if you're familiar with Good Girl's Guide to Murder reappearance, Rachel Price. What's the other one? Five Survive. This one is a more adult thriller. The concept seems very interesting.

[Kennedy]

What is the concept? Actually, I just hear Holly Jackson and I say, sure. Wasn't it about she's trying to, like, figure out her own murder before it happens?

[Reggie]

Yes, yes.

[Kennedy]

Something like that, right?

[Reggie]

Yes. I think that's gonna be a way.

[Kennedy]

Of saying, do you think we're gonna get a repeating day scenario?

[Reggie]

I don't know. But all I know is Holly Jackson's books are Paige Turner's, and they're not like. I mean, who knows what this one will be like, but her books aren't. They're not like, super scary to me. In the sense where I'm, like, super spooked. Yeah, they're fun, but, I mean, this is gonna be adult. I'm very curious. She has not disappointed me.

[Kennedy]

So. And we've done. We've done the romance thing this summer. We've done the fantasy thing this summer.

[Reggie]

We've done the dystopian.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. It's time for a thriller. Thriller. Thriller.

[Reggie]

So we hope you'll join us. Join us on Fable, like we've mentioned a million times. It really is just so fun. Like, I think one thing that was so fun about reading this book is, like, I was dying to know what people like. I would finish a chapter, and I was like, open up my fable. Like, what are people saying? It's so, so fun. So please join us there.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. And if you don't know where to find our fable, you can find it on our Instagram under what she's reading pod. Our TikTok is the same thing. So come follow along over there. We've got some fun stuff. And. And we hope that you guys enjoyed this book, and we hope you'll join us next month for our book club. We'll see you next week.

[Reggie]

Bye.