Rites of the Starling: A Slow-Burn Epic Romantic Fantasy

By Devney Perry

Book Overview

AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

RITES OF THE STARLING is the epic, heart-pounding sequel to Devney Perry's #1 New York Times bestselling SHIELD OF SPARROWS. A princess journeys across a cursed realm to find the truth about her family, only to discover her quest intertwines with the fate of a lost warrior. Love, danger, and magic collide in a captivating romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros.

​Calandra's five kingdoms are on the verge of destruction. The crux migration is coming. And in the wake of a devastating attack, I've been separated from the man who owns my heart.

​I'm lost. Terrified. Homesick. Hunted by monsters, driven to exhaustion, and kidnapped by a powerful priest, the only thing keeping me going is the little girl counting on me to keep her safe.

​It's my turn to become the Guardian.

​Our lives change one fateful night. A night of death. A night of monsters. A night of truths. That night, I learn the real meaning of fear--and the depth of my own strength.

​Everyone wants me to be something I'm not--a queen, a spy, a sacrifice. But what if I embrace my crown? What if the secrets I uncover save our realm?

​What if my sacrifice means salvation for the man I love?

For too long, I've feared the monsters we make.

​It's time to discover the monster within.​

The Shield of Sparrows trilogy is an epic slow-burn romantasy best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Shield of Sparrows
Book #2 Rites of the Starling
Book #3 Coming Soon

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1682816753
• ISBN13: 9781682816752
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
• Length: 500 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

What a great fantasy. I was left guessing the whole time.

The names Ransom and Odessa were immediately familiar but the name Capsia wasn't. I remember being curious if these characters would eventually meet. I enjoyed the adventure of these characters though. Capsia's cousin, Xandar joined her on her adventure to avenge her sister which I thought was sweet but I was worried Xandar would take Capsia back. The line, "Would you not question your beliefs if you arrived in a land where you could manipulate wind and water and blood? Would you not embrace the magic of the land and the gods who reign over its people?", reminds me of a scene from Avatar The Last Airbender. Katara was learning a new bending technique called Blood Bending. For those of you who aren't familiar with the show, I'm sure you can find that scene on YouTube. In my opinion, one of the things that makes an author great is their ability to create cliff hangers, especially when you don't see them coming. The last 30 pages or so opened my eyes...literally. Every question I had from this book and the first one, were answered. I was just blown away. If you liked the first book, you should read this one too.