Vrell Sparrow

by Jill Williamson

Heir to Carm Duchy, Lady Averella Amal faces a relentless pursuit of marriage proposals. Secretly betrothed to her beloved squire, Bran Rennan, Averella's happiness is threatened when Prince Gidon, the Crown Prince of Er'Rets, demands her hand.

With Bran away, Averella must navigate a web of deceit and loyalty to evade the prince's grasp. Will she defy tradition and follow her heart? Or will she succumb to society's expectations?

In Vrell Sparrow, discover a tale of courage, intrigue, and the fight for freedom that will shape destinies and change Er'Rets forever.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy

86 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2024

About the author

Jill Williamson is a multi-passionate creative who loves the arts. She’s written over thirty books for readers of all ages and is best known for her Blood of Kings fantasy series, two of which won Christy Awards and made VOYA magazine’s Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror list. She produces films with her husband and teaches about writing at conferences. Visit her at www.jillwilliamson.com.

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Reviews

[Jill Williamson]

When I set out to write this little story, I was certain I had never mentioned when Vrell last saw Prince Gidon. Only after I had finished did I stumble upon a couple places that now offer contradiction. First, in By Darkness Hid, Vrell mentions that the prince had threatened to send guards to provoke a favorable answer to his proposal, which was why she went into hiding. Second, when Vrell watched Achan fight the poroo to keep “Prince Gidon” safe in the forest outside Mahanaim, there Vrell thinks about the last time she saw Prince Gidon at a tournament in Nesos.

Rats! These two little sentences destroyed all of my fun!

But then I decided I didn’t much care. I mean, Obi-Wan Kenobi said in The Empire Strikes Back that Luke must go to Dagobah and see Yoda, the Jedi master who trained him. Yet in the prequels, we discover that Qui-Gon Jin was the one who trained Obi-Wan. Such is the way of prequels.

So, I decided to publish Vrell Sparrow despite these discrepancies. Yes, I realize that Vrell had that thought about the tournament in Nesos. If I could edit that line in By Darkness Hid, I would instead have it say, “The last time Vrell saw the prince, he was standing in her mother’s private dining room, trying to force her to marry him.”

Alas, since I cannot, I ask those of you who have read By Darkness Hid to suspend disbelief and pretend with me. Vrell was standing in the Evenwall, after all, when that thought crossed her mind about seeing Prince Gidon in Nesos. And one can never be certain of the surety of one’s thoughts in such a place, so near Darkness. As Sir Gavin once told Achan, “A man can go crazy in the haze and never find his way out.” So, while Vrell did not go crazy in the Evenwall that day, the magical place did cause her to blank out this entire story. Isn’t that strange?

Thanks for imagining with me.

~Jill

[Jane Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun re-visit to the world of Er'Rets, and it makes me want to reread the Blood of Kings trilogy! Perfect for fans of the original stories.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and presented. This delightful novelette offers readers a behind-the-scenes peek at Vrell Sparrow's back story. An engaging character, Vrell, here Lady Avarella, has a mind of her own yet also cares deeply for those close to her. My only criticism is that history isn't longer, to give us more of a glimpse into Vrell's life from this point as well as the development of her gift. I suppose I'll have turn to the beginning pages of By Darkness Hid (Blood of Kings trilogy) to refresh my memory!

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great prequel to By Darkness Fled…loved this story—now I want to read the whole series again!

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this has been sitting in my to-read stack for too long. I like grabbing short stories at the end of the year so I’m not in the middle of something come the New Year. If my budget allowed it, this would put me in the midst of a longer series as 2025 tolls into 2026.

I really enjoyed it and want more. And there is more. This is a short prequel to the Blood of Kings Trilogy.

Unfortunately, my budget says I have to wait and my library doesn’t have the series. But the series is definitely being added to my future reading list. I really just want to keep reading this series.

I highly recommend it, but be ready to grab the rest of the series.

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vrell Sparrow is a prequel novella to the By Darkness Hid series by Jill Williamson.

It's the story of a girl trying to escape from an unwanted marriage. I really enjoyed that Avrell's mother was on her side in refusing the marriage. It's not a story of a girl defying her family, it's the story of defying a pushy prince who thinks he can get whatever he wants by forcing it.

An engaging read that makes me want to learn more about this interesting character.

I really do need to finsh this series.

[Jennie Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Vrell's (Lady Avarella's) prequel story! It really makes me dislike "Prince Gidon" and Sir Kenton even more!! Those scoundrels! And, of course, when you're finished with this book, you must read By Darkness Hid! Because how else will you know what happens to Vrell Sparrow, may I ask? Go quickly, and do as I say! Make haste!!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good prequel

While it is hard to imagine Averella would have forgotten this episode... PTSD may have pushed it deep.
Gives good background for how/why she left.
Now to re-read the original trilogy!

[Sharon Hughson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly what I expected.

It took me several chapters to be invested in the story, but once I was, I had to finish it.

Definitely not the Vrell Sparrow I remember from the Blood of Kings trilogy.

[Carrie McCauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio. Narration was great and brought the story to life.
Adventure, feels and a will to live and love is what this is all about. A good quick read/listen. World building and characters are mixed in well.

[Journey Bloomfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vrell is my favorite Blood of Kings character, so I was thrilled that Mrs. Williamson was writing a prequel story about her. Well written and presented, and absolutely charming! Great to read if you enjoyed Blood of Kings, or an excellent foray into the world of Er'Rets!

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to the Christian Fantasy books by Jill Williamson. I'm looking forward to reading more about Vrell Sparrow! I was able to listen to an audio version of this book via Bookfunnel, but it did not in any way affect my review. All opinions are my own.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent prequel to one of my all time favorite series! I loved getting to see Vrell prior to her going under cover and meeting Achan.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun prequel!

[Aleena Grosjean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute, short back story to a great series. I love Vrell's character.

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read! A prequel novelette to a series. In a series reboot I read Squire of Truth and felt like a fish out of water. Before the second book releases I decided to go back and read the original series, and I can already tell that I’m learning more and getting a better foundation. This was a great Christian fantasy with touches of romance to introduce this series. I was pulled all in and and eagerly heading over to continue the series.