What do you think?
Rate this book
Sparrow in the Sun
“How far are you willing to go to protect what you love?
Eness has lived her life in a land that hunts for her heritage for a crime committed by a few of her blood. She’s tried to block the sign, to find a way to save them through the herbs she works with.
But when there are soldiers at her door, wounded and demanding help, the choice to hide will no longer be hers.
To refuse will mean an end to all that she has worked to.
But to help may bring down upon her all that she has attempted to hide from."
Eness has lived her life in a land that hunts for her heritage for a crime committed by a few of her blood. She’s tried to block the sign, to find a way to save them through the herbs she works with.
But when there are soldiers at her door, wounded and demanding help, the choice to hide will no longer be hers.
To refuse will mean an end to all that she has worked to.
But to help may bring down upon her all that she has attempted to hide from."
560 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2024
180 people are currently reading
1599 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Bullen
3 books275 followersDanielle is the author of high fantasy books about life in the darkness of a broken world and the Light therein. If you have ever thought to yourself, 'I want a fantasy books that feels like historical fiction' you might be in the right place.
If you have ever thought to yourself, 'I want low magic fantasy, with true to life characters, lyrical writing and prose with a hint of home,' then you probably are in the right place.
She writes to the glory of the Only God and has one book published to date, with many more on their way, Lord willing.
If you have ever thought to yourself, 'I want low magic fantasy, with true to life characters, lyrical writing and prose with a hint of home,' then you probably are in the right place.
She writes to the glory of the Only God and has one book published to date, with many more on their way, Lord willing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
May 19, 2025
This is a beautiful story that covers a lot of ground and some amazing themes! I got to the end and...I need book 2 because I gotta know what happens to these characters!
Characters:
Eness is the MC through first-person POV, and I enjoyed her arch through the story in learning to trust others. I didn't relate a ton, but she was a well written character, and I loved that she loved the outdoors and plants as much as I do!
The Goblin (as I can't remember how to spell his name) is a character I really enjoyed! He's one of the quiet brooding types, and he rebuilt the entire way I looked at Goblins, which I surprisingly... really liked.
Captain Flint... I don't know, on the one hand, I like him, and on the other, at one point, I was like, "There has got to be a better way, man...that was just not nice." IYKYK...
Eereol I loved! I just loved how cut and dried he was! It was great!
Fitz and Tejan were so nice and kind!
Ciaran was so cool! I loved him! Loved him and want to see more!
Ragnar! Y'all, I want more Ragnar!
And there are so many other great characters and cute characters like Jorn! Ack...too many good ones!
Themes:
That we can't make it through life alone, it's better to have people we trust around, people who have our back and will look out for us.
That some things are worth fighting for. That sometimes we have to be willing to sacrifice everything for the future generation.
That a gift from God should not be hidden away but shared.
And the beautiful theme that raising children during difficult times or bad times is needed. Because if we don't raise up a generation that knows the truth...who will? That will only put the next generation worse off than us if we don't. It was amazing!
Language:
Two uses of the d-word, which is the primary reason I docked a star.
Magic:
There is a 'magical' song...or rather a song that the songstress can sing to heal people.
Romance:
Several married couples mentioned, a few courting couples mentioned, and that's it. I have no clue who I would ship Eness with because there are too many choices!
Overall:
This was a great book that had intense moments, followed moments of respite and questions, and ultimately answers.
I started out a bit confused, but by the end of the book, I had my bearings pretty well and am more than ready for book 2! Even though book 1 has yet to release.
Recommended for ages 14+
*I received a free copy from the author and was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.*
Characters:
Eness is the MC through first-person POV, and I enjoyed her arch through the story in learning to trust others. I didn't relate a ton, but she was a well written character, and I loved that she loved the outdoors and plants as much as I do!
The Goblin (as I can't remember how to spell his name) is a character I really enjoyed! He's one of the quiet brooding types, and he rebuilt the entire way I looked at Goblins, which I surprisingly... really liked.
Captain Flint... I don't know, on the one hand, I like him, and on the other, at one point, I was like, "There has got to be a better way, man...that was just not nice." IYKYK...
Eereol I loved! I just loved how cut and dried he was! It was great!
Fitz and Tejan were so nice and kind!
Ciaran was so cool! I loved him! Loved him and want to see more!
Ragnar! Y'all, I want more Ragnar!
And there are so many other great characters and cute characters like Jorn! Ack...too many good ones!
Themes:
That we can't make it through life alone, it's better to have people we trust around, people who have our back and will look out for us.
That some things are worth fighting for. That sometimes we have to be willing to sacrifice everything for the future generation.
That a gift from God should not be hidden away but shared.
And the beautiful theme that raising children during difficult times or bad times is needed. Because if we don't raise up a generation that knows the truth...who will? That will only put the next generation worse off than us if we don't. It was amazing!
Language:
Two uses of the d-word, which is the primary reason I docked a star.
Magic:
There is a 'magical' song...or rather a song that the songstress can sing to heal people.
Romance:
Several married couples mentioned, a few courting couples mentioned, and that's it. I have no clue who I would ship Eness with because there are too many choices!
Overall:
This was a great book that had intense moments, followed moments of respite and questions, and ultimately answers.
I started out a bit confused, but by the end of the book, I had my bearings pretty well and am more than ready for book 2! Even though book 1 has yet to release.
Recommended for ages 14+
*I received a free copy from the author and was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.*
November 6, 2024
There are some stories which focus on fast paced aventures, while others shine best in the quiet. Sparrow in the Sun is one of them. A stoic tale, gently plodded and character-driven beneath an immersive world…Bullen’s unique voice is truly what makes this story a thing to behold. Slow, tender, and riddled with Biblical truth, this tale is one I’ll be coming back to again and again.
May 8, 2024
It’s been a long time since I was caught up in story grip like this, and since an ending made me cry (in the best way). This book is a treasure. The world is so well crafted and thought out, but carefully revealed as needed. You rarely feel overwhelmed by the information being shown to you but there is always the feeling of something new and haunting lurking around the next wooded corner. The twists and turns come at just the right times and you find yourself falling in love with characters before you are sure they are safe to root for, which succeeds in helping you feel just as nervous as the main character in the best way. There are echoes of the great stories here, of troubled kingdoms and special gifts, lost princes and hidden motives. You feel every setting - whether it be a healer’s cottage, a dangerous forest road, a warm and bustling hidden home, a campsite under the stars.
Truly a beautiful book. I am fully hooked and can’t wait for the rest of the series!
Truly a beautiful book. I am fully hooked and can’t wait for the rest of the series!
May 5, 2025
Oh, how I loved reading this book.
Danielle Bullen has such a special gift with words.
I know I probably mentioned this in my review for Frost Light, but her writing style is so soothing.
In Sparrow in the Sun, the events that take place are often not soothing in any way. But through the eyes of the main character, Eness, Danielle helps readers to move on in the gentlest, most hopeful way possible.
That being said, if you are not able to handle gore and tragedy, then please enter this book with caution. A hopeful outlook does not mean all circumstances are better. It means they are able to be endured knowing better things are to come in time. Not to mention, Eness is a healer, and sees people in pain and must do whatever it takes to help them recover. And often it takes a harsh toll on herself.
This is not a light read. But it is filled with so much light, all the same.
Danielle’s faith shines through. The end is not final. A better beginning will come through.
Something else I want to discuss is the pacing of this book. Like Frost Light, it feels very life-like. Danielle compares it to that of the classics and I agree very much.
The classics have a way of including many events, characters, and little hints along the way for what is to come that seem overwhelming up close, but by the end one comes to realize each and every thing mattered and made the book rich. That is how Sparrow feels.
And so it is with real life. Each of us encounter more people than we can keep track of in our lives, and too many events happen for us to process in the moment what they mean. But when we get a chance to remember for a while, we see every little thing is connected to get us where we end up.
Danielle has quickly become a favorite author of mine (and I think she’s a pretty darn amazing woman, too!), and I want to encourage readers willing to be observant (like she clearly is) to experience Sparrow for themselves. The world becomes a richer place when we realize God can work every little thing for the good of those who are willing to let Him. Sparrow is a beautiful testament to that.
I fully believe I will see even more of that truth in book two. I cannot wait to see where the end of the story will pick back up. Change is on the rise, and with much danger, it provides hope.
Before I tie up this review, I want to give special notice to chapter 51. I cannot say much, without spoiling, other than it was my favorite. Absolutely wonderful.
I leave you with this, which can only be said about my most favorite books: It was beautiful.
Danielle Bullen has such a special gift with words.
I know I probably mentioned this in my review for Frost Light, but her writing style is so soothing.
In Sparrow in the Sun, the events that take place are often not soothing in any way. But through the eyes of the main character, Eness, Danielle helps readers to move on in the gentlest, most hopeful way possible.
That being said, if you are not able to handle gore and tragedy, then please enter this book with caution. A hopeful outlook does not mean all circumstances are better. It means they are able to be endured knowing better things are to come in time. Not to mention, Eness is a healer, and sees people in pain and must do whatever it takes to help them recover. And often it takes a harsh toll on herself.
This is not a light read. But it is filled with so much light, all the same.
Danielle’s faith shines through. The end is not final. A better beginning will come through.
Something else I want to discuss is the pacing of this book. Like Frost Light, it feels very life-like. Danielle compares it to that of the classics and I agree very much.
The classics have a way of including many events, characters, and little hints along the way for what is to come that seem overwhelming up close, but by the end one comes to realize each and every thing mattered and made the book rich. That is how Sparrow feels.
And so it is with real life. Each of us encounter more people than we can keep track of in our lives, and too many events happen for us to process in the moment what they mean. But when we get a chance to remember for a while, we see every little thing is connected to get us where we end up.
Danielle has quickly become a favorite author of mine (and I think she’s a pretty darn amazing woman, too!), and I want to encourage readers willing to be observant (like she clearly is) to experience Sparrow for themselves. The world becomes a richer place when we realize God can work every little thing for the good of those who are willing to let Him. Sparrow is a beautiful testament to that.
I fully believe I will see even more of that truth in book two. I cannot wait to see where the end of the story will pick back up. Change is on the rise, and with much danger, it provides hope.
Before I tie up this review, I want to give special notice to chapter 51. I cannot say much, without spoiling, other than it was my favorite. Absolutely wonderful.
I leave you with this, which can only be said about my most favorite books: It was beautiful.
October 14, 2024
This was an absolute delight. I can't even describe the satisfaction I got while reading it. It was the perfect book to read at the end of a long day to slow down your mind and rest.
This is not to say that the stakes are not high in this book. Rather, the writing style is so slow and meandering and beautiful that somehow it just seems to bring a calmness with it.
I loved the storyline, the characters, the atmospheric writing style...it was just beautiful and I cannot wait for the next book. The storyline has such a dark undertone but the book is so filled with hope and beauty that you are sitting in the lightness of heroism and goodness and wonder. As you read it, you just know that no matter how dark the story becomes, how terrible the villains are...good will win. As it always will.
Ciaran is my favorite. I will not be accepting any criticism of him.
I love him, your honor.
Also, can we just appreciate how gorgeous that cover is? Absolutely breathtaking.
This is not to say that the stakes are not high in this book. Rather, the writing style is so slow and meandering and beautiful that somehow it just seems to bring a calmness with it.
I loved the storyline, the characters, the atmospheric writing style...it was just beautiful and I cannot wait for the next book. The storyline has such a dark undertone but the book is so filled with hope and beauty that you are sitting in the lightness of heroism and goodness and wonder. As you read it, you just know that no matter how dark the story becomes, how terrible the villains are...good will win. As it always will.
Ciaran is my favorite. I will not be accepting any criticism of him.
I love him, your honor.
Also, can we just appreciate how gorgeous that cover is? Absolutely breathtaking.
December 8, 2023
ABSOLUTELY THE BEST. Reminds me why I hate starting series before the rest of the books are out 😭
Read
November 27, 2024RTC!
August 27, 2024
Two d-words. But other than that a great story!
December 14, 2023
I am thrilled that Danielle keeps writing books and letting me illustrate them. <3
"Sparrow" is an epic fantasy with heart. We get the grand-scale, swords and sorcery, saving-the-world plot (or at least the beginning of it, since this is the first in a trilogy), but also some very earnest themes of trust and loyalty.
Read if you like:
-Dogs
-Plants
-Mystery
-Men with beards
-Inaccurate first impressions
-The evil queen/lost heir tropes.
"Sparrow" is an epic fantasy with heart. We get the grand-scale, swords and sorcery, saving-the-world plot (or at least the beginning of it, since this is the first in a trilogy), but also some very earnest themes of trust and loyalty.
Read if you like:
-Dogs
-Plants
-Mystery
-Men with beards
-Inaccurate first impressions
-The evil queen/lost heir tropes.
April 8, 2025
I have very mixed feelings about this book.
Let's start with the positive. I really liked the undertones of faith throughout the book. I also really appreciated Sikkerhet and the community Tajah and Fitz created. It felt like somewhere I'd like to be in the setting of this book. I enjoyed the positive take on a goblin as well.
Now onto what I did not like. The writing style and editorial mistakes. There were several sentences that I had to try to reread and make sense of because of the poor sentence structure. There was one chapter that didn't have a period at the end of the chapter?! And for a lot of the book, I was trying to make sense of what was happening in the book. There was a lot of filler info that was useless which made this a very slow paced book that made it hard to read. I also didn't have any attachment to any characters really (I did like Tajah, Fitz and Cieran). The FMC had no character development and her refusal for any help bothered me deeply.
I really wanted to like this book and I am curious to know what else happens. I'm not sure if I'll read the next one but I hope it is written a little better and is more engaging.
Let's start with the positive. I really liked the undertones of faith throughout the book. I also really appreciated Sikkerhet and the community Tajah and Fitz created. It felt like somewhere I'd like to be in the setting of this book. I enjoyed the positive take on a goblin as well.
Now onto what I did not like. The writing style and editorial mistakes. There were several sentences that I had to try to reread and make sense of because of the poor sentence structure. There was one chapter that didn't have a period at the end of the chapter?! And for a lot of the book, I was trying to make sense of what was happening in the book. There was a lot of filler info that was useless which made this a very slow paced book that made it hard to read. I also didn't have any attachment to any characters really (I did like Tajah, Fitz and Cieran). The FMC had no character development and her refusal for any help bothered me deeply.
I really wanted to like this book and I am curious to know what else happens. I'm not sure if I'll read the next one but I hope it is written a little better and is more engaging.
September 18, 2024
What a lovely read! I had high hopes for this and I was not disappointed. I think one of it's greatest strengths is the incredibly cast of characters, (though if I'm honest Blatt the hound is still my favorite)
I recommend this to any fantasy lover, and even if you don't enjoy fantasy, as you will find this book is far from your typical read.
I recommend this to any fantasy lover, and even if you don't enjoy fantasy, as you will find this book is far from your typical read.
October 28, 2024
Admittedly this book took me a bit to get into. But once I did it kept awake late into the night! I enjoyed most of the characters and the world building. And the overall storyline was something that definitely kept me invested. I do wish we as readers could know just a bit more about some of the side characters, but I think that probably adds some mystery to it☺️. Also…hoping the next book has at least a little bit of romance (or even just a deeper friendship) between certain characters 👀.
Overall a pretty enjoyable read!
Overall a pretty enjoyable read!
January 1, 2025
I was completely captured by this book by the second chapter. This book is like golden sunlight and cold breezes and rich colors all flowing together. The characters are just- excellent. The good men are all committed protectors of what they hold dear, capable, and strong of will. The good ladies put others before themselves, remain cheerful in troubled times, and are kind.
Danielle does an incredible job of describing the surrounding scenery. Especially when they are at Sikkerhet....oh my word I just wanted to live there, all cosy and safe, with the sheer beauty of the stone, wood, and tapestry elements and the warmth of the fires...it's all so palpable through the skill of her writing. I also really appreciate the work she put in to research herbs and their uses. It makes that aspect of the story even more delightful to me.
More than anything though, I admire how seriously Danielle takes the quality of her work, blessing us with not just a beautiful story, but a beautiful book, and how in all of it she gives glory to God.
Danielle does an incredible job of describing the surrounding scenery. Especially when they are at Sikkerhet....oh my word I just wanted to live there, all cosy and safe, with the sheer beauty of the stone, wood, and tapestry elements and the warmth of the fires...it's all so palpable through the skill of her writing. I also really appreciate the work she put in to research herbs and their uses. It makes that aspect of the story even more delightful to me.
More than anything though, I admire how seriously Danielle takes the quality of her work, blessing us with not just a beautiful story, but a beautiful book, and how in all of it she gives glory to God.
November 3, 2024
The wait was worth it! So happy to have watched this coming and been excited about it for so long… now to wait for the next one 😍. This is definitely a slower read but then parts jump out and grip you! The characters are developed nicely but I didn’t feel like I knew Eness very well… but I do wonder how well Eness knows herself? If that doesn’t sound too weird 🤣 Her descriptions are beautiful. I do find sometimes the writing can feel a little choppy and found myself adding in a word here and there to round sentences out a bit more. I can’t wait to see how Danielle grows in her writing skills and how the story will unfold in the next book!
September 30, 2024
This is a beautiful book written in a classic style where dialog is written to be beautiful, not overly simplified for short attention spans. The story has good pacing and we see much growth in the protagonist as she moves her life of solitude into a community. This is set in a fantasy world where the protagonist and her people are being murdered and a tyrannical queen makes life scary for all. Ennis Finch is an herbalist who won't be satisfied with safety when she can work to save her people.
March 4, 2025
This is a bit of a slow moving story, but I enjoyed the writing and the world. I don't know if I'll continue in this series, but I would like to return to Bullen's work in the future. I'm a big fan of the themes and ideas she explores in her writing.
July 29, 2025
For me, a big part of what contributes to my enjoyment of a book is the prose. Sparrow has a lot of fantastic elements--interesting places, a loyal sidekick, lots of worldbuilding, some solid themes, and a culturally immersive experience. These elements earned Sparrow a solid 3 stars from me.
The reason it didn't get those two extra stars is that I did not personally enjoy or connect well with the prose. There was a lot of repetition (Very often, multiple paragraphs in a row began with "I," which added to that repetitive feel), internal monologue, nearly constant intricate detail (subtle tilts of the head, finger movements, hand positions, etc.), and a very present first person POV that gave readers nearly every minute detail of Enes' movements all the time. Those last two combined resulted in something that made the story feel both heavily filtered and overwhelming for me as a reader, which meant I neither got to know Enes as a person, nor was I able to read much of the book at one time without some skimming (which is something I very rarely resort to when reading fiction).
I will add that the intricately detailed hand and head movements were part of the culture presented in the book and had specific meanings, so I definitely understand why they're included, but they were too much for me, personally.
If you absolutely love anything in first person and really enjoy all the subtle details in fantasy settings, this is definitely a book for you.
The reason it didn't get those two extra stars is that I did not personally enjoy or connect well with the prose. There was a lot of repetition (Very often, multiple paragraphs in a row began with "I," which added to that repetitive feel), internal monologue, nearly constant intricate detail (subtle tilts of the head, finger movements, hand positions, etc.), and a very present first person POV that gave readers nearly every minute detail of Enes' movements all the time. Those last two combined resulted in something that made the story feel both heavily filtered and overwhelming for me as a reader, which meant I neither got to know Enes as a person, nor was I able to read much of the book at one time without some skimming (which is something I very rarely resort to when reading fiction).
I will add that the intricately detailed hand and head movements were part of the culture presented in the book and had specific meanings, so I definitely understand why they're included, but they were too much for me, personally.
If you absolutely love anything in first person and really enjoy all the subtle details in fantasy settings, this is definitely a book for you.
September 18, 2024
Danielle has once again come through with an absolutely beautiful book both inside and out. I was absolutely caught up in this powerful story and at absolutely no point did I see where it was going to go next.
Eness is a character who feels real, she makes decisions like an actual person and not like a book heroine. She is brave and true and fantastic and I want to be her friend
Please read this book if you like books that remind you of the true and the beautiful, of the hope in dark times and why of it all. Also there is a plentiful abundance of fluffy dogs which is always a plus in my opinion
Eness is a character who feels real, she makes decisions like an actual person and not like a book heroine. She is brave and true and fantastic and I want to be her friend
Please read this book if you like books that remind you of the true and the beautiful, of the hope in dark times and why of it all. Also there is a plentiful abundance of fluffy dogs which is always a plus in my opinion
January 1, 2026
Great premise, but clumsy writing
I really really wanted to love this book. And I loved the premise and the characters! But the writing was often stilted and repetitive. I think the author was trying to convey the different and unique culture of this fictional world, but it was hard to read and I found myself lost in long sentences and unnecessary descriptions.
I really really wanted to love this book. And I loved the premise and the characters! But the writing was often stilted and repetitive. I think the author was trying to convey the different and unique culture of this fictional world, but it was hard to read and I found myself lost in long sentences and unnecessary descriptions.
January 8, 2025
Bullen writes with such a lyrical and ominous tone, keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved the themes of community and trust, and what it looks like to share your light, no matter what’s at stake!
February 2, 2026
I “half hate” this book….if I ever see the word half again, it’ll be too soon…
The only reason I am giving this book any stars is because as much as I hated this book pretty much the entire time I was reading it, the actual story (aside from the filler) was good and the end actually captured my attention and got me a little invested. Which means I’ll likely get sucked in if there is a second book.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I really enjoyed the overall story and the connection to God but there were a lot of things that really bothered me and ultimately caused me to put this book down multiple times, making finishing it feel like a chore more than a something I wanted to do.
By page 160 NOTHING has happened, literally NOTHING. I get the world building is a necessary part of any fantasy story, but I spent more time trying to flip back to the small dictionary at the front of the book to figure out what the author is trying to say then actually reading. I learned very little about the world itself, the politics, or even the people. But I do know that Eness can’t ride a horse. If a book is only going to be 400 pages long the first 200 pages can’t feel like I’m dragging myself through. That’s why it took me so long to finish this book! It felt like a chore because I don’t like not finishing books and giving them a full chance to change my mind. I was never excited to pick this book up.
Mind you, this isn’t because I prefer a more kick-ass MC (though it might have helped if Eness wasn’t so skittish). I don’t care that she’s only here to kiss your booboos I would just like her to also not act like a complete victim all the time.
And the bane of my existence, can someone explain why everything is somehow done by a half? Every smile is a “half-smile”! The word half is used almost 300 times in this book and “half-smile” is used 73 times in the book. You could make a drinking game out of the number of times “half” is used on a single page let alone the entire book. JUST SMILE. Please for the love of all that is good. Just SMILE. I spent more time raging at all the half actions than I did actually enjoying the book.
Was there a loooong journey? Yes. Was there anything interesting that really happened on it? No. This book felt like a bland retelling of LOTR. With a lot of twitchy hand and head movements to signal apologies or respect. I couldn’t deal with the “inclining heads”. I’m sorry it just all felt forced and stilted. The language was also awkward and choosing to either create your own language or to use one that is not well known could be cool but didn’t feel like it landed particularly well in this book. Though the eye diggers were pretty cool, there was a lot of action and explanation packed into the last fifty pages but nowhere else.
Also tell me why, while trundling through the forest, up mountains, on horseback, or even in a sprawling fort Eness never has shoes?! Not even a slipper or a sock. Just feet. Is she a hobbit? Is fian a synonym for hobbit?? I would love to hear an actual explanation to a lot of what goes on in this book but the shoes thing would be a great start. And I don’t remember her once stepping on something sharp or uncomfortable…. It’s nature I’m sure she found at least an acorn to step on along the way.
I don’t mind suspense but why is it that I had to wait almost the entire book to find out why Eness’ people are being hunted? I’m pretty sure I still don’t know what a fian actually is…. To be fair I was so bored at times I found myself skimming just to get through so I COULD have missed some things but still that’s base knowledge that could have been explained early on or even in a prologue.
Finally something cool happens now around page 230 or so! Followed by the long martyrdom of Eness, who is so drained by the use of her power that she zombie walks around to the healers quarters to do pretty much nothing instead of just getting some rest. I understand the sentiment of feeling inadequate but good lord woman you brought like 8 men back from the dead, you deserve a cat nap.
Eness also has little to no character development from start to finish. She is basically the same person that I know next to nothing about throughout the entire book. Aside from her near constant fear and inability to allow others to help her in any capacity, I only know she doesn’t like animals…..which is a red flag to me.
When the author’s true voice peaked out and we get to see some interaction between Eness and Sradfaang and they actually joke with one another I could have cried I was so happy! It felt like the real author popped in instead of someone trying to write like someone else! I wish there could have been more meaningful interactions between Eness and the other lots at the fort, it made her so much more endearing to see her be a person rather than a spooked beast too afraid to make eye contact. And the interactions with the men as they joke with one another later on is great banter. It’s such a shame there wasn’t more of it.
Page 388 and FINALLY I get to find out why everyone hates fians 🤦🏻♀️
I am so sad that this book wasn’t edited properly. The story was actually wonderful, though frustratingly slow and ill paced. For a book barely more than 430 pages, I stand by my opinion that the first 300 pages should at least give some sort it back story or information to actually build the world instead of boring filler and fluff that lead me to put this book down for months at a time because it was frustrating. The editorial mistakes made this book feel like a first draft not a finished product. There were so many spelling, grammar, and word choice errors I was honestly shocked that there an editor at all let alone SIX editors acknowledged at the end of the book. So many mistakes should have been caught by any one of the 6 editors, at least two of which seem to be related to the author. I’m not sure how this was published but a professional editor should be used.
From one paragraph to the next, things would change like a bad movie edit. Not to mention the numerous other errors that took me out of the book any time I finally started to get into it.
I took a chance on this book and the story itself isn’t terrible but the writing is enough to make me insane. I wanted to give this book a try because I wanted to give a more Christian based, low fantasy story a try.
I commend the author for what she is trying to do with this story but it felt too much like she was trying to emulate Tolkien and other prolific writers. I would have rather truly explored the world. There were moments of brilliance and moments of beautiful prose but the awkward, forced language and constant errors ruined the story.
The only reason I am giving this book any stars is because as much as I hated this book pretty much the entire time I was reading it, the actual story (aside from the filler) was good and the end actually captured my attention and got me a little invested. Which means I’ll likely get sucked in if there is a second book.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I really enjoyed the overall story and the connection to God but there were a lot of things that really bothered me and ultimately caused me to put this book down multiple times, making finishing it feel like a chore more than a something I wanted to do.
By page 160 NOTHING has happened, literally NOTHING. I get the world building is a necessary part of any fantasy story, but I spent more time trying to flip back to the small dictionary at the front of the book to figure out what the author is trying to say then actually reading. I learned very little about the world itself, the politics, or even the people. But I do know that Eness can’t ride a horse. If a book is only going to be 400 pages long the first 200 pages can’t feel like I’m dragging myself through. That’s why it took me so long to finish this book! It felt like a chore because I don’t like not finishing books and giving them a full chance to change my mind. I was never excited to pick this book up.
Mind you, this isn’t because I prefer a more kick-ass MC (though it might have helped if Eness wasn’t so skittish). I don’t care that she’s only here to kiss your booboos I would just like her to also not act like a complete victim all the time.
And the bane of my existence, can someone explain why everything is somehow done by a half? Every smile is a “half-smile”! The word half is used almost 300 times in this book and “half-smile” is used 73 times in the book. You could make a drinking game out of the number of times “half” is used on a single page let alone the entire book. JUST SMILE. Please for the love of all that is good. Just SMILE. I spent more time raging at all the half actions than I did actually enjoying the book.
Was there a loooong journey? Yes. Was there anything interesting that really happened on it? No. This book felt like a bland retelling of LOTR. With a lot of twitchy hand and head movements to signal apologies or respect. I couldn’t deal with the “inclining heads”. I’m sorry it just all felt forced and stilted. The language was also awkward and choosing to either create your own language or to use one that is not well known could be cool but didn’t feel like it landed particularly well in this book. Though the eye diggers were pretty cool, there was a lot of action and explanation packed into the last fifty pages but nowhere else.
Also tell me why, while trundling through the forest, up mountains, on horseback, or even in a sprawling fort Eness never has shoes?! Not even a slipper or a sock. Just feet. Is she a hobbit? Is fian a synonym for hobbit?? I would love to hear an actual explanation to a lot of what goes on in this book but the shoes thing would be a great start. And I don’t remember her once stepping on something sharp or uncomfortable…. It’s nature I’m sure she found at least an acorn to step on along the way.
I don’t mind suspense but why is it that I had to wait almost the entire book to find out why Eness’ people are being hunted? I’m pretty sure I still don’t know what a fian actually is…. To be fair I was so bored at times I found myself skimming just to get through so I COULD have missed some things but still that’s base knowledge that could have been explained early on or even in a prologue.
Finally something cool happens now around page 230 or so! Followed by the long martyrdom of Eness, who is so drained by the use of her power that she zombie walks around to the healers quarters to do pretty much nothing instead of just getting some rest. I understand the sentiment of feeling inadequate but good lord woman you brought like 8 men back from the dead, you deserve a cat nap.
Eness also has little to no character development from start to finish. She is basically the same person that I know next to nothing about throughout the entire book. Aside from her near constant fear and inability to allow others to help her in any capacity, I only know she doesn’t like animals…..which is a red flag to me.
When the author’s true voice peaked out and we get to see some interaction between Eness and Sradfaang and they actually joke with one another I could have cried I was so happy! It felt like the real author popped in instead of someone trying to write like someone else! I wish there could have been more meaningful interactions between Eness and the other lots at the fort, it made her so much more endearing to see her be a person rather than a spooked beast too afraid to make eye contact. And the interactions with the men as they joke with one another later on is great banter. It’s such a shame there wasn’t more of it.
Page 388 and FINALLY I get to find out why everyone hates fians 🤦🏻♀️
I am so sad that this book wasn’t edited properly. The story was actually wonderful, though frustratingly slow and ill paced. For a book barely more than 430 pages, I stand by my opinion that the first 300 pages should at least give some sort it back story or information to actually build the world instead of boring filler and fluff that lead me to put this book down for months at a time because it was frustrating. The editorial mistakes made this book feel like a first draft not a finished product. There were so many spelling, grammar, and word choice errors I was honestly shocked that there an editor at all let alone SIX editors acknowledged at the end of the book. So many mistakes should have been caught by any one of the 6 editors, at least two of which seem to be related to the author. I’m not sure how this was published but a professional editor should be used.
From one paragraph to the next, things would change like a bad movie edit. Not to mention the numerous other errors that took me out of the book any time I finally started to get into it.
I took a chance on this book and the story itself isn’t terrible but the writing is enough to make me insane. I wanted to give this book a try because I wanted to give a more Christian based, low fantasy story a try.
I commend the author for what she is trying to do with this story but it felt too much like she was trying to emulate Tolkien and other prolific writers. I would have rather truly explored the world. There were moments of brilliance and moments of beautiful prose but the awkward, forced language and constant errors ruined the story.
October 26, 2024
It’s a long and slow paced book. The prose is unique, lots of punctuation that, when read aloud, makes it sound sorta like choppy poetry. It took awhile to get used to, and I’m still currently trying to decide if I liked it or not…
The pacing is slow, besides the action scenes there was a lot of sitting around.
I really enjoyed the themes of community and fellowship. They were well portrayed and some of my favorite scenes described were of the dining hall during a mealtime.
The characters - Eness Finch…? I’m still trying to figure her out, I’m sure we’ll learn more about her in the next book.
Stradfaang was an awesome character.
Ciaran, I can’t wait for a second book to learn more about him. So far he’s shown himself as a solid masculine character with good leadership skills and a healthy dose of humility.
Also, I need a map! Please! I’m quite confused at where everything’s at.
Overall a decent book. There’s room for improvement, which I hope we’ll see in a second book as the author grows her writing skills.
The pacing is slow, besides the action scenes there was a lot of sitting around.
I really enjoyed the themes of community and fellowship. They were well portrayed and some of my favorite scenes described were of the dining hall during a mealtime.
The characters - Eness Finch…? I’m still trying to figure her out, I’m sure we’ll learn more about her in the next book.
Stradfaang was an awesome character.
Ciaran, I can’t wait for a second book to learn more about him. So far he’s shown himself as a solid masculine character with good leadership skills and a healthy dose of humility.
Also, I need a map! Please! I’m quite confused at where everything’s at.
Overall a decent book. There’s room for improvement, which I hope we’ll see in a second book as the author grows her writing skills.
July 12, 2025
(⭐4.5)
This book was really really good. It reminded me a lot of LOTR with its slow pace (which is my jam) and detailed descriptions. The people are each so vibrant with a depth and backstory that was completely unexpected, but welcome.
Eness was great, and easy to relate to imo. She makes wise decisions for the most part (except that time with the tea, which I saw coming from a mile away, iykyk) and asks sensible questions while bringing up valid concerns. Unfortunately, books with characters that actually have their head straight on their shoulders is a rarity and this is one of the few that contains it, so it deserves a high rating for that alone.
There is one big problem though that almost made me dock a star. The editing is SO BAD. There are MANY mistakes in the wording and punctuation that were rather frustrating to (try to) read. It gave me little hope that this book would get a good rating from me, HOWEVER, I loved the storyline, characters, prose, settings, and everything else too much to give it less than 4 stars, which is saying something. I look forward to the next installment.
This book was really really good. It reminded me a lot of LOTR with its slow pace (which is my jam) and detailed descriptions. The people are each so vibrant with a depth and backstory that was completely unexpected, but welcome.
Eness was great, and easy to relate to imo. She makes wise decisions for the most part (except that time with the tea, which I saw coming from a mile away, iykyk) and asks sensible questions while bringing up valid concerns. Unfortunately, books with characters that actually have their head straight on their shoulders is a rarity and this is one of the few that contains it, so it deserves a high rating for that alone.
There is one big problem though that almost made me dock a star. The editing is SO BAD. There are MANY mistakes in the wording and punctuation that were rather frustrating to (try to) read. It gave me little hope that this book would get a good rating from me, HOWEVER, I loved the storyline, characters, prose, settings, and everything else too much to give it less than 4 stars, which is saying something. I look forward to the next installment.
September 18, 2024
Enjoyed this a lot. A feel-good fantasy read. Even after all I’d heard about this book before reading it, there were many things I did not see coming and also many things I predicted (nay, braced for) that didn’t happen. At least, didn't happen in this book. 😅
I think Danielle really shines when it comes to writing character interactions. Because of the first person, present-tense writing style, the world building comes by immersion— no one stops to explain things to the reader. Which is much different from a lot of the fantasy I've read, but it works! It pulls you in, even when (maybe because) you feel like you have no idea what's going on.
If you like tons of side characters; secrets, questions and hidden backstories; wholesome, honorable and protective men; sweet but useless dogs; and won't take it personally if the MC doesn't fall in love with horses and riding; then you will love this too!
Sparrow in The Sun reminded me of The Green Ember series, the Fellowship of the Ring, and also of a not very well known (but recommended) book called Rosefire.
I still have so. many. questions. Looking forward to book 2.
I was honored to receive an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think Danielle really shines when it comes to writing character interactions. Because of the first person, present-tense writing style, the world building comes by immersion— no one stops to explain things to the reader. Which is much different from a lot of the fantasy I've read, but it works! It pulls you in, even when (maybe because) you feel like you have no idea what's going on.
If you like tons of side characters; secrets, questions and hidden backstories; wholesome, honorable and protective men; sweet but useless dogs; and won't take it personally if the MC doesn't fall in love with horses and riding; then you will love this too!
Sparrow in The Sun reminded me of The Green Ember series, the Fellowship of the Ring, and also of a not very well known (but recommended) book called Rosefire.
I still have so. many. questions. Looking forward to book 2.
I was honored to receive an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2024
I loved the themes and characters in this novel. One of my favorite themes was the idea of using the gifts that God gives you for His glory. Eness’s gifts were beautiful and her desire to fight for those that need help and protect them from harm was very inspiring!
I loved the addition of Blått and several times got a bit fustrated with Eness when she wouldn’t immediately wonder where he was after something happened 😅
Sradfaang was such an interesting character to me and I hope we see more of him in book two.
There were several other characters that grew on me, but I don’t want to give too much away.
This book was lovely and I think that it is a wonderful book for fall. Even though it doesn’t take place in the fall, it still has a lot of cozy feels that are perfect for this season.
I loved the addition of Blått and several times got a bit fustrated with Eness when she wouldn’t immediately wonder where he was after something happened 😅
Sradfaang was such an interesting character to me and I hope we see more of him in book two.
There were several other characters that grew on me, but I don’t want to give too much away.
This book was lovely and I think that it is a wonderful book for fall. Even though it doesn’t take place in the fall, it still has a lot of cozy feels that are perfect for this season.
April 15, 2025
4 Stars
Hear me out on this one. Is it faced paced, heart racing, terribly clever, and life changing? No. So why did this book draw me in and get a decent rating? Funny enough, the very slow pacing. I loved that there wasn’t a constant feeling of “what’s going to happen next” but instead it was like truly being in depth in the day to day. Yes, there are things happening and adventure and stress, but in a way it was like Lord of the Rings (without the multi page ballads) and you really got to know the characters. My only gripes: this really could have used another edit, there were a lot of errors. Also, I don’t know how old the main character is but I am assuming she is young considering her occasional lack of not seeing past what’s in front of her.
Hear me out on this one. Is it faced paced, heart racing, terribly clever, and life changing? No. So why did this book draw me in and get a decent rating? Funny enough, the very slow pacing. I loved that there wasn’t a constant feeling of “what’s going to happen next” but instead it was like truly being in depth in the day to day. Yes, there are things happening and adventure and stress, but in a way it was like Lord of the Rings (without the multi page ballads) and you really got to know the characters. My only gripes: this really could have used another edit, there were a lot of errors. Also, I don’t know how old the main character is but I am assuming she is young considering her occasional lack of not seeing past what’s in front of her.
March 31, 2026
4.5⭐️ So beautifully written. Loved the immersive and descriptive setting and the intriguing characters.
Definitely “pacing of the classics”… the story built quite slowly, which is rather new for me and the world building was a bit to get my new-to-fantasy head around!
Loved the moments where the pace really picked up and where the book tackled some deep thoughts around war, politics and morals. Very excited to see where this goes next.
Side note that I was very much hoping for more romance but there was literally none in this one and I’ve been warned that it won’t start to develop until book 2 so I’m holding out for that subplot 😆
Definitely “pacing of the classics”… the story built quite slowly, which is rather new for me and the world building was a bit to get my new-to-fantasy head around!
Loved the moments where the pace really picked up and where the book tackled some deep thoughts around war, politics and morals. Very excited to see where this goes next.
Side note that I was very much hoping for more romance but there was literally none in this one and I’ve been warned that it won’t start to develop until book 2 so I’m holding out for that subplot 😆
September 16, 2024
Sparrow in the Sun stands out to me by its uniquely beautiful writing. It’s reminiscent of the classics, in a historic setting much like our world, that I feel like it could be considered both historical fiction (or fantasy) and magical realism. Readers will enjoy the lyrical writing and introspective narration of Eness, our main character, who holds many secrets. Despite the story being from her POV and having a distinctly cozy feel, I was captivated to find out more about Eness’s secrets and the hints of magic of the world.
January 22, 2025
This book reminded me of Lord of the Rings. The pacing started slow and at times it was repetitive but once I was invested the only problem with this story is that the second book hasn’t been written yet.
June 29, 2025
This was such a lovely read. It's one of those books that just leaves you feeling full, I don't know how to explain it. I loved so many of the characters, they're so real. It's set in a world that's well-developed and clearly has much more to explore. I totally can't wait for the next book in this series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews