What do you think?
Rate this book
Shield of Sparrows [Dramatized Adaptation] #2, Part 2
Rites of the Starling (Part 2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]
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.
Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!
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.
Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!
Audiobook
Published August 25, 2026
About the author
Devney Perry
113 books36.1k followersDevney is a #1 Amazon, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over forty romance novels. After working in the technology industry for a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to pursue her passion for writing. She was born and raised in Montana and now lives in Washington with her husband and two sons.”
Visit Devney's website to sign up for her newsletters and learn more about upcoming books.
www.devneyperry.com
Visit Devney's website to sign up for her newsletters and learn more about upcoming books.
www.devneyperry.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 4, 2026
This was so much better than Book One! I didn't read the books and immediately jumped to the graphic audio, even though the voice actors aren't my favourites. The story did grip me so I kept going on. I saw reviews from a few booktokers and assumed this was going to be a recycled predictable romantasy plot but that wasn't the case, at least for me. This is one of the rare cases where the author has done an amazing job in writing book two to compel readers to wait until book three!
September 22, 2026
This did not get interesting until 40 minutes left in the audiobook then ended without an actual ending.
October 30, 2026
I finished this one so fast I didn't get to log any progress. The last few chapters of this were the best part. I was locked in. Finally we understand the different timelines! Everything made sense and I really enjoyed it.
I didn't find the characterization of the King to be very well done however. He's one person as a prince with a young bride and newborn and then we see him as an adult a widow with an adult daughter he treats like shit. I just could not see the transition there and found it to be poorly done.
I didn't find the characterization of the King to be very well done however. He's one person as a prince with a young bride and newborn and then we see him as an adult a widow with an adult daughter he treats like shit. I just could not see the transition there and found it to be poorly done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2026
Can’t wait until next 1 come out in March
October 7, 2026
The second half of the book had a lot more revealed and things making sense. This series is fast paced and full of delightful drama. I love Odessa and Ransom. I can't wait to see what's next for them.
October 19, 2026
The whole time I was like, can we get to the point???
Nothing was happening. And finally when the end revealed some things, it felt like, that’s it???
Nothing was happening. And finally when the end revealed some things, it felt like, that’s it???
September 14, 2026
Get Out the Conspiracy Board
After the slow start with Part 1 of Rites of the Starling, I was ready to jump back into Odessa and Caspia’s stories—and Part 2 absolutely delivered. Get out your Conspiracy board and red string, it's gonna be a wild ride.
This installment digs much deeper into the history of the five kingdoms, the Vosters, Lyssa, the Starling/Crux magic, and the monsters of the land. There are secrets everywhere, and seemingly small details keep becoming increasingly important. I spent a ridiculous amount of this audiobook building theories, connecting clues, and mentally adding more and more red string to my conspiracy board.
And I am saying NOTHING about the big reveal.
I will say this: PAY ATTENTION. The clues are there, and when everything finally starts falling into place, it is incredibly satisfying. I may or may not have had a very smug “I KNEW IT!” moment or two. Or twenty.
Beyond the mystery, I really enjoyed the character development in this part. Odessa continues to grow into her own strength, while Ransom’s struggle with Lyssa adds another layer of danger to their relationship. Caspia’s story becomes even more fascinating as she begins uncovering the truth behind the history she thought she knew. The two storylines gradually feel more and more connected, and the way the pieces eventually come together is extremely well done.
There are also some genuinely emotional moments. Evie’s reunion with Zavier absolutely broke my heart in the best possible way. Aly Casey’s performance as Evie is fantastic, and the emotion she brings to that scene makes it surprisingly powerful.
Ransom’s increasingly feral behavior gives several scenes an especially intense edge. Jon Vertullo does an excellent job portraying Ransom’s fear and horror when he realizes just how dangerous he has become.
Hain, voiced by Chingwe Padraig Sullivan, was SUCH an interesting character, and I was very invested in his scenes with Caspia.
And, of course, the action scenes are fantastic in GraphicAudio format. The fights have energy and impact.
Production-wise, this was another very strong installment. The full cast, sound effects, and performances continue to make the world feel immersive without overwhelming the story. The use of actual child actors for Evie and Kos is especially effective, and I really appreciated the emotional range they brought to their scenes. I still feel strongly that Caspia should have had an accent.
Part 2 also leaves us with one heck of a cliffhanger, so naturally I now have approximately 47 more questions than I started with.
But that's okay.
I'll just add another piece of red string to the conspiracy board and wait for Part 3.
Story: ★★★★★
Production: ★★★★★
Spice: ★★★☆☆ (explicit dirty talk and full open door romance scenes)
Advance listener copy provided in exchange for honest feedback. All opinions are my own. Thank you Graphic Audio for the chance to review this book!
After the slow start with Part 1 of Rites of the Starling, I was ready to jump back into Odessa and Caspia’s stories—and Part 2 absolutely delivered. Get out your Conspiracy board and red string, it's gonna be a wild ride.
This installment digs much deeper into the history of the five kingdoms, the Vosters, Lyssa, the Starling/Crux magic, and the monsters of the land. There are secrets everywhere, and seemingly small details keep becoming increasingly important. I spent a ridiculous amount of this audiobook building theories, connecting clues, and mentally adding more and more red string to my conspiracy board.
And I am saying NOTHING about the big reveal.
I will say this: PAY ATTENTION. The clues are there, and when everything finally starts falling into place, it is incredibly satisfying. I may or may not have had a very smug “I KNEW IT!” moment or two. Or twenty.
Beyond the mystery, I really enjoyed the character development in this part. Odessa continues to grow into her own strength, while Ransom’s struggle with Lyssa adds another layer of danger to their relationship. Caspia’s story becomes even more fascinating as she begins uncovering the truth behind the history she thought she knew. The two storylines gradually feel more and more connected, and the way the pieces eventually come together is extremely well done.
There are also some genuinely emotional moments. Evie’s reunion with Zavier absolutely broke my heart in the best possible way. Aly Casey’s performance as Evie is fantastic, and the emotion she brings to that scene makes it surprisingly powerful.
Ransom’s increasingly feral behavior gives several scenes an especially intense edge. Jon Vertullo does an excellent job portraying Ransom’s fear and horror when he realizes just how dangerous he has become.
Hain, voiced by Chingwe Padraig Sullivan, was SUCH an interesting character, and I was very invested in his scenes with Caspia.
And, of course, the action scenes are fantastic in GraphicAudio format. The fights have energy and impact.
Production-wise, this was another very strong installment. The full cast, sound effects, and performances continue to make the world feel immersive without overwhelming the story. The use of actual child actors for Evie and Kos is especially effective, and I really appreciated the emotional range they brought to their scenes. I still feel strongly that Caspia should have had an accent.
Part 2 also leaves us with one heck of a cliffhanger, so naturally I now have approximately 47 more questions than I started with.
But that's okay.
I'll just add another piece of red string to the conspiracy board and wait for Part 3.
Story: ★★★★★
Production: ★★★★★
Spice: ★★★☆☆ (explicit dirty talk and full open door romance scenes)
Advance listener copy provided in exchange for honest feedback. All opinions are my own. Thank you Graphic Audio for the chance to review this book!
September 15, 2026
*Thank you, Graphic Audio. I received an advance review copy for free & I am leaving this review voluntarily of my own opinions*
I am not even sure where to start or how exactly to write this without basically giving away every spoiler. I suppose I'll start with it took me much longer than I like to admit to figure out who Caspia was & what exactly was happening during that entire dual pov.. or at least I thought it was just a dual pov & that the 2 women would eventually intercept each other.. which I was sort of right, but not in the way I thought it would. That's not to say I didn't really love how the 2 different pov's came together because once I understood it, I almost wanted to go back & listen to the beginning of both parts of this book because I finally saw how much information we were actually getting without fully realizing it until the end of this book. I almost wish the ending would've happened earlier in the book because it felt like so much information that we've all been trying to figure out since the very first book Shield of Sparrows was all a sudden thrown on us like a bucket of cold water & then everything ends almost immediately afterwards leaving us with whiplash after such an extremely slower pace to BOOM! reveal after reveal along with other things that happen all so very quickly it's almost like the author forgot she needed to start answering some questions & decided at the very last second jam more information than we've gotten from both the 1st & majority of the 2nd book altogether. I admit that sort of annoyed me, I really felt like it was unfair to dump that much on readers then on purpose leave them sitting there stunned because the book is over & that's a wrap when quite a bit of that information could have been revealed slowly throughout the book so readers could start understanding what they're even reading in the 1st place.
Regardless, as usual Graphic Audio genuinely helped make this book come to life & make it easier to push through all the frustration & confusion so I appreciate all the hard work that went into making not just this book but all 4 installments of this series so far. I'm not entirely sure if I would have been able to read this series in any physical format without getting annoyed or confused or whatever it is that makes me set the book to the side & end up never picking it back up again. In fact I know that's exactly what would've happened if I had tried this series in any format other than Graphic Audio. That being said.. I'll be waiting for the next audiobook because now I just want answers after investing how much time with this series so far lol
I give the story itself 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
& I give Graphic Audio 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
so for Goodreads I decided to go in the middle for my rating lol
I am not even sure where to start or how exactly to write this without basically giving away every spoiler. I suppose I'll start with it took me much longer than I like to admit to figure out who Caspia was & what exactly was happening during that entire dual pov.. or at least I thought it was just a dual pov & that the 2 women would eventually intercept each other.. which I was sort of right, but not in the way I thought it would. That's not to say I didn't really love how the 2 different pov's came together because once I understood it, I almost wanted to go back & listen to the beginning of both parts of this book because I finally saw how much information we were actually getting without fully realizing it until the end of this book. I almost wish the ending would've happened earlier in the book because it felt like so much information that we've all been trying to figure out since the very first book Shield of Sparrows was all a sudden thrown on us like a bucket of cold water & then everything ends almost immediately afterwards leaving us with whiplash after such an extremely slower pace to BOOM! reveal after reveal along with other things that happen all so very quickly it's almost like the author forgot she needed to start answering some questions & decided at the very last second jam more information than we've gotten from both the 1st & majority of the 2nd book altogether. I admit that sort of annoyed me, I really felt like it was unfair to dump that much on readers then on purpose leave them sitting there stunned because the book is over & that's a wrap when quite a bit of that information could have been revealed slowly throughout the book so readers could start understanding what they're even reading in the 1st place.
Regardless, as usual Graphic Audio genuinely helped make this book come to life & make it easier to push through all the frustration & confusion so I appreciate all the hard work that went into making not just this book but all 4 installments of this series so far. I'm not entirely sure if I would have been able to read this series in any physical format without getting annoyed or confused or whatever it is that makes me set the book to the side & end up never picking it back up again. In fact I know that's exactly what would've happened if I had tried this series in any format other than Graphic Audio. That being said.. I'll be waiting for the next audiobook because now I just want answers after investing how much time with this series so far lol
I give the story itself 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
& I give Graphic Audio 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
so for Goodreads I decided to go in the middle for my rating lol
September 20, 2026
This sequel leans into that classic middle‑book energy. A good chunk of the story follows the characters on the road, meeting new faces, exploring new locations, and facing dangerous moments that keep the stakes alive. It is interesting, but it also feels like a transition book. I missed the epic fantasy punch of book one.
The dual POV surprised me at first. Caspia’s chapters felt disconnected and I spaced out more than once. But by the end, everything clicked into place and her perspective made complete sense. It added another layer to the world and made the final reveals land with more weight.
The beginning is slow. The back and forth had me drifting, and the info dumping is noticeable. But once I hit the sixty percent mark, the entire story shifted. The pacing tightened, the tension built, and the plot threads started weaving together in a way that felt incredibly satisfying. This is one of those books that becomes more impressive in hindsight.
Odessa’s growth continues to shine. She is still learning, still stumbling, still figuring out how to step into her strength, and watching her push forward with determination is one of the most rewarding parts of the story. Her moments with Evie made me love her even more.
Action, secrets, beasts, betrayal, prophecies, and lingering unfinished business keep the edges sharp. The plot barely moves at first, but once it does, it sets the stage beautifully for the final book. Some of the revelations and expanding lore genuinely made my jaw drop.
The dramatized version for me always brings another element and deeper investment into these books when you can hear the emotion and layers the narrators gift us with. I love how the full cast, cinematic heightens the story.
A slow cooker of a sequel, but if you let it simmer, it rewards you. I am buzzing with anticipation for book three.
The dual POV surprised me at first. Caspia’s chapters felt disconnected and I spaced out more than once. But by the end, everything clicked into place and her perspective made complete sense. It added another layer to the world and made the final reveals land with more weight.
The beginning is slow. The back and forth had me drifting, and the info dumping is noticeable. But once I hit the sixty percent mark, the entire story shifted. The pacing tightened, the tension built, and the plot threads started weaving together in a way that felt incredibly satisfying. This is one of those books that becomes more impressive in hindsight.
Odessa’s growth continues to shine. She is still learning, still stumbling, still figuring out how to step into her strength, and watching her push forward with determination is one of the most rewarding parts of the story. Her moments with Evie made me love her even more.
Action, secrets, beasts, betrayal, prophecies, and lingering unfinished business keep the edges sharp. The plot barely moves at first, but once it does, it sets the stage beautifully for the final book. Some of the revelations and expanding lore genuinely made my jaw drop.
The dramatized version for me always brings another element and deeper investment into these books when you can hear the emotion and layers the narrators gift us with. I love how the full cast, cinematic heightens the story.
A slow cooker of a sequel, but if you let it simmer, it rewards you. I am buzzing with anticipation for book three.
September 25, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
I absolutely loved Rites of the Starling Part 2 (Dramatized Adaptation) by Devney Perry.
This second half pulled everything together in the best possible way. The twists, reveals, and character motivations all fit perfectly within the story. Looking back, the clues were there all along, which made every revelation feel earned. Even so, the plot twists completely tilted my view of everything I thought I knew, and I found myself reevaluating characters and events right alongside the story.
What really made this experience shine was the GraphicAudio production. While I enjoyed the book itself, the full cast performance, music, and sound effects brought the story to life in a way that made every emotional moment hit harder. The dramatized adaptation added layers of intensity, tension, and feeling that made it impossible to stop listening.
The final stretch had me completely invested. The stakes felt real, the emotions landed perfectly, and every new reveal kept me wanting just one more chapter. By the end, I was fully immersed and didn't want to leave this world or these characters behind.
Devney Perry delivered a story that was both surprising and satisfying, and the GraphicAudio adaptation elevated it even further.
And that cliffhanger?!?!?! 😵 The vision?!?!?! I am absolutely not okay.
The GraphicAudio production brought everything together beautifully. The full cast and immersive performance made every reveal hit harder and every emotion land deeper.
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. 🎧✨❤️🔥
I absolutely loved Rites of the Starling Part 2 (Dramatized Adaptation) by Devney Perry.
This second half pulled everything together in the best possible way. The twists, reveals, and character motivations all fit perfectly within the story. Looking back, the clues were there all along, which made every revelation feel earned. Even so, the plot twists completely tilted my view of everything I thought I knew, and I found myself reevaluating characters and events right alongside the story.
What really made this experience shine was the GraphicAudio production. While I enjoyed the book itself, the full cast performance, music, and sound effects brought the story to life in a way that made every emotional moment hit harder. The dramatized adaptation added layers of intensity, tension, and feeling that made it impossible to stop listening.
The final stretch had me completely invested. The stakes felt real, the emotions landed perfectly, and every new reveal kept me wanting just one more chapter. By the end, I was fully immersed and didn't want to leave this world or these characters behind.
Devney Perry delivered a story that was both surprising and satisfying, and the GraphicAudio adaptation elevated it even further.
And that cliffhanger?!?!?! 😵 The vision?!?!?! I am absolutely not okay.
The GraphicAudio production brought everything together beautifully. The full cast and immersive performance made every reveal hit harder and every emotion land deeper.
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. 🎧✨❤️🔥
September 24, 2026
Listen…..I got beef with this book.
I started with part one and absolutely couldn’t stand it, but kept going because Odessa’s story was getting interesting. And in this part it was AMAZING. I truly enjoyed every chapter that was her chapter.
But Caspia’s POV? Still didn’t like. Still didn’t understand.
So then when I found out at the end that ALL OF CASPIA WAS A FLASHBACK AND THAT SHE WAS ODESSA’S MOM, I was a bit mad lol.
This could have been formatted differently. Caspia’s story could’ve been a prequel, or maybe a half of the book like I’ve seen in other stories.
IT ALSO COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN A MORE CLEARER AND SIMPLE WAY. Half the time I didn’t understand why they traveled to where they traveled and what it accomplished. And then to randomly say “Andreas is king and our daughter odessa is born” ?????
I will try to listen to the dramatic audiobook of the final book, but lemme tell you this series is kinda disappointing me.
I started with part one and absolutely couldn’t stand it, but kept going because Odessa’s story was getting interesting. And in this part it was AMAZING. I truly enjoyed every chapter that was her chapter.
But Caspia’s POV? Still didn’t like. Still didn’t understand.
So then when I found out at the end that ALL OF CASPIA WAS A FLASHBACK AND THAT SHE WAS ODESSA’S MOM, I was a bit mad lol.
This could have been formatted differently. Caspia’s story could’ve been a prequel, or maybe a half of the book like I’ve seen in other stories.
IT ALSO COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN A MORE CLEARER AND SIMPLE WAY. Half the time I didn’t understand why they traveled to where they traveled and what it accomplished. And then to randomly say “Andreas is king and our daughter odessa is born” ?????
I will try to listen to the dramatic audiobook of the final book, but lemme tell you this series is kinda disappointing me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2026
Im actually super disappointed in this book. I’ve really lost interest several chapters in. With most of the first book being focused on Odessa leaving her home and uncovering more information about her husband, and then ending the book with the huge Game of Thrones like ending, the second book really slows down and switches perspective every single chapter. It reads so slow and it’s not interesting. The flash back take away from the main character growth of what just happened in the first book while suddenly taking on of what feels like motherhood. It doesn’t read like the original Odessa and I’ve lost all interest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2026
I have no words! This is easily becoming my favourite saga! Im loving every second of this! I knew it! I knew it! I had the sinking suspicion that we were following two different timelines and that Andreas and Caspia were Odessa's parents and suprise... i was right! As always, the GA just elevates the story! I've loved it so much! Can't wait for the third book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2026
New character POV and the author did fool me on who it was. I considered the correct option but then I was fooled into thinking it was the same timeline when we saw the weapon’s master training a boy. So I was waiting for Odessa and Caspia to meet.
The ending was shocking with the final vision.
The ending was shocking with the final vision.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2026
I was absolutely HOOKED in the end, but in the beginning o just felt pissed off that I didn’t understand why I was being given dual POVs without any context. All I could help thinking was, “Why does this even matter?” Whelp. It really matters, and it left me on a cliffhanger from hell
October 22, 2026
⭐️ 3.5/5
I enjoyed this book! The story has so many layers, and I liked how the mysteries, secrets, and character backstories slowly came together. While I didn't absolutely love it, I'm invested enough to continue the series and see where the story goes!
I enjoyed this book! The story has so many layers, and I liked how the mysteries, secrets, and character backstories slowly came together. While I didn't absolutely love it, I'm invested enough to continue the series and see where the story goes!
October 30, 2026
Overall I enjoyed the book. It started out slow but I really got into towards the middle and it ended very strong. It’s a tale of two women who go on a journey. You learn towards the end how their stories are connected. Can’t wait for the next one to see how the trilogy ends!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
enough is enough
September 18, 2026
Destroyed me! 5++ stars!!!
September 20, 2026
4⭐️
Overall: 4⭐️, Performance: 5⭐️, Story: 4⭐️
—Review to be updated
Overall: 4⭐️, Performance: 5⭐️, Story: 4⭐️
—Review to be updated
September 20, 2026
coooool
September 21, 2026
What a cliffhanger
September 27, 2026
The “twists” are easy to guess. This one is still more enjoyable than the first, maybe because we get more POVs. 3.75 rounded up
September 30, 2026
LOVED IT! I would say better then the first in the series because the FMC was not so whingy. Cant wait for book 3
September 30, 2026
Absolutely incredible ♥️♥️
September 30, 2026
Loved this so much! I cannot wait for the next one! Definitely recommend!
October 1, 2026
This was SO GOOD! I knew the story would be great because I already listened to the regular audio, but the graphic just made it so much better!!
My favorite way to consume a story!
My favorite way to consume a story!
October 2, 2026
Did not expect that twist! I legit thought they were long lost sisters. Looking forward to the next. I just hope it has a better first half
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2026
Loved the second half and figuring out the timelines as mother and daughter (totally forgot the first book when listening!!)
November 3, 2026
This was FANTASTIC! Wonderful acting and now I can't wait for the next book!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews