Rites of the Starling, the sequel to Devney Perry's #1 New York Times bestselling Shield of Sparrows, arrives April 7, 2026. Here's everything we know so far. Release details, what the publisher has confirmed about the plot, where Shield of Sparrows left off, and what to expect going into book two. We'll be updating this page after release with a full review and expanded coverage.
If you haven't read the first book yet, start with our Shield of Sparrows character guide and world guide. And if you're building your romantasy list while you wait, we have recommendations for that too.
You can preorder Rites of the Starling from Bookshop.org, listen on Libro.fm, or find it on Amazon.
This post will be updated after Rites of the Starling releases on April 7, 2026.
Release Date & Details
Rites of the Starling releases on April 7, 2026 from Entangled: Red Tower Books. The book clocks in at 500 pages, slightly longer than Shield of Sparrows, and will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. The audiobook features the same narrators as book one: Jason Clarke, Samantha Brentmoor, and Megan Wicks.
Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry Book Cover
Preorder: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm | Amazon
If you're the kind of reader who wants the object to match the experience, there's a deluxe limited edition of Rites of the Starling worth knowing about. It's a first print run hardcover with special sprayed edges, available in the U.S. and Canada only and once it's gone, it's gone.
Perry's publisher has not announced a second run. You can preorder the deluxe edition on Amazon or check with your local indie bookstore for availability.
Deluxe Limited Edition of Rites of the Starling
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What We Know About the Plot
Perry and the publisher have confirmed the broad strokes of where the story picks up, and it's immediately clear that Rites of the Starling is not a soft sequel. The stakes from Shield of Sparrows don't just continue, they escalate.
Here's what we know based on the official description:
The five kingdoms of Calandra are on the edge of destruction. The Crux migration, the event that Shield of Sparrows spent an entire book building dread around, is finally here. And Odessa is not where she's supposed to be.
In the aftermath of a devastating attack, Odessa has been separated from Ransom. She's been kidnapped by a powerful priest, she's protecting a young girl, and she's on the run through a cursed realm while hunted by the very monsters the character guide warned you about. If you spent Shield of Sparrows thinking Odessa needed to find her own strength independent of the people protecting her and it sounds like Perry heard you.
The description also signals that Odessa's identity crisis is shifting. In Shield of Sparrows, everyone wanted her to be something, a queen, a spy, a sacrifice.
Rites of the Starling seems to be asking what happens when she stops resisting all of those roles and starts choosing which parts to claim on her own terms.
We don't know yet whether the book is told entirely from Odessa's perspective or if Perry will introduce other POVs. We also don't know where Ransom is during all of this which, if you've read the first book, is exactly the kind of gap that keeps you up at night.
Audiobook Details
If you're an audiobook listener and especially if you're planning to relisten to Shield of Sparrows before the sequel drops the Rites of the Starling audiobook features the same narrator team as book one: Jason Clarke, Samantha Brentmoor, and Megan Wicks.
Audiobook rereads are how I prep for sequels, and having consistent narrators makes a huge difference for staying in the world.
Right now, Libro.fm is offering two free audiobooks when you sign up through our link which means you could grab both Shield of Sparrows and Rites of the Starling at no cost and support an independent bookstore while you're at it.
Where Shield of Sparrows Left Off
Spoilers for Shield of Sparrows follow
If it's been a few months since you read Shield of Sparrows and you need a refresher before diving into the sequel, here's where things stood.
By the end of Shield of Sparrows, Odessa has gone from a princess who was never meant to matter to someone at the center of every political and personal conflict in the story. Her relationship with Ransom has moved from suspicion to trust to something much more complicated.
The truth about Ransom's family, his connection to Odessa's mother, and the blood magic binding the kingdoms together has started to surface, but not all of it.
Mae's loyalties are still a question mark. King Ramsey remains a threat. The Voster High Priest is positioned as a figure with far more power than anyone is comfortable with. And the Crux migration that everyone has been dreading is no longer a distant threat, it's imminent.
The book ends with enough unresolved threads that a sequel wasn't just likely, it was necessary. Rites of the Starling picks up in the immediate aftermath.
For a full refresher on who everyone is and what they want, our Shield of Sparrows Character Guide covers every major player without spoilers for the sequel.
The Amazon Adaptation
This is worth knowing about even if you only care about the books: Amazon MGM Studios acquired the rights to Shield of Sparrows ahead of its release to develop it as a film.
The screenplay is being written by Derek Kolstad, who created the John Wick franchise which tells you something about the tone they're going for. The project is coming through Premeditated Productions under their first-look deal with Amazon MGM.
There's no casting news or production timeline yet, but the fact that Rites of the Starling is releasing while the adaptation is still in development means Kolstad and the producers will have more source material to work with, and viewers will have a reason to invest knowing there's more story ahead.
We'll update this section as adaptation news develops.
Characters to Watch Going Into Book Two
Based on what the publisher description reveals and where Shield of Sparrows left off, these are the characters worth paying close attention to in Rites of the Starling:
Odessa. Obviously. But the description positions her in a fundamentally different situation than book one alone, hunted, responsible for someone else's survival. The Odessa who entered Turah as a reluctant bride is not the Odessa walking into this book.
The Voster High Priest. The description confirms Odessa is kidnapped by a powerful priest. The High Priest was the most ominous presence in Shield of Sparrows, and it sounds like his role expands significantly here.
Evie. The young girl Odessa is protecting almost certainly refers to Evangeline Banner, Zavier's adopted daughter. If Evie is in danger and separated from the Turan court, the implications for the royal family's secrets are enormous.
Ransom. We don't know where he is. That's the point.
Mae. Her loyalties were a question mark at the end of Shield of Sparrows. A book that separates Odessa from her allies is a book that forces those unresolved loyalties into the open.
For full character profiles, our Shield of Sparrows character guide has everyone.
What to Expect from the Series
Shield of Sparrows is confirmed as a series, though Perry hasn't announced a total book count yet. Given that book two is 500 pages and the publisher description suggests the scope is widening, five kingdoms, not just Turah, this feels like a series with room to grow. We'll update this section when more books are confirmed.
The series is best read in order. If you haven't started, begin with Shield of Sparrows.
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Rites of the Starling FAQ
When does Rites of the Starling come out? Rites of the Starling releases on April 7, 2026 from Entangled: Red Tower Books. You can preorder it now from Bookshop.org, Libro.fm, or Amazon.
Do I need to read Shield of Sparrows first? Yes. Rites of the Starling picks up directly where Shield of Sparrows ends, and the plot, character relationships, and world-building all depend on what happens in book one. Start with Shield of Sparrows — get it on Bookshop.org, Libro.fm, or Amazon.
How many books will be in the Shield of Sparrows series? Devney Perry hasn't confirmed a total book count yet. Shield of Sparrows is book one and Rites of the Starling is book two. We'll update this page when more books are announced.
Is there a Shield of Sparrows movie? Amazon MGM Studios has acquired the rights to adapt Shield of Sparrows as a film. Derek Kolstad, who created the John Wick franchise, is writing the screenplay. No casting or production timeline has been announced yet.
Is there a deluxe edition of Rites of the Starling? Yes. A deluxe limited edition hardcover with special edges is available for preorder. It's a first print run only, available in the U.S. and Canada while supplies last.
Is Rites of the Starling the last book? Not confirmed either way. The scope of the story appears to be expanding, and Perry has not announced an end date for the series.
Which character are you most worried about going into Rites of the Starling? Drop it in the comments. And if you want new releases, reading guides, and recommendations like this in your inbox every week, subscribe to The Weekly Bookmark, it's free!
