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Hi there! Welcome to our show notes for our Gods Monsters and Voster That Look Like Salad fingers episode where we deep dive Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry chapters 1-7.
Chapter One - Summary & Theories
We get a re-creation of Jenny deciding to jump off the balcony in forest grump except our princess of Quentis isnt on heroine and is actually just a bit of a thrill seeker and she is real fucking sick of everyone’s expectations. A relatable princess with a classic case of intrusive thoughts. The problem is if she jumps she’ll be late and if she is late she’ll be in what Taylor swift was with harry styles, trouble trouble trouble. Margot her stepmother or step monster, the jury is still out would be real pissy if she missed the meeting with the Turan warriors that dear old dad invited to Quentis.
So she walked away from the edge and thought about how her half sister, Mae could charm the pants off the guests (possibly literally) and she wasn’t really needed. Mae had been groomed her entire life for this type of occasion. She was to be the future queen of Turan later this year. Her attendance wouldnt really make a difference. Mae was being primped for this meeting, like it was the Oscar’s red carpet. Margot her step mom made it very clear that she must not be late!
While heading towards her shoes she saw Banner proudly on his saddle. Banner her fiancé who has short light brown hair, brown eyes with an amber starburst (like all those born in Quentin) was all fancy for the meeting. We find out he actually was out there for some fresh air and not at all out there for her. Because The Guardian traveled with the rangers. We learn three things for certain about Banner non Ruhn, 1. Unfailing loyalty to her father 2. He loved the status that came from his rank and being betrothed to a princess 3. He loathed the guardian. Oh also they dont love each other and aren’t even friends. And PS he is 15 years older than her.
He asks her to pray to Goddess of Peace, Carine today so he keeps his shit together. But he vows that he will one day have his revenge because this guardian fella destroyed his family, allegedly. All Odessa knew of the matter is that The Guardian killed Banners brother. They fought over a woman in Turah, the fight ended in his brothers death. The devastation of the loss had Banners mama taking her own life.
Banner offers to end his walk early and take her back but Odessa tells him no thanks dawg. She gets lost in her thoughts thinking about Mae and she would soon be married to a prince. She would fulfill her role in accord its the Calandra trade treaty that kept the five kingdoms at peace. She was the sparrow. Oh and also Mae’s nickname could be All The Way Mae because she is the opposite of virginal. She probably has high body count hair. Odessa looks out to the sea and can’t help but think Mae is a lucky brat that she gets to leave and see the world.
The ocean beckoned. And before she knew it she was sprinting towards the water. And then she was flying.
Chapter Two - Summary & Theories
So Odessa was soaking wet, but not in a Ying Yang Twins sort of way. She’s been getting off by cliff jumping since she was 16. Apparently it’s the only thing she is good at since she sucks at archery and as we learn, girlfriend is blessed with two left feet and a rather large shortage of grace.
After her quick dip in what I am sure is a cold ass body of water, she was sneaking around the castle singing “don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious.” She started heading down a deserted gallery that is a lil creepy. The artwork depicts the crux through different generations.
Crux are described as massive, eagle-like monsters that had flown over Calandra and slaughtered our people.
One of the big ass murals had an auburn male crux that had severed a man in two with its enormous beak. Entrails hung from its open mouth. Its talon, sharper than any blade, punctured the heart of a woman crushed beneath its weight. The male’s thick, pointed horns dripped with blood and gore. Wholesome shit, ya know? We then get some insight to the God system in this book.
“It was written that the old gods, Ama and Oda, created Calandra’s animals as gifts to humans. As companions to share in this realm. The Mother and Father had been proud of their beautiful creations. They’d showered them with praise and glory. But that pride enraged the gods’ children, and in a fit of jealousy, the new gods—the Six—made animals of their own. The Six crafted predators in the image of Calandra’s Animals, though their variations were far more beautiful. Far more powerful. Far more deadly. They birthed monsters to serve as a reminder to humans and animals alike that we were fragile and insignificant. And there was no monster more feared than the crux.”
Sounds like the new Gods were a bunch of middle child Scorpios. While being balls deep into observing that sweet mural, she rounded a corner and ran into a Voster priest.
The Voster Priest is described as “towering frame, a head and bony shoulders above my own height. He was dressed in burgundy robes, the fabric draped around his lanky body, pooling at his ankles and feet as bare as my own. The nails on both his fingers and toes were thick and grooved with a dark-green tint. He had no hair, no eyebrows, and his skin was a chilly, pale white. His hawkish nose rested sharply above his thin, colorless lips.” and “his eyes that caused a shiver to race down my spine. They were solid, endless pools without pupils, the color the same deep green as his nails.”
Immediately Odessa could feel his magic and it clearly gives her the ick. She said that humans aren’t meant to be this close to magic. It made her nauseous, dizzy, felt like crackling, and like jumping into a bottomless pit. His power scraped along her bare arm as he cocked his head sideways LIKE A BIRD, held up a finger and sent the water spinning from her hair and into the shape of a crown above her. Odessas dick dad said “the Voster brotherhood often used their fluid magic to deliver a message. That they manipulated air, water, and blood to make statements.” But she wasn’t interested in asking what's the haps with that.
Odessa hauls ass up the stairs and takes a peaksie at Brother V and he is just gobbling her up with his eyes, furthering her ick feels. V-Bros don’t usually party at the castle but he did for this meeting with the Turans. Hella suspicious. She makes it into her room but not without Margot noticing her dress is wet and then starts yapping about being late, even though she isn’t… yet. She offers for her lady maids to do her a solid and assist but Margot is a bitch and lets her know that they are off galavanting elsewhere in the castle. She gets dressed in an ugly ass grey colored dress because for some reason, that’s all she has because personally, I think Margot is a bitch. Margot puts some smelly ass dye in her hair too. Odessa tries to pawn her Stepmonster off on her sister but her sister is busy practicing adultery and being a skank.
Margot was being a dick saying she doesn’t know anyone who finds so much trouble and says Odessa could have been eaten by sharks. Odessa is clearly a smart ass and says they aren’t this close to shore. Margot then brings up the marroweels and why the Turans are there. Apparently this monsters are bullying the ships around, they be murdering people and shit after clearly changing habitats.
This whole marroweel sitch needs to be corrected ASAP before the crux migration starts happening. Lucky for them the Turans 86’d six from life and hung them as decor at the docks. Margot then goes on about seeing Odessas betrothed, and that Banner gossiped about the Guardian showing up with the Turans too. The Guardian, who is described as “a man rumored to be more vicious and deadly than any creature crafted by the gods.” so we know he’s a daddy already. I knew immediately Guardian would be DTF at some point. Margot is over assisting Odessa and tells her to wrap it up and get to the throne room. She put her crown on, the only thing of color she would be wearing, and of course, she was late.
Voster Spotlight: Can’t shake the earth or throw balls of fire but they can bend and twist air and water. Their blood magic was used to form breakable bonds. All a bunch of bands, translucent skin, green black eyes, they dont cut their toe and finger names unclear if its for the world record book.
Just pointing out that she “nearly” ran into him. So here is the first example of when touching could of happened but didn’t.
We learn that the Voster are very elusive. Odessa doesnt even know how many make up the brotherhood, hundreds, thousands? There is only one book about them and its very short. So we dont know. She says hundreds and thousands but maybe just maybe there is only say i dont know, 6? Totally random number and not something that i am simmering on. Also no one knows where these long nailed creeps live. Peculiar
Name Meanings: Voster-Forrester or Forrest Keeper
Kingdoms Spotlight:
So we get a little bit more backstory on the politics of the kingdoms. With the marrowwheels fucking up the trade routes, there is the worry that Laine, Genesis, Ozarth, and Turah will take it as an insult that the grain they harvested and sold to them and is suddenly is Mia is an invitation for war. Which is not acceptable especially with the damn crux coming. Now was the time for all kingdoms to stockpile their resources. The ships that were loaded with wheat, corn, and barley couldn’t go missing, because they have already been bartered for weapons.
Rumors about the guardian- Izzac incarnate. The God of death had grown tired of his throne and disguised himself as a man to torment humankind for amusement. Others said he had been gifted his powers by the old gods themselves. Just some interesting tidbits in here. Plus trying to keep to track of all the gods that we know - carine the peaceful one and now we have Izzac the god of death.
Odessa name meaning:
Latin: long journey
Wrathful; Odessa is the feminine version of Odysseus, which has taken on the connotative meaning of wandering, traveling adventure in honor of the famous voyage in Homer's epic The Odyssey.
Is her damn name foreshadowing?
Also Odessa sounds like a derivative of Oda aka Papa God.
Chapter Three
Odessa walked through the side entrance of the throne room. Her father didn’t look up but definitely noticed she was late. Margot and Mae were removed from the group of men looking polished and perfect. She couldn’t help but wonder if she looked like her mother. She doesnt remember her because she died when she was a baby and her father had all her portraits removed from the halls. She does know she has the same hair as her because of how often Stepmonster Margot cursed it.
Five Turans who are apparently big bitches in stature, not attitude stood shoulder to shoulder. They had a shit ton of weapons and looked like they were ready for battle not din din. Her father addressed the room by telling them he is thankful for their services in taking down the 6 marroweels, and for doing it so quickly. A guy with a braided beard was like “no bigs, we just did what you hired us to do” with a tone of condescension. And then the doors flew open with guards carrying a big ass chest that had a shit ton of coin in it. A big guy with braids went and inspected and asked his highness if he should count it. Which fyi Zavier, Mae’s soon to be husband was there, what a lil shock.
The king was like “yeah no need, every bit we agreed to is in there.” The bearded warrior was like “okay but what if the price we agreed to is no longer enough?” The king is like “ugh okay what’s your new price” And now the main doors opened and the Voster priest she had a run in with and another one who floats followed him. The sting of their magic was instant to poor little Odessa. Oh and we are not done with surprise entrances, “a man who entered next didn’t look like a. God incarnate. He didn’t appear to be a ghost. He was tall and broad like the Turans. Muscled to the point of distraction. His chocolate brown hair tickled the tops of his shoulders and his chiseled jaw was covered in a short beard of the same shade. At first glance, he was just a man. Striking. Intimidating. but still just a man. Yet his irises didn’t have the typical Turan green starburst. They were solid. molten silver. Liquid Metal. The guardian.
The King started pandering to the Turans which was weird. And then the floating Voster was like before we begin lets do some introductions and team building exercises. All the big ass Turans look at Margot and Mae besides the Guardian who was looking at her instead. They walked toward the prince, who is supes pretty but very unimpressed to meet his bride. The king says “ this is my daughter Mae, in accord with the shield of Sparrows she is to be your bride on the autumnal equinox in three months time.” The guardian is like cool but actually not her, Prince Zavier will marry her, tonight. As the bride prize for killing your marroweels.
Chapter Four
Oh shit, imagine being in that throne room after that announcement. Hard act to follow up picking a different daughter for a wife. Margot is clearly pissed off, having a death grip on our girls arm. But that didn’t hold a candle to finding out she was getting married ASAP and not to her betrothed. The silence? Intense. The tension? Thicker than a male main character's throbbing member. Margot could use a margarita because she says there must be some mistake. Papa King is just like no. No other words.
Banner tries to put his two cents in “she’s my fiance.” We all know you fucking suck, flag boy. This makes the Guardian giggle, he is just like us, a gigglin gal. Everyone else? Not gigglin. Yikes on bike. Odessa manages to say “jackass” out loud and everyone clutched their pearls. Papa King tries to uno reverse this decision by trying to sell Mae as his bride. But still says “If you wish to forgo the planned festivities of the equinox, then we will arrange for your union tonight.” Odessa was waiting for someone to object and this not to happen but no objections. Instead, she ended up in a staring contest with that slutty looking Guardian who smirked in return. He technically one because after that smirk she looked over at new boo, Xavier who is just hella stoic.
Flag boy tries yet again with “she is mine.” But he doesn’t give a care about Odessa, he gives a care about his link to the royal fam since he is clearly a social climber. The Guardian doesn’t give any cares about Flag Boy because he says “She was yours. Now, she belongs to the prince. She’ll satisfy both the bride prize and the treaty. She’ll be our queen.” All this sounds hella boring to Odessa. Flag boy tries arguing again but the King pulls out the rule book with “The Shield of Sparrows treaty stipulates a daughter of the king’s choosing. As I am the only king in this room, the choice is mine. You will wed Mae. She is the Sparrow. And you will be given the gold we have promised for your assistance with the marroweels.” Which gives us our first look at what the Shield of Sparrows is.
Voss Boss chooses this moment to put his two cents in telling the party that King Cross is rightsies. But this is where it gets tricky. So there is the treaty which “requires a daughter be given to another kingdom each generation. Her father has the right to choose which daughter.” But then you have the bride prize for the marroweels. Seven were caught, not six. So according to the Chain of Sevens, the prince can demand a bride prize. In this economy, the prince was just being resourceful. Two-fer if you will. The king tried to offer gold, but where is the fun in that? What everyone thought was a legend, is not. The Chain of Sevens is “Seven lives in a chain. Long ago, before the five kingdoms, the lands and seas were overrun by monsters. To regain control, the ruling lords made a decree. Any warrior who risked their life against the beasts would be granted a prize of their choosing if they returned with the heads of seven slain females from the species. As with all treaties, the Chain of Sevens was sealed with our magic.To alter the chain of life, killing seven females will break the chain. Break it in enough places, and it holds no strength.” So I guess that’s that? Wrong, the king is like, that shit is archaic, you will take Mae.
Never fuck with treaties because it started to get real cold in there. Voss Boss dropped to his feet instead of floating and his magic was filling the room and it did not feel good on Odessa. They were slowly freezing to death thanks to Father Vaw Dawg. Everyone started to realize he was pretty serious black up in this bitch. Turns out Father Voster sealed the Sevens with his own back and blood of ancient kings, and the king needs to watch his little whore mouth. King Cross apologizes to the High Priest and that is what really shocks Odessa. The HBIC of Voster peeps. Everyone thought he was dead but turns out nah, he just loves a grand appearance. It looks like Odessa has no choice but to be the prince’s bride for Shield of Sparrows and Chain of Sevens.
God Roll Call: We learn about a new God. Ferious. The God of Mischief. Roll Call - Peaceful Carine, Izzac of Death, and now mischievous Ferious.
Number 7 Spotlight: 7 is a pretty significant number with a lot of meanings. It can mean perfection or completion. The number 7 is connected to intuition, wisdom, growing self-awareness, spiritual revelations, and big shifts that can have a positive impact on your life. It's a number that serves as a bridge or a connection between our mortal realm and higher places. Which, connecting that to this story, big shifts in life? Marrying a prince instead of a flag with words is a pretty big shift. A bridge or connection to our mortal realm higher places? There are 8 gods in this story and I have a feeling they will play a bigger part.
Chapter 5
The Voster did a lil water show. Prince Zavier nodded to the Voster Bros and then turned towards the door. The Guardian followed suit. When they left the king pleaded to his Voster Emissary, whose name is Brother Dime btw, that something must be done. Mae is to be the Turan queen, Odessa isnt capable. Brother Dime walked towards her and said “this is your fortune child” and his spindly fingers extended but she shied away from letting him touch her. Which Dime thought was peculiar.
Odessa collapsed on the floor and prayed to the 8 Gods. Banner is not impressed. The “Gold King,” apparently is his nickname due to his blonde hair, caramel eyes flecked with same golden shade as the gold in the chest plus amber starburst was like “ i mean you heard the high priest dude.” The gold king told everyone to get out so the fam can chitchat. Once they were alone Mae had a knife to Odessa’s throat asking her “what did you do?” Totes normal sister behavior. Odessa tells her she has no idea why Prince Zavier wants her, maybe he doesnt like blondes. Which causes Mae to lunge at her but dear ol dad puts a stop to it. He questions her about if she had ever met him and her whereabouts of the day. She lied about her cliff diving hobby and told him she went for a lil hikey hike and a swimmy swim. And then she bumped into Brotha Diime outside the gallery. The crux gallery to be exact. Which her dad apparently doesnt like her curiosity with that hall.
He stayed silent trying to catch her in a lie and they he said “I’m sorry Dess.” Which was shocking considering he hasnt called her that in years and she had never heard him apologize. But he said again “I’m sorry that you must do this, put the bride prize aside, we can’t piss off the Turans with a refusal and we can’t break the shield of sparrows, especially with the crux right around the corner. Mae was supposed to go but now its your turn baby girl”
So then her dad is like i need to take you to find a way into Alessaria, the capital before summers end, and then send word on how i can infiltrate the city. Also sending your lady maids with you and you can send them back with the intel. Alessaria is the priority and also learn everything you can about the Guardian and his powers and find a way to kill him, no bigs. Odessa is like hold up did you plan this whole thing? And he is like basically yeah, we have been trying for decades to find the way into Alessaria and i need it asap because if the crux migrate earlier i am SOL. The golden king apparently wants something in that city, and that thing is the only thing that can stop the crux. And he is giving Odessa zero deets about it. But he isnt worried about treaties because he says they can be broken and he doesnt necessarily need to die. His master plan was gambling that the prince would come to the meeting and he could convince him to speed up the wedding under the guise of trade routes and then Mae would set sail with them this summer.
Obvi things didn’t go as planned and damn Mae is a bitter Betty that she was dismissed. Odessa tries to say that she can’t do it but her father is like but you will, repeat your order. Do it and i will bring you home. And then tells the Stepmonster to get her ready for her wedding.
Shield of Sparrows school-
The first bride’s name had been Sparrow, hence the treaty’s name and why the woman offered every generation had since been called the Sparrow. Her father, the Turan king, had given her as a bride to his sworn enemy, the Genesis king.
The obligation of the five kingdoms to offer a king, or future king, and a Sparrow every generation. Laine and Ozarth were the last one.
So essentially the Shield of Sparrows was a trade agreement and since this started all wars that were commonplace amongst the kingdoms stopped. You could not be at war with our self and the Crux.The crux would blackout the skies for months, thousand and thousand of beating wings blocking out the sun, livestocks, crops, and harvests cities annihilated and destroyed. Since SOS started the 5 kingdoms had endured and they had survived 9 migrations and if we go off 9x30=270 years and this next one is the tenth. Odessa would be the tenth.
5 Kingdoms Resources:
Laine- Spices and Gold
Turah- Lumber
Ozarth- Iron
Quentis- Crops and Cattle
Genesis- Oil
Starburst -The Magic rooted deep in Calandra’s and tinged our irises at birth its those starbursts linking us forever to a place. No matter where we lived, where we moved, that one color was unchanging. Example: all Quentin’s had an amber starburst. Turans are green . But Odessa’s eyes were solid gold. Not a starburst in sight. Odessa tried asking her dad as a kid but he never answer that question.
Chapter 6
Margot is a huffin and puffin, not puffin the magic dragon either. Just straight up being a butthole. No dresses are blue enough for her but duh b, you literally only let her wear grey, you can only be mad at yourself. Which blue is clearly their traditional wedding shade since she’s saying she doesn’ have the traditional dress color. Odessa was scrubbed and cleaned. Margot so kindly reminded her that she will need to buy more hair dye, Prince Zavier bargained for a brunette wife so she had to uphold the look..
The dress Brielle chose is pretty much white which is what they wear to funerals, so Odessa snatched that shit so fast and changed into it. She joked about Mae being able to stab her in the back without fabric being in the way, so Margot told her not to be dramatic. That is when they heard shit breaking in the next room over and I am sure Limp Bizkit break stuff was playing. Margot then kicks Brielle out and starts talking about the birds and the bees.
Odessa is quick to tell her she has been with a man already, next topic. But Margot wanted to keep going about men and their needs and how she doesn’t want to look like she has ulterior motives. She thought Because a prince who was being fucked regularly became a fool? Possibly in Genesis or Ozarth or Laine or even Quentis. But I doubted Zavier was like other princes, not with his heritage. Apparently Turah is v secretive. They held up their obligations for trade and commerce, but only just. When it came to extending alliances, building relationships, and fostering unity, Turah might as well be a closed door. The crux decimated their capital and so the king moved their stronghold into the mountains, Allesaria. No ruler has been and it’s not on maps. Everyone that goes looking, never returns.
Margot went to tell King Cross that the bride was ready spaghetti. After she left, Odessa went to her secret spot were she hid her goods. Nothing fun like drugs. Just a necklace that she found thirteen years prior and a sketchpad. The necklace was a wing of silver inlaid in a circle of gold. Except it wasn’t gold. The hue was red and orange and as bright as the harvest moon. She had no idea what the symbol was though.The pendant warmed immediately when on her skin and absorbed her body's heat faster than gold or silver.
Mae is done with her bitch fit and pops in to see her sister. They have a little moment about missing each other and a forced hug. We learn her brother's name is Arthalayus.
They talk about how Mae will probs need to marry Banner now for loyalty and what not. Thank god Odessa didn’t sleep with him so they will never become eskimo sisters, just blood. Mae sweetens the moment telling her to not return unless she’s got the info and that she will make an awful spy. Spoiler alert, she does. They get an I love you in before her dad walks in to do a weird ass ritual where he cuts his daughter's hand and then collects the blood in a vial for ink later. She glances outside and wishes she would've been like Dory and just kept swimming.
Alessaria Thoughts:
What if Allesaria is really a city of Gods of some sort? God we know nothing by the end of the book still so really anything is possible. If we take the name and break it up
Alle is a name of Greek origin and is a softer version of the name Alexandra. It means “man's defender,” and is traditionally attributed to girls. Also means noble
Saria is a feminine moniker with Hebrew and Arabic roots. Meaning “princess” and “clouds coming in the night”
Interesting
Necklace Thoughts: We definitely think it was her moms. In some fantasy worlds, something can feel warm if it has magic in it. Usually that would mean that person and the magic were compatibile. Interesting that Voster magic is cold. Also harvest moon? Like something you would see during the fall equinox? Why a wing? So maybe Odessa chosing to “fly” or not is no coincidence and possible foreshadowing
So the sketch that Devney decided to tell us was a sketch of Margot being sad after getting in a fight with her father. There is no reason to tell us this unless she wants to convey that there may be some cracks in that marriage. And it makes you wonder what would someone do if they were desperate/sad enough.
Chapter 7
So they are in the castles sanctuary which is stuffy and hot because it was built into rocks so people can worship the gods during the migration. The two Voster priests were standing at the alter, which their magic instantly is pinpricking her skin. She was not looking forward to being around it for 3 hours. But fear not, no ceremony. Just a marriage decree and signing of the treaty. Dess was a little bit disappointed for some reason and she was also dreading their wedding night.
The Turans walked in. Mae told her that sending her was a suicide mission. The Guardian was the last to stroll in, and the fucker looked at Odessa and smirked. Odessa was summoned to the front to sign the treaty. They would sign with their blood and the Voster would seal it with their magic. She read the decree where it explained the history of the treaty. The obligation of the five kingdoms to offer a king, or future king, and a sparrow every generation. The first bride’s name was Sparrow, hence the treaty’s name, unclear if related to Captain Jack. The treaty had trade obligations, and it forbid kingdoms from invading one another, plus the king cannot kill his sparrow and a sparrow cannot kill her king. Either directly or indirectly without death befalling them both. So basically the magic would off them if they tried any funny business.
The guardian was laughing again and Odessa couldn’t help but feel like the jackass acted like he was in charge of this disaster. The vows began and when it was Zavier’s turn due to him not speaking, the Guardian spoke on his behalf. They signed and the magic made invisible sparks Crawl up her skin. Then it was done. Zavier wasn’t even looking at Odessa. The king said they would honor the union with a feast, but Zavier nay nay ed that. Zavier tilted her chin up and he kissed her on the cheek and then he walked off. Of course Chuckles aka the guardian was gigglin again. He then asked if she was in a hurry to follow Xavier and get it in. Which really fucking pissed Odessa off and that really fucking made The Guardian a happy camper. Before walking off he told her “enjoy your last night in Quentis Sparrow. we sail at Dawn.’
Make sure you tune into the rest of our Shield of Sparrows episodes and we cant wait to cover Rites of the Starling.