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 8-14.
Chapter Eight - Summary & Theories
The sun's awake so Odessa is awake, probably because she had to be since she was about to start galavanting through Calandra with her new husband. She made it to the docks before the rest of her traveling party with her whole 3 trunks of items. Girlfriend is hella tired since the King yapped all damn night about maps and probably made her watch Harriet the Spy for lessons. Since no one was there, she started to worry no one would see her off.
While Odessa is spiraling, she grabs the necklace and as she wraps it in her hand “the metal warm against my skin, its weight a comfort.” The necklace that has a wing on it from the book with the dedication that says to trust your wings. What is being foreshadowed??
Finally, girlfriend stressed herself out enough to go walk and get her wiggles out. People were ducking out of her way with her crown on though so she didn’t love that because she couldn’t just blend like she normally would. That’s when she hears some guys talking about the seven marroweels. Odessa goes to take a gander at these bad boys. She describes the marroweels as having “scales as blue as sapphires and tipped in turquoise. The fins along their backs were iridescent, like opals. The single bones that extended from their skulls were smooth and as white as snow. Their mouths were open wide in death to reveal five rows of razor-sharp teeth. They were thicker than I’d imagined, twice the width of a man. And so long that even when they were skewered in the middle, their tails coiled on the dock’s boards like thick ropes.” Also it had black eyes “Four in total, two in front, two on the sides“ She noted that there were seven pools of blood beneath them so red and dark it was nearly black.
”the notion of seeing a actual marroweels gave a burst of energy, and i changed paths following the man” So some of this writing you could read it and think like Odessa has qualities of “I’m just not like the other girls” but i think its more than that. Her feeling beckoned by the ocean, he obsession with the crux art gallery hallway, her being jacked about monsters. Something is just different about Odessa and not in a hipster punk rock way. I think we need to pay attention to the urges she feels and why she is attracted to certain things. Is it become the ocean represents freedom? She wanted to be an art history major? She fucking loves marroweels and loves marroweels week when its on the discovery channel? No i think its something more.
She channeled her inner Lisa Barlow from Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and wanted to touch, so she did. Which, that sounds like an inspo quote on a poster “she wanted to touch, so she did.” Anyway, she did and cut her finger because those sons of bitches had sharp ass scales. Of course, the Guardian is there to witness her injury and tells his queen good morning.
He makes small talk asking if she thought they were beautiful. Since he was walking so smoothly she was wondering if the brotherhood was the source of his power. The King has a pretty big hard on for the Guardian and realllllllly wants to know his source of power. But his niceness only lasted so long because pretty soon he was mocking her crown and asking if crowns and jewels is what she packed. She says it’s none of his business even though it kind of is because he ends up being her boo thang.
Odessa tries to brush him off saying she would rather not associate with a killer. Famous last words.The air changed with the guardians magic and said it was more like a simmer rage that pulsed off in waves. The Guardian starts giving her more shit asking if she was saying toodaloo to her fiance's dick. Odessa tells him it’s not of her business (even though it actually is but she doesn’t know that yet) when he says “Isn’t it? You’re married to the heir to the Turan throne. Your children will be of his line. I’d say that I have every right to be concerned with the seed you allow between your legs.”
“The air around us changed. Charged. There was a buzzing against my skin, but it didn’t feel Ike Voster magic. It didn’t have the same crackling bite. The guardians power felt like a simmering rage.” Odessa being able to sense power and magic does not just seem like its because she is an astrology girlie who can see auras. Something is different with her. But what?
Odessa is not impressed by this conversation. When he grabbed her by the waist and spun her around, she noticed his scent- spicy like leather and citrus. We know someone is going to fuck eventually when scents start getting mentioned.
She asks if what he wants to is to embarrass or intimidate her and he gives her a perhaps but then makes the comment ““Then I guess I’m trapped between two monsters.” The Guardian responds with “You have no idea how accurate that statement is.” Sounds like a sexual innuendo to me. We all know about morally grey, shadow daddy, MMC monsters. In the same breath, he asks her how her arm is. Not very monster-like behavior to me, sounds like a concerned citizen. He grabbed one of her curls and then gets the ick because of her dye and walks away. She essentially starts daydreaming of pushing him overboard.
Necklace Musings - We must look for how her mom could be connected to the cause that somebody’s mama was working towards. It’s spy time guys! My personal peter tingle is saying that her mom was from the last migration and was a crux. Maybe the necklace calls to the monsters? Like in pirates of the Caribbean when they dropped the necklace it called out to the pirates. Or maybe she can control the crux with the necklace. I dont know i dont know i am just spit ballin here.
Chapter Nine - Summary & Theories
Father, Margot, and Mae were dockside to see Odessa off. Which made her little heart quite happy because she was convinced they would skip the send off. She found her two lady maids already on the ship. Odessa was big time in her feels, what if she failed? What if she never saw her family again? She was frozen. Mae noticed her and looped their arms together and forced her to move. She also was super kind and told her not to cry because she is ugly when she cries. Mae warned her to be careful around the guardian, not to trust them, and its really important Father finds Allesaria. Which Odessa then finds out she is the only one in the fam that doesnt know her dads plans.
After the initial sting of realizing her dad doesn't trust her enough to know the plan. She makes it her mission that she will do what she has to to not let him down. Mae gives her a little pep talk. And notices the guardian on the ship giving her the death stare. Margot went up to her and gave her a hug told her “you are strong Odessa. Stronger that you realize.” FORESHADOWING. Odessa looked around for her little brother, but her stepmother didn’t bring him to say goodbye. Now it was her Dad’s turn for his pep talk he told her that he could do this and then says “I’ve made so many mistakes as your father. I’m sorry. Your mother would be so disappointed in me.” Which was shocking considering he never spoke of her mother and he apologized which he never did. She tried squeezing some last minute intel out of him but he didn’t give her anything. He then says “ I never should have allowed Margot to dye your hair. The red was your mothers.” He then shooed her up the walk way.
Brielle came to her side and told her to follow her to Jocelyn. Jocelyn let her know she had situated their room, apparently they were all sharing. So it didn’t seem like coitus was happening with her new husband anytime soon. Which was fine by her. Jocelyn’s fam was there to wave her off but Brielle’s was not. Odessa made the promise to send them home and they will see Quentis again. The pressure was real now, between this pressure and all her dad was asking of her, she was determined to make it happen. Banner was there sitting on top a stallion, she waved goodbye and he did the same.
She heard a mans voice tell her that she will need other clothes. She turned around expecting to find the guardian but Nay Nay, it was the not so mute prince Zavier. He went on “most women dress like men, even in Perris courts, ladies typically only wear gowns for parties.” Odessa is like “he speaks” and he said “just because i dont doesnt mean I can’t. Welcome about Odessa Wolfe.” Which gut punch, Wolfe not cross. She handed him her crown with gold and amber jewels and said “here, this will feed an entire family for years.” And then she walked off.
Cross Family Spotlight - Odessa just noticed that he had a shit ton of gray in his hair which makes you think he has been under a lot of stress lately. Add in Odessa drawing Margot sad after a fight, makes you wonder what the fuck is going on in that stupid castle.
EXACTLY. Why is all this happening now? What changed or what was discovered?
“You are strong Odessa. Stronger than you realize.” - Margot I just picture that Jennifer Lawerence Clip “What do you mean?” I want to play devils advocate here with Margot and I keep thinking about the comment about the coloring of the hair. In last weeks episode we said maybe its because she didn’t want the dad to be reminded of his lost love, her mother. But what if it was to protect her. What if like in the mural, the red haired crux is some relation to her mother and Margot didn’t want the VBros or anyone else to find out.
Ok devils advocate. She WAS one of the queen's handmaids. What if Odessa’s mom knew something was happening, made Margot bound to some promise to protect Odessa? Margot is a b because she resents her for that a little. She’s mad her own child has to be the sparrow because of whatever promise she made?
Gods Roll Call- Mama & Papa Ama and Oda and then we have Goddess of Peace Carine, God of Death Izza, God of Mischief Ferious, and now coming in at number 6 is Daria the goddess of luck.
Chapter 10 - Summary & Theories
We have three ships a sailing- The Cutter, The Cannon and The Cleaver. We are currently on a boat journey on the Cutter. They’re really into their brand because that name is stamped on everything. But Odessa isn’t doing too shabby and Brielle and that bitch Jocelyn have weak ass stomachs and are unwell. Odessa notices a new fit inside the locked door, very suspicious. Pants, someone had the audacity to bring her pants boots. Yuck. So she pulled on an ugly ass grey dress and set out.
Odessa is smart and keeps wearing the pendant but keeps it stuffed in the boob pocket. She was ready to practice her sneaky feet when she heard her favorite voice telling her that the crew just swapped and to try not to hurl and calls her his queen again. Once again, Odessa has violent thoughts and wants to slap him. Love that for her.
He asks why she’s not wearing the fresh fit he left inside her door but Odessa is like you came into my locked room. The Guardian just smirks and tells her that she snores. He also calls her cross here, so she takes note of that and also chooses to argue with that because she’s a spicy gal. She knows she snores but she doesn’t want anyone knowing. He smirks and does a little jump into the ocean and swims to another boat. While looking for the Guardian, Zavier pops in and takes the Guardians place.
Odessa asks Zavier what is the Guardian but he just avoids the question and says top o the mornin to ya. They make small talk and Odessa shares she has never been on a ship and never been beyond Quentis.
Odessa asks how long the journey is and it’s 8-9 days but they have backup just in case. They also came with 6 ships but only ended up with three. She asks if it should be safer now without the Marroweels and Zavier shares “When it comes to monsters, safety is an illusion. The High Priest believes the females have chosen the Krisenth to lay their eggs. Why, no one knows. With seven dead, it should reduce their population. Make their attacks less frequent.” That “when it comes to monsters, safety is an illusion” line is sticking with me. I dont believe anything the VBros say.
Zavier then shares that they baited the marroweels and that finding seven to use the chain of sevens was intentional. She asked why he wanted to marry her and just ignored her. Then chooses to warn her that Turah is not like Quentis.
We learn “Quentis has never sent a Sparrow to Turah. Not in three hundred years. It’s been the other way around, but in the past nine marriages, never this way.”
So why now? Fate, forced or that’s just how the cookie crumbles?
The last sparrow came from Laine last and she left which rocked Odessa's world a bit and she realized there wasn’t anything requiring her to stay, just to produce an heir. Apparently there is a price if you want to leave, aka leaving your spawn but it can be done. Zavier is giving her the 411 so she understands that things are different in Turah from Quentis. Zavier then shares he doesn’t speak “Because other leaders see it as a weakness they can exploit. It usually means they fill the silence with more than they should.” Which is smart as hell. She asked why he trusted her with his secret and he said Turans are loyal to Turans with an ominous warning. Aka he speaks in front of his people and those loyal to his crown so Brielle and that bitch Jocelyn will not hear his angelic voice. Once again she asked why he chose her and he ignores her. She makes it even more awkward and asks if he desires her. She attempted to shoot her shot, but has no game because he tell her she’s a beautiful gal which means no.
Quentis Spotlight- Quentis was the smallest and southernmost kingdom in Calandra. It was bordered on three sides by the Marixmore Ocean. On the fourth, our eastern border with Genesis, was a chasm. The Evon Ravine. The ravine cut so deeply into the earth, it was almost black at the bottom. It was too wide to bridge, so travelers wound along a switchback down the cliffs, dropping lower and lower to the ravine’s floor, then climbing out in the same way up the other side. Such a treacherous route wasn’t well traveled. And the monsters that lurked in the Evon’s depths were more terrifying than those that swam the Marixmore. The Krisenth Crossing might be dangerous, but it was the safest way for anyone to journey from Quentis to another kingdom.
Chapter Eleven - Summary & Theories
Brielle was a bit shooketh to find our girl dresses in pants. Caramel leather pants and a tunic with a bunch of flowers on the sides. Yay no more gray. Odessa decided to give them a try because she was a bit bored. Much to her surprise she is a big pants gal. Brielle was very happy to find out she would not be required to wear such things.
So the weather on this journey sucks. The lady maids shouldn’t be lady paids because those bitches stay in bed all day. Odessa convinces Brielle to come up to the deck with her. Once she gets there all of the men stop and stare, she is convinced its because Brielle is so pretty but she isnt even up there. Must be the pants. The guardian popped out of nowhere and was like “i figured those clothes would have been tossed overboard days ago, my queen.” Odessa told him well my husband said this is what Turan women wear and the guardian told her she is not a Turan. She’s like doi but my husband is and he sent them so I’m giving them a try. Then the guardian says a shitty comment “dutiful wife, aren’t you sparrow? At least in title.” Ugh he was probably making fun of the fact that they haven’t boned yet. She hates him. So much so that she wishes she had a crossbow and he could her target.
Brielle finally made it to the top of the stares and then bang she ran right into Odessa. Sailors started yelling “eel!” The eel seems to be a clever girl because it was trying pound a hole into the hull of the boat. It was madness on the boat, water sloshing on the deck, marroweel screachin. So Odessa didnt really listen to the guardians instructions and now she was thrown overboard. The guardian yelled for her to swim. So she swam and swam hard. But she realized she would never outswim a marroweel. A harpoon was shot into the air and she grabbed onto the rope, as they were pulling her in something hard brushed against her leg and it wasn’t anything fun. She could hear the marroweel on her tail so she locked eyes with the guardian that she just so casually mentioned was a hottie. The Guardian yelled “now” and they yanked her from the water but nay nay she wasn’t the only thing flying out of the water. The Marroweel. But as she was pulled up, she sees that the marroweel was also there but its head skewered with a harpoon. Zavier showed up but didnt say anything. Men called for Zavier, not prince to help with a guy whose leg got fucked up.
The guardian told the lady maids to leave them. He gets his stern zaddy voice on and is like when i give you an order you obey. And Odess is like “no.” And Zaddy is like what did you say? Odessa repeats herself “no. I will listen when its a matter of safety for myself. For other people. I will do my best to stay the fuck out of the way. But I will not bend to your every whim. I will not humiliate myself because you deem me insignificant. If you wanted me to stay quiet then you should have let the marroweel kill me. I am not your warriors to lead. I am not your wife to command. So no we dont have an understanding.” Biiiitch. So then she turns on her heel and casually says over her shoulder “ thank you for saving my life.” Then she thinks to herself “one day i would repay the favor by taking his.”
Chapter Twelve - Summary & Theories
The marroweel was front and center stage of the Cutter as their own personal disco ball. Odessa had shitty sleep because she is definitely in need of a therapist after almost getting eaten by the hanging marroweel. After that, Brielle wouldn’t leave the room and that bitch Jocelyn would no longer go on deck. I don’t blame them. Back to the marroweel on deck though, there was lots of blood but it was green. A shade of the darkest green that reminded her of the Vosters eyes.
Of course the Guardian is like her shadow and there when she points out the blood isn’t red. So now Odessa has some questions, and I think that’s pretty fair. Why does this one bleed green? Why are its eyes white, not black? Is it a male or something? A different type of monster? Turns out it is a male, that’s why it’s a big bitch. A scary one at that. She is shook that it didn’t eat her as second breakfast. She asks if there will be another attack and the Guardian tells her it’s unlikely and there are other beasts to fear on the Krisenth. Odessa, who cannot keep inside thoughts inside when he is around say’s like you? The Guardian tells her “Not all monsters are born from the gods, my queen. Some of us were made.”
Odessa doesn’t have Zaviers location on her iphone yet so she asks where he’s at. The Guardian always taunting her tells her to just ask where he sleeps. Smells like jealousy and sexual tension to me. She makes another smart ass remark about Zavier showing her some day when she gets an ah hem from her husband. He shares that she shares a wall with him and he was having a club meeting with his rangers.
She’s eyeing the marroweel where Zavier walked to when the Guardian says “Don’t worry, my queen. We’ll keep you safe. Especially if you stay. On. The. Fucking. Ship.” I would stay on the ship for the Guardian. But she is over being protected by men. She is channeling Christina Aguilera “Fighter” She is a fighter and she, She ain't gon' stop, There is no turning back, She’s had enough.
She wants a god damn sword. But the Guardian let out a dry laugh and Zavier doesn’t want her to hurt herself. All of this Makes her that much stronger, Makes her work a little bit harder, It makes her that much wiser, So thanks for making her a fighter. Except her lessons ended for the same reason, that they didn’t want her to hurt herself. Odessa pushed this though. Then the Guardian hands her his sword. And of course she immediately drops it. The guardian orders her to pick it up, so she lifts it to her waist and then he tells her to hold it at his throat and points just the tip there. His hazel eyes stared down the blade at her. It was a weird test, he taunts her with is it getting heavy? Zavier tells her she can stop but there is no way she is going to stop. She was holding it, counting down until she was going to release it when the Guardian moves quick like a cat and does some wizard moves and uno reverses the sword point. Odessa is granted a sword.
Odessa was going to go down to her cabin then changed her mind because why? So she turns around and gets her first real spy moment. She gets to eavesdrop on Zavier saying “it’s spreading” and the Guardian mutters I know but they say nothing more. Then Zavier tells the Guardian arming her is a bad idea and she will try and kill him and asks if he thinks this was a smart idea? The Guardian laughs it off and so Odessa does go to hide in her small room with the pukers.
Chapter 13 - Summary & Theories
Odessa woke up to birds making noise which means, laaaaand. She told Brielle to get up and get dressed. Surprise surprise new clothes by the door. She started thinking about how Zavier and the guardian suspect she will try and kill him. She is interrupted by Brielle being like “you aren’t wearing those ugly pants again are you. And she was like actually I am. I like them and if i was wearing a dress i would have been able to swim as fast.” Honestly its how i feel about my sweatpants, I am able to read faster when i wear them.
Odessa made it up top. She asked a man if they were close to land but he just stared at her eyes and then finally nodded towards the bow. Of course the Guardian popped out of nowhere and was like “you’ll see land soon enough sparrow. We’ll reach turrrah midday. I see you got my delivery.” Odessa told him to stop breaking into her room and the guardian with his little smart mouth said, “what’s that word you like so much? No.” He pushed off the wall and closed the distance between the two of them. Naturally the first things she says is “you need to shave.” The guardian said “do i my queen?” And then hands her a knife. She is getting hot and bothered staring at his neck. The guardian tells her now is the time, go for the throat. She is like nah do it yourself. He tells her he will be training her how to use the dagger which she wants no part of.
So they start dagger school. We learn that Odessa really is a clutz. He ends up tripping her and getting back his knife. She tells him he better not laugh at her or she swears to Isaac she will stab him in the eye. That guardian tells her its unwise to threaten him. She tells him “I ain’t scared.” Which is weird, why wasn’t she scared? They continue you dagger school. It doesnt go supes well so he tells her that’s enough for the day and to go break in her boots. She says “fine guardian. Is that really what everyone calls you? You must have a name.” He tells her obvi maybe I’ll tell ya if you earn it. She is like “ earn it? Like your trust.” He tells her that she may learn his name but he will never trust her. Ouch.
After spiraling a bit about how nobody trusts her or has faith in her. She is interrupted by Zavier and his throat clearing. He tells her they will arrive in Turah soon. He asks about how training went and then he says she seems like she has a case of the sads. She tells him she is homesick and then he is called away. Odessa went down below to tell Jocelyn and Brielle that it was time to pack. They were jacked about this announcement. She wondered to herself if people back home missed her, with that answer looming in her head, she turned her back on her past and looked towards the future.
As they waited for their rowboat, she watched the Guardian stare at the land like Turah was an enemy, or a battlefield. It made her feel sick . She asked him “any chance that this is where we’ll part ways? “Not yet” The guardian smiled “welcome to Turah my queen.”
Chapter 14 - Summary & Theories
The girls are very thankful to be off the big boat and on to the little boat because that means land soon. Zavier is no longer speaking since Brielle and that bitch Jocelyn were around. They make it to the beach and it was not anything to write home about. 1 out of 5 stars on google kind of beach if you were expecting sun tanning, sand and blue waves.
Odessa spots the Guardian on the beach because for some reason she can’t not find him in a room of crowded people without a moment's hesitation. They are magnets. But so are Odessa and Voster Brothers because there was the Vos Boss himself. She sees that they are kind of tight and homie like. Or as she describes it “almost affectionate, like brothers.” The Guardian nodded at whatever the priest said, then took a step back and pressed both hands over his heart, giving a slight bow. She then spirals asking a ton of questions that are all good ones but a lot still too many to list. See page 159 on kindle if you need to know, I got you. She is blaming the Vos Boss on all problems and knows shit is not done with him.
When Odessa saw him, she knew at that moment he was a daddy because she was getting hot and bothered. But she has some self control because she blocked her thoughts and went into super stealth spy mode and eavesdropped on some soldiers talking about a militia but they noticed her because she is literally a terrible spy, and so they stopped chatting. She did stick out like a sore thumb. A bronzed hottie female with a sword showed up named Tillia. The sword is Odessa sized, she points out to Zavier. She tries to tease him saying she told Brielle but he calls her bluff immediately. No jokes. No fun. But she also realized again she is not a spy. She gets separated from Brielle and that bitch Jocelyn and gets on a horse. Odessa looks for anything to report back to her father because she is going to be some sort of hero to her kingdom and find the road to Allesaria.
Hair Dye Musings -The moment whereshe mentions the dye being bitter. This is the fifth time it has been mentioned to have a ‘bitter tang,’ has a ‘pungent odor,’ Banners gaze as ‘his hatred of the Guardian was as potent as the scented of my hair dye,’ the Guardians nostrils flared ‘like he could smell the dye,’ and now here as ‘A stray tendril of hair caught the breeze and flew into my mouth, the taste of my dye bitter on my lips before I yanked it away.’ What is in this dye? Is there some special ingredient we need to know about? The Guardian says it’s as pungent as dead fish at one point.
Make sure you tune into the rest of our Shield of Sparrows episodes and we cant wait to cover Rites of the Starling.