Shield of Sparrows

by Devney Perry

Shield of Sparrows is a slow-burn, high-stakes romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros―where enemies become lovers, monsters stalk a cursed realm, and a forgotten princess finds the strength to tear off her crown and become the warrior she was never meant to be.

The gods sent monsters to the five kingdoms to remind mortals they must kneel.

I’ve spent my life kneeling―to their will and to my father's. As a princess, my only duty is to wear the crown and obey the king.

I was never meant to rule. Never meant to fight. And I was never supposed to be the daughter who sealed an ancient treaty with her own blood.

But that changed the fateful day I stepped into my father’s throne room. The day a legendary monster hunter sailed to our shores. The day a prince ruined my life.

Now I’m crossing treacherous lands beside a warrior who despises me as much as I despise him―bound to a future I didn’t choose and a husband I barely know.

Everyone wants me to be something I’m not―a queen, a spy, a sacrifice.

But what if I refused the role chosen for me? What if I made my own rules? What if there’s power in being underestimated?

And what if―for the first time―I reached for it?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Paranormal, Slow Burn

528 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 6, 2025

About the author

Devney 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

Reviews

[Lilyya ♡]

DEVNEY PERRY ENTERING HER ROMANTSY ERA 🧎🏽‍♀️

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!! honestly a fkn GOOD romantasy debut by Ms. Devney Perry 💅🏼 the world building was incredibly well done and unlike anything I’ve read in this genre recently!!

the plot twists and mystery elements that she is so skilled at weaving throughout her books really shone here and kept me flipping pages at an alarming rate - I was held hostage against my will simply needing to know what would happen next. ugh.

the tension and slow burn almost genuinely killed me, I would lay my mf life down for both of these characters. the ending eviscerated me and maybe was some of the craziest shit I have ever read LOL. I need book 2 immediately, and naturally I will probably have to wait 7294 years for it. kill me I hate (love) arc reading!!!

[Books_and_Crafts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need the next book like yesterday bro. This was really, really good.

[Anna-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/5 ⭐️

Wow. Just…. Wow. The way that this works sucked me in!!! I am absolutely hooked. Of course there are so many unanswered questions and a cliffhanger. I’m going to be on the edge of my seat waiting for book 2. This is by far the best fantasy romance I have read in 2025.

Okay I’m going to list all the amazing things I loved about this book because my thought are running rampant right now and lists seem better organized

1. The incredible world building with the most amazing detailed writing. I was IN this world.

2. The CHARACTERS! All of the them. The found family and the connections that were built throughout this book were just… perfect.

3. The TENSION and amazing enemies to lovers. I couldn’t stop reading.

4. Character development. I loved watching Odessa find her freedom (pause while I cry) and learning her strengths

5. Ummm those creatures?! I talked about the detailed writing but WOW I was able to picture those creature vividly in my mind and I loved every second.

6. The PLOT! I went in blind and I honestly think that’s the best way. There was a slowburn romance, and a lot of questions that weren’t answered right away but I loved the pacing of this book. It is a bigger book but honestly, I wanted more.

7. ALL OF IT (:

I HIGHLY recommend this fantasy romance with amazing world building and beautiful writing.

[Jenna ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devney Perry has truly outdone herself with this debut romantasy. Five stars somehow doesn't feel like a high enough rating to encapsulate how I feel about this book! I pride myself on being a romantasy reader & loving everything about this genre- however, this book stands apart for a multitude of reasons.

Right off the bat Shield of Sparrows intrigued me. I couldn't stop reading the minute after I picked this up. The world building, the magic, the monsters, and the characters are so unique that I'm struggling to find the words to describe them. This is a stand out novel & truly one of a kind. The landscape and depictions of the world as our characters travelled was breathtaking- I felt like I was right there along with them. The characters themselves are insanely well rounded and so insanely good that you want to root for them. The sexual tension kept me on my TOES! It was so good! It's been a LONG time since I've felt that way about a book.

If you are a fantasy fan, pick this up. You will absolutely fall in love with the world and the creatures that dwell there. If you are a romance lover, pick this up. The slow burn will have you up late at night curling your toes. If you are a romantasy reader, you should already have this downloaded or ordered.

It is with the upmost love and respect that I say this, but, for the first time ever I have despised being an arc reader. This book makes me want to quote share, divulge all the details, and pick up the next one immediately! It is an honor to receive arcs, but man, this one is just so brilliant I just want to scream about it from the rooftops! I know we're going to have to wait a while for book 2 but I'm already planning to reread this one because I want to live in Calandra just a little bit longer. <3

Thank you Red Tower and Entangled Publishing for the Advanced Copy. So ready for May 6!




*immediately after finishing: good god that’s a good book. full review coming but i need to collect my thoughts! my god the ending had me so shook I had to go get a diet coke to calm down. genuinely SO good wtf*

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your next romantasy obsession!

This book was the perfect blend of romance and fantasy, with one aspect never overpowering the other. I absolutely loved this first book in the series and I know the story will only become more exciting as we get deeper into the world in the following books.

I did think we spent a lot of time in the first 250 pages stuck in a bit of a loop, traveling here and there and here again, but it really got going after that. It was still intriguing me at the start, but pages 150-250 were a bit repetitive and I could’ve moved on sooner. But there is obviously a lot of world building and that’s always necessary, so just power through and I promise it’s worth it.

This was a great read and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

[britt ⋆୨୧˚ (slump ☹️)]

Y'all may not know this but Devney Perry is one of my favorite authors. I need this IMMEDIATELY.

[Readaholic Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What you can expect to find in Shield of Sparrows:
-dark magic
-arranged marriage
-slow burn
-independent fmc
-so much banter
-🌶🌶🌶

I went into this book not knowing too much about it and honestly I think that's how it should be read. Shield of Sparrows took me on a wild ride and once I started the book I could not stop reading. The world building in Shield of Sparrows was complex and yet it was easy enough to follow along.

My favorite part of this book was obviously the romance...swoon. The banter, the angst, the tension - gah I loved it all! I have so many parts of this highlighted because I loved the slow burn and slow fall between the two main love interests.

And that ending?!?!?! I need the next book now!!


**just finished...and I have more questions than answers. I'm gonna need the next book now. Full review coming. 4.5 stars - I couldn't stop reading once I started.**

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[Kelsey Mansingh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I was on the fence of 4.5-5, but I’m giving it 5 stars! OMG. What a romantasy debut from Devney!!! The world building was insane. The middle of the book felt a little slow at times, but not deducting stars because I know that’s necessary when world building in the first book of a fantasy series. It picked up FAST. Obsessed with the main characters, the slooooow burn was REAL but worth the wait, we want more spice next time though!!! So many twists- I did see one coming and guessed it early on, but it still kept me guessing because I couldn’t understand HOW it was possible, but once they revealed it, it all made sense. BUT I did not see the biggest twist coming! And the ending absolutely wrecked me to my core. It was chaotic and badass and gut wrenching (literally). I have so many questions though, like when is the second book coming out? 😂😂 thank you for the ARC Red Tower!!!

[MikaylasBookNook · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars this was epic. Full review to come after release day to avoid spoilers but all I have to say is WOW. What a wild ride with beautiful world building that keeps you turning the page and monsters and mysteries you are dying to know more about. An epic fantasy debut for Devney.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

So... this was Fourth Wing. Let me explain.

If you compare this and Fourth Wing, the skeleton is exactly the same. And I'll prove this to you by showing you what I think is the brief that Red Tower sent to prospective romance authors. (For legal reasons, I'm just making this up, don't sue me, Red Tower.)

There will be some spoilers below.

Hello, romance author

Here at Red Tower, we know what sells, so we've put together a brief of what we'd like you to write about. Here is what we want to see:

The female main character must be perceived as weak initially--as in many people in the beginning of the book must say it at least 3 times, but as we get farther into the book we see that she's not actually weak. She must also have different hair than everyone else and be the daughter of a leader of the kingdom she lives in.

She must have two siblings: a brother that isn't seen on page and a sister that is much stronger and more beloved than her. It’d be great if she had a dead parent and mommy issues, too. Bonus points if she speaks only in fluent sarcasm. Her best friend must be a librarian of sorts.

The male main character must be tall, broad, tan, brunette, and have a distinct eye color that is mentioned no less than 100 times. He must be a prince and have a cousin that looks very similar to him. He must be infected with some kind of disease that gives him power, but is hard for him to control.

He must also be an extremely good fighter and eventually train the female main character, using daggers and swords. He must have a good female friend that is also a warrior, but is not interested in him at all; no, she will like his best friend. We also want her to help train the female main character.

The female main character must be brought up to believe that the male main character is evil because he is associated with the death of someone close to her. The female's initial love interest must end up being a bad guy.

The kingdom they reside in must be initially perceived as good, but is actually hiding secrets from everyone. The secret must be sought after by the female main character--specifically through her search of texts and books that speak on this secret disease.

The kind, quiet guy somewhat close to the female main character must die in the end trying to protect her.

We encourage you to write sentences that use periods in between words (e.g. "not. at. all" or "what. the. fuck") Yes, you may also use "fuck" however many times you please. In fact, we encourage colloquial, modern language. If you want to change things up a bit, use "gods" instead of "god" for words like "godsdamn."

Please, include a battle scene at the end with flying mythical creatures. Also, do try and include some kind of small and sweet mythical companion for our female main character. There must also be a smut scene. You can include more than one, but there must be at least one and the male main character must remark on the female main character's hair.

We also would appreciate you limiting the number of queer characters you have in your books. At the end of the day, you're a romance author whose current audience is straight white women between the ages of 25-40, so we have to stay as normative as possible.

Aside from that, we at Red Tower, want you to have fun and be creative! Feel free to change the male main character's hair length or make him slightly more or less ethnically ambiguous.

All the best,


Red Tower Books

…


See what I mean? The only positive i'll say is that I enjoyed the world-building more in this than in Fourth Wing, which is why it got a 2 star instead of a 1 star.

Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Maren’s Reads]

I am so excited for this one! I am such a fantasy newbie but this one sounds right up my alley. A huge thank you to Red Tower and Entangled Publishing for sending this galley my way.

[Aries Reads Too Much · Rating 2 out of 5]

Do you like questions? Do you really really like questions? Do you like entire paragraphs written in question form? Both spoken aloud by the FMC and her inner thoughts?

No really, do you like repetitive questions? Page after page of the same whining? The same questions? Do you want to scratch your eyes out bc you’re reading a 500 page story told in the form of ongoing questions?

How about… incomplete sentences? Half-thoughts? Do you like them? Nonsense? Incompleteness? Yes? Yes but in italics??

If you answered OMG YES to any of the above, then boy oh boy is this the book for you!


*Thank you Red Tower/Entangled Publishing for the advanced copy.

[Marissa E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there anything that Devney can’t write and absolutely knock it out of the park? The answer is no!

I am absolutely blown away that this is her romantasy debut! This intricate details that tied this whole story together speaks volumes for the amazing writer that she is! The banter and tension filled slow burn, chefs freaking kiss! I was able to guess one of the main twist, however how it eventually unfolded I definitely didn’t know everything and I loved that I was left second guessing myself with every turn of the page.

There is so many plot twists and interwoven details to this story that honestly not much can be said without spoiling something. This is an arranged marriage with a twist, a morally grey MMC that would burn the world down for the ones he loves. Deeply rooted deception, secrets, blood magic, an FMC who comes into her own, found family, this story is full of monsters and mythical creatures.This is the perfect book for those just starting to dive into romantasy but also those who love the genre and want a book that will keep them guessing and turning pages all the way until the end. The magic was like anything I’ve ever read before, this is truly in a category all on its own, it’s heavily based on alchemy and how one little thing can alter the entire world. Figuring out who to trust may be the hardest part of this Sparrow’s journey.

This was absolutely phenomenal, thank you so much to Devney Perry and Red Tower for allowing me to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5. Full review to come. I will say, I did enjoy this more than fourth wing - thank the lord for actual world building.

Full Review:

3.5 rounded down to 3 stars. It’s got the right setup: arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, a broody mysterious hero, and a dark, magical world crawling with spiky nightmare creatures. The tension between Odessa and the Guardian? Definitely a highlight. And the worldbuilding was super intriguing.

But I struggled to stay hooked. Odessa is stuck in her head asking endless questions (like... so many questions) and the pacing dragged for a good chunk of the book. Then the ending came in hot with twist after twist that felt more chaotic than impactful.

Lovers of the Empyrean series will probably be all over this (sadly, that’s not me), but there’s potential here. I’m mildly curious to see where it goes in book two—but I’m hoping for more plot, less overthinking.

[Noi (in & out)]

A Devney Perry book... but make it fantasy?

[Diellza Kaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowowowowow I haven’t enjoyed a romantasy like this in ages. Shield of Sparrows had such a natural flowing plot and didn’t feel like a bunch of tropes thrown together in hopes of forming a plot like some other books tend to make me feel- it was very immersive and made for a great reading experience. I was constantly trying to figure out what might happen next and kept getting the rug pulled out from under me. The characters to me felt like they had proper development and the dynamics between them felt so real- I became so attached! And the romance … 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ every moment felt like Hozier’s yell.

Devney Perry you did your big one with this, and with how much I enjoyed The Edens series, I never had a doubt 🫶🏻

Thank you entangled for the arc !! Now I’m reeling and am counting the days until the sequel.

[Zana]

"The Witcher meets Cinderella" has to be in the top 5 off-the-wall comps I've ever seen. Red Tower is outta control lmao

[Lynzee Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. AM. UNWELL.

And I don’t say this lightly when I say

INFINITY FREAKING STARS.

I have no idea how I’m going to review this. All to say I just stared at a wall frozen for a good ten minutes when I finished this. It definitely finished me.

[Kaitlyn]

So I already wanted to read this but I saw it being compared to The Witcher….and I am so sat

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you see this... add this to your TBR immediately! This is a romantasy you do NOT want to miss out on! Absolutely amazing!!! I can’t put my thoughts into words right now, but WOW! Review to come!!!

A BIG Thank You to Red Tower/ Entangled for the advanced readers copy of this phenomenal book!

[Lindsey (Bagel) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*claps* *hoots* *hollers* *cries*

THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE ROMANTASY!!!

Shield of Sparrows is my first Devney book (I KNOW I KNOW….put down the pitch forks) but you would have thought she’s been writing this genre the WHOLE time!!! Now…let me review this is the most organized way possible because I want you to know HOW MUCH I loved this!! (without spoilers because I’m nice.)

The world:
-Incredibly easy to follow along with the magic, creatures, characters, and overall world-building! I think this is what made it SO binge-able! I could NOT put it down because it flowed seamlessly!!

The monsters:
-Oh boy these babies were SCARY!! Devney described them in such a spooky way that I felt like I was running from them myself!! (she even posted artwork on her insta and based off her descriptions….you WILL be able to see the monsters in your head without ever having to look!!)

The characters:
-I loved them. Odessa is THAT GIRL!! I’m so excited to learn more about her because I feel like we JUSTTTTT started to really learn about her! I don’t want to spoil anything but just know…everyone has secrets. Anyone can surprise you. Oh yeah, and don’t get too attached (;

The writing:
-GIRL I teleported. You would’ve thought I was a warrior with 4 kids to come home to after slaying a monster. That’s how completely captivated I was!!! She writes with such clarity while also making you second guess everything! And the twists??? Yeah give me 10 more thanks!!!

The romance:
-EEEEEEE A SLOW BURN *smirks* My faveeeee kind of romance!! Devney had me shipping Odessa with everyone and I LOVED IT!! DELICIOUS!!! Now, there is spice but only a couple pages!!! Definitely hinting at more to come in the (hopefully) next installment!!

Overall:
-This was the perfect combination of all things romantasy. Romance (duh), twists, tension, magic, kingdoms, betrayal, secrets, hot love interests, and a world where you want to know everything!! I AM SO EXCITED FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO READ THIS BECAUSE I AM READY TO GUSHHHHH!!!!

[MusingsofRu · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. What an exceptional book. I'm still reeling from that ending. The tension, adventure, self growth and banter had me at the edge of my seat. There were a few plot twists I didn't see coming, a beautifully described dangerous new world. I loved it.

I stayed up late, read under the covers just to get to the next chapter. The chapters were the perfect length to reward yourself with just one more.

I might rewrite this a bit more eloquently in a bit but know if you love adventure and romantasy this book should be on your TBR. I am so grateful to Red Tower and Entangled Publishing for my ARC edition. This review is entirely my honest opinion of the book.

[Heather Toutain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was truly blessed enough to receive this extraordinary book from Entangled Publishing! From beginning to end, this book brings you on an adventure that will captivate you! Each chapter takes you deeper into a world of magic, myth and lies. You as the reader will need to figure out what is fact or fiction along with the main character Odessa. It will make you challenge all concepts of what you think being a princess actually is!
Excellent writing could not put it down highly recommend you add this to the top of your TBR when it becomes available!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Karina (shedreamsinwords)]

Devney Perry 🤝🏼 Red Tower Books = a romantasy banger?? 👀

I am utterly intrigued 🤭

[Harveen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red Tower books tend to be a hit or miss from me depending on how well the story is executed - can firmly say this is a hit! Fleshed out characters, world, story, and though it's 100% a fantasy story there are definitely some elements of horror in there. And I was surprised at certain characters who weren't protected by plot armour - I won't say anymore and let you all find out for yourselves when the book is out later this year.

[Hannah Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ✨

𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐞��𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 by Devney Perry

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🗓️: May 6th

📄 528

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥:
Romantasy
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Magic & Myths
Arranged Marriage
Spice
Deadly Monsters
Plot Twists

Odessa Cross has been overlooked and underestimated most of her life, now her bravery, smart wit, and heart shine brightly as she is thrust into a world filled with magic, myths, and monsters.

𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
There’s Romantasy.. then Devney Perry’s enters the chat and writes Romantasy.

ɴᴏᴛᴇ: This will be a spoiler free review. I highly recommend going into this book blind.

Wow! 528 pages of pure perfection. I devoured this book! Devney Perry’s writing is truly captivating. You are emersed into a world of magic, monsters, and secrets making this one impossible to put down. The world building is impeccable. The first half of the book brings the world of Calandra to life and Devney’s beautiful and descriptive writing makes it easy to envision. The second half is filled with endless twists and turns. Hold on, the plot twists and battles will have you on the edge of your seat, gasping, and are jaw-dropping. I LOVED Shield of Sparrows and the ending.. not really a cliffhanger but leaves you excited to see what comes next.


𝓞𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓪
I fell in love with Odessa immediately. She is determined, smart, and strong. I loved her heart and the way she thought for herself. She was not afraid of a challenge and her determination and bravery were inspiring.

𝙀𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨
I will not spoil anything but the enemies to lovers trope in this book is MAGIC! The tension and mutual pining was out of the world and the plot twists intertwined were both mind blowing and delicious! The spice in this one is chef’s kiss.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
They are plentiful and they are deadly. The monsters in Shield of Sparrows are unique and make for so many heart stopping moments. Again, the descriptive writing brought these wild creatures to life and made this such an exciting read.

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔
The twists and turns truly set this book apart. Just when you think you know where the story was going Devney surprises you again. This was a page turner filled with so many secrets, lies, and truths. The storyline is engaging and makes this a fun and thrilling ride, I truly did not want this book to end. I cannot wait for book 2!

💕 Thank you Devney Perry, RedTower, and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of Shield of Sparrows

[Mackenzie Seelbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I begin I would like to thank the team at Red Tower Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DO I DARE SAY MY FAVORITE ROMANTASY READ OF THE YEAR?? Because MY GOD. I am blown away.

Enemies to lovers ✅
Slow burn romance ✅
Leaves you wanting more ✅
I had never heard of this author before, I believe this was their introduction to fantasy? AMAZING. Chef’s kiss

Shield of Sparrows catches you with its claws and takes you on a wild ride. You will not be disappointed in this read.

All of the characters are amazing. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t mention names. But almost everyone has something that’ll make you fall in love with them.

In the beginning I was trying to guess who was who, because I felt like something was off?? But you will understand when you read it. I still have some conflicting thoughts about certain people. Are they good or bad?

There was a line that I just fell in love with, I’ll have to go back and find it (so I’ll update when I do) but it made my heart MELT.

The world building was amazing. I didn’t feel confused like I do some other fantasy books. It was easy to understand and imagine. As I’m writing this I just realized there was a map in the book, so that would also help lmao.

I will say sometimes I hated that questions weren’t answered, but it makes sense towards the end.

Speaking of the ending, WHAT IN THE FUCK 😭. I need book two ASAP.

Anyways, I really enjoyed this book. I’m very honored that I was one of the ones chosen to receive an ARC. This will be one of the books that I buy several of because I love it so much.

[Courtney | Bookish Beach Babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars isn’t enough for this book. It deserves a whole galaxy!!! Shield of Sparrows swept me into a world that felt both fresh and familiar, with world building that struck the perfect balance of being immersive without being overwhelming. The storytelling was deliberately slow in the best way, peeling back layers of mystery and emotion at just the right pace to keep me hooked and always hungry for more.

Odessa’s journey absolutely stole my heart. Her growth throughout the book was stunning. She was thrust into something she never asked for, essentially alone, and yet she met every challenge with quiet strength and grace. Watching her come into her own, step by step, was one of the most satisfying parts of the book.

The romance? Chef’s kiss. If you’re a fan of slow burns that simmer with tension and longing, this one will wreck you in the best way. It’s emotional, meaningful, and so worth the wait. I’m still thinking about certain scenes and the way they hit me right in the chest. And beyond the central romance, I adored Odessa’s relationship with Evie. There was something so effortless and warm about their bond, filled with soft, tender moments that grounded the story beautifully.

There’s so much I want to scream about, but I don’t want spoil a thing because this is one of those books you need to experience for yourself. The way the Devney Perry delivered on emotion, tension, atmosphere, and mystery was masterful. When I finished the last page, I could already feel the ache of needing more. So many questions, so many theories…I need the next book immediately!

Content: open door (Ch. 52 pg. 428-231, Ch. 55 pg. 447-448)

Thank you to Red Tower Books for the gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.