Shield of Sparrows

Zavier “Ransom” Wolfe spends most of the novel known only as “the Guardian” until revealing his preferred name of Ransom. He is Odessa’s love interest and the true prince of Turah. As the Guardian he is feared for his “vicious” and “deadly” nature. Uncertainty about who he truly is and where his powers come from heightens his mystique: He is rumored to be “more ghost than mortal being. Some said he was Izzac incarnate. That the God of Death had grown tired of his throne and disguised himself as a man to torment humankind for amusement” (28). His identity is concealed even from Odessa for more than half the book, as his cousin Dray (posing as Prince Zavier Wolfe) performs all public-facing royal duties. Even his physical presence suggests concealment—he wears a cuff to hide his Lyssa bite mark—which heightens the tensions surrounding Odessa’s prioritization of trust and honesty.

The novel ultimately reveals that it is Ransom’s infection with Lyssa that makes him physically stronger, more dangerous, and increasingly bloodthirsty. Unlike the monsters he slays, however, Ransom retains control—though with increasing difficulty as the infection strengthens. The moral burden of this infection defines much of his character arc and adds to the theme of The Human Roots of Monstrosity. He is terrified of losing control, of becoming what he hunts, and of being used as a weapon in his father’s wars. Though his discovery that he inadvertently unleashed the Lyssa infection affirms his fear that he is a monster, Ransom proves this belief wrong with his admirable traits, which include protectiveness and loyalty. He is fiercely devoted to those in his care: Evie, Luella, Dray, the Turan people, and eventually Odessa. As Odessa states, “He was fiercely loyal to his people. He loved his kingdom. He was strong and unbreakable, but gentleness could emerge from that hard exterior. In the way he hugged Cathlin. How he acted with Evangeline. Even the affection he showed his horse” (346). However, trust and love come slowly, and he is very aware of his limited time left in his world. He views everything as temporary, as evidenced by his decision to keep up the charade of Dray as the crown prince. By the end of the novel, Ransom reveals his identity and professes his love for Odessa, but he does so knowing that he may not survive long enough to fully embrace either his status as prince or his relationship with his wife.

Zavier Wolfe, later revealed to be named Dray, is introduced as the prince of Turah and Odessa’s arranged husband under the terms of the Shield of Sparrows treaty. However, his role is ultimately a misdirection. Dray is not the true heir but instead Prince Ransom’s cousin and political body double—an assigned role he has fulfilled for over a decade.

As Odessa’s supposed husband, Dray is positioned early on as a possible love interest, yet the relationship never gains momentum. His silence, while initially interpretable as disinterest or disdain, becomes more understandable once his true identity emerges. His distance, emotional detachment, and vague demeanor are not the set-up for an enemies-to-lovers arc but rather subtle foreshadowing of his identity. The romantic potential fades quickly as Odessa’s attention and emotional investment shift to the Guardian. By the time she learns Dray’s real name and role, their connection has settled into mutual respect, not intimacy. It becomes apparent that Zavier’s aloofness stemmed from trying to fulfill his role as the false prince while respecting the fact that Odessa’s true husband is Ransom himself. (Ransom used his blood in the wedding ceremony and spoke the vows aloud instead of Zavier.)

Dray’s characterization centers on his performance and loyalty rather than complex emotional development. He is deeply committed to the role he plays and accepts the burden of existing as someone else. When asked how long he has been pretending, Ransom reveals that it has been 11 years. The length of time speaks to Dray’s reliability but also to the erasure of his personal identity; his value to the state is tied to his ability to disappear into another man’s image. In a minor way, given his limited role in the novel, Dray also contributes to the exploration of freedom and autonomy, which he hasn’t truly had in over a decade. There is promise for change in the second installment, though, as Ransom reflects, “He’d sacrificed enough for Turah. For me. If Zavier—Dray—lived, then it was time for his life to be his own. No more pretending” (656). Besides signaling an end to the charade, this sets Zavier up to be a significant secondary character in the rest of the series.

Evangeline, often called Evie, is a young girl with roots in the kingdom of Ozarth, as indicated by the cerulean starburst in her gray eyes. Described as delicate, talkative, and observant, Evie initially appears to be a minor character but becomes central to both Odessa’s emotional development and the story’s larger questions of belonging and autonomy.

Though initially introduced as Zavier’s daughter, Evie is later revealed to be the biological daughter of Luella and therefore the younger sister of Ransom. Raised as Zavier’s child for safety, Evie’s presence is carefully concealed from Turah’s political enemies. This secrecy affords Evie safety but also the freedom to be who she wants to be and to live as she wants to live without her father, King Ramsey, forcing a political agenda on her. Because of Ransom, Luella, and Zavier, Evie has choices that Odessa never enjoyed.

Evie becomes Odessa’s first real emotional attachment in Turah, becoming a lynchpin of her found family and providing Odessa with the sense of belonging that she has been searching for. Their growing bond serves as a turning point for Odessa, pulling her out of isolation and giving her someone to love and trust even before she feels this way about Ransom.

Despite her young age, the novel does not portray Evie as naïve or helpless. She is assertive, insightful, and often highly attuned to the dangers around her. Her seriousness and independence set her apart from stock child characters, and her presence consistently anchors the emotional stakes of the story. For both Odessa and Ransom, Evie becomes not just someone to protect but someone for whom they live and fight. The addition of a near-helpless child in a world of grown predators and terrifying monsters increases the stakes far beyond romance.