“We walk through this world but do not look to become a part of it.”

Annulis is a dying world, its people on the brink of extinction. A young squire named Elliott dreams of knighthood, as he journeys with the Salamadrine, a sect of warriors who worship the mythical god Pyre, accepting those who convert and massacring all who refuse. Elliott wholly believes in his people’s righteousness and that they will be saved to inherit what’s left of the world. Sarah, meanwhile, is a Sojourner, traveling with her people in the hopes of arriving at the fabled Veiled City, which will provide them sanctuary in the coming apocalypse. While both groups know the end is nigh, their wildly different beliefs will propel them forward, forcing Elliott and Sarah to confront their own faith and the part they each must play in the other’s destinies, and that of Annulis itself.

As the Sparrow Flies is both the title and oft-recited monicker of Sarah’s people, a reminder of their journey and what awaits those who believe. If the Veiled City is a heaven of sorts, then Elliott’s people are on the opposite end of the spectrum, awaiting an apocalyptic resurrection, not unlike the Rapture. Author Chad Corrie presents both perspectives, warts and all, in equal measure, never really attempting to define one as superior to the other. As the POV shifts from Sarah to Elliott, both personify they respective beliefs with varying degrees of moral ambiguity. Despite being on opposing sides, neither character is truly a hero or villain, both existing in shades of gray. That is until, to paraphrase the Mad Titan Thanos, “destiny arrives.”

While Sarah and Elliott act as alternating focal points, Corrie manages to give some clarity to the various factions they encounter on their intersecting journeys. From a group of amoral and ill-fated Marauders that take the Sojourners captive to the mysterious Dwellers, and even the godless, likewise ill-fated Laromi, everyone is given a voice, at least briefly. All of this aids in fleshing out the world of As the Sparrow Flies, and providing motivation, especially to those who may be blinded by their faith.

The world-building here is truly top-notch, though it occasionally comes at the expense of a slow pace, particularly near the beginning. Corrie’s attention to detail shines during the book’s more suspenseful or action-packed scenes, without relying on shock value or gratuitous violence. An early scene involving a swarm of locusts is particularly intense but it conveys the brutality through the tone of the scene and the characters’ reactions rather than overly-detailed blood and gore. However, as this book is geared toward young adults, some descriptions involving the dead may still be pretty disturbing for younger readers.