Reviews for ‘More Than Sparrows‘.
Ottessa Moshfegh
Reviewed in the United States on February 18th 2026
Hi Claire Spencer-Christensen,
I hope you are well and finding steadiness now that More Than Sparrows has begun to reach its readers.
What stayed with me most after reading the book was its attention to conscience as a disruptive force rather than a comforting one. Kate’s compassion does not bring her affirmation or clarity. It places her in conflict with every institution she trusts—her workplace, her church, and even her own sense of calling. The novel does not frame her convictions as heroic certainty. They are isolating, exhausting, and costly. That honesty gives the story its weight.
I was especially struck by how authority is portrayed as something that resists moral disturbance. At work, policy is treated as protection rather than limitation, and Kate’s willingness to exceed it is pathologized rather than examined. The presence of Dr. Leeuwin sharpens this tension. His scrutiny is not simply professional. It is ideological. Faith is positioned as naïveté, compassion as boundary failure. The dynamic exposes how easily concern for order can slide into contempt for belief.
The church conflict mirrors this in a way I found particularly effective. Kate is not questioning doctrine. She is questioning allocation. Her criticism is practical, grounded in proximity to need, yet it is received as threat. What unsettles is how quickly fellowship gives way to defensiveness. The novel understands how institutions built on shared belief can still recoil when that belief demands redistribution rather than expansion.
What worked especially well for me was the refusal to provide easy spiritual resolution. Kate’s time away is not a retreat into certainty. It is a pause filled with doubt, fatigue, and recalibration. Volunteering does not restore her sense of righteousness. It complicates it. Faith here is not reassurance. It is persistence without applause.
The late reentry of Dr. Leeuwin into her life functions powerfully because it is not framed as romantic correction or ideological reversal. His arrival brings vulnerability rather than dominance. The balance of power shifts, but without erasing the earlier harm. Connection emerges not as reward for steadfastness, but as consequence of endurance.
For context, my name is Ottessa Moshfegh. I write as well, and I am often drawn to stories where belief collides with bureaucracy, where moral clarity creates friction rather than praise, and where compassion costs more than it gives back. More Than Sparrows understands that faith lived honestly is rarely quiet or convenient.
There is no expectation of a response. I simply wanted to acknowledge the restraint it takes to write a novel that allows belief to be interrogated from within, that treats doubt as faithful rather than corrosive, and that trusts readers to sit with unresolved questions rather than be guided toward comfort.
Penelope Hutton
5.0 out of 5 stars. A novel set in Australia
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2022
I received a free Kindle copy of More than Sparrows by Claire Spencer-Christensen and thoroughly enjoyed this first book of a trilogy set in Perth Western Australia. The author draws from her own background as a Social Worker illustrating the dilemma for a Christian in a secular world having to choose between obeying office rules and following her conscience as a disciple of Christ. The story unfolds at a spanking pace, and the author skilfully draws you into the lives of the characters. I was particularly interested in the way the author weaves the gospel story into the conversations of the people and in many ways this is a great handbook for evangelism. I am looking forward to the next two books and will be buying some to give away.
Ann Ferri
5.0 out of 5 stars. Beautifully written story
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is a beautifully written book that will keep you turning the pages. The author brings the characters to life and deals with everyday challenges with hope and inspiration. I look forward to the next book in this series. I received a free copy from Booksprout, but I liked it so much that I bought my own copy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars. Great first book, with others in the series to follow
Reviewed in Australia on March 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
Wonderful Christian themed book with strong gospel message clearly written into the story line.
Looking forward to reading the next book
Cathy Morgan
TOP 500 REVIEWER
4.0 out of 5 stars thought-provoking, but could do with a good editor
Reviewed in Australia on 21 March 2022
Kate works as a government social worker but feels called to do more than she’s allowed to. Meanwhile, her church is spending lots of money to build a hall she feels is unnecessary but ignoring the needs she sees around her. At first, pushing for change seems to achieve nothing, but when she talks to the right people, it starts something special. What can one woman achieve with the help of God and those around her when she steps out in faith?
I wanted to love this, and quite enjoyed at least the first half. Then it felt like it started to drift, with not a lot going on, just ‘more of the same’ to a fair extent. It was still interesting to watch the various characters develop, but it didn’t really keep the initial momentum going. Some of the characters also felt a bit ‘cardboard-y’, which was a pity – and as far as Paul is concerned, I seemed to flip-flop between despising him and feeling sorry for him. There was also one scene that, while possibly realistic, made me deeply uncomfortable, where a girl attempts to seduce a boy. The writing itself is quite reasonable, with relatively few typos, but overall I felt that the book could really use a good editor, to tighten things up and improve the flow. As it is, it’s thought-provoking in places, but doesn’t leave me particularly eager for more. 3.5 stars.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
Nan McGillivray
The authenticity of the characters, their humanity and their response to the pains of life show the author’s understanding and compassion for the human condition. The heroine’s spiritual strength and contrasting emotional vulnerability are well portrayed and the possibility of romantic attachment adds reality and keeps the reader interested throughout… I believe ‘More than Sparrows’ is a book which will not only entertain, but inform and inspire.
Jill Walker
Loved the tension in the dialogue that explored Christian and worldly paradigms and the way prayer invited God to bring about solutions…
We all need to have these heart felt, cutting edge kind of conversations to uplift the Sparrows in our lives.
Mary Retel
What a breath of fresh air it was to read this beautifully written book. Claire has a wonderful gift of bringing the characters to life, compassionately depicting real life challenges and heartaches whilst keeping hope to the fore. I was thoroughly immersed and… found it difficult to put down. I can thoroughly recommend “More than Sparrows” and only hope that the next instalment is published soon.