I've been sitting on this one for a while but omfg??? WHAT A RIDE. This book was absolutely amazing. I don't think I can actually put it in words. You just have to read this and then immediately grab the sequel because that cliffie will not let you rest in peace till you have!

4 star read

What?! The ending was brutal! I am eagerly anticipating the next novel.

I was able to envision most of the settings without too much description, which is something I enjoy. Too many 'flowery' words turns me off. I felt the cold. The desolation. The trenches of war. The beautiful scenery on the hill.

I did feel like the novel started out a bit too slow. The abrupt cliff hanger ending was rather undesirable as well since I don't care too much for novels that end like this just to get you to read the next one in the series. I have to reread to remember everything that happened in the first novel. And there are so many books to read out there, so it's hard for me to do a reread.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for a free and unbiased review.

From Goodreads:

This one was a DNF for me. I really tried, but over halfway in, and I'm falling asleep during the war with hellhounds bursting out? It was like reading another historical fiction about WWII (which I won't read any more historical fiction books about the war), but let's add some mythological element to it.

I know there are a lot of people that love this series, but I really didn't like the war element to this story. I think the market oversaturated us with war stories. I just don't want to read about wars anymore.

I am super late reviewing this title, but I just finished it this weekend. The characters are a delight! I loved how the story developed and even the cliff-hanger wasn't as bad as I thought. One benefit to being late is the second title is already out. I'm on a waiting list for it and can't wait to dig in!

An absolutely, breathtaking, tragic masterpiece...I’ll be feeling this one for a longggg time. I cannot WAIT to dive into book two!!

By turns spooky, otherworldly, and delightful, this is hard to categorize--a romance, a myth, and war story. Highly recommend.

I requested this novel based off the Author. I didnt read what it would be about. And i was surprised! I LOVED this novel, it was set up amazingly. Rebecca obviously put a lot of thought into the story! The letters tug at my heartstrings. The lore and setting (war) is very unique and interesting too.

This book absolutely swept me away. Ross' writing is beautiful. This book may have landed itself on my all-time favorites list. 5/5 stars

Divine Rivals is a wonderfully unique book. I feel like this premise of two reporters in the midst of a divine war was a concept I have not read before. It was a great mix of realistic and fantastic and I found myself devouring it in large chunks at a time. I really enjoyed Iris and Roman's dynamic. I loved the development of their relationship and the exploration of each of the characters as individuals. I am really looking forward to book 2. This one ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, but in a way that I enjoyed. It didn't just feel like it stopped mid-scene like some books I have read. It felt like it was building up to the next chapter, and I can't wait to get there. I will definitely be looking for more from Rebecca Ross in the future.

There sure is a lot of hype about this book. I listened to the audio of this book.

I get the hype, but there was something missing for me. Don’t get me wrong. This is a great book. It just was not a five stars for me. I really wanted more perspective of the God Deaker (sp). Honestly until the last few chapters this could have been a standalone, with a random side story of the God’s and why the war was happening.

Audiobook had a male and female narrator, which I really loved.

This was such a good romance book. I loved the characters, the setting and their letters! I'm in love with both of them !

A fun enemies to lovers YA start to a duology. It's kind of historical fiction in that it's in the past, but with the addition of magic and gods being the cause of the war. It's an interesting mix of the two genres. I look forward to continuing Iris and Roman's story in the next book.

A fantasy book that adults will enjoy. The story and characters are riveting. This book is hard to put down. Even if you aren't a big fantasy fan, you will find something to love about this book.

It may partly have been because I was doing a reading race with a friend, but I felt like I really devoured this book! It was such a joy to read and really lived up to the hype for me. I didn't expect that ending and I need to read book 2 immediately (I'm glad I waited to read this until after the 2nd book was already out). I will definitely be reading more books by Rebecca Ross in the future!

I don't know why I kept putting off reading this. I do regret that greatly now because once I picked it up, I had a really hard time putting it down to do other things. From the very first page with Forest saying goodbye to Iris and heading off to fight in a war of gods (very intriguing but awful with Dacre trying to get to Enva and both using humans for their own ends) and then Iris trying to hold things together as her mother spirals and Forest goes missing. That heartbreak mixed with the mysterious letters that Iris and Roman send each other, thanks to certain special typewriters. This was an interesting world where there are dead or slumbering gods, magical items and buildings and good people trying to survive the gods. I think Iris is so strong the way that after she loses everything, she makes the choice to go to the front lines as a war correspondent to tell the truth and find her brother. And Roman is perfect in going after her. They are such a cute and witty couple and by the end I was cheering for them and then crying because that ending! I need the next book stat!

So, really really good and a smooth read that begs to be read in one sitting if at all possible. I hope the next one delves deeper into the gods and their powers and I really hope that humans will survive them!

Rebecca Ross can do no wrong. I love her writing style, her heartbreaking plots, and her characters that feel like they're real. I cannot WAIT to read the next book!

“The days to come will only grow darker. And when you find something good? You hold onto it. You don’t waste time worrying about things that won’t even matter in the end. Rather, you take a risk for the light.”

I loved Iris right from the start and found both Iris and Kitt to be interesting and relatable. I tend not to enjoy romantic books set against a backdrop of war but the balance was really well done here.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

One of my lifetime auto-buy authors back again!

This is maybe Ross’ swooniest romances yet?! Iris and Roman are imprinted on my brain forever.

The time this story is set and the incision of warring gods and magic in a somewhat more modern (think early 20th century) setting was interesting and threw me off kilter a few times (in a good way).

There is so much to feast on in this story - rivals to lovers, a lot of tragedy, and so much hope and tender feelings.

A must read fantasy!

Thank you Netgalley for an early review copy. I ADORED this book and I am happy to see it's become a bestseller and (is it too soon to say) a classic. The writing is beautiful and I loved Roman and Kit so much and the theme of found family was so beautifully explored.

The world building was simple to digest and the ending of the book made me gasp, I can't wait for Ruthless Vows!