I recommended this to multiple people while reading and my dissatisfaction with the conclusion only dampers my enthusiasm a little.

Iris lives in Oath, a city on the edge of a world war between two gods. The war has yet to reach the city and most are content to keep their heads down, but Iris is growing continually more dissatisfied at her job, typing obituaries for the local paper. She wants to do more, to be a real columnist, but to do that she’ll have to beat out her work rival, Roman, who is unfortunately as talented as he is insufferable. With her brother fighting and her mother slipping into alcoholism, Iris’s only companionship comes in the form of her anonymous pen pal. She’s not quite sure how they keep receiving each other’s letters, but she is sure of the growing feelings she has towards this sweet, intelligent man.

Roman intends to tell Iris that he’s her mysterious correspondent. He really does- but when Iris’s brother goes missing on the front lines and she decides to take a position as a war correspondent, what is he meant to do? Iris may still hate Roman, but he’s begun to love her. But how can this fragile love last in the face of war?

This book is You’ve Got Mail set during WWI if that war was between Hades and Persephone (Dacre and Enva have different characteristics but that’s the gist of their relationship). There’s a lot going on there and there’s a lot going on in this book, but for the most part Ross handles it all. My main complaint is that this book read like a stand alone until the last maybe sixth where things wrapped up too quickly and too many new threads were introduced. I’m happy to return to this world, I just wish it had been handled more subtly.

Iris and Roman are very sweet. I also love the lesbian couple who own the bed and breakfast they stay at. Ross imagines a war lead by gods, why not imagine a world more accepting of different types of love? I like the fantasy twist on the First World War, I like how Ross also makes her world more gender inclusive. The idea of gods leading the two sides of the war emphasizes the contrast between the big players who start conflict and the everyday humans who are left to bear the burdens of war. The depictions of battle are gruesome and heartbreaking and Ross does a good job establishing the stakes of the world.

Overall, I was enthralled by the mythology, the magic, the romance, and the pain of this world. I’ll be even more likely to recommend once I know how the series wraps up, but I enjoyed this book a lot despite the rushed ending.

Wow talk about a book hangover! I am devastated I have to wait a year+ for the next book in this series as I loved it so much. YA fantasy is not something I often pick up, but the premise sounded interesting (and enemies to lovers is basically my catnip). I'm so glad I did.

Divine Rivals follows two young journalists who couldn't be more different from one another. When the gods from above and below begin waging battle, Iris Winnow finds her world changed when her brother Forrest goes off to war. Suddenly she's forced to drop out of school and earn a living at one of the local newspapers. Roman Kitt comes from money, but his father demands the prestige that comes with it. Iris and Roman soon become work rivals and compete for a new position. Iris feels utterly alone in her world and she takes comfort in writing letters to her brother, even though she has no way of getting them to him. What she doesn't anticipate is a response from a mysterious friend known only as C.

When tragedy strikes Iris' home, she decides to join the war effort as a correspondent. Life outside the only home she has ever known is not what Iris expected. The battle is not what she anticipated and what she once thought of as myth is more real than she could have imagined. Iris knows it's up to her to report what life on the front is really like.

This novel was the perfect blend of magic, wartime suspense and romance. It was just so perfectly charming and cozy, but with plenty of heartbreak along the way. The story tied up nicely, but I did not see the ending coming and I'm just left with so many questions - please Rebecca Ross write faster!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for a review copy. All of the stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story! I didn't know it was the first of a series when I picked it up, and now I can't wait for the sequel. The worldbuilding was intriguing and doesn't seem to cater to a specific time period, and the story promises some pretty interesting lore regarding feuds between gods. Although I did feel that some of the lore took a backseat to the relationship blooming between Winnow and Kitt and I wanted a bit more of a slow burn from them, their characterization was so adorable that I didn't mind as much as I would've expected. I liked that the author didn't try to shy away from the horrors of war, yet still maintained an undercurrent of hope and love that kept the book from becoming too heavy and/or hard to read. I'm eagerly waiting to learn what happens next to these characters!

“An epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy.” Look, I honestly kinda disagree with this just a little bit, because Iris and Roman are rivals. They’re both trying to get the same promotion at the newspaper so that pits them against each other, but it isn’t like they’re fully enemies or anything.

Still, I definitely felt like this book did a fantastic job drawing out the tension and yearning between the two main characters. I was eagerly flipping through the pages, following along as they wrote letters to each other and their bond grew through those exchanges. Add to it that one of them knows who the other is from the beginning, and oh man, it made their relationship fascinating and complex.

The worldbuilding of the gods and their history was pretty fascinating too, and we got just enough to honestly make us more curious, or at least that’s how it felt to me.

When I started reading this, I didn’t exactly realize that it wasn’t a standalone, so I started to get nervous as I neared the end of the book, especially as things happened to complicate inter-character relationships more. So thank goodness there’s at least one more book coming, because there was a lot that didn’t wrap up.

There were some stunningly beautiful sentences in Divine Rival, sentences about grief and love and finding joy even in the dark times, and I really wish that I had paused to jot them down so I didn’t forget them. But at least I can read this book again, and that time I’ll mark the passages that stood out to me. Basically I did enjoy the writing. It was beautiful and compelling and I just wanted to keep reading.

Which is why it is incredibly stupid that it took me as long as it did for me to read this. I would read a few pages and then set the book aside, and not pick it up again for a day or two, and again read just a few pages…so it took me like a week to read this, when it only should have taken a few hours in total. Because I ended up flying through this book when I gave it more than just a few minutes.

I need to know more about Enva and Dacre. I need to find out if Iris and Roman find their way back to each other. Basically, I need the next book, but at the moment all the information we have is a possible release date of January 1, 2024. There’s no title or cover or anything else just yet…but I’ll be keeping an eye out, because I’ll be wanting to read the next one as soon as I can.

I literally sat for 10 minutes after I finished this book thinking, what did I just read??

First, thank you to @wednesdaybooks for my advanced copy of @beccajross new novel, DIVINE RIVALS, published April 4th. Now, let's talk about my sentiments!

I thought I was following along with this beautifully written storyline of magical typewriters passed down from grandmothers who were penpals, to their grandchildren, who unbeknownst to them became penpals to each other…and then I read the last chapter.

So first, I love a good twist ending with cliffhanger-ish vibes like the next, but not only does it make me demand for a second book ASAP (I mean, I am sure Rebecca Ross will just get right on that for me!) but that ending also had me second guessing everything I had read previously. It has truly been a while since a book did that to me, and I love it!

If you like whimsy and small doses of magic in the midst of wartime heartache and despair, secret letter writing, multiple points of view, and the beginning of a series, then you will most likely enjoy this one!

I also highly recommend the audiobook, as I went back and forth between the two. The narrators are strong, and I love that male and female characters have their own voices, since it is a dual perspective novel.

Divine Rivals was not what I was expecting at all - it was even better. The blend of fantasy, historical fictions, and a rivals to lovers love story was fantastic. And that ending! I might never emotionally recover!

Divine Rivals is a rivals to lovers historical fantasy romance. Iris is a girl whose life is turned upside down when her brother enlists to fight in a war between gods thought to be long dormant. Roman is a boy struggling under the weight of grief and his family’s expectations. By day the two are rivals, fighting for the same position at their local newspaper. But at night, thanks to a magical typewriter, they share their deepest secrets though only one of them knows the other’s identity. With the war getting closer, will the two confront their feelings or will they remain forever in the dark?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’m a huge fan of Rebecca Ross’ work, but unfortunately this book fell flat for me. It lacked the atmospheric vibes of her previous books such as Dreams Lie Beneath and I felt that the world building was lacking. There is magic, but we hear more about it rather than experience it. We also don’t really learn too much about the world of Divine Rivals itself. A few locations are discussed but we have no idea about the politics of this world even though it’s hinted that they are important. I know that this is only book 1 of a Duology, but I would have liked things more fleshed out.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I did enjoy Kitt and Iris’ romance, especially their letter writing. To me there is just something so inherently romantic about expressing your feelings via pen and paper or in this case a typewriter.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In conclusion, if you are looking for a decent YA romance and aren’t too concerned about the fantastical elements this may be a good read for you, but this wasn’t my favorite of Ross’ books.

Book Summary:

They say that opposites attract. But do they become divine rivals? Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt live two very different lives. One recently lost her brother to the war efforts, while the other grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Despite these differences, both have the same goal in life – to write meaningful articles that impact the world. For this reason, they are both competing for the same position at the Oath Gazette. Little did they know this competition would change their lives.

My Review:

Holy cow. I've heard a lot about Divine Rivals, and I do mean a lot. Despite this, I don't think we're talking about this book! It's amazing! Rebecca Ross has created an absolutely enchanting world. Readers will fall into the world and never want to leave.

So many elements go into Divine Rivals, but that is what makes it so successful. Naturally, we have that whole enemies-to-lovers plot, magical wartime (battling gods, oh my!), historical/steampunk elements, and so much more. It's captivating, compelling, and shockingly emotional.

Divine Rivals is far from a light and easy read. Some plots will make you feel, and others that will make you think. This story portrays love and loss in the time of war and the many layers that come with it.

I went into Divine Rivals fully expecting an enjoyable experience. What I got was an emotional read that burrowed its way into my heart. I'm not sure I'll ever be free of it...and that's okay. Now excuse me; I need to go count down the days until the next installment releases.

Highlights:
Romantasy
Historical Fantasy
Gods and Fate
Journalism

Trigger Warnings:
War
Graphic Death/Injuries
Alcoholism

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 #Review of Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Crystal's Thoughts:

"The two of you have found each other against great odds. And if this is your one and only night with him, then savor it."

Divine Rivals is a beautiful tale of magic and mystery sure to sweep readers away with a journey of finding hope and love in the most desolate of places.

War is raging between the Gods and Iris Winnow’s brother is in the middle of it. She made him promises when he left, but when Iris’s world begins to crumble down around her, she knows that she can’t hold to them and survive. Her only hope is gaining the columnist position at the Oath Gazette, but she is not the only one competing for the spot. Rowan Condescending Kitt also has his eyes on the position, but not for the reasons Iris assumes. Roman seemingly has the perfect life while Iris's is full of hardships and misfortunes, but nothing is as it seems. Even the war they find themselves thrust to the front lines of. Their only solace, the letters that they magically share. But Iris doesn’t know that it is her hated rival that she has been divulging her most private thoughts to. With each letter though, Roman finds it harder to pretend that Iris is just the competition and harder still to admit that it is him she has been writing to. Because if she finds out, she is sure to stop, and that may destroy Roman more then this war ever could…

I am absolutely obsessed with this book! Rebecca Ross is a new-to-me author, and I forgot that I had this ARC on my shelf until after its release. I am kicking myself for that, because now I need everything that relates to Iris and Roman like I need my next breath! Divine Rivals is one of my favorite kinds of stories, one that is character driven more so than plot. That’s not to say that I wasn’t consumed by the narrative, because I was, but it was Iris, Roman, and all the other side-characters that truly held me enthralled. You can’t help being drawn in by the banter between Iris and Roman, the cute and angsty dialogue, and that delicious slow burn of sizzling attraction. I loved bearing witness to the armor of each of these characters slowly being peeled away as the story progressed and seeing a little deeper into each of these characters and their many layers. There are some heavy moments of guilt and grief that they each commiserate with, and I was moved to tears at times throughout the story because of it. The mythology of the Gods was an interesting aspect as well. I liked how readers learn about the Gods alongside the characters with snippets of past stories revealed. I was immersed in the story and fully invested in its outcome by the end!

I was not expecting it, but Divine Rivals blew. me. away. The ending was brutal, and I am on pins and needles now waiting for the release of the sequel, Ruthless Vows (Spring 2024), so that I can find out what happens next! If you enjoy lush writing, rich world-building, and charming, relatable characters, set in a historical fantasy world, than I recommend you pick up Divine Rivals today. This one is a keeper!

"I don't know who I would be without you, but you have made me in all ways better than I ever was or could have ever hoped to be."

✔️Slow Burn 0.5 🌶️
✔️Rivals to Lovers
✔️He Falls First
✔️Warring Gods
✔️Magical Typewriters
✔️Love Letters
✔️Hidden Identity
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Dual POV's
✔️Historical Fantasy Romance
✔️Upper YA
✔️Cliffhanger Ending

Spoilers Below

Divine Rivals is the first book I've read by Rebecca Ross, and I absolutely loved it. This is a fantasy novel with a focus on the romance between our two POV characters. Our two characters are co-workers / rivals to lovers - with a bit of shenanigans regarding their identities as they know each other in real life and via (initially) anonymous letter.

Iris is more-or-less our main narrator - we see more of the story from her perspective. We get most of our world building from her POV as well, while Roman's POV's serve to fill-in details Iris cannot know as well as showing us his feelings for her progress. I enjoyed the minor characters - particularly Attie and Marisol (and I wish we saw more of her wife Keegan).

I thought the pacing of this novel was good - the chapters were short, and the pacing flowed well - Iris and Roman got together a little over 2/3rds into the book giving us time to see them together before the end - when it all falls about because - and I didn't know this as I was reading - there is a sequel coming out in 2023. I was worried that not enough was wrapped up - more details about Roman's family, Roman and Iris's Nans' history (and the history of Alouette), more details about Forest, and what is going on with Enva and Dacra. I expect these questions will be more fully answered in the second book - and as the first book in a series I am satisfied with the ending of Divine Rivals. It feels as if it needs a sequel - which is not how I feel about many duologies.

I've seen this book shelved as YA - and while our protagonists are 18 and 19 (a border age for YA) with the subject of war - and the cruel realities of it - and the idea of which side of the war is the right one, which myths and histories do we trust, and other subjects I'd argue this is closer to a New Adult read, but is perfectly suitable for a YA audience - there is one fade-to-black bedroom scene, but nothing graphic.

I enjoyed the letter writing as a device for our characters to get to know each other - though the writing was at times a bit too flowery for me, it does make perfect sense for the setting and the characters, so it didn't bother me overly.

Overall, I devoured this book in three days and am highly anticipating the next one!

I’ve become a huge fan of Rebecca Ross over the past year so I was very excited to read her latest novel. Divine Rivals didn’t disappoint me one bit. Wow, what a beautiful, heartfelt story. I highlighted so many lovely passages as I read this, reminders about love and vulnerability and hope that I wanted to hold onto, just as Iris and Roman held fast to each other’s letters. Highly recommend!

WW2 era London-ish reporters meets Roman-ish mythological gods. The magical correspondence in Divine Rivals was fun and romantic and I actually enjoyed it more knowing where the letters were coming from ahead of our protagonists. The romance built slowly and was fairly innocent. I think it could appeal to a broader range of kids/adults because it is not terribly explicit. I loved the characters. This is a cliff-hanger! I'm definitely looking forward to the next in the series. Iris and Roman are such great characters. I hope to see more of the secondary characters like Marisol, Keegan, and Atti later in the series. So well written and the mysteries and romance unfold perfectly.

It's not just about using the right tropes. It's also about using them the right way. And Divine Rivals does the latter well.

I loved the feel of You’ve Got Mail and The Shop Around the Corner. Plus the lost art of using typewriters.

This is my second book by Rebecca Ross - and it won't be my last.

This was one of my most anticipated reads and I have to say it was worth the wait. I love Ross’s writing and it only seems to be getting better. The setting and world building really drew me in and the characters kept me turning the pages. Book 2 can’t come soon enough.

My bookofthemonth add-on this month and another apollycon author. I've enjoyed the books I've read by her before. And this one was set in wartime but had some magical letter sending. Love enemies to lovers esp when they are fighting over the same spot at work but start to work together. These two characters also had complicated issues with their families. One upper class and one lower class and both confined by that.
This was just so fascinating as it felt like a world war 2 front line, war correspondent story. About two rival reporters falling in love during war time. But the war wasn't humans and humans it was Gods and humans. And that ending gave me chills and made me turn the page for more. I am totally fine with waiting but I have no inkling of where we are heading excited to read book 2.

Thank you wednesdaybooks for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross starts off as a workplace rivals romance before switching gears to a tense war story. The last third of the novel, especially, ramps up the action and violence. This switch might seem disjointed for some readers, but I think it makes sense in the context of the story. One of the themes early in the book is how distant the war seems for citizens in the city of Oath, despite the fact that men are leaving every day to fight it. Similarly, for readers, the war seems like background information until the novel’s protagonists, Iris and Roman, head to the front lines.

Speaking of Iris and Roman, I loved their character development and the pacing of their romance. This novel convinced me that rivals-to-lovers is a top-tier trope, especially when one character is deeply invested in the rivalry and the other is secretly sorta-pining. I think readers who also enjoy Dramione fanfiction will enjoy this book. Ross does a good job with the secondary characters as well, giving them interesting backstories that add a richness to the story.

Finally, I think the novel has a strong structure that really illustrates Iris’s growth and progression throughout the novel. The story ends with Iris finally getting what she wanted at the beginning of the story, but when it happens it feels like a hollow victory. The ending also does a good job of setting up a sequel, one that I think will expand on the lore and worldbuilding from the first book. I’m eagerly anticipating the next book.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED the premise of this book! The dueling journalists was an amazing set up for the story. The writing was amazing and I adore Iris and Roman. The rivals to lovers trope was very well done in this novel and I cannot wait for the next book. I want more of Iris and Roman!

This one is a rollercoaster journey let me tell you. Iris Winnow is a fantastic well thought out character. The dynamic between her and Roman kitt throughout the story is fantastic. I need the second book to come out immediately. I need to know where the story takes them. I need to know more about the gods and about Forrest and Attie and Marisol and Roman's Gran and the war and.....I love when a book makes you think beyond it's pages. The characters are well developed and you can feel them. The history is given throughout the book and in a way that doesn't feel overwhelming. I can't wait to read more by this author.

The last book of hers I read was Dreams Lie Beneath which I LOVED so I’m quite excited to read this one that already sounds just as magical as my previous book by this author!

Old Gods, war, death and magical type writers? Not only that but an enemies to lovers romance weaved into the storyline? Yes please! I’m around half way through and I cannot wait to see how the rest of this book develops

DIVINE RIVALS is utter perfection. Everything you love about the YA genre is in this story in a historical fiction, war setting with gods, creatures, enchanted building and magic type writers. You get enemies to lovers, ADORABLE letters, banter, & angst. So much angst.

Iris and Roman were simply the best. I loved their unique perspective on the war as reporters. I was all-in for the Iris & Roman love story but was also fascinated by the war of the gods and that cliffhanger at the ending has me dying for the next book.

Enough talking about this book, just read it!