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!

I was enthralled with this book from the beginning. It was perfect!!! The writing really kept me captivated throughout and very interested in the characters. It’s hard for me to put into words exactly how this story made me feel, but I can say I cannot wait for the next part!!! This isn’t my usual type of read and I’ve never read a book by this author before but it won’t be my last.

Ross’s writing captivates you and never let’s you go. I was immediately interested in this premise, young rivals, enemies to lovers, fl fighting gods but wow was this book even BETTER than I could have imagined. The characters felt so real, their hardships, pain, love and experiences truly make this book stand out and I can so easily see how well Ross writes characters. This book has a very unique setting, and the plot intermingled perfectly with these characters and what they’re going through. I loved this and am highly anticipating the second.

This book has immediately risen to the list of my top five books read in 2023 so far.

I ADORE this book. A war torned fantasy land battling over the wills of God’s with World War 2 1940’s vibes???

This shouldn’t work. It should sound off the wall as typically dragons and the 1940’s don’t vibe BUT Y’all. This works.

And it works so well!

Iris is an aspiring journalist rivaling for the columnist spot at a local paper against Roman Kitt, her arch nemesis. Roman’s family comes from money, Iris is struggling to survive, and immediately these two have a tension that goes above that of a simple rivalry.

When Iris starts corresponding with someone who absolutely is NOT her brother fighting at war, things get interesting!

I just loved this book. I adore every moment I had between Roman and Iris. I loved the true depiction of the ugly side of war, and I enjoyed the lore surrounding the origins of the war itself.

What I was NOT anticipating was the ending leaving me scrambling for book two, but I need it, I want it, and I can’t have it fast enough.

I listened to this one on audio and read via ebook, I greatly enjoyed the audio voice actors so if you’re an audio lover check this one out!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Rebecca Ross is easily becoming one of my favorite authors! Her beautiful writing style and storytelling had me captivated from start to finish! Iris and Roman were so well written and very relatable at timed. I absolutely loved their journey from rivals to love interests. Their romance was so sweet and pure. The fantasy aspects of this world the author created we’re so unique. This book had me on the edge of my seat and also on the verge of tears many times. The ending was heart wrenching and I can’t wait to see where the next book leads!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Where to start??

Rebecca Ross is a QUEEN. I am 100% convinced that everything she write is golden. And this? A historic fantasy romance about a JOURNALIST?? YES. PLEASE.

The concept of this book is so interesting—mysterious gods that convince humans to fight their wars for them (think Lovely War, but not?)—and I can’t wait to read more about this mysterious world.

(Also, Roman Kitt could look at me with a raised eyebrow, and I would marry him on. the. spot. Hello, ultimate heart throb. What a man.)

I can’t even put into words how much I enjoyed this book. I can’t describe it. It’s just amazing.

10/5 stars. Everybody who loves fantasy and history and mythology and romance should read this book

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫/5

#divinerivals
#rebeccaross
#NetGalley published 4/4/23
#wednesdaybooks
#yascififantasy

For 92% of this book I was totally smitten. AND I MEAN TOTALLY SMITTEN! Then it took a left turn and I #hatedtheending.
I had been having many discussions with my also book loving adult son telling him how much I loved this book. I told him it is was an #urbanfantasy with #romance. He asked, does the romance drive the story or does the #fantasy? I do think the romance takes a back seat. But it is a close call. When I told him how much I loved it his comment was, "well, I hope you don't hate the ending" 😂. Well thanks for jinxing me kid! SMH.

Not current day technology, typewriters. Where does it take place? Took me a bit to figure that out. But it was written by an American author with some British terms. Lift (elevator). Lorry (truck/bus). There is a war between long quite gods. The main characters work at a newspaper of which there are several in town. They are competing for the columnist position. The FMC has been writing to her brother away at war only to find out that someone else has been receiving those letters. So this book can also be called an #epistolary novel though not fully. But there are many. And they definitely enhance the story!

IF YOU DO READ THIS BOOK HAVE TO COME BACK AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK, ESPECIALLY OF THE ENDING! OR TAG ME!

#ya
#YAromance
#fantasy
#bookrecommendation
#bookreview
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #booklover #bookdragon #readalot #ilovereading #inkdrinker #librarymouse #bookaddict #bookaholic

This book hooked me with magical typewriters and rival journalists set in a fantastical mid-20th-century world with warring gods.

Divine Rivals is about the young woman who writes letters to her brother at war and the young man who inadvertently reads them. Their rivals-to-lovers storyline is steeped in magic with haunting lyrical prose. It made me forget I was reading while also reminding me why I love reading and books and journalism so much.

Iris's and Roman's lives couldn't be more different but are equally devastating, beautiful, and hopeful. Their story put me in the trenches alongside them, in the garden, and in the newsroom. I laughed and cheered and cried along with them.

Divine Rivals is an all-consuming book and one that I won't ever forget. I'm so sad it's over, but I cannot wait for the next book in the new series by Rebecca Ross.

𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚁𝚎𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊 𝚁𝚘𝚜𝚜,

𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 [𝚁𝙴𝙳𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙴𝙳]. 𝙸 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚍𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝙴𝚗𝚟𝚊 & 𝙳𝚊𝚌𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎𝚜.
𝙴𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕,
𝙼.𝙰. 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝙿.𝚂. 𝙷𝙾𝚆 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙴 𝚈𝙾𝚄!
𝙿.𝙿.𝚂. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚎?

Two rival journalists, Iris & Roman, are battling in the newsroom for a promotion while two gods are warring hundreds of miles away. Iris’ brother is missing on the front lines & her mother is battling her own demons. At night she writes letters to her long-lost brother and slips them under the wardrobe, where they vanish…into Roman’s hands. He anonymously writes her back and they continue to send missives back and forth, kindling a connection.

This book blew me away. This is a YA that reads like an adult fantasy with WWI vibes set in a light fantasy world with a unique mythology. The writing is stunning & smart as Ross balances the historical time period, the world-building & mythology, the economics & politics, the frontlines of the war, the emotional rollercoaster with flawless grace. The enemies-to-lovers situation will have your eyeballs glued to the page instead of rolling away. I was rooting for every character, except for Dacre, cause he’s the pits, of course. Its genre blending is so well-orchestrated that it’ll appeal to many different readers. Historical fiction, fantasy, and romance readers will unite to call out: “WHERE IS BOOK TWO?!”

𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚛 @𝚠𝚎𝚍𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜
𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 & 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔.
𝚇𝙾𝚇𝙾,
𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏-𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚘𝙴 𝚏𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚋

This is everything and some that I love in a fantasy. It is a must read whether you’re into fantasy or not. The world and characters are captivating to the point where you are transported into a different world and you forget your even reading. To me it felt like I was playing a movie in my mind and loved every moment of it

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: April 4, 2023

Devine Rivals is the first book in a new duology by Rebecca Ross. This is a fantasy novel categorized as YA but I would consider this more of a NA.

Iris Winnow has just seen her brother off to the gods war, her mother has delved deeper into her depression and she is barely hanging on to her reporting job at the Gazette.

Roman Kitt works with Iris at the Gazette and is her main rival for the coveted columnist job they are competing for. Although they are rivals and competing for the same job, Iris can’t deny there is a connection between them.

There is a historic connection between Iris and Roman’s families and they each have rare typewriters with magical properties. Iris and Roman unknowingly start to open up to each other and share their deepest fears and greatest dreams.

I didn’t really like either of these characters at the beginning of the story but as they started to share more of themselves with each other, they really developed into wonderful characters and I loved seeing their personalities and relationship progress together.

I’m really impressed with this authors ability to tell a story! I’m going to be looking into her other books and cannot wait to see how this one ends (she left quite a cliff hanger for us)! This is a surprising 5 stars for me and I highly recommend for any fantasy, romantasy lovers out there!

#NetGalley #devinerivals #rebeccaross

The advice i get most often as a writer is to write what you want to read. Rebecca Ross proves that you can infuse a story with all the things you love and it will show, and ve what others love too.
A rivals to lovers story that captivates, a war between gods, magical letters through a wardrobe, monsters both real and metaphorical. I especially enjoyed how Iris and Roman were rival journalists as I myself come from a journalism background. But they secretly admire and respect the others' writing and work ethic. Told from both their POVs, Ross gives them both a unique voice and even specific writing style shown through the exchange of letters we see through epistolary storytelling. The book was both historical and fantastical, a fun blend of both. But it does pull on the heartstrings too and leave you breathless by the end, eager for book 2! Easily one of the best books read this year!