Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the earc!

This book you guys! At first I was not sure how Rebecca would combine what felt like the WWII setting with the world of gods but it totally worked. We got to see the hard scenes but we also got to see the magic.

I think I will start with the fact that I love books that include letters as a way of communication. The Notes between Roman and Iris were my absolute favorite part. I also liked that even though they were “rivals'' at work, these two stil tried to get to know each other in their own way. But I hate to stop and mention the fact that Roman left everything behind just to follow Iris. My heart couldn’t take it. Roman throwing himself over Iris and getting hurt? Nope, can’t do it.
“Ask me what my middle name is?” DEAD. That scene actually broke my brain

Normally, I am not a fan of fast marriages but because this book is set during the war, it actually made a beautiful scene and brought light to these two characters. I know we don’t know much about the gods and the rules of this world, but I think there is a chance that being married might actually help to get Roman back somehow and they will find a way to talk to each other.

Sadly, the ending was one part of this book that I didn’t love. Don’t get me wrong, it made sense and fit the story very well but it just didn’t feel as strong as the rest of it. It happened pretty quickly and left me feeling like something was missing. I also felt like Iris and her brother got back to Oath way too quickly. I definitely need more information on that

Overall, I need book 2 and a happy ending.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Wednesday Books for sending me this e-arc in return for an honest review.

This book was brilliant!!! Rebecca Ross has done it again, each time I pick up her books I know I am going to be taken to a world that I will fall in love with.

Divine Rivals had everything I love, a world resembling WWI, ancient gods waring with each other, a love story that just burns inside of you and makes you ache for them, and struggles they face. I love how in depth she went to show the pain that people face in war, there were so many times I just wanted to cry for those that were suffering in the book. Added to it the pains that both Roman and Iris experience from their own families, to the decisions they make because of the life they have had. Rebecca Ross does a stellar job of crafting a story of two people telling their sides of the story.

The lore behind the Gods, the world, the magic, was extensive and beautiful. It doesn't matter what book I pick up of Ross, but it always makes me just want to soak up every single detail I can, and I crave more of the world even when I am finished.

I wish I could rate this book more than a 5 as I would. I can't wait for book 2!!!

I dnfd this at about a third of the way through. The writing was ok, but too many things were happening and certain things should have been more of a focus than the mediocre romance.

This book weaves genres into a rich, spellbinding tapestry, using threads of romance, mythology and fantasy to create a masterpiece.

Iris wants to get a promotion to columnist at the local newspaper, but her rival, Kitt, isn't going to make it easy. Neither does her editor, who won't let her write about what really matters to her - the war between the gods Enva and Dacre that her brother left home to fight in. Iris pours out all her feelings into letters to her brother, Forest, which get magically whisked away when she places them in her wardrobe. She hopes they're getting delivered to him, until one day someone writes back. "This isn't Forest." Iris continues writing, beginning to fall for her mystery correspondent.

After a personal tragedy, Iris decides she has to see for herself what's going on at the front. She signs up to be a war correspondent but is completely befuddled when Kitt immediately quits the job he worked so hard to win to follow her. The bloodshed, horror and danger she finds at the front will test everything she knows about both herself and Kitt.

This book is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance where Kitt knows how he feels first. It's fun watching Iris get there too, as Kitt sacrifices everything to follow her into danger. I loved the magical elements with the warring gods, but it stayed pretty rooted in our world. The war scenes reminded me of something you might read in WWI or WWII fiction.

This book will obviously have a sequel, as it ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait!

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

Divine Rivals is one of those books that will stay with you long after its final pages. The story has everything—a strong, inspiring female lead, a BEAUTIFUL slow-burn romance, immersive world-building, and a courageous message about fighting for what you care for and believe in.
If you’re looking for a new book to escape into, Divine Rivals is the perfect read for anyone—for romance and fantasy lovers alike. It’s an original tale filled to the brim with love, emotion, and sentiment. Another favorite of the year by Ross, and my heart is still in shambles as we wait for the sequel.🥲 (*cue “The Great War” by Taylor Swift*)

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This novel was a bit confusing. It starts out well. It introduces the world and the gods and the structure in a way that is organized and enticing. It progresses well, following Iris, until she makes a snap decision and becomes (essentially) a different person.

I’m not sure how I felt about that. But it’s about halfway through that the story really starts. And it’s different from the way it begins. The only piece tying the two together is that Iris is writing letters to someone. This is important until it isn’t anymore.

And then, it becomes a tragic love story. Until it ends, with tragedy and loss and becomes a fantasy novel with gods and monsters and war and brutality.

I feel a bit strung out. I want to know what happens next. Iris wasn’t completely hideous and I want to see good things happen to her and for her. Mostly, I just want the end of this myth with the gods because that was fascinating and there was far too little of it. Good thing this ended on a cliffhanger and there’s at least one more volume!

This was an adventure. There were things I didn’t like but it wasn’t the talent of the writer. This was written pretty well; not perfect but perfectly digestible. The characters felt real. Some felt a little flat and Iris bothered me. I didn’t like her. She was a bit simpering and clueless. Given her circumstances, I expected her to be a little more gritty. Roman was cute. He also seemed a bit clueless. The other, supporting characters felt half-alive, but they got very little page time, so maybe I’m nit-picking.

The world was confusing but it felt real enough. I feel confused about where things are and the bit about the gods sleeping, but I might have missed something? Maybe? There was a lot of emphasis on the gods and their war, but very little information. It felt intentional. I just found it confusing. Mostly, I’m wondering what the point of this introductory novel was given how it ended. As in, where it seems to be leading could have been halfway through this book rather than snail-trailing Iris for 200 pages. The author seems to have veered so far from the start that I’m wondering if there was a shorter path that would have been more satisfying for a new reader.

I’ll probably pick up book two. I’m curious and tenacious. I’d recommend if you like rom-coms, war stories and myths. There’s a little of everything. Even if you don’t like war stories, which I typically loathe. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Oh my goodness. This book was the most magical thing. Definitely my favorite from Rebecca Ross. I don’t even know where to start…the world building was amazing, the characters were dreamy. Enemies to lovers, check. Heart break, check. Magic, check. Ancient forces working against each other, check. Do yourself a favor and read this book! If you like Rebecca Ross’s other books, you will love this one.

I loved this story so much! Rebecca Ross's writing is magical and beautiful. Divine Rivals is one of my new favorite reads and will be reading it over and over. I loved the rivals to lovers trope in this book. The letter writing and plot was so well done and I found myself wanting to read more. I can't wait to read the next one and can't recommend this book enough. Mrs. Ross is my new auto-buy author.

The gods have awoken from centuries of sleep and are at war. Our story mainly follows Iris: a recent hire for the Oath Gazette and contender for columnist. Her mother is struggling with addiction and her brother is missing in action from the war. By day she is fighting for her position with her rival, Roman. At night she is writing letters to her brother. As she slips the letters underneath the wardrobe door, she has no idea where they disappear to…..until an anonymous letter responds.

I truly don’t know if I could begin to describe my love for this book. Iris, Roman, and the whole cast of characters made this novel. The story was moving and I just couldn’t put it down. I thought the plot flowed beautifully. Rebecca has an incredible way about describing characters and locations. The ending made my jaw DROP. Incredible writing.

Book 2 cannot get here fast enough!


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

Iris Winnow is a newbie reporter at the Oath Gazette, hoping to use her words to make a difference in the war effort. When two old gods awoke from slumber, plunging the world into war and chaos, Iris's brother went off to fight, leaving Iris and their mother behind. The only solace Iris finds is by writing letters to her brother and slipping them under her wardrobe. To her surprise, she receives a letter back, but it's not from her brother. Iris strikes up a tenuous friendship with this stranger, who unbeknownst to her is none other than her infuriatingly handsome rival from the Gazette, Roman Kitt.

After a tragic accident, Iris leaves Oath and signs up to become a war correspondent. Now instead of typing up classifieds, she'll be reporting from the front lines. She also hopes her new position will help her uncover what happened to her brother, whom she hasn't heard from in months. Soon, much to her annoyance, Iris is joined by Roman. The pair have always felt a connection between them--one Iris has always chalked up to trying to best the other-- but that connection grows into something more delicate the longer they're together. With the war creeping ever closer, Iris and Roman will have to hope their love is enough to face the wrath of the gods.

I fell in love with Ross's writing style after reading her Elements of Cadence duology, so I was excited to pick this up. Ross has this incredible way of crafting stories that are hopeful and heartbreaking all at the same time. I loved following Iris and Roman and how they went from sort of rivals to something so much more. The connection they forged was tender, and seeing it blossom amongst such a dark background was beautiful. I also thought Ross did a nice job showcasing the realities of war and how it affects people. The only minor issue I had was that it took me a while to understand the lore of the world and these gods. Other than that, I thought this was great, and I'm looking forward to the next book.

4.75 ⭐️

I have been very, very excited to read this book ever since it was announced. I adore Rebecca Ross’ writing style and how her stories are slower paced, more focused on the characters.

Well, this one was no different! Despite the story being slow paced, I was hooked right from the beginning and knew that I’m going to love Divine Rivals!

Iris Winnow is such a wonderful main character. She is a strong willed woman and was an inspiration to me throughout the book. I loved watching her character grow and getting to experience most of this story through her.
I love all of Rebecca Ross’ MMC and Roman Kitt is definitely among my top favourites now.
I absolutely loved how their romance developed, from them being workplace rivals to being vulnerable with each through written letters, it was all just so beautiful and magical! The entire concept of being connected to each other through magical typewriters was so unique! Apart from that too, their romance was so soft, beautiful and slow, I adored every second of it!

There was also another one of my favourite tropes which is found family. The moment Attie and Marisol were introduced, I knew I was going to love them. I loved their dynamic with Iris (and Kitt), their easy friendship and loyalty.

There were also many heavy topics/ themes discussed like death of a loved one, grief, loss, despair but it was dealt with in such an admirable manner. There were many quotes and lines that I had to reread numerous times just because they hit so close to home and made me really *feel*.

“Sometimes strength isn't swords and steel and fire, as we are so often made to believe. Sometimes, it's found in quiet, gentle places. The way you hold someone's hand as they grieve. The way you listen to others. The way you show up, day after day, even when you are weary or afraid or simply uncertain.”

I don’t usually read historical romances so I had little to no idea what to expect while going into this book apart from that it written by Rebecca Ross so I’m going to enjoy it. There were some magical elements in Divine Rivals but it mainly focused on the lives of people affected by war. This kind of story needed to be told at a slower pace so I’m really glad for it, otherwise, it might’ve been too heavy for me.

Though, the magical/ fantasy elements were not discussed in too much detail but with the plot twist at the end and the way things ended in this book, I’m very sure it’ll be explored more in the sequel.

I don’t want to talk about the plot a lot because it is very unique and it’ll be better to go in blindly. But I loved absolutely everything about this story: the characters, their relationships, their development, their back stories, the plot as a whole, the pace of the story, the wonderful quotes, the writing style, EVERYTHING. It made me feel so many emotions, reading it was basically like a roller coaster ride.

I’m very eagerly awaiting the news for the sequel! Special thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press/ Wednesday Books for the e-arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: April 4, 2023

4+ stars - I really enjoyed this! The writing was beautiful and emotional and really captivating. I felt like things maybe moved a bit too fast for me. There were a few times where there were week or month jumps that you forget happened and explains some of the growth/change in the characters. I think some "x weeks later" or "x months later" at the start of the chapter or section might help. I am also used to longer fantasy books and due to their length they can go into more detail so that may have been why it felt faster paced to me, for others it might be perfect!

This was my first Rebecca Ross book, and I can already firmly say that I am a total convert. This was such a masterpiece, and so utterly different from literally any book I've ever read.

Ross weaves together a very familiar landscape of a war torn world, reminiscent of World War 1. Think trench warfare, grenades, bombs falling, sirens blaring in the night. Except, make it FANTASY. Dragons and hounds, vengeful gods, a millennia long conflict between the divinities above and below. From here, we zoom into to find Roman Kitt and Iris Winnow, rival reporters in a city that has yet to be touched by the war, competing for the same position. However, this story takes us very far away from the newsroom and right to the front lines.

The action in this story is absolutely heart pounding, and I quite literally found myself clutching my chest, breathless as I read. Ross' writing is stunning, her prose completely enchanted me and left me with so many reflections. I adored how she crafter both Iris and Roman's voices as they exchange letters with one another. When this aspect of the story got started, I found myself swooning left and right over how utterly romantic everything was.

I have read other reviews mentioning that this is more historical fiction than fantasy, and while I do see that in much of the action Iris & Roman face, the threat from above and below cemented this firmly as a fantasy for me, as well as the creatures fighting on the opposing side. There is so much unique mythology and history, and it adds a level of the fantastic to a world that seems so familiar, making it a very visceral experience to imagine a threat like this coming to our world.

I think this may possibly be a favorite book of the year for me, it is certainly near the top. And the cliffhanger this left us on will haunt me for the foreseeable future. I cannot WAIT for the next installment in this series, and I'm eager to explore Rebecca Ross' backlog while I wait!

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title before publishing!

Divine Rivals is set in WW era-esque simile of the European continent. Winnow writes letters to her brother, off at war, and then slips them into the void of her closet. Unbeknownst to her, they are received and read by someone other than her brother, and that someone is a fellow reporter she knows. This story is their tale, how they end up as war correspondents, and how they become separated. I am hoping for a sequel!

The story is dual POV.

4.5 Stars.

This book! Wow. I loved this book! It's slow in the pacing but the prose is so beautiful that it keeps you captivated and wanting more.

The world was interesting and I loved the competition between Iris and Kitt. The two of them are reporters for a local newspaper that sits just hours outside of a war between gods but is fought by their fellow humans. Iris's brother left for the war 5 months prior and Iris has taken on a job at a local paper to help make ends meet and to care of her mother who has slowly falling apart since her brother left.

Kitt on the other hand comes from a household of high expectations. His father is so focused on fitting into higher society that he doesn't let Kitt make his own decisions. His goal is for Kitt to become the lead reporter and has even gone as far as arrange a marriage for him. Kitt feels trapped and his guilt over his sister's death prevents him from standing up for himself.

When two magically typewrites bring the two of them together they'll find themselves right in the middle of the war itself. This first installment is definitely character focused which I enjoyed. The writing prose gives the book a vintage WWI/II feel with the addition of subtle magic. I can't wait to learn more about the gods who have brought on this war and to see where Iris and Kitt's stories go.

Now if book two could release a lot earlier than scheduled that would be greatly appreciated!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

4.5 stars

I loved this! The premise is interesting, rival gods using human soldiers to fight a war between them and the impact on a girl when her brother enlists. The setting feels reminiscent of WWI/II, but with the addition of magic and less sexism. I liked that women are fighting as soldiers, as well as reporting on the war, instead of being left at home.

Iris and Roman have a great rivals-to-lovers story and the letters just melted my heart. Iris is trying to be strong after her brother leaves, including supporting her alcoholic mother. Roman seems to have it all, but is being crushed under the weight of his father's expectations for him. We get both characters' viewpoints and it was nice seeing how they fell for each other.

The only thing stopping me from giving this five stars was that I wanted more about the gods and what exactly was going on in the war. We focused a lot on the characters, but now I need to expand to everywhere else.

I can't wait for the sequel and am looking forward to this coming out in the world!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

“I should have looked behind me.
I am broken, full of contradictions.
I wish I were brave, but I am so afraid.”

I didn’t love the whole book. There were definitely some parts that reeled me in and had my heart in a vise. **Queue tension and love interests.** But outside of those moments I just liked it. I kept reading out of curiosity and stuck around for the love story.

I was always intrigued enough by the mythology aspect, but I wasn’t captivated to the point of obsession like I hope for in any book.

The first 40% was a bit slow and after that it definitely picked up but it almost seemed like the details were glossed over. The climax was the only part that really gave us any deep insights. I almost feel like it was done on purpose for book 2 but I can’t be positive. Basically, I just wanted more.

3.5/5

5 Simply Divine Stars!

I absolutely adored this book. It was everything I love in a book - - a great enemies to lovers story, strong fantasy plot, characters that seem so real you feel as if you know them, a unique and fresh storyline......and magic.

When we meet them, Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt are two young journalists working for a local newspaper. The catch is that they are both competing for the one available columnist spot. They are both intense competitors and the sparring banter between these two is awesome.

Iris comes from a poor background. Her father isn't in the picture, her brother has recently gone off to fight in the Gods War and her mother is drinking on a daily basis. Iris desperately needs to win the columnist position but the odds seem to be against her.

Roman comes from a wealthy background and it seems like he has every advantage. However, his life at home is anything but happy. His father is dictating everything about his life and Roman feels like all his choices are being taken away. He doesn't necessarily even want the columnist position, but his father told him it's prestigious and that he should go after it. Basically, it's expected of him.

The story eventually moves to the front lines of the war where Iris will learn even more about not just herself but others as well.

I really enjoyed every aspect of this book. From the romance to the fantastical history of the Gods War to the battles themselves and their struggle to survive. It's a creative storyline with wonderful world building and fleshed out characters. The only down side for me is having to wait now for the next book in the series.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audiobook was phenomenal. I loved the narration. The characters' accents were wonderful and lent authenticity to the story in my opinion. Listening to this audiobook was effortless. It easily kept my attention and I was basically addicted to this story until I finished. 5 huge stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for both the early reading copy and listening copy. I voluntarily chose to read/listen to it and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Rebecca Ross sure knows how to write. The writing in this book was absolutely stunning. I was hooked from the first page. I fell in love with the characters and I fully believed the enemies to lovers troupe which is hard to get right sometimes. My only critic about the book was the fact that the world building had some holes. I understand that this is a series and that the first book is usually a set up book but I still had some questions about the war and the gods when I finished this book. It did end on a MAJOR cliff hanger and I am hoping that some of the questions I have are answered in the next book.

4.5 stars

**Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.**

This was a masterpiece.

I picked this up for the workplace rivals, stayed for the letters, fell in love with the writing and before I knew it I was forgoing sleep just to finish this. It was honest, cozy in parts, raw in others and now it’s a new favourite read.

This isn’t even out yet and I already can’t wait for the second book.

Thank you so much for the arc, I shall now scream from the mountain tops about how much I loved this book.

5/5⭐️’s