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

This book was one of those books. You know, the kind you think about for days afterwards, the kind you sink into, the kind where you fall in love with reading all over again. (The kind that give you a book hangover for sure!)

I absolutely adored every word. It was engrossing to the max. The characters, the world building, the magical buildings and typewriters, the ROMANCE. It’s the good stuff y’all. I am majorly invested in Iris and Roman, and their love story is iconic and beautiful and sweet and endearing and timeless.

The writing is of course, stunning. Rebecca Ross is now an auto buy/read for me, and I cannot wait for the second book. Like seriously.

When I started this book I didn’t really know what I was signing up for. Like rivals that write letters to each other and fall in love? That is the basic story but this book is so much more. It made my laugh, cry, smile and broke my heart several times over. I freaking loved Iris and Roman and the other amazing characters as well like Mairsol and Attie. They, like characters from Rebecca Ross’ other books I have read, are all so likeable, reasonable and just characters I can easily root for. The romance was just so good and melted my heart and soul. It was a lovely rivals to lovers romance that I was swooning over.

I picture the setting like 1940s, WW II but with gods and monsters. This is definitely a war story. It doesn’t depict the victory and glory of the war but the people that fight in the war and ones that are just living the best they can. I love the letters, history of Enva and Dacre and the drops of fantasy elements.

Overall, loved this book so much I immediately checked when the next one would be released (unfortunately I have to wait until 2024). Rebecca Ross is definitely on my favorite authors list now. I have read 5 books of hers and she does not disappoint.

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

An amazing novel of family, friendship and love with a slight hint of magic and gods. The story was made original by the introduction of setting and circumstance. The characters are relatable and multi-dimensional. I could not put it down and am eager to read the next installment in the series.

This one is a DNF for me, I got about half way through but I just can't anymore. I don't enjoy the characters, and I'm confused about the whole war aspect being told from a news paper. I think it would have been more interesting being told from the POV of one of the soldiers on the front lines. I also can't really place when this is set, it seems somewhat modern but not at the same time. The magic also doesn't really make sense and at this point, I'm forcing myself to read it to finish another book, so I'm stepping away. Others may enjoy this one but its not for me

This was my first Rebecca Ross novel and it certainly will not be my last. I really loved this book and even though it was just published, I'm already foaming at the mouth for the second book.

The story opens with a war between two gods, who have been asleep for centuries, as mortals have overthrown them. As the war rages on the FMC, Iris, is competing with Roman, the MMC for a position as a columnist at their city's most prestigious newspaper. This newspaper is ignoring the war while Iris' brother has gone off to fight. While dealing with personal trauma, Iris finds that her letters to her brother, if slipped under her wardrobe, are disappearing. Little does she know, they are making their way to her work enemy: Roman.

The concept of this novel is pretty unique. A blend of mythology, enemies to lovers, and 1920s meets Industrial Revolution, the story molds all of these ideas seamlessly, while still keeping me engaged as a reader. The author creates a world that is full of mystery, hope, grief, and love, all while creating a mythos without actually revealing too much, since we as readers are learning along with Iris and Roman. We, like the characters, truly are brought into a situation where the answers are not given easily and that is more complicated than anyone really knows. I loved that I was learning along with the characters. This may be something that drives other readers crazy, but I thought it was really clever and avoided the issues that plague other books that have world building, where they tell you what is happening rather than immerse you in the world.

The writing was beautiful. There were so many parts of this novel where I read a line and had to stop because the author's words made me think. And the relationship between Iris and Roman was believable and well done. I could feel their tension as they navigated their own issues while taking solace in one another.

Overall, if you love multiple POVs, enemies to lovers, magic systems, mythology, war stories, and beautiful, thoughtful writing this book is for you. And trust me, if you read it, you won't regret it. This book 100% lives up to the hype it's receiving online.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. And thank you to Rebecca Ross for writing such a great novel!

This was a romance novel instead of fantasy and was absolutely nothing like Shadow and Bone, like the summary claims. The story was mainly told from Iris's point of view, but snippets from Roman were sprinkled here and there which I honestly did not care for. His viewpoint didn't add anything to the story expect his feelings for Iris. Only a small portion of the plot takes place at the Gazette like the summary talks about, but the rest of the book takes place near the battlefield. The historical romance and instant love through writing letters took up the majority of the book with little left for the plot between the warring gods which was a letdown.

All the stars! This is my favorite book of the year thus far and completely swept me away. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator had the perfect accent and voice for the story.

Enemies to lovers, slow burn, and a peculiar magical element make this book a cocktail of fun. I loved getting dual POVs and being inside the head of a journalist. This felt like one of those stories that had a book within due to the writing correspondence you get to read that is written by the main characters.

It was whimsical and absolutely squeezed my heart. This is a part of a series, and it does leave on a cliffhanger but don’t wait for book 2…read this now!

LGBTQ+ rep: F/F side character relationship

Two rival journalists from two very different walks of life must compete for a single spot at the Oath Gazette. With her brother fighting the war at the front, her mother in the throws of alcoholism, and the stress of keeping the bulls paid Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe…where they vanish. By some divine magical connection right into the hands of Roman Kitt. Her rival. But when Iris goes to the front lines as a war correspondent the letters are her lifeline.

I mean, of course I’m obsessed. It’s Rebecca Ross. Her writing is so beautiful and the stories she weaves are magical and this is no exception. I think I say this in every review I leave for her but there is a rhythmic lyricism that is reflected in the cadence of her writing.

There are some heavy issues in this book with a war setting, alcoholic parent (and death thereof) so definitely mind the content warnings.

With Newsroom vibes and a 1920’s-esque setting it was familiar yet with a new mythology. I’m still not 100% sure I totally get the war of the gods, but I think that’s intentional as this is book 1.

And the love? And tension? Here for it! Rivals to lovers...yes please!

I highly recommend this one and am already looking forward to book 2.

Roman "Can I get me one?" Kitt

This was an interwoven tale with threads of banterrific romance, the many facets of grief, found family, and the devastation of war. I need to know how the rest of the story will unfold.

Two rival journalists, Iris and Roman, are fighting for the same position at their employer. Iris writes letters to her brother, Forest-off fighting in the war, and sticks them in her wardrobe, where they subsequently disappear. She doesn't know that Roman is the person who receives them. One day he decides to write back and their whole lives change.

This book was beautiful and atmospheric. The idea of living gods in a modern world is fascinating to me. The world-building gave a heavy dose of late 1800s-early 1900s atmosphere, all while creating the beginnings of a big brother dystopia. Iris and Roman were lovable characters, and while they were complete opposites, they faced struggles that they both could relate to. The supporting characters were all vibrant in their own ways and I hope to see what became of everyone in the next book!