DNF at 51%.
I think this book is more a "it's me, not you" type of deal. Divine Rivals feels like a WW1/2 story jazzed up with some hazy fantasy world-building that often left me wanting *more* than what the book was offering.
The world is very, very similar to our own, expect gods and goddesses are tangible beings that wage war against each other for various reasons (supposedly). The gods are featured very little in this story (at least up to 51%), even with an entire war being because of them. There is some magic also happening behind the scenes, but they felt more included to add a little extra something to a otherwise bland story.

I firmly believe that this book will be in my top 10 of 2023, yes it’s only March 5th, BUT I AM THAT CONFIDENT!!

This book had me clutching at my heart, laughing, screaming, crying, throwing up, kicking my feet, sobbing, gasping, AND MORE. Seriously I think I experienced every emotion a person can while reading this book. I have absolutely zero complaints, this book is perfect and I will hear no slander!

Ross’ writing is IMPECCABLE!! It was so beautiful and every line felt like a gut punch, an attack on my soul, and I couldn’t get enough! I think I literally highlighted half the book. I could vividly picture everything that was happening and I literally binge read this book and read 80% of this in less than 24 hours. To say I’m obsessed, is an understatement! This has now become a part of my personality and everyone will have to listen to me talk about it forever. This is my first book by Rebecca Ross and she’s now an insta-buy author for me, it was that good.

Our main characters, Iris and Roman, were absolutely perfect and wonderful and I WILL protect them at all costs so haters get back!!! I LOVE that this was dual POV and I feel like we really got to know both of them so well. I really connected with them and cared for them and my heart ACHES for them so much. They’re both still so young and have been through SO MUCH and I want to give them a hug and cup of hot chocolate or something. Their relationship is so intense but so beautiful and I want to cry just thinking about it!! I also absolutely loved and adored Attie and Marisol.

The plot itself was also immaculate. Letter writing? Newspaper rivals? Everything else that happens ???? (Id go into specifics but, ya know, spoilers) PERFECTION!!

I really could go on and on about how much I loved this book, but instead, I’ll just say GO READ THIS WHEN IT COMES OUT ON APRIL 4th!!! PLEASE!! I NEED PEOPLE TO SCREAM ABOUT IT WITH IM GOING TO PERISH!!!

Thank you so so much to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with this eARC!

Wow. Wow. Wow. Rebecca Ross your words punch me straight in the heart!

This book felt like a historical fiction with the elements of war and journalism. But mixed with the fantasy, mythology, and magic of the story, it was a truly unique experience to read.

This has me feeling everything. I cried. I laughed. I swooned. I was on the edge of my seat.

Iris & Roman are both very well fleshed out characters. I fell in love with them both and was rooting for them from early in the book.

The letters!! I highlighted a lot of moments in this book, but the majority was in the letters! Oh my goodness 🫠🥹😭.

Literally this book cracked my heart open.

I need the next book, like now. Please and thank you.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review an advance copy.

𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬
By @beccajross
𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 4.4.23
5⭐️

I 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 this book from cover to cover! The setting was so atmospheric that I was utterly entranced and invested quickly after starting. It’s definitely fantasy but also feels like you’re reading a historical romance with a few dystopian elements.

Amid a world at war between two gods that recently awoke from a long slumber, Iris is an aspiring journalist who’s competing against her wealthy rival, Roman, for a coveted columnist position at one of the city papers.

Iris’ brother has gone to war and hasn’t been heard from so she starts sending him letters using the typewriter her Nan gifted her and sliding them under the wardrobe door. At first the letters go unanswered.. until one day she receives a response and strikes up an unlikely friendship that turns to love with none other than her rival, Roman.

This story was both heartbreaking and hopeful. I loved that it felt like I was reading mythology at times. When Iris traveled to the war front it really felt like I was reading a historical romance. You get the best of so many different genres in this one story.

The enemies to lovers trope for upper YA was done perfectly here. The solid romantic connection is built so effortlessly that you don’t need any spice or adult romance to believe the chemistry between these two characters.

Magical books like this one are exactly why I love the fantasy genre. ✨ I just don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next book, because this one was SO good!

Big thank you to the author, @wednesdaybooks , and @netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I will post to all socials today and tomorrow (3/10/23 and 3/11/23) and link them as soon as they are posted.

As someone who struggles with reading historical anything I throughly enjoyed this one. RR has an amazing way of transporting you right into whatever world she creates and I think most people are going to enjoy the start of an exciting new series.

One thing that stands out to me is the more tragic and heavy elements that were included in this story. Everything was done beautifully to the point you will laugh, cry, root for your favorite rival, and feel their grief like it was your own. Any author that can create a truly balanced story containing war, rivals, love, grief, joy, and loss is an author I will continue to read.

4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advance copy of this book!

I honestly didn’t know much about this book going into it, but once I got started I was definitely intrigued by the premise. Who doesn’t love rivals who are unknowingly (partially) communicating with each other? The newspaper setting created a fast-paced environment full of banter and sassy quips, that quickly transitions to war-torn countryside still full of banter, but also full of danger.

I zipped through this book, and I definitely found it engaging. While I loved how the fast-paced writing mirrors the rapidly changing landscape of war, I wanted a little bit more, especially of Roman. His chapters trickle off around the midpoint and we stay primarily with Iris. I found them both interesting, albeit slightly immature, but they are 18 and 19 and living in a war, so the accelerated aspects of their relationship make sense within the context. There are some great supporting characters as well, and I’m hoping that we will get to see more of them in future books.

While I enjoyed the book overall, the last third felt rushed. I appreciate how this goes along with the idea of how things can drastically change and change quickly in wartime, but I think some of the details could’ve been more fleshed out. Particularly the very end and what happens with Iris. We get a major moment, and then a journey that is totally skimmed through! I wanted a little bit more from it.

All in all, I’m interested to see where this story goes in future books and I really enjoyed it! Definitely 4⭐️ from me.

Once again, Rebecca Ross has written an amazing novel. I shouldn’t be surprised and I’m not really. She’s an amazing writer. What DID surprise me is that I ended up loving Divine Rivals even more than A River Enchanted, which is no easy feat!

Iris and Roman work together at the Oath Gazette, competing for the columnist spot. In the background, a war rages between the gods. A war in which Iris’s brother fights and hasn’t been heard from. In her distress, Iris writes her brother letters and they disappear once she places them in her wardrobe. Iris believes they’re finding their way to her brother, so imagine her surprise when she gets a letter back. “This isn’t Forest.”

This novel has everything to love. Magic, love, 1920s newsroom vibes and partially epistolary narrative. I just can’t get over how good this book was. I already want to reread it. Don’t snooze on it when it come out!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! The characters felt so real, their relationship was so fun to read, and the writing itself was beautiful.

The rivals-to-lovers trope was handled so well and felt very believable! Nothing felt rushed or contrived. I can't get over how sweet and clever the story of their relationship was!

Iris had a lot of depth to her and I enjoyed getting to see how she saw the world.

Roman is so charming and sweet! I just love him, lol!

Literally the only thing keeping this from being 5 stars for me was the plot point near the end that used an utter lack of communication that a character just...went along with for days. I didn't find that part believable and was getting so frustrated.

But overall, I really loved this book! I can't wait for the sequel and don't want to wait so long!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.75⭐️
I loved nearly every single thing about this book, the characters, the plot, the world building, it was amazing.

Two things to keep in mind: the fantasy aspect of this book is mythology heavy, rather than magical powers. Second, the rivals to lovers plot takes up most of the first half, and then the war comes in the second half.

The world is introduced at a perfect pace throughout the novel, mostly through the characters discussing myths. I never felt like I was missing information, nor was anything too info heavy.

This was the first fantasy book I’ve read where the war was still heavy on guns/bombs instead of magic/swords, and I really enjoyed it. The author had such a great way of drawing me into the setting and I was on the edge of my seat in the war scenes.

The characterization was perfect. I loved that the characters were a lil different when writing their letters vs. when they were in person because it shows how much easier it is to be yourself when you’re hiding behind a shield. The only thing I wish is that the book was more diverse. The book mentions that the MC is lower class, but there’s no major discussion about prejudice in this universe.

Overall, this book made me laugh, cry, smile, and then ripped me heart out, and I cannot wait for the second one.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so incredible. Ross has a way of weaving hope in war, love in loss, and light in utter grief. Her prose is lyrical, ethereal yet grounded. In the daily struggles of day-to-day living, whether that be on a battlefield, hospital tent, war trench, or writing room, Ross sprinkles moments of raw love, found family, and brazen determinism.
This is my first read by Ross, and I am now a forever fan.
Divine Rivals will make you laugh, cry, hold your loved ones tight, and shout "WTF!" into the night. This is a must-read! Thank you so much, Netgalley, for this opportunity!

If you know me or have hovered around my Instagram for any period of time, you know that I am not a romance reader. I like my books to be about adventures, and if the characters must be in love, I would like them to do it as a subplot off to the side. Somehow, Rebecca Ross has managed to write a love story that I may never get over. This book is very obviously, from the beginning, a romance and because of that, I was skeptical. But Rebecca Ross has quickly become one of my favorite authors, so I trusted her and I requested the ARC on Netgalley and when I was approved I put it off for longer than I should have because oh my goodness, this might be the best book I've read so far this year.

When Rebecca Ross writes romance, she doesn't do it at the expense of individual character development like many romances I've read. Instead, the characters grow together and push each other to do better and work harder. As the romance develops, so do the characters, in a way that feels very true to real life. Ross' characters are so realistic that they could walk out of the pages of this book into the real world and you'd never know they were figments of her imagination. Ross also avoids letting her plot hide behind the romantic elements of her story. There is an adventure to be had, and the plot will move forward without waiting for romance to catch up.

I want to know everything about this world, about the warring gods, the history, the lore and the mechanics of certain events and effects. I would read a textbook about this universe if Rebecca Ross wrote it. There is so much rich worldbuilding in this book and I know there is so much more to come in book 2. The tragic downside of being gifted early copies is the extra wait time for a sequel, so consider this my advanced request for the next ARC ASAP.

Thank you to Wednesday books and Netgalley for my eARC.

This book was amazing. I couldn’t put it down. Everything this author writes is magical. I would recommend it.

-epistolary romance
-rival journalists
-mythology
-war between gods

4.5/5 stars

Rebecca Ross's writing is SO GORGEOUS. She really has such a way with words. I think this is my first epistolary novel and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. I do wish there was a bit more fantasy elements to the story. It was very in the background and part of the story, but I wish we were shown a bit more of that (hoping this will happen in the sequel). That being said, Ross sure does know how to write a swoonworthy romance!


Content Warnings:
Graphic: War, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Child death, Sexual content, and Alcoholism

Thank you so much, NetGalley, for an E-Arc for review!!!

This book had perhaps the best execution of rivals to lovers trope I’ve read so far, & it had me kicking my feet, giddy, & blushing every time I picked it up. The world in this was so wildly interesting; it very much felt like a re-imagined fantastical world war 1 with humans & warring gods. It has mystery elements to its core that keep you guessing as things slowly are revealed to you while you read, & the action scenes were so wild at times it truly felt like I was watching a movie play out in front of me. The writing was also so lush and beautiful & passionate & lyrical & I truly cannot wait for the next installment! This is my first Rebecca Ross & I will absolutely be reading more from her!!

TW: Violence, blood, gore, Loss of a parent, alcoholism, abandonment

Quite enjoyed this! One of the rare more mainstream YA books that actually had great writing, plot, and characters.
There were so many quotes in this book where I just paused and reflected on them, cause they were profound or just beautiful. Kind of reminiscent of All the Lost Places but with a completely different genre. A few funny moments too.
Both points of view were intriguing and fun to read. Iris was spunky, full of life, and very human. Roman, more serious, but still human. They contrasted very well.
The main thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars is content.

I just have to share some of the quotes!
"Do you ever feel as if you wear armor, day after day? That when people look at you, they see only the shine of steel that you've so carefully encased yourself in? They see what they want to see in you - the warped reflection of their own face, or a piece of the sky, or a shadow cast between buildings."

"I don't want to wake up when I'm seventy-four only to realize that I haven't lived."

"It's not a crime to feel joy, even when things seem hopeless."

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC.

I do not have the words to describe how much I adored Divine Rivals. This book was a rollercoaster of emotion. One minute I was giggling and kicking my feet about Roman and Iris's relationship and the next I was crying about the hardships of war. The enemies/rivals to lovers was perfectly executed (don't get me started on how good the pining was!!!!!) It was so easy to get absorbed in the world due to its resemblance to 1940s England. I enjoyed the description of Enva and Dacre's conflict and how it rolled over to mortals. My biggest issue with this book is now I have to wait until at least 2024 to find out how the cliffhanger is resolved!

Divine Rivals is definitely being a romance in a fantasy setting rather than a fantasy with light romance. Most of the story revolves around relationships, including Iris and Roman's own romance and their familial relationships. However, I think Ross did a great job of balancing the main romance plot with the fantasy war setting. I honestly felt like I was getting the best of both worlds!

I cannot say enough good things about this book. It was just perfect, and I know I'll continue to revisit it in years to come.

Thank you to Netgalley, Rebecca Ross, and Wednesday Books for an advanced eArc in exchange for an honest review!

"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 that light."

DIVINE RIVALS is a multifaceted and nuanced novel written in an unexpected and beautiful way; layered with mythology, love (romantic and otherwise), and healing. I didn't want the book to end, and days after finishing it, I still find myself thinking about it often. It's set in a fictional location with fictitious warring gods, yet it was easy to believe the events were truly happening. Ross adeptly cultivated tension, grief, and hope, resulting in a reading experience with "all of the feels", for a lack of a better phrase.

"Do you think we could live in a world made only of those things? Death and pain and horror? Loss and agony? It's not a crime to feel joy, even when things seem hopeless."

The book is light on "magic" in the traditional sense, but I never found it lacking because of that. The way that the scenes were written while Iris was at the true front presented a cinematic quality, something that you don't always see when combined with a tender romance with complexities of its own. DIVINE RIVALS was so many things, and often, I find that it doesn't work when attempted, but the outcome in this case was absolutely sublime. I already wish that I could read it again for the first time. Many thanks to Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for the early copies in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"Perhaps it begins with one person. Someone you trust. You remove a piece of armor for them; you let the light stream in, even if it makes you wince. Perhaps that is how you learn to be soft yet strong, even in fear and uncertainty. One person, one piece of steel."

I was excited for this one given its interesting premise and seeing so many rave reviews but it just missed the mark for me. It started off a bit slow and the story’s organization felt a bit haphazard with how busy the plot was and the flimsy world building. While I can see where others would really enjoy this one, or where it’s sequel could rectify some of the issues I have with it, this book ended up just being middling and so-so for me.
Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rebecca Ross always impresses me. Her characters feel so authentic and real, I love how she weaves her stories together.

This one is a setting I don't often see, but the descriptions make it accessible in a breathtaking way. Little details make me feel the world could be a Ghibli movie. There is a casual whimsy about it that made me giddy.

The focus is on the romance. Which is developed in a refreshingly authentic way that is just not found in YA that often. In fact I found myself checking a few times to make sure this wasn't another Adult novel from her!

The characters popped off the page and their supporting cast made them shine. I recommend to anyone who is looking for 'romantasy' and an epic love story that will defy the lines of war.

I can't wait for the sequel!

Oh my gosh I don't even know where to begin with this book; I have nothing but great things to say about Divine Rivals. Rebecca Ross surpassed my expectations with her writing, and as an avid fantasy reader, it isn't an easy feat. I fell completely in love with this story from the very beginning and I was utterly unable to put it down. This charming, emotional, and devastating book will have my heart until the end of time, and my only complaint is that the sequel isn't coming out for a bit. I will be recommending Divine Rivals to everyone I know!
A million thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!