5⭐️ (actually like 15 billion bajillion)

REBECCA GIVE ME THE 2ND BOOK RIGHT THIS INSTANT. I NEED IT NOW. NOWWWWWWW.
This book is everything to me. For me, a 5 star read is a book where you get to the end and you immediately want to start it over again. The romance was GIVING what it needed to GIVE. I can’t stop thinking about it. Historical fantasy with magical elements. Highly recommend to anyone who is new to fantasy or loves romance to be at the forefront. I am really excited to see what Rebecca does with this story! I loved the magical aspects of this book and can’t wait to see how she expands the world.

Things I loved:
-Characters, great development, great cast. Amazing.
-Romance, rivals to lovers! GIMME MORE
-The BANTER. The TENSION. I AM PASSING AWAY.
-the plot, the world-building, everything about the writing

Things I didn’t love:
-If I had to choose something, maybe a little bit more fantasy aspects.

Tropes:
-rivals to lovers
-tension and slow burn
-hilarious banter
-found family

TW: grief, death, war violence, alcoholism, drowning (take care of your mental health, message me if you have questions about any of the above TW)

Summary from publisher:
When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Let me begin by saying it will be a long, cold and cruel wait for the sequel and I might cry a little. Now, this book was so great. I was so intrigued by the mix between that harsh reality and the mythical elements, but it was done so subtly that the human side of the story’s the one that shines brightest. It’s a story about human connection, love, courage, hopes and dreams. I adored the main characters, their banter and the development of their relationship. Despite not being such a long book, the characters have well developed backgrounds and inner struggles that don’t get trampled by the main plot, instead they enhance it. The side characters are also very charming, and I caught myself rooting for all of them, not just the main duo. I do hope the sequel expands on the mythological side of the book. If you enjoy a character centered story with heartfelt plot sprinkled with a little magic, this one’s for you.

A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In my opinion, Divine Rivals is the best of Rebecca Ross's work so far. THIS BOOK IS STUNNING. It is unique, romantic, TENSE, and heart-wrenching. I can't say enough good things.

First of all, the premise sets it apart from other YA/NA fantasy. The world is a mix of gods and monsters, and World War I. I absolutely love learning about WWI, and I often feel like it's overshadowed by WWII. It's absolutely heart-wrenching to read a fantasy that includes all the elements of WWI and the early 1900s: trench fighting, bombs, gas bombs, typewriters, high class versus low class, etc. I think Rebecca Ross perfectly combines history with fantasy in a way that makes sense and is thrilling to read.

The other thing I LOVE about this book is the romance; it has rivals to lovers, he falls first, and hidden identity. Roman is absolutely divine, and watching his relationship grow with Iris was an absolute pleasure.

This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see where it goes next. It's has a fabulous story that had me reading far past my bedtime. I can't recommend it enough!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, Wednesday Books and NetGalley, for the arc!

Trigger/Content Warnings: one brief open door, war violence and gore, death of a parent

I requested an ARC of this book because the cover was pretty. Little did I know it would have me crying on my couch multiple times before it was over.

This is my first novel by Rebecca Ross and she has now been instantly added to my favorites list. Her writing is so beautiful and I felt such a deep connection with her characters from the very beginning. Also - the romance?!? I love a good rivals-to-lovers, but the relationship Ross created is so much more than a trope. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so emotionally attached to a fictional couple and now I’m very upset I have to wait until book two for more!

If it’s not obvious, I definitely recommend this book!! It’s sublime, transcendent, divine, and all the other synonyms. ;)

Not gonna lie, I’m a bit disappointed in this book...The writing was beautiful! Like Victoria Schwab levels of perfection. However I started to lose interest at around 60% when it became more obvious there was nothing but a sweet slow burn romance to keep me going the remaining 40%. I wound up skimming the rest just to see how the story ended.

Had there been more emphasis on the plot and the gods this story would’ve been an easy 5-star read for me. The ending sets up an interesting storyline for the second book in this series. Not sure if I’ll continue reading…

I feel like Ross is such an underrated writer! I never see people talk about her books as much across social media and it is unfortunate because I personally have read and loved every single book she's written.

The beginning took a while to piece together but it ultimately stays true to what the synopsis says - it gives me all the Lore vibes and I personally loved that book as well. Only instead of taking place in the modern world, it takes place in the 1940s I believe. Iris and Roman were just the perfect enemies to lovers couple! They're both fighting for a spot at their jobs and it was just so entertaining. They're both really likable in their own way.

My only critique is that the descriptions were hard to place at times, but that is typical for a Ross book because she likes to reveal pieces and twists at later times. I'm thinking we're just quite meant to know yet and we'll get more tidbits in book two.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one but, wow!
I really loved it!

It's set in a fantasy world that mirrors a lot of reality.

When war breaks out, Iris's older brother goes off to fight.
Iris finds herself taking a journalist job to help pay the bills.
There she meets another journalist, and they eventually fall for each other.

I really loved this unexpected book!

Two centuries ago, the Skyward and Underlings Gods had been defeated and buried but the underling god, Dacre, mysteriously awakened seven months ago and now there's a war between him and another awakened god, the Skyward Enva. Enva's music calls people to war for her and Iris Winnow's brother Forest has heard the call. He makes her promise to stay in school and says he'll be back in a few months when the war is won but after months of not hearing from him, Iris is worried. She's also had to drop out of school, try and take care of her alcoholic mother, and battle for the promotion at the Oath Gazette where she's worked for three months. Roman Kitt comes from privilege but Iris still can't help being drawn to him. As their rivalry has them clashing and bonding, the war on the horizon gets all too real.

She unfolded and read the letter. She felt her breath catch.
This isn’t Forest.

Divine Rivals is the first in series about war, gods, and love. This didn't have quite the explanation or world-building that I was looking for in it's fantasy aspects. I think this was due in part to keeping some mystery, why the gods awakened and the true story of Dacre and Enva has obviously been held back to stretch into a series and the development of the romance between Iris and Roman was more of the focus here. I felt the romance was a little weak, there's a lot of dragged out high emotion, that probably does fit the YA tag, but not a lot of relationship substance to hold onto. I also felt that the second half had this edging more into New Adult, Iris is eighteen and Roman nineteen, with their thoughts and actions and a sex scene; wasn't graphic, more “skin-to-skin” and “luminous” talk.

He deserved this, though. It was his fault that he was his father’s sole heir. He deserved to be miserable.

The time period felt World War I-ish, trams, typewriters, slicked back hair, and braces and piggy-backed on that known atmosphere of war breaking out and how it was real for the countries involved but felt so far away to other countries and they weren't concerned. With Iris and Roman working at a newspaper, there was some good connection to how propaganda works and why papers print and don't print what they do. With Iris feeling frustrated at the paper and wanting to discover what has happened to her brother, it set her up nicely to become a war correspondent and bring her and the reader to the action at the front lines. In the first half, the only fantasy we really get is talk of the gods, a magical grocery store, and the magic behind Iris typing out a letter that she wishes she could send to her brother Forest, sticking it in her closet, having it mysteriously disappear, and someone writing her a letter back. I'm sure it's not a big mystery who is getting the letter and writing back. Magic, wanting to escape from an engagement his father set-up, and missing Iris, Roman takes the steps to join Iris at the front.

He would always be grateful for his decision that night, not so long ago. The night when he decided to write her back.

The second half moved faster with some action, we get to meet some other secondary characters, Dacre's monsters make appearances, and we get Iris and Roman living through some trench warfare. The latter second half has Iris finding out who was writing her, her correspondent knew the whole time, working through those feelings, and then the last twenty percent has Iris and Roman making a commitment. The ending also has Dacre showing up, along with someone from Iris' past, and we get Iris and Roman separated to have to find each other in the next book. The brief myth we got of the five gods sounds interesting but there just wasn't enough invested in the fantasy elements in this to necessarily make me want to read the second, the same with the romance between Iris and Roman. Enva and Dacre had a very Persephone and Hades vibe but, again, they didn't really show up. This basically had the dragged out to stretch into a series slowness and even though I have questions, I'm not sure my attention was grabbed enough to want answers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the eARC of Divine Rivals!

I loved this book from start to finish. I loved the letter writing, the introduction of the characters, and the host of friends collected along the way. This has become one of my favorite Rebecca Ross books -- and she is now an instant author purchase for me.

I loved the typewriter magic, the descriptions of the characters' emotions, and how real the whole world felt.

10/5 stars for me. One of my top books of the year.

"I think we all wear armor. I think those who don't are fools, risking the pain of being wounded by the sharp edges of the world, over and over again. But if I've learned anything from those fools, it is that to be vulnerable is a strength most of us fear. It takes courage to let down your armor, to welcome people to see you as you are. Sometimes, I feel the same as you: I can't risk having people behold me as I truly am. But there's also a small voice in the back of my mind, a voice that tells me, 'You will miss so much by being so guarded.'"

I absolutely adored this book! Set as a historical fantasy with fighting gods, Iris Winnow decides to go to the front as a corresponder to report on the war. Throw in her rival, Roman Kitt, and we're set for fun banter and the most adorable rivals to lovers! Meanwhile, Iris is writing letters to another mysterious man & able to bare her soul in away she's never been able to with anyone else.

Historical mythological fantasy meets You've Got Mail "esque" love letters and rivalry.

I read it in less than 24 hours & I already cannot wait for the next one!

"He thought about who he had been before he had met her. Before she had stepped into the Gazette. Before her letter had crossed his wardrobe door. He thought about who he wanted to be now that her hand was in his. He would always be grateful for that decision that night, not so long ago. That night when he decided to write her back."

Divine Rivals is an absolutely charming YA Historical Romantasy set in a fantastical WWI-esque era world where two gods are at war with one another. At the heart of the novel is Iris Winnow and her arch nemesis Roman Kitt, both columnists at a newspaper in a large city called Oath. When Iris, in desperation to reach her brother, who has gone off to fight in the war, types a letter on a magical typewriter gifted by her grandmother and shoves the letter under her wardrobe, she mysteriously receives a response, not from her brother, but from someone else who seems to share her same passions. Iris is soon confronted with another loss and sets out to cover the war from the front lines and is soon joined by none other than her rival.

Predictable enemies to lovers trope, but utterly delightful in its execution. Winnow and Kitt are an adorable couple that you cannot help falling in live with. Ross also does a phenomenal job at world building and leaves ample room to expand this new universe, its characters, and its religion in follow up books.

Recommended for fans of YA romance and fantasy and is clean enough for younger teens.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Rebecca Ross for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Iris Winnow is a newspaper columnist working alongside her nemesis Kitt Roman

Color me obsessed! I need book two NOW! I had no clue what this book was about or what it was going to be like, but I absolutely loved it. I really enjoyed the whole premise of the book and that ending had me actually screeching because I was so distraught. I cannot wait for book two and this one isn’t even officially out yet!!! I just need to know what happens to Iris and Roman because I am wholly and fully invested in them as characters.

I really applaud the author for how they handled the topics of grief from both Iris and Romans perspectives. It made my heart crack and made me just want to befriend both of them. I did feel that the romance between the two of them felt a little forced and maybe a bit unnecessary, but on the other side of the coin I am obsessed that Roman literally walked into a warzone for Iris and proved to her how much he wanted to be with her. I could not handle it!

I also definitely got some strong The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy vibes with the whole magic closet that would deliver letters to Roman and Iris from one another. The way that he fell in love with her through the honesty of her writing in the letters made me actually swoon. I do hate the mild “hidden identity” concept as Roman did kind of lie to Iris and lead her on by using his middle name as his correspondent name. JUST USE YOUR REAL NAME AND THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED!

Overall, I really loved this book. I would definitely recommend it and also would recommend the audio version of this because it did give more depth to the emotions that the characters were feeling at certain moments of the book!

⚠️TW: war, addiction, death, death of parent, alcoholism, violence, domestic abuse

Thank you @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review! All of the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book wasn’t at all what I expected and I absolutely loved it. The character development, rich plot, slow steady pace was all that I’ve come to love with a Rebecca Ross book. Some books grab your attention right away with fast action, but this story immerses you into these characters’ lives. The connection between characters is where this book shines. It’s in the small moments that you really get to know these two war correspondents reporting on a war ragging between gods.

This book was all about the romance and I wasn’t mad about it. I loved the rival relationship between Iris and Roman. This has the sweetest romance with plenty of heartbreaking moments that you’d expect in a war story.

This is historical fantasy. I loved the details of the frontline and the tense moments of war. At fist I was unsure of the time setting. It’s not clearly defined, but I started to get WW2 vibes and just went with it in my head. The world building was slow, unveiling piece by piece as the story progressed. The fantasy elements stay light in the beginning. At some points you could even forget you’re reading a fantasy. Then the ending hits you hard in the face that this isn’t a regular war. I’ve got a feeling that book two will dive much deeper into the world building and fantasy elements.

Usually when I’m reading a series, I have a idea of where I think the story is going. This time I’m truly clueless. The ending left me gasping and angry that I have to wait so long for book two.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Rebecca Ross can weave words together in such a stunning way. Her writing style is so unique and beautiful. I loved Iris and Roman and their story. I saw this book described as “heartbreakingly beautiful” and that felt like the perfect description. A little too bleak for me sometimes, but it was worth it for the story, the friendships, and the romance.

Thank you Netgally for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Winnow writes for a local paper. She's competing for a promotion while simultaneously trying to keep her mother from succumbing completely to her addiction and also worrying endlessly about her brother off at war. A war started by the gods who were until recently slumbering. Window starts writing letters and slips them under her wardrobe door where they vanish. And soon she is receiving letters back from a man, who she doesn't know is her handsome rival at work, Roman Kitt. As Winnow develops feelings for this stranger, she embarks on a journey to find her brother and document a war.

I love this. It's a story of grief and war and finding love. An epistolary, magical sweet enemies to lovers. I loved the magic of the how the letters are sent! I liked both characters and I loved their compatibility and where the story goes. The mythology brought to life around the war was present without being overbearing and even though I wanted to know a little more, it was fine not knowing more. The story isn't complete at the end of this book, so we have to wait for the neighbors to find out what happens next. I really liked the choice to have the war correspondents' perspectives on this war - about war without it being about soldiers or politicians.

Pub Date: April 4th

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and St. Martins Press for an advanced copy of this book!

Divine Rivals 🌕🌕🌕🌕/5

Summary: Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt are two news correspondents who are edgy, competitive and complete opposites. An immortal war between the Gods is raging in the West where Iris’ brother has been deployed.
As Iris begins typing letters bound for Forest they begin to magically disappear, however there comes an unexpected response.
The story that unfolds is one in which even Iris could not fathom writing.

What I Liked:
- Enemies to Lovers trope.
- Iris’s character is meticulously stitched into the story with raw emotion.
- The climax was unexpected.
- How words themselves carry more power than action alone.

What Could Have Been Improved:
- Dacre & Enva failed to impact the plot. They were distant and their parts in the story required more action, dialogue and not just lore.

Final Thoughts:

This book created a whirlwind of emotions for me and thats what made it perfect. The main characters, Iris and Roman are undoubtedly loveable and a couple who will remain in your heart forever. There was a deep exploration of self, grief, hope, and fierce love. A must read!

Thank you to Wednesday Books, St. Martins Press for the eARC.

Iris Winnow has been working as a journalist ever since her brother left to fight in the God's War a few months ago. She loves writing and wants to work her way up, reporting about things that matter. This would be easy for her to do if it weren't for her rival, Roman Kitt, vying for the same job as her. Feeling lonely and missing her brother, Iris writes him letters and slides them under her wardrobe door only for them to magically disappear. But instead of being magically delivered to her brother, someone else is receiving them... and now starting to write back. Connected by magic, Iris has no idea that her own rival, Roman, is actually the one reading and replying to her letters. As she falls in love with this mystery boy, Iris begins to face the tragedies and harsh realities that come with a war just around the corner from her. She must open her heart and gather her courage in the days coming or she could lose just about everything.

Divine Rivals is the kind of book you pick up and cannot put down. I couldn't get enough of Iris and Roman and had to see how their story ends. The world was grittier than I imagined, but interspersed throughout with fairytale-like magic. Though there were some plot points that I felt were a bit rushed, I immensely enjoyed the book overall. Iris and Roman displayed great courage and devotion throughout the story and I cannot wait to continue their journey in book two. I will definitely be recommending this book to other fans of fantasy and romance.

Thank you so much to Net Galley, the publisher, and author for providing this book for my honest review. I am so in love with this book. I have enjoyed everything I have read by Rebecca Ross, but this is my absolute favorite so far. I can not wait for the sequel! This book ends on the most delicious cliff hanger and I can not wait for more! This enemies to lovers romantic fantasy is so beautifully written. It hooks you from the start and keeps the reader interested the entire time. Thank you again to Net Galley, the publisher, and author for providing this amazing book for my review. I loved every minute of it!

I will start the review by saying I’m bias because I already love this author. But this was her best book she was written! It picks up as soon as you start reading it. The world building is laid out and the little bit of magic makes sense. It reminds me of Atonement with a hint of Greek mythology. I loved how it didn’t overdue the magic and everything happened for a reason.
Roman is to die for. Him falling first and giving his all to Iris. It is swoon worthy. I know I’m the second book this author plans to develop his character so much more. Iris was amazing and really beautifully written as a strong female lead. I love how the author showed grief through actions and let the character discover what was setting her back.
I can’t say that this story is completely enemies to lovers because the characters are quick to start noticing the attraction to each other. But the slow burn was definitely there. I love the side characters as much as the two lovers. I really can’t wait to see what this author does with the next book!

I'm not sure I've ever loved an author as much as I love Rebecca Ross! Every story she writes is more amazing than the last. As usual, I was sucked into the story from page one, and I did not want to put this book down. The writing is beautiful and immersive and lyrical. I really enjoy that she just jumps right into the story and I never feel like I’m wading through a bunch of world building before actually getting excited about what I'm reading. Though at the same time I still get enough info to follow along. I loved the premise of this story. l love lris and Roman and the progression of their relationship. I love that I felt all kinds of emotions, and that the pain only made everything more beautiful. And I loved that the beautiful moments snuck up on me, but I was still able to figure them out a moment before they happened in the most delicious way possible. I absolutely cannot wait to find out what happens in the sequel!