Mother Effing S. O. B. ARE YOU SERIOUS! How in the good Lord's name am I supposed to wait for the next one? SERIOUSLY! UGHHHHHHH

I absolutely loved this book! Enemies to lovers? Rivals to Lovers? Whatever you want to call it, I'm here for it! Magical typewriters? A God war? A story where the H and h aren't soldiers or warriors but rather journalists? What else should I need to say? Nothing, just add this to your TBR list for April 2023 when it releases and make it a priority, you will not be sorry.

***Goodreads Review contains spoilers***

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5181668103

#DivineRivals #IrisAtTheFrontBook1 #RebeccaRossAuthor
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #ARC2023 #ReleaseApril2023
#RivalsToLovers #WhyDidSheLetGo #HowCouldSheLetGo
#ForrestIsOnMyShitList #YAFantasy #YAFantasyRomance

***4.5 Stars (Rounded to 5)***

Overall,
I was honestly shocked how much I truly enjoyed this book. I have been in a bit of a reading slump lately, having a difficult time getting in to any one story. When I decided to give this a try it I had zero expectations and was so pleasantly surprised. Iris our heroine is different than most of the popular YA Fantasy novels today. Most of them are strong fighters and the best at everything or the chosen one. Iris is just a journalist who eventually becomes a war correspondent. Rebecca Ross definitely took inspiration from WWI but without it being heavy handed. I don't want to give away any of the plot, but I will say there is a nice dose of enemies to lovers romance in here with out taking away from the plot.

Cover,
I am not a big fan of this cover because it definitely did not grip me immediately. Now having read the story and looking at it again, I see all of the symbolism which I do like. However, if we are talking solely about shelf appeal this doesn't do much for me.

Recommendation,
Yes, Absolutely! I do not know how I am going to wait until next year to get my grubby little hands on the sequel to this book. This is a YA Fantasy with a side of Romance. I would say its more on the upper scale of YA maybe even teetering on NA since the themes are a bit dark. Also check out the trigger warnings. There is nothing too descriptive but this is a book about war so you can imagine there is some violence/aftermath of violence.

***I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books in exchange for my free and honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early #DivineRivals #NetGalley ***

4.5 ⭐️

Such a fantastic book a new series! I was intrigued only a couple pages in. You have Iris Winnow working at a newspaper competing with fellow rival, Roman Kitt for the columnist position. On top of that, the country is being ravaged by war started by an angry god wanting vengeance against goddess Enva.

I thought the premise was so interesting. Ancient gods using mortals to fight in their war? I’m in.

The setting is atmospheric and Ms. Ross captured the feelings that come with war (sadness, grief, and anger) really well.

The romance was everything and I stand by it. At 83% in, I was in the edge of my seat anxiously awaiting to see what happens. Ms. Ross did not disappoint! I had an inkling of what was happening, but little did I know.. I did not get the full picture. Omg and that ending?!? I NEEEED book 2. I’m really excited for book 2 and will sell my left kidney to get my hands on an ARC of it.

This book has everything I love: rivals to lovers, found family, gods and goddesses, a magical object and more!

I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves a good fantasy with a very loveable female MC with a romance that will defy all.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book I’m exchange for an honest review.

Strong characters with a strong setting and delivery. Very enjoyable, I wish that there was more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy.

Another beautiful book by Rebecca Ross.

I have long loved Ross’ work, but she catapulted to my favorite authors list with A River Enchanted. Now she’s returned to the YA world, bringing all the atmosphere and romance from ARE into this amazing book.

The prose is beautiful, the plot expertly crafted, the characters complex and moving, and the love story absolutely swoon worthy. The world felt like a beautiful echo of our own, filled with fantastical and familiar elements, and the exploration of love and loss, writing and war was beautifully done.

My only complaint is that I have to wait for the conclusion to this duology, especially after that terribly cliffhanger!

Absolutely wonderful!

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the copy of this ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

“I am coming to love him, in two different ways. Face to face, and word to word.”

Rebecca Ross is the queen of fantastical, beautiful, lyrical writing. This book is no different: her talent shines in this story about two rival journalists who are also sending secret letters to each other through magical wardrobes. This book starts off on the slower side but really picks up in both action and romance as Iris and Roman head to the warfront. I could’ve used more world-building instead of newspaper talk at the beginning of the book: I think it would’ve kept the pace a little more even and also let me understand what was happening in the war a little better in the second half of the book. But THAT ENDING. What a cliffhanger. I need book two.

4.5 stars, rated up

So finely written, this YA novel is full of gorgeously atmospheric magic and seems inspired by Studio Ghibli films - it’s chock full of adventure, magic, and romance. A beautiful romance and story of hope in the time of war. This has a vintage feel, in the best of ways.

I loved this story; Iris and Roman were everything, the slow burning tension between them was amazing, in spite of Iris’s very obvious low self esteem.

It began and remained, in a word, captivating but it ended on with a real brute of a cliffhanger 😣 and I really want to read more of this now.


I’m definitely going to read more of Ms. Ross’s work.


(TW - off page death of younger sibling, off page death of mother - body identified, scenes of war and mass casualties)

A war between gods, two rival journalists, two magic typewriters that brings their letters to each other (anonymously), and with each letter they fall more in love with each other.

This was a stunning new fantasy story by Rebecca Ross. I knew as soon as I read the summary that this would be an enchanting tale and I wasn’t wrong.

We have enemies to lovers, the found family trope, and a war against good and evil. I really liked the world building in this one as it was easy to follow and the interwoven myths of the gods at war made this a captivating tale.

The story opens up in a normal real world setting, one unlike what we all live in, with two journalists fighting for the same promotion. Iris and Roman are both stellar writers, and come from vastly different backgrounds.. Her brother is off in the war fighting and when she doesn’t receive any letters from him she begins writing her own letters, knowing they won’t reach him, with a typewriter from her grandmother. However, little does she know this typewriter is magical and is bringing her letters directly to Roman.

Off we go on this enemies to lovers tale where Roman is falling for his nemesis, and anonymously writing back to her.

I loved the slow burn romance in this fantasy and that even though the romance was obviously a focal point, the actual fantasy elements of the war did not take a back seat and it moved at a great pace.

Equal parts fantasy and romance, this book really exceeded my expectations. My only criticisms is that I did not love Iris, I found her to be quite meek and depressing, but she is also brave and did come to her senses a few times. I also felt that this book may have moved a little too fast, I wanted more build up between the two characters and more time watching their love blossom, but this is a YA fantasy which I’m sure played a lot into that. This is also, of course, closed door.

All in all, if you are interested in a charming yet haunting tale of two star crossed lovers during a time of war who fall in love by sharing their words with each other; then this is the fantasy novel for you.

Lastly, if you enjoy audiobooks definitely get this one! We have dual POVs and dual narrators and not only was the audiobook easy to follow, but the accents of the narrators also made me swoon. They have such lovely voices and I enjoyed listening to this very much.

📆 This publishes on April 4, 2023 so mark your calendars!

Thank you so much NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Rebecca Ross, and MacMillan audio - MacMillan Young Listeners for this ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was so beautifully written. I was so captivated by these characters and the build up to their love for each other. I love the premise of magical type writers too! Be prepared to laugh, to shake your head, and yes, even cry. It doesn’t end on a happy note. But it’s also not the end and I’m now anxiously awaiting the next book and hopefully when the series concludes I get my happily ever after lol Highly recommend this book if you like really sweet love stories.

Short Synopsis:
Iris and Roman work together at the newspaper. They are both competing for a promotion. All while there is a war with the gods and magical typewriters.

Thoughts:
After Ross’ A River Enchanted duology quickly became a favorite fantasy read, I had high expectations for this one. Divine Rivals started off slow for me, but it quickly picked up. The enemies-to-lovers romance was sweet. The magic was beautiful. And the war was heartbreaking. I really enjoyed this one, and will be impatiently waiting for book two of this duology.

If you’re a fan of YA fantasy, you’ll definitely want to read this one!

This book is a wonder. The WWI setting combined with the magical elements and gods at war completely drew me in. Then I became completely enamoured by the love story between Iris and Roman (I love me a You’ve Got Mail-style romance!) and Iris’s development through her loss. Ross writes both of the horrors of war and tender/funny moments between characters so fluidly. Currently my heart is broken over this book and I can’t stop thinking of the characters—I’m sitting on my hands waiting for the next book so it can hopefully break my heart some more and mend it together again.

Definitely a new favourite book for me!

Thank you to Wednesday Books/St. Martins Press/NetGalley for an e-ARC!

4.5 stars

At this point Rebecca Ross could write a to do list and I will probably read it. I was a little hesitant in picking this as I don't tend to favor romance focused books. I love romance in my books, but I don't prefer them to be the driving focus and Divine Rivals is very much romance focused - but done oh so exquisitely well. The way Ross can write a character's background, emotions and how it feeds into a growing relationship is just beautiful. Torin and Sidra have my heart, but Iris and Roman had me giddy like a school girl and my heart on the edge of my seat.

I think my only real complaint, which was a surprising one, is that I had trouble with the setting initially. I didn't quite pick up on the 1920s vibe until later as we do spend a good amount of the time focused on Iris. Its a small complaint and starts to show itself later on, so I'm not too pressed on it. The fantasy elements are very light. It is an intricate part of this world, but because the war is so removed from the city of Oath you don't feel it as much. We don't even learn too much about the Gods until half way through the book, but there are some important fantasy aspects within the main story itself that solidifies Divine Rivals as a romantasy. And judging by the ending I think we will get more fantasy vibes in the sequel.

I also really appreciated how well the characters' grief and guilt were dealt with. It was all very emotional and relatable, and woven into the story so well I could feel my heartbreaking for these characters.

In terms of pacing, the first half of the book is slower. We're really getting to know the characters and their lives. Mostly their hatred for each other and just inkling of perhaps.. something more. The second half, however, flies by. It is a rollercoaster of emotions that does not stop until the book does. I only meant to read a couple of chapters and ended up finishing the book at 3 AM, haha.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 3
Plot development: 4
Characters: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 4

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

Rivalry? Romance? Gods?
This books hooked me from page 1. This is my first book from this author and its certainly not my last. I love her beautiful writing style, it's very light and ethereal.
The characters were easy to connect with. I love Iris and Roman! The world building was kinda hard to follow but other than that I really enjoyed this book. And I can't wait for more.

I want to thank #Netgalley for letting me read the phenominal eArc of #DivineRivals by #RebeccaRoss.

The Gods have woken up and war has commenced. Iris Winnows brother Forest has answered the siren call of the Divine Goddess who wakes a hunger in those that hear her call that they cannot resist. Iris can't understand how her brother could just up and leave their struggling famimly but more so how he could just leave her on her own with her alcaholic moither. To do her best to keep her family afloat Iris works hard at the Oath Gazette and earn the promotion that can sky rocket her in her career. To get through the days she writes to her brother using the magical typewriter that her grandmother gifted her years ago. She slips the letters under her wardrobe door where they vanish and she assumes arrive to her brother. After months of writing though she has received no response and finds herself more and more consumed by the thought of finding her brother. Not to mention work has gotten difficult.
Her rival at the Oath Gazette Roman Kitt is gunning for the same position she wants and he has the wealth and luxuary of being able to get to and from work ontime and not haveing to worry about whether or not his lights stay on. However Romn has reasons of his own for desperately wanting this promotion if only that pesky Iris would go away.
Somehow they find themselves becoming sort of friends and spending more time together. Roman finds himself looking forwaard to seeing Iris and being challenged by her. When Iris loses her mother and then her job he finds himself trying to help her. Iris goes to the Oath Gazettes rival and is sent to the front lines of the war as a correspondant. Her life is forever changed by this expierience and she is determind to use it to spread the truth about the war and locate her missing brother.
Eventually Roman finds himself drawn to the front lines as a war correspondant as well and he hopes that in his journey he may find his way to Iris whom he has not been able to get off his mind even though he has spent many nights writing letters to a young woman that thinks her letters are going to someone else.


This book deals with grief, death and war. I truly hope you pick up this book and read it!

I was hesitant at first to request this book as the blurb didn't catch my eye as much but Rebecca Ross has steadily become my favorite author so I wanted to give it a shot. I am so glad that I did. This book is split POV between Iris and Roman as they both work to beat each other at gaining the position as columnist. I love that you get to see some of the character's writing like in the letters Iris hopes reach her brother at war. They sound like separate writing as though it were the character writing instead of Rebecca Ross which was amazing. I'd recommend this book if you like old timey feels along with fantasy, romantic tension, and found family. This was a 5/5 for me and I can't wait to purchase a copy when it releases.

The story follows two writers who meet while competing for a job as a columnist at a local newspaper. A war between two gods is starting, and humans comprise their armies and fight for them. Rivalry between the writers and the gods is a main theme, and it’s so difficult to explain that there’s more to it without giving any spoilers (but there’s more to it!). It’s a fast-paced story that drew me in right from the start.

Rebecca Ross is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me. While this is technically a YA book, it has many adult themes and I think it will be enjoyed by readers in any of the age ranges on the fantasy spectrum. Ross’s prose and writing style is gorgeous. I love reading her work, even if it has me crying within the first quarter of a book. If you enjoyed A River Enchanted, I highly recommend giving this book a read.

TW// war, death, mention of drowning, alcoholism, grief

Divine Rivals is a historical fantasy romance that follows two rivals who end up writing letters that mysteriously reach other. While in the midst of a war that’s threatening to upend the world, these two rivals forge an unexpected connection that starts to bloom into something more.

This book wasn’t what I was expecting at all, but I honestly think that worked out for the better. This story has only faint fantasy elements and it relies heavily on the historical fiction genre. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to dip their toes into fantasy books. It seems like the sequel will involve a lot more fantasy, so I’m eager to see how all of the fantasy elements will be incorporated into this rich historical world that Rebecca Ross has created.

Iris and Roman are both really strong, solid characters to base this story around. They started off as arrogant and they both shielded who they truly were from each other, but as the story progressed, they began to unlock deeper meanings to each other in a really beautiful way. They were both flawed characters at first and it made me scared that I wouldn’t like the story. However, I grew to absolutely adore them by the end of the book. I was rooting for them to have a happily ever after and I loved how their slow burn romance painted a picture of how much they grew to care for each other. They both went through so much, but they stuck with each other even when times got hard. I’m desperately hoping that the next book will let them have a happy ending because it will hurt so much if they don’t end up together.

I really appreciated how this book dealt with the topic of grief and guilt. These topics were woven into the story really well. It wasn’t forced or awkward when these topics were brought up. I found myself moved to near tears at multiple times throughout this story because of the grief that the characters experienced, and I feel like the grief and guilt themes will really resonate with readers.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I’d recommend it for anyone looking for an interesting historical fiction romance. It starts off slow, but if you stick with it, it’ll get better and I’m sure that everyone can find something to love about this book. I can’t wait to read more of Rebecca Ross’ works in the future and I hope that I like her other books as much as I liked Divine Rivals.

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.

With an impending global war on the horizon, aspiring writer Iris turns to her old typewriter and begins corresponding heartfelt, vulnerable letters with an anonymous pen pal. As a connection forms between them and the growing war escalates, Iris is forced to make a life-altering decision that will impact not only herself but her infuriatingly handsome office rival as well.

WOW. My heart was captured so vividly by this book and its incredible story!! Ross writes with so much intention and love—and it shines through in every element and detail.

I ADORED the complex relationship and playful dynamics between Iris and Roman. The rivals-esque romance was crafted impeccably with dimension and beauty that with every word written between them, every heated stare, every sacrifice for the other—I fell more and more in love with their undeniable connection. It was such an emotionally charged and gripping romance where you FELT and admired every moment between them as they grew together as a team and battled every hurdle that came their way. It’s such a special connection at its core, and I think every romance lover will be utterly transfixed by these two.

The world-building and plot structure was also multi-layered and seamlessly woven into the development of each character and where their journey would take them. I loved the historical feel paired with a dystopian, mythological setting. It provided an enthralling backdrop to the story, and the addition of otherworldly gods paralleled perfectly with our rivals’ tale.

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.*

I absolutely loved A River Enchanted and am always so excited to see what Rebecca Ross has coming up next. A big thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this arc!

The minute I saw Divine Rivals I knew I had to read it and I enjoyed it a lot. I would say overall 3.5 stars as I personally didn't get super invested until the last 60 pages or so of the book.

Now I did enjoy a lot of things throughout the book. The main characters, Iris and Roman, are very easily likeable and have some really good chemistry between each other. They're banter is really cute and the lengths that they are willing to go for eachother make my little heart squeal with happiness. I also love Iris's relationship with her brother and mom and the depth that it has. I also really loved the magic system and the mythology throughout the series. The magic system is super interesting with how magic can randomly be imbued into objects and the mythology of Dacre, Enva, and the other gods is super captivating! I could read just an entire book based on the mythology of the series itself it's so good, but I'm also a huge sucker for mythology. I also love Ross's writing style as it's so easy to get into and just kind of sucks you in.

There were also a few things I found that didn't quite work for me in the story. The story is definitely set in the early 1900s and yet at one point Iris tells Roman she doesn't want to "sleep" with him, which I feel is a more modern use of language and doesn't work with the time period. I also find that the pacing was a little slow for me. It feels like most of the action is really packed into those last 60 pages and that is really when the story starts to get interesting. The last four chapters had me completely on the edge of my seat and have me craving the next book despite this one not even being published yet!

Overall, an enjoyable new YA book from Ross with an ending that will leave you begging for the next book as soon as possible!