This book broke me. Something about the magic woven within these pages just pierced my soul and left me utterly spellbound. It had such an unassuming premise: a girl writes letters to her brother, and a different boy reads them. But oh, that is merely the beginning.

Iris Winnow is a sharp, budding journalist who is desperate to win the columnist position at the local newspaper to help her mother make ends meet while her brother is at war on the front lines. Her competition for the job? A handsome, stoic young man from a wealthy family, Roman Kitt. While Iris works hard at the paper by day, she writes her brother grief-riddled letters at night on her nan’s heirloom typewriter. As the letters disappear from her room, Iris hopes that the room’s mysterious ambient magic will somehow transport those letters to her brother.

It does not.

Roman Kitt does not know why he receives Iris’s letters, but as he continues to read her unvarnished words, he eventually feels compelled to write her back. Out of consideration for Iris (who would be mortified if her biggest rival knew about her mother’s addiction and other sensitive information), Roman leaves his letters anonymous. This also affords him the freedom to bare himself to her in his writing — a stark vulnerability he would never otherwise permit himself or experience in his life. And so, the two share deep personal honesty with one another, and the thread connecting them begins to tighten.

Again, without giving too much of the story away, this is the barest tip of the iceberg. To me, the premise thus far is a gratifying mashup of two of my guilty pleasure comforts: Pride and Prejudice and You’ve Got Mail. From here on, however, Iris blazes a trail that is all her own, straight to the frontlines of a war between gods.

Rebecca Ross does magical realism so well, and this book is no different. Throughout the story, there is such a strong sense of place and time. The stakes feel incredibly real, and her depictions of the dread and terror of war are keenly wrought. This darkness, however, also serves to hone and bring into sharp relief the transcendent love blossoming between Iris and Roman. The extremes and the contrasts of this story absolutely shredded me to ribbons, until I could no longer tell if my tears were from joy or grief. All I knew, by the end, is that this story caused me to feel deeply. And that, for a reader, is a special gift.

Divine Rivals follows two characters- Iris and Roman. They are each other's biggest rival, but bring the best out of each other. These two are meant to be and in the best way possible with the best tropes ever: enemy to lovers, force proximity, and MANY banter moments. Don’t expect it to be high fantasy themes, but definitely have those fantasy elements touched throughout the story. The setting is similar to WW1 but the fighting is actually between two gods?? The gods are not too involved as of yet and expect more appearances of them in book two.
I’m devastated, sad, and grateful all in one because I will be waiting years for the next book to come out. Once it comes out, I’m snagging the sequel!

Will I be continuing this series? Yes!
I gave this book 5/5 stars!
Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-arc!

Thank you to netgalley, St Martins Press, and Rebecca Ross for the opportunity to read and review this book early before publication.

I will say I was thoroughly impressed with this book by the end. It took me a minute to get into (which is a “me problem” lol) but about halfway through I found myself completely immersed in this story, with these characters, I found myself wanting to continue reading any chance I got.

“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.” —- I mean that alone sucked me right in. I mean who isn’t a fan of rivals/enemies to lovers?

The writing was perfection, the world building was absolutely satisfying, the characters were related and just a joy to connect with. I cannot wait to read the next books in the series. Everyone should be adding this book to your TBR!

This book was such a fun read! It was definitely more romance than fantasy - it could have been set in WW1 without that great of plot difference. That - to me - felt like a waste, considering the depth of worldbuilding created! I love an ancient gods warring concept - this one felt particularly reminiscent of Strange the Dreamer, which I loved. I’m so curious as to where this story goes, especially since it seems like the fantasy aspect will be more utilized in the second book. I love Rebecca Ross’s writing and this one’s sure to be a hit!

Divine Rivals is a memorable and emotional feat of a novel. An utterly captivating story of courage, love, and perseverance. This is one reading experience I won't forget.

When I say I could not put this book down, I mean it. I didn't want to part with Iris or Roman or any of the other characters. This was my first book by Rebecca Ross and now I know I need to read her backlist. Ross created a unique and detailed world that I am eager to revisit in the sequel.

The worldbuilding is so interesting. Two gods fighting an eternal war, pitting mortals against each other??? What a concept! The mythology of this world is fascinating. I will say that it took me some time to "settle" into the world and I am admittedly still struggling with some aspects of the worldbuilding, but by the end, I was truly invested in this universe and cannot wait to see where the story is heading.

At the core of the story are the stories of Iris Winnow and Roman C Kitt. They are rival journalists at a prestige newspaper and don't get along as they are after the same journalist job, though through a little bit of magic, are able to form a connection through their typewriters. I don't want to say more here because it's best to experience all of that without knowing any more details, but I will say that I loved their stories, both individually and together, very much. Their letters to one another were perfect, showing exactly who they are at their core. Both characters are wonderfully complex and I am really rooting for them both.

Divine Rivals does at times get very dark in tone, and Ross shows all sides of the war and how it is devastating for all parties involved. Ross shows that there are people who pretend like it does not exist, people who have lost everyone they love to the war or because of the war, people who are doing everything they can to help end it, and also the people supporting those fighting in different ways. It is a harrowing look at the inner workings of war. I imagine the sequel will show all of this in further detail, as well, especially a further look into the gods and their motivations. I was very impressed with the writing in regard to the war and how the protagonists face it. All in all, I just devoured this story.

Also, I am still reeling from that ending. Just. Wow. I need the next book yesterday.

All in all, this was an impressive book all the way around. It was truly divine. 4.5 stars.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

A mythical world where gods still exist and they’ve awoke only to carry on a centuries old war that they’ve dragged humans into.

Iris Winnow is a strong female lead that longs for the family she knew before the war. Her brother left to fight at the front and her mother hasn’t been the same since. Iris is a character that you can relate to and I loved her spunk.

Roman Kitt, Iris competition for the columnist position at the newspaper she works for, is the bane of her existence and she takes any opportunity to annoy him in return.

This fantasy novel reads like a historical fiction and I almost forgot it wasn’t real even with all the fanatical elements! It’s definitely an easy world to lose yourself in and that’s all because of the way Ross weaves her stories. Her talent for storytelling is unlike any other and I can’t wait for the next book!!

Content: death of a loved one, battle scenes of war, vague open door romance between a married couple

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC!

They say a book gets boring after two people confess their love to each other. Not this book. Not any other book Rebecca has ever written.
Like all of the books written by Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals was so atmospheric and gave me such beautiful vibes I was left awed. Thoroughly enjoyed the plot and loved how cleverly unique it was. I don't normally like rivals or enemies to lovers but Rebecca does it so well that I'm always so happy and still surprised. I felt like this book was more sad and brimming with grief but I still loved how the author handled everything. The most amazing thing was how much this book reminded me of my other favourite book The Book Thief and my favourite anime Violet Evergarden. If you're looking for those vibes, this book is it and of course I highly recommend this book and every other book by this author🫶🏻

Rating: 5 stars🌟

Incredible novel! Riveting and well paced, the writing is superb -- there's very little to nitpick and a lot to love. I've never read anything else from Rebecca Ross prior, but now I've definitely got my eye on some of her other books!

I loved how the romance was handled, it wasn't heavy-handed or over the top. And even though I'm usually not a fan of books that take place during active warfare, this might be one of the rare exceptions. The backdrop only added to the urgency of the plotline and illustrated perfectly how war can make things so different, but at the same time, it can't take away some of the most fundamental things in life -- intimacy and connection.

Overall, a brilliant read. Can't wait to read more from her!

Two rival journalists compete for a promotion at the local paper as a war between two Gods tears their country apart. Peace lasted centuries while the Gods slept but now, awakened, a war has begun. Eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow needs this promotion as her mother’s addiction is worsening and her brother is missing on the front lines. Roman Kitt, Iris's handsome but irksome rival, is providing quite the challenge.

Divine Rivals is a fantastic new YA series which combines a historical setting amongst Gods and magic. The novel follows Iris and Roman who are both competing for a columnist promotion at the paper. A war between Gods has broken out and Iris's brother is missing on the front lines. She begins typing letters to him which vanish when she places them under her wardrobe. She hopes that some kind of magic is at play and gets the letters to him wherever he might be. One day she receives a response but it isn't her brother who has been getting the letters. As she begins correspondence with this stranger they quickly become friends, sharing their deepest secrets, and begin to fall in love but fate is not done with Iris yet when she is given an opportunity which takes her onto the battlefield to find her brother. This is novel by a new to me author which was recommended based on my previous reads. I have to say the writing style was wonderful and I really enjoyed reading this novel. I liked many of the characters, the plot was entertaining, and Iris's relationships were all very sweet and charming. It was a bit disappointing that the secret correspondence is revealed early on but overall this is a must read for fans of enemies to lovers romances...a must read for 2023!

This was SO good! My first book by the author and it did not disappoint! I felt every emotion come off the pages and it was utterly bewitching reading this story!

Will definitely reread!

To be completely transparent, I DNF'd this book at around 40%. This was entirely my fault because, while this book is well written and seems interesting, I'm not someone who enjoys books that take place during wartime. I'm still rating this four stars because I genuinely think this was a well-written book; I'm just not the intended audience for it.

A big thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

I already knew Rebecca Ross was one of my all time favourite authors but Divine Rivals really solidified the fact that I will read anything she writes and absolutely love it!

Set in a world that feels very like Europe in the early 1900s, it follows the story of two rival journalists turned war correspondents— Iris Winnow and Roman C Kitt. Right off the bat, we’re launched into their delightful rivalry as they compete for the coveted position of columnist at their magazine, but when Iris faces a personal loss she decides to leave her job and take up the position on the front lines as a war correspondent, taking her 600 kilometres away from her home and Roman. Unbeknownst to either of them, they had been exchanging letters for months via magical typewriters, slowly falling for each other while continuing to compete / annoy the other person in real life. While the story is largely told from Iris’ POV, around 30% is in Kitt’s, in which he fulfills my all time favourite trope for a MMC— he becomes the worlds biggest simp and spends large portions of his sections thinking about how much he adores Iris. Perfection!

One of the things I love most about Rebecca Ross’ writing is how she writes romance. She has such a talent for using the smallest moments and character quirks as a way to build intimacy, and Roman & Iris’ love story was so beautifully done and perfectly encapsulates the kind of love that develops between two people who all they have is each other. As war correspondents, their lives are constantly in danger and the story takes on the urgency you’d expect for a romance set on the front lines. Although things developed quickly between them once they realised their feelings, I thought it was completely believable with both their personalities and the plot pacing. I found myself tearing up on more than one occasion which is very unlike me!

The setting and the backdrop of a war between gods was wonderful and very unique. I loved how it stepped away from the classic medieval style fantasy setting in favour for one that reminded me of England circa WWI— there’s cars, modern plumbing and electricity, but the customs, clothing and technology feel delightfully retro. As with all of Ross’ books, the atmospheric writing was absolutely top notch and easy to lose yourself in the setting. The side characters were wonderfully developed and I can’t wait to learn more about them in the sequel, especially Marigold and Keegan.

I am absolutely dying for the sequel with the heart wrenching way Divine Rivals, and can’t wait to learn more about Iris’ brother Forest and hoping to see how Dacre’s plans come to fruition. I couldn’t recommend Divine Rivals more and will be shouting about this story for months!

5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me to review this book! I love this author and their writing style. But there was more misses in this book than others I have read from this author. The plot was so interesting to me and yet we didn’t get really any of it and was pretty underdeveloped. The relationship that formed between the two main characters was good until it happened so fast and felt really unrealistic. It was hate until to was instant love. I really wanted to like this book because I usually like this authors work but this one wasn’t for me. 2.5 ⭐️

What a cliffhanger! This book has it all: action, romance, enemies to friends. I loved the concept and am looking forward to the second book.

No hate, but I wish the cover for the U.S version was the same as the U.K. version, because the U.S. version’s cover is just not aesthetically pleasing. As for the book itself, I thought it to be a fantastic read. Iris Winnow has a lot of personality in the sense that she is headstrong and willing to be spontaneous for the greater good. I really liked the pacing of the book because we got to see her at the newspaper and the warfront. My only critique would be the strong case of instalove, and I really dislike the trope of separation. That’s okay though, I guess I’ll be waiting impatiently for the next book!

Divine. This book is simply put: divine. I am obsessed. I was within pages. Ok, lie. I was from the cover and title. The pages just furthered it. I do not know how I will go on until we get the next one.

This book was beautiful and heartbreaking. What Kitt and Iris go through really pulls you in different directions. Iris is such a brave and fearless character even if she doesn't realize it. Kitt is...how can I describe him and what he did? He's devastating. In a good way.

I have to say, the way this plot line evolved, I was worried about this being a similar, modern version of Up Close and Personal. You know what? I still am with that cliffhanger.

Read this book.
It's Divine.
It's Sublime.
It's Transcendent.

I don't think Rebecca Ross can write a book that I will not love. The flow of her words is just magical no matter the story and I am swept away. Divine Rivals is not different and might actually be my favorite of her novels. Enemies to Lovers, YA Fantasy, Historal fiction all woven together in a way that had me turning page after page.

Iris and Roman may very well be my favorite fictional couple. Roman is so determined and brave and protective of Iris and reading the section of him trying to get to her and her being just out of reach... I think I died a little. Iris refusing to give up and searching for him, oh my heart!

The fact that this ended on a cliffhanger, is not officially published for another 5 months and then having to wait for a sequel is going to be one of my greatest literary anxieties!

I will need to read this again and again. It was just *chefs kiss*

I received this complimentary e-ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my e-ARC of Divine Rivals.
I’ll start off by saying this book is a masterpiece of YA fiction. This is story the harsh realities of war and how love, loss, grief, perseverance, and friendship are interwoven into how how one survives it. The writing was beautiful and descriptive and the character development perfect. Iris and Kitt are the type of characters you want to root for, that you want to have the HEA, even when you know everything is working against them. The side characters were just a strong as the main as well. What I loved is the overall storyline of the Gods War didn’t overshadow the people fighting but you still constantly wanted to know WHY this was happening. I can say I did not predict the ending, it was an insane cliffhanger that makes me sad knowing I read this 4 months before release and I’ll have to wait on a sequel. The book was THAT good and you are going to want to read it.

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD
The characters, the war, the setting - I LOVED IT ALL
Iris is fierce but gentle and I love her so much
Roman was SO in love with her honestly their story made this book so much better
Dacre and Enva had a fascinating past, one I wish to learn more about

Thank you to netgalley for this arc!

That's how you write a love story. A most excellent enemies to lovers love story, which is the most best of tropes. MOST BEST.

Anyhoodle,

This book has the vibe of 1940s wartime with a sprinkle of gods and magic. You've got a girl going through some shit, trying her best, broke and struggling. You've got a rich guy, under his father's thumb, suffocating, bleeding from his own heart wounds. They're fighting for the same job. They each have a begrudging respect for the other's talents, but they ultimately want to win. We follow them as their dislike morphs and a romance blooms in the midst of tragedy.

Ugh my emotions ache, all of them. This book made me weep like a bitch. Messy, snotty, weeping bitch. So much pain and anguish, written so well that you feel it a little bit too, but, and really there needs to be a but for me because I don't read misery porn, the romance, omgah.

It's so, so rare for me to read a romance in a series and actually feel the like the next book is going to bring something to the table in that respect. So many romances end up with some implausible bullshit reason, or some fucking weak ass shit reason that a couple will fall down the metaphorical romance mountain and need to climb their asses back the fuck up again in the next book. <i>I hit my head and don't remember my love. There was a terribly weak misunderstanding and now we hate each other. I saw him in a compromising position and never asked questions and refuse to listen to his explanation.</i>

I rarely give a single shit about a couple in a book. I get excited and into the build up of the romance, the chase. Then they get together and it's like.. eh now you're kind of irritating. But with these two crazy kids, I'm like NO FUCK YOU FATE, DON'T YOU DO THIS TO THEM, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN HOT GARBAGE THEY DESERVE JOY. How very dare you.

On which note, Iris. Jesus Christ on a cracker, this woman has got just really, really shit luck. What are we going to drag Iris through next time? Does she get any respite? Does my heart get any respite?

So one downside to getting an ARC is that this book doesn't even come out until April, so what do you think that means for the sequel? It has not a speck of information, let alone a release date. Jesus wept.

Did you notice that I didn't even bitch about a single thing ? Not a single thing, unless you count the bitching about crappy romances and bitching about wanting but not having even a glimmer of a release date for the next one.