4.5 stars
I absolutely loved this book. It gripped me from the very beginning. This book is part epistolary which I loved. The world building, the characters, the relationships… I enjoyed everything about this book. Some parts felt a little rushed and I did have a huh? moment at the end, but the writing was beautiful with great vocabulary which I always enjoy. I can not wait for book 2!!! I need to know what happens next!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First of all, this review teeters closer to a 3.5 or a 3.75. This is partially because I'm of two minds about this book. In the process of reading I could not put it down — I'm a sucker for pining rivals and identity nonsense, and this book delivered so aggressively hard on both of those things, so I was Delighted.

However, upon stepping back, I had more quibbles with the book. The way that war was written felt a certain disconnect (even though the writing tried to capture that sense of closeness to war, it often fell short), and the romance proper felt like it zoomed into place at some moments. It was a book that was playing with many different ideas, and while I enjoyed seeing it juggle them, some of them didn't quite land well.

Still, I had a fun time and I can't wait for the next book!

This book completely sucked me in from the very beginning. Set back in time in a beautiful world rocked by chaos. Iris, the brave female lead and her arch nemesis, Roman, work together at a newspaper as rival columnists. We follow Iris to the front lines to save her brother. She has not had an easy life and this is one more sacrifice. Enemies to lovers a bit quickly but the romance was very good. The world building and lore around the war takes time to come together, but like the tension of the war.

Highly recommend this book.

Divine Rivals: A historical fantasy reminiscent of WWI, but throw in gods.

This book was amazing. I don't blame Roman for falling in love with Iris's words—I fell in love with hers and his.

What I knew about this book before picking it up was it was a YA fantasy with a strong romance by Rebecca Ross. After reading and loving Dreams Lie Beneath and A River Enchanted earlier this year, I jumped on the arc when I received an email stating it was available. I didn't even read the blurb first. That ended up being the perfect way to go into it, though. Having zero expectations allowed me to get swept away in Iris and Roman’s beautiful, hopeful, and yet heartbreaking story. It was so good I read it in one sitting. The characters, the journalism slant (including magical typewriters), and the alternate WWI-era world immediately sucked me in.

Ross’s adult debut was labeled atmospheric, but I’d argue Divine Rivals is much more so. I got completely lost in the setting. The book and the places it takes you are haunting and ethereal. I also read somewhere that Ross considers Divine Rivals to be her first true romance, and I can see why. While there is more to this book than the romance, that’s what drives the story forward, and Ross does an amazing job forging a connection between Iris and Roman. These are two characters you can't help but root for.

Divine Rivals is definitely one to preorder if you can. Otherwise, mark your calendar for its release on 4/4/23. But be warned: It has a torturous cliff hanger! It’s going to be a long wait for book two. In the meantime, I’ll just have to settle for a reread of the beautiful first part of Iris and Roman's emotionally charged story.

This book is fantastic! I loved the characters, the world-building, and the unique mythology. The magical connection between Iris and Roman through their typewritten letters to each other turned out equal parts genuine, heartwarming, and hilarious, and I enjoyed watching them using their words (which are incredibly important throughout the story, not just here) to learn from each other and find their voices, as well as great courage in the face of all of the hardships thrown at them throughout the story. The way Rebecca Ross wrote her characters, especially these two, made me deeply invested in their lives, truly caring for them and hoping things would turn out well for them. They all have their own strengths, and fierce determination to fight for good and do right by the ones they care about, no matter how difficult it is. The found family they ultimately form by the end of the book is really sweet and reminds me of why I love this trope so much!

Furthermore, the mythology presented in the story is really fascinating, and I can't wait to see it (and the characters, of course) fleshed out more in the second book, which I will definitely be requesting an advance copy of as soon as it is available.

I really loved this book, and I may just buy a print copy when it finally comes out. I highly recommend it!

I loved the idea of magical typewriters where two rivals are secretly writing to one another. The pacing of the story was a little off for me, but I'm excited to get my hands on the next book in the series!

I'm not familiar with Rebecca Ross's books, but if she writes characters like Iris and Roman then sign me up. The main characters are strong suits in this story. I will admit it took me a while to get into the start, I wasn't entirely invested into the story into Part II, but once we're in the trenches (pun intended) it's a fast read.

Divine Rivals follows two competitive columnist in a war-torn world. While the story is dual P.O.V., this story mostly follows Iris as she joins the front line to write about horrors of war meanwhile searching for her brother. As the title suggests, Iris and Roman are 'rivals', but I wouldn't put too much weight into that trope. While I adored the romance and gradual progression, I wouldn't quite label this an enemies-to-lovers romance. 100% rooting for our MCs, though, which I accredit to Ross' talent. She writes characters you can't help but root for.

What I would have loved more was explanations about the world and their Gods. We do get snippets of the myths and legends, except it wasn't enough for me, especially since the plot heavily revolves around them. I would've liked to see more first-hand interactions, perhaps, or stories from soldiers or correspondents with first-hand interactions with the Gods. For a large part of the book, I couldn't make sense of their purpose and why their war mattered until Iris arrived at the war front, but even then, I was left wanting a bit more. Hopefully, we'll get a deeper understanding in the next book.

After loving A River Enchanted, I decided I would give anything Rebecca Ross wrote a try. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an early copy of this new book that I truly did enjoy 4⭐️📖
This book takes a little longer to world build than A River Enchanted. It is truly more of a YA Romance (minimal 🔥) with a smidge of fantasy/magical realism. However, the characters are great and quickly pull you in. I love the message here that true love requires vulnerability, makes you a better person and is worth fighting for.
Rebecca Ross does know how to end on a cliff hanger though. I think there will be more fantasy in the second book. I’ll be anxious to see how Iris and Roman’s story concludes.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARc in exchange for my honest feedback.

I loved this book. It was such an unusual fantasy world. The magic was secondary to the story, which I like because it feels like there's even more to e revealed in the sequel. I am a sucker for Rivals to lovers stories and I thought the way that the romance progressed was believable and sweet. I related a lot to Iris, who was always trying to do everything o her own, and her loneliness was so well written nd heartbreaking.

(Very) Anxiously awaiting the next book.

When Iris' brother goes off to war in a war between two rival gods, she heads to the war front as a war correspondent to track down why she hasn't heard from him. The war between the gods was an enjoyable storyline but the poor romance plot line kind of killed this book for me. It unfortunately brought down an otherwise compelling and interesting read with a slog of correspondence and drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC!

I discovered the Rebecca Ross this year, and she's become an automatic buy for me. Divine Rivals did not let me down. It is everything I would expect from her.

Iris and Roman are rivals, working at the same newspaper, competing for the same promotion. They both stand to win it. When Iris feels she's losing everything, her only consolation is writing letters to her brother. She puts the letters in her wardrobe and they magically disappear. One day, she gets a response...and it's not from her brother.

Divine Rivals is an atmospheric novel about loss, love, and family. It's written in dual POV, but we mostly hear from Iris. And the romance in this one. SO good. It was a slow burn in the best way. The author did such a great job of peppering in breadcrumbs, upping the tension.

My heart broke for Iris on many occasions. I don't want to spoil anything, but the book is filled with joy and heartache. And asks if it's okay to feel happiness when you're surrounded by misery. It was handled so perfectly.

Pros.
- The world building was utter perfection. I could see and feel Oath all around.
- The witty banter and beautiful tension between the two leads.
- Attie. I loved her so much. I would read her story if a spin off ever came about. ;)
- I have never read a book that handles the epistolary style so well. It can be a turn off for people sometimes (me included), but the author handled it so beautifully and kept us close the whole time.

Cons.
- Personally, there were zero cons for me. (Except that it ended.) But, I could see how the beginning could be construed as slow. But the author is building the world and creating that beautiful tension between the characters that I wasn't bothered by it.

Divine Rivals is an atmospheric enemies-to-lovers tale that covers loss, heartache, and finding your family. I loved every moment of it and can't wait for the sequel!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the early copy. The review is my own and not influenced. I loved it enough that I will be buying my own copy when it comes out.

Rebecca Ross just does not miss! I was looking for something similar to The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy when I remembered I was approved for this e-arc and boy did it delivery!

Rebecca is one of those fantasy authors that deserves to be on the same pedestal as SJM, Leigh Bardugo, Sabaa Tahir, VE Schwab, etc because she is AMAZING.

Divine Rivals was written so beautifully that I imagined this story so so perfectly in my mind like a movie was playing out. The characters were beautifully fleshed out. We were given just enough world building to not confuse the reader & still enjoy the story and where it is headed.

I emotionally connected with each character, even the side characters we didn’t see as much because Rebecca has a way of bringing their voice and personality to life in almost no time.

I was able to predict parts of the plot but the ending just..:ugh! Blew me away and I am so so mad about how Rebecca is going to put us in for a LOAD of pain in the sequel, I can just feel it.

If this book isn’t the next big YA hit I will be fully surprised!

All of Rebecca Ross's books have incredibly immersive world building, and DIVINE RIVALS was no exception. From the first page, I was drawn into the 1910s-esque world, from the city of Oath to the countryside to the literal trenches of a war between two gods and their armies. And the characters -- I loved them and my heart ached for all of them. I especially loved how much Iris and Attie and Marisol all came to care for each other, forming their own family and looking out for each other. I was so worried about them -- and Roman! -- sometimes that it stressed me out, but on the other hand, the fact that I cared that much about the characters is another point in the book's favor.

Content-wise, there's some war violence (not graphic) and non-explicit romantic content. This book does read a little older to me, so it might be better placed in a high school. The war setting and the development of the romance reminded me a lot of Allison Saft's DOWN COMES THE NIGHT.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an ARC for my review.

I really enjoyed the authors voice in this book. I wasn't over done. It felt very normal with a nice flow. I immediately fell into the rhythm of this book and couldn't put it down. I had to finish it in one sitting. And I did just that. The female lead was no over powered or just a damsel in distress either. She was compassionate, strong willed, and dealt with her grief. The male lead was very likeable as well. He seemed dreamy yet not attainable. I really enjoyed the plot with the Gods at war and also side characters she meets.

What a magical mash up. The Shop Around the Corner meets WWI with gods and magic.
I generally stay away from the word lyrical when describing prose, because it usually means overwritten, but in this case I will make an exception. So many exquisite turns of phrase without feeling like the author is trying to get the most of her thesaurus or being pretentious. Just beautiful.

Highly recommended, though that end...I am going to need book 2 sooner rather than later.

This was a nice little romantasy enemies-to-lovers novel set in a world that’s not exactly our world but close enough that it feels easily accessible. The two main characters are evocative with very relatable motivations, and their journey from “I fucking hate this person” to “I am in love with this person” is subtle and nuanced in a really lovely way. Their relationship is at times infuriating and at times super sweet and pure, threaded throughout with the kind of snark that I absolutely love.

The world building is a little slow to reveal some larger aspects of how the world functions, but the way the mythology of the world is set up and revealed is pretty clever.

I’m writing this review 2 days after finishing this book and I’m still thinking about it; still thinking about the characters and the situation in which they found themselves at the end of the book. A great setup for a book 2 which I will 100% be reading. I simply want more, and I want it now! Not to say I’m unsatisfied with the end, because I saw that cliffhanger coming, but dang if it doesn’t still hurt.

I’m giving this one a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Any book that makes me want to auto-buy the next in the series is a keeper.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

ID: The background is a close up of an antique typewriter keyboard. The foreground is a Kindle e-reader showing the cover of Divine Rivals.

Divine Rivals is easily one of my favorite books I’ve read this year! It gave me Lovely War vibes but so much better. I was immediately captivated by the relationship between Roman and Iris and how it evolved through letters. I stayed invested in both the plot and the romance through the whole book. And that ending! I can’t believe I’ve got to wait until 2024 to find out what happens. This read like historical fiction with some fantasy elements but quite unique in its execution. I think this might be my favorite book from the author to date. What a fantastic and distinct addition to the YA genre.

“It’s not a crime to feel joy, even when things seem hopeless.”

Divine Rivals is a masterpiece of a novel, full of heartache and relentless hope!

In a time of gods and men we meet Iris Winnow, seeing her dear brother off to fight in a war between gods Decre and Enva. Suddenly the sole caretaker of a heartbroken and sick mother, her job at the local newspaper the only source of income to provide for herself and her mother's drinking habits. Enter fellow writer Roman Kitt, Iris’s co-worker and sworn enemy. Sparks fly between them from the start, in a current battle of who will be lead writer at the Oath Gazette.

The real magic happens when Iris, who has been writing letters to her brother for months by slipping them under the door of her closet. Never having received a reply, now finds a letter slipped from the other side. But it’s mystery author is not her dear brother…

Rebecca Ross has yet again woven a tale with such inviting prose and mythic themes that are absolutely beautiful to behold. I loved the parallels, whether on purpose or not, of Enva & Decre and Hades & Persephone. But the story of Iris and Roman stole my heart. All the hardships they face both alone and together just made me root for them even more. The slow realization of knowing the other was an absolutely stunning thing to see. **spoilers** this is the You’ve Got Mail for all the fantasy girlies! **spoilers** Roman Kitt is yet another book boyfriend to I’ll be adding to my collection ;)

This is truly a story of love and hope persevering in a time of darkness and heartbreak- and it’s not over yet. The ending had me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I cannot wait for the next book, is it 2024 yet??

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent story. Engaging. This better have a sequel !!!! The ending leaves you wanting to know what happens next !

I am gutted that this book won't be out until next April, because I desperately need the sequel. Right now.

This could have been just another historical retelling or alternate history (World War I, now with 200% more deities!) However, it's really so much more. The backdrop of the war between Enva and Dacre is an interesting twist on Persephone and Hades, the twist being that Persephone books it out of Hades' realm and then declares war. Good girl. Ross doesn't shy away from the visceral horrors of war, but contrasts it with the most romantic love story I've read in a good while. It's wholesome and uplifting and made me cry. I was particularly delighted that the romance didn't drag out across the whole series. Iris and Roman getting married was really lovely and brings an extra dimension to what I assume will be Roman's possession by Dacre.

Absolutely perfect. Ten stars.