One of my favorite books is “daddy long legs”by Jean Webster. This was, in a way, reminiscent of one of the plot points. just- way cooler, adding in a war and gods.

Enemies to lovers, mysterious secret admirers, beautiful prose, and a god war- what’s not to like? Rebecca Ross is a lyrical beautiful story teller, and I loved this. The ending is driving me crazy, and I can’t wait for the next one!


Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me an arc in exchange for my honest review!

One of the problems with reading one of your most anticipated reads as soon as it hits your Kindle is that you have to wait so long for the rest of the world to see how great it is. Oh and having to wait over a year for the next book.

Divine Rivals reminds me of a WWI story but with a fantasy twist. Iris and Roman are rival writers at the Oath Gazette. One night Iris decides to write a letter to her brother who is off fighting in the gods war, she does not expect a reply but one comes anyway. A friendship forms between her and her mystery pen pal but as the war rages on Iris knows she needs to do more.

This story has everything I love in a book. Dual POVs, romance, adventure and page turning twists. I loved Roman, Iris and so many more of supporting cast. I flew through this one and will be rereading it again before it publishes. I cannot wait till everyone can get their hands on it so I can talk about that ending...

Eternal thanks and gratitude to the publisher for providing this advance copy.

If there is one thing that Rebecca Ross knows and understands it is magic. The magic in every day things, the magic in letting go, the magic in vulnerability, the magic in yourself, the magic in nothing left to lose. Both literally and figuratively everything in Divine Rivals is touched by that little spark of magic.

Divine Rivals is simultaneously uplifting and terrifying. The reader begins with the two main characters - Roman C. Kitt and Iris Winnow. As you follow their sagas the world slowly starts to fall into place around them - and beyond. In a world built around so much terror the main characters are beacons and symbols of vulnerability and hope.

Make no mistake, this book is quite dark both in tone and plot. The war is real - whether the citizens unaffected by it choose to feel it and believe it or not. However, the small seeds of magic and hope grow and bloom like most things when nurtured. While it is described as fantasy I would also lean towards saying it has magical realism elements. There are elevators, there are delis, there are grocery stores that magically rotate stock so only what you can afford with what you have on you is shown, angry vengeful gods, and heirloom typewriters capable of sending messages across thousands of kilometers if only you sneak it under your closet door first.

I am excited to share my review on instagram closer to the release date and fully intend on buying a physical copy as soon as it hits the shelves.

I loved this book! The focus was the relationship between Iris and Roman, and it was so well done. The tension between them was believable and beautifully written - especially on Roman's side, since he was the one who knew they were corresponding over letters. I enjoyed seeing Iris's narration of their relationship, since I knew the motivations behind Roman's actions and she didn't. The development over the course of the story both from the letter-writing angle and the actually-in-person angle was paced so well with the tension and confusion and attraction. It also handled the reveal of Roman's identity in a way I appreciated, since I am often frustrated with the actions and reactions of characters in this sort of "corresponding anonymously with someone I know in real life who knew the truth the whole time" situation. Iris and Roman's relationship was supposed to be the highlight, and it was.

The worldbuilding was also detailed and unique. It's a second-world fantasy with warring gods who compel their citizens to fight for them in a proxy war, vaguely based on WWI in terms of technology and warfare. The aesthetics were impeccable.

I will say I didn't much like the ending and the direction it appears the author is taking the story, but I am still anxious to see what happens and invested in Iris, Roman, and the world.

This book gave me chills! I adored the plot and synopsis but diving in and reading this book was an experience unlike any other. I can really only compare Ross' incredible storytelling chops to that of Olivie Blake and that is a high compliment coming from me!

This book was phenomenal and I can only hope this review will do the book, and the experience I had reading it, justice. As soon as I started reading this book, I had an immediate connection with the characters; I cared what happened to them. I teared up when they were grieving and became angry when they were. In short, I fell in love with these characters. The ending left me in shambles because now I have to wait doubly long for book 2 since the book isn't even published yet! Ross's writing was masterful and emotional and pulled me deeper into the story. I loved the historical-fiction feel to the story though it took place in a fantasy world. My only critique is that I wish there was a map (I don't know if there will be one in the final copy) so I could better visualize where the characters were located. This was very much a character-driven story which I tend to be a fan of.

I LOVED this book. Rebecca Ross never disappoints. I want to go on a little tangent, and point out to all of my friends that Rebecca Ross has the most unique stories. Every time I open one of her books, I know that I am going to read something that another author has not written.

The biggest strengths of this book are the characters and the story line. Iris and Rowan are two writers who come from different sides of the track. They are rivals, but what Iris doesn't know is that Rowan knows more about her than she would like. Good thing she doesn't know! Or is it? They are beautifully written, while also being quite funny. I laughed out loud a couple times at their witty banter. The idea of two type writers that can send letters to each other was such a neat idea! I love that it is in the middle of a magical war, and that it is enemies to lovers.

The biggest weakness I found in the book is the world building. The idea of the world building is great, but I was also sort of unsure of an idea of "when" this was taking place or what things looked like. I also felt like there were a few random pieces thrown in there that will either become useless bits of information or serve a purpose later. Like the fiance and her family's part in the war.

Overall, I was thrilled to read this book. I stayed up all night. The biggest disappoint is that I now have to wait so long to find out what happens!

Five stars for Divine Rivals! This took me by complete surprise and I loved it. The story, the characters, the progression of the plot and the development was incredible. This is my second Rebecca Ross book and she has very quickly become one of my favourite authors.

The rivals trope is an absolute favourite of mine and I thought it was executed perfectly. Iris and Roman play so well off of one another and their relationship progression left me giddy. I thought the war setting was portrayed well, tiptoeing that line of seriousness without making the tone dreadful or taking the subject matter too lightly. The entire novel set up the mythology and fantasy of the world well and I’m really looking forward to that being explored more thoroughly in the sequel. The ending left me a little broken hearted and I’m not excited about the wait for the sequel but regardless, I’ll be there the day it comes out, ready to see where Roman and Iris go next.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this Digital ARC!

Divine Rivals met all of my expectations and then some. The slow burn romance was beautiful. I just loved the way they found each other and how their relationship evolved. They were truly soulmates.

The world building was impeccable and had so many layers. I really enjoyed the mythology and how it was woven throughout. I have so many questions and cannot wait to read the next installment of this series.

I would have loved this book if it was just a romance or if it was just a war drama, but the combination made it unforgettable. So good!

This was my first Rebecca Ross novel, but it certainly will not be my last. She has a gift for making you feel completely immersed inside the story. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

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.