I was very unsure of this book at first. While I was initially enchanted by the concept in the blurb, the beginning pages didn’t hook me. I’m glad I stuck with it—I grew to love Iris, and I couldn’t help but adore Roman. The overall plot (warring gods) set the tone for the novel, sure, but Iris’ connection to that felt distant. She was just a random girl, but there were so many hints that “random” wasn’t in the cards, and I was a little bothered with the lack of *more* in that story arc, but I’m guessing book two will play into that a lot more than this volume did. It’s a solid story, and I’m looking forward to the next installment!

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, for an eARC of this novel. Opinions are my own.

Wow, a full 5 stars. I absolutely loved this book. Such a beautiful world, and great for fans of Ross’s A River Enchanted because she is just an exquisite writer. Personally, I like it even better. Already rabid to get my hands on the sequel to this.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this beauty!
Tropes: Witty, witty banter, rivals to lovers, workplace rivals romance, guy falls first,
Double POV (I didn’t mind as much), slow burn, swoon-worthy romance
I was Entranced ✨with the romance, like I love these tropes. This book was a
mysterious dark historical fantasy, with monsters and war wrapped in a historical era.
I love the romance: he noticed everything about her, was possessive in regards to her health🥹 I was obsessed with the lap scene, the often staring (sorry, glaring), and petty workplace rivalry lmao.

Words literally fail me at the brilliance of this novel - but I will try. I liked Rebecca Ross' previous book,, but this one was stunning. I believe this one is her best yet! What a ride! An excellent, emotional, thrilling book by one of the top young adult authors (in my opinion), but anyone of any age would enjoy the twists and turns, the enemies-to-lovers romance, and the brilliant original plot. Excellent world-building, and wonderful, captivating writing gives this novel the depth and ability to pull in any reader. I highly recommend this author and all of her other book as well I have read have been nothing less than fantastic. She is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to own this novel in print. To Netgalley and the publisher, I cannot thank you enough. Twenty stars!

LISTEN UP FOLKS. I KNEW I LOVED REBECCA ROSS BUT THIS LITERALLY BLEW MY MIND.

From literally page 1, I was hooked on Iris as a main character - she's smart, brave, independent and loves her family. Her budding career as a journalist is really all she has left after her brother falls out of touch while fighting a war, and her mother descends into alcoholism.

She has what is very clearly going to be a rivals to lovers relationship with a man vying for the same promotion as her, and their banter and camraderie....INCREDIBLE.

The backdrop of this story is the war in their world: the gods, buried 500 years ago, are back and two of them are calling human armies to fight. The mythology is explained so beautifully with the actual stories told to us in a non-boring way (I often struggle with these)

Iris ends up as a war correspondent, and the way that war is shown is so heart-breaking and beautiful. It shows the perils, the bravery, and everything in between.

Every single word of this book was perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this one! This is the second book I've read by Ross, and I loved them both so much (shout out to A River Enchanted, if you haven't read that one yet then do it immediately). I can't wait to pick up more from her backlist. I was so excited to get an arc of this book because the premise had me sold. It's a great historical fantasy -- World War I-esque but with warring gods. It's got You've Got Mail vibes, but instead of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks communicating via slow dial-up internet, you've got the main character Iris communicating to a mystery person first from her bedroom and then from near the frontlines of the war via magical typewriters. Swoon. However, as Iris becomes more attached to her mystery penpal, she also clashes and grows closer to her work nemesis. The slow burn romance in this book was so fantastic. Ross also did a wonderful job of creating so much tension on the page in all of the war scenes, especially when Iris and Roman are at the front. It reminded me a lot of the movie 1917. I have never had such an engrossing but stressful movie-watching experience in my life. Ross did a good job replicating that in this book. I need the second book in this series now!

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 has been on the front lines for six months and she hasn't heard anything from him. To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish when letters start being replied to things start to get interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of Divine Rivals in exchange for my free and honest review.

This is a story of letters and falling in love. There is a war and its effects are felt but the story focuses on the letters written on magical typewriters and the people who wrote them. Following Iris

The connected typewriter storyline was one of my favorite parts of this book. A long lasting friendship that managed to transcend generations and get letters passed no matter where the recipient happens to be.

I wanted more of the gods and they mythology of this world. We got a few myths but not nearly as much as I wanted. Given how this book leaves off I'm certain (at least hoping very hard) that book two we will page time for the gods.

4/5 ✨

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

So i didn’t know if I was going to like this book at first as o was a little thrown off by the reporter and journalist part of it. It does feel like a very 1940s atmosphere book. And a lot of the war scenes do seem like something of World War I and ii. Expect in this book the world powers are replaced with gods and the small myths we hear about them throughout the book.

I enjoyed this story and got through it really fast for my schedule! I enjoyed the romance aspect of this book and i enjoyed the small mystery of Dacre and enva throughout.

The only thing I wish we got more of was the gods and more of that. I did like the Dacre chapter at the end and I feel like next book I will get my wish of more gods and meeting enva officially. I kinda feel like divine rivals will see our two lovers against each other on the opposite gods side aka divine rivals. I guess we will see! I can’t wait for book two!

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books/St Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If there is one book you need to pre-order it's Divine Rivals!

I have fallen in love with the way Rebecca Ross tells her stories. Divine Rivals is a gorgeously written story with a perfect rivals to lovers storyline. Iris and Roman are my new favorite bookish couple. The tension, the passion, the very sweet moments between them are all chef's kiss. Their love is tender and beautiful, I've swooned many times.

"...Your grief will never fully fade:it will always be with you - a shadow you carry in your soul - but it will become dimmer as your life becomes brighter..."

Inbetween the swooning and falling for both Iris and Roman, my heart was also breaking. Rebecca Ross does not shy away from the war between gods. Iris and Roman start off as rivals at a newspaper company but when Iris looses a family member she leaves the town of Oath to become a war correspondent. Iris is no longer sheltered from the war as she helps comfort injured soldiers and writes letters to their loved ones.

I can absolutely see Divine Rivals being optioned as a film or mini series in the future. Rebecca Ross's writing instantly transports you to a different world. You can feel the adrenaline of being on the front lines with Iris, you can hear the type writers clicking away, and you can see the devastation Dacre's following leaves behind.

I did not want to put my kindle down to do mundane tasks when I had this extraordinary tale in my hands. I could not get enough and I'm so glad "Iris at the Front" will have a sequel.

"He would always be grateful for his decision that night... when he decided to write her back."

There is a "You've Got Mail" element that I loved! I adore the film so whenever it is used in my new favorite reads, I love it even more. Iris writes letters to her brother, who is stationed far away. The letters contain her every day life and her ups and downs. After a few months, a letter appears from under her wardrobe door but not from her brother. She then begins a back and forth conversation with a mystery person who has been receiving her letters.

"Perhaps it begins with one person. Someone you trust. You remove a piece of armor for them; you let the light stream in, even if it makes you wince..."

The character development is on point, the world building is strong, and my emotions are constantly scrambled in such a good way.

I highly recommend if you've watch Violet Evergarden on Netflix. It's one of my favorite animes and also has a beautiful, heartbreaking story.

Rebecca Ross is an auto-buy author and, with every book that comes out, her stories get better and better. I can't wait for everyone to experience Divine Rivals in April 2023!

5 stars and beyond.

This book was SO amazing and I highly recommend it.

Here’s what I loved about Divine Rivals:
• Iris is so courageous and I love
her
• the perfect blend of fantasy and
history
• the letters!
• immersive and captivating writing
• THE ROMANCE
• the themes of hope and joy in
times of hardship

You will be turning pages, falling in love, and shedding tears before it’s over. I need book two asap!

Tip, read this book with a bestie like @and.a.good.book (but she’s mine so no stealing) for optimal enjoyment and someone to scream with.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: one very mild scene
TW: war violence, death of a parent, gas warfare

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I loved so much about this story. Enemies to Lovers, writers, magical typewriters, intelligent characters, and a You’ve Got Mail theme.

And with all the magic, let’s remember that there is also loss, death, and warring ancient Gods in this war time novel.

Ross penned such a dark, beautiful tale of loss and finding love in tragic world.

I cannot wait to read the sequel.

Rebecca Ross' Divine Rivals is beautifully written. The scenery is very rich and vibrant and the characters will pull you in immediately. I will definitely be going back to read this one again.

A fantasy book, where 2 journalist fall in love during a time of war?
Sign me up!

I loved this book. Fantasy romance, in a story reminiscent of historical romance. I can't say enough good things about this book. It was unique and I don't know how I will wait for the next one!

Iris and Roman are aspiring journalist, fighting for a prestigious position at the column. Roman and Iris start off as my most favorite thing. RIVALS! muahaha. Slowly through their writing they begin to see something else in each other. The slow burn is the best part, am I right? Through her writing Iris deals with trauma and grief. Writing letters to herself (on her enchanted typewriter) she feels free to open up and express a lot of emotions should would keep to herself normally. Until, someone starts writing back.
All of this happens in a world ruled by sleeping god, who have recently awakened and started a war. For funsies.

This was such a unique take on fantasy romance! So refreshing!
Gimme book 2 asap! Thanks <3

I devoured this one in less than 24 hours and tried not to sob during most of it; not sure if I can give higher praise than that. Rebecca Ross really makes you feel what the characters are going through, their heartbreak and determination. Set in a relatable world, where resurrected dead gods are begin to stir, and pull the world into war.

Iris is a reporter seeking to write the truth, and desperately missing her brother, who has disappeared at the war front; she stars writing him letters, which through the magic of this world, wind up in the hands of her rival at the paper where she works-and this rival starts writing her back. Things move beyond the sheltered office of their newspaper, to the very war front itself, and I was eager to follow them every step of the way.

I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes an author's writing style just scratches me the wrong way, and I think Rebecca Ross is one of those cases. My biggest issue was dialogue: it felt constructed more than it felt natural, and often took me out of the story. Secondary to dialogue was romance. Iris and Roman were both interesting as characters, but I just wasn't convinced or compelled by their dynamic together. I'm also exhausted by the constant marketing of books like this as "enemies to lovers" when they are literally just. rivals. competitors. a whole other host of words that do more justice to the nature of the relationship.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book based on the description. I also wasn’t sure how I would feel reading about a journalist. I am so glad I took the leap and read this book! I absolutely loved the characters, the scenery and the plot! Rebecca Ross has such a way with words and characters that I should have known!

Iris and Roman are rivals to lovers. The author did a great job of pacing their relationship. I loved that we got both viewpoints from the characters. Having those separate viewpoints really helped with character development. The author did a great job of weaving mythology throughout the story. I loved the anecdotes that were shared. It left the reader wanting more!

The author did a great job writing Iris. Iris had a lot of baggage to unpack in the beginning and the author did a great job introducing flaws and issues. I enjoyed seeing Iris grow in confidence in herself throughout the book.

Roman was a such a fun character to read about! He was complex and had a lot of his own issues. That didn’t overshadow Iris at all but instead complemented her story.

Overall this book was beautifully written. I loved reading about the mythology. I greatly enjoyed all the characters and their storylines! My only complaint how book 1 ended! I definitely need more!

This book is far from perfect but what it achieves is absolute perfection.

“Divine Rivals” gives all the fun of office tension between Iris, a girl of humble upbringing with a brother fighting in the war and Roman a rich kid with something to prove as they both vie for the top spot with the town Gazette. As the battle field moves closer to home Iris finds that her letters are going to an unknown reader and seeks comfort in his words as she braces to report on the front lines but all is not as it seems and if she’s not careful she might find herself going against more than just the opposing army.

Let’s get the problems out of the way because I’m not sure whether it’s intentional or just a consequence of diverting focus to character over plot (which really doesn’t deserve the negative connotation of consequence but here we are). This book weaves together a thread of magic to account for the letters/typewriter which works however the mythology behind the war itself is kind of muddy. It almost felt like a Hades/Persephone like tale but overall the war itself is used as a catalyst to drive characters and apart as well as together with the literal Gods hiding in the background until the curtain call.

That being said the characters in this story shine from the moment we meet them. On their own, Iris and Kitt are fantastic and their rivalry is so well done as it’s masked under this heavy annoyance that everyone else can put a name too but they refuse to acknowledge. The moments with them face to face and then apart we’re beautiful as they had this dynamic that was really beautiful and I enjoyed every single second we spent with them.

Overall, and with a lot of credit to the writer as she has never disappointed me, I think focusing on the characters and their relationships both romantic and otherwise will really drive home the emotions needed for the next book as the cliffhanger makes me believe it’s going to be absolute angst and agony.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

“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.”

Overview—Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross is a young adult historical fantasy novel that introduces a world filled with warring gods, the mortals who fight for them, and the two rival journalists who, through a magical connection and the act of letter writing, forge an unbreakable bond that will follow them to the front lines of battle. While I own a majority of Rebecca Ross’ books, this is the first novel of hers that I have actually read and all I can say about this book is wow, just wow. Everything about this book is simply stunning, between the engaging plot, the beautiful writing style, the immersive worldbuilding, and the complex characters and their tender rivals-to-lovers relationship. I am just a puddle of emotions right now and this heartbreakingly beautiful book is to blame.

The Writing— The writing style and prose of this book have to be some of my favorite aspects of the novel as a whole. The writing style has a sort of descriptive, lyrical quality to it which makes the story feel as though it is truly the characters’ to tell, an aspect which is heightened through the epistolary style that is included throughout the novel, having the narrative itself being interspersed with the tender, emotion-filled letters between the novel’s two protagonists, Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt. The story itself is gorgeous and so wonderfully written, providing a sense of light in the otherwise darkness that is the World War One style war that is raging between the gods and the mortals; I mean, the writing itself has a sort of light, airy quality to it despite the darker parts of the novel’s plot and, because of this, the prose is filled with both heartbreak and hope, sorrow and sunlight (wow, that could be a young adult book title). Long story short, the writing and the story itself got me in my feels.

The Worldbuilding & the Atmosphere— The worldbuilding and the entire atmosphere of this book are simply immaculate and masterfully crafted. Over the course of the novel, various aspects of Iris and Roman’s world both past and present begin to unfold and reveal themselves, slowly coming into focus and building a fuller, albeit not complete, image of the world that they live in, which will hopefully be expanded upon in the sequel. Rebecca Ross has a gift when it comes to worldbuilding so that it truly feels as though you as the reader are navigating Iris and Roman’s world alongside them, traveling through the streets of Oath and all the way to the front lines of battle. And the atmosphere? Much like the writing style, the atmosphere of this novel has a sort of ethereal quality steeped in the hidden glitter of magic. Newsrooms, dusty, crowded streets and secluded, forest-side towns, war on the horizon, being secreted away with candles and an antique typewriter, if this book doesn’t scream atmospheric and a writer’s bliss, I don’t know what does. I do not know how else to describe it, this book is simply magic.

The Characters— And the characters? Ugh, I simply adore them. I could not help but fall in love with both Iris and Roman from the first page; they are both such complex and multi-layered characters who you cannot help but root for and become emotionally attached to, especially as their narratives unfold and we begin to learn more about them.

Iris is such an incredibly strong, brave, and resilient character, especially in the face of everything going on around her. Iris is trying to keep her family together—her older brother is fighting for the goddess Enva in the war and her mother has succumbed to addiction as a result, leaving Iris responsible for attempting to keep their lives afloat. Roman, on the other hand, is seemingly arrogant and cold, raised with a privileged lifestyle, and self-assured in his ability to win the columnist position that both he and Iris are competing for. But there is more to Roman than meets the eye—he is attempting to break free of the expectations placed upon him by his family as well as dealing with his guilt over an accident that occurred several years ago for which he is responsible. In this way, Iris and Roman are both unique characters with vastly different backgrounds and upbringings, but there is a thread (or, you know, magical typewriters) that binds and connects them even deeper than their rivalry—they are two characters who despite the troubled, broken world around them, including in their own lives, possess an insurmountable amount of hope and faith in themselves and in each other that is simply beautiful to witness.

And Iris and Roman’s rivals-to-lovers romance is literally everything to me. Seeing their relationship unfold on the page from both of their perspectives (this is why multi-POV novels are superior, I don’t make the rules) is simply beautiful and I adored seeing their relationship slowly shift and grow over the course of the novel. They have quickly grown to become one of my OTPs, I just love them so much.

Conclusion— Overall, Divine Rivals is a gorgeous and beautifully written historical fantasy novel that I cannot recommend enough, and I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this book next year. Meanwhile, I’ll be sitting here eagerly and impatiently waiting (over a year!) for the sequel because that cliffhanger. This book is not even out yet and I already need the next book now.

From reading the synopsis, I felt that I would enjoy this book, but my expectations were blown out of the water! The writing? Beautiful. The plot? Enthralling. The characters? Magnificent. The ending? Devastating. This book captured me from the very first page and didn't let go until the very end. I loved the setting and I felt that the WW2 style fantasy world was so unique and made for the perfect backdrop to the story. This is a book about war, love, sacrifice, and forging connections in the most unexpected places. This is not only one of my favorite fantasy books of the year, but one of my favorites in general! You have to pick this book up if you love enemies to lovers, MCs who are writers, heart-pounding action, beautiful writing, and great world building. 5/5 stars FOR SURE!

This strangled my heart and brought joy to my soul.

Before starting this, I had the audacity to think, “I’m excited to read this, but it probably won't be as good as A River Enchanted.” Rebecca Ross made me choke on those words. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I stopped breathing at three scenes, squealed, did victory dances, laughed like an idiot and CRIED like a baby. I’m talking snot dripping, eyes flowing so I can’t see, tears. Once it started, I couldn’t stop it. Now my family is questioning why they keep me.

I'm not always this way. Most of the time, I'm a picky brat with high expectations and a heart you have to win by fighting. BUT every so often a book comes along that transfixes me with the writing, characters I love and plot that I feel was written just for me, and before you know it, I'm a raw nerve and a complete mess.

I have read more intense, and action filled books, but a story doesn't have to have every trigger warning or be absolutely traumatizing to be great. When I say a book is perfect, I'm not just referring to the technical perfection. Although it is a large factor. The excellence is in the experience and mine was everything.

“The right books find you at JUST the right moments.” -Rebecca Ross

Rebecca Ross’s writing is like being a kid and discovering fairy tales for the first time. That feeling of excitement and wonder. My inner child is so happy. It pulls you in and gives you beauty grief and…..hope.

“I grew something living in a season of death.”
“…this world is about to change. The days to come will only grow darker. And when you find something good? You hold onto it.”

I listened to the playlist for this while reading and LET. ME. TELL. YOU!! when a song played that happened to fit up perfectly with what was happening, I died. You want to get the most out of this…. Read at a slower pace. Really savor it and listen to the Spotify playlist while you do. Just search "divine rivals" on Spotify.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
I must wait SIX months for this to come out and then wait AGAIN for the next one.

THANK YOU NetGalley for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Characters/Depth/Growth – 10
Atmosphere/World - 10
Writing Style - 10
Plot - 10
Intrigue - 10
Love/Relationships - 10
Enjoyment/Memorable - 10

Total: 70
Divided by 7 = 10.00 (5 stars)