I really enjoyed this book. It has the feel of a hystorical romance mixed with a Greek mythology but is actually neither. The characters are well developed and you can feel the connetion growing between them. The story and plot just keep growing and drawing you in.
I highly recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Holy crap this book was so good! I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this book but I loved it way more then I thought I was going to. The characters were great I loved Iris, and Roman owns my heart. I’m want the next book now! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Very engrossing from start to finish. Appropriately heart breaking throughout. An excellent love story that pulls the heartstrings but still leaves the reader with hope. The world war twoesque fantasy was a fresh setting that could be explored throughout many books. The writing style was lyrical and beautiful but the purple prose is not distracting. The world building through the characters letters was nicely laid out and helped to not bog down the narrative. The world is mysterious. I found the conflict between the gods to be a little far fetched. I think that may have to do with the marriage of magic and 20th century weaponry being used during the war. An overall excellent read. 5/5 strongly recommend to fans of Lovely War by Julie Berry or any of Ross's other books.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This was a page turner for me. Warring Gods and a magical wardrobe and 2 rival journalists. IT was just perfect and epic enemies to lover’s fantasy I loved every second of it.

I haven't read a book that actually made me cry in a while, but Divine Rivals did me in. I ended up SO invested in this story and the characters. I don't have any clue how I'm going to make it until the next book in this series comes out, seeing as how I read this as an ARC and it's not even out yet!

Divine Rivals is set in a fictional world ruled by sleeping gods who have recently awakened and started a war, which is in the background for most of the story. Iris is an aspiring journalist competing for a prestigious columnist position with the wealthy and equally talented Roman. Though they start out as rivals, both begin to fall in love with each other through their writing, in a beautiful slow burn enemies to loves romance. Iris is also dealing with some heavy trauma and grief, which she pours out in letters written on an enchanted typewriter. Her letters are initially written only to herself - until someone starts writing back.

Though it's ostensibly fantasy, the story reads like historical fiction set in one of the wars of the early 20th century. Iris eventually ends up at the front as a war correspondent, hiding in trenches and dodging bullets, grenades, and bombs. As such, the fantasy elements seem like afterthoughts - I liked that they were there, but they were so minimal they almost detracted from the story. That said, based on the ending, they will come into play more in the next book, which I NEED right now.

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beautiful, brilliant, imaginative and unforgettable!

First of all, this is my second Rebecca Ross novel and she is quickly becoming a favorite! She is amazing!

Iris is a writer. She works for the Oath Gazette along side her rival, the wealthy, Roman Kitt. They are both vying for a spot as the Gazette’s new columnist. Both are excellent writers and both have lots of potential.
With Iris’s brother off fighting in the war, she spends her days writing and longing to hear from him. Her mother has become an alcoholic since her brother Forest left for the war and Iris struggles to not feel lonely and hopeless. She begins a new correspondence with a stranger when she starts passing notes through her wardrobe. She develops a friendship with this stranger….. a friendship that sustains her through many trials, fears and hopeless nights.

This book clearly leaves a huge gaping hole at the end for book #2. My heart literally broke as I finished this book and I so desperately wanted more! I have nothing, literally nothing negative to say about it. It’s brilliant!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While the war between the gods comes closer to the town of Oath, two reporters discover a link between their typewriters.

Iris waits to hear any report of her fighting at the front for the goddesses. Unknown to her, her anonymous correspondent is also her rival in the press, where they are both competing for the same columnist position. But as tragedy strikes, Iris goes to the front as a war reporter, determined to find her brother and understand why the gods are fighting. Full of war-torn danger, unexpected romance, and an ending that will leave you screaming, Divine Rivals is a fantasy novel that sets itself apart from others.

The setting is reminiscent of England during the Great War. I love how Rebecca Ross used magic to show how mundane it feels to Iris and Roman. Yes, most gods are supposedly gone, but shops are enchanted to show what you can afford, and typewriters can be enchanted. The modernity of Oath is a breath of fresh air for readers weary of gothic castles and stagecoaches. Ross also draws on historical research to make the setting as realistic as possible during a war. The additional details of dash-packs and emergency sirens made sure that there was a constant threat, building anticipation for their uses.

And, yes, the romance. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the buildup is satisfying as well as the direction their dynamic could change after the first book’s ending. (Ross, were you cackling as you write that?)

Perfect for fans of the film 1915 and for those who want trains and typewriters in their fantasy books, Divine Rivals is the strong start of a series.

A copy was provided to me by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

OH MY STARS!!! Rebecca Ross does it again! I absolutely loved this book, I laughed, I cried, and I overall loved this book. There was the familiarity that she captures mixing history with fantasy that will draw in any reader.

I although am horribly disappointed because this is the first one and it comes out in APRIL! And I don’t know when the next one will release HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT THAT LONG?!

You’ve Got Mail, Lois & Clark, WWII, and Clash of the Titans all rolled into one!
Rebecca Ross is truly among the elite of fantasy romance writers. This book is everything - an utterly enthralling and unique plot, lyrical prose, and a swoon worthy romance. The ending absolutely slayed me and I’ll be rocking myself in a corner until the second book is released.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favorite authors has a new series out. There's so much I want to say but itll give some major plot points away.

Dacre and Evna are two Gods. Dacre basically started a war, terrorizing the mortals to get her to come to him. Their story is told in passed along myth, but it will remind you a bit of Hades and Persephone.

The two leads are rivals for a position at their local paper. One rich, one poor, both talented and suffering from grief.

This is just the first in the series. The ending sets up the sequel nicely, moving headlong into the next stage of the war, with new narrative possibilities. Can't wait!

"Your letters have been a light for me to follow. Your words? A sublime feast that fed me on days when I was starving."

Rebecca Ross is one of those authors whose writing style is immensely satisfying. She uses words that evoke emotions and scenery in a way that always leaves me wanting more. This book was no exception. When I initially read the synopsis of this story, I wasn't completely sold. I am not one for major war stories, especially anything that resembles world wars. They bring me a lot of emotional heartache, and in the current times we're living in, I don't always have the mental capacity to read them. However, I've enjoyed all of Ross's former work and so I dove in head first.

This book follows Iris Winnow, an aspiring journalist with dreams to see her name on papers across the city. However, the one thing that seems to be a thorn in her side is her co-worker Roman Kitt, who is vying for the same position at the paper she works for. When she's not working, Iris writes and sends letters to her brother, who is currently on the front lines. When Iris thinks shes saving the letters by storing them in a crack in her wardrobe, she ends up getting a surprising reply. There are elements of fantasy present with the magic that is woven throughout the cities and the gods that are waging against each other. The plot was very unique as it seemed to encompass multiple genres. There are elements of historical fiction, fantasy and romance. I don't think I've ever read something that seemed so real but yet so much like an alternate reality. The side characters and the story line were interesting and I was turning pages so quickly at the end and had no idea where the book was going to end up. I anxiously await the second book as that ending gutted me and left me wanting more.

If you enjoy historical fiction with elements of fantasy, rivals to lovers, magical letters and atmospheric writing, I would highly recommend this.

4.5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. I am posting my review to Goodreads immediately and plan to post on my personal Instagram and Facebook accounts closer to publication.

I thought this was just going to be The Shop Around the Corner (or You've Got Mail, if you prefer a more modern reference) with magic. But I should have trusted Rebecca Ross, because it was so much more and by the end, I was on the proverbial edge of my seat.

For the first time in Ross' work, the romance seems to to take center stage. It's not a bad thing, but I was definitely a little surprised (and perhaps it's why I initially thought "Wait. Is this just a romance novel?"). The enemies to lovers trope is obviously a familiar one, but Ross does such a good job with it (as she has in the past) that the evolution feels truly earned and it never feels tired. The dual narrative was a big part of this--and I don't think it would have felt as authentic without it.

The setup was great. Rival journalists. Magic typewriters. And a war-torn country being ravaged by magical beings. The sense of place was all-consuming, especially when the story gets to the front lines. As always with Ross' work, it feels like the location is it's own character in the story.

I'm excited to revisit this story again when it comes out on audiobook and look forward to the sequel (I loathe to think of how long I will have to wait).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

An enemeis to lovers fantasy. Two rival journalists facing a war of the gods. The romance between Iris and Roman was inspiring and swooning.... Both have their own demons to face but fall in love anyways. Amazing story telling.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Typo on page 233, there's a stray number 8. Divine Rivals was utterly charming and equally just as heartbreaking. It gave me studio Ghibli vibes. I loved the ww1/ww2 fantasy like setting. Roman and Iris are such a great pair, I'm obsessed. I did not know I needed a fantasy You've Got Mail, but boy did I. Devastated to have to wait an unknown amount of time for the second installment.

Rebecca Ross has done it again! Divine Rivals was an absolutely spectacular read. I loved the enemies-to-lovers romance, the lore, and the WWII-inspired setting. This was a lot different than any of Ross' other books: the magic didn't play the biggest part in the story, and the romance between Iris and Roman was the biggest theme. I really liked the way their relationship developed throughout the story, which only made the cliffhanger worse! I'm really excited to get more insight on the gods and mythology of the world in the next book!

Thank you so much to the Publisher for sending me an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review of this.

1000000/5 STARS

I am so blown away by Rebecca Ross' storytelling that anything she writes just leaves me speechless and Divine Rivals is no different. Although i do think this book is my favorite by far. Reading about Iris and Roman left me speechless and i kept wanting to shake each of them as they spoke to each other and i found myself wishing i had a physical arc of this so i can annotate it properly.

I'm also upset that i have to wait until 2023 so i can talk about it properly because let me tell you, if you loved A Lovely War AND the anime Violet Evergarden. This should be right up your alley.

Really enjoyed this!
I will update the review with the link to on our blog closer to publication date.

I'd like to thank the publisher St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the eARC of Divine Rivals!

Divine Rivals is incredibly moving and emotionally devastating. Rebecca Ross captivates readers in this stunning tale about two rival journalists- Iris Winnow and Roman C. Kitt. I won't give anything away because you will absolutely want to read this book and be surprised at every turn. Rebecca Ross' writing style flows beautifully and keeps you on the edge of your seat- always wanting more. Magical typewriters, a war between gods, and an enemies to lovers romance that will leave you swooning- Divine Rivals has all the right ingredients to leave you sobbing.

I highly recommend this book and will be pre-ordering for my shelf!

Truly the only complaint I have about this is that the sequel isn't out for ages and I need to know how it ends. This combines all my favorite trope of all time - the 'shop around the corner'/'you've got mail'/'she loves me', with a fantasy war epic. I was the target audience and I adored it. It's somehow both so dark and so light and fluffy all at once.

The characters were sublime and the world building was so different. It all worked in concert so well.

This book is profoundly beautiful. Divine Rivals is now one of my favorite books. The writing style is amazing (like everything this author writes) and the atmosphere of the book is stunning. Picture: warring gods, a magical wardrobe the two MC’s can (somewhat anonymously) pass letters through, a sentient house, lost loved ones, and a beautiful romance. The overall atmosphere of war-time, rainy days, and the MC’s working at the newspaper also make this the perfect cozy read. I literally couldn’t put this down and haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it.

I can’t wait to read this again and again.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early eARC.