𝙳𝙸𝚅𝙸𝙽𝙴 𝚁𝙸𝚅𝙰𝙻𝚂 𝚋𝚢 𝚁𝚎𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊 𝚁𝚘𝚜𝚜

𝑀𝓎 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“𝗜𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗿, 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂: 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗺. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱, 𝗮 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗲, “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱.”

𝑫𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑹𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒔 will be one of my favorite reads of the year. Each word reads as what any good slow burn should--with justification and purpose. Ross' whimsical, yet beautiful writing style highlights throughout her blooming love story of Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt.

The premise of communicating through fantastical typewriters was a welcomed take on the fantasy genre. The subplot of a war between gods--I say subplot because there is a much bigger picture here--gives a nice sprinkle of intrigue and higher stakes. The first novel in the Letters of Enchantment duology concludes in my desperate angst to learn the end of Iris and Roman's fates.

In case it wasn't overtly apparent, 𝑫𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑹𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒔 is worth every bit of the hype.

Thank you so much to the author, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for sending me an early copy of this spectacular novel.

Iris's brother has answered the call of Enva- a musical goddess of light who is at war with Dacre- the god of the underworld who demands her affections. In this world inspired by WWI, Iris must now be the sole breadwinner for her family. Her mother is lost to alcoholism, and Iris's only solace is the letters she writes to her brother that disappear after she slips them under the door of her closet. Little does she know, Kitt- the up and coming star reporter she's competing against for an official position with the paper, and who's family wealth makes a job more of a hobby than a necessity- is the recipient of those letters. For the longest time, he doesn't write back, letting Iris think she's writing her brother. Until the day he does. "This isn't Forest." And that's only the first few chapters.

I'm seriously obsessed with this book. I love the build up,. the insane war, the way a fantasy world is shifting into a modern industrial one, and seeing that shift in the world building. There are obviously elements of high fantasy with the warring gods, fantastical creatures, magic, and overall vibe, But that is quickly shifting with typewriters, trams, and modern weapons of war. The WWI atmosphere of this book is the key selling point for me. Since first reading this book almost a year ago, the hype its received has seemed unearned by many. But for me, the hype has always been this world. Not enough books really look at WWI and the people. The everyday people in the villages and cities. That Divine Rivals shows their story at its heart is why it was a favorite read of 2022.

I absolutely love the WWI aspect of the story, it might be my favorite part. I've always been fascinated by that time period, the simplicity forever shattered by the machines of war. Technology was just beginning and so wonderful, and for the first time, we saw the destruction it could reap. The world was literally never the same again. There was no more pretending things were fine for anyone. Seeing that time period portrayed here, where some of the characters are already well aware of that reality- facing poverty and starvation, as well as the vices common among lower incomes like alcoholism with Iris's mother- while some characters want to pretend everything is just fine. Kitt pretends his actions are only as big as his family. That he, with his position of power and wealth, can only ever obey his father and make sacrifices for the good of the family name. He realizes quickly that he can do more, that there is more than his family, and his responsibilities are to more than them. Then there's the EIC at the paper who blatantly wants to pretend everything is fine and nothing is wrong and that the war that is knocking on their city steps has nothing to do with them. The way Ross really encapsulated the world at that time- while still making a very inclusive world. With non heteronormative characters and relationships, how she includes marked differences in the status and capability of women. It is more modern than the real nineteen teens.

The story takes a dramatic turn into different waters with Part 2. There is a marked difference in tone and content to separate the now revealed horrors of war. It could almost be two separate books, but I mean that in the best way.

Overall an amazing book that really stands out in quality and content among the ever similar releases happening in this genre. I think its refreshing world building and story telling are what really set the book apart from anything else, and why the hype is partially worth it. But only if you're into really specific niche aspects of the book, like WWI or the typewriter/mystery pen pals aesthetic.

Let me start by saying I get it, all the hype this book got, everyone saying you need to read it, and all of the amazing reviews, I get all of it now and I may have to change my rating scale after listening to this book.

Speaking of listening, let's talk about the narrators for just a moment, Alex Wingfield and Rebecca Norfolk brought this story to life, gave it depth, and made me feel like I was sitting on the front lines with Iris and Kitt.

In what I would describe as a beautiful blending of The Lake House meets The Darkest Hour with a pinch of Immortals thrown in we have a story that is spellbinding, that will have you glued to the pages (or in my case earbuds), and have you rooting for love when tomorrow is something that's dreamed of not expected.

As for the story itself, there's not much I can say that hasn't already been said, it's original and brilliant, and will have you questioning what you'd do if you had to live the life Iris lived.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing a copy of this audiobook, I have voluntarily listened to and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had no idea what to expect when I started reading 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘴, but I could see right away why this was a Bookstagram darling. The fantasy world felt like a mashup of WWII historical fiction mixed with enchanted buildings, a magical typewriter, and a war between two gods and mythical creatures.

In other words, I had never read anything like it before, and although it was a slow burn love story that took awhile to really start moving, I loved the lush writing and storytelling that Ross delivered.

The characters were so vivid and well developed, and I loved the dynamic between Iris and Roman. I’m still in shock over that ending that left on such a cliffhanger! I’m actually glad I waited to read this so I won’t have to wait quite as long for the sequel.

🎧I loved the alternating narrators which brought so much depth to the story and kept me fully entertained. I’m so glad I landed on this format, which added even more to the story.

📖𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀
✍️𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝘀
🗓️𝟰.𝟰.𝟮𝟯
🔮𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆
★★★★

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧
🪄 magical elements
📰 rival journalists
📝 love letters
💣 battle scenes
💘 slow burn romance

Thank you @wednesdaybooks @macmillanaudio for the #gifted copy!

When I selected Divine Rivals to listen to, I was not expecting to be taken on a beautiful journey into a war-torn world.

Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt compete for a columnist position at the Oath Gazette. They are each tough competitors, both writing extremely well and having their own reasons for wanting the coveted position.

When tragedy strikes at Iris's home, she makes the decision to become a war correspondent. She leaves for the front, carrying her typewriter. Little does Iris know that she and Roman are connected by far more than a mere profession.

Rebecca Ross is amazing at creating simple, but complex fantasy worlds. The beauty of her writing is a real gem. She's an automatic buy for me. Divine Rivals holds so much more than an enemies to lovers fantasy story. It's the war between the divine gods and the mortals stuck between them. For such a packed fantasy novel, it was a light read that had me gripped from the first chapter.

I greatly look forward to reading Book 2 at the end of the year.

Honestly this one started out a bit slow, but once it picked up I was HOOKED. And that ENDING!! What?! I cannot wait for the second book and had a great time reading this with my book club!

Love. Love. Love. Love this book!!!! The only thing that sucks is that we have to wait for the second book. Brace yourself, if you don’t love cliffhangers—wait for the second to be released. But you should preorder your copy now. I KNOW it’ll be amazing because this book was absolutely fantastic.

AHHHHHHHH!!! Screaming, crying, throwing up! So many emotions. I am shook and heartbroken and hopeful. This was such a great mix of romance and historical fiction and fantasy that I can not even fathom picking up another book right now. I need to sit with this for some time and take it all in and absolutely pine for Ruthless Vows (pre-ordered and can not wait). I'm not sure what did it for me besides just truly the whole way this book played out. It was a great mix of letting you get to know and feel something for the characters but also tearing you apart when something grows wrong to any of those characters. The world building I will say could use a little bit more work as I am a bit confused about the whole Gods and war and what time period this is in but in reality it did not take a whole lot away from the story for me. I can definitely see why this is a Booktok fave. 5 stars and nothing less.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross is the first book in a romance fantasy series that follows two young journalists, Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt, in a world where two gods are warring for supremacy. They begin the novel as rival writers vying for a column at a prestigious newspaper, but begin to fall in love through anonymous letters, shared grief and the secret origins of the gods' war. As the war escalates, Iris and Roman must face the horrors of the battlefield, the secrets of the gods, and the truth of their hearts. This is also the first book in the Letters of Enchantment series with the second book being released in December of this year.

This book explores themes such as family, loyalty, faith, and the power of stories. Iris and Roman both have complicated relationships with their families and the gods at war, and they struggle to find their place in a world that is falling apart. The book is full of myths and legends that add depth and richness to the world building. While the magic of the world is not the main focus I do feel that the world building enhances the character motivations and creates conflict that puts characters in interesting situations.

I have been excited to read this book because I find that romance books that have an epistolary element have a really enticing yearning aspect. I was right to be excited. I am actively in love with the characters in this novel and the emphasis on this series' myths and stories in the story is a really intriguing element to me. The romance between Iris and Roman is slow burn and swoon-worthy. I loved how they communicated through letters that magically appeared under Iris's wardrobe door and the reveals about how their correspondence works as the story goes one. They shared their hopes, fears, and grief, and they attempt supported each other through their hardships despite attempting to not reveal their identities. One of my favorite scenes was when Iris and Roman exchange short letters longing for a future where the war is over so they could meet and the dramatic irony the reader experiences knowing they already have!

Also, since I’m listening to the audio book I couldn’t possibly ignore how well Rebecca Norfolk and Alex Winfield were as narrators. I really liked that they were able to give both Iris and Roman distinct voices in their individual sections and how that extended into their conversations in their letters or dialogue in their counterparts' sections.

I guess that my one disappointment or rather an aspect I might have misinterpreted in the marketing of the series was the characters' connection as rivals in the same newspaper and the nature of what they are writing. I would say that a lot of the time the main characters, especially Iris's, articles/essays take on a form closer to prose poetry than a war correspondent for a newspaper in my personal opinion. This didn’t really bother me because I do love poetic writing but I don’t know if that would be what the reader was expecting.

Overall, Divine Rivals is a captivating and emotional read that will make you fall in love with Iris and Roman and their star-crossed romance. It is also a thrilling and imaginative adventure that will take you to a world where gods and mortals clash, and where stories have the power to change everything. I can't wait for the next book in the series to find out what happens next.

GOODNESS! This book reminded me why I love to read. Iris and Roman's love story was so endearing to read about and I cannot wait for the next book.

Love and found family written so beautifully by the author. It will leave you hooked, start to finish but make sure you have a box of tissues handy.

Oh Wow! Divine Rivals definitely finished saving me from the reading slump I was in.

We follow Iris and Roman as they are determined to win out against one another for the coveted columnist position at the paper they both work. Soon life throws curveballs causing our two MCs to look at their lives as they live in a world torn by Gods at war and live in a city where the battle is the furthest from the peoples' minds—love blossoms on two sides of a typewriter in this beautifully written enemies to lovers romance. If you enjoy stories of Gods, War, Friendship, and Love then I highly recommend checking this book out!

Now I really am going to need the second and final book sooner rather than later cause that ending has me dangling on a cliff...quite literally!

Thank you to the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

After Iris's brother enlisted in the war between Enva and Dacre, old gods that had mysteriously reawakened, Iris had to drop out of school and is competing to win a prestigious position as columnist at the most read newspaper in town. Her mother is now an alcoholic and she has not heard from her brother once since enlisting. She frequently writes him letters on her typewriter that her grandmother gifted her when she was young and finds that her letters disappear after she places them in her wardrobe. She hopes that he is getting her letters until one day she receives a return letter for the first time detailing it is not her brother.

I freaking loved this book so much!! It has been such a long time since I have read something so unique, so romantic and swoon worthy, and so beautiful. I loved how romantic this was without being spicy for once. I loved how their relationship developed and how the emotions, struggles, and thoughts were so real to the time, as well as to real life, rather than being this hyped up and romanticized version of human beings. The magic elements were so discreet, I loved that it wasn't this huge thing that took up most of the world building but just something that happened to be there, and played this huge but unassuming part of the story. It was so beautifully written and really brought you into that 30's/40's type of era. Ugh I just loved it!! I loved Roman, I loved Iris, I loved the cliffhanger at the end (even though I wanted to throw the book at the wall). I cannot wait for the second book!!! 5/5 Stars, this is definitely one of my new favorite books

I’m not loving this trend of emotionally heart-wrenching cliff-hangers lol.

More romance than fantasy. Deals with heavy ideas of PTSD and survivors guilt. Rivals-to-lovers. YA-NA cusp.

I loved all of the characters and I just wanted to curl up in this war-torn battlefield.

I put off reading this for so long because of the cover. I understand the choice but it's just not appealing.

I need the next book right this minute! I loved this one so much! The magic in the book was so cool. Iris was such an awesome character. I love a good enemies to lovers. The banter between her and Roman was so great and funny. I loved the World War I feel of the book. It just made the story so interesting. I cannot wait to read the next one. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book was wonderful! I do not typically go for audiobooks, but I honestly could not stop listening to this story. The author did an amazing job at immersing the reader into the world. I instantly loved the complex relationship between Iris and her work rival Roman. The characters felt well fleshed out and I enjoyed getting a sense of their background and their personalities while seeing their relationship slowly change throughout the book. The stories of the gods in this world were well thought out and interesting. Throw in the magically connected typewriters and the mysterious writer responding to Iris’ letters, and I was hooked. The cliffhanger and plot twist at the end of the book has me at the edge of my seat waiting for the sequel. I can’t wait to see what is coming next for Iris and Roman.

What a fantastic book!

The WWII feeling mixed with fantasy was so perfect for this read. I also loved the characterization, world building, subtle magic system, and romance. Ross's writing is stunning and was a truly magical experience to follow these characters through their journey.

I cannot wait for the next book and found myself thinking: This book is so good I hurts to read it!

If you enjoy YA fantasy you're going to LOVE this book!

My rating: 5*
______
Thanks to NetGalley for an early review copy via audiobook. All opinions are my own.

The author is on the audiobook did so amazing. The story itself was so touching. I wanted to the spoken with little to no expectation, and was overwhelmed with how this story developed. There’s so many topics that I touched on as far as war and the family member left behind that I resident really expecting, but loved the love story between the characters I felt wasn’t rushed at all, and was a nice touch. I cannot wait until the next book.

My heart is in pieces. Ross's writing is so beautiful. I can always picture the scenes she describes with such stunning clarity. She knows how to bring emotion to life on the page and I am always ready and willing to read whatever she writes. It helps that this audio production is extremely well done and both narrators did an incredible job.
Iris and Roman are rivals competing for the coveted position of columnist at a newspaper. When a war of the gods comes closer to home, they will each make choices that completely change the course of their lives.
The snappy banter, quick wit, and tension between Iris and Roman is delicious. With found family, epistolary elements, and magic, I found that I could not put this down. Divine Rivals has consumed my thoughts and will be a book I look forward to rereading many times.

Thank you to Netgalley for my complimentary alc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

I am a sucker for the mundane set in a fantastical world. I'm all In.

This gorgeous book was so magical yet mundane. It was romantic and slightly tragic. A combination of the fantastical and every day. I did not want to put it down, I wanted more. The gods are back, and they have fighting over old wounds and grudges, and they are out certainly taking down the humans along with them (but just as an afterthought, not actually like the humans matter much at all). I loved the MC, her spirit! She goes for what she wants, and doesn't settle for mundanity. Her counter part has always had money, privilegde, and yet he'd throw it all away for a taste of freedom and real life. He might not be going to the war front for the right reasons (he is most certainly chasing after a girl) but he does it anyways and puts his whole heart into it. The ending was painfully exquisite, and I cannot wait for the sequel.

PS; Read as an audio book, and the narrator did a fantastic job of portraying the characters and keeping me engaged. The voice was perfect for the text, definitely recommend giving it a listen.