A magical experience!! I felt like I was listening to a movie. My imagination was running wild the entries time. Iris and Roman’s relationship was easy to love and root for, even as “rivals.”

From the beginning oh find yourself invested in Iris’s character and somehow excited for her interactions with Roman. This story was told as if it’s already a well known world. Everything felt so magical, yet real.

The shift from the world of Magic to the fast paced war chapters was built up perfectly. A magical historian fiction, almost.

I already can’t wait for book two!!

Thanks so much NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the copy for review.

this was so beautifully written ! the writing and plot truly kept you from putting the book down. and the characters !! i loved meeting them, and i desperately need to see where their story takes them in the next book.

i'm just so.... starstruck. the author did SUCH a wonderful job of creating a beautiful story of hope and love despite the war brewing around these characters. it felt like magic reading this. i truly am in awe.

I want to thank NetGalley and Wednesday books for giving me an arc in exchange of my honest review.

I love Rebecca Ross and I feel her storytelling gets better and better with time. Divine Rivals is such a special story! I really loved how RR used the correspondence between Jack and Adaira in “A fire Endless” so when I find out this book was just about that, I got really excited and I’m not disappointed at all.
Although the setting for this story is not a happy place, you have no other choice than to feel cautivantes because Iris and Roman are perfection. I loved their relationship from the begging, even when she didn’t know. And how amazing the way RR made everything happened. I loved that we knew but Iris did not know and I was so eager for her to find out. And when she did, oh man! That scene was so perfectly written!
All the war details had me crying but I always felt there was hope at the end of the road.
That ending was heartbreaking and I already need to to know how everything is going to end

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up to 5!

A new favorite author! Rebecca Ross has the most beautiful, poetic writing style. Set in the middle of a war between gods, this story follows Iris and Roman- intense rival journalists. They are both competing for a prestigious spot at the Oath Gazette. But after devastating events, Iris leaves the Oath Gazette and her hometown behind in search of her brother in the front lines.

I gushed so much over this couple and story! If you love enemies to lovers, forced proximity, equals, a protector, and wittiness, you will fall in love with Divine Rivals.

The plot itself is pretty simple. The story is inspired by WW1 and I can’t say there’s a ton of action or plot twists (even the lore lacked). BUT the author’s writing makes this story incredible. She weaves such a beautiful tale and traps you into her world. I wanted to keep reading more and more. Her writing sold me this novel!

I loved the way the war and lore was revealed over time. The author kept me curious, but she also gave me so much to root for beyond the war. Again, her writing made me fall in love with the ship and characters. The way she wrote this romance was breathtaking, tasteful, honest and thoughtful. She wrote a deep-rooted love.

Rebecca Ross’ writing is some of the best I’ve encountered. She kept me hooked the whole way through, squealing when her characters would admit difficult truths and grow. The typewriter connection between Roman and Iris was so charming and sweet- a cute twist!

I need book #2 NOW! If you haven’t read her before you need to read her now. While I wait for the next book, I’ll be reading her other novels to enjoy more of her writing.

This was my first book by Rebecca Ross and I was pretty surprised,. I'm not typically drawn to war stories but the fantastical elements of active gods and goddesses at the head of the war? And magical typewriters? Now that was interesting enough to get me hooked. I wish we were able to spend a little bit more time with the letters sent between our main characters because I feel like most of the relationship's development happened off the page so it was a little difficult to root for it to come to fruition. But boy the stakes were high! War correspondents in the trenches?? In a YA book?? That was new and very nerve wrecking. I'm not sure I loved the final plot twist/character reveal but I think many will enjoy it or at least be surprised. I am also entirely surprised to find out this will be a series! This is one to pick up if you get the chance and the audiobook was fantastic.
Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity) and Julie Berry (Lovely War).

I went into this story blind, and I'm so happy I did. It made the experience of enjoying such a unique and beautiful world that much better.

Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt are two journalist competing for the same dream position at their paper. When Iris' mother dies, she gives up her dream and becomes a war correspondent for the ongoing war between the gods. In the process, Iris realizes that her and Roman are much closer than she thought.

I'm not normally a romance reader, but this was just enough romance for me to enjoy every part of the story! The concept and execution were so well done, and the mutual pining was sweet and not too over the top. The idea of two journalists being connected through enchanted typewriters during a war between gods is just such a great plot, and I'm so happy to say that the author delivers!

It was well paced, well written, with great characters that leave you rooting for them. My only complaint is the cliff hanger, but that means we're probably getting a second book in this fantastic fantasy world. And, surprisingly, I'm very okay with that.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first Rebecca Ross book, but after reading this I will very quickly be picking up more from her. I love the “you’ve got mail” style love story and this time era. I will say there wasn’t as much fantasy in it until the end but I feel the next book is going to pop off with some more god battles and tie in nicely to the first!

This book is now living in my heart and soul. I will be reading it again. It is simply so beautiful and moving. I love the fantasy world setting of the god's war. The love a rivals to lovers' story and all the magic and enchantments. Iris and Roman's connection gave me Anne & Gilbert vibes. I adore it! I am a huge fan of her books and I love her writing, I am so excited for the second book

I really really enjoyed this one! It was a nice mix of cute romance and historical fantasy. It centers around Iris and Roman, rival writers for the local newspaper, while a war between gods rages on far from their small town. It tackles the topics of loss, vulnerability, and love in a time of so much pain incredibly well. We get thrown back and forth between the gruesome effects of war and the growing innocent love of our two protagonists. I liked how we got to hear some of the mythology and history of the gods and where their whole feud started, though I am hoping we get a bit more world building in terms of the subtle magic in the world in the rest of the series.

Speaking of the rest of the series, I know today is pub day for book one, but I need book two now please 😅 That ending was cruel and heartbreaking and I need to know more!

I definitely recommend for folks interested in a well done YA fantasy with good character building! And to top it all off, the cover is gorgeous 😍

Loved the audiobook going to buy this in hardcover format for sure. I kept hearing rave reviews and they didn’t let me down at all.

In a world where a battle between gods created the foundation of society and magic runs rampant, a new war is going on. I love the world the author created, with just the random touches of magic set in this almost roaring 20's vibe (but with modern things like equality). I was instantly sucked into this story and enjoyed the journey. This was very much a character driven story, which is kind of interesting since the story focuses on a big war and a magical world, but getting to know the two main characters was the point of this book. I would have liked to know more about the war and the magic (connected typewriters are super fantastic and I want to know what other kinds of magic exist) and the world, but maybe the next book will fill in some of my world building gaps.

And wow this was romantic! Sure there was war, death, loss, destruction, gods, magic, all kinds of danger- but this was super romantic, like the swoony end of times loves that songs like to focus on.

Warning, this book ends with a huge crazy cliffhanger that will leave you needing more and feel like your heart was ripped out. I am impatiently counting down the days for the sequel (I have no idea how many books will be in this series, could be a duology or a series) but I am 100% here for this series.

The audiobook is dual narrated by both the main characters and I absolutely love that, Yes I am spoiled by multiple narrators in a book but I don't want it any other way. If you are a audiobook fan I highly recommend listening to this one, the way the story was composed on audio added another magical element to an already fantastic story in my opinion.

#DivineRivals:⁣
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“The days to come will only grow darker. And when you find something good? You hold onto it. You don’t waste time worrying about things that won’t even matter in the end. Rather, you take a risk for that light”⁣
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@macmillan.audio @wednesdaybooks. Thank you so much for my amazing copies. I have very strong feelings about this book and am willing to die on the Divine Rival hill. Give me all the merch, all the special editions, everything. Iris and Roman. A magical typewriter?! A war amongst the gods. A war correspondent. Yeah, this book is my favorite of 2023. ⁣
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The storyline, the LOVE, the so interesting world building, this book is amazing y’all. Also, if you’re going to make your two MCs as writers, they better have words that flow like lava, and Rebecca Ross did just that.⁣
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The audio was wonderful. Alex Wingfield and Rebecca Norfolk are amazing. I cried several times and it was clearly well done or I would have just been sad.⁣
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Do yourself a favor. Grab this one. Savor it. Historical Fantasy? Me? Released yesterday and I need all of y’all to enjoy it with me.

Divine Rivals, the latest novel by Rebecca Ross, is a spellbinding historical fantasy that had me hooked from the very first page. The world-building is rich and vivid, with an intricately crafted mythology that feels both ancient and new. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning, and found myself fully immersed in the world of the gods and goddesses.

The characters are well-developed, each with their own motivations and desires. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters, Iris and Roman. Their relationship is fraught with tension and conflict, but also with a deep sense of connection and understanding.

The pacing of the story is excellent, with a perfect balance between action, intrigue, and character development. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next.

But what truly sets Divine Rivals apart is the writing itself. Rebecca Ross has a gift for language, with a lyrical style that is both elegant and powerful. The descriptions of the world and the characters are rich and vivid, painting a picture that is both beautiful and haunting.

Overall, Divine Rivals is a stunning work of historical fantasy, and one that I would highly recommend to any fan of the genre. It's a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and that will linger with you long after you've turned the final page.

Thank you SO MUCH NetGalley for the ARC!!!

This book had me hooked from the beginning. I love the twist on the type writers being linked and being a major part of the romance. The world and drama are amazing and I just couldn’t put it down.

This is enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and a love torn apart book. This book grabbed me from the start. I loved this one so much and can’t wait for the next book. Be sure to pick this one up!!

“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.”

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 is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish―into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

This is an epic fantasy story and I was hooked from the first chapter. The audio is just fantastic! Narrated by both Alex Wingfield and Rebecca Norfolk this story was fast paced and just so engrossing. And also so interesting. It’s a fantasy, sure. But it is also an enemies-to-lovers love story. Add to that the element of war in the name of the Gods and it’s just one hell of a ride. Superbly done!

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[4.5 rounded to 5] Divine Rivals is the first novel in the Letters of Enchantment series. Before even beginning to discuss the content, I do have to acknowledge that the series name is different than the title of this first novel. I love when series have a unique name as it gives the series a more complete feeling rather than novels just stacked on top of each other. This story is interesting as it is lighter on the fantasy and reads more like historical fiction with a fantasy twist. There is a war between the Gods (Dacre and Enva) compared to a world war, but the general feeling remains that same. One of our main characters, Iris Winnow’s, brother, Forest, goes off to fight for the goddess Enva, which leaves Iris behind to care for the family. She works as a journalist for a newspaper, the Oath Gazette. As a columnist position opens, she finds herself against her rival, Roman Kitt.

As Iris longs to reconnect with her brother, she uses her grandmother’s typewriter to write letters to him. Instead of her brother, the letters land in the hands of Roman and the two begin a magical anonymous pen pal relationship. Their story is told from dual POV, which I loved as it gave the reader both sides of the story for each character, plus they got to experience different settings. Iris is towards the warfront whereas Rowan is back home. Each has a different background and different motivations, yet they find ways to connect through their letters. Through the characters the reader experiences a lot of the emotions and aftermath that comes from war, and I loved that Ross did not shy away from making this part darker. It still remains appropriate for the YA audience, but it adds another layer that older audiences, like me, can appreciate. As for the relationship that develops between Roman and Iris, it was well done as I love the element of them connecting through letters. I do not go as far as calling this enemies to lovers as it is more rivals to lovers, but it is the closest trope to the details on the page.

The pacing itself is something that I expected based on the genre as it is remains fairly steady up until the last quarter or so where it speeds up to build up to a cliff hanger and entice the readers to want to pick up the next novel. Since I read a lot of the genre, I expected it, although I still would have preferred it to be spread out a little more. The part I was not expecting, however, is the smaller role of the divine in this story. I thought there would be more involvement and lore as it seems there is still a lot to learn about the gods and their world. I am hopeful that the second novel will dive more into this part of the story as I have a lot of questions that I want answered. While this was not the story I expected, it was a great war romance as I loved how Iris and Roman connected. Overall, this novel, like many of the genre, is structured to focus on enticing readers to try the sequel, but there was a lot to love about the writing and characters to make it worth it.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners for the opportunity to read this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

Thank you Macmillan audio and NetGalley Wow! What an amazing read. I really fell in love with this book. The writing was just absolutely enchanting. The author writes emotion so beautifully. You could honestly feel the grief and sorrow that Iris was feeling. I really felt immersed in a part of the story as I was reading it. I have this great on an affection for all of these characters. That ending I can’t. This book is definitely one of my new favorites, so glad to have the opportunity to listen to early. I literally can’t wait to read the next one.

Divine Rivals is a book that screams character and art. With rival journalists, magical letters to each other, and the grief of loss, it's rooted in the connection we have to Iris and Roman. Immediately I became so attached to Iris, to the ways she's trying to prove herself, but also to the pain of her loss. At the same time, I loved Roman from the beginning not only in their banter, but in the ways it stems from a respect, an admiration of their talents.

To the pieces of life and love we cling to when tomorrow isn't promised to us. When we see how fragile each second is. I was fortunate to also be able to listen to some of Divine Rivals on audio book which was an utter delight. Not only is this dual narrators, but the accents and emotions Alex Wingfield & Rebecca Norfolk are able to infuse truly takes Divine Rivals to a new level.

Thank you to Rebecca Ross for including so many of my favorite things in one book!

Rivals to Lovers. ✔
Fantasy setting. ✔
Historical fiction. ✔
Found family. ✔

It was hard to resist the spell binding craft of this novel. I found the city of Oath to be charming, and the characters I found within in it even more so. The banter between Kitt and Winnow (or Roman and Iris) was excellent and I found myself attached to both of them and their relationship immediately.

While I typically don't read historical fiction, I do think Ross does a great job straddling the genre while including great bits of fantasy and enchantment. I am excited for the next book and look forward to learning more about the Gods and their realms!

I had initially requested the e book ARC of this book and then decided to request the audiobook as well. The narrators of the audiobook were FANTASTIC. Their inflection, their accents, the POV switches... I highly recommend it if you are an audiobook fan. It kept me so invested in the story and added a lot to it in my opinion!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and the author!