After reading A River Enchanted I have been a fan of Rebecca Ross’ writing, in particular her ability to write incredibly tender, intimate moments between characters and the way she approached the complex layers of a relationship. With this expectation in mind, Divine Rivals both pleasantly gave me the same comfort, but unfortunately also frustrated me at times.

I won’t go into the plot because well, that’s what the synopsis is for, but the premise in itself is an interesting one with a lot of potential. However it feels more attention is put into the relationship of these 2 main characters, Iris and Roman (or Kitt) than the war they’re in. There are feuding Gods but we learn so little about them, there is magic in this world because that’s how the type writers Iris and Roman use connect them to pass letters to each other, and yet you learn nothing about magic - for example, how common is magic?? If magic exists, why is the rest of the way people live so 1940s technology when people could literally magic things to happen?? The world is Oath, although essentially this is England, with the characters moving from London to the country to first report then aid in the war efforts, but again we know so little about Oath. The war is so close to the city and yet no one cares, there is no panic at all about it. Yes people can be desensitised to war far away but it’s literally a train away (or bizarrely, you can apparently walk the distance it turns out!). What do Dacre’s monsters the eithrals really look like?

Now I’ll be fair, because I do like Ross, and acknowledge that this is book one so a lot of my grumbles can and may be addressed in the next instalment, particularly we will absolutely be learning more about Dacre from how this story here wraps up. We may also, hopefully have more explanation on magic, and I want to learn more about Enva.

My main issue with this book unfortunately is Roman, on his own he’s a sweet character, I wanted to know more of him (especially how he stood up to his father) however from a romance perspective he’s awful. Essentially, and this is just my opinion, I think the issue was the decision to make Roman know he was talking to Iris from the start of their correspondence. Had Iris simply found his letters and connected the dots, or vice versa, I would have loved these 2 people to be together. However how it goes (and it’s not a spoiler, it’s not treated as a grand reveal) is that Iris, worried and missing her brother who is at war, types up a letter on her typewriter and pops it under her wardrobe door, just so she feels like she sent it. And then it disappears and in hope she keeps writing to him. Months later she gets a reply, after the recipient has read Iris at her most vulnerable and encouraged in his silence for her continue doing so, reading a part of her heart that she otherwise hides, a part of her heart that was for her brother alone that he takes advantage of in allowing from this girl who is lonely and scared. And the recipient is Roman who from the start connects the dots from what Iris says about herself and knows it’s her. This is what made the romance uncomfortable for me, not sweet. Roman is noble in many ways but acts incredibly selfishly. He had no right to read the letters he knows were not for him, it’s actually quite cruel that for months he allows her to believe and hope the letters are going to her brother. He intrudes on intimate moments not intended for him and, when he finally admits he is not her brother, lies and says he cannot give her the letters she wrote back to her - he can, he just doesn’t want to, even though those letters were never for him. I’m sorry but that’s weird and gross.

When it is finally revealed to Iris that Roman is Carver, the mysterious penpal she’s been writing to and falling for, we then enter the next red flag of this relationship because sensitive, sweet Roman turns out to be a manipulative gaslighter. At no point does Roman apologise for misleading Iris, in fact he’s very self righteous and painfully pedantic as he explains that he never actually lied to Iris, he just omitted the truth … I mean, ridiculousness aside, he does literally lie, when Iris says she can’t wait to see him, he says it back when he has literally already seen her. He said he couldn’t return the letters, he could, he was selfish. He says his name is Carver (his excuse is that she never thought to ask her what the C in his name stood for, so help me) but if no one refers to you as that, that’s not your name.

Yes before and after this behaviour Roman does some very noble things but his behaviour, which is cowardly (he writes her his big reveal when he could literally just tell her, and even then he interrupts her so she can’t read it when she wants and he would have to suffer the reaction), selfish and lacks accountability, is never addressed. Iris apologises, Roman at one point just sulks in his room and mopes, Iris is always the bigger person and takes full responsibility or forgives things that are never apologised for. Iris wants to be loved and belong and that’s what makes her accepting this behaviour so uncomfortable for me, because the behaviour is never seen as unacceptable. He doesn’t allow her the right to be angry because he loves her and he has made sacrifices for her so she basically be mad what he did to get there - he made sacrifices FOR HIM, because HE wanted her, so she can still be mad that he lied and betrayed her. And no, don’t think kissing someone when they’re angry solves a thing, please, please don’t do this. Carver and Iris work better writing to each other than Roman and Iris work in person, the moments are sweeter, more intimate, even though it’s still built on lies.

Now Iris, Iris I adored. She loves her brother, she cares for her mother, she juggles so much and has so little but still tries. She works at the Oath Gazette, she feels intimidated by Roman as her ‘rival’ because she feels he’s a better writer than her and he advantages she does not. But there’s an incredible hope to her, to find her brother, to write something that matters, find her place, find someone to be loved by and love. And you experience Iris grow and find her purpose. I found Iris incredibly endearing. Likewise, Marisol is a lovely character and while you don’t experience a lot of them together, I really loved her relationship with Keegan and want more of that please.
Doing what Ross does best, there are also some touching and powerful scenes of Iris experiencing the reality of war and the losses that come with, a scene where she watches a soldier die particularly stayed with me. That said, the war and the gods and magic felt very much like subplots to a romance that I didn’t feel was worth it. We only learn about one soldier, Lark, we don’t know what Keegan has been through, Iris is there to spread the truth and say something meaningful and yet you don’t even really experience her as a writer to know, bar one article, what she writes. We’re told Iris is a great writer, we’re told the war is and, but we don’t really see either enough. I think that’s sometimes the problem when romance is in a book, it overshadows the plot.

Overall I did enjoy this book, the approach to the romance just wasn’t for me and there was wasted potential with the premise that I hope is remedied. But I still have a lot of respect for Ross and will be looking forward to finding out how this story ends.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review

Set in a late 1800s/ early 1900s with magical aspects and brilliant world building that makes it feel both familiar and fantastical. Both Irish and Roman are well written and developed with a host of secondary characters with their own twists and turns. Slight cliffhanger but sequel out before the year is over!

SO GOOD!! The hype around this book is so real. I absolutely loved the pacing of this, the intricate magical system and of course, our two great leads. I find it hard to really connect with YA fantasy these days, but Rebecca Ross has crafted a world that feels very lived in, and coupled it with conflict that has you on the edge of your seat. The writing is beautiful, and the main characters are so charming you can't help but fall in love with them from the start. Hands down one of the best YA/fantasy/romance combos I've read in a while.

4.25 stars

This was an enchanting book from start to finish. I haven’t stopped thinking about this cast of characters. The writing was beautiful and the story exceeded all expectations.

Despite what seemingly sounded like a simple concept, Divine Rivals is a genre-defying action packed swoonworthy masterclass in historical urban fantasy! (If that's even a thing!)

The world that Rebecca Ross has built here is truly divine. A very 1920s, turn of the century time mashed up with elements of mythology and high fantasy made for one of the most unique settings I have ever read in this genre.

And what to say about Iris and Kitt? ❤️❤️❤️ I mean I love a good enemies to lovers trope but these two were about as swoonworthy as it gets - and who knew letter writing could be so romantic?

The ending sequence made me cry, gasp and scream (especially the Epilogue!) and it just makes me want the sequel now - and that makes me cry even more because it's not out until April 2024!!

The premise of this book was very interesting, and I loved the enemies-to-lovers aspect, even if it felt a bit cliche.

I loved the writing and the world building, and I look forward to my special edition!

Ughhhhh... this book!!!! If you haven't read it, read it!!! I LOVED this book! Our two MC's were just perfect, a little sprinkle of magic and a bit of emotional trauma and grief, type it out on that funky typewriter, wrap it up in Ross' special writing pad and stick it under the door... Magical!

I honestly loved everything about this, the characters were great, we have elements of enemies to lovers, actual Gods, a War, grief and whatever else was slung at our MC's! It was magical, it built hope and I really ROOTED for them both! I am so so so so excited for the next instalment, can you tell? I couldn't even write a comprehensive review because I'm still reeling and I just adored it so so much!

I have mixed feeling about this book. I dived in, expecting to love it as I'm a bit of a history buff and historical romance are my jam but I don't know, something just didn't work for me.
It might be that this enemies-to-lovers romance felt a bit cliche and moved too quickly. Or the mythology aspect that got me a bit confused.
Nevertheless, I liked this book way more than her previous ones and that cliffhanger definitely got me hooked and ready for the sequel.

A brilliant, well plotted and gripping novel: a very original world building, fleshed out characters, a enemy-to-lovers story.
I can't wait to read the next book as I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

A magical Sundy Afternoon read, sweet Love, Magic, War and Destruction.
A very slight enemies to lovers tale with strong femine characters.
Who doesn't want a magic type writer. The ending defiently makes you want to read the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Harper Collins for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: death, violence, injury, war

"Divine Rivals" takes place in a world where a war between gods has escalated and their followers are now lining the trenches of the front lines. Iris Winnow is desperate to find out what happened to her brother, Forest, who enlisted six months ago after the goddess Enva called him to fight. She's working to become the lead reporter at the Oath Gazette but finds herself stopped at every turn by her rich, snooty rival- Roman Kitt. The two of them have been fighting for this role for months, but Iris' chances of gaining the job begin to fall as she grows more obsessed with finding her brother and keeping her mother sober. One night she writes a letter on the typewriter given to her by her grandmother to Forest, though she doesn't believe it'll reach him. It doesn't- the person receiving them is Roman, and he's fascinated to find that his rival is more than he ever thought. Iris and Roman begin writing to each other and soon find a friend in each other. After a traumatic event drives her from home, Iris decides to go to the front line and become a war correspondent. It's while she's out there that Iris sees the realities and horrors of war, the desperation of soldiers trying to survive, and an unexpected love when Roman follows her out into the field.

This book is absolutely gorgeously written, I read this so quickly and enjoyed every moment of it. Iris and Roman start out as enemies but as soon as things begin changing, their relationship develops so well. I loved Iris' journey into becoming a war correspondent, especially as she moved away from her life in Oath and discovered what was happening on the front lines. She's strong and confident, but also incredibly vulnerable and I really enjoyed her character. Roman is just as interesting, trying to manage the weight of his father's expectations on top of his guilt over his sister's death. The earliest parts of the book were good but as soon as Iris went to war, that's when it began to truly grip me, and I'm so glad I kept reading. Books with enemies-to-lovers storylines are always enjoyable but here Rebecca Ross has written a story about the importance of acting on love when things are at their worst, even if it means staying behind in a warzone to tend your wife's garden. The magic typewriters were such a clever addition and I loved the worldbuilding behind the gods' war with each other, I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

What an incredible premise, and what an achievement to fulfil my expectations of that premise! Rival journalists who unbeknownst to them communicate through magical typewriters as they correspond on a war between gods? So fascinating! It was the first book I've read by this author, but I'll definitely be picking up more because they have the most gorgeous, lush writing style that just took me in so completely.

I'm hoping that, given how this book ended, we'll see more of the gods in the next book, as they weren't technically relevant to the plot for a lot of this story; we kind of just knew that they were the reason why this war was happening, but there was never any real need for it to be involving gods, so I'm hoping that aspect will be ramped up in the sequel.

I did love the characters though, and their pining for each other was displayed really well considering this book is pretty fast paced and not very long. I loved how they stuck together even when they were "rivals", and even more so as their relationship blossomed. They were a fantastic pairing and I was rooting for them throughout.

One of my favourite reads of the year!

I can’t praise this book enough, I love the world building and premise about the 2 eating gods and humanity being called to fight either side. It was interesting seeing the fall out of that but I loved seeing the journey of the main characters and I really loved the story with the typewriters. Definite recommendation from my and a worthy 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review!

I enjoyed Ross' A River Enchanted so I knew I would probably be into Divine Rivals, but this book truly surpasses its predecessor.

Divine Rivals is filled with realistic horrors of war, beautiful romantic and familial love, and a fantasic, expansive story. I really admire an author who can create feelings and experiences so close to reality within a fantasy realm. The WWI-inspired world is amazing. Every aspect is intricate, beautiful, devastating, and detailed. The letter premise reminds me a bit of the Undertaking of Hart and Mercy which I also loved, and I fell for these characters like I fell for them.

It's a fascinating premise for a war. Enva and Dacre and their I love that they all drink tea instead of coffee. I really believe that Iris and Roman are great writers and I love how different their writing styles are whilst being engrossing. Their relationship is beautiful from their friendship to their romance. I just adored them both.

I am going to give this book to everyone I know for Christmas this year because I need everyone in my life to be as obsessed as me.

Also, if I don't get the next book soon I will haunt Rebecca Ross in the middle of the night until I do. The cliffhanger-esque ending has killed me. I need to know what happens next. Five glowing stars.

Surely the cover alone sells this?
But if not, prepare for the PERFECT rivals to lovers romance, with a magical version of our own world and a battle between gods. This tale is packed with hope as well as the realities of war, on the front line as well as for those left behind.

The ending broke me, so prepare, this is an uncompleted duology. (My heart is currently hurting and will not be complete unless happiness occurs in book 2)

Rebecca Ross is fast becoming one of my all time favourite authors. Divine Rivals did not disappoint, I think Rebecca up the ante with this one, I cannot wait to read the sequel!

Five star for sure, it probably deserves ten stars!

Look, I'm going to need to stop reading books so early if they end like this. just THAT CLIFFHANGER. wow.

Okay so Divine Rivals is the story of Iris Winnow, whose brother has recently gone to war to fight for a God. Her mother has since become an alcoholic and Iris is struggling to keep them fed with her job at the local newspaper writing obituaries. She fights with her rival, the handsome Roman Kitt, for a place as columnist, but fate has other plans for her, and the battlefield looms ever closer...

This was divinely (ha!) written as always. I can honestly say I adore Ross' writing, the way she does emotions is just perfect and the letters our two mains write to each other were heart-breaking, yet full of hope too. I highlighted so many passages on my kindle!

I will say this one did surprise me a little. It reads more like a WW1 historical than a fantasy book. I was definitely expecting more magic but I did appreciate how Ross sprinkles in bits of it here and there whilst keeping a very realistic tone.

The romance unfolds beautifully, the procession from rivals to lovers is done really organically and I was so invested in their happy ending 🥺

I'm already eagerly anticipating the sequel, the book ends with a huge cliffhanger that sets up book 2 to be very exciting indeed!

Many thanks to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the ARC.

Ms. Ross beautiful stories and sherry story telling never fails to amazes me. I’m in love with this series so much, would highly recommended almost everyone to pick this up!

This historical fantasy set against a back drop of WWII dazzled me from the start. With star crossed lovers a letter exchange and some fantasy elements tied in with a historical setting it checked all my boxes for a perfect book.

The writing is beautiful and through it I really feel connected to Iris. The pacing was great and held up through most of the story.