It may partly have been because I was doing a reading race with a friend, but I felt like I really devoured this book! It was such a joy to read and really lived up to the hype for me. I didn't expect that ending and I need to read book 2 immediately (I'm glad I waited to read this until after the 2nd book was already out). I will definitely be reading more books by Rebecca Ross in the future!

I don't know why I kept putting off reading this. I do regret that greatly now because once I picked it up, I had a really hard time putting it down to do other things. From the very first page with Forest saying goodbye to Iris and heading off to fight in a war of gods (very intriguing but awful with Dacre trying to get to Enva and both using humans for their own ends) and then Iris trying to hold things together as her mother spirals and Forest goes missing. That heartbreak mixed with the mysterious letters that Iris and Roman send each other, thanks to certain special typewriters. This was an interesting world where there are dead or slumbering gods, magical items and buildings and good people trying to survive the gods. I think Iris is so strong the way that after she loses everything, she makes the choice to go to the front lines as a war correspondent to tell the truth and find her brother. And Roman is perfect in going after her. They are such a cute and witty couple and by the end I was cheering for them and then crying because that ending! I need the next book stat!

So, really really good and a smooth read that begs to be read in one sitting if at all possible. I hope the next one delves deeper into the gods and their powers and I really hope that humans will survive them!

Rebecca Ross can do no wrong. I love her writing style, her heartbreaking plots, and her characters that feel like they're real. I cannot WAIT to read the next book!

“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 the light.”

I loved Iris right from the start and found both Iris and Kitt to be interesting and relatable. I tend not to enjoy romantic books set against a backdrop of war but the balance was really well done here.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

One of my lifetime auto-buy authors back again!

This is maybe Ross’ swooniest romances yet?! Iris and Roman are imprinted on my brain forever.

The time this story is set and the incision of warring gods and magic in a somewhat more modern (think early 20th century) setting was interesting and threw me off kilter a few times (in a good way).

There is so much to feast on in this story - rivals to lovers, a lot of tragedy, and so much hope and tender feelings.

A must read fantasy!

Thank you Netgalley for an early review copy. I ADORED this book and I am happy to see it's become a bestseller and (is it too soon to say) a classic. The writing is beautiful and I loved Roman and Kit so much and the theme of found family was so beautifully explored.

The world building was simple to digest and the ending of the book made me gasp, I can't wait for Ruthless Vows!

Divine Rivals is a spellbinding tale that seamlessly weaves together romance, mythology, and adventure. The unexpected connection between Iris and Roman, rival journalists turned soulmates, adds a layer of enchantment to this gripping narrative. As the gods wage war and the stakes reach unprecedented heights, the story takes on a thrilling pace that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The character development is impeccable, with Iris's determination and Roman's icy demeanor complementing each other in unexpected ways. The story effortlessly transports readers into a world where gods clash, and family bonds are tested. What truly sets this book apart is its ability to blend the fantastical with the emotional, creating an experience that lingers long after the final page.

As the first installment concludes with a heart-pounding climax, I find myself eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. I am left pleasantly surprised and hungry for more.

This book is being voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and Rebecca Ross.

This is my 2024 book of the year- my new Roman empire. I originally got this book as an ARC, but put off reading it for so long because I felt myself drifting away from YA; what a MISTAKE.

1. POV
The story is told in 3rd person with a dual perspective of the FMC and MMC who write letters to each other and deal with each other on a regular basis.
2. Character vs Plot Driven
I personally find the book to be more character-driven than plot-driven. Iris and Roman spend so much time in their heads and sending letters between one and other that the plot is more of a narrative device to provide them with more things to discuss and force them into situations together rather than something that is the main focus of the story. You read this book for Iris and Roman, not for the plot about the gods at war in my opinion.
3. Character Development
Iris and Roman feel like real people to me. Ross is a master at making her characters relatable to all ages through their introspection. Because of the war surrounding them and some of the sadder events that take place throughout the story, Iris and Roman are forced to grow individually and as a pair.
4. Tropes & Atmosphere
-Rivals to Lovers
-Academic in the sense that they're both journalists with a love of writing
-War time
-Fantastical gods
5. Smut
This book is very much YA in the sense that the smut is very tame. Not much is described, but you are taken through a brief, yet emotional sex scene near the end of the story. I'd classify the book as almost completely closed door.
6. Similar Books
-A Study in Drowning for the rivals to lovers, academic vibes, and the relatively shallow god-related lore

You know that saying- Simple is the sweetest, that's what Divine Rivals is. A simple tale of a girl writing to a boy and a boy writing girl but with the small but explosive twist of a magical artifact that links their lives together.

I laughed, I cried and my heart was full of words, characters, and emotions. I adored the relationship between Kit and Iris and the fact that he fell first. Nothing gets my motors running like a "true love conquers all" tale, especially when fate intervenes and gives them the ride of their lives.

The only thing that could be more perfect would be if I could live alongside these bright, vivacious yet jarringly human characters. They face hunger, war, and death and still manage to cling to the little good that shines bright.

An instant 5-star read for me!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review. You can follow me on IG @JessicaReadsIt.

Favorite book of the year. Rebecca Ross' writing is in a league of its own. Her characters, world, and the way she is able to make you ache with her words is unparalleled. I read this one twice.

I love a good enemies-to-lovers story, and that's what this delivers with two competitive war correspondents in a war for the ages -- between the supporters of one god and the supporters of his ancient wife goddess. I was less interested in the politics of the war itself but enjoyed the banter and back-and-forth letters between the main characters as their relationship developed.

One of my favorite books of last year. I just loved the world, the character's, the love story was awesome.

This is one of my favorite Netgalley reads so far! I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book so much. I found everything about this story excellent, the characters, setting, pacing and I can’t wait to read more by Rebecca Ross.

Rebecca Ross has always been a favourite author of mine, and this was no exception. I was addicted to Iris’s story from the start. From her struggles, to her triumphs and every thing in between I have never been happier to root for a character. And the slow burn romance was perfection. Not to mention the tragedies of war that were shown through all the characters stories and backgrounds. Absolutely amazing.

Okay okay okay, immaculate vibes, BUT... I'm struggling to like this one as much as everyone else for a few key reasons:

1. The rivals turned to lovers too quickly - I want ANGST and there was little of that here. I know things had to move a bit quickly to set up for the end and the issues of the second book, but I think the author could have included more leading up to the characters falling in love

2. This is going to sound stupid, but they say each other's names too often and I couldn't deal. This is something Ross does in her other books (I picked up and put down one of her other books earlier this year). It sounds clunky and unnatural and I hated it.

3. There wasn't enough worldbuilding and lore. I would say this is low fantasy for sure and it is YA but I still need more backstory in my fantasy. I need to know how the gods come into play and magic as well. How did the typewriters become magic?? Why are the gods fighting?? I just felt like I didn't get much information for real.

All that said, the atmosphere of this story is done so beautifully. The world feels full of magic and wonder even though I don't know much about it. The prose is lyrical and deep and the friendships are lovely.

The ending did also grab me for the next book. I did find myself thinking about this book a while after I put it down. That's why I'm giving it four stars and why I will be picking up the sequel as soon as it's out. I want the angst that is promised, and I want to know how things play out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC!! I would recommend this to anyone who loves romantic fantasy.

I initially struggled to feel pulled into the plot of the story, despite loving the characters and world the author created (which I’ll get into more in just a minute). This may have been due to the time jump between the first and second chapters, which was a bit disorienting. However, within the first couple of chapters, we are introduced to Roman and the plot quickly takes off from there. Some of the twists were expected but others took me by complete surprise, which made for a fun read.

The perspective of the novel alternates between Iris and Roman, which is a dynamic I either love or hate for enemies-to-lovers stories. And despite the pitfalls of split perspective stories, it works really well in this story to give the reader a full view of what’s going on. Additionally, it provides some depth to both characters, which makes both main characters more enjoyable. I enjoyed both characters even more when they were in scenes together, as they have excellent chemistry.

The book takes place in a unique setting, mixing elements of high-fantasy and Victorian-esque technology. I enjoyed this steam-punk like setting and found it a surprise after reading the description of the story when the book was sent to me. The author also does a great job of setting the scenes as well and I quickly felt immersed in Iris’s city as well as the front lines of the war.

Divine Rivals is the first book in veteran author Rebecca Ross’s new series Letters of Enchantment. The book features a vibrant and immersive world with living gods, enchantments and steam-punk elements. There is also great chemistry between the two protagonists, Iris and Roman, who share point of views throughout the story. While the plot does start out slow, fans of magical enemies-to-lovers plots will fall head over heals for this beautifully written novel.

What is there to say that hasn't already been said? This book had me by the throat from page one. I adore Iris as a main character, and Roman is such a sweet love interest. I adored their banter and their chemistry, and while my favorite parts were at the beginning when they were working at the paper together, I loved the direction the story took. But then - that ending. I actually cried at the end of the book, these characters have my whole heart. Seriously, if you haven't yet read this book, what are you waiting for? One of my favorite reads of the year.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The rare, transcendent reading experience where you feel that you have lived the characters' journeys just as much as they have.

A YA that I actually liked--except for the YA part. Maybe it's useless at this point? I don't know. 

So this was a book club pick and I was actually really eager to read it given all the hype surrounding it. It's one of those that I don't think I've heard a negative word about. 

So this story completely sucked me in from the first page. I'll admit right off the bat, I'm a HUGE Rebecca Ross fangirl. I haven't read all of her books, to be honest. But the ones I have, I feel like she can do no wrong. 

With Divine Rivals, I really loved Iris and Roman's whole romance. It's so sweet and just the kind that I love to read about progressing. Also the female friendships that develop--oh my, goodness. It's that whole found-family vibe. 

The magical realism was just the cherry on top. It was what made the story for me. Magical realism is one of my favorite genres. And it was tied in perfectly with the concept of gods/goddesses/magical typewriters. 

As I previously said, it was just the YA aspect that was difficult for me. There were times the characters would act in a way that just SCREAMED youthful--and then I remembered that they are, indeed, quite young. 

I can't wait to read Ruthless Vows. Going to start it any day now!