Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

A big thanks to Bethany @illstoptheworldandreadwithyou for sharing about this book. As soon as I read her review I was like SOLD & I ended up finding a fantasy with kissing book that was so good!

But also now I am INVESTED & there’s a cliffie.

But let’s focus on the positive ;) .

Rebecca Ross’s Divine Rivals has an enemies to lovers, workplace romance, class difference romance arc with a bit of a you’ve got mail correspondence situation—Iris, the FMC, has been writing letters & magically sending them to her beloved brother who’s at war, without knowing that they are actually traveling to her workplace rival Roman Kitt instead.

He does know that Iris is sending them. That won’t cause any problems, right? ;)

I basically thought everything about this book is so well done. Those elements, how war experiences are incorporated, both of the leads’ writing experiences, how they come to mean more to each other.

I love how they came together & the closing scenes left me with my heart in my throat. Not to mention the sweetness of various moments throughout the novel, like how Roman is willing to ride on the side of a truck FOR HOURS into a war zone because he can’t bear for Iris to go without him…& this is before they’re even together.

Highly recommend this one & really need the second kthankyoubye.

5⭐️. Out 04/04.

CWs: previous death of mother. Previous death of sister. War references.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the book in front of a brownish-green branch. A blue sky, a green field, & a chandelier are in the background.]

I received this advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. What a whirlwind of a novel! I genuinely enjoyed both of our main characters and the natural, snappy dialogue, filled with attempts to draw irritation in one another. I genuinely found this world to be very interesting, well developed, and it proposes stark choices that each character has to make for their own reasons. Although the romantic entanglement might come across slightly simplistic, I think it was charming and overall a worthwhile twist in this story.

Around 70% of the way through this novel I realized it was likely our characters were going to be separated by either the war, or some other circumstances. Despite that, I couldn't help but read all of the rest of the story and enjoy every last detail. Of course the plot twist at the very end is something that leaves the reader with a slight sense of dissatisfaction, but only because you are so engaged with your characters and hoping for it all to turn out well for them. Unfortunately we will have to find out more in our next installment!

If you are interested in any type of witty, class-differences story, set in a steampunk type of world with limited magic, and a raging war on a distant frontline, this is the novel for you!

This book definitely stepped me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. There is magic. Enemies to lovers. War. I grew to really pull for the characters, Iris and Rowan, to figure things out. I also love the secondary characters and how they banded together to create this new family.

Fantasy is not my typical genre and I was a bit confused in parts but overall I really enjoyed Divine Rivals. Thank you to McMillan and NetGalley for providing the ARC to review this fantastic book.

I had such an emotional reaction to this book in October that I felt like I needed to wait a couple of months, read it again, and then form my thoughts into a coherent review… It didn’t work. I’m going to leave a couple of jumbled thoughts below but mostly I just want you to read it.

Things I loved:
- Impeccable writing that has burrowed into my heart and lives there now. Somehow Ross’s books get better and better with each reread and this one is no exception.
- The love story - the transition from rivals to lovers feels natural and fitting for the story.
- The characters. Ross never fails on this.
- It feels a lot like historical fiction but there are fantasy elements perfectly blended in.
- The love story - I could feel the two of them falling in love through their letters. This was my favorite thing about the book Last Christmas in Paris and I loved feeling that again here. So, if you liked that, read this.
- The way Ross handles the topic of grief. Especially in this particular scenario. Even when things feel devastating there is a constant thread of hope.
- The love story - this ends with a lot of unanswered questions that have me desperate for book two but the love story goes full circle in book one and I love that this particular question is not one we have to wait to have answered.
- Ross is SO good at world building and making the setting feel real. I feel wrapped in it, like it’s a real place, every time. If you can, definitely consider listening to the playlist that Ross made for it on Spotify while you read. I did it for my reread and it made it even more immersive.
- The love story - Yes, there is a theme here 🥰

A huge thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Content: romance is one very vague open door scene, alcoholism, war related violence, death of close family member

Divine Rivals tells the story of rival newspaper reporters who secretly pine for each other while “hating” each other in the office. Iris Winnow ends up going to the war front to cover the ongoing war between rival gods and to find her brother to enlisted in the prologue. Roman Kitt wonders why he cares that she’s left.

The magical elements of the book were actually less than I expected. Besides magical pen pals, the gods are very much in the background. The emphasis on emotions is the focus of this book. The emotions of unrelenting, young love, of terror and visceral carnage of war and of living in the moment.

I enjoyed this one. The ending was good and left me wanting to read Book 2 of the Duology. Ross paints vivid imagery. I could picture each scene and I hope it gets adapted to screen.

This is my first book read by this author and I’ll definitely be reading her other. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Ross has yet to write a bad book in my opinion. This is just another example of how fantastic her writing is. Ins and Roman are such great characters with unbelievable chemistry. She made you want to cheer for the characters on one page and then want to reach through the pages and shake some sense into them on the next..

“But I think there is a magical link between you and me. A bond that not even distance can break.”

A romantic, stirring, and tender story about two people who are meant to be together, despite everything that holds them apart, Divine Rivals gave me every emotion imaginable and then some. I adored Iris, Kitt, Attie, Marisol, and Keegan, along with the brave soldiers and medical personnel I met on the pages. I wasn’t expecting to read a war novel, and I may have hesitated to read it if I knew about the graphic scenes depicting violence and death, but I felt that they were written with great care and grace. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

Look for a podcast review to release on publication day.

Rebecca Ross writes fantasy that feels familiar and possible--a world so like ours that the step into the unfamiliar is a small one. I loved her adult duology and when I saw she had a new YA series coming out, I was so excited. Divine Rivals did not disappoint. I loved every second of it. It felt like f a fresh, fantastical version of a made-for-tv movie I loved as a kid where letters magically travelled through time between two strangers. I loved how Ross juxtaposed the workplace rivalry between Roman and Iris with the magical friendship that unfolds between Iris and her mysterious pen pal.

This book, while set in a fantasy world with warring gods, felt like it could have been set in the very real world of the early twentieth century--almost. Typewriters and wardrobes and gardens that need tending alongside trenches and devastation and loss--every element of the story contributes to its brilliance. I can't believe I have to wait and wait and wait for the second book.

I think this settles it. After reading the Elements of Cadence and now Divine Rivals, Rebecca Ross is an auto-buy author for me from now on.

5/5 Stars! Divine Rivals is like nothing I have read before. It reads like historical romance with some fantasy elements. Two rival writers communicate with each other through a magical means. It’s an enemies to lovers, but the setting is what makes this such a great read. The world is at war because of two fighting gods. The book goes into detail of war at the front lines so reader beware. However the author is able to describe all emotions and aspects during a horrific war. It’s full of loss, death, grief, hope, compassion, a found family, and love even in hard times. Book 1 isn’t out yet but I’m already needing book 2!!

Love Love Love Love. Rebecca Ross is absolutely fantastic. The way she built up this romance had me giggling. I loved the war between gods concept set in a more real world setting.

Rebecca Ross’s books have always been favorites of mine, and this book is no different. It is a fantasy version of You Got Mail set during a magical war between two gods. This book was absolutely fantastic in every aspect, and I adored following Iris and Roman the entire time. Their rivals-to-lovers romance was one of my favorites. It was so sweet and had me smiling a lot while reading.

I’ll always love epistolary novels, and I enjoyed how Rebecca Ross used letters throughout the story, especially the magical aspects of that. This book was a historical fantasy that showed the horrors of war. Many times it was a hard read, and there were plenty of heartbreaking scenes. It deals with grief, loss, and Iris and Roman’s romance. There are many letters between them both that spoke to me on a level that I was not expecting.

Divine Rivals is a historical fantasy novel that shows the horrors of war and a connection that I loved watching grow. It’s beautiful to read about Iris and Roman’s relationship and see them learn about each other. I could not get enough of reading them. Now, I cannot wait to read the next book, especially after that ending.

I received an e-arc of Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was certain this would be 5 stars so I started reading it on my birthday. And I was entirely right, this hit me so hard. It has everything I enjoy in a story. Rivals to lovers, anonymous letter writing, historical fantasy vibes.
I never wanted it to end so I really took my time and I can't wait for the sequel. WinnowKitt truly has my whole heart and I love them so much. I would definitely buy multiple copies or special editions of this one, it's likely going to be a favourite of the year for me.
5 stars <3

Divine Rivals is a beautifully woven upper YA Fantasy/Romance. I think, it could even fit within the Historical Fiction category. The fantasy elements, for me, felt like little magical touches in the world while the story as a whole seemed more rooted in a historical England of sorts.
I found the romance to be a high driving part of the plot. The two main characters decisions are mostly based around each other and their feelings toward one another.
There's so much depth built into Iris and Roman that it was easy to become attached to them. I felt it when tragedy hit or when Roman was conflicted in a decision, even if I was torn on whether or not I actually liked Roman <i>Conceited</i> Kitt in that moment. I found myself actually cursing him at times.
My favorite part of a good story is essentially falling in love with the characters and Ross wrote Iris, Roman, and all the side characters in such a way that you can't help it, you become invested in what happens to them.

I didn't expect a story based in a time of war to be so magical and thrilling. I honestly had a hard time putting the book aside to sleep and I was not prepared for that last chapter or the epilogue!

From the first page to the last, Iris and Roman embark upon quite a journey and I cannot wait to see what happens next!



HUGE thank you to Wednesday Books via NetGalley for the e-ARC to read, enjoy, and honestly review.

This book was absolutely great. I loved the mix of historical fiction, rom-com/enemies to lovers, with just a hint of fantasy. It was not what I expected at all, especially after reading several other books by Rebecca Ross. This is by far her best series I've read. The characters are so enjoyable and approachable, they could be someone you know. I do wish we had a little more background/foundation on how Roman felt about Iris prior to his receiving her letters, but I understand why it wasn't included as it would have really drawn out the start of the book. Maybe it's something Ross can add to the next book in the series as flashbacks for Roman? Anyway, I loved this book and I feel that it will be a comfort read for me in the future. It is definitely one that I will purchase for my shelf once it's released. Now I just have to wait until 2024 for the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC to read to and review!

DNF at 51%.
I think this book is more a "it's me, not you" type of deal. Divine Rivals feels like a WW1/2 story jazzed up with some hazy fantasy world-building that often left me wanting *more* than what the book was offering.
The world is very, very similar to our own, expect gods and goddesses are tangible beings that wage war against each other for various reasons (supposedly). The gods are featured very little in this story (at least up to 51%), even with an entire war being because of them. There is some magic also happening behind the scenes, but they felt more included to add a little extra something to a otherwise bland story.

I firmly believe that this book will be in my top 10 of 2023, yes it’s only March 5th, BUT I AM THAT CONFIDENT!!

This book had me clutching at my heart, laughing, screaming, crying, throwing up, kicking my feet, sobbing, gasping, AND MORE. Seriously I think I experienced every emotion a person can while reading this book. I have absolutely zero complaints, this book is perfect and I will hear no slander!

Ross’ writing is IMPECCABLE!! It was so beautiful and every line felt like a gut punch, an attack on my soul, and I couldn’t get enough! I think I literally highlighted half the book. I could vividly picture everything that was happening and I literally binge read this book and read 80% of this in less than 24 hours. To say I’m obsessed, is an understatement! This has now become a part of my personality and everyone will have to listen to me talk about it forever. This is my first book by Rebecca Ross and she’s now an insta-buy author for me, it was that good.

Our main characters, Iris and Roman, were absolutely perfect and wonderful and I WILL protect them at all costs so haters get back!!! I LOVE that this was dual POV and I feel like we really got to know both of them so well. I really connected with them and cared for them and my heart ACHES for them so much. They’re both still so young and have been through SO MUCH and I want to give them a hug and cup of hot chocolate or something. Their relationship is so intense but so beautiful and I want to cry just thinking about it!! I also absolutely loved and adored Attie and Marisol.

The plot itself was also immaculate. Letter writing? Newspaper rivals? Everything else that happens ???? (Id go into specifics but, ya know, spoilers) PERFECTION!!

I really could go on and on about how much I loved this book, but instead, I’ll just say GO READ THIS WHEN IT COMES OUT ON APRIL 4th!!! PLEASE!! I NEED PEOPLE TO SCREAM ABOUT IT WITH IM GOING TO PERISH!!!

Thank you so so much to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with this eARC!

Wow. Wow. Wow. Rebecca Ross your words punch me straight in the heart!

This book felt like a historical fiction with the elements of war and journalism. But mixed with the fantasy, mythology, and magic of the story, it was a truly unique experience to read.

This has me feeling everything. I cried. I laughed. I swooned. I was on the edge of my seat.

Iris & Roman are both very well fleshed out characters. I fell in love with them both and was rooting for them from early in the book.

The letters!! I highlighted a lot of moments in this book, but the majority was in the letters! Oh my goodness 🫠🥹😭.

Literally this book cracked my heart open.

I need the next book, like now. Please and thank you.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review an advance copy.

𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬
By @beccajross
𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 4.4.23
5⭐️

I 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 this book from cover to cover! The setting was so atmospheric that I was utterly entranced and invested quickly after starting. It’s definitely fantasy but also feels like you’re reading a historical romance with a few dystopian elements.

Amid a world at war between two gods that recently awoke from a long slumber, Iris is an aspiring journalist who’s competing against her wealthy rival, Roman, for a coveted columnist position at one of the city papers.

Iris’ brother has gone to war and hasn’t been heard from so she starts sending him letters using the typewriter her Nan gifted her and sliding them under the wardrobe door. At first the letters go unanswered.. until one day she receives a response and strikes up an unlikely friendship that turns to love with none other than her rival, Roman.

This story was both heartbreaking and hopeful. I loved that it felt like I was reading mythology at times. When Iris traveled to the war front it really felt like I was reading a historical romance. You get the best of so many different genres in this one story.

The enemies to lovers trope for upper YA was done perfectly here. The solid romantic connection is built so effortlessly that you don’t need any spice or adult romance to believe the chemistry between these two characters.

Magical books like this one are exactly why I love the fantasy genre. ✨ I just don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next book, because this one was SO good!

Big thank you to the author, @wednesdaybooks , and @netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I will post to all socials today and tomorrow (3/10/23 and 3/11/23) and link them as soon as they are posted.

As someone who struggles with reading historical anything I throughly enjoyed this one. RR has an amazing way of transporting you right into whatever world she creates and I think most people are going to enjoy the start of an exciting new series.

One thing that stands out to me is the more tragic and heavy elements that were included in this story. Everything was done beautifully to the point you will laugh, cry, root for your favorite rival, and feel their grief like it was your own. Any author that can create a truly balanced story containing war, rivals, love, grief, joy, and loss is an author I will continue to read.

4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advance copy of this book!

I honestly didn’t know much about this book going into it, but once I got started I was definitely intrigued by the premise. Who doesn’t love rivals who are unknowingly (partially) communicating with each other? The newspaper setting created a fast-paced environment full of banter and sassy quips, that quickly transitions to war-torn countryside still full of banter, but also full of danger.

I zipped through this book, and I definitely found it engaging. While I loved how the fast-paced writing mirrors the rapidly changing landscape of war, I wanted a little bit more, especially of Roman. His chapters trickle off around the midpoint and we stay primarily with Iris. I found them both interesting, albeit slightly immature, but they are 18 and 19 and living in a war, so the accelerated aspects of their relationship make sense within the context. There are some great supporting characters as well, and I’m hoping that we will get to see more of them in future books.

While I enjoyed the book overall, the last third felt rushed. I appreciate how this goes along with the idea of how things can drastically change and change quickly in wartime, but I think some of the details could’ve been more fleshed out. Particularly the very end and what happens with Iris. We get a major moment, and then a journey that is totally skimmed through! I wanted a little bit more from it.

All in all, I’m interested to see where this story goes in future books and I really enjoyed it! Definitely 4⭐️ from me.