From reading the synopsis, I felt that I would enjoy this book, but my expectations were blown out of the water! The writing? Beautiful. The plot? Enthralling. The characters? Magnificent. The ending? Devastating. This book captured me from the very first page and didn't let go until the very end. I loved the setting and I felt that the WW2 style fantasy world was so unique and made for the perfect backdrop to the story. This is a book about war, love, sacrifice, and forging connections in the most unexpected places. This is not only one of my favorite fantasy books of the year, but one of my favorites in general! You have to pick this book up if you love enemies to lovers, MCs who are writers, heart-pounding action, beautiful writing, and great world building. 5/5 stars FOR SURE!

This strangled my heart and brought joy to my soul.

Before starting this, I had the audacity to think, “I’m excited to read this, but it probably won't be as good as A River Enchanted.” Rebecca Ross made me choke on those words. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I stopped breathing at three scenes, squealed, did victory dances, laughed like an idiot and CRIED like a baby. I’m talking snot dripping, eyes flowing so I can’t see, tears. Once it started, I couldn’t stop it. Now my family is questioning why they keep me.

I'm not always this way. Most of the time, I'm a picky brat with high expectations and a heart you have to win by fighting. BUT every so often a book comes along that transfixes me with the writing, characters I love and plot that I feel was written just for me, and before you know it, I'm a raw nerve and a complete mess.

I have read more intense, and action filled books, but a story doesn't have to have every trigger warning or be absolutely traumatizing to be great. When I say a book is perfect, I'm not just referring to the technical perfection. Although it is a large factor. The excellence is in the experience and mine was everything.

“The right books find you at JUST the right moments.” -Rebecca Ross

Rebecca Ross’s writing is like being a kid and discovering fairy tales for the first time. That feeling of excitement and wonder. My inner child is so happy. It pulls you in and gives you beauty grief and…..hope.

“I grew something living in a season of death.”
“…this world is about to change. The days to come will only grow darker. And when you find something good? You hold onto it.”

I listened to the playlist for this while reading and LET. ME. TELL. YOU!! when a song played that happened to fit up perfectly with what was happening, I died. You want to get the most out of this…. Read at a slower pace. Really savor it and listen to the Spotify playlist while you do. Just search "divine rivals" on Spotify.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
I must wait SIX months for this to come out and then wait AGAIN for the next one.

THANK YOU NetGalley for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Characters/Depth/Growth – 10
Atmosphere/World - 10
Writing Style - 10
Plot - 10
Intrigue - 10
Love/Relationships - 10
Enjoyment/Memorable - 10

Total: 70
Divided by 7 = 10.00 (5 stars)

The review that I write for this book will not be enough, dear reader, to tell you how absolutely beautiful this book is.

Rebecca Ross has weaved an office romance, a war of Gods, and an enemies to lovers that will knock the socks off of your feet.

I don’t cry easily, but it felt like Ms. Ross reached into my chest and held my heart the entirety of me reading this book.

This book made me realize things about myself. This book inspired me, this book made me want to take off a piece of my armor and be vulnerable.

I have read all of this author’s work. This is my favorite book of her’s, to date.

The ROMANCE, guys. THE freaking heart wrenching ROMANCE. This may be one of my most favorite couples I’ve ever read, due to the imperfect parts of them coming together to make something incredibly real, and good.

As I was reading this book, I felt completely encapsulated in the world the author wove. I felt like I was in the middle of the war. I was in the middle of the romance. I could feel the pain and love and every extreme in between. I felt the impossibilities and the possibilities.

This book is completely atmospheric and you will be sucked in and forget you’re reading all together.

This book does end on a cliffhanger. I CANNOT WAIT TO READ THE SECOND BOOK.

I can’t wait for all of you guys to be able to crack open this book, and feel the absolute beauty and awe I have felt as I read this book. If you’ve ever seen a waterfall and felt that ‘feeling’ of wonder, this book gives that same feeling. Grandiose and mind blowing.

I received this arc from NETGALLEY and the publishers. I can not tell you guys enough THANK YOU’s in the world, as this is a book I have been honored to read. I am beyond thankful for this e-arc.

A nice ease into fantasy writing for young adults. It read like an old world fantasy version of "You've Got Mail". I would've liked a bit more of the enemies to lovers story, it was rushed and I wanted more slow burn between Iris and Roman. Lots of room for more in the next story.

This novel was not at all what I expected, in all of the best possible ways. The writing is beautifully atmospheric, and the world was bleak, but enchanted. This book sucked me in right away, and I devoured it in one sitting. I also felt it was really well-balanced in terms of setting up the world, the romance, and the war and its mythological undercurrents. It definitely set us up for a wild ride in the next book, which I am dying to get my hands on.

Thank you so much to Rebecca Ross and St. Martin's Press for sending me an e-arc of this book. I'm so happy to have read it and on the edge of my seat for the next one!

How do I even begin to describe the way this book affected me?

When I began reading it, I had the starting idea of how I'd probably rate it.
(You ever read a book and you just know you're going to love it?)
When I was over halfway through, I could just about put into general terms what I'd rate it.
(You ever been confident you're loving a book but you can't quite express your love for it in proper sentences yet?)
And now having finished it I find myself a blurred embrace of emotions for why I'd rate it the way I'd rate it.
(You ever fall in love with a book and it completely wrecked your emotions in the best way possible and you're trying your best to express all the things this book made you feel but you're not sure you're making sense??)

I smiled and laughed at the rival antics...I openly cried at the relatable vulnerabilities being shared...I smiled some more knowing what the characters did and didn't know about each other...I ached for the losses and I kept hope to the surface in response to the comfort that was provided...and on and on... I never knew my heart was capable of holding so many emotions at once in a warm embrace.

I loved reading the different povs of Iris and Roman! I loved watching their love story bloom throughout the hard and uncertain times of a godly war and reading the secrets they shared through their magic letters and knowing as the reader they were rivals half-unknowingly becoming vulnerable with and falling for each other.

The way Rebecca J Ross [as Iris and Roman] wrote of how to cope with pain, loss, and grief was beautiful! This whole story was like a gesture of someone lovingly putting their hands on your cheek and wiping away your tears and telling you everything will be alright, then sealing that promise with a gentle forehead kiss.

I felt every ache and comfort and hope offered as Iris and Roman's story unfolded.

I didn't want this book to end because I loved it so so much, but at the same time I did want to read to the end just to know that these two would make it out okay... And that ending only added to the blur of emotions I was already feeling! Definitely not what I expected, but I enjoyed it as it fit very well with how the story was blossoming.

I will adore this story forever for all the emotions it evoked from me!

Wow! Thanks to Netgalley for giving me an early glimpse of this wonderful adventure. Ok, so I was a little nervous when I realized this might turn out to be an actual war book, because that is not really my thing. But man oh man, am I glad I held on for the ride. It was a beautiful read. The epilogue gave my chills. Another masterpiece from Rebecca Ross! Can’t wait for the next one!

2.5 stars that I'm rounding up. This was an interesting story about a girl who's brother goes away to war. When she doesn't hear from him, she decides to ditch her city life and head to the warfront as a correspondant for a news outlet. It was an interesting story, just as that.

But add in to it - the fight is not between countries like we think. Two gods have awakened and are warring. Both gods are capable of comeplling men to fight for them. Iris is in the area of a god that plays an instrument and the music compells some to fight. The other god is a mystery and is thought to be brutal and without mercy.

I loved the story right there. The part I didn't love was the love story. I was okay with the new struggle and even their talking in the office. But once the correspondence started, I lost some interest. The story kind of bogged down with their big written statements and I didn't love their sorting through their dramas. The warfront was a compelling part of the story but I'm sad this ended not concluded but open-ended. I think I'll look for book 2 to see how this story continues because the warfront and the gods and their creatures was very fascinating, and I'd love to know more!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

From the unique setting to the wonderful characters, this book has so much to love. Iris and Roman were fierce and brilliant and I cheered for them every step of the way. Rebecca Ross created a vivid, brutal world that sucked me in on every page. I can’t wait to read more of this story in book two.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

a heartfelt thank you to rebecca ross, for continuing to churn out books that somehow feel like a hug and a razor scooter to the ankle at the same time.

i was given an arc of divine rivals in exchange for an honest review. and it’s no word of a lie when i say that it was one of, if not the best book i’ve ever read. and i expected to like it given that everything i’ve read by RR in the past has been an instant favourite. but i was <i>not</i> expecting it to blow me away like this.

i genuinely don’t know what my favourite aspect of this book is. i think the characters, the plot, the setting and pace are each masterful on their own— but the real magic is in how they all weave together as this story unfolds.

i never knew i needed a story like this so badly. that somewhere deep down i subconsciously YEARNED for this book. a setting reminiscent of the first world war but with undertones of magic and newly woken gods, a pair of characters bound by rivalry and magic typewriters and a love that neither of them wants to admit to at first, a story about war that somehow manages to thread hope (and heart-wrenchingly sweet romance) into every brutal occurrence and heartbreaking reality that comes with that kind of conflict. it’s so unique in its concept, and RR’s writing is what really makes it special. she has a way of crafting characters and worlds that makes you care about them SO MUCH. to the point where you’re at the edge of your seat, biting your nails and praying that everyone you’ve fallen so hard for over the last however-many pages makes it out safe.

the fact that it’ll be several years until the next book, after an ending like that, may be the thing to finally break my freaking spirit. i didn’t cry but oh boy it was CLOSE. i’ll be looking forward to this book’s official release so i can buy it and hold it in my hands and annotate the everloving shit out of it and hug it and HURL IT ACROSS THE ROOM.

e-arc provided by Netgalley!

Favorite Rebecca Ross to date. I love the idea of the magical letters and always I love enemies to lovers even If I think the enemies portion here was more rivals and not truly hating each other's guts. Either way loved this and I'm excited for the next one whenever that happens

This book is the very first ARC that I read after I moved from my parents' house. It's been difficult since then and I don't even bother to read anything. Then I stumbled onto this book and read the blurbs. This book completely sucked me in and I can't stop crying until the epilogue. My only complain is that I don't have the second book right away.

Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt are the one of the best couples ever. I definitely can feel their love for each other, especially Roman who fall for Iris first. Their letters through war for each other are otherworldly. I'm still mad for the epilogue but I wish the best for Iris and Roman. Roman doesn't deserve that ending tho...

I will wait for the second book and wish their own happy ending!
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

I loved this book. Loved the magic, the letters, the story, the characters. The writing and creativity blew me away. The city sits over the grave of a god, and veins of magic run through it, sometimes affecting buildings or homes. Or the clever man who engineers three typewriters with a magical connection.

Julie Berry's Lovely War meets You've Got Mail in the absolute best possible way! The language of this book is clean, there is one very suggestive scene between a married couple, and there is, of course, the violence and struggle of war.

Prepare yourself, Internet, because I am never going to shut up about this book. As with all books I truly love, I’m having a difficult time coming up with the words to review this one. Divine Rivals has a little bit of everything: rivals to lovers, journalism, secret penpals, ancient myth, World War I inspiration, and even some magic.

Some might say this book is cluttered, but I found that all of its seemingly disparate parts fit nicely together. Ultimately, this is a love story and the chemistry between Iris and Roman drives the narrative. They are both fascinating characters and I love them dearly. I read Divine Rivals in about 36 hours, so you could definitely say I was hooked. The distress I felt when my lunch break ended right as I got the most stressful part was unmatched.

I’d also like to note that the writing style was sublime. The gorgeous prose drew me in and would not let me go. It was pretty and descriptive without falling into purple prose territory. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Lovely War by Julie Berry!

Divine Rivals has such a unique premise. The story was a good mixture of historical fiction and fantasy, the world building was so vivid. I think my favorite part of it all was witnessing the development and growth between the two main characters. And with the way it ended, I'm anticipating to pick up the second installment already.

Great chemistry between lead characters but holy cliffhanger batman! Didn't see the twists coming at the end at all.

This was the first book in a long time that I stayed up WAAAAAAY past my bedtime to finish reading it. I had to get to the ending. So many parts resonated with me on such a personal level and I couldn't help but cheer for these star-crossed lovers. The hints of magic throughout the story gave it a Magical Realism touch that was perfect, and the mythology woven throughout was lovely. I read this on an eReader so I can't wait to see what the actually book will look like with the letters passed back and forth. Beautiful!

I absolutely loved this book! Once I got into reading, I was so invested in the characters, the war, the gods, the story, that I stayed up reading 2 nights in a row to finish it! It was just so sad and heartbreaking yet hopeful and sweet. The writing was beautiful and I loved everything about it. I cried several times while reading it. I know this book will stay with me for a long time. I was sad it ended on a cliffhanger but I can't wait for the next book to find out how Iris and Roman's story continues/ends.

4.5/5

Okay, this book was so much more than I had ever expected. Having only read Dreams Lie Beneath (which I wasn't very fond of), I didn't really go into this having too high of hopes. But boy was I surprised. The pacing, the characters, the story—everything in Divine Rivals was absolutely stunning. The perfect mixture of historical fiction & fantasy, the book follows young Iris Winnow: a reporter from Oath in a world where two sleeping gods have awoken and begun a devastating war with one another. With her brother fleeing to fight in the war, Iris is left with her mother (who's struggling with addiction), and a rival reporter who's eagerly seeking to knock her out of the running for a promotion.

When her brother goes missing, Iris' letters to him become a desperate plea for peace of mind. With the help of a 'magical' wardrobe, the letters vanish into what she can only hope is her brother's hands. However, their recipient is far from who'd she expect: said rival of the Gazette, Roman Kitt. Only when Kitt begins to respond to those letters do the two begin to form a tight knit connection, Kitt's identity anonymous and leading the two into a spiral of emotions, love, and heartbreak. Enemies-to-lovers HAS to be one of my favorite tropes, and god does Divine Rivals do it wonderfully. The ending will leave you shattered and devastated, and eagerly awaiting the second installment!

I love historical fiction and fantasy romance, so I appreciated this combination of the two. WWI was horrific, and this book did have its haunting moments that stayed with me after I was done reading. The wait until the sequel is so long.

The book of reminded me of some of Kate Atkinson’s in the way it tackles war (albeit a different one) and the strength of the female main character. I haven’t read Rebecca Ross’s work before - I couldn’t get into “A River Enchanted” - but it was easy to be drawn into “Divine Rivals.”

There will be many questions book #2 will need to answer because book #1 has a lot of setup but not much clarity when it comes to the mythology and magic of the world.

I was glad Roman’s point-of-view was included so we could understand him better. However, as the story reached the end, I felt like he started to lose himself as a character, and he became almost entirely defined by his relationship to Iris. I think in the sequel that may change, and it’ll be interesting to see that.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.