Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Book #1 Iris at the Front
Publication Date: April 4, 2023

I don’t need the description or a title of a Rebecca Ross novel to figure out if I should read it. She simply announces it and it is added to my Goodreads account. Yet, after a stellar last year where we saw the releases of the moody Dreams Lie Beneath and the mesmerizing River Enchanted, I was kind of scared that Divine Rivals wouldn't be as good as the previous novels left some big shoes to fill. I am happy to report this might just be my favourite of hers yet! Rebecca, could you maybe leave some talent for the rest of us!?

The story is one that unfolds during a war of colossal destruction involving deities and magic. Iris is in a competition of sorts for a position as a columnist at the paper. After her brother enlists in the war she writes letters to him and slips them beneath an enchanted wardrobe only to be received on the other end by Roman, her rival at the paper. Well Roman quickly figures out the author of the letters, he feels a certain security in his anonymity, and continues to write back even when Iris finds herself as a war correspondent. 

At one point Roman writes to ask Iris if she is safe, if she is well and if she is alright. I particularly felt this when I finished reading. I wasn’t sure how I felt but knew what I had just read was impactful. I just kind of turned off my Kindle, stared out the airplane window and wondered if I would ever read anything as beautiful as I had just done again.

As with all of Ross’ books she has a way of writing that is really truly beautiful and special. Atmospheric without being bogged down in details. Heartwarming without feeling heavily saturated in romance. Magic so real it feels like something straight out of history. Ross makes you fall in love with her characters only to leave you strapped onto an emotional rollercoaster and hanging on for dear life. 

Thank you Wednesday Books and St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s You’ve Got Mail + WWI & Mythology.

This first book, in what I’m sure will be a series, is an abrupt departure from Ross’s previous high fantasy stories. The setting is urban and a bit gritty. A mysterious war (caused by two gods) is happening far away. The war scenes include sirens to alert the village, mythical creatures attacking, bombs, trenches, shrapnel and poisonous gas.

The two main characters are Iris Winnow and Roman C. Ketts. They are rivals for a journalist position. Unbeknownst to Iris, the letters she’s been writing her brother have been going to him. Roman begins to write back and they share an intense bond even though Iris doesn’t know his name. Rebecca Ross does a wonderful job of the enemies to lovers trope by allowing the characters to overcome their biases by sharing vulnerabilities.

Iris becomes a war correspondent and the secondary characters she meets are well-developed and lovable. The darkness of war and death is all around them, but they help where they can.

The ending is explosive and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next book!

This is such a simple story that is rich in atmosphere and vivid in writing. It easy to read in one sittingt, the world-building is minimal, but there's no info dumping here, which would make for a good introduction to the new fantasy readers.I enjoyed romance between competing journalists and learning about them ascharacters.
I'd highly recommend this if you're looking for a fun and fast fantasy read.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed Divine Rivals. It started out as a cute enemies to romance, but as the story developed it became layered and transcendent. Not only does it tell the story of Iris and Roman, but it tackles the brutality of war and what it can do to families. It dealt with media propaganda and how much this can differ from the truth. It was such a good story and I look forward to the next one!

I think the premise had a lot of potential, but in the end, I felt this book was quite unremarkable.

I absolutely Loved Divine Rivals. The story follows two rival journalists, Iris Winnow and Roman C. Kitt. They are both writing during a time when there is a war between two gods. As one gets drawn closer to the action the other starts to question their path. I won't say much more as it is full of wonderful and heartbreaking surprises. The story is unique and captivating. I really could not put it down. The characters are wonderful, I immediately fell for Iris and Kitt came soon after. The setting was rough and as the war rages on it gets dangerous. I found the story of the gods interesting and really hope that we get more next book. And the typewriters, what a fun surprise they were. I cannot wait to find out what happens next, it has a whopper of an ending. This is a top ten book of the year for me.

An amazing and compulsively readable book! I got this as an arc through Netgalley and could not put it down. Finished it in two days. There was so much that I loved about this. First and foremost, this is a romance fantasy, so if you don't like romance as the main plot then it might not be for you. I really enjoyed it. It's dual POV, told from the perspective of both a woman and a man MC - Iris and Roman. I loved them both! Though they come from different class backgrounds, both are caught up in very difficult circumstances - Ross does a wonderful job of getting you to feel for both of these characters very quickly and then bringing them low by the end of the first act, particularly with Iris, which leads to very important shifts in what what they each decide to do and how it is that the two characters ulimately come together through the next two acts. The magic in this story is also really nicely done. This is also an epistolary novel, so there is a lot of letter writing between characters and letters magically disappearing and reappearing and driving the narrative in a particular direction. It's so much fun when the reveal happens of what's driving the magic. And I absolutely love the early 20th century/WWI-era inspiration for the setting of all this! I just found this very satisfying all around.

The only issue I might have is that there is more going on in the background with this war between the gods that should maybe be foregrounded a bit more. Ross does give you background in terms of the mythologies that provide the contexts for what's driving the war (nicely done through letters and as forms of research the characters are undertaking). But some of the more present-day dynamics are not really well explained, like the limits and extent of godly power and why the two primary warring gods are using human armies to duke things out. I think it make sense for gods to do this, I just think the whys and wherefores of it all are not explained, but that may be coming up in the sequel. Additionally, I'm not fully sure I really get the end game that the gods each have - I could probably guess with one, but not so clear with the other. Also, I'm trying to limit spoilers in this review, but two days after finishing this, I'm still processing how I feel about the ending... I most definitely will read the sequel when it comes out (probably in 2024), but I'm not quite sure I felt that things were resolved enough while still keeping you hooked to go onto the next book...

Those things aside, I cannot recommend this enough!

Anything Rebecca Ross writes is an auto buy for me. I love her writing and lusb prose. Also a fantasy with history? Sign me up!

The concept of this book really drew me in. Two rivals talking to each other through magical letters and they don't know who the other is?! Sign. Me. Up.

All in all, I really did like this story, but the characters fell a little flat for me. I wanted more from the characters and who they were - but most of all, I wanted to feel their emotions more. I feel like we were told what the characters were feeling, and not being shown which left some of the romantic parts coming off kinda weird. Don't get me wrong, I still got the emotions the characters were feeling, but it came off just a notch above insta love!

Everything was paced perfectly except for that. The world building was good, and the explanations of the lore of the Gods were great and easy to understand! The whole book captured my attention and really drew me in.

The premise and idea for this book was amazing but I am just left wanting more and maybe even feeling a little disappointed?

The ending left it wide open for a second book which I am interested in reading to find out what happens!

Thank you Rebecca Ross, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a digital advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

Oh my goodness, this book was amazing! New to Ross’ work, I went into this book with fresh eyes and an eagerness for a new experience. I was immediately taken by the writing and the characters! My heart ached and warmed for Iris, Roman and honestly all the characters Ross has created. The magic, the setting, the romance, and the feeling of being on the edge of my seat waiting to see what came next… and then that ending! I cannot wait to see what comes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For a full content (sex, language, violence) and a condensed review, visit this page:
https://www.novelnotices.com/divine-rivals

WHAT—THAT ENDING . . . !

Book two cannot come fast enough.

Okay guys, I'll be honest: this book took me forever to get into. I blame that on the fact that I had to read a digital copy on my phone (which I loathe to do), and the fact that the pace of the first half was a bit slow compared to the second.

But I LOVED ALL OF IT! I need to see more hype for this masterpiece!

I am completely in love with the world (though there is room for more development, of course, which I'm sure we'll get in number two) and the characters have my entire heart. Roman Kitt is literally just—*ah,* what can I say about him? I loved him to death. I was also surprised by how much I connected with and cared for Iris. A lot of YA books have extremely similar female protagonists, but Iris felt so fresh and new.

Again, the world was awesome. It felt like a World War II era-world—with magic! A bit like Dark of the West's world, but once again, so fresh and unique! I am literally dying to read the second one and the first one isn't even OUT yet (noooooo, how am I going to wait until 2024?). I am for sure buying a physical copy and will cherish the book and these characters with the love they deserve.

Okay, as a side note, there were a few grammatical and spelling errors, which will hopefully be cleaned up before the final publication. But I could ask for nothing else from the story. It delivered on all fronts: characters, world, romance (*heart eyes, sobbing, frantically wondering where I can get my own Kitt*), plot, and action.

Rebecca Ross, I am a devoted fan. Unless you hurt my beloved Winnow and Kitt too much in book 2. Then, I will personally lead the revolt.

I ADORED this book. And it also emotionally destroyed me.

Divine Rivals is an upper YA/NA historical fantasy novel that follows two main characters. Iris Winnow is a new journalist at a newspaper called the Oath Gazette. Roman Kitt is her rival—a fellow journalist who is competing against her for a promotion as a columnist.

I’ve always loved Ross’ writing style. I’ve read both A River Enchanted and Dreams Lie Beneath and enjoyed both of them, but Divine Rivals hits differently; I connected with the characters on another level.

This book is a masterpiece. I love Ross’ lyrical, beautiful, and emotional writing. The book is so atmospheric, and layered with tension that you can feel on every page.

I adore both Iris and Roman. They have so much chemistry, and I love their banter and rivalry.

Divine Rivals reads like a fantasy version of a World War I/World War II story. Ross writes about the horrors of war in such an effective way.

The story is about grief, both Iris’ and Roman’s. It’s about being trapped in a life where you can’t make your own decisions. It’s about loneliness and connection. It's about finding love, but also about the messiness of loving your flawed family. It’s about the power of writing and letters. Throw some mythology about the world’s gods in the mix and you have this perfect book.

This is one of my favorite reads of the year, and it's probably going to lurk in the back of my mind until the sequel is released!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC!

Oh look, another book that's left me in total despair because I will never experience it again for the first time.

I didn't know this book existed until Wednesday Books kindly reached out and offered me early e-ARC access. Little did they know they also handed me the weapon that I would willingly use to crack my very heart wide open.

While I was halfway through reading this book (and already desperately in love with it) I pitched it to my friends as rival journalists who unknowingly communicate through magical typewriters outside of work in a world besieged by a WWI-type war where people fight for gods. That was all it took for half of them to add it to their TBRs, and I hope it's enough for anyone on the fence as well. The premise is simply incredible, and it delivered at every turn, leaving me with a beautiful story that is equally romantic and heartbreaking.

I cannot get over this lush and magical yet so bleak world. Hundreds of Gods and Goddesses once ruled this world until only a few remained to lord over the mortals, and they were put to sleep. Except Enva and Dacre have now awoken, and he is out for revenge. Mortals are called to fight on their behalf in a World War One type with trench warfare ... and monsters. It has a Hades/Persephone type vibe that I loved. The cities themselves are lightly magical, with the magic in the bones of the buried dead gods seeping into the streets and buildings themselves.

Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt work at the same newspaper, both having started near the same time and consequently in constant competition for that coveted columnist position. Wow, that was a lot of alliteration. Sorry. Moving on! Iris left school early to keep her and her mother in the black now that her brother has heard Enva's call and gone to fight in the war. Iris struggles to keep a brave face and constantly worries about her brother. She writes him letters, keeping them in her closet because she can't bring herself to send them. Roman, on the other hand, is a privileged young man with parents who *think* they know what's best for him and lay heaps of guilt on him for something that happened a few years ago. While he suffers and wants for nothing, Roman struggles for lack of choice in his life and dreams and love.

This was a rivals-to-lovers romance in the best way possible. I mean, can you say swoon? I don't want to give away the details of how the romance unfolds or how it nearly broke my heart every other page after a certain point, but rest assured it is so worth reading.

This story keeps you on your toes, keeping the reader simultaneously in deep dread that everything is going to fall apart and embarrassingly hopeful that actually, everything will be just fine. My entire reading experience was me saying over and over "If this person dies, I will riot" while holding back happy tears. And then it ended on a cliffhanger. I am distraught.

To say I am dying for the sequel is a complete and utter understatement. I want to absorb this book into my very soul and cannot wait to re-read it again before the second book comes out. Wednesday Books, if you're reading this, please help a gal out at your earliest convenience.

Rebecca Ross is an incredible writer and
I was so excited to be granted an advance copy of this book from NetGalley, and Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest opinion

I absolutely loved this book! The romance between Iris and Roman is beautifully written. I just could not put down this book and am hoping for more.

The story is superbly written and delivered. Highly, highly recommend.

*Minor Spoilers

Rebecca Ross is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Divine Rivals was AMAZING! Two rival writers set out to outdo one another, only to find themselves coming together against all odds.

The world building is outstanding! As a reader you can almost feel the atmosphere and tension of the Oath Gazette, or fear when Marisols house is shaking around Iris and Roman.

Highly recommend
Thank you @netgalley for the arc

I loved the main characters! They gave me major Anne and Gilbert Blythe rival love story vibes set in a 1930’s You’ve Got Mail, only instead of bookstores and emails you get journalism and typewriters with fantasy layered in. Becca’s wordsmithing prowess sucks you in and you find yourself needing to read the book all in one go. Which I did.

A lot of characters to find throughout, all with different stories. Some I liked, others I didn’t. The two main god’s I had to really sort out as we learn about them slowly and we didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle right away. So some things I felt confused about but by the end the picture became very clear. I fully expect the next book to dive into the god’s realm even more.

The world itself feels gothic and beautiful. Full of all the old things I love. Like Sherlock’s old London aesthetic with Poirots modernity. Simply stunning.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced readers copy!

I wanted to enjoy this but I feel like it was not what I was expecting, I was left wanting more but also... not wanting to read another.

A young woman develops a rivalry with a competing journalist after her brother leaves to fight in a deadly war between gods.

This book was well written and the story easy to follow. It was interesting to read a historical YA that wants to replicate the culture and mannerisms of a war novel but for younger readers.

I think the characterization worked well with the plot, my only criticism would be that the more intense parts of the story should have been written that way. It seemed like the writing glosses over some of the more gritty scenes and I think the book could've managed fine if the writing leaned into the terror and sorrow and fear.

Rival journalists find love through magical typewriters?? During a war of the gods?? You better be ready.

"Your letters have been a light for me to follow. Your words? A sublime feast that fed me on days when I was starving."

Rebecca Ross' Divine Rivals took me for surprise. At first, I was not sure this was going to be my cup of tea but hoo boy I was wrong.
Reading about war is always hard, and this book was heartbreaking, but it also had so much light and hope in it, I just could not put it down.
I really enjoyed the mix of historical fiction with fantasy and monsters. It was unique and the characters were easy to fall in love with. The gods did not play a huge part of this book, (they talk about the myth of them a lot) until the very end and that was a little disappointing but the way she sets up the next book makes so much sense and I'm excited to see where the story goes with the gods being introduced more.

I guess I just have one question for Ross: how am I supposed to wait to find out what happens next??

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the eARC!!

Divine Rivals is quite possibly the most romantic and beautiful book I have ever read!! Rebecca Ross writes the most swoon worthy cinnamon rolls and I cannot GET ENOUGH!! 🥹🥹
The plot was extremely unique as it is a story between two journalists who are competing for a spot as a columnist in a very popular newspaper 📰
Iris, one of our protagonists is talented & witty but has a very troubled private life as her brother is out fighting in a very dangerous magical war & her mother drowns her sorrows in liquor. Iris doesn’t have much except a typewriter gifted to her by her grandmother that is her most prized possession.
Roman Kitt- our other protagonist lives a lavish and comfortable life- he is very arrogant & a little grumpy (and Iris looooves messing with him 🤣) but there is more to Roman Kitt that meets the eye & I loved learning about his character & backstory

Now, I don’t want to say much because I went into this story blind and I enjoyed every word, every letter, every page. It is such a beautiful, heart wrenching, deep, and emotional story filled with sooooo much love, hope, perseverance. There is also a war going on between two gods that gave me Hades/Persephone vibes- I loved this storyline almost as much as the main storyline!
I know this book is pitched as shadow and Bone meets Lore but honestly this book is sooooo much more than that!! I cannot recommend it enough!