REVIEW: "Divine Rivals" by Rebecca Ross (Fantasy/Romance/Young Adult)

DIVINE RIVALS by Rebecca Ross
	Publisher: Wednesday Books Genre: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Publication Date: April 4th, 2023 Series: Letters of Enchantment, #1 Standalone: No
Categories:
Magic, Gods/Mythical Beings, Military Invasion, Political Intrigue
Other Books By Rebecca Ross:
#2 Elements of Cadence, #1 Elements of Cadence, #2
Description from Publisher:
When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette. To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love. Shadow and Bone meets Lore in Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals, an epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
OMG, the arc for both Iris and Roman, as well as for Irish *&* Roman!! I honestly wasn't sure if I would like this one as I read the opening scene. It just felt a bit slow... And then Roman Kitt entered the chat and the story ramped up and I literally couldn't put this down and read it all in one sitting! Iris starts as this downtrodden 18-year-old who is struggling to just survive day-to-day, hoping her soldier brother is still alive and that her mother will stop spending all of their money (and her time) on drinking. She's irritated by how handsome, witty, and talented her work rival is, as she wants to hate him but just cant. This is mostly her point-of-view, but occasionally switches over to Roman Kitt's (her rival). I'm immensely glad for that, as stories told like this, with a secret & candid communication is had between "strangers" really works best when we at least get a glimpse from the other side. Roman is a privileged 19-year-old who is, as is very eloquently described, a writer who is getting to write his own story. His family has expectations for him and he has convinced himself that what they want is what he wants. Well done, Rebecca Ross, as this book is just so well-written that it made me laugh, cry, and be giddy with the romance. I loved so many of the turns of phrase, and the emotions were just so VISCERAL. There was a masterful balance, keeping you from going too far over the edge of despair, and allowing you to laugh when the world was falling apart and not feel it was wrong. The various supporting relationships in this felt very organic, and the characters were all diverse in a very natural way (I love diversity of characters that don't rely on stereotypes!). The world building also felt authentic, with the magic/fantasy aspects being more than just a convenient plot device. Roman and Iris spend most of this book teetering on the edge, which means that their relationship is a slow burn that ultimately turns into an inferno. Despite their ages and the potential for melodrama, the kind of angst that can be frustrating for the main trope here isn't present. There is a sweetness and sincerity to their bond that leaves you no doubt that they make each other better. I appreciated the amount of "steam" in this, as it wasn't afraid to acknowledge that these were young adults in love, but it also didn't go into unnecessary detail. I got a chuckle from Roman & Iris's lorry drive to the front lines, for instance (IYKYK), and think things like that added to the authenticity (Roman is only human, after all...). The ending had me nearly in tears, fearing the worst. I just may wind up devoting most of my weekend to this series and I grab the next book!!
My Source: I purchased a hardcover copy to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Rebecca Ross
Rebecca Ross is the #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy books for teens and adults. She has written multiple highly acclaimed duologies, including LETTERS OF ENCHANTMENT, ELEMENTS OF CADENCE, and THE QUEEN’S RISING as well as two standalone novels: DREAMS LIE BENEATH and SISTERS OF SWORD & SONG. When not writing, she can be found in her garden where she plants wildflowers and story ideas. She resides in Northeast Georgia with her husband and her dog.