We all adore a good enemies-to-lovers story, and Divine Rivals delivered, even within the YA realm. Sometimes, the heart knows what it wants.
“To be vulnerable is a strength most of us fear.”
–Rebecca Ross
What Is It About?
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 Opinion
5/5⭐
Books like Divine Rivals remind me why I read, and why I immerse myself in pages filled with inked words. They're the reason I willingly lose myself in worlds that exist only between pages and my soul. Rebecca Ross's writing is something extraordinary. Her words feel poetic, almost magical, enchanting me from the very first page.
I dove into this book blindly, thanks to @gabby's recommendation, and I'm so grateful because otherwise, I might have delayed experiencing this masterpiece even longer. Divine Rivals absolutely lives up to the hype.
While it initially took some effort to grasp the world-building and magic system, everything unfolds at its own pace, or rather, page by page. In a world on the brink of war among gods, words become the bridge between two lives––Iris and Roman's story is full of rivalry and emotion. I devoured this book in just a few days, eager to know how their story would unfold.
The impact of harsh words, actions, and thoughts on relationships felt palpable through Iris and Roman's interactions.
The emotions this book evoked in me are indescribable. Ross's writing made me feel everything deeply. The banter between Iris and Roman, their snarky comments, and the internal struggles each character faced felt so relatable.
AND THE ENDING! It left me broken, unwell, and shedding an unknown amount of tears.
I didn't see it coming at all, and that's what makes a book truly remarkable – when it turns upside-down our expectations and introduces unexpected twists.
The connection between Iris and Roman was beautifully unique. Now, all I want is someone like Roman to write me love letters and assure me he'll never tire of hearing stories about my pet.
If you're seeking a book that transports you to a world similar to ours, yet infused with magic, intrigue, love, and a few tears, Divine Rivals is the perfect choice.