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kinsportch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Death of parent, War, Blood, Death, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Classism and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content
hanreads__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Forced Proximity ✔️
War ✔️
Found Family ✔️
Secret Letters ✔️
*~*~*~*~*
“𝗜 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘄. 𝗔 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗿, 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗔 𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹, 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂."
I did not expect to love this book as much as others, at first I couldn’t understand the hype surrounding it, but now I understand it, and to anyone who rates it less than five stars, I think you’re crazy.
I have no clue as to what Rebecca Ross was drinking or taking while writing, but she needs to continue to do so. I am in awe of her and the masterpiece that she created.
The one thing I want to get out of the way is that this story is NOT an enemies to lovers, there is no way that Roman and Iris are enemies, they are rivals and I wish the story would stopped being described as an enemies to lovers. Neither of them hate one another, but they are competitive and are constantly trying to be better than the other.
Now onto the good stuff!
There is something beautiful about two people writing letters to one another and not knowing anything about one another, but finding safety within these letters. What’s even more beautiful is for one person to know, and yet continue to write because they want to know the other better. Roll this into a ball with the fact that they are connected by magic and family? It becomes even more beautiful, and it warmed my heart massively.
I really love the way Rebecca tackled the “found family” trope within this story because I for one have never considered what it would be like for you to up and leave everything you know to be a war correspondent, but now I feel as though I have an idea. The people you meet and spend your days with become your family, a family who rely on one another to protect each other and themselves while also trying to enjoy and hold onto the little moments that mean a lot. Marisol was such a lovely woman and definitely came across as a mother figure, and it amazes me that someone so strong and independent can continue to find the good in life day in and day out despite the things she sees. I also hope to see more of Athea in the next story, I think she’s capable of so much and it wouldn’t surprise me if she ends up fighting in the war to defend Enva.
Moving onto Roman’s family. I WANT TO PUNCH HIS DAD SO HARD IN THE FACE IT’S NOT EVEN FUNNY. Who the heck does he think he is? How dare you blame Roman for something tragic that happened, and how dare you constantly control him. He’s a piece of shit, and all he cares about is security. I do however think I’ve figured out what he was classing as security from the Little family. It filled my heart with pride when Roman went against his fathers wishes and did something for himself, it also made the story that much better in my opinion as it showed a bit of character development for Roman.
Finally, I just want to talk about the slow burn between Roman and Iris. The tension that built between them was incredibly beautiful and while the way things have currently ended is heartbreaking, I truly think they are meant to be and will over come everything. The way the fell for eachother and the way they became so in sync with one another showed just how perfect they are together, and when it was the night before things went down, their moment was precious, and one of the best intimacy scenes I have read. Sometimes you don’t need smut for something to be hot, sometimes you need just to read about the scene beginning, and it’s how it begins that makes it more remembered.
I could go on for hours about this book but I’m doing best to not spoil anything and if I continue, I will do just that. I cannot wait to purchase Ruthless Vows, and here’s to the next book ruining me more than the first.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, War, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Blood
cecilie26's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I can maybe see why it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It is a bit slow at some parts and the development isn’t that fast.
I know there had to be a twist and something that we hate is happening, for the plot yk.
But either Roman is going to end up just like her brother or worse. The possibility for better is really slim.
I why the heck couldn’t they have taken Roman with them?!!
“It took all the strength in me to desert from the bad guy” yeah right. One more person wasn’t that big of a deal. But then maybe Roman would definitely die because they didn’t have any medicine to help him.
This is why I like the book even though it makes me wants to pull my hair out of frustration.
I really like this book even though it doesn’t develop that fast in some parts, but the sweet little things that help make the book lighthearted at times where there is also so much darkenss.
The humor I love and the banter!! Love it! If you don’t like enemies or more like rivals to lovers then this book is definitely not for you but if it is. You would probably love this very much. It is slow burn, with so many feelings and it is so well written.
Graphic: War and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, and Child death
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Medical trauma, Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Violence, Murder, and Grief
celery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Grief, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, War, Classism, Gore, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Medical trauma, and Violence
rylin_marie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcoholism, Gore, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Grief, Death of parent, Vomit, Alcohol, and Gun violence
spaghettii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Murder, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Classism, Cursing, Gun violence, Medical content, Death, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death of parent, War, Vomit, and Violence
hailstorm3812's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: War and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Car accident
Minor: Sexism
mushroomfrog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Grief, War, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
3.75
“It takes courage to let down your armor, to welcome people to see you as you are. Sometimes I feel the same as you: I can’t risk having people behold me as I truly am. But there’s also a small voice in the back of my mind, a voice that tells me, “You will miss so much by being so guarded.”
➽ Divine Rivals is about Iris and Roman, who are competitors at the Oath Gazerre Newspaper. I liked the premise, as there is a war between two gods going on and some people - like Iris' brother - end up recruited for their cause. While cold, arrogant Roman has a wealthy family with lots of connections, Iris and her mother are struggling, especially since her brother left. Both of them are clashing at their workplace in order to get the best stories. Iris takes a chance and becomes a wartime correspondent. It's a dangerous job right at the front, but maybe she'll finally find out what happened to her brother, ever since they lost contact with him. I liked that there's also a magical typewriter involved, that Iris uses to communicate with someone - though she has no idea who it is!
➽ I debated giving this 4 stars, but the ending really put me off
Graphic: Murder, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Moderate: Kidnapping