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justagirlwithbooks's review
3.5
“I don't think you realize how strong you are, because sometimes strength isn't swords and steel and fire, as we are so often made to believe. Sometimes it's found in quiet, gentle places.”
Hmmmm... This was a very... interesting book indeed. On one hand, I liked the premise of the romance. On the other, I felt like the worldbuilding was a bit confusing and could have been expanded upon more. The ending felt a bit sudden and rushed in my opinion. I think some interesting plots were dropped halfway through, which was a bit annoying. I feel like the pacing was a bit off as well, things were happening way too fast in this book. Maybe it's just the fact that I read a better academic rivals to lovers right before this. Oh well... it is what it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Sexual content
spazzcats's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
aj9moon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lauramparis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
krieg98's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I really liked the way the love story in this develops. I think it’s better paced than a lot of books I’ve read, and less “cringey.” It’s very sweet and I appreciated all the banter.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, and War
katasaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Beautiful world building. Pretty decent romance (it made me care, which is hard), even if it is a slightly cliche premise. The ending felt like it all happened very fast, but I’m looking forward to the sequel.
My biggest complaint is that the romance ends up becoming so focused on the sensual aspects, when the premise lends itself so well to exploring the intellectual/emotional side. This is partly a personal preference thing (and the fact that I hate sex scenes in my books). But I wished the implications of the letters and the emotional connection would have been explored a little more thoroughly.
My biggest complaint is that the romance ends up becoming so focused on the sensual aspects, when the premise lends itself so well to exploring the intellectual/emotional side. This is partly a personal preference thing (and the fact that I hate sex scenes in my books). But I wished the implications of the letters and the emotional connection would have been explored a little more thoroughly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and War
twincessz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Oh my goodness I absolutely loved this book!! It hooked me instantly and never let me go. The magical typewriters were so very cool to me! I loved Iris and Roman, and it was incredible to see their relationship grow, their chemistry was amazing, and don’t get me started on how cute their wedding was!! The only thing I would change about them is to more time not knowing Roman was Carver for the reader. I also absolutely adore Attie and Marisol, they were incredible! The Rebecca Ross wrote about war absolutely tore my heart out, I also loved the myths she had Roman send Iris, they made my mythology nerd heart happy!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
The spoiler is about the sex scenedowntown_kb's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Iris is an aspiring newspaper journalist with a very unique typewriter and a maddening rival at the newspaper where she wants to land a permanent job.
3.5 stars rounded up.
While I did enjoy this I just kind of felt like something was missing the whole time, or that I wanted a little bit more substance to it? There was a lot of potential for world building here that just wasn't delivered on. It all seemed like the reader was dropped in the middle of a fantasy world but never really allowed to get beyond the surface. I wanted deeper world-building and the overarching point of the story just didn't seem to exist. Lots of day to day happenings and then the ending slams quite a bit of plot into the final pages but not in a way that leaves me dying to know more.
I enjoyed the development of Kit and Iris' story and I love anything that involves letter writing. I honestly would have liked this part of the story to be drawn out more. I enjoyed this take on the story of "you've got mail"/"shop around the corner"/the play "Parfumerie by Miklós László" where enemies are pen pals but with added dramatic irony. However, I became very frustrated with Iris towards the end.
I did spoiler myself a bit with some of the plot of book 2 and so I won't be continuing this duology. It sounds like we go back and repeat plot due to amnesia and just, no thanks.
On audio this is decent but not outstanding.
3.5 stars rounded up.
While I did enjoy this I just kind of felt like something was missing the whole time, or that I wanted a little bit more substance to it? There was a lot of potential for world building here that just wasn't delivered on. It all seemed like the reader was dropped in the middle of a fantasy world but never really allowed to get beyond the surface. I wanted deeper world-building and the overarching point of the story just didn't seem to exist. Lots of day to day happenings and then the ending slams quite a bit of plot into the final pages but not in a way that leaves me dying to know more.
I enjoyed the development of Kit and Iris' story and I love anything that involves letter writing. I honestly would have liked this part of the story to be drawn out more. I enjoyed this take on the story of "you've got mail"/"shop around the corner"/the play "Parfumerie by Miklós László" where enemies are pen pals but with added dramatic irony. However, I became very frustrated with Iris towards the end.
I did spoiler myself a bit with some of the plot of book 2 and so I won't be continuing this duology.
On audio this is decent but not outstanding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Alcoholism and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
mrsalexisrjones's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A girl writes letters to her long lost brother in war.. except they aren’t going to him.. they’re going to her rival at the newspaper company. With war, news, enemies to lovers, found family, the sorrows of war, and a hope for a better tomorrow, divine rivals is a great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
karlin0336's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content