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A review by ellianamaselli
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
4.0
I love Rebecca Ross.
And no, I don't just mean I love her books or her writing or her plots or her characters (even though all of those things are almost always impeccable [we all know The Queen's Rising is the exception]). I mean exactly what I said: I love Rebecca Ross herself. Not often do you come across an author who truly cares about their readers, who takes the time to curate playlists and content warnings and promote fan art for their fans. Rebecca does all of these things. Does that mean that I love every writing choice she's ever made? No. But I will always, always, always pick up her books because I know when I do, I will be taken care of as a reader.
This book was no different.
Divine Rivals follows two characters: Iris Winnow, and Roman Kitt. Iris and Roman are journalist—you guessed it—rivals who are basically competing for the same job of... editor? Columnist? ...I actually don't remember. But it doesn't matter because that's not the point.
The point is that Iris' brother is off at war. And Iris, in her deep, tragic loneliness, has been writing him letters via her typewriter and sending them into the void via magic (because it wouldn't be a Rebecca Ross book without magic, now would it?). But what Iris doesn't know—and you've probably already guessed—is that these letters are not, in fact, in the void, but in Roman Kitt's wardrobe. And he has read every single one of them.
^Roman, after reading all of Iris' private mail (I can't blame him; I would have done the same)
This goes on for a while, but the book actually starts when Roman decides to write her back.
Of course, you can guess how that goes (it wouldn't be a Rebecca Ross book without a good enemies-to-lovers plot, now would it?). And we all know that anyone in their right mind should appreciate an enemies-to-lovers plot. That should be enough reason for you to read the book right there. But if it isn't, then allow me to present exhibit B: the war.
I don't even like wartime books. The moment you put a character in the non-metaphorical trenches, I tend to lose interest. Well, not this time, baby. Because this is Rebecca-friggin-Ross. And she cares about her readers. She keeps it interesting. And that's good enough for me.
If there's one complaint I had, it was that the romance moved a little too fast for my liking (although, it wouldn't be a Rebecca Ross book without a fast-paced romance), and the ending implied that book two might contain the trope where Iris and Roman are separated for a long time without contact (it wouldn't be a Rebecca Ross book without some good-old frustrating ship-separation, now would it?). This is usually one of my least favorite tropes in fiction. However, if there's one thing that [b:A Fire Endless|60606326|A Fire Endless (Elements of Cadence, #2)|Rebecca Ross|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1663708266l/60606326._SY75_.jpg|84776444] taught me, it's that Rebecca can take even my least favorite tropes and write them in a way that makes me love them (not to mention, the payoff in that book was so good, I can't wait to see what she does here). So I'm holding out hope all the same.
In conclusion, I love Rebecca Ross. Favorite author material over here, seriously. Because while her books aren't always perfect, they're pretty damn close. And the ships are always, always, always pretty damn cute.
I will definitely be reading [b:Ruthless Vows|127280062|Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment, #2)|Rebecca Ross|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684911482l/127280062._SY75_.jpg|94100488] when it's released later this month.
reviews for rebecca ross novels
A River Enchanted
Divine Rivals
And no, I don't just mean I love her books or her writing or her plots or her characters (even though all of those things are almost always impeccable [we all know The Queen's Rising is the exception]). I mean exactly what I said: I love Rebecca Ross herself. Not often do you come across an author who truly cares about their readers, who takes the time to curate playlists and content warnings and promote fan art for their fans. Rebecca does all of these things. Does that mean that I love every writing choice she's ever made? No. But I will always, always, always pick up her books because I know when I do, I will be taken care of as a reader.
This book was no different.
Divine Rivals follows two characters: Iris Winnow, and Roman Kitt. Iris and Roman are journalist—you guessed it—rivals who are basically competing for the same job of... editor? Columnist? ...I actually don't remember. But it doesn't matter because that's not the point.
The point is that Iris' brother is off at war. And Iris, in her deep, tragic loneliness, has been writing him letters via her typewriter and sending them into the void via magic (because it wouldn't be a Rebecca Ross book without magic, now would it?). But what Iris doesn't know—and you've probably already guessed—is that these letters are not, in fact, in the void, but in Roman Kitt's wardrobe. And he has read every single one of them.
^Roman, after reading all of Iris' private mail (I can't blame him; I would have done the same)
This goes on for a while, but the book actually starts when Roman decides to write her back.
Of course, you can guess how that goes (it wouldn't be a Rebecca Ross book without a good enemies-to-lovers plot, now would it?). And we all know that anyone in their right mind should appreciate an enemies-to-lovers plot. That should be enough reason for you to read the book right there. But if it isn't, then allow me to present exhibit B: the war.
I don't even like wartime books. The moment you put a character in the non-metaphorical trenches, I tend to lose interest. Well, not this time, baby. Because this is Rebecca-friggin-Ross. And she cares about her readers. She keeps it interesting. And that's good enough for me.
If there's one complaint I had, it was that the romance moved a little too fast for my liking (although, it wouldn't be a Rebecca Ross book without a fast-paced romance), and the ending implied that book two might contain the trope where Iris and Roman are separated for a long time without contact (it wouldn't be a Rebecca Ross book without some good-old frustrating ship-separation, now would it?). This is usually one of my least favorite tropes in fiction. However, if there's one thing that [b:A Fire Endless|60606326|A Fire Endless (Elements of Cadence, #2)|Rebecca Ross|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1663708266l/60606326._SY75_.jpg|84776444] taught me, it's that Rebecca can take even my least favorite tropes and write them in a way that makes me love them (not to mention, the payoff in that book was so good, I can't wait to see what she does here). So I'm holding out hope all the same.
In conclusion, I love Rebecca Ross. Favorite author material over here, seriously. Because while her books aren't always perfect, they're pretty damn close. And the ships are always, always, always pretty damn cute.
I will definitely be reading [b:Ruthless Vows|127280062|Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment, #2)|Rebecca Ross|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684911482l/127280062._SY75_.jpg|94100488] when it's released later this month.
reviews for rebecca ross novels
A River Enchanted
Divine Rivals