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A review by theferalhousewivesbookclub
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
5.0
Spice: it’s YA but it’s there MINIMALLY and it’s exquisite!
Plot: 6/5
I am unwell.
My heart is broken. I’m gutted. I’m devastated. I’m gunna cry again.
This isn’t just a romance or fantasy novel. This is a love story.
I find it’s becoming increasingly rare to discover an author who can truly reach through the pages and with nothing more than their words, touch your soul. This book did exactly that.
Divine Rivals won’t be for everyone, I’ll say that right now. If you’re expecting full blown fantasy, don’t. It has a very distinct historical feel to it and I definitely felt like I was transported back in time to the late 1930’s or early 40’s. I absolutely adore historical fiction (heavy on the romance) so this was everything I could have hoped for. Think “Atonement” or “In Love and War” type vibes. We get the historical feel, the touch of fantasy with magical realism and this beautiful, hopeful, devastating love story. It was perfection.
The thing that makes this book so incredible though is Rebecca’s writing. It’s eloquent and ethereal and she truly has the ability to breathe life into her words. She’s placed us in the middle of a war between gods and she shows us exactly how brutal that can be while simultaneously keeping the narrative focused on hope and joy and the potential that life can still offer even when you’re in a devastating season of life. The way she intertwines and connects Roman and Iris with their individual traumas adds such a beautiful depth to their story. It’s not a rushed, love at first sight, I need this person to make me whole kind of romance. It builds so slowly, layer after layer, with such attention to detail and yet it doesn’t overshadow the way both Iris and Roman progress through their own character arcs and ultimately discover who they are as individuals outside of that romance. I absolutely adored both Roman and Iris. The banter between them, who they are as people, their strengths and courage. I will now and forever have a spot in my heart for Roman. We all love a morally grey man but when a gentleman is written properly, it’s next level romantic. And while I feel like he has the potential to become exquisitely morally grey, his character in this book is just exactly right.
I laughed out loud, I cried multiple times, I’m pretty sure at one point I stopped breathing completely for an extended period of time. Thank the good Lord I ordered the second book as soon as I realized how good this one was. It arrives Tuesday but honestly I don’t think I’m going to have the self control to hold out. 99% chance I order the kindle version so I can start Ruthless Vows tonight lol.
“I pray that my days will be long at your side. Let me fill and satisfy every longing in your soul. May your hand be in mine, by sun and by night. Let our breaths twine and our blood become one, until our bones return to dust. Even then, may I find your soul still sworn to mine.”
Xo
- J
Plot: 6/5
I am unwell.
My heart is broken. I’m gutted. I’m devastated. I’m gunna cry again.
This isn’t just a romance or fantasy novel. This is a love story.
I find it’s becoming increasingly rare to discover an author who can truly reach through the pages and with nothing more than their words, touch your soul. This book did exactly that.
Divine Rivals won’t be for everyone, I’ll say that right now. If you’re expecting full blown fantasy, don’t. It has a very distinct historical feel to it and I definitely felt like I was transported back in time to the late 1930’s or early 40’s. I absolutely adore historical fiction (heavy on the romance) so this was everything I could have hoped for. Think “Atonement” or “In Love and War” type vibes. We get the historical feel, the touch of fantasy with magical realism and this beautiful, hopeful, devastating love story. It was perfection.
The thing that makes this book so incredible though is Rebecca’s writing. It’s eloquent and ethereal and she truly has the ability to breathe life into her words. She’s placed us in the middle of a war between gods and she shows us exactly how brutal that can be while simultaneously keeping the narrative focused on hope and joy and the potential that life can still offer even when you’re in a devastating season of life. The way she intertwines and connects Roman and Iris with their individual traumas adds such a beautiful depth to their story. It’s not a rushed, love at first sight, I need this person to make me whole kind of romance. It builds so slowly, layer after layer, with such attention to detail and yet it doesn’t overshadow the way both Iris and Roman progress through their own character arcs and ultimately discover who they are as individuals outside of that romance. I absolutely adored both Roman and Iris. The banter between them, who they are as people, their strengths and courage. I will now and forever have a spot in my heart for Roman. We all love a morally grey man but when a gentleman is written properly, it’s next level romantic. And while I feel like he has the potential to become exquisitely morally grey, his character in this book is just exactly right.
I laughed out loud, I cried multiple times, I’m pretty sure at one point I stopped breathing completely for an extended period of time. Thank the good Lord I ordered the second book as soon as I realized how good this one was. It arrives Tuesday but honestly I don’t think I’m going to have the self control to hold out. 99% chance I order the kindle version so I can start Ruthless Vows tonight lol.
“I pray that my days will be long at your side. Let me fill and satisfy every longing in your soul. May your hand be in mine, by sun and by night. Let our breaths twine and our blood become one, until our bones return to dust. Even then, may I find your soul still sworn to mine.”
Xo
- J