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A review by isabeltavares
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The most difficult reviews to write are the reviews for the books that hold a special place in my heart. The Isabel from before had no idea how much space this book would take up in her mind.
This isn't another fantasy or romance story. It's a deeply sorrowful and hopeful story that explores life and the meaning we give to it. It explores those emotions we try to hide about the meaning of loving someone only to be hurt in return. Of the things that are lost in the war and we'll never be recovered. I think it also explores what journalism should be and no longer is.
Of course these are my interpretations from my readthrough. Superficially, Divine Rivals follows two rivals, Iris and Roman, and their story. Iris' brother was called into war and she discovers that the letters she writes to him in her typewriter go missing in her wardrobe. One day she gets a response, even if it's one she never expected.
Rebecca Ross's writing was impeccable. I was immediately smitten with Iris and Roman's story, with their wishes and struggles. Moreover, it felt immersive in a way every reader can hope whilst reading a story; I could almost believe I was sitting next to Iris as she typed her letters.
The war setting, the eeriness it brings was masterfully captured and gave me chills as I was reading Part 2. I can't say I enjoyed crying in the subway, but I did enjoy how it made me cry, the beautiful words that reached me and the unravelling of the story.
[Forgive me for my pun but] The story was simply divine and I wish I could read it for the first time all over again.
This isn't another fantasy or romance story. It's a deeply sorrowful and hopeful story that explores life and the meaning we give to it. It explores those emotions we try to hide about the meaning of loving someone only to be hurt in return. Of the things that are lost in the war and we'll never be recovered. I think it also explores what journalism should be and no longer is.
Of course these are my interpretations from my readthrough. Superficially, Divine Rivals follows two rivals, Iris and Roman, and their story. Iris' brother was called into war and she discovers that the letters she writes to him in her typewriter go missing in her wardrobe. One day she gets a response, even if it's one she never expected.
Rebecca Ross's writing was impeccable. I was immediately smitten with Iris and Roman's story, with their wishes and struggles. Moreover, it felt immersive in a way every reader can hope whilst reading a story; I could almost believe I was sitting next to Iris as she typed her letters.
The war setting, the eeriness it brings was masterfully captured and gave me chills as I was reading Part 2. I can't say I enjoyed crying in the subway, but I did enjoy how it made me cry, the beautiful words that reached me and the unravelling of the story.
[Forgive me for my pun but] The story was simply divine and I wish I could read it for the first time all over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, War, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Medical content, and Death
Minor: Vomit