A review by abookishmagpie
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.0

 This is a hyped book that I have had on my radar for a bit and it just felt like the perfect time of year to pick up a book with some magical elements to it. While there is no set timeline to the book it gives me very strong 1930s/1940s vibes, stylistic wise, like I can very easily picture the main characters as the ones in ‘His Girl Friday’. However, it is not set in our world, but one where Gods and Goddesses exist and it appears that while humanity prevailed over them years ago a new war has started after a God named Dacre has awoken and is ready to seek his revenge on the Goddess Enva. Our main character Iris Winnow has lost her brother to the war when he left to fight on the front lines and her mother to her addiction to alcohol and lastly she lost a dream columnist spot to her work rival Roman Kitt. With what feels like nothing left for her she joins a competing newspaper and becomes a war correspondent to write on the war and make sure the truth is reaching back to her home. There is also the plot point that Iris has been writing letters to her brother that seemingly go missing from the wardrobe she places them in, and suddenly a response comes and then a back and forth correspondence begins between her and a stranger. The stranger turns out to be none other than that work rival Roman Kitt, who figured out who Iris was quickly but has trouble figuring out how to tell her it is him she is writing to. Eventually they both are reporting from the front lines and the feelings that started to form between letters builds as they survive the life and death matters of war. It is a well written book with such a lyrical and poetic style that sweeps the reader up in the scenes. I liked our main characters, their banter in particular is great, and the story itself is intriguing, however there is something that holds me back from thinking this is a five star or a new absolute favorite. I can’t pinpoint it exactly, but it is there irking the back of my mind. That being said I will be reading the follow up when it comes out soon because the cliff hanger leaves me needing to know what the heck is going to happen to Iris, Kitt and all the other characters we got to know and love.