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A review by _onemorechapter_
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75
💭 It's a book that’s like sipping hot chocolate on a cold day, but with a splash of whiskey to keep things interesting. This book isn’t just a fantasy tale with gods and wars; it’s a slow-burn romance that’s so agonizingly good you’ll want to throw it across the room one minute and hug it the next.
It was a book that hooked me so hard that I stayed up until 4 AM reading “just one more chapter.” Spoiler: it was never just one more chapter. This book is a delicious cocktail of fantasy, slow-burn romance, and a world that feels like it’s teetering on the edge of both magic and chaos.
Imagine a world where gods aren’t just myths but very real—and very pissed. That’s where Divine Rivals kicks off. Our protagonists, Iris and Roman, are journalists in a city on the brink of war with these ancient deities. The setting is grim, the stakes are high, and every page is soaked in a sense of impending doom (in the best way possible, of course). Ross’s world-building is top-notch; she doesn’t dump a bunch of lore on you but instead lets it unfold naturally. You feel the tension of the divine conflict in every scene, making the backdrop just as compelling as the main storyline.
Iris E Winnow - a badass with a pen. She’s got a lot to prove in a field dominated by men, and she’s not letting anyone—or anything—stand in her way. She’s tough as nails, fierce and determined, driven by her ambition to succeed in journalism despite the odds stacked against her. She’s got this fiery spirit that makes you root for her right away. She’s fiercely independent and sharp-witted, and her inner monologue is a goldmine of sass and vulnerability. She’s also dealing with personal loss, which adds a layer of vulnerability to her character that I found really relatable.
Roman C Kitt - classic charming rival, the kind of guy who smirks too much and always has a clever comeback. Initially comes off as your typical arrogant rival—confident to the point of cockiness and who struts in like he owns the place—because in his mind, he probably does. You want to hate him, but then you see those cracks in his facade, and damn it, you’re rooting for him, too.
Roman is more than just a pretty face and he isn’t just a smirk and a good hair day. He is the type of guy who acts like he’s got everything under control, but deep down, he's dealing with his own fears and insecurities and he’s just as lost and scared as Iris. He’s layered, with a past that’s messier than a teenager’s bedroom and a soft side he’s desperately trying to hide—especially when it comes to Iris.
And the best part? These two are unknowingly pen pals—writing to each other through a mysterious magical typewriter that connects them across the battlefield. How’s that for a meet-cute?
RomanIris
Oh, the slow burn. The delicious, torturous slow burn and Oh boy, the romance. It’s the kind that sneaks up on you, wraps you in a warm hug, and then leaves you breathless. Iris and Roman’s chemistry is off the charts. Every interaction is a battle of wits and words, but beneath all that rivalry is a connection that’s undeniable.
Iris and Roman are rivals, then reluctant allies, then something much more complicated. Their dynamic is electric. They bicker, they challenge each other, they banter, and every interaction is charged with this undercurrent of tension that’s more addictive than your morning coffee.
But the real kicker? The letters. Iris and Roman unknowingly start exchanging letters through a magical typewriter that connects them across distances. These letters are raw, honest, and oh-so-revealing. They don’t know who they’re writing to, which means they’re dropping all their masks and getting real. Watching them fall for each other on paper before they do in real life is such a delicious slow burn. You’re screaming, “Come on, put two and two together!” but also savoring every moment of the buildup. It’s like watching two people fall in love without even realizing it, and you’re just there, screaming, “Kiss already!” But when they do… chef’s kiss. It’s sweet, it’s intense, and it’s so worth the wait.
And let’s talk about the middle name guessing game. It’s not just a cute subplot—it’s the perfect metaphor for their relationship. Iris is determined to figure out Roman’s middle name, and each guess becomes a little more personal, a little more intimate. It's like peeling back layers of his personality with every guess. The banter that ensues is flirty and fun, but there’s also this underlying tension that says, “I see you, and I want to know more.” You can tell Roman secretly loves that Iris is trying so hard, and Iris… well, she’s pretending it’s all about the challenge, but we know better, don’t we?
Ross’s writing is stunning—lyrical without being overly flowery, and her world-building is so vivid you can almost smell the ink on Iris’s typewriter. The themes of love and loss, ambition, and the struggle to hold onto hope in a world falling apart hit hard and finding light in the darkness of war, are beautifully woven throughout the narrative. And Ross doesn’t shy away from the dark stuff—she dives right into it, making the light moments shine even brighter.
Plus, there's this constant sense of urgency and tension, not just from the war with the gods but also from Iris and Roman's evolving feelings.
Tropes included-
➺Rivals to Lovers
➺Slow Burn Romance
➺Fantasy War Setting
➺Witty Banter
➺Academic Rivals
➺Magical Letter Exchanges
➺Dual POV
➺Grief, Love, Loss, Comfort
Overall, Divine Rivals is the kind of book that makes you believe in fate, magic, and the power of words. Iris and Roman’s romance is like a dance—they step on each other’s toes and spin around in circles, but when they finally find their rhythm, it’s beautiful. If you’re looking for a story with deep emotional stakes, witty banter, and a romance that feels like it’s written in the stars (literally), this book is a must-read. Just don’t start it too late at night, or you might find yourself up until dawn, desperate to see how it all unfolds.
𝐏.𝐒 Started the "Ruthless Vows" immediately!
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
🔸𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4.19
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Fantasy, Romantasy, Historical fantasy, & Epistolary novel
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: No
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Letters of Enchantment (Book 1)
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes!!!!
So, if you’re looking for a book that’s going to keep you up all night, make you fall in love with its characters, and leave you begging for more, Divine Rivals is your next read. It’s got everything: a world on the edge, a romance that’ll make you swoon, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Just don’t blame me if you end up reading until sunrise. This book? Totally worth the lost sleep.
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“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.”
“I think we all wear armor. I think those who don’t are fools, risking the pain of being wounded by the sharp edges of the world, over and over again. But if I’ve learned anything from those fools, it is that to be vulnerable is a strength most of us fear. It takes courage to let down your armor, to welcome people to see you as you are.” Sometimes I feel the same as you: I can’t risk having people behold me as I truly am. But there’s also a small voice in the back of my mind, a voice that tells me, “You will miss so much by being so guarded.”
“I am coming to love him, in two different ways. Face to face, and word to word.”
“But time will slowly heal you, as it is doing for me. There are good days and there are difficult days. Your grief will never fully fade; it will always be with you--a shadow you carry in your soul--but it will become fainter as your life becomes brighter. You will learn to live outside of it again, as impossible as that may sound. Others who share your pain will also help you heal. Because you are not alone. Not in your fear or your grief or your hopes or your dreams. You are not alone.”
“I don’t want to wake up when I’m seventy-four only to realize I haven’t lived.”
“I love the words I write until I soon realize how much I hate them, as if I am destined to always be at war within myself.”
“That’s it. You’re doing great, Winnow.” “Shut up, Kitt.” “Absolutely. Whatever you want.”
“I never told you that I love you. And I regret that, most of all.”
“Iris,” said Roman, “you are worthy of love. You are worthy to feel joy right now, even in the darkness. And just in case you’re wondering … I’m not going anywhere, unless you tell me to leave, and even then, we might need to negotiate.”
“It’s not a crime to feel joy, even when things seem hopeless. Iris, look at me. You deserve all the happiness in the world. And I intend to see that you have it.”
“But I think there is a magical link between you and me. A bond that not even distance can break.”
“The days to come will only grow darker. And when you find something good? You hold on to it. You don't waste time worrying about things that won't even matter in the end. Rather, you take a risk for that light.”
“to be vulnerable is a strength most of us fear.”
“And I’m not afraid to be alone, but I’m tired of being the one left behind.”
“He found me on my darkest day. He followed me to war, to the front lines. He came between me and Death, taking wounds that were supposed to be mine.”
“But I realize that people are just people, and they carry their own set of fears, dreams, desires, pains, and mistakes. I can’t expect someone else to make me feel complete; I must find it on my own. And I think I was always writing for myself, to sort through my loss and worry and tangled ambitions. Even now, I think about how effortless it is to lose oneself in words, and yet also find who you are.”
“You mentioned the other day that you think I’m only here to ‘outshine’ you. But that’s the furthest thing from the truth. I broke my engagement, quit my job, and traveled six hundred kilometers into war-torn land to be with you, Iris.”
“She has to survive this, Roman thought. He didn’t want to live in a world without her and her words.”
“She and Roman would survive this war. They would have the chance to grow old together, year by year. They would be friends until they both finally acknowledged the truth. And they would have everything that other couples had—the arguments and the hand-holding in the market and the gradual exploration of their bodies and the birthday celebrations and the journeys to new cities and the living as one and sharing a bed and the gradual sense of melting into each other. Their names would be entwined—Roman and Iris or Winnow and Kitt because could you truly have one without the other?—and they would write on their typewriters and ruthlessly edit each other’s pieces and read books by candlelight at night.”
It was a book that hooked me so hard that I stayed up until 4 AM reading “just one more chapter.” Spoiler: it was never just one more chapter. This book is a delicious cocktail of fantasy, slow-burn romance, and a world that feels like it’s teetering on the edge of both magic and chaos.
Imagine a world where gods aren’t just myths but very real—and very pissed. That’s where Divine Rivals kicks off. Our protagonists, Iris and Roman, are journalists in a city on the brink of war with these ancient deities. The setting is grim, the stakes are high, and every page is soaked in a sense of impending doom (in the best way possible, of course). Ross’s world-building is top-notch; she doesn’t dump a bunch of lore on you but instead lets it unfold naturally. You feel the tension of the divine conflict in every scene, making the backdrop just as compelling as the main storyline.
Iris E Winnow - a badass with a pen. She’s got a lot to prove in a field dominated by men, and she’s not letting anyone—or anything—stand in her way. She’s tough as nails, fierce and determined, driven by her ambition to succeed in journalism despite the odds stacked against her. She’s got this fiery spirit that makes you root for her right away. She’s fiercely independent and sharp-witted, and her inner monologue is a goldmine of sass and vulnerability. She’s also dealing with personal loss, which adds a layer of vulnerability to her character that I found really relatable.
Roman C Kitt - classic charming rival, the kind of guy who smirks too much and always has a clever comeback. Initially comes off as your typical arrogant rival—confident to the point of cockiness and who struts in like he owns the place—because in his mind, he probably does. You want to hate him, but then you see those cracks in his facade, and damn it, you’re rooting for him, too.
Roman is more than just a pretty face and he isn’t just a smirk and a good hair day. He is the type of guy who acts like he’s got everything under control, but deep down, he's dealing with his own fears and insecurities and he’s just as lost and scared as Iris. He’s layered, with a past that’s messier than a teenager’s bedroom and a soft side he’s desperately trying to hide—especially when it comes to Iris.
And the best part? These two are unknowingly pen pals—writing to each other through a mysterious magical typewriter that connects them across the battlefield. How’s that for a meet-cute?
RomanIris
Oh, the slow burn. The delicious, torturous slow burn and Oh boy, the romance. It’s the kind that sneaks up on you, wraps you in a warm hug, and then leaves you breathless. Iris and Roman’s chemistry is off the charts. Every interaction is a battle of wits and words, but beneath all that rivalry is a connection that’s undeniable.
Iris and Roman are rivals, then reluctant allies, then something much more complicated. Their dynamic is electric. They bicker, they challenge each other, they banter, and every interaction is charged with this undercurrent of tension that’s more addictive than your morning coffee.
But the real kicker? The letters. Iris and Roman unknowingly start exchanging letters through a magical typewriter that connects them across distances. These letters are raw, honest, and oh-so-revealing. They don’t know who they’re writing to, which means they’re dropping all their masks and getting real. Watching them fall for each other on paper before they do in real life is such a delicious slow burn. You’re screaming, “Come on, put two and two together!” but also savoring every moment of the buildup. It’s like watching two people fall in love without even realizing it, and you’re just there, screaming, “Kiss already!” But when they do… chef’s kiss. It’s sweet, it’s intense, and it’s so worth the wait.
And let’s talk about the middle name guessing game. It’s not just a cute subplot—it’s the perfect metaphor for their relationship. Iris is determined to figure out Roman’s middle name, and each guess becomes a little more personal, a little more intimate. It's like peeling back layers of his personality with every guess. The banter that ensues is flirty and fun, but there’s also this underlying tension that says, “I see you, and I want to know more.” You can tell Roman secretly loves that Iris is trying so hard, and Iris… well, she’s pretending it’s all about the challenge, but we know better, don’t we?
Ross’s writing is stunning—lyrical without being overly flowery, and her world-building is so vivid you can almost smell the ink on Iris’s typewriter. The themes of love and loss, ambition, and the struggle to hold onto hope in a world falling apart hit hard and finding light in the darkness of war, are beautifully woven throughout the narrative. And Ross doesn’t shy away from the dark stuff—she dives right into it, making the light moments shine even brighter.
Plus, there's this constant sense of urgency and tension, not just from the war with the gods but also from Iris and Roman's evolving feelings.
Tropes included-
➺Rivals to Lovers
➺Slow Burn Romance
➺Fantasy War Setting
➺Witty Banter
➺Academic Rivals
➺Magical Letter Exchanges
➺Dual POV
➺Grief, Love, Loss, Comfort
Overall, Divine Rivals is the kind of book that makes you believe in fate, magic, and the power of words. Iris and Roman’s romance is like a dance—they step on each other’s toes and spin around in circles, but when they finally find their rhythm, it’s beautiful. If you’re looking for a story with deep emotional stakes, witty banter, and a romance that feels like it’s written in the stars (literally), this book is a must-read. Just don’t start it too late at night, or you might find yourself up until dawn, desperate to see how it all unfolds.
𝐏.𝐒 Started the "Ruthless Vows" immediately!
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
🔸𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4.19
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Fantasy, Romantasy, Historical fantasy, & Epistolary novel
🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: No
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Letters of Enchantment (Book 1)
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes!!!!
So, if you’re looking for a book that’s going to keep you up all night, make you fall in love with its characters, and leave you begging for more, Divine Rivals is your next read. It’s got everything: a world on the edge, a romance that’ll make you swoon, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Just don’t blame me if you end up reading until sunrise. This book? Totally worth the lost sleep.
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“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.”
“I think we all wear armor. I think those who don’t are fools, risking the pain of being wounded by the sharp edges of the world, over and over again. But if I’ve learned anything from those fools, it is that to be vulnerable is a strength most of us fear. It takes courage to let down your armor, to welcome people to see you as you are.” Sometimes I feel the same as you: I can’t risk having people behold me as I truly am. But there’s also a small voice in the back of my mind, a voice that tells me, “You will miss so much by being so guarded.”
“I am coming to love him, in two different ways. Face to face, and word to word.”
“But time will slowly heal you, as it is doing for me. There are good days and there are difficult days. Your grief will never fully fade; it will always be with you--a shadow you carry in your soul--but it will become fainter as your life becomes brighter. You will learn to live outside of it again, as impossible as that may sound. Others who share your pain will also help you heal. Because you are not alone. Not in your fear or your grief or your hopes or your dreams. You are not alone.”
“I don’t want to wake up when I’m seventy-four only to realize I haven’t lived.”
“I love the words I write until I soon realize how much I hate them, as if I am destined to always be at war within myself.”
“That’s it. You’re doing great, Winnow.” “Shut up, Kitt.” “Absolutely. Whatever you want.”
“I never told you that I love you. And I regret that, most of all.”
“Iris,” said Roman, “you are worthy of love. You are worthy to feel joy right now, even in the darkness. And just in case you’re wondering … I’m not going anywhere, unless you tell me to leave, and even then, we might need to negotiate.”
“It’s not a crime to feel joy, even when things seem hopeless. Iris, look at me. You deserve all the happiness in the world. And I intend to see that you have it.”
“But I think there is a magical link between you and me. A bond that not even distance can break.”
“The days to come will only grow darker. And when you find something good? You hold on to it. You don't waste time worrying about things that won't even matter in the end. Rather, you take a risk for that light.”
“to be vulnerable is a strength most of us fear.”
“And I’m not afraid to be alone, but I’m tired of being the one left behind.”
“He found me on my darkest day. He followed me to war, to the front lines. He came between me and Death, taking wounds that were supposed to be mine.”
“But I realize that people are just people, and they carry their own set of fears, dreams, desires, pains, and mistakes. I can’t expect someone else to make me feel complete; I must find it on my own. And I think I was always writing for myself, to sort through my loss and worry and tangled ambitions. Even now, I think about how effortless it is to lose oneself in words, and yet also find who you are.”
“You mentioned the other day that you think I’m only here to ‘outshine’ you. But that’s the furthest thing from the truth. I broke my engagement, quit my job, and traveled six hundred kilometers into war-torn land to be with you, Iris.”
“She has to survive this, Roman thought. He didn’t want to live in a world without her and her words.”
“She and Roman would survive this war. They would have the chance to grow old together, year by year. They would be friends until they both finally acknowledged the truth. And they would have everything that other couples had—the arguments and the hand-holding in the market and the gradual exploration of their bodies and the birthday celebrations and the journeys to new cities and the living as one and sharing a bed and the gradual sense of melting into each other. Their names would be entwined—Roman and Iris or Winnow and Kitt because could you truly have one without the other?—and they would write on their typewriters and ruthlessly edit each other’s pieces and read books by candlelight at night.”