Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

5 Stars Apr 27, 2025

My review

5/5 stars

Newspaper reporter, Iris Winnow, writes letters to her brother at war, but is unknowingly sending them to her rival at the newspaper, Roman Kitt. He figures out that their typewriters are magically connected, but doesn't tell her. When they are both sent to the frontline to report on the war, they have to navigate their multi-faceted relationship in the face of danger and potential death.

I'm always a little cautious when I pick up a fantasy book, as they are not my primary genre, and while there have been fantasy books that I really enjoy, they can be very hit and miss for me. This one was a hit. The reason being that the focus was on the characters and the plot rather than the fantasy elements. Yes, the war was between two gods, yes there was a backstory that relied on magic and otherwordly creatures, yes they connect via charmed typewriters, but the only thing that really mattered was the relationship between Iris and Roman.

Iris was a character that has been put through so much at her young age, so much so that the idea of going to the frontline seems easy compared to her life at home. I wanted so many good things for her right from the off, which made the developments in her relationships incredibly satisfying as the story went on. Her friendships with Attie and Marisol were beautifully crafted and provided much needed female solidarity for a character that has been beaten down by life.

Roman's character went way deeper than I expected it to, and he was so much nicer than I anticipated when I started reading the book. He ended up being a source of strength in the face of everything Iris faced. I adored watching their relationship evolve into something that saved them both from lives their didn't want.

I was so pleasantly surprised by the effect this book had on me, especially with its unexpected ending. The characters grabbed my attention, the plot held it and I'm curious to see what happens in the sequel.

Book blurb

Eighteen-year-old Iris dreams that one day her writing will make a difference. A war between gods is raging, and she’s landed a prestigious job at the Oath Gazette.

But at home, she’s barely holding it together. Her brother is missing on the frontline. Her mother is lost in a haze of addiction. And each night Iris pours her heart out in letters to her brother.

Letters that will never be answered. Or so she thinks…