Intro to Divine Rivals

Divine Rivals, the first installment in Rebecca Ross’s Letters of Enchantment duology, is a historical fantasy novel that intertwines themes of war, love, and mythology. Set against the backdrop of a world reminiscent of World War I, the story follows Iris Winnow, an eighteen-year-old journalist, as she navigates the challenges of a divine war and personal loss. While the story revolves around a brutal conflict that threatens to tear the world apart, it is also a deeply personal exploration of love, resilience, and the search for purpose in uncertain times.

Amazon Book Description for Divine Rivals

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish―into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

Shadow and Bone meets Lore in Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals, an epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.

Themes Explored in Divine Rivals

The novel delves into themes such as the horrors of war, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative power of love. Central to the novel is the juxtaposition of war and love, as Iris and Roman’s relationship develops amidst the backdrop of a brutal divine war. This duality highlights how, even in the darkest times, hope and connection can flourish. The war itself serves as a metaphor for humanity’s capacity for destruction, but Ross balances this with a message of resilience and healing, showing how individuals persevere in the face of overwhelming loss.

Ross further weaves in the theme of faith versus agency. The gods in Divine Rivals represent forces beyond human control, echoing debates about fate, divine will, and personal autonomy. Characters must grapple with whether to accept their roles as dictated by external powers or resist and forge their own paths. This tension creates a dynamic exploration of free will and the sacrifices made to claim one’s destiny.

Finally, the theme of healing through love and vulnerability is particularly poignant. Both Iris and Roman carry wounds—emotional and otherwise—yet their growing relationship becomes a source of strength and renewal. The novel celebrates the idea that love, while not a cure-all, can offer profound comfort and meaning in difficult times.

Readers’ Reactions and Reviews

Since its release, Divine Rivals has garnered widespread acclaim for its lush prose, compelling characters, and intricate exploration of human emotions. It has earned a devoted fanbase and cemented Rebecca Ross’s reputation as a rising star in fantasy fiction.

In terms of recognition, Divine Rivals has achieved significant success with sellers lists and while going viral on Booktok and Bookstagram. As of January 2024, it has spent 76 weeks on the New York Times Young Adult Hardcover bestseller list, reflecting its popularity among readers. Critical reception has been generally positive, with Publishers Weekly describing it as “an ardent romance and a harrowing exploration of war’s horrors and heartbreaks.” Divine Rivals also has a 4.2 rating on Goodreads and Storygraph, and ranks #4 in Teen and Young Adult Magical Realism Fiction on Amazon.

My Impression of Divine Rivals

As a doting thriller reader, who seeks anger, blood, and deceit in my books, I generally cringe at romance novels. I am not entertained by cutesy, ordinary, boy-meets-girl love stories (actually, I tend to like un-love stories), nor am I entertained by too-long, extreme world-building, and too-weird creatures fantasy books. However, I have recently discovered the adventures there are to be had in fantasy romances, aka romantasy, and I am ready to dive in!

With both romance and fantasy genres being hit-or-miss for me, it should be doubly hard for me to find a romantasy I like, but that was not the case for Divine Rivals. Divine Rivals is the third romantasy series I have started and I am here for it! Fantasy, although I love it, can be hard for me to get into if it’s too focused on world-building and lacking in plot. Divine Rivals was heavy on the plot and light on the world building, which lead to a few elements of the fantasy world being shamefully left out of the overall take-away from this book. Nevertheless, overall, it was easy to digest and otherworldly enough to grab hold of you. The story between the characters was primary to Rebecca Ross, where her magical and mythical anecdotes were shining brightly in the background. It can be easy in a fantasy novel to get lost in the meaning and purpose in an obscure world, while the real story gets left behind. Rebecca Ross did well of keeping the story between Iris and Roman afloat.

As for the romance…I loved it. I got giddy watching Roman fall in love with Iris. The typewriters were such a beautiful catalyst for their love, however, I would have liked to have learned more about what they meant and had seen more of a correlation between them and their users (won’t expand on this to avoid spoilers). Even so, reading their pain and watching them fall in love was the forefront of the story, and although I am not a sucker for romance, Roman got to me. Roman convincing her to run with him, Roman making her answer questions he had once asked her, Iris walking far enough in front of him so he can't reach out and grab her, just teasing him, reminds me so much of me and my husband when we were falling in love. All of their flirty-ness and Roman’s ways of taking care of Iris without her noticing, and Roman’s way of laying the groundwork for her to even consider him, made my heart smile so big.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Divine Rivals proved to be an unexpected delight for a reader like me, who typically shies away from romance and overly complex fantasy. Rebecca Ross struck a perfect balance, delivering a story that was rich in plot, emotionally charged, and anchored by a romance that felt both genuine and captivating. While the world-building left some questions unanswered, the focus on Iris and Roman’s relationship kept the story engaging and grounded. Their tender, playful moments and the emotional depth of their connection brought a warmth to the narrative that even a reluctant romance reader like me couldn’t resist. If you’re a skeptic of romantasy or wary of love stories, Divine Rivals may just win you over, as it did for me. This is a series I’m excited to continue, and I can’t wait to see where Ross takes us next.

Grab your copy of Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment #1) by Rebecca Ross here!

Recommendations

More by Rebecca Ross

Ruthless Vows (Letter of Enchantment #2)

A River Enchanted (Elements of Cadence #1)

A Fire Endless (Elements of Cadence #2)

Other Romantasy Books

Lightlark (The Lightlark Saga #1) by Alex Aster

Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart #1) by Stephanie Garber

Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard