Divine Rivals
Ratings474
Average rating4.1
He AMADO este libro. He estado super enganchada de principio a fin. Roman e Iris me encantan y de verdad espero que todo les vaya genial. Y ese final... madre mía, estoy cagada por lo que pueda pasar.
this was so so beautiful :') if you're into enemies-to-lovers, fantasy, and men who would go to hell and back for the one they love then this is perfect for you! also, I know this is labeled as YA but be warned that there is one spicy chapter in here (its easily avoidable if that's not your thing)
READ THIS BOOK!!! This has to be, hands down, one of the best and most beautifully written books I've read in my life. The pacing, the themes, the romance, the war aspects, everything about it was perfectly executed. From the very first page you're hooked and it's extremely hard to put down for even a second. Needless to say, I'm so happy I waited to read it because now I get to devour the sequel immediately!
Poor Roman. He didn't deserve the end of this book and should be a crime that he did. It was a good entrance into this author but at times the characters are annoying, and the book drags. This one was better than the second and overall is a good duology if you can get past the dragging and the characters. Is it me or what is it with everyone bringing back a “dead brother”? This one does it but never really tells you he is dead you are just to assume since she never could find him. Dacre actually saved him and the brother saves Iris in the end.
“Attie smiled, dimples flirting in her cheeks.”
“The moon hung like a fingernail...“
“With each word she typed, the sun sank a little farther until the clouds bled gold.”
4.5 (rounded up to 5)
what the FUCK. the last portion of the book caused me HORRIBLE anxiety.
get me someone who loves me like roman loves iris. such a good book. i think if i actually cared about the fantasy aspect and the world building i would have liked it less but i dont really care about it too much so i enjoyed the book.
authors need to quit calling everything an enemies to lovers. they were RIVALS. they were never enemies.
I didn't know much about this book diving in and I definitely wasn't expecting what the story was about. When I finished this book, I was irrationally angry and hurt by a fictional character. Like ... irrationally angry. Upon some self-reflection (lol) I give this book 5 stars. It really is such a beautiful love story. I stand by my statement of “things could have ended differently, because choices were made”, but it really was beautiful and it pulls all the emotions out of you.
I must read the next book, because I need to find out what happens. I wish I was able to write like Iris does, honestly. I think the letters were the sweetest and I'm praying for a happy ending in book 2. My sappy romantic heart needs proper closure!
Divine Rivals was my first book by Rebecca Ross, but it certainly won't be my last. This enemies-to-lovers new adult romantasy novel combines love, magic, and lore in a highly compelling story. Iris and Roman are rival journalists in the city of Oath, competing for a columnist position while hundreds of kilometers away the gods war in the east. Iris' brother has joined the cause of the goddess Enva, yet by some magic her letters to him end up in the hands of the mysterious Carver. Through a combination of third person narrative and epistles Ross weaves the first half a duology that is equally exciting in its romance and fantasy world building. Featuring outstanding character development and very little spice, I highly recommend Divine Rivals to both romantasy fans and newcomers to the genre alike.
This was so cute. It's a slow-burn, angsty WWII-inspired historical light fantasy novel. My only complaint is that the romance between Roman and Iris felt a little unrealistic and rushed, especially towards the end of the novel. The plot, though?? So good. On my way to Target to get the next one don't look at me.
How I yearn to experience love as pure as this.
I've often contemplated this loneliness of mine. Books have been an escape and now my broken self finds solace in stories like this. It is a painful solace that it brings but the closest thing to a peace of mind that I can realistically hope for.
Divine Rivals checks all the right boxes. It is beautifully written and even my most desperate attempts to find something not-so-great fail to find anything but a few very minor things. The book's premise - two people exchanging letters while one is unaware who the other is - is open to so many terrible clichés but none are here. It is used well. I can honestly say that it is very much believable.
The entire love story, from the start to the end, it is believable. Devoid of context it may seem as two teenagers rushing into things but there's a war, there is little time, there are tragedies all around. Love is found everywhere, even in the trenches.
I also have to bring up, again, the writing. The book is infinitely readable. Forty-two chapters and an epilogue allow for the whole story to flow so beautifully. When I had the time and energy to actually sit down and read, I'd struggle to put it down.
Moving to [b:Ruthless Vows|193375634|Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment #2)|Rebecca Ross|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1697557788l/193375634.SY75.jpg|94100488][b:Ruthless Vows|193375634|Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment #2)|Rebecca Ross|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1697557788l/193375634.SY75.jpg|94100488] right away!
Loved that Iris is a super well-rounded character! her mind doesn't focus solely on a love interest, she has present family, friendship, and career topics. Never expected what this book would be about just by reading the synopsis. It's a super recommend to me!
Be aware that this reads more like a magic realism book for the most part, there aren't a LOT of fantasy elements until the end.
I spent the first half of this book like wow its so nice to read something a bit slower paced with less stakes for once and then it heated up. I really enjoyed the writing style and I could really see the world this was set in. I honestly think the protagonists would have been better of being written a bit older but overall really enjoyed this one
This was an absolute page turner. If you enjoy YA Romantasy, or just need something to get you back into your reading groove, I highly recommend this book. I would not call this enemies to lovers but rivals to lovers, as it's obvious they are drawn to each other from the beginning. Rebecca Ross's writing is beautiful.
I love this book. Iris and Roman's love story was written so beautifully. I normally read Thrillers but this book has made me a fan of romance.
This story left me in disarray. I can't wait to read the second volume. I need a typewriter.
I very much enjoyed this book, but wouldn't suggest starting to read it unless you already have the sequel handy. It ends in a steep cliffhanger, which is something I personally like to know going into a book so it doesn't leave me with an unsatisfied feeling.
Boy this went south quickly...
I thought I was going to maybe not love but really like this book.
The main characters and their relationship is really cute and their interactions are fun and sweet. This made me think that I was going to like this, even though the world building was confusing as hell, didn't make sense and felt completely pointless (why are humans mixed into a war between gods? They join the war voluntarily? Why? If the one god is actively fighting against humanity, and most humans stand behind the other trying to save themselves, sure. But this way it made zero sense. Also what even are these gods? It's not clear what is history and what is myth, which makes for a very confusing and frustrating base.) STILL. I liked the way things developed and tried to ignore the mess that was this world building.
BUT THEN (and this, my friends, is where the spoilers start so be aware!)
Iris is a war correspondent and Roman joins her on the front lines. Still with it. Also the "loving two people at the same time that actually turn out to be the same person" - also still with it. (I really liked Roman up until this point). Even the reveal even though it has this obvious dramatic "you lied to me but I'm in love with you and a horny teenager so I'll kiss you and run away" was fine. EVEN him proposing to her when revealing his feelings I can still get behind - with her never even having said something as much as "I love you" (as you can tell the cringe factor at this point is sky high).BUT THEN it becomes one huge face palming problematic cringe-fest and I can't.The village gets targeted (of course). And then Iris decides to stay in the village, even though she's not a trained soldier (she has trouble jogging up a hill!) and her apparently-love-of-her-life is wounded and cannot run in case things get dicey... on the off-chance of perhaps spotting her soldier brother!! First of all, are you kidding me? BUT IT GETS WORSE. (and here comes my main problem with this book) Having made this tremedously dumb decision (and probably just being in the way and hindering actual soldiers) she gets completely rushed ("surprised"??) into having a quick WEDDING (maybe that's just me but I would like to NOT be blindsided by my own wedding? Especially in this situation?) and then awkwardly gets pushed into spending the night with Roman, with other characters preparing his bed with flowers and candles and stuff and it is just ASSUMED that she wants to have sex with him that night. While the whole thing is consensual and Roman does check in with her , it is very awkward and does not feel like she has another choice given the circumstances and it's just something "you do" which becomes apparent through situations like this: *knock on the door after they went up to Roman's room* [...] their time had been cut short. They had managed to speak their vows but never had the chance to fulfill them". And this it where it turns sour for me and where I started actively DISliking the book. I cannot stand behind this notion of having to sleep with someone to "fillfull your vows" to them. Just because you are married, does not mean that they have claim to your body or your marriage doesn't count! This completely ruined the whole book and characted dynamic for me (since their relationship was what kept me reading). It's not about disagreeing with the author's religious beliefs (which are hinted at in the Acknowlegements) or the "no-sex before marriage" rule. It's also not about the rushed exchange of vows. It's about HOW it was done and how it just left me feeling icky and uncomfortable.For the rest of the book, the plot is a hot (yet predictable) mess with a supposed cliffhanger that just leaves me angry.
So needless to say: I will not pick up the sequel.
This isn't my first Rebecca Ross book, and so I knew going in that the writing would be beautiful. Everything about this book was so good, and I absolutely devoured it! Her writing style is some of the most beautiful I've ever read; it breathes so much emotion into the story and the characters. Divine Rivals follows Iris and Roman, rival journalists for their town's newspaper. Iris's brother is at war, fighting for one of their gods, and Iris promised to write him letters. When her letters start to get replies, Iris is intrigued by the man responsible the words. Y'all, the letters. I loved the letters so much. So many of their words hit me in the feels so hard. Iris and Roman's romance is incredibly special, it's just so tender and sweet! The ending of this book broke me and I'm starting Ruthless Vows very soon! Divine Rivals is a young adult fantasy romance, 16+ mild sexual content very vague in description.
3.5
varios sentimientos encontrados. siento que le faltó una vuelta de rosca, algo más que pasará. necesitaba más enemies, más slowburn. me dejó con la sensación de que le faltó pluma al libro
WOW that's one heck of an ending ;-; I must read the next one already!!! I really enjoyed the pacing of this book!! I was kind of worried at first with the banter between Iris and Roman because they both kind of sounded 'snobby'? xD But I'm glad it got better! Really wondering how this is going to turn out for Roman ahhhh