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In Rebecca Ross’s spellbinding fantasy novel Divine Rivals, readers are transported to an alternate World War I-inspired world where gods clash, destinies entwine, and love blooms bright against the darkness. Set against a backdrop of grief, addiction, and the chaos of war, the story revolves around Iris Winnow, a determined young woman struggling to hold her family together amidst her mother’s addiction and her brother’s disappearance.
Iris’s only hope is to secure a coveted columnist promotion at her local newspaper, the Oath Gazette. Little does she know that her path will intertwine with that of Roman Kitt, her icy workplace rival. Through a mysterious connection formed by anonymous letters, Iris and Roman embark on an unforgettable journey that will take them to the front lines of battle, challenge their resolve, and ignite a love that defies even the gods themselves.
From the very first sentence, Ross weaves a tapestry of words that evokes both awe and empathy. Her prose, with its heart-achingly beautiful cadence, infuses the novel with an ethereal quality, highlighting the transformative nature of both the written word and human connection. The writing is not only visually stunning but also emotionally resonant, capturing the essence of the human experience with poetic precision.
Moreover, the characters of Iris and Roman exude a raw realness that does more than just tug at the heartstrings — it heaves, jerks, and yanks at them. Ross’s ability to infuse her characters with such profound vulnerability allows them to transcend the confines of the page, becoming individuals whom readers genuinely care for and root for. Their journeys become our own, their joys and sorrows felt with a keen intensity.
In short, Divine Rivals is a resounding triumph — a symphony of emotions that will leave hearts thundering and minds soaring long after the final page. Prepare to be swept away by this literary gem that showcases the power of words to capture the essence of humanity’s victories, struggles, and the enduring beauty of love in its most raw and authentic form.
Rated: Moderate. Profanity includes 5 instances of moderate language and 14 usages of British (bl-) profanity. Violence includes intense war themes, death, amputation, blood, bombings, drowning, poison gas, and dead bodies. Sexual content includes passionate kissing, straddling while kissing, mentions of marital infidelity, and one on-page sex scene between a husband and wife that does not describe the act in much detail. Other content warnings include alcoholism, death of a family member (they were hit by a tram), grief, panic attacks, smoking, PTSD, and death of a child.
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