[NOVEL] Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

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.

Letters of Enchantment series. Book 1

Which YouTuber made me pick up this book first on my adventure, I can't say for sure, because many have recommended this book and out of the entire bundle I decided to pick it up first. Partially knowing, but on the other side not fully understanding or expecting what it will bring me. Or partial regret that it has a historical fiction woven in and some parts hit me.

After the emotional turmoil is toned down and I sat with it for a while, I can finally look back and analyze it a bit more rationally. Because what made me more emotional and depressed were the events. The characters made me have feels. But the lore of the world was kind of a mixed bag. 

Divine Rivals, first book in the Letters of Enhcantment duology is a YA fantasy novel, that follows the story of two young people, Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt. From being rivals at work as journalists, to unexpected "pen" pals with magic typewriters, to two young lovers that found themselves coming together in times of the world falling apart.

Pacing, I'd say it is quite fast-paced, the writing style is easy to follow, so it's worth of binge-reading. Interestingly enough it was also a slowburn for the two characters, the events weren't progressing much, although a lot seem to have happened. My personal note is that narration is carried out from the third party perspective, which I prefer more. I don't know what is it about phrases like "I'm this and that" that put me off a bit, maybe because they always sound kind of cocky?

World, characters, plot:

• World. Actually I had the most problems with world-building, because when it came to time period it felt like a mixed bag, with underdeveloped magic. But when it came to lore behind the Gods it also left me with numerous questions. Time period. I have no idea which time exactly the author wanted to take away from. With electricity, trams, lifts, typewriters, cars/lorries, "fridge", shower, but with no telephone yet and no telegraph even? Also things like women working for a publisher and other miscalenious things make me think of beginning of last century up to 30's, but when it came to the front line described in the book it made me think of more backwards era. The Gods. To be honest the knowledge of the reader resembles the knowledge of Iris, even if it is mentioned that they have some "myth classes", but it has no purpose at all, since the knowledge stays quite bleak. We only find out the truth behind two gods starting the conflict. We basically find out about it at the same time Iris did, when Kit sent her one of the myths on why two gods, Dacre and Enva, had beef with each other. But we have no idea what part other gods had in it. Our story starts within the city of Oath in an eastern borough, where a goddess of Skywards, Enva, resides. There are 5 gods in total: Dacre (west), Mir (north), Alva (south) and Luz (center). Not much info about creation of this world, why there are gods, who basically live on earth but also belong to some sky type folk, Skywards and those who belong under the earth - Underlings. So Enva belongs to Skywards, has a harp and sings to the fallen to let their sould pass. Dacre belongs to the Underlings, the underworld king if you'd like to, who can bring destruction and is connected to death, but can also heal (which is mostly, bring back from the dead). People in the city come off strangely, because prior to the events, the gods were basically sleeping for several hundred years and it felt like everyone started to forget the myths and legends and the threat, but actually there is also unexplained underlying feeling like many things are cut out/censored in present time. Especially when they worked in the Gazette, it felt like they could not write about certain topics. So when the conflict starts, instead of proactive opposing, there was a massive destruction of stringed instruments, because Enva owns harp and if she calls for you, you must follow her call and join the cause. On the other hand we have a glimpse at Dacre supporters. So people might join either side, but this calling or the cause and effect of this choice is quite a mystery to me. Hopefully, there will be answers in the second book, because I have few. This is the beginning of this novel, when Iris's brother, Forest, received such a calling from Enva, he dropped everything, his career and his family and went to war. Although I must say, the reason for the "beef" is kind of underwhelming. Spoilers. So you tell me that Dacre fell for Enva and wanted to take her to his underworld and to lure her, he basically blackmailed her with the lives of people. She went along after a while and her music made every creature of underworld fall asleep. This is how she escaped, but also why gods fell asleep and why Dacre is now enraged, raising cities to the ground to basically fullfill his threat. This is where my question about Enva also rose up, like we know others can hear her calling, but where is she herself? End of spoilers.
• Characters. The best part of this story are the characters. Despite the fact that I find the characters a bit muddled in the beginning, like their actions and motivation, which much improved later on. Surprisingly, Roman was on the top of this list. I'd say many of the things he did and say were the most logical. Iris Winnow. Some say she is mature for her age, but I think she is simply brave. If we talk about what she did, it does not take maturity to do what she did, but bravery. She found it in herself to drop out and work, she found it in herself to go to the most dangerous place to find her only relative with that little bit of hipe she had. She is a brave girl with her heart scarred. She is like many others lives with questions of why this is happening, why her brother left, why her mother fell to alcohol and there are many other 'why'. But to me they're still kids. A kid who is guarded, afraid of forming bonds with others after her losses, but still managed to find family and friends and a loved person to hold on to. But I'd say she also had her Mary Sue moments, which thankfully were stopped in time. Roman C. Kitt. He comes from a rich family, not aristocratic one I mind you. So they have some prejudice from the start. I don't think there was enough elaboration to his change of heart from being a bit high of himself to actually falling in love with her. So even if it says rivals to lovers it's a bit far from that to me. Because it becomes apparent soon that Roman is quite awkward and chooses to keep this legend of their rivalry going on for a reason.. and she is naive enough to believe it... This is where it wasn't enough for me to show this transition and felt like an afterthought. Like you know "I was prejudiced, but then you wrote a letter to Forest, but it ended up with me and from then on I could not help, but follow your words". Roman is not ready to be together at first, he might love Iris, but from another side a deep guilt for his sister made him basically a puppet in the hands of his father, obeying his orders. But when he realized where Iris was going to, he braved the most important decision of his life, to follow her. Who knows what will happen tomorrow, but today we are destined to come together. And that moment shed a guilty boy in him and he was pretty neat. Secondary characters. I skip her brother Forest and let's talk about her mother. Actually, Aster feels like a person who already lost her son as we find her drowning her sorrows in alcohol. It is not elaborated, but I suppose she might have lost hope not receiving a single letter. But from another side, she still has a daughter and it felt pretty bad that her mother did not hold on for her. At one point we have a scene when Aster feels like she will get better, but at that moment I knew she will be offed (there are several predictable turns of events), she felt like that patient who suddenly gets better before passing. Because Iris had no one holding her back she signs up as war correspondent and leaves. This is where she finds a friend in the face of Attie, another corresondent and a family in the face of Marisol (a keeper of B and B) and her wife Keegan. This place is full of danger, but also has a light and a warm corner. Which is pretty realistic, it may sound surreal, but part of people continue to live and not be afraid of some sort of happiness despite the dire situation surrounding them. If things are dire, it doesn't mean you have no chance for happiness. As for those who were left in Oath. I feel a bit sorry for Roman's nan, I wonder how she is, she had little time, but she was delightful. And I don't feel sorry for his parents.
• Plot. With spoilers. So we start from the time when Iris sends her brother off. We have a time skip to few months later. She had not received a single letter from her brother, she is always tense about it. Not to mention that her mother is now drinking heavily and was fired from her job. Because of this Iris dropped out and was hired by Oath Gazette to subsidise their life. And because she's a poor girl who dropped out Roman had a bit of prejudice when she joined. Both of them were aiming for promotion as columnist. Iris for money raise and Roman.. because he was told to. The rich-poor dynamic brought a bit of a conflict between them. They bickered, but to be honest their dialogues at the beginning were kind of awkward, as if they both felt awkward. Next thing is the typewriters. They have a lovely story. One day Iris was so pent up that she wrote everything she wanted to say to her brother and remembered the old way of sending letters, but she did not expect that her letter will disappear, she sent many letters in hope of Forest getting them and most certainly she did not expect to receive a reply. Although this person is anonymous, it becomes clear soon that the other person is none other than Roman himself. Their typewriters are connected for a reason. This is where a bit of lore follows, that when gods fell asleep the magic flowed from their bones and penetrated like veins, so some parts of city may be enchanted. Typewriters were connected by magic thanks to a master who was keen on these magic veins and powers, it was an only way to connect between three friends (although I instantly asked myself, if one typewriter is in the museum, how does the typewriter know which address to send to, magic). Through this connection both become close to each other, Iris can't help but have feelings for this unknown person and Roman who certainly knew who Iris was kept the secret, being afraid that she will stop writing if he confesses. She was his only joy in life, his only true emotion. But then an accident happens, Iris' mother was hit by a tram and died. Now she had only Forest left as her family. Being devastated she had no desire to continue at Gazette, so she steps down, Roman gets the columnist. While this is going on they hear the news from the front line printed in Inkridden Tribune. This is the only newspaper that wishes to report on the events and not shy away from relaying the warning that one day this existing threat might come their way. Iris also found a recruiting message there and this became her only way as she saw it, follow there to maybe find her brother as her only relative. From the Roman's side we find out that their family is rich, but it does not belong to aritocracy and Roman's father decided to arrange marriage for him with miss Little. From one incident we also find out that in case of Dacre stepping into Oath they will be his supporters. Because this miss Little with her father created a weapon (explained at the end of the novel), although Roman didn't know what was in there, but I at that moment wanted to bury miss Little myself. But being manipulated by guilt again and again Roman was on the verge of agreeing and letting it go, but then he knew that Iris left to the most dangerous place and everything else paled in comparison. I felt sorry for this young man, although he was partially responsible for the accident with his sister, but the entire family should have bore the blame too. They did not instill the feeling of caution in their daughter and made her a bit willful, which might lead to numerous mischievous endeavours. But I'm pretty sure his little sister wouldn't want to see her brother sacrificing for all those things their father cares about because he felt guilty. He not only felt guilt himself, but he was reminded of it on a regular basis, so no wonder he was so rigid. This is the bravest thing of him, to follow heart and not reason, Travelling hundreds of kilometers away just to reconnect with Iris. Back to Iris, after cremating her mother, taking essentials and her typewriter, she travels to Avalon Bluff, a town a bit away from the hottest point, she meets Attie, Thea Attwood, who is also a correspondent. As partners in their common cause they form a friendly bond. With the adversities they faced later no wonder they formed a deeper friendship. They met Marisol who provided lodging and was overall a sweet and lovely woman. The first thing the new was about sirens. And here my bells started off, because I wish no one knew what it's like, it is indeed as scary and dreadful. Siren at night - hounds, sirens at day - eithrals, intermitten siren - evacuate. She lived for some time and wrote her "pen pal" Carver expecting a reply, when suddenly she saw Roman on the road when the day siren went off. I must say that was a thrilling scene of her running with all her might, because in the depth of her heart she didn't want him to die. They survived this moment of horror and I think their connection grew deeper. Although Roman still chickened out to confess that she wrote to him, that he was here for her only. All this before they were chosen to go to the front line. And I'll skip this part, because it is bloody. The ambush, the retreat, Roman getting hurt when saving her, helping with soldiers, evacuating. This is where she grabbed his bag as he asked and later when she was at home, she finally paid attention to it and spilled the contents of the bag only to find the heap of her letters and she realized that Carver was Kitt. At first she was angry, as if she's being played with, but honestly.. I wanted to smack her. Who in their right mind will follow a woman to such a dangerous place, shield her from harm, if they wanted to just play with her. That's pricey. But thank goodness this wasn't for long and they made up pretty quickly. Because what they found in each other was far more important. The love finally blossomed. It feels a pity that it wasn't for long. The intermitten siren went off, meaning evacuation and Dacre's forces will be here soon. With soldiers pooring in and civillians and wounded evacuating only a handful of people stayed to defend. Iris was going to leave, but then she got the letter, finally a letter explaining where her brother was and it gave her hope to stay. Because Roman would not go anywhere without her, he also stayed, even if he was still wounded. In this dark moment the two of them decided to unite in marriage, which Iris found weird, but actually there wasn't anything bad to feel a bit of happiness even in such a dark period. But there was an emphasis on one thing, two packs were missing and Roman's jumpsuit was missing too. It didn't sound right and felt like somethign is going to happen. And it happened. When everyone expected eithrals and explosions, those very cylinders that Kitt's father was talking about fell from the sky. And it was gas. This is why I say I'd strangle miss Little myself. In this corroding smoke with people trying to find their way out the two became separated. Iris was looking for Roman in the crowd and smoke, but happened to see someone wearing his jumpsuit and also a.. gas mask. Although in that moment it's understandable while she disoriented to feel strange about it, but gas mask. So she is taken away for some time before she realizes that the person is not Roman, she fights and looks back only to see Roman trying to reach her, with his wounded leg and also suffering from the gas. During the fight the call of "little flower" her pet name given by her brother makes her stall, but even if she knew it's him, she still wanted to take Roman away, but Forest refused and forced her with him. Being awaken from her faint, she realizes they're deep into the woods and she insists on going back. He agreed but only if she follows him without protesting afterwards. They do find the field, Roman's marriage ring, but with no Roman in sight. Avalon Bluff fell in the hands of Dacre. Iris followed Forest into the woods. Only few days later when she saw his wounds that looked fatal she finally realized why they keep away from roads and why they are alone, Forest joined Dacre. Forest explains that he was "revived", but with it comes the price, following the command. He barely deserted when he accidentally found the locket that belonged to their mother and he knew Iris was here. He only has power to take her home with him. They indeed follow back to Oath, to the old apartment. And this is where Iris is surprised to find the letter from Kitt. In Afterword it becomes apparent (with all being said about Forest) what fate befell on Roman and why the second book is titles Ruthless Vows.

This is the basic of it all.

Although the dialogues at the beginning made them look awkward and odd, and also his praise for her articles when we never saw a glimpse of one felt like 'why he praises her', but actually their letters were quite young but heartfelt. They really made you fall in love with these characters. Their vulnerability, but also strength. There are also a ton of wonderful quotes from the letters and when they finally come together and could speak openly.

Their names would be entwined—Roman and Iris or Winnow and Kitt because could you truly have one without the other?

Repeating myself, but world-building felt a bit contradictory and shallow, not much information. Even if partially it is logical to not know as a reader what Iris doesn't know herself.

Another point that falls short, although there are a lot of scenes that were quite close to the truth, but overall the warfare fell short to me like if there is an army, why people feel like only if it's a free will you have to defend your land, why everyone don't bother to do anything etc. Also why everything feels so backwards in such a developed world (actually I was happy for its blankness, I would not mind some fantasy battle, but not something that hits close). I don't know if Dacre lacks efficiency or just wants to make it slow and as twisted as possible, because he could have cut off electricity, roads, bridges, the infrastructure is the essential one. But part of me felt like - there is no moving forward in this, only retreating, as if there exists nothing but being wounded, being on a receiving side and it was quite depressing. Like where is Enva, does she only send people, are they pawns to her? But there were also other small details that felt a bit off.

RATE: 4/5. For the feels. Won't be reading the second book any time soon though.