Review summary
This spoiler free review of Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross walks through why this fantasy adventure that letters of enchantment, book 1 still hooks readers. This spoiler free Divine Rivals review looks at Iris and Roman's rivals to lovers story, the war between gods that shapes their choices, and how magical letter writing turns their connection into a lifeline. It also touches on age rating, violence, and romance content so readers can quickly see if this YA romantasy belongs on their shelf.
Full review
This spoiler free Divine Rivals review introduces Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt, rival young journalists at the Oath Gazette in a war torn, early twentieth century inspired city. As gods wake and pull human nations into a brutal conflict, Iris hides her grief in letters to her brother at the front and in her stubborn push to win a columnist position. Those private letters slip through a wardrobe door and into Roman's hands, creating a magical correspondence that slowly turns professional rivalry into something far more vulnerable.
Rebecca Ross balances the ache of trench warfare, addiction at home, and god driven destruction with a warm, epistolary romance built on shared words. The tone is wistful rather than grimdark; scenes of shelling, injuries and loss are present but framed through Iris's compassion, Roman's guilt, and the messy hope of young adults trying to do the right thing. If you want clear emotional stakes, lush atmosphere, and a romance that grows out of mutual respect and shared trauma, Divine Rivals delivers without relying on nonstop twist reveals.
For readers wondering about age rating and content, this feels like upper YA or crossover romantasy best for roughly mid teens and up. Violence is moderate, focused on the horror of war, death of loved ones, and a few intense battlefield moments rather than gore for its own sake. The romance is central and includes one open door scene that is tender and not highly explicit, plus plenty of swoony tension, kisses, and longing. There is addiction and alcohol abuse in the background, mild language, and heavy grief, so it suits readers ready for emotional topics as well as magic.
In terms of series order, this is the first main book in the Letters of Enchantment storyline and it leads directly into Ruthless Vows, which answers the big questions left hanging at the end. Later prequel material set earlier in the world can be read after you already care about Iris, Roman, and the war between the gods. If you finish Divine Rivals searching for more rivals to lovers in a war setting or for books like Divine Rivals that lean a bit less romantic or more historical, you can branch into titles such as our Hunger Games trilogy reviews or quieter historicals in the catalogue while you line up Ruthless Vows. When you are ready to step into this duology, you can pick up your copy of Divine Rivals on Amazon and then explore our romantasy shelf for more letter filled, war torn love stories.
Divine Rivals Review Highlights
A rivals to lovers romance built on anonymous letters, newsroom competition, and shared trauma rather than instant attraction.
A World War I inspired setting where a war between gods turns trench lines, typewriters, and headlines into weapons.
A gentle but emotionally heavy tone that mixes magical realism, family grief, and slow burn connection.
Who Should Read Divine Rivals
Readers who enjoy romantasy where the relationship and character growth matter as much as the magic system and worldbuilding.
Fans of epistolary romance, rival journalists, and historical vibes who want a story that keeps the focus on feelings, choices, and the cost of war.
Upper YA and adult readers comfortable with battlefield danger, addiction in the background, and one low spice open door scene.
Letters of Enchantment Reading Resources
Treat Divine Rivals as the emotional entry point to the Letters of Enchantment world, then continue straight into Ruthless Vows for resolution.
Make a simple timeline of Iris and Roman's letters alongside key battles to see how their private connection intersects with the war.
Compare Divine Rivals to other war focused YA on your shelf to discuss how gods and magic change the usual questions about loyalty and sacrifice.
Key ideas
- Words and letters can become lifelines in wartime, bridging class divides and physical distance when nothing else can.
- A war between gods still depends on human choices; loyalty, fear, and ambition shape the cost paid by ordinary soldiers and civilians.
- Love, friendship, and small compassionate acts have power even when the wider world feels hopeless or rigged by forces beyond human control.
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FAQ
- What is Divine Rivals about?
- Divine Rivals follows Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt, two rival journalists competing for a promotion at the Oath Gazette while a war between ancient gods tears their world apart. Iris writes letters to her missing brother that slip through a wardrobe door and into Roman's hands, creating an anonymous correspondence that slowly turns into a deep, risky romance.
- What age rating and content warnings apply to Divine Rivals?
- Divine Rivals reads like upper YA or crossover romantasy. Expect scenes of trench warfare, injuries, death, grief, and a parent struggling with addiction, plus one low spice open door romantic scene, kissing, and mild language. It is usually best for readers who are ready for emotional topics and depictions of war rather than younger middle grade fantasy fans.
- How spicy is the romance in Divine Rivals?
- The focus is on emotional intimacy, letters, and gradual trust rather than explicit detail. There is strong romantic tension, kissing, and one tender scene that briefly moves on page then fades, so it feels low spice compared to many adult romantasy titles while still clearly romantic and physically affectionate.
- How do you read the Letters of Enchantment series in order?
- The core Letters of Enchantment story begins with Divine Rivals and continues directly into Ruthless Vows, which resolves the main plot and relationship arcs. Prequel material set earlier in the world can be treated as optional extras once you already know Iris, Roman, and the shape of the war between the gods.
Reader-focused angles
This review intentionally answers longer questions readers often ask, such as divine rivals spoiler free summary and main themes for fantasy romance readers, divine rivals age rating, violence level and romance content explained, letters of enchantment reading order and how divine rivals fits into the duology, and books like divine rivals for readers who want more or less spice, more historical focus, or similar rivals to lovers stories, so the guidance fits naturally into the analysis instead of living in a keyword list.
Each section of the review is written to speak directly to those searches, making it easier for book clubs, educators, and new readers to find the specific perspectives they need.
Reading guide
- Track the letters that matter most to Iris and Roman and note how their tone shifts from guarded to honest as the stakes of the war rise.
- Pay attention to scenes in the trenches and in the newsroom to see how perspective changes what the same conflict looks like up close and from afar.
- After finishing, discuss whether Divine Rivals works best as a bittersweet love story, a war novel with magic, or a blend of both, and how that shapes your urge to pick up Ruthless Vows next.
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