Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross: A Fantasy that lives up to the Hype

By: Jahnavi Putrevu

January 26, 2024

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross took the internet by storm at its release. Largely due to its explosive popularity on TikTok, Ross’s seventh novel created a solid place for itself among the book community by the summer of 2023. It received numerous awards, such as the ‘She Reads’ Best of 2023 Award for Young Adult, Barnes & Noble Book of the Year Award (2023), and the Goodreads Choice Awards 2023 (Young Adult Fantasy). After all of the hype it received, I just had to read it for myself. 

Divine Rivals follows rival journalists Iris Winnow and Roman C. Kitt in a town just out of a divine war’s reach, who compete for a spot as the Oath Gazette’s columnist. After her brother hears the Goddess of Song calling him to war, the only connection to him that Iris has left are the magical letters that she writes to him on her typewriter and slips beneath her closet door--- straight into the hands of her bitter rival: the wealthy, charming Roman Kitt. Slowly, a bond begins to form between the two; one that follows them even to the front lines of war. 

Divine Rivals is clearly written by an expert’s hand; it is charming and poetic and truly heart-touching. The prose is flowy and elegant, giving an almost fairytale-like quality to an otherwise grim setting. The characters are similarly well-done. Iris and Roman are sweet and messy and real and it’s easy to become invested in their story and root for their relationship. 

And yet, there was something missing. The world of Divine Rivals promises so much: a war of gods, life and death, a sort of magic straight from myths. And yet, despite the raging war that threatens the main characters, the world of Oath doesn’t seem all that real. It leaves the book feeling less impactful than it could be. 

I often found myself wishing that Ross had opted to make it a historical fantasy instead. The world felt similar enough to twentieth century Europe and the war seemed to be modeled off of World War 1--- if it had been fought between gods, of course. In my opinion, Divine Rivals could have made an excellent and inventive historical fantasy centered on the journalists of World War 1 and the magic of joy that endures, despite the destruction. 

Regardless, Divine Rivals is a promising start to a new duology, and I--- among many others--- will certainly tune in for the sequel.