Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Divine Rivals

5 stars even though the ending has broken my heart and I now have to rush to read the next one. I have to say, this book is not an easy read, because it describes very heavy topics such as alcoholism and war in a very realistic way. The writing is impeccable and compelling. I never understood what people meant when they said that a book was atmospheric, but I get it now. I felt like I was there in the trenches with them, I felt the anxiety and fear of the war and the happiness and excitement of the romance.
The only thing I would change is the book description and name, I think they don't match the theme of the book at all.
All in all, a great book, even if it made me feel anxious and like I had a weight on my chest from time to time.

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scvqa's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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kokoa_'s review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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downtown_kb's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Iris is an aspiring newspaper journalist with a very unique typewriter and a maddening rival at the newspaper where she wants to land a permanent job.

3.5 stars rounded up.

While I did enjoy this I just kind of felt like something was missing the whole time, or that I wanted a little bit more substance to it? There was a lot of potential for world building here that just wasn't delivered on. It all seemed like the reader was dropped in the middle of a fantasy world but never really allowed to get beyond the surface. I wanted deeper world-building and the overarching point of the story just didn't seem to exist. Lots of day to day happenings and then the ending slams quite a bit of plot into the final pages but not in a way that leaves me dying to know more.

I enjoyed the development of Kit and Iris' story and I love anything that involves letter writing. I honestly would have liked this part of the story to be drawn out more. I enjoyed this take on the story of "you've got mail"/"shop around the corner"/the play "Parfumerie by Miklós László" where enemies are pen pals but with added dramatic irony. However, I became very frustrated with Iris towards the end.

I did spoiler myself a bit with some of the plot of book 2 and so I won't be continuing this duology.

It sounds like we go back and repeat plot due to amnesia and just, no thanks.

On audio this is decent but not outstanding.

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bookfilledcottage's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was bewitched by this story, this world and these characters.

This is my first Rebecca Ross book and I don’t think I can go back from here. I think I’m just completely sold and will now have to read everything she writes.

The world came to life so clearly in my mind. It was vivid and dark and gothically magical. The worldbuilding in terms of its history and the gods’ tales were so fascinating to read about that I cannot wait to continue uncovering their story in the second instalment.

The love story was tear-jerking, beautiful and frustrating. Everything that makes you think “this is truly the kind of love worthy of poetry”. I am absolutely obsessed with these divine rivals and am currently anxious to know more about how they go from where this book ends.

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karlin0336's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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juliesleseecke's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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casey_bloom's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A captivating story that can easily be read in one setting. Ross has a poetic lyrical prose writing style that was magical to read.
Aesthetic and Tropes:

Dual POVs
War - in the trenches
Gods at war & magic
Letters/pen pals
Workplace rivals -> lovers
He falls first
Found family

The letters were my favourite part of the story as they were intimate and raw and showed how two people can form a connection through vulnerability, sharing their feelings of loss and grief with one another.

I adored the found family aspect of this story, the array of characters that we meet on Iris and Roman’s journey was special and I loved the bond they all formed.

My only negative is that I would have liked a bit more of an in depth explanation of the world building and magic system as I found it lacked depth at times.

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