The novel “Divine Rivals” is set in a world reeling from a war between long-dormant gods and 18-year-old Iris Winnow, the protagonist, who finds herself battling her own private struggles. Her older brother, Forest, vanished while serving on the front lines, and her mother succumbed to a deep grief that left Iris feeling alone and responsible for her family. To secure her future and maintain some stability, Iris’s ambition is focused on winning the coveted columnist position at the Oath Gazette newspaper.
However, her fiercest competitor for the promotion is Roman Kitt, a handsome, wealthy and equally determined rival. Their journalistic competition is a constant source of friction, and Iris believes his privileged background gives him an unfair advantage. Their clashes, however, mask Roman’s own internal conflicts, including a hidden need to prove himself beyond his family’s expectations.
As an outlet for her grief and longing, Iris begins writing letters to her missing brother. She slips these letters under her wardrobe door, where they mysteriously vanish, transported by an unseen magic. In a twist of fate, the letters are received by Roman, who possesses a similar enchanted typewriter. Intrigued and moved by her vulnerability, Roman begins an anonymous correspondence with Iris, signing his letters with a different name.
Through their magical written exchanges, Iris forges a deep, powerful connection with her anonymous pen pal. She slowly opens and shares truths she keeps hidden from everyone else, while her bitter rivalry with Roman continues to escalate in the newspaper. As the story goes on, deep emotions hidden in the rivals begin to open, and we see a new perspective as it shifts.
This novel by Rebecca Ross masterfully weaves an enchanting and emotional tale, combining the high-stakes tension of an enemies-to-lovers romance with a richly imagined and fantastic setting. As they follow the characters’ journey, readers will be swept away by a whirlwind of emotions—from heartfelt connection and tender vulnerability to gut-wrenching heartbreak.
