"No god, no creature, no war can come between them.
When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, their fate depends on their facing the depths of hell… together.
After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again…
All eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow wants to do is hold her family together. With a brother on the frontline forced to fight on behalf of the Gods now missing from the frontline and a mother drowning her sorrows, Iris’s best bet is winning the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.
But when Iris’s letters to her brother fall into the wrong hands – that of the handsome but cold Roman Kitt, her rival at the paper – an unlikely magical connection forms.
Expelled into the middle of a mystical war, magical typewriters in tow, can their bond withstand the fight for the fate of mankind and, most importantly, love?"
Divine Rivals is the first book in Letters of Enchantment, a fantasy series by Rebecca Ross.
I clearly had no idea what this book was about before delving into it because, for some reason, I thought that this was a dark academic book following academic rivals at a school of magic. Where I got that idea I have no idea, but that is not what this book is about. I don't know if what I built up in my head sounded better than what the book was actually about, but I did end up enjoying this.
We follow Iris and (Roman) Kitt who are rivals vying for a columnist position, but they are destined to be more than just rivals. Iris has an even greater destiny as a war between old gods looms on the horizon. Despite the plot being a bit odd, or unique, with magic typewriters serving as a wingman of sorts, I liked the Violet Evargarden vibes I got from this. To be fair though, I do think that there is no way the book would ever be able to top the emotional response you get out of Violet Evergarden, but I digress.
The author was smart by hanging the main conflict on two ominous figures while the main characters are the ones who are thrust headfirst into the repercussions. I also liked the fact that Dacre, who is the antagonist, is actually present. Enva is absent, but when a book involves a war I prefer for the people behind it to be at the forefront and not only mentioned but not ever seen.
One downside, and it kind of is a major downside considering the plot, was Iris and Kitt's relationship. I love a good enemies-to-lovers slow burn, but this only did the former and not the latter. The book didn't give enough time to let them get to know each other more, outside of the letters, as something other than rivals. They barely became friends before speedrunning their way into a relationship which felt a bit clunky.
Overall, I did enjoy the book though I do think that it is overhyped. I also recommend that if people enjoyed the letter-writing aspect to go and watch Violet Evergarden. It is an absolutely beautiful anime, just be prepared for some emotional damage.
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