Divine rivals by Rebecca Ross

Fans of Rebecca Ross, the author of The elements of Cadence duology will welcome her latest offering Divine Rivals. Two young journals, Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt, are vying for a promotion to columnist at the Oath Gazette amidst the beginning of war between gods. Iris’s brother Forest has gone to the front lines, and her mother has been fired from her job. Iris has left school to take a job to hold her family together. Meanwhile Roman Kitt comes from a rich family and expects that he will automatically get the job. Iris is a strong girl, who believes that her brother is still alive, even though there has not been a letter for them since he left home. Using an old typewriter, she writes him letters, and slips them under the wardrobe door, where they disappear. Then she receives a letter back, and begins an anonymous correspondence, forging a strong connection with the other letter writer. Circumstances force Iris to leave the city of Oath, and she travels to the front line in search of her brother, where she faces many dangers while reporting back what is happening in the trenches.

While there are elements of fantasy, a war between gods and magical typewriters, what will remain with the reader are the descriptions of journalists working in a newspaper, and the horror of war in the trenches. Ross deftly melds the everyday life of Iris and Kitt with descriptions of warfare. Her use of letters which are interspersed within the narrative, tease out the feelings of Iris and her anonymous correspondent, and gives the reader the opportunity to get to know the two characters, their families and friends very well. Iris is a feisty young woman, determined to use her talent for writing to report what is really happening, while the reader warms to Roman as he grows in courage and thoughtfulness.

Readers who enjoy the romance of enemies to lovers and historical fantasy, will enjoy this engrossing story and the cliff-hanger conclusion will ensure that the next in the duology, Ruthless vows, is picked up as soon as it is published.

Themes: Journalists, Letters, Magic, War, Romance.

Pat Pledger