By Rebecca Ross 

Wednesday Books, 2023. 357 pages. Young Adult 

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But 18-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette, but she must best her rival, Roman Kitt. To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish. One day, an anonymously written letter appears through her wardrobe, and Iris begins a correspondence and connection with the mysterious writer. This connection will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle, and will change her life forever. 

In several ways I wasn’t sure what to make of this book. It’s kind of a steampunk fantasy, and while everyone discusses the battle between the Rival Gods, everyone also goes about their daily lives. This book definitely veered into romance territory, but brought everything back to the underlying story about the rival gods near the end. I enjoyed the journey, and the world-building felt well done by including bits and pieces throughout, rather than overwhelming the reader with heaps of backstory. Overall, I enjoyed it, and look forward to the continuation of the story in a sequel. 

 If you liked Divine Rivals, you might also like: 

Legendborn 

By Tracy Deonn 

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2020. 501 pages. Young Adult 

Wanting to escape her previous life after the accidental death of her mother, 16-year-old Bree enrolls in a program for high school students at the local university before her witness to a magical attack reveals her undiscovered powers as well as sinister truths about her mother’s death. 

Sorcery and Cecelia, or, The Enchanted Chocolate Pot 

By Patricia C. Wrede 

Harcourt, 2003. 316 pages. Young Adult 

In 1817 in England, two young cousins, Cecilia living in the country and Kate in London, write letters to keep each other informed of their exploits, which take a sinister turn when they find themselves confronted by evil wizards. 

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