Rebecca Norfolk and Alex Wingfield narrate the first in a fantasy series. As warring gods tear apart their world, young newspaper reporters Iris and Roman take their rivalry from the newsroom to the front. Iris slips letters to her missing brother into her closet, where they magically disappear. When she mysteriously receives a reply, a relationship develops between the two correspondents. Norfolk narrates the bulk of the story from Iris's point of view. Her emotional portrayal of the older teen captures Iris's myriad experiences. Wingfield's style is well suited to Roman's snippets of narration. This captivating production will leave listeners wanting more. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

02/06/2023

In this affecting fantasy duology opener from Ross (the Elements of Cadence duology), 18-year-old Iris Winnow’s life is upended when long-slumbering gods wake and begin battling for control of the fictional land of Cambria, using human armies as proxies. After Iris’s brother, Forest, enlists to fight, and her mother is fired from her job for drinking while at work, Iris must quit school to help make ends meet. Her new writing position at local newspaper Oath Gazette doesn’t pay much, prompting Iris to campaign for a promotion. That won’t be easy, however, given the talent and connections of her 19-year-old rival, Roman Kitt. At night, Iris writes to Forest using an old typewriter and, since he has no mailing address, slips the letters under her wardrobe door, after which they mysteriously disappear. Iris hopes that Forest is somehow receiving her correspondence, but in truth, Roman is. Moved by her words, Roman responds under a pseudonym, triggering a chain of life-altering events. Ross elevates predictable plotting with inventive worldbuilding, nuanced characterizations, and prose by turns dreamy and atmospherically tense. The result is an ardent romance and a harrowing exploration of war’s horrors and heartbreaks. The protagonists cue as white. Ages 13–up. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary & Media. (Apr.)

"Rich world-building and the poignancy of young love make the first in this fantasy romance duology a wistful and riveting read." - The Washington Post

"An ardent romance and a harrowing exploration of war’s horrors and heartbreaks... with inventive worldbuilding, nuanced characterizations, and prose by turns dreamy and atmospherically tense." - Publishers Weekly

"Divine Rivals is another absolute winner from author Rebecca Ross, who is rapidly proving there’s very little she can’t do in the realm of fantasy fiction." - Paste Magazine

“Rich and romantic—if stories had scent, this one would smell like a mug of black tea, the ink ribbons of a typewriter, and that addictive spice called enemies to lovers.” —Shelby Mahurin, New York Times bestselling author of Serpent & Dove

"A sweeping start to a beautiful and romantic new series. Ross weaves her stories in such a vulnerable and delicate way, truly with a style all her own. I adored this book." - Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of Belladonna

“Deeply romantic and beautifully written, Divine Rivals is a story that lingers long after the final page. Set in a world steeped in mythology, Iris’s journey to the front is both fascinating and moving, with an ending that will leave readers aching for the next book. I absolutely loved it.” —Rachel Griffin, New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches

"Ross enchants with a clever and sweeping love story set against an imaginative, dangerous world. Her writing sparkles, brimming with wit and magic from the first page to the last." —Isabel Ibañez, finalist for the William C. Morrow award

"Ross has crafted a tale that hooks its readers with whip-smart intrigue, and holds them fast with dazzling prose, a charming cast, and a world where mystique shimmers just beneath the surface. Hers is a brilliant blend of whimsy and heart.” —Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author of Beasts of Prey

“Beautifully written and deeply emotional, Divine Rivals is a story of resilience and love, crafted with Ross’s bewitching storytelling. Real characters, swept into a magical war, this is the kind of a tale that gets under your skin and straight to your heart. Truly romantic and atmospheric, this book will leave you hungry for the next installment.” - Valia Lind, USA Today bestselling author of The Scarlet Rose

"Rich, evocative details build a world both gritty and whimsical, and Ross’ gorgeous prose is equal to the novel’s ambitious premise. Readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers with a heaping dose of angst will find plenty worthwhile here." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This YA historical fiction with a touch of fantasy...will appeal to fans of mythology combined with everyday life as well as enemies-to-lovers romance." - Booklist

03/01/2023

Gr 9 Up—Aspiring newspaper columnists at the Oath Gazette, Iris and Roman are competing for the same job. Circumstance has pushed Iris's family away, forcing her to stand alone on the edge of poverty, while Roman's wealthy father pulls the strings to every aspect of his life. When Iris tries to write a letter to her brother on the front lines, it gets magically redirected to Roman, who writes back anonymously. When the final threads tying her to the city of Oath are cut, Iris quits her job and heads to the war front to discover what's really happened to the soldiers who go missing there, including her brother. Ross paints a vivid historical picture with magic adding color to the worldbuilding without overtaking it. Iris is a heroine to root for as she braves the front lines, and Roman goes on his own journey towards independence; their characters are rich and well balanced in the first half of the novel, but once Iris goes to the front, Roman's perspective falls away. The budding romance feels lopsided as Roman holds all the power at the start of their relationship, as a well-educated man from a wealthy, influential family who knows who he's writing to. Reveals and secrets from Iris's investigation add more plotlines to set up the sequel, at the expense of a full arc. VERDICT More historical than fantasy, this is a rivals-to-lovers romance that requires a sequel to be satisfying. Consider purchasing for larger collections.—Emmy Neal

Rebecca Norfolk and Alex Wingfield narrate the first in a fantasy series. As warring gods tear apart their world, young newspaper reporters Iris and Roman take their rivalry from the newsroom to the front. Iris slips letters to her missing brother into her closet, where they magically disappear. When she mysteriously receives a reply, a relationship develops between the two correspondents. Norfolk narrates the bulk of the story from Iris's point of view. Her emotional portrayal of the older teen captures Iris's myriad experiences. Wingfield's style is well suited to Roman's snippets of narration. This captivating production will leave listeners wanting more. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

2023-01-12
A war between gods plays havoc with mortals and their everyday lives.

In a time of typewriters and steam engines, Iris Winnow awaits word from her older brother, who has enlisted on the side of Enva the Skyward goddess. Alcohol abuse led to her mother’s losing her job, and Iris has dropped out of school and found work utilizing her writing skills at the Oath Gazette. Hiding the stress of her home issues behind a brave face, Iris competes for valuable assignments that may one day earn her the coveted columnist position. Her rival for the job is handsome and wealthy Roman Kitt, whose prose entrances her so much she avoids reading his articles. At home, she writes cathartic letters to her brother, never posting them but instead placing them in her wardrobe, where they vanish overnight. One day Iris receives a reply, which, along with other events, pushes her to make dramatic life decisions. Magic plays a quiet role in this story, and readers may for a time forget there is anything supernatural going on. This is more of a wartime tale of broken families, inspired youths, and higher powers using people as pawns. It flirts with clichéd tropes but also takes some startling turns. Main characters are assumed White; same-sex marriages and gender equality at the warfront appear to be the norm in this world.

Ideal for readers seeking perspectives on war, with a heavy dash of romance and touch of fantasy. (Fantasy. 14-18)