It’s very rare that I can say this: but I can’t think of a single reader in my life that I wouldn’t recommend Divine Rivals to.
This was one of the most stunning YA books I’ve come across in years. Stunning at the level of sentence and craft. The prose was beautiful. It had to be—because this story is about writing stories. A topic like that introduces more challenges for the writer—and a bigger risk—but Ross pulled it off beautifully.
She also gave us a FMC we can actually root for. Iris was fearless and vulnerable. Independent when she had to be, but also the friend you’d want in your corner every time.
Readers, this is not high fantasy. In fact, the magic system (if you can call it that) and “divine” (read: god) elements didn’t really advance this plot, which may leave some readers—including me—confused at first, but wanting more in the end. Note: the epilogue promises we’ll get it in Ruthless Vows.
For me, this is a fantastic story that doesn’t require the label of “YA,” “fantasy,” or “romance.” It is all these things in small ways, but, taken as a whole, Ross’ work is much more than the labels it’s been given across social media, even among those who love it as much as I did.
Five.
Stars.
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