⭐⭐⭐¾
Divine Rivals
Rebecca Ross
Divine Rivals is a unique, coming-of-age love story that somehow blends the magic and war torn life of Narnia with the premise of You’ve Got Mail — via magical typewriters, since the setting is based loosely on England during WWII.
The premise was incredible. I loved Iris’s spunky nature and her competition with Roman, her workplace rival. The commentary on journalism and censorship was well done, though light enough for a younger YA reader.
Ultimately, I was expecting a heavier story but that was probably a ridiculous expectation of a YA love story. I also think that the beginning of the book dragged on for a bit too long, getting stuck in the journalism world and not picking up the pace quickly enough to bring us to the main plot. But… The world and character building were established here, so maybe it was necessary.
Despite these things, Divine Rivals was an entertaining read with great banter, descriptions of war, and fascinating magical creatures aiding the war between two gods.
I would like to know more about the mythology, which I’m assuming will come with book 2.
Ultimately this was a 3 ¾ star read for me. I do recommend it if you prefer a story that feels light despite touching on heavier themes, and if you enjoyed both Narnia and You’ve Got Mail.
⭐⭐⭐¾
The Midnight Review 