Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Two gods, two teens, two typewriters in apocalyptic romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
This is the tale of two pairs of DIVINE RIVALS -- a god and a goddess whose lovers' quarrel has escalated into world-destroying carnage, and Roman and Iris, two brilliant young writers who start out as newsroom frenemies and then fall in love. There are also two antique typewriters with a magical connection. Roman and Iris have true love, kind hearts, strong moral compasses, and mad verbal skills to support them, but as they head to the front as war correspondents, they find loss, tragedy, peril, and powerlessness everywhere. They also find friends, but every moment could be their last in this world of warring gods and the journalists who cover them.
Is It Any Good?
The familiar romcom plot of "newsroom frenemies in love" goes intense, magic, and apocalyptic as long-forgotten gods at war inflict death and destruction. Divine Rivals' Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt (she's 18, he's 19) share a strong moral compass, a passion for words, and the emotional turbulence of first love in a disintegrating world -- en route to a harrowing cliffhanger ending that sets up Book 2. There are times when the book's exuberant writing doesn't quite cover a thin patch in the plot development, but the characters grab you and don't let go. Take, for instance, fellow war correspondent Attie: "Someone I once respected told me that I didn't have it in me to become published. My writing 'lacked originality and conviction,' he said. So I thought, what better way to prove myself? What could be a better teacher than having the constant threat of death (and) dismemberment… I don't like attempting things that I think I'll fail at, so I have no choice but to write superb pieces and live to see them published… I paid for him to have a subscription, so the Inkridden Tribune will start showing up on his doorstep, and he'll see my name in print and eat his words."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about love during wartime -- and why it's such a popular storytelling theme. How do you think Divine Rivals compares with other wartime romances?
If some long-forgotten god turned up in our world today, what do you think might happen? Are there any mythical beings you'd actually like to see in our world? Why?
Typewriters (magical and otherwise) are important to the story here. Do you like typewriters or another type of retro technology? What do you like about it, and how do you use it in your life?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Wednesday Books
- Publication date : April 4, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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