Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 27/10/2023
Published by: Magpie
ISBN: 9780008588182
Cover:
This design is stunning and beautifully depicts crucial aspects of the story. I only wish it better conveys the fantasy aspect of the storyline.
Writing:
A captivating prose, vivid descriptions and dual points of view smoothly bring this story to life. I was also mesmerised by the fascinating world, with its gods, historical setting and creative elements like enchanted buildings and typewriters. However, I wanted even more information about the gods’ war and magical system as I still had many questions by the end.
to be vulnerable is a strength most of us fear.
Storyline:
The character-driven storyline moves at a gentle, leisurely pace that remains engaging throughout due to the complex main characters and their captivating journey. Deep themes, such as vulnerability, grief and war, are also beautifully explored, making the story incredibly moving and wholesome. Only the cliffhanger ending was disappointing, as surprising twists left me frustrated and unsatisfied with the story.
Main characters:
Iris and Roman are incredible characters with strong yet caring personalities, so they are both easy to connect to and root for. Their complex internal and external struggles are also cleverly used to create powerful and heartwarming character arcs.
grief is a long difficult process.
Secondary characters:
Various secondary characters make the storyline more impactful and help to drive the story. I especially loved Attie and Marisol as their characters are given some depth and beautifully support Iris and Roman. However, I wanted a few other characters to receive more focus and defined motives.
Romance:
From the start, there is an obvious chemistry and attraction between the main characters, even as they bicker and tease each other. Both characters then gradually form a beautiful, genuine connection as they open up and face difficult situations together. This sweet, slow-burn romance melted my ice-cold heart so completely that I did not mind it eventually taking over the storyline.
Narration & Audio:
The narration by Alex Wingfield and Rebecca Norfolk is perfect for the characters and story. Both use skilful changes in vocal pacing and inflexions to enrich the storyline, along with different voices for the characters.
Summing up, I adored ‘Divine Rivals‘ despite my reservations about character-driven stories and historical fiction. The compelling storyline follows dynamic, fully realised characters and touches on complex themes that leave it brimming with heart, love and magic. I am reminded of the standalone novel Thorn by Intisar Khanani and recommend that for those who loved this.
Do you agree or disagree with anything mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below. For those who have read this and want to discuss it, swipe for some questions (contains spoilers!!):
Q: What did you think of the letters exchanged between the main characters?
My answer: I thought the constant exchange of letters was super cute and provided an exciting way for the main characters to connect. I especially loved how vulnerable it allowed them to be with each other, and I began to root for them because of this.
Q: Which of the themes moved you most?
My answer: I was surprised by the powerful exploration of war and found this theme deeply moving. So much is cleverly put forward for readers to consider, including the impact of war on those behind, the deliberate indifference of some and the brutal conditions of the front lines.
Q: What did you think of the cliffhanger ending?
My answer: Honestly, I was disappointed as this was an obvious ploy to drag out Iris and Roman’s journey for another book! However, despite feeling unsatisfied with this ending, I am still eager to know what comes next.
To read other book related posts, click here or check out the tag cloud for more options.
[…] […]