Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment #1), HarperCollins Publishers, September 2023, 368 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780008600662
Rebecca Ross, Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment #2), HarperCollins Publishers, January 2024, 420 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780008588236
The duology is a perfect romantasy series for young adults. The protagonists, Iris and Roman, are enterprising, intelligent and brave. Initially, naturally, they despise each other, jealous of the other’s writing style and wit. They are forced into competing for the same journalist position at The Oath Gazette, so their interactions are terse, tense and only a tiny bit titillating!
Ross has created a world that is somewhat steampunk. We feel like we are situated in the industrial revolution, with the beginnings of motorised transport, but still plenty of walking to be done. Women are starting to have careers and exist outside of the home, but not equal in stature or politics. It feels real. It feels possible.
But we also have the Gods and Goddesses, who have been in slumber for millennia. There are stories about them, myths and legends, rumours and speculation, and growing awareness that they are waking and are about to cause havoc.
Iris’s older brother has been recruited into war by the Goddess Enva, who uses her magical, musical abilities to build her army. We know very little about the opposition until Iris, and her colleague Attie head off to the front (or close to), to report on the building hostilities. Iris is lured away from The Oath Gazette to The Inkridden Tribune, whose owner (a female!) is more interested in writing the truth than the propaganda being churned out by its opposition.
This all happens in the first book, alongside the letters that are passed back and forth through the magical Alouette typewriters between Iris and Kitt. They don’t realise they are writing to each other, although Roman soon learns of Iris’s identity and so begins the secrets, that we as readers are privy to, while Iris remains in the dark. Roman yearns to tell her of their connection, but as well as the competitive nature of their face-to-face interactions, there’s also the huge gap in their social standings. Roman’s family are part of the high echelon of the city Oath’s standing, while Iris is poor, with an alcoholic mother desperately missing her favoured son, Forrest. It’s difficult to imagine them sharing a life.
By the end of Divine Rivals, Iris and Roman are committed to each other (don’t want to spoil all the surprises) and we learn that the God Enva is fighting against, Dacre has the ability to heal people. But that in doing so, he also removes any memories they have against him, so they now are both beholden to him, and fight on his side. This sets us up for book two, a story that sees the now married pair separated with any memories Roman has of their love dismantled and forgotten.
Ruthless Vows increases the danger for both our main characters. We travel between the seemingly ‘safe’ city of Oath, and the outposts where the fighting occurs, and the inner sanctuary of Dacre’s attempts to win the war and defeat Enva. This book provides more backstory into the lives of Enva and Dacre and the other Gods. Iris’s group of friends continue to fight against the groups willing to stand by Dacre, and Roman struggles with his commitment and memories.
Ross does an effective job of talking about the big issues of faith and war using the intimate connection between two humans who try desperately to bring about peace and keep people alive. Their sacrifices and willing attempts to put themselves in danger to save others make for an engaging and satisfying read.
These are ‘clean’ books, with some violence (mostly off page) and swoony romance. The world building is strong and interesting. Highly recommended for all teens.
Reviewed by Trish Buckley
