***This article contains spoilers for “Divine Rivals” by Rebecca Ross***

“Divine Rivals” made one of the biggest YA fantasy debuts of 2023. Rebecca Ross crafts a romantic tale of love, war, and magic that audiences — both YA and otherwise — have come to love.     

Given that the novel follows two journalists and is told partly through letters, it is no surprise that writing is a focal point of the story.  It plays an integral role in revealing the true desires and fears of the characters, giving them a way to exercise power over their circumstances. For the characters of the story, the pen is not just mightier than the sword — it is the sword. 

Written Catalysts

The letters that Iris and Roman write serve as turning points in the plot and character development of the book. The very first letter that Iris slips under her wardrobe door sets in motion the relationship between her and Roman. It is because of this letter accidentally falling into her rival’s hands that they grow to love each other, even before they know each other’s true identities. It is also the reason that Roman ends the novel at the hands of Dacre. Had he not received that first letter and began correspondence with Iris, he likely would not have followed her to be a war correspondent, ultimately putting himself in the path of danger. 

Through Roman’s letters is also how Iris learns of the true nature of the myths of Dacre and Enva. The popular story of how humankind won over the five gods doesn’t seem to be true after all. It seems that Enva has been awake and roaming the world all this time, and that she is not the villain some make her out to be. This is part of the reason that Iris turns to being a war correspondent. Her disillusionment with the narrative that Autry pushes her to adhere to, combined with the death of her mother, leads her to pursue the truth.   

Most vital information that Iris discovers throughout the novel comes through the written word. Iris learns of Roman’s engagement not through his own words, but through an announcement in the paper. Iris reads of her mother’s death in an obituary that she is assigned to write for the Oath Gazette. She learns of her brother’s whereabouts through a letter. Rebecca Ross’ romantic, lilting writing style lends itself to these epistolary sections of the story. Each piece of information that is learned through this medium feels all the more impactful. The first-person voices of her characters blend smoothly with the rest of the story, offering small glimpses into their true characters.

Courage Through Anonymity

It is in these small glimpses into the characters’ minds that they can be most courageous. The anonymity of Iris and Roman’s correspondence allows them to say things that they would otherwise not reveal to anyone. 

Roman lets Iris in on his fear that people will never see him for who he truly is. They will only ever see who they have already decided he is. He is confined by his grief and guilt over his sister’s death, his father’s expectations and his overwhelming need to be perfect. But when he writes to Iris, he doesn’t feel these same pressures. And Iris listens to his concerns and validates them. She instructs him to remove his armor: “Perhaps it begins with one person. Someone you trust. You remove a piece of armor for them; you let the light stream in, even if it makes you wince.”

He accepts her words, deciding to let in one person — let down one piece of armor. This person becomes Iris. It is no wonder Roman hides the fact that he is aware of Iris’s identity, even as she remains in the dark, believing that she is talking to a “Carver” she has never met. He is desperate to hold onto these moments of vulnerability that they share. Not only do they provide an escape from his real life, but they also provide him a link to Iris, who he believes despises him. If the letters stop, his greatest fear may come true. He will lose any link to Iris — magical or otherwise.   

“Perhaps it begins with one person. Someone you trust. You remove a piece of armor for them; you let the light stream in, even if it makes you wince.”

Ross’s decision to have the pair communicate through letters even when they know of each other’s identities and stay in side-by-side rooms, is telling. There is something about writing their thoughts that creates a sense of intimacy that even face-to-face interaction cannot replicate.  

Fighting Wars With Words   

Roman, Iris and Attie are by no means soldiers. They are not strong and courageous in the typical sense of the words. For these journalists, their power lies in their pens and their words. They do not fight with weapons but with stories. Both Iris and Attie are driven by a desire for truth. They’ve both grown up knowing of the war from a distance, but they want to see it firsthand and decide for themselves what it all means. Working as war correspondents is their way of challenging the narrative. Their stories highlight the real faces of war and the soldiers’ suffering. 

Iris, specifically, takes a unique role in the fight. She uses her power as a correspondent and the power of her correspondence with Roman to write the soldier’s letters. Acting as a link between the soldiers on the front and their families back home, she gives them what she does not have with her brother, Forest. He has been off fighting in the war for months with no communication. These letters provide the comfort and security that Iris has not experienced, to those who have been forgotten amid a war between gods. 

The ultimate strength of “Divine Rivals” lies in its exploration of the power of words and their vulnerability. The power to create relationships, uncover truths and fight wars.