Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Reading this book again was very much worth it. And so needed, before I start book two. I loved it so much when I read it last. And I loved it just as much this second time. Sigh. I'm always worried when re-reading a favorite book; that I won't like it the same. But that wasn't the case with this one. As I think I loved it even more.

The writing was still stunning. I'm also completely in love with the cover for this and for book two. Beyond gorgeous. And the story is just magical. Fully heartbreaking. But so hopeful and romantic. I just love every part of it. Though the ending hurt more this time. How rude. At least now I can read what happens next right away.

I'm going to try to write a shorter review this time. Just to share a little of my thoughts about this book. Though I am not reading my previous review first, ha. I love how popular this book has gotten. Because it is totally deserving of it as well. As it is a most perfect story. I'm so very nervous about the final book. I so want to love it even more than this one. But I'm so worried. Yet beyond excited. I must know more about Iris and Roman. More about her brother too, whom I'm currently not happy with. I want to know more about the gods and the war. And I want my happy ending. Sigh. But I want it to be happy way before it ends. There are many books that end happy, but never show the couple happy. Rude. But in this first book, we do see them happy. Somewhat. Sobs.

Going to talk a little about the story. Iris and Roman start as rivals in the paper. Kind of hating each other. Yet slowly beginning to like each other a little more. Until Iris's mother dies suddenly. And she is broken. And leaves for the war, to write stories about what is actually happening. And to look for her older brother, who left for the war half a year ago and has not written since. There is very much I should probably say about the plot of this book. But I'm not going to, haha. Only mentioning a little bit. You must read this too.

Before she leaves, though, she has been writing magical letters with a boy. First she spent some months writing letters to her brother, having them disappear from her wardrobe. Not getting any reply. Until one day she did. And she has been talking to this boy for some days. It was the best thing. Especially since we get Roman's point of view, and know that she is talking to him. He knows it. She does not. He wants to tell her, but is afraid. And oh, how I loved how they got to know each other in this way. Sharing stories.

It was the best thing. Though I do wish she had known all along too, because it did give me some extra heartbreak, that she did not know for so long. How rude. Anyway. This book is so special. Feels like it is set in the past, but more modern too. A magical place, where gods walked the earth not long ago. They have been sleeping. And are now awake, making war. I loved the small hints at magic in this book. How the houses could be magical. It was the best. I liked reading about this different war; was so interesting.

And of course, fully heartbreaking. Because Iris do get to the war front. She learns so much. And it was so sad and so real and I very much loved it. Roman missed her too much when she just suddenly left. He had his whole life planned from his father. He did not want it. And so he left to join her. And oh. I so loved this. The love story of Roman Kitt and Iris Winnow. I loved how they called each other by their last names most of the time. I loved how they argued. Then became more. I loved their romance more than anything.

Especially loved all the garden scenes. Sigh. And the trenches scenes too, though those were pretty sad. So much happened in this book. And yet too little as well. As it ended too fast, haha. I wanted more. Sigh. Cannot wait for book two next. I know, this review ended up being a bit rambling. But I do not mind. I just loved this story so very much. I loved Iris and Roman to pieces. I loved the setting. I so loved the friends, Attie and Marisol. I loved his nan. Especially loved Roman's past. It broke me. And it was the best, haha.

I could probably write about this book for ages and ages. But I'm trying not to, ha. Just know that I loved every moment of it. Even though it hurt me so very much when Iris finally learned the truth about Roman and the letters. How she left him for a bit. How hurt he was. It ruined me. Yes, it made sense. But it still hurt to see him hurt. Sniffs. And I loved it to pieces too. Especially how close they got after that. I loved how he was hurt in a different way; how she cared for him. Hoping for more of that, to be honest, haha.

Divine Rivals is still such a precious book to me. I love it with all my heart. Even the now broken pieces, haha. If you still have not read this book, then you are truly missing out. It is such a good story and you need it in your life too. Gosh, I'm so excited to start Ruthless Vows next. It is going to be amazing. Sigh. What I loved most about this one was the romance. Okay, it did annoy me a little how long it took before she finally learned who Carver actually was. But once she did, oh. It was perfection. The best romance.

 

Goodreads - Blackwells - Amazon US - Amazon UK

Waiting on Wednesday #638

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

FATE BREAKER (Realm Breaker #3) BY VICTORIA AVEYARD

Goodreads Description:

Change your fate—or kneel to it.

The Companions are scattered and hopeless, torn from each other. After Corayne barely escapes with her life, she must forge on alone, leaving her blade broken and her allies behind her. Her only consolation—Corayne now has Taristan's sword, the only Spindleblade left in existence. Without it, he can’t rip open any more Spindles. Without it, he can’t end the world.

But Taristan and Queen Erida will not be defeated so easily. Both will burn the world to bring down Corayne—and bring forth their demon god, What Waits, ready to claim the realm of Allward for his own.

In a final clash between kingdoms and gods, all must rise to fight—or be destroyed.

Everything has come to this. Prepare for a larger-than-life, unforgettable finale to the Realm Breaker series, where a shattered alliance must rise from the ashes to make their final stand against a ruthless enemy… and the demon god who looks to shroud the entire world in darkness.

Format: 576 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: February 27, 2024 by HarperTeen
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Ohh. I have not yet read book one. Oops. But I own the waterstones editions of book one and two and have this third one pre-ordered, ha :D So I will be reading this series one day. I think these books sounds pretty amazing and I think that I will end up loving them when I do read them. Will do so one day, haha :)
What are you waiting for on this breaking Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #635

Happy New Year :D I have been having a pretty busy week. But a good one too. It has been fully freezing outside, though. Brrr. But now suddenly warm out. Huh. So yeah. The weather is weird, haha :) And I had to go outside in the freezing cold to take a whole bunch of new photos for instagram. Ack. But was worth it. Love the photos I took :) This week I only got one package in the mail. But it was a very big one. Oops :D Ahh! It's most perfect. <3 I am waiting on a few books, but unsure when they will make it. I also read a book this week, whoo :) And planning on starting a re-read next week. A little sad that all of my Christmas decorations have been taken down. Aw. But it was about time too, haha. Now waiting for April to arrive so I can get my spa bath up again. <3 Sigh. I cannot wait. Hope the time goes fast. I have a surgery in a few weeks. Which will take even more weeks to heal. And I'm so worried about it. But it needs to be done. So I am hoping I will heal fast. Fingers crossed for me, please :) A whole bunch of new blog posts this week, haha :) I shared my Best Books of 2023. <3 This week I'm waiting on Royal Scandal :D And I shared my review of The Only Survivors :) I hope you are all having the most amazing first week of the new year. <3

America Package from Becky. <3 AHH! This package was the absolute best to get in the mail this week. Sigh. Thank you so, so much to Becky for helping me get all of this to Norway. <3 You are the actual best. Sniffs. I am so so so so happy and thankful, eee :D (I paid for all items and for shipping.) Such expensive shipping. Gosh. But fully worth it :) Okay. Time to say a little about all that I got, eee. Owlcrate version of Lore bought from a US seller on facebook; was missing this edition. Champion of Fate + Anna Dressed in Blood, personalized copies ordered from Invitation Bookshop :D Perfection. I will share all personalized copies on instagram in the next two weeks. Champion of Fate ARC, gotten from a trade on facebook :D Prosper Redding ARC gotten from a person on Depop. The School for Good and Evil collector's edition, personalized copy bought from Books of Wonder, ahh :D I love it. Silver in the Bone Fairyloot + A Crown of Ivy and Glass BookishBox. Bought these a little cheaper from a facebook seller; perfect condition. <3 Night of the Witch pre-order swag :D The Night Hunt pre-order swag :D Got Kendare Blake swag from the personalized books. <3 Owlcrate pin from Becky, eee :D I love it. Taylor Swift CDs, ahh :D So happy to have all of these, omg. I got double of all the 1989 editions, ha, so I can have both sides of the cards. So precious. Love all the blue stars that were everywhere in the package, haha :D And then there was a bunch of new EOS lipbalms, oops. Already opened them all, haha, so just added three in the middle so you can see what they look like :) I love them the very most. Best smells and just so good. My gosh. This ended up being waaay too long, haha. But managed to write about everything that arrived :) And oh. I am so happy about it all, ahh. <3 These items were not possible for me to order to Norway. Becky was able to help me, with me ordering it all to her instead. Then her shipping it all in one big box to me, eee. Very thankful. <3 And so happy. Sigh. So much perfect :) Was one very huge box, haha :) Love it so much. <3

More Instagram photos here. <3

Review: The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda

Another adult mystery book by Megan Miranda. Of course I was going to read this one as well. I love the cover and all the colors. And it sounded pretty creepy too. I ended up enjoying this book a lot. But I also did not love it, so I'm a little bit conflicted. I'm going with three stars for this one. I liked it, but had some small issues.

It was a fast read, though. Which I liked. I could not stop reading until the end, as I had to know what happened next. Yet not that much happened, to be honest. It was a lot of suspense, leading up to nothing. Ha. The writing was good, but I had small issues with it. But I was curious about it all and I wished to know more.

There is a whole lot that I want to share about this book. Mostly just want to spoil what happens at the end, haha. But I shall not. So instead I am going to share a little about the plot of this book. Not too much, though. The book is told from the point of view of twenty eight year old Cassidy. She survived a tragic car accident ten years past. She and eight others. The nine survivors, while twelve others died. One of them killed herself one year after the accident. After that they decided to meet up for a week every year around that time. To spend some time together, to keep each other safe. Or something like that. None of them were actual friends. At least it did not seem that way. They knew each other and spent one week together. But that was it, for most of them.

And so Cassidy have decided that this is enough now, she does not want to meet up anymore. But then another of their group has killed themselves. Now they are only seven of the survivors left. And so she goes for the week after all, to be with the others. I did like all of this, to be honest. Getting to know more about the crash back then was the best part. How they were stuck next to the river for hours in the dark, unable to get help. Many dead. I wish it had been more about that, honestly. It was all kinds of interesting.

But no. This book was mostly about the present. And that was filled with secrets. Most we got to know, slowly. We got to know the other survivors too, somewhat. I honestly didn't care much about any of them. Hollis was the only one I liked reading about. I kind of liked Grace and Amaya, but not much. Did not like Brody or Oliver. I thought Joshua would end up being a new love interest. He did not. I somewhat liked him, though. And I did like Cassidy, for the most part. I just did not love her, like I had wanted to. Hmph.

I did like the setting, though. They are staying at a beach house for that one week a year. And they spend time on the beach, which I liked. We get to know a little about the place around too, one of the neighbors. I liked getting to know Will. But then we never saw him again, so yeah. And I feel a little bit tricked by the summary. Sounded like there would be storm danger. There was not. They weren't even a full day without power. No danger at all. So I was a little disappointed, as the only action seemed to be in the past, haha.

And even then it was too little of it. Which is why I did not love this book. I wanted more. More from the past, but also way more from the future. I did like getting to know the characters. But it felt like I did not know them enough. And they barely did anything. Ack. But there was a little mystery too. What they all kept secret from the accident in the past. If the two suicides actually were that. But the hidden bad guy? That was badly written, to be honest. I did not care at all. And just thought it was weird. A little interesting.

What I liked most about this book was everything about the accident ten years past. I liked the smaller chapters from each of the seven survivors, set during seven hours in the past. I wanted to know more of what happened back then. I was way more invested in the past than the present, ha. My favorite part was the secret revealed at the very end. Why the crash happened in the first place. I had not guessed it and I liked it a whole lot, ha. It was a bit brutal. And I wanted it to be shared with the others. It was not. So rude.

The Only Survivors was a pretty exciting story. But mostly the story about the past. As the present was very slow and not that much happened. But I so liked getting to know the characters a little more. I very much liked getting to know the past more. And so I did like this book. But I did not love it, as I did feel like something was missing. Romance, for one. It was mentioned a little. But it was so bad. So yes. I missed that. And I wish I had felt more connected to the main girl, cared a little more. Still. It was a good mystery.

Goodreads - Blackwells - Amazon US - Amazon UK

Waiting on Wednesday #637

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

ROYAL SCANDAL (Royal Blood #2) BY AIMEE CARTER

Goodreads Description:

The second book in the Royal Blood series about an American girl who threatens the royal family by exposing their darkest scandals—even as they get more sinister.

American girl turned monarchy nightmare, Evan Bright, has gotten used to the press about her but the media attention has only seemed to get worse. 

From desperate clickbait articles about her and the President's son to Royal Record headlines pitting her against Princess Maisie, it seems everyone is dying for Evan to return back to America for good. Meanwhile Evan is receiving mysterious threats about her real story being reveiled in a tell-all biography. 

When more information is leaked about Evan, she fears she will always be Britain's media villain. But the threats escalate when there is an attempted assassination with no suspects...and Evan believes the person is in the palace's walls. 

They say what doesn't kill you will make you stronger...but what if it's the royal family who wants you dead?

Format: 416 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: March 26, 2024 by Delacorte Press
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Okay, I haven't had time to read book one yet. Ack! But I will be reading this second book too :) I'm a little bit unsure about these books, but I am willing to give them a try because it's Aimee :) And so I am pretty certain that because of that, I will end up liking this series a bunch. <3 They do sound pretty interesting :D
What are you waiting for on this sinister Wednesday?