Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Divine Rivals is a well-written fantasy romance that's earned its popularity—the magical letter concept is charming, the enemies-to-lovers arc is satisfying, and Rebecca Ross can write. But let's be clear: this isn't your typical YA.

The book tackles addiction, war violence, PTSD, grief, and includes a wedding night scene that parent reviewers flag as more detailed than expected. It's rated 'Moderate' for content, and Common Sense parents are split on appropriateness. If your teen loved Shadow and Bone or A Court of Thorns and Roses and is ready for slightly more mature content, this could be perfect. If they're 13 and just getting into fantasy, maybe not yet.

The WWI-meets-gods premise is imaginative, and the epistolary format is refreshingly old-school romantic. But the emotional weight—between the war setting and family addiction—makes this heavier than the cover suggests. It's enriching in its exploration of hope amid darkness, but it's not light reading. For older teens who can handle mature themes and want a romance with substance, it's a solid pick.

Age Fit

This is firmly older-teen territory (16+), not because of graphic content but because of the combination of mature romantic scenes, war trauma, addiction themes, and emotional heaviness. Younger teens drawn to fantasy romance should wait a year or two.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

68

Explores meaningful themes of love, family loyalty, grief, and hope during wartime. The enemies-to-lovers romance develops through thoughtful letter-writing rather than instant attraction. However, includes depictions of addiction (mother's substance abuse), PTSD, panic attacks, and war violence. The wedding night scene is described as 'detailed' by parent reviewers, which pushes beyond typical YA boundaries. Models determination and resilience but set against heavy emotional content.

Imaginative

76

Blends WWI-inspired historical setting with fantasy elements (warring gods, magical letter delivery through a wardrobe). The epistolary format—anonymous letters that vanish and appear—is creative and romantic. Described as 'Shadow and Bone meets Lore,' suggesting fresh genre-mixing. The magical realism approach and war-among-gods mythology offer imaginative world-building, though execution leans more toward romance than deep fantasy exploration.

Safe

55

Contains significant mature content for a YA book: detailed wedding night scene, war violence and death, alcoholism/addiction, grief from family death (hit by tram), PTSD, panic attacks, and smoking. Rated 'Moderate' by Rated Reads with multiple content warnings. While not graphic horror or explicit sex, the combination of war trauma, addiction themes, and sexual content means younger teens could encounter unexpectedly heavy material. Common Sense Media parent reviews note it's 'not appropriate' for younger audiences due to sexual tension and detailed wedding night.

Enriching

72

Tackles complex themes of war's impact on civilians, addiction's toll on families, grief, and the power of written communication. The epistolary format encourages appreciation for thoughtful correspondence over instant messaging. Explores sacrifice, loyalty, and finding hope amid devastation. However, the primary draw is romance rather than deep philosophical or historical insight. The WWI-fantasy blend could spark interest in history, but the focus remains on the love story.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The epistolary romance is genuinely sweet—anonymous letters that develop real emotional connection before physical attraction
Thoughtful exploration of war's impact on families, addiction, and finding hope in darkness
Creative genre blend: historical war setting + fantasy gods + magical realism creates something fresh
Strong writing (Rebecca Ross is known for lyrical prose) and a romance that builds slowly through correspondence
Appeals to teens who want fantasy with emotional depth and relationship development

⚠

What to Watch For

The wedding night scene is described as 'detailed'—more explicit than typical YA, so best for older teens
Heavy war content: violence, death, PTSD, panic attacks—this isn't light fantasy escapism
Mother's addiction is a significant subplot that might hit hard for families dealing with substance abuse
Grief and loss are central themes—a family member dies after being hit by a tram

Conversation Starters

"Iris writes letters to cope with her brother being at war. What helps you process worry or fear?"
"The characters fall in love through letters before meeting. How is that different from modern dating or texting?"
"The book shows how war affects families at home, not just soldiers. What do you think that would be like?"
"Iris's mom struggles with addiction. Why do you think people turn to substances when life gets hard?"
"If you could send magical letters that disappeared to anyone, who would you write to and why?"

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