Rivals, not deep enemies
Iris and Roman begin as professional rivals. The tension comes from competition, distance, and connection rather than villain-level hatred.
Series Guide
Divine Rivals Books in Order: Complete Letters of Enchantment Guide
By Rebecca Ross · 2 main books · Complete duology
Read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows in order, then understand the Letters of Enchantment duology, its magical letters, and what comes next.
Start with: Divine Rivals
Complete🌶️Rival JournalistsEnemies-To-LoversWar Between Gods
About this series
Divine Rivals is Rebecca Ross's lyrical fantasy romance about rival journalists, enchanted letters, war between gods, and a relationship that continues into a complete duology.
Quick Answer
No. Divine Rivals is not a standalone; read it first, then Ruthless Vows. Book one sets up Iris and Roman, the letters, and the war; book two resolves the same storyline. The Letters of Enchantment duology is complete, so Ruthless Vows is essential rather than optional. Wild Reverence is a separate adult standalone in the same gods’ world, not Book 3.
Start with Divine Rivals and continue with Ruthless Vows. The two books form one continuous story, so book two is essential rather than optional.
Rival JournalistsEnemies-To-LoversWar Between Gods
Complete duology · Start with Divine Rivals
Book one sets up the letters, rivalry, and war. Book two resolves the same storyline, so this is a complete two-book commitment.
Read more about this series
Start with Divine Rivals and continue with Ruthless Vows. The two books form one continuous story, so book two is essential rather than optional.
Rival JournalistsEnemies-To-LoversWar Between Gods
Complete duology · Start with Divine Rivals
Book one sets up the letters, rivalry, and war. Book two resolves the same storyline, so this is a complete two-book commitment.
Divine Rivals Reading Order
- 1
Divine Rivals
April 2023
- 2
Ruthless Vows
December 2023
Divine Rivals begins the story, and Ruthless Vows completes it. If you want a finished two-book commitment, this is a safe place to start. If you want a true standalone, look elsewhere.
Why Letters of Enchantment Stands Out
Divine Rivals is a complete two-book fantasy romance built around magical correspondence, wartime pressure, and emotional intimacy.
The letters are part of the magic
The enchanted letters are not just a romance device. They carry the relationship while the war and the gods reshape the world around it.
Finish with Ruthless Vows
Ruthless Vows is the direct conclusion. Read it after Divine Rivals for the complete story, not as an optional companion.
Wild Reverence is separate
Wild Reverence is an adult standalone set in the world of the gods first introduced in Divine Rivals. It is not Book 3 of Letters of Enchantment and is not required to finish Iris and Roman’s duology.
Reading Order Notes
These Divine Rivals notes focus on first-read decisions: why the first book matters, why some readers mistake it for a standalone, and what kind of romantasy it is.
Why publication order works
Read Divine Rivals first because it establishes Iris and Roman, the magical correspondence, and the wartime stakes. Ruthless Vows continues those same threads and provides the resolution.
Why do readers sometimes think it is a standalone?
No. Ruthless Vows is the direct sequel and should be read after Divine Rivals if you want the story to make sense and the emotional payoff to land.
What does a complete duology mean for new readers?
It means you can start the series knowing the ending already exists, but you still need both books for the full story arc. The first book is the setup; the second book is the resolution.
Why Readers Think It Is a Standalone
The first book has a strong emotional arc, a clean title, and a clear central couple, which is why some readers assume it stands alone. It does not. Ruthless Vows continues the same relationship, the same magical correspondence, and the same wartime conflict.
What does a complete duology mean for new readers?
It means the series already has a finished ending, so you do not need to wait for another sequel. It also means book one is only the setup, while book two provides the actual resolution.
Rivals to lovers, not enemies to lovers
Iris and Roman are professional rivals, so the dynamic is driven by competition, distance, and emotional tension rather than deep hostility or villain-level hatred.
Is Divine Rivals romantasy?
Yes. It is fantasy romance with magical letters, gods, war, and a central romantic relationship. The fantasy is lighter than in some adult romantasy series, but the romance is a core part of the story.
Is Divine Rivals spicy?
Divine Rivals is low spice. It leans on longing, emotional intimacy, and relationship development rather than explicit heat.
Divine Rivals vs similar romantasy books
- Choose One Dark Window if you want a darker, more gothic mood.
- Choose Once Upon a Broken Heart if you want fairytale atmosphere and more whimsy.
- Keep Divine Rivals if you want letters, wartime tension, and a complete two-book story.
Who should read it?
- Readers who want a complete duology.
- Readers who like rivals-to-lovers tension.
- Readers who prefer emotional romance over high spice.
Who may not enjoy it?
- Readers who want higher spice.
- Readers who want a very dark romance dynamic.
- Readers who want a standalone with no sequel needed.
New to this series? Start here
Divine Rivals
Best first entry point for Letters of Enchantment. Read this before Ruthless Vows.
Buy first book on BookshopSeries at a glance
2
Main books
🌶️
Spice
Complete duology
Status
3
Tropes
Best for: soft romantasy and emotional fantasy readers
Start with: Divine Rivals
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct Divine Rivals reading order?
Read Divine Rivals first, then Ruthless Vows. That is the correct order for Rebecca Ross's Letters of Enchantment duology.
Do you have to read Divine Rivals before Ruthless Vows?
Yes. Ruthless Vows is the direct sequel to Divine Rivals, so you should always read Divine Rivals first.
Is Divine Rivals a standalone?
No. Divine Rivals is book one of a duology, not a standalone novel. The story continues in Ruthless Vows.
How many Divine Rivals books are there?
There are two main books in the Divine Rivals series: Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows.
Is the Divine Rivals series complete?
Yes. Letters of Enchantment is complete as a two-book duology.
Is Divine Rivals enemies to lovers?
Divine Rivals has a rivals-to-lovers dynamic centered on two rival journalists and their emotional connection.
Is Divine Rivals fantasy romance?
Yes. Divine Rivals is fantasy romance with magical letters, gods, war, and a central romantic relationship.
Should I start Rebecca Ross with Divine Rivals?
For many readers, yes. Divine Rivals is the clearest Rebecca Ross starting point if you want emotional fantasy romance with a softer romantasy feel.