Lovely photo by @the.forrie.bookshelf!
Hey fairies!
Welcome back to day 4 of our readalong of Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross! With only two sections to go, I think a lot of secrets will be revealed today!
Today we’re reading from Chapter 30 to the end of Chapter 37. Let’s goooo!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, from chapters 30 to 37. Please only read on if you’ve finished this section!
-!SPOILERS!-
The front lines are rough and Iris’s dreams are rougher. And yet, when she wakes crying in the night, Roman comforts her, something I’m sure she never anticipated happening!
Another shock, when blasts come and Iris drops to the ground, Roman shields her with his own body. He’s adamant that she has to survive. He’ll do anything to protect her, even if it means laying down his own life. They’re given orders to retreat to the next town. They’re not quick enough though and the blast of a grenade hits them, Roman again protecting Iris.
He thinks he’s a goner, and he’s telling her to get his bag. He says there’s something he needs to tell her. He thinks he’s going to die and he’s desperately trying to make sure Iris knows the real him before he goes.
Something has clicked inside Iris though because she won’t have it. She won’t leave him and tells him whatever he needs to say, he can do it when they’re back at Marisols.
Iris, selfless as always, puts Roman on a stretcher and continues to aid the battalion. Roman tries to get her to stay, saying they need to stay together, they’re better this way.
The entirety of the time Iris was away, Carver doesn’t write to her. Put two and two together Iris, please, I’m dying here!
She does, however, still have the letter he wrote before she left… and there’s no Roman around to interrupt this time.
Carver tells her he loves her, and also drops in a few synonyms for sublime that FINALLY have Iris connecting the dots.
She checks his bags, and finds all of the letters. Roman C. Kitt, is Roman Carver Kitt, and Iris finally knows!
She heads to the infirmary and confronts him, she’s furious. They argue their cases. Iris thinks he’s been trying to make a fool out of her but he’s adamant he never lied. He tells her his full name and then, he kisses her. Why am I sobbing? ???
Back at Marisol’s, Iris knows she has to confront her feelings, for Roman and for Carver, and somehow put them together. She’s coming to love him but she’s scared of losing someone else she loves again.
Iris asks Roman out for a walk once he returns to Marisol’s… and along the way she answers all of the questions from his last letter that he said he wanted to know. Roman gives her some honesty and tells her why he came, how he felt, and then… he kind of proposes? But he pulls a stitch and starts to bleed before Iris can answer which honestly? Buzz kill!
Iris heavily hints that when Roman can propose properly, her answer will be yes, and my heart is so unbelievably happy! First though, she makes Roman read his letter aloud to her, so she can finally stop thinking of Roman and Carver as separate entities. When he reaches the part where he tells her he loves her, she pockets the letter and reaches for him. They kiss, and then he asks her to marry him – and it’s the most perfect moment.
As they type, a siren sounds. It’s time to evacuate, Dacre is taking Avalon Bluff. Marisol’s wife returns and they agree that Marisol, Keegan and Attie will stay, eventually Roman and Iris decide to stay too. Amongst all the drama though, they realise someone walked through the house…
Who do you think came through the house?
Do you think they’ll outlast Dacre?
What do you think will happen in the last section?
I am so, so nervous to see what will happen in our final section. I’m not ready for this to end!
Love,
Shannon
FINALLY Iris knows everything & they are a couple…. AT LONG LAST.
But of course now the war has come to them.
I assume a soldier from Dacre’s army has been in the house….
I am scared that this book will end with a heartbreaking cliff hanger.
Yay, Iris finally knows that Roman was Carver. *phew*
I’m fairly certain it has to be a soldier from Dacre, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s someone we know…
Someone we know? Who do you think it could be? I’m curious now haha
This book is killing me, oh my god it’s so good, I just want to finish it! Iris and Roman are making me grin like a giddy fool!!
Who do you think came through the house?
I think it was Forest that came through the house, I couldn’t tell you why but it’s just a gut feeling. I think he’s been keeping an eye on Iris and entered the house to gather supplies. He must have abandoned the war if he’s hiding and stealing supplies though.
Do you think they’ll outlast Dacre?
Is it possible to outlast a god? I think the best case scenario is they hide somewhere and wait out the attack, I’m not sure everyone will survive if they weather it. At this point I’m very attached to all the characters and couldn’t bear to lose anyone, but it is a war story so we may.
What do you think will happen in the last section?
Now that Roman and Iris are together, I really hope they can stay together and we can see them get married after the war. However Rebecca Ross loves to make me sob so I wouldn’t be surprised if after everything, the couple are separated again. I really hope that Iris can find Forest though, although she may only get close to him before something happens and they are separated again. Maybe there will also be some kind of intervention by Enva? We are yet to see a god in action and now that we’re nearing the end of the book I’d really love to.
Omg ……. wow…… my heart is literally in my throat this was a tear jerker chunk I actually cried I cried when roman got hurt and all the soldiers were hurt I cried when they said they were getting married and were in so much love and I cried when she found her brother still alive how brave they all are what an amazing story well done Rebecca Ross this story has made me feel so many emotions who was the boot mark from how creepy can’t wait for the last chunk but I’m also scared if it’s left on a cliff hanger arch I will scream
This book has made me sob too many times to count as well! Rebecca Ross is tearing my heart out!
When people said this was a slow burn, they were not kidding. Iris is such a smart girl, but it took her 100 million years to figure out that Carver was Roman. I love the fact that they finally kiss, but it was so nerve-racking when he got injured like I really thought that he was going to die but then I looked at the rest the book, and I figured there was too much left of the book for him to die, but it was still like really heart wrenching.. everything was going so fine and well I was like this is such a cute story like they’re going to live happily ever after and they’re going to get married and have a little relationship of theirs but no, of course not something had to happen, and that was a siren. I have no idea who could’ve walked through the house like I thought maybe it was Espana of the god taking all their stuff, but what would be the point if you’re taking two things and not taking the rest of the emergency packs
Who do you think came through the house?
I have no idea! I have a feeling it could be one of Dacre’s soldiers but I really hope it isn’t! I have this fear that they might still be in the house and it’s making me really nervous!
Do you think they’ll outlast Dacre?
I hope so! Though I’m not sure how just a handful of people can beat a raging god!
What do you think will happen in the last section?
I want Roman and Iris to get married but I don’t think it would be possible now that everyone in the town has evacuated. I’ve got an awful feeling that they’re going to lose someone but I hope everyone makes it to the end! Maybe Forest will arrive and Iris will be reunited with her brother? I hope it has a happy ending after all this!
I don’t know who came through the house but that was creepy! Why did they steal Roman’s jumpsuit?
I’m afraid the town is going to be lost. Our MCs will hopefully get away. I’m not very optimistic they will both make it. I mean this has to end in an cliffhanger since it is a duology (I think).
Ah but it is so good!
I am low-key freaking out, especially because I know FOR A FACT that something bad is going to happen to either Iris or Roman and it’s going to break me.
1. You know, I have zero guesses to this, because there wasn’t any indication that anyone would have walked through. My guess is either Enva manifesting a human form (there was a bit of a hint that Iris is hearing some kind of music) and looking for Iris to answer the call to arms, or Dacre in search of Enva (which is less likely, because isn’t his MO more fire and brimstone?).
2. Doubt it. Don’t think this war will resolve itself by the end of this book.
3. NOTHING GOOD. My anxiety is already spiking just thinking about it. These last few chapters are literally the calm before the storm.
I am so so scared that it was Dacre that came through the house. I have a suspicion that Marisol is Enva and he is looking for her. I could be totally wrong but who else would be breaking into the house and for what? Also she is supposed to have family to the east of Oath and weren’t the Gods buried in all cardinal corners?
With under a hundred pages left I have a feeling they will hold out til the last few pages then fall to Dacre’s forces right at the end. I hope I am wrong but I dont see how they are going to outlast his army. Maybe Forest will show up right in the nick of time to help get Iris and co out.
I am just overall nervous for this last chunk. I will hold onto the soft and sweet Roman and Iris moments we had! It will be all alright!!
I think it was a solider [or a god].
As someone else put it – can you outlast a god? I’m not sure if they’ll outlast the attacking soldiers, but I /know/ we have to experience a loss . . .
. . . Which brings me to the answer to this question, which is: I think Iris will lose her brother, and, judging by how heartwrenching this story has been so far, my guess is Iris will be a part of it/witness it/something like that, and we’ll end the book with his death and/or capture . . .
So much happening in the front lines. He confessed! His identity, his love, & even proposed. Now, why would you go & say you feel like someone is watching you on the Western Wind (the same wind that almost tore tall apart on the front lines just days ago)?? The last siren. The letter about Forest. The muddy boot prints through Marisol’s house. So much is happening!
Daily Q&A:
Q:
1.) Who do you think came through the house?
2.) Do you think they’ll outlast Dacre?
3.) What do you think will happen in the last section?
A:
1.) She felt like she was being watched it the garden, so I doubt it was someone innocently scrambling to leave the town.
2.) Maybe until the next book, unless them falling to Dacre is the cliffhanger I’m dreading awaits.
3.) They’ll learn who the boot prints belong to, I’m hoping Roman & Iris will share their happy news with the others (maybe try to hold a makeshift ceremony, just in case), & who knows what else, but I feel a devastating cliffhanger coming.
THIS BOOK IS DESTROYING ME AHHH I LOVE IT SO MUCH
1) I have no idea but I’m more interested in WHY. Why sneak around? Unless they’re an enemy soldier, but why so far ahead of the rest? Very spooky.
2) I feel like everyone has acknowledged that they’re losing this war, they’re just making the retreat as slow as possible.
3) I hope Forest will show up! But beyond that, I’m just silently screaming because this is too happy at the moment and there are too many pages left for that to last.
Who do you think came through the house?
Do you think they’ll outlast Dacre?
What do you think will happen in the last section?
1) I feel like it will be a soldier. Maybe someone who deserted and needs to blend in? Will it be someone we know?
2) I am not hopeful for them winning this war… I think it may end up reaching closer to Oath so more people will have to join the war effort (but that probably wont fit in the last bit of the book)
3) I am just hoping that everyone can get away from the war safely… Hopefully we can see Forest but I am not sure. I just need to ready myself for a cliff-hanger
This section killed me! The tension, the war, the reveals! I must confess, seeing Iris miss obvious clues about Carver’s identity was both frustrating and entertaining, but having the protagonists finally together is very satisfying.
It’s clear we’ve arrive at the best part of the book, since I have absolutely no idea what could happen next. I thought the third siren and the evacuation of the town would be an important plot point, but I have no inkling who the person in the house was, or how will the war progress. I just hope everything is (temporarily) resolved, at least until book 2. I don’t think I could manage a cliffhanger.
Each confession got better!! Carver’s written lover letter < Roman's verbal love letter < Roman reading Carver's letter
This section hurt so much ahh!! I can't even be happy they're engaged because I'm so afraid of what will happen. Those trench chapters were fantastic, you could really feel their fear. I love how Iris is more brave than Roman but he does everything he can to be there for her and protect her.
I think Dacre, Forest or Enva were watching them and came into the house?? Omg did they want the typewriters???
Who do you think came through the house?
—a soldier, maybe?
Do you think they’ll outlast Dacre?
—it’s not looking too good. while i hope they do, i don’t think they will
What do you think will happen in the last section?
—CHAOS. not exactly sure what that chaos entails, but i’m here for it?
UGHHHHHHHH this is one of my favorite romances of the year. I don’t normally like it when characters get engaged and married so quickly but it was perfect!
1. I have a bad feeling it might have been Dacre himself.
2. I think some of them will, but not everyone and not together.
3. I hope my above prediction won’t come true and that they’ll manage to stick together. I’m thinking Iris will find Forest, but I’m terrified that he’ll be horrifically injured or forced into fighting on Dacre’s side.
Noooooo why is it so heartbreaking so far? ?I liked Lieutenant Lark 🙁 And the ENTIRE Sycamore Platoon is gone. Just like that. How does something like that even happen. Devastating.
I guess there’s nothing like war and stress to put some things into perspective. Even so, it was a little surprising to me when Iris voiced her realization of her true feelings for Roman, plus the vision of what their lives together could be like.
I gasped when he said he loves her!! What!!! So many gasps in this section. Plus when he KISSED her!!! Lots of butterflies! The both of them are so ROMANTIC! I feel like such a trespasser reading their moments.
And now war hits again. The ups and downs are crazy.
Ok so the mysterious person who walked through the house is worrying me. It has to be connected to the west wind, which makes me think that it might’ve been Dacre. Which if it was…that’s not good at all. I don’t see how the little town can withstand an attack by Dacre and his forces 🙁 This book doesn’t feel like a standalone so I don’t think Iris will have found her brother in the last section, unless…he has changed sides and is fighting for Dacre now. Maybe we’ll meet Enva in the last section?
I’m not sure. Maybe Forest? The description of the wind when Iris and Roman were writing together made me think of Enva for some reason, so maybe Enva?
Yes. I think someone or something will show up to turn the tide of the war.
Hopefully Iris and Forest will be reunited, Enva will finally make an appearance, and we’ll learn what the devices the Littles are making if they’re not actually bombs.