Please note: The following review may contain spoilers for the first book in the Letters of Enchantment duology, DIVINE RIVALS. Continue reading at your own discretion.
Iris is home, Roman is missing, and the war continues on. Iris and Attie return to the front to report on Dacre’s movements despite the danger it poses. Meanwhile, Roman has woken up in Dacre’s realm without any memory of his past. When a mysterious letter arrives via wardrobe, Roman can’t help but be intrigued. As the war rages on and the mysterious correspondence continues, Roman will find he needs to make a dangerous decision: stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him.
Are there truly any adequate words to talk about Rebecca Ross’ Letters of Enchantment duology? I don’t really think so, but I’ll do my best.
The setting continues to be beautiful and atmospheric despite the looming destruction coming from the war. Ross is able to bring to life this story in a way that makes you feel like you are actually living it rather than reading about it from the comfort of home. The danger feels real and my anxiety definitely spiked a lot while reading this story. Despite the near-constant anxiety, I also found myself deeply engrossed and unable to put the book down. I had to know what was going to happen next, had to know what would become of the characters I had come to love, had to understand the mythos that Ross wove in this world and with these gods.
Iris and Roman continue to be the center of the story, but we also get wonderful side characters that command our attention as well. Attie returns in this story and we are also introduced to Tobias Bexley, one of the best characters to ever exist. It was magical the way that Tobias felt like he was always a part of the story and yet we see the group’s dynamic shift to accommodate his presence as well. Ross' understanding of these characters, their motivations, and their emotions really shines and it makes it so that you can't help but worry for each of them.
We get a different perspective on the war this time around, getting a look inside war rooms as well as seeing how regular people react to the war. Ross finds a way to weave in some deeper questions that will have you questioning if you really know the people around you as well as you think you do. And even through all the war, pain, death, and destruction, Ross is able to weave a beautiful and romantic story around Iris and and Roman that will live forevermore in my mind.
RUTHLESS VOWS by Rebecca Ross is the beautiful conclusion to the Letters of Enchantment duology that started in DIVINE RIVALS. They are both available now and you can (and should!) pick up copies for yourself here and here (respectively).
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for free and have voluntarily written this review. If you purchase a copy using my Bookshop affiliate link above, not only will I receive a small commission (which will fuel my coffee and tea addiction and help to keep me up all night reading more books to recommend to you), but you will be supporting indie bookstores as well! If you prefer Amazon, visit my Amazon storefront and click on the list titled "2024 Book Recommendations."
