"My name is Roman Carver Kitt, and this is a dead man’s story."

I am heartbroken. I am speechless. I am in love with Roman Kitt.

Rebecca Ross has absolutely blown me away with Ruthless Vows. This book had me sending ugly crying selfies to my book friends (apologies to the recipients of those photos). I'm genuinely so excited for fans of Divine Rivals to read this book, because I just know they're going to love it even more than book 1.

Ruthless Vows starts two weeks after Dacre heals Roman, and the repercussions of this for both Iris & Roman. Book two gives us a better insight into the war between Dacre & Enva, particularly for the soldiers fighting on Dacre's which I loved. Ross switched between POV's flawlessly and always at the perfect moment.

I was worried that I was not going to enjoy this book as much with Roman and Iris being separated, but Ross handles it beautifully. The pure love that these two characters have for each other is so wonderfully written that I could just cry thinking about it. They may be one of my favourite YA couples.

The writing in Ruthless Vows felt so much stronger, and Ross has a way of writing the most gut wrenching passages without disrupting the flow of the story. Ruthless Vows is a stunning conclusion to the 'Letters of Enchantment' Series.

I received an advanced copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ruthless Vows was one of my most anticipated releases from this year, and I can't say it disappointed me. It was so comforting to read Iris and Roman again, and all the other characters I had fallen in love with in Divine Rivals.
One of my biggest complaints in the first book was that I felt the story of the gods was very underdeveloped. I feel that the author missed a wonderful opportunity to exploit that part of the story and focused a lot on the romance, which, don't get me wrong, I thought was beautiful, but I still needed more development in the plot.
To my great pleasure, in this second book that part of the story is explored a little more, so that we can learn more about Enva, Dacre and even the other divinities. It still seems quite simple to me in execution, but it's something I've learned to get used to in young adult books.
My complaint in this book was another one. This time the pacing seemed much slower and more laborious than in the first, with a tremendously slow start in which I often felt like nothing was happening. But fortunately, around 30% the plot began to unfold a little more and everything regained the charm that had hooked me in Divine Rivals.

But let's talk about the positive, which is a lot.
I can't begin to describe how much I care about these characters. The author manages to make them relatable and so infinitely resilient, that you can't help but get attached and find yourself in them.
Each scene is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching, each moment reads as if it were the last and that adds a lot of tension to the outcome of this story. I didn't expect to cry at the end, it was very emotional and devastating.
I can only say that Roman and Iris have become a part of me, that their story has made me reconsider many things, it has made me appreciate what I have, aware of how ephemeral it can be.

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My review will be posted on Goodreads on publication day.
Pub Date: 26 Dec 2023

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Magpie and the author for giving me the chance to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

5⭐️

Screaming, crying, throwing up. This book was so good. Definitely the perfect way to close out Iris and Roman’s story. The whole series for me has been a five star series, and I wish I could go back in time and read both books for the first time all over again. I will recommend these to absolutely everyone who will listen to me!

I loved where the story went in this one, and how we got to see more of Iris and Roman and how they interacted and their romance story unfold. I also very much enjoyed that we got to spend time with more of the side characters, and by getting to know them more, it definitely made the whole reading process way more emotional for me personally.

As always, Rebecca Ross’ writing is so lyrical, magical and enthralling and I was unable to put this down, I just wanted to keep reading and being in this world forever.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

All I have to say is Rebecca Ross’s writing style never fails to have me mesmerised. This was a pretty good conclusion to the duology. Also I need to briefly squeal about the unexpected side couples because wth they all had me giggling and kicking my feet?? I can’t wait for everyone else to read this book!!

Ruthless Vows: A thrilling blend of love, secrets, and suspense—unputdownable. The perfect end to the duology !

This book was such a great ending to this story (although I kinda wish there were more!).
Rebecca Ross has a way of making stories about subjects I wouldn’t normally take interest in, or pick up a book about, and make me absolutely fall in love with them.
I don’t think I’ll ever not pick up a new Rebecca Ross release. She always earns that 5stars from me easily.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK/HarperFiction for giving me an eArc copy for this book in exchange for my (mostly spoiler free) honest review.

This isn’t my first book by Rebecca Ross as I have also read some of her other series earlier this year! Divine Rivals was one of my favourite books this year, and could not wait for this sequel to complete the duology.

Ruthless Vows was everything I was expecting and more from the finale in the Letters of Enchantment duology. It was also somehow even more tender and beautifully written than the first book, which I did not think could be done. The pure emotions that Ross’s words can bring you when reading her stories is truly amazing. I could not put this book down, and read it at every opportunity I could.

It was heartbreaking to see both the main characters ripped apart during the scenes in this book, but it all came together beautifully even though one particular scene wanted to make me scream cry at how devastating it was. This book is filled with so many heartwarming scenes as well, mostly between Iris and Roman as they try to comfort each other between everything that is happening around them. The love shown between them is so sweet and pure and I just love them both so much.

Honestly I would ask anyone to read this duology, it’s beautifully written and so easy to read, you will never get enough. Can’t wait to see what Rebecca has instore for us in her next book!

This was a really good ending to this duology but feel a tad flat compared to the first one for me - still a great book but not as angsty as the first. I wish the two MCs had more page time but I understand why the author kept them apart so long. Good resolution to the series and I do really recommend if you’re looking for a binge worthy duology!

This was all I wanted in this sequel it had me worried, crying, happy sad all at the same time. I adored this and the story of Roman and Iris, I just never wanted it to end. I am so grateful that I was able to read this from NetGalley and allowed to know the ending because I would not want this spoiled. The gods are awoken which we knew from book one and this books deals with the aftermath and what it means when it comes to your doorsteps. The letters still happen and it makes you fall in love with the two main characters all over again. If you loved divine rivals you will not be upset about this book and how it ends. I was so surprised when I read divine rivals how much I enjoyed it and I am so happy that divine rivals did not disappoint me. This world is something that Rebecca Ross could delve back into and it could dip in characters or different, I just loved every moment that I spent in this world and loved it so much.

Review will go up 19th December to instagram

Tender and excruciatingly beautiful. Rebecca Ross has such an exquisite expression within her words, subtlety blending fantasy into what feels like a fully historical setting.

This is the perfect ending to a wonderful duology that has taken over my heart!

•I’ve received this ARC from NetGalley. In this review all thoughts and opinions are my own. •


“The magic still gathers, and the past is gilded; I see the beauty in what has been but only because I have tasted both sorrow and joy in equal measures.”


- plot, setting and writing -

I was so excited to receive this ARC, you cannot even imagine my excitement when I opened my profile to see it available to be downloaded.
I’ve actually read first book “Divine Rivals” just a few months ago, I expected something completely different but I was left surprised in a positive way.
I’m not usually into books that recall wars, but this one felt different.
We are left just after what happened in the first book, I think the path was quite linear, it didn’t felt too rushed or too slow and I loved how there was a sort of reverse role between Iris and Roman throw the correspondence.
The only part that felt a little different was probably towards the ending, I believe it was resolved maybe too quickly in some points, but it was still a pleasure to read.
I have nothing to say about the writing aside from the fact that it was poetic, there’s really no other adjective that I can use. Majestic.


- characters -

“But I must remind myself that sometimes we write for ourselves and sometimes we write for others. And sometimes those lines blur when we least expect them to. Whenever such happened in my past... I remember that I have only been strengthened by it.”

If I loved Iris in “Divine Rivals” in “Ruthless Vows” I fell in love with her even more over and over again just as Roman did, not just for her words, but also for her actions and her mind.
She sometimes remind me of myself, a better version I aspire to be.
Ronan stayed in character even with his memories erased, which I really appreciates because often with this trope happens an awful mess.
They are one of my favorite book couples, they make me believe that love is real and possible and familiar.


- final thoughts -

"Write me a story where there is no ending, Kitt. Write to me and fill my empty spaces."

I rarely give a book 5 stars, it feels such a hard commitment reviewing something so high.
But “Ruthless Vows” deserves it in all its beauty, I can’t really find something negative to highlight or that needs to be fixed in order to make the book more enjoyable. It’s just beautiful the way it is, I wouldn’t change anything.
I think it’s the perfect way to end this duology, I hope the writer will give us again masterpieces like this.


5 stars

Can two lovers be reunited in the midst of a deadly war? This is the heart-pounding and gut-wrenching conclusion to the one of the most beautifully written series, Divine Rivals. The story picks up where the first book left off, with two weeks having passed between Iris and Roman being married then immediately separated at the war front when an explosion occurs and Roman and Iris are separated. Iris has no idea where Roman is, all she knows is that her brother is alive and has dragged her back. Iris knows Roman is lost behind enemy lines, in Dacre's clutches...and her brother warns her that Roman most likely has forgotten Iris with Dacre erasing his memories of her. That won't stop Iris though, she is willing to do anything, go anywhere, to be reunited with her husband, even if it means going back to the frontlines to face off against Dacre and write the truth about what is happening. Roman has awoken with no memories of where he is or how he got there, all he knows is that he is meant to write for Dacre, yet something keeps tugging at his mind, memories and feelings floating around... and when a strange letter arrives through his wardrobe door he finds himself corresponding with a penpal who seems mysterious yet familiar all at once. Roman knows something is missing with his memories... and now that Iris knows he doesn't remember, she'll do anything to help him remember again. All the while, they'll have to figure out how to stop Dacre's war efforts and save those they love, can they stop him before he destroys them all or stopping him require them to make the ultimate sacrifice of all? This book had me crying, clenching my fist, screaming into a pillow, and more. This is a book that strikes you with the strong gut punch, that leaves you winded and begging for more, it has you crying so much that you start dry heaving (it was not pretty). Rebecca Ross has a way of writing the most aching and beautiful words, she creates such a deep love for these characters and such a strong connection between the reader and the characters that you find yourself so fully immersed in their journey that anything that happens to them makes you either rejoice or sob for them. I loved Divine Rivals so much when I read the arc and felt so absolutely blessed and fortunate to receive the arc of this book. This series altogether holds such a special place in my heart. Roman and Iris get to fall in love all over again, their love is so beautiful and special. This book has them suffering, has them hoping, and most of all has them healing. This is a book series that I will find myself recommend over and over. I loved reading this series, it was a journey from start to end, from the first letter Iris typed to the last letter she wrote. It has been a divine time.

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Magpie for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

RUTHLESS VOWS finishes off the duology in style, full of magic and letters and the costs of war.

I loved that the letters came back in this story (and how.) They were so key to the first book that it would have felt odd not to have them in the sequel. But this time, the positions are reversed - Iris knows who's writing to her but Roman doesn't. It was fun to see that power dynamic flipped for the sequel.

I liked reading a romantasy where the tension wasn't about whether their relationship would survive (no poor communication mishaps or misunderstandings). Instead, this is a book about whether two people in love and separated by war will find their way back to each other. The fact their relationship held through it all made me root for them to be reunited more than if there had been a wobble or two.

Where DIVINE RIVALS was a World War One trenches book, looking at a war between gods from the perspectives of the soldiers, this book looks at the civilians in cities. There are those who believe it cannot touch them, those who will do anything to hush up the truth as it might weaken their position, those who will take advantage of the conflict, and those who will suffer for the decisions others make. With everything happening in the world, how much of that can be seen in our news in every conflict happening right now, some parts were quite hard to read. The bombing of Oath in particularly was harrowing.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this duology (binging the two books back to back to read this sequel in 24 hours) and look forward to the next book from Rebecca Ross.

In Divine Rivals we learn the captivating love story of Iris and Roman whereas in Ruthless Vows, we learn more about the gods and how they reunite. The book picks up 2 weeks after the events at the end of book 1 and flows seamlessly together to give us an epic grand finale 📖

Rebecca's writing is phenomenal, she has a way of drawing you in without you realising. The world and characters she's created will forever live in my heart because they're simply amazing 🤍
I don't want to say too much because spoilers but if you have the chance to read this duology, you won't regret it

Thank you so much for the ARC of one of my highly anticipated reads, it did not disappoint.

Just as enchanting as the first...

It's rare that a sequel will live up to such high expectations, but readers who fell in love with Divine Rivals will not be disappointed with this incredible sequel. The setting and characters are invoked so richly that you slip back into the world Rebecca Ross has created with ease. This story really pulled on my heart strings, and continued its themes of love, friendship and family, as well as grief, loss and heartache.

Not a lot can be said about plot without giving too much away, so my lips are sealed. Just go in blind and love and savour every beautifully crafted word.

What an absolutely amazing conclusion to the duology. I love Iris and Roman and how they overcome difficulties. Their relationship is perfectly written and I like that they balance each other.

Definitely rereading the duology and new more of Ross’s books.

A great follow up from the first book,

The ARC copy was sometimes difficult to follow though, with the Prologue being added into the beginning of each new chapter and intwined with the text so parts were missed.

honestly, i still have no words for how amazing this was. after reading and devouring divine rivals, i knew i was going to love this one. the relationship between roman and iris was incredible. rebecca has written such emotionally beautiful characters. i love how iris and forest were there for one another and how they regained some of their closeness! this book was filled with beauty and sorrow but it it wrapped up the duology so so well. i’ll be forever recommending this at work and this has to be in my top five favourite series/duologies.

After being left with that book 1 ending, this was definitely my most anticipated release. It turned out to be everything I had hoped for and more - a satisfying sequel that lived up to, and even surpassed, my expectations!

Ruthless Vows picks up two weeks after Divine Rivals. It’s just as tender and cozy as Divine Rivals, but the stakes are much higher. Compared to the first book, Ruthless Vows gives more attention to Enva and Dacre. It showcases more of the war and their motivations.

Of course, Iris and Roman’s love story is still the star of the show, and it’s as ardent as ever - even in the face of formidable foes. My heart felt so full while reading, like it would burst with emotions. Iris’s character development was something to behold; she was in her baddie era.

I was also so captivated by the atmosphere. I don’t know how Rebecca does it, but her writing feels like a waft of cool, misty air. Her words are truly filled with magic. There’s a noticeable dichotomy there: between love and war, hope and loss, loyalty and betrayal. Rebecca weaves this into the narrative EXQUISITELY. You can literally picture everything so vividly, as if you’re watching a show. Honestly, I’d have no qualms about this being adapted into a tv series.

One thing I will say is the pacing felt a little rushed towards the end, and others might find that the first half drags a bit (though I personally liked it!).

Overall, so many elements that readers loved from the first book are present in this book. If you’re a fan of Divine Rivals, you’re bound to enjoy this conclusion.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for authorising me this arc!

This is one of my most anticipated reads after reading Divine Rivals and oh god it did not disappoint! Roman and Iris are everything you could possibly want in a couple, they would do anything for one another and I wanted everything to go right for them. I laughed and cried then I sobbed and wiped my eyes because I couldn't see the words.

I am forever grateful to Rebecca Ross for these characters and their story line. Roman Kitt is the perfect gentleman and I love that he and Iris worked together to save them but that Iris was the one who actually stopped Dacre with Attie because it shows how a woman will do anything for someone she loves but also because she knows it is right.

The relationships in this book that were created in this book were subtle but adoring because it shows how in times of despair you can always find love and carry that with you no matter what, it will keep you going when nothing else will.

This book is a 5 star read for me, another great book from Rebecca Ross and I will now go and read the rest of her backlist as I suggest you do too because if they are anything like this then I have found myself a new favourite author!

Ruthless Vows was one of my top reads this year and I think it will be many peoples top reads in 2024 for that I do not doubt.