Divine Rivals

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Although Ross employs a fantasy setting, how realistic is her depiction of wartime violence, propaganda, and social upheaval? 
• Compare Divine Rivals and its sequel, Ruthless Vows, to Ross’s Elements of Cadence duology, which is designed for an adult audience. In your opinion, which of the two duologies carries a more compelling narrative, and why? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• What harsh lessons do Roman and Iris learn when they become front-line war correspondents and witness the violence of battle firsthand? 
• Roman and Iris’s relationship conforms to the traditional “enemies-to-lovers” romance trope. Have you ever experienced a relationship that began with wariness and hostility and transformed into a friendship or an even closer relationship? What first prompted you to set aside your differences?
• Roman and Iris fall in love amidst an environment of great social and political turmoil. Do you believe that lasting romances can be forged from such intensely life-threatening circumstances?
• Does Ross create a force of undiluted “evil” in her narrative, or are her characters and ethical commentaries more complex?  

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How does Ross use Iris’s experiences at the Oath Gazette to critique the real-world issues of wartime propaganda and censorship?
• Consider the overarching conflict between Enva and Dacre. How do these two gods rally followers to their respective causes, and what implicit parallels can be drawn between this war and notable real-world conflicts?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Why does Roman choose to masquerade as the articulate “Carver” in his correspondence with Iris? How does this element of dramatic irony advance the plot?
• Analyze Roman and Iris’s developing relationship. What key turning points allow them to transcend their initial stance as rivals? 
• Consider the minor character of Zeb Autry, Iris’s boss at the Oath Gazette, who blames Enva for the current conflict. How do his inherent biases exacerbate the chancellor’s outright censorship of certain topics? What broader commentary is Ross making about the ethical responsibilities of journalists?
• Dacre rarely appears in the novel directly; instead, Ross creates a patchwork impression of the hostile god through multiple perspectives and indirect accounts. What effect does this approach have on the tone of the narrative? 
• Compare and contrast how Iris and her mother process their grief over the wartime violence that tears their family apart. How does the significance of the locket shift and change within this context?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Choose one of the letters that Iris writes to Roman when she no longer has access to her typewriter. Imagine that Roman does indeed receive this letter, and write a response from his point of view.
• Imagine a scenario in which the warring gods, Enva and Dacre, must defend their actions before a court or ruling body. What charges might be leveled against them, and how might they rationalize their decisions?