Ruthless Vows - Rebecca Ross

I have to admit, I read this one because of the hype. Divine Rivals was on all the lists, all over Booktok, and seemed to be one of those 'must reads', and I had a bit of FOMO. 
When I read DR, I found it anticlimactic to the hype. This one was no different. Don't get me wrong...it was good. The world building and the stakes and the love story were enchanting, overcoming odds that you weren't sure were possible. But just like with DR, I was left wondering...why bother including the fantasy aspect of the Gods?
The entire plot could have been exactly the same without that fantasy element. With the 1940's feel in the settings and demeanours, it could have easily been WWII rather than a Gods War. In fact, I think I would have liked it better if that had been the case. The Gods inclusion felt shoehorned in, completely without purpose other than for a sense of originality. All the war elements were the same...shrapnel, losing loved ones, fleeing homes and torn apart lovers. I adored the journey of Iris and Roman, each of them striving to overcome their respective odds and find their way back to each other. The supporting characters were fleshed out and nuanced, and really built the story. In reality, if the Gods had been left out, I probably would have given this a full five stars, but I just couldn't get over the sense that they were unnecessary.
Overall, just like with DR, it was a good, original read and I do recommend it for those who love distant love, rivals to lovers, and all the longing of war stories.

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