I devoured this audiobook in one day

& other bookish tidbits

Thank you for reading the Wednesday edition of The Eclectic Reader! Here, you can expect book reviews, reading reflections, English teacher-y tips, and more. Today’s installment includes an audiobook review and quick snapshots from my reading life. The best way to support this newsletter is to become a paid subscriber, but if that isn’t the right fit for you right now, I would love for you to share The Eclectic Reader with a bookish friend.

I’ve been off my audiobook game for months now. I start listening to a book and quit about 25% in—even if it’s a book I like. I scroll my Libro.fm app to find an exciting new title and feel nothing but apathy. I opt for silence instead of stories in the car because my toddler has a LOT to say (in the cutest voice).

I’m accustomed to rolling with the ebbs and flows of my reading life, but I still like to assess what’s working well, what’s lacking, and what I’d like to change. In the case of my audiobook fatigue, I think I’ve cracked the code.

For now, in this toddler-chattering-always-mutlitasking-mom-brain phase of my life, audiobooks seem to only work well for me if I can listen in large chunks at a time—about 45 minutes to an hour or more per listening session. I can listen to an audiobook during a four mile hike, for an hour of meal prep, or on a road trip, but in bits and pieces, it won’t stick in my brain. Like…at all.

This discovery took several weeks of paying attention to my listening habits, quitting a bunch of books, and finally, FINALLY finding a fantastic audiobook I could not put down. The key: I didn’t have to put it down because I listened to most of it during a four hour drive.

An Unputdownable Audiobook (and possible 2023 favorite)

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross landed in my Bookstagram feed thanks to

Hannah Doan Williams

but like most book recommendations, it took multiple sightings to make its way to my actual TBR. Jamie B. Golden of The Popcast recommended it as a Green Light, describing it as a better romantic fantasy alternative to Fourth Wing (I totally agree). In possession of an extra audiobook credit, I downloaded the book AND pre-ordered the sequel, releasing in December.

I am glad I have the sequel to look forward to because I am HOOKED!

Divine Rivals opens with a heartbreaking goodbye between Iris Winnow and her brother Forest on his way to join a war between the gods. A few months later, Iris still hasn’t heard from her brother, and her only hope of climbing out of poverty is a promotion to columnist at the Oath Gazette. At work, she clashes with the handsome and suave Roman Kitt, a fellow writer vying for the same promotion. At home, she sends letters to her brother and slips them beneath her closet door.

One day, a return letter appears on the floor of her bedroom, except it isn’t from Forest. She writes back, then they write back, and the regular correspondence keeps her spirits up during a time of unimaginable grief. With the help of a magical typewriter, the letters follow Iris from the buzzing newsroom of the Gazette to the front lines of a bloody war, where she discovers love, friendship, and found family.

This novel reminded me of Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal, a historical fantasy novel set during WWI. Though Ross’ novel is not explicitly set in the real world, it slowly reveals WWI-inspired world building. As someone who doesn’t love a ton of explanation and detail in her fantasy novels, I found Divine Rivals to be perfectly balanced. Ross exposes details of the war, the culture, and the characters in perfect timing with the plot, making it a page-turning (or non-stop listening) read. I loved the audiobook, narrated by Alex Wingfield and Rebecca Norfolk, but I believe I would adore this novel just as much on the page.

Note: Divine Rivals does not shy away from topics like alcoholism, suicidal thoughts, depression, and war. It is not a violent or glorifying novel of war, but it is a realistic one in terms of tone and emotional impact. It mashes genres as a New Adult Romantic Fantasy novel and includes some smooching, but I’d rate it one chili pepper for a fade to black scene.