Beyond the captivating world, the characters truly shone. I absolutely loved them. Each individual felt incredibly real, multi-dimensional, and profoundly human (or whatever fantastical equivalent they might be!). I found myself developing an instant and deep connection with them, cheering for their triumphs, feeling their heartaches, and fearing for their struggles. Their motivations were clear, their growth arcs were compelling, and their relationships — whether friendships, rivalries, or burgeoning romances — were depicted with such authenticity and nuance. They weren't just players in a story; they were companions on an unforgettable adventure, and their voices will resonate long after the final page.

And what can I say about the writing itself? It is, quite simply, superb. The prose is elegant and evocative, painting such vivid pictures in your mind that you feel as if you're watching a film unfold. The descriptions are rich without being overwhelming, and the dialogue is sharp, engaging, and perfectly captures the essence of each character. The pacing is absolutely masterful; there's never a dull moment, with the narrative effortlessly flowing between moments of thrilling action, poignant introspection, and delightful discovery. This isn't just a well-written book; it's a beautifully composed piece of art that showcases the author's remarkable talent.

From the moment I picked it up, I was utterly engrossed. It's truly a page-turner in the best possible sense – I found myself constantly telling myself "just one more chapter" until hours had passed. The combination of the magical story, the beloved characters, and the impeccable writing created an experience that kept me entertained, enthralled, and deeply invested all the way to the very end.

As Divine Rivals was one of my favorite books in 2024, I was very excited to get back into this world to learn more about the gods and magic system that led to the events of that book.
Wild Reverence is an emotional, often heartbreaking journey which includes the kind of external impediments leading to high pining that I expect from Rebecca Ross. The story and characters were intriguing, and I loved following along with them. The gods and goddesses in this iteration only lightly touch on the main players and pieces of Letters of Enchantment. In some ways I wish the book was completely separate from the original duology rather than including an epilogue that takes you back around to the events of that series.
This book is poignant and romantic, though I'm not sure if the HEA is believable. Thus, I would call this a fantasy with some romance, and not a romantic fantasy.

I will admit that “Divine Rivals” has been languishing on my bookshelf screaming “read me, read me” for more than a couple of years. I know that I’ll eventually enjoy the Letters of Enchantment universe, so when offered a chance to read a prequel book that establishes the mythology and atmosphere of the romantasy duology, I jumped at the chance, hoping I’d also be able to remove my forlorn shelved book from my TBR sooner.

This is a prequel that does not include Iris or Roman; it’s a different story of divine Matilda and mortal Vincent. Only at the very end is a whisper of how Matilda’s magic carries forward to affect Iris and Roman (but never named in “Wild Reverence”).

Matilda, was the last divine being born to either the Underlings or Skywards, named but not sired by Bade, the god of war. Her mother Zenia is an Underling; her secret father (oblivious to her existence) is a Skyward; their child was conceived in the land of mortals. Matilda’s magic is that of a lowly herald, a messenger between realms, and she is allied with her Underling mother’s clan members, hopefully protected enough to stop others from stealing her magic and eventually withstand discovery by her real father.

A young mortal boy, Vincent, has envisioned her in his dreams and writes to her for help (of course, since the overarching theme is still letter-writing), but his entreaties go unanswered. Not to say that the disappointment turned him into the sulking lord of the river he is as an adult, but he survives and has forgotten her. Of course, Matilda comes tumbling back into his real life.

The writing is vivid and lyrical and it delivers a romance that I assume fans of “Divine Rivals” and “Ruthless Vows” have been aching for. I was fortunate enough to be able to alternate between advanced copies of the ebook and audiobook. Author Ross has succumbed to the trend of creating longer installments each time. Great if you’ve read and adored her two books first; not so great if you start with “Wild Reverence.” Yes, this is long, long, long. “DR” 10 hours/356 pages; “RV” 14 hours/419 pages; new book “WR” 22 hours/526 pages — doubling the audio book time. Although Hannah van der Westhuysen is a delightful narrator with a magical voice that suits this romantasy, I felt that the story was too stretched out and might not attract new fans. Also, audiobooks that begin with long lists of characters (meant to be bookmarked and helpful in books) are a drudge when listening. Yet, I expect the previous readers of Ross’s stories will be enchanted. Book: 4 stars. Audiobook: 3.5 stars.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Bade has a shade of green eyes that “rival the emeralds that grew in the darkest reaches of the under realm”.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But it’s a fantasy, so magical poisonous flowers are thriving.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing an E-ARC for this novel
NOTE: All opinions shared are my own.
Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross is set to release September 2nd, 2025

I loved this book! I think it suffered because I had a lot going on in my life while reading this, so I will for sure grab a physical copy for a reread. The writing itself felt lyrical, with beautiful descriptions and a great story! The first 100 pages may feel sporadic, but pls continue it , you’ll love it!!!
This for sure felt like a middle of fall/winter read, so I’m excited to get cozy on a winter day and read this book :)

** Check content warnings before reading this book **

Again, thank you so much NetGalley for providing this ARC!

Interesting! Kept my attention almost the entire time. But I have to say I definitely preferred the original duet. I kept more attached to the original cast.

Rebecca Ross has truly done it again. This book was everything I need and wanted after loving the Letters of Enchantment books with all my heart. The story and characters pulled at my heartstrings and made me feel emotions that I haven’t felt in a while. I will 100% be reading this again the second it comes out. Overall, a truly beautiful story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
Listen, I didn't just read this book, I ✨️LIVED✨️ in this book. From beginning to ending, I was enraptured. The world building is so intriguing.
Wild Reverence is such a beautifully written fantasy romance. I was fascinated by Matilda's godhood journey through this book and her evolution as goddess who dared to fall in love with a mortal man. The love felt so tangible and real. You know the swoon worthy, yearning kind? I wish there was more of their happily ever after in the book to enjoy, but in the true course of the book, you just don't know when the last time is when you will see someone. That ending was so bittersweet. ♥︎

Technically, a prequel to the Letters of Enchantment duology, Wild Reverence, is a standalone.

[Themes: fantasy romance, slow burn, true love, gods/goddesses, politics/war, betrayal, found family, unique magic systems, wyverns]
○
Wild Reverence is easily in my top 5 reads of this year.
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Rebecca Ross for the ARC. 🖤

Digital ARC Read

Wild Reverence

Rebecca Ross writes absolutely beautifully and her words flow together like a well written song. She did it again with Wild Reverence! I felt every word and mirrored the emotions like it was my soul experiencing them. The first part of the book obtains a lot of information and sets it up perfectly for the rest of the book. Wild Reverence is a prequel to Devine Rivals and Ruthless Vows and ties them together with a perfect bow.

"But who could hold on to the wind? And— better yet— who would be so foolish as to trust—to love—such a wild being?"

well, I cried like three times, so I guess you can say I liked it. It is beautiful writing, but it is fantasy heavy and might take a minute to get into. You may need to be in a mood for a heavier fantasy novel vs romance, but even so, the romance was still so deep and sweet. This is set in the same world as Divine Rivals, and if you found yourself interested in learning more about the gods and their realms, especially after Ruthless Vows, I think you'll like it.

“If you asked me, I would wait for you until only my bones remained upon an altar. But if you must leave again, then let me follow you, Red.”

I did receive this as an eARC, thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read.

✨ Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross ✨
4.25/5
Rebecca Ross has a way of weaving words that feel both tender and mythic, and this book is no exception. It is a standalone romantasy that sweeps you into a world where gods and mortals coexist (albeit uneasily), and at the heart of it all is Matilda, a goddess burdened with messenger magic, grief, and the impossible task of surviving in the mortal realm.

Her journey is one of self-discovery, resilience, and forbidden connection. The romance between Matilda and Vincent (a mortal lord with whom she shares an otherworldly bond) is pure slow-burn PERFECTION. I mean seriously, it is achingly emotional, gorgeously written, and threaded with the kind of yearning that makes your chest hurt in the BEST way. Their chemistry absolutely leaps off the page, and Vincent was so completely smitten with Matilda that I couldn’t stop swooning. The love letter he wrote?! Quite possibly one of my favorite moments in the entire book, I melted. Their romance was simply magical in every sense of the word.

Ross’s prose is lyrical and immersive, almost dreamlike at times, and the mythology she’s created feels vast and enchanting. I loved the way she wove together celestial magic, godly politics, and a love story that feels destined yet fragile. It was truly just so unique, and I loved that. The dual POV added so much depth, allowing me to fall for both characters individually as well as together.

The side characters also shone so brightly. Bade was a standout for me, I ADORED him and loved watching his growth over the course of the story. Honestly, I would DIE for a book about him and Adria. They added so much richness to the narrative, and I was always excited whenever they appeared on the page.

That being said, the pacing does falter a bit. The book did start off on a slower note and it took me a minute to get pulled into the story; however, once the pacing picked up, I simply could not put it down! I also wished for just a touch more exploration of Matilda’s powers and her place among the gods. Still, these were small quibbles in a story that left me feeling utterly spellbound.

All in all, this book is romantic, emotional, and gorgeously written. It is a story about love, grief, and the courage to choose your own path. If you loved Divine Rivals or are simply craving a lush, character-driven romantasy, this one will absolutely capture your heart. I absolutely think everyone should run to the bookstores on Sept 2nd and pick a copy of this up!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Ross, and St. Martin’s Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 stars

I absolutely loved the love and story between Matilda and Vincent. The novel itself was beautifully written, and the world building around the gods and goddesses was very thorough. My biggest problems lie within the pacing and some of the decisions made by Matilda and Vincent. Because it spans years, the pacing felt a bit choppy at times. Additionally, Matilda and Vincent are both in their 20s for the majority of the novel, but some of their decisions/reasonings felt childish and underdeveloped for being 26. All this to say, I still very much enjoyed the story and Ross's writing.

Thank you to NetGalley & St Martins Press for this ARC

Wild Reverence is gorgeous in every sense. Rebecca Ross immediately reels you in with Matilda, the first and only god born of both the Underlings and the Skywards. You follow her from childhood into adulthood, as she navigates a life shaped by betrayal, growth, love, and the weight of divine power and heritage.

Matilda and Vincent’s bond, from childhood to adulthood, is RAW and unforgettable. I hope they stay with me forever. This standalone was done perfectly.

If you loved Divine Rivals, this book is an absolute must.

This book is like a warm blanket on a cold night. Rebecca Ross’s writing is so beautiful & lyrical, & these characters tugged at my heart strings! I don’t know if I’ve ever read a romance with a love as pure as this! It was also SO heartwarming to see the relationships that Matilda forms with Victor & his people after spending her whole life watching her back 🥺 and BADE 😭

I will say this one was a bit slow for me, and I usually like a bit more tension in my romance. But if you’re looking for a cozy fantasy romance that you can just relax into, this is the one for you.

There’s also a fantastic call back to Divine Rivals at the end that was just perfection.

Thank you to NetGalley & St Martins Press for this ARC

First of all, I have to say that I loved Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows! This book was no exception! I love the uniqueness of the magic and Rebecca Ross makes you fall for the characters she writes in the best way possible! Matilda is a goddess, and she is a herald who brings messages. She must grow up quicker than most. Also, this book is set in the world of Divine Rivals, so we get to learn more about the gods which makes Divine Rivals even better!!! Rebecca Ross is quickly becoming an auto buy author for me and I am here for everything she writes!!!

This story is infinitely better than Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows. I liked those fine, but this was amazing.

It has been a while since I read the duology so I was nervous I would struggle with the story. That was not the case. It may have helped, but I remembered Enva, Dacre, and a few other gods/goddesses. It was neat to know a bit more of Enva who seemed mysterious in the Letters of Enchantment duology. Even if I hadn’t read her previous books though, it would not have impeded the story. The epilogue sets up for Divine Rivals, but this is a separate tale set much earlier.

I will say it was a bigger book at almost 550 pages, and it took me a while to get through, but mostly because I wished to savor it. Rebecca Ross is a queen of poetic prose. Reading quickly would have inhibited the imagery.

No notes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Ross, and St. Martin’s Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is easily the best ARC I have read to date.

Wow what a beautiful, one of a kind story this book is. The most perfect book about love and loss and all that comes with it. I don’t even have words to describe how much I loved this story it was one of my favorite reads of the year and I think I’ll be looking to read any book she puts out going forward, what a ride. This book is technically a prequel to Devine Rivals and focuses more on the gods from the perspective of one god child in particular named Matilda. She is a child of an underling and a skyward god and experiences the court politics of the gods with a front row seat and learns how cruel and deceptive and hungry they are for power from a young age. I loved the way their magic worked and was explained so well you could see it.
Matilda builds a connection with a mortal Vincent from childhood and we explore that throughout the book and see where it leads Matilda as an adult on a path she never expected and creates changes in her she didn’t see coming. She also learns a lot about love from a paternal standpoint when she meets her father as a teen and develops a relationship with him as well as Bade the god of war that was her mothers ally below and swore a salt vow to protect her at all costs which leads to training her to fight and defend herself as well as remaining sly and ahead of the others. My favorite was her relationship with Bade growing over the years 🥹 So much happens in Matilda’s life and we also get the perspective of Vincent who is a wonderful character with a heart of gold. If I had one complaint it’s that we didn’t get more of their relationship developing, their love felt so tangible and real but I just wanted more, I guess that’s part of the point of the story though sometimes you just have to make the most of any encounter you get with someone because you never know when it will be the last and life is fleeting 💕
I can’t recommend getting your hands on this book enough next week when it comes out, I just preordered because it’s also the most beautiful shelf trophy and I’ll definitely be reading this again 🥰 Thank you St Martins Press and NetGalley for the arc and can’t wait to see what everyone thinks of this beautiful story!

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this on ebook from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: Despite not really being in the mood for a more serious book like this, I was riveted by the story. This was beautifully written, and following Matilda's rather strange and difficult path through her godhood was fascinating. The love story is amazing as well. I didn't realize that this is a prequel to the Letters of Enchantment duology until the end, and this made me want to go back and re-read that duology.

In this story, we follow Matilda. She was born Underneath and is kept apart from the Skygods by her mother. Matilda has the power of messenger magic. When her mother suffers a horrible fate, Matilda finds herself thrown into a new life. A life constantly at risk from other gods who want her power. Her only solace is Vincent. Matilda started to visit Vincent's dreams at a young age, and when his kingdom is at risk she decides to make her powers known and support him. The hope is that they can rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods and maybe even find happiness.

This is beautifully written, and you are pulling for Matilda throughout the story. She initially leads a fairly sheltered life for a God until she finds herself thrust into a situation that requires daring and smarts to survive. The Gods are after each other's power and she can never be sure who to trust. Matilda and Vincent both go through a lot of trials and change throughout the story, and I greatly enjoyed watching them grow and fall in love.

I didn't realize until the end that this was a prequel to the Letter of Enchantment duology. This story does an amazing job really broadening the world and filling in the history.

I was captivated by this story from the first page and couldn't put it down. This was a story that practically read itself. I almost put off reading this because I wasn't in the mood for a more serious fantasy novel, however I am glad I went ahead and read it. I do try and read review books the month before they come out, so I had to get this one read soon.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this. This was a beautifully written story that sucks you right in and practically reads itself. I loved how this expanded on (and better explained) the world behind the Letters of Enchantment duology. I would highly recommend to fans of that series. I would also recommend if you are looking for a beautifully written fantasy romance with amazing world-building and characters that is about gods and humans trying to survive.

If there's one thing Rebecca Ross does, it's write poetic, epic fantasy. Her world building is so intriguing to me, her magic systems are fascinating, and her characters are all fleshed out beautifully. I love a slow-burn romance, especially mortal x immortal, and Ross delivers in spades. A man who yearns is a man who earns, amiright ladies and gents?

I'm not giving a full five stars because I did have a little slower of a start getting pulled in, but, as always, I am left with a sense of loss after finishing one of Ross' novels.

If you're wanting more of the same Letters of Enchantment storyline, Wild Reverence is your next read.

Final rating: 3.25–3.5 stars

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I absolutely adore Rebecca Ross’s work - her Letters of Enchantment and Elements of Cadence duologies are among my favourites, and she remains one of my all-time favourite authors.

That being said, I have to be honest that this one didn’t resonate with me in the same way. While the atmosphere was beautifully set, as always with Ross, it felt a bit less immersive than usual, almost as though I was observing from a birds eye view rather than being fully swept into the story. I struggled to feel a strong connection to the characters, and that made the stakes and events land with less impact than I had hoped.

I did appreciate learning more about the gods introduced in Divine Rivals, and I especially loved the final chapters, which tied some threads together. However, the pacing felt uneven for me, and the prose, which I usually find so lyrical and beautiful to read, sometimes came across as overly drawn out here. It ended up taking me much longer to finish than her past novels, which I normally race through in just a few days - this one took me weeks, and I did not feel motivated to pick it up.

Overall, while I’m a little disappointed, I’m still so grateful to have read this early and remain excited for whatever Ross writes next. I have no doubt many readers will connect with this story in ways I didn’t.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Rebecca Ross, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book was phenomenal—Rebecca Ross did not disappoint!

We’re back in the world of Divine Rivals, but in many ways, this felt like a prequel. We’re given a deeper look into the Divines, how their magic works, and even the creation of the enchanted typewriters—why they exist and how they function. It adds such rich depth to a world I already loved.

I want to gush endlessly about this epic fantasy, but I’ll keep it spoiler-free. Matilda has easily become one of my favorite female main characters ever. Her heartbreak, her raw vulnerability, and her fierce, violent love for those close to her leapt off the page. The way she defends the people she loves made me root for her success every step of the way. Her complicated relationships with her parents and her godfather also felt incredibly human, the kind of story you could find in our own world.

This book gave me a serious book hangover. Even when I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it. I tried picking up something else, but these characters and this world just wouldn’t let go.

"Do you want to be loved or feared? Do you want to be remembered or forgotten?" Whew, what heavy questions to ask a child..

Rebecca Ross is a genius at both world-building and character work. There were no wasted side characters here—everyone mattered and contributed to the story’s momentum. Some moments had me grabbing tissues, others had me yelling at the page, and then there were clever, lighthearted bits that made me smile. The emotional rollercoaster was everything I could’ve asked for. Rebecca Ross has the ability to create stories that feel epic, timeless, and deeply human.

At her core, Matilda always led with her heart, and that made this story beautiful. A world where mortals interact with the divine realms above and below? Absolutely sensational.

This story has it all: high stakes, forbidden love, betrayal, found family, action, and a deeply satisfying ending. It made me want to dive back into Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows immediately. Wild Revenance is jaw-dropping, heart-shattering, and unforgettable.


I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press | Saturday Books, and Rebecca Ross for the opportunity to read and review this stunning novel.