Overall, I really enjoyed this read. As always, her writing is so immersive and atmospheric, which lend itself beautifully to fantasy books. The magic system was very unique, and I ready liked how it was woven into the story and the characters themselves. I also found that I enjoyed many of the relationships between the main and supporting characters, be they positive or negative relationships, all we're well written and realistic within the premise of the story. The story did move slowly for me in the beginning but around the 35% mark it picked up and the more I read the more I was captivated. I flew through the final 30% of it. If I could read it again for the first time, I'd likely pick it up ad a physical copy and annotate the heck out of it. I think this would have helped the beginning more faster for me as I got lost in the world building a number of times.

Huge thank you to Netgalley, Rebecca Ross, and St Martin's Press for this arc to read and review.

This one's for you if you enjoy:
⭐childhood friends to lovers
⭐forbidden love
⭐political intrigue
⭐atmospheric fantasy
⭐gods and goddesses

This is the best book I've read all year. It's not perfect, but Rebecca Ross is a phenomenal writer who crafts heartbreakingly beautiful love stories and weaves interesting plots.

I could not put this down. Ross's prose is beautifully descriptive and the scenes and the world come alive. I loved all of the characters in this, Matilda is an amazing main character. A big highlight for me was her relationship with Bade, the God of War. Their scenes made me super emotional and IMO are one of the best parts of the novel. He had great character progression.

Ross writes romance with a ton of yearning, which is what I want. So many romantasy authors do not write yearning anymore, so this love story actually feels romantic and different than many similar novels. It's more about their souls than the sexual attraction so THANK you for that.

I do think their early interactions could have been expanded upon - a lot of the romance, once it starts, is based off their lingering childhood feelings for each other and we aren't given much insight into their relationship prior beyond a quick meeting or two.

I adore the worldbuilding in this and I hope that we get additional novels about the gods/goddesses in the future. The politics and fear of betrayal is so interesting to read about. This is a world where gods cannot even sleep in fear of being killed for their power so you never know who to trust.

Another small tidbit is that Ross really describes the aroma/smells of people and places and that's not something I come across much, I love it! I cannot wait to read another novel in this world - I loved Divine Rivals but I enjoyed Wild Reverence even more.

The pantheon of gods and goddesses Rebecca Ross has created withe both Wild Reverence and the Letters of Enchantment duology is phenomenal. I genuinely hope she continues to write stories within this universe.

Wild Reverence is my favorite release of Ross's thus far. She's built upon her preexisting magic systems and universe beautifully. I enjoyed getting to know more about the gods and their abilities.

Vincent and Matilda's relationship was pure gold. MMC being mortal and the FMC being a god was role reversal that was refreshing and a nice change of pace in a market that is over saturated with "copy-paste' romantasy. I was fully invested in this love-story that literally spans decades.

It is my sincere hope that Ross is able to make an adult-fiction debut in the near future. She could do so much with this universe and the storytelling is slightly stunted by being in the YA genre.

4 stars! Well done, Rebecca!

This book was a very slow-paced story, but one that offered an in-depth backstory and explained the complexity of the distrust and cruelty between gods and humans. The world-building really underscored just how vicious both sides could be, which made Matilda's journey feel even more daring. The longing between Matilda and Vincent was tender, aching, and perfectly in line with the narrative. However, I'll admit I was caught off guard by some of the romance scenes. I went in expecting a YA tone, and those moments didn't fit the writing style I thought I was settling into, which is just my perspective. That said, the prose itself was beautifully written, and the epilogue was brilliant. It was a seamless tie-in of this book into the wider series and left me curious for what comes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/ Saturday Books for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback.

From the first page of Wild Reverence, I felt pulled and immersed inside the world Rebecca Ross created. It was intimate and epic, absolutely spellbinding.

Ross' world building is spectacular. It's emotional, layered, and absolutely lush. Each word, each sentence, is raw and real. I felt like I was taken into an entirely new realm.

The atmosphere is gripping. The characters that Ross wrote and created are equally as gripping. There's strength, betrayal, devastation and beauty.

Ross wrote a love story for the ages- inevitable, hesitant, and utterly genuine. It is absolutely perfect, full of longing and fondness.

At the end of the book I didn't want it to be the ending. I was waiting to turn the page to find more of the story and was very disappointed when I didn't.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read a highly anticipated release for this year!

Wild Reverence was one of my most anticipated releases of 2025, and I can say with 100% certainty that it did not disappoint. This is quite possibly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read- the mythology and world building Rebecca Ross has sewn into this universe is just impeccable.

When Matilda is first brought into the world, she is born under a six star constellation. A middle class of the gods, she is destined to become a herald for them, passing messages. But she’s the daughter of an Underling goddess and a Skyward god- a union unheard of- and there’s something else hiding in her constellation, yet to be seen.

As she grows up, she reads dream scrolls from the goddess Alva, of a young mortal named Vincent who dreams of her. Their fates are tied together more closely than she realizes, and one day she finds herself involved in a war between Vincent and his uncle, masquerading as his wife. But their feelings begin to grow more real than fake, and as Matilda grows into more of her power, the stakes begin to rise. How far will she go to save the boy she loves?

Wild Reverence releases on September 2nd, and you will not want to miss this addition to the Letters of Enchantment Universe! Thank you to Netgalley and Saturday Books for the arc!

Link is up on Goodreads and will be edited when added to other socials!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wild Reverence for this ARC! I was completely swept away by Wild Reverence — its lush world and the slow-burning romance between a secretive goddess and a lone mortal had me flipping pages long into the night. Matilda’s journey from hardened messenger to vulnerable hero felt achingly real, and Vincent’s inevitable pull toward her threatened to unravel me with every chapter. Ross's prose is poetic and immersive, weaving myth and power plays with emotional precision—every whispered moment felt loaded with longing. Even though the ending felt a bit rushed, I was still left breathless: this is one of those rare reads that resonates long after you close the book.

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book because I thought Divine Rivals was just okay. This one gave more history on the gods and goddesses. It was a slow read.

“I could not hold her any more than I could the wind, but I loved her for it.”

Once again, I am in awe of Rebecca Ross and her prowess with the written word. Her vivid descriptions were immersive and evoked so many different emotions, which is what I strive for in a 5 star read. There was adventure, mystery, betrayal, love, hope, and so much more present between the warp and weave of defying death and fate.

Matilda is the herald of the gods and the only immortal that can travel between realms. With her, we get unique insight into this unique mythology. How this magical world of the gods intertwined with humanity really blew me away.

While the beginning was slower, every detail was a beautiful brick required to expand the world building. I also loved seeing familiar characters and learning more about their lore. This insight into their stories before the events of Divine Rivals really enriched this world and added new meaning to the original duology. But the side characters stole the show for me, especially Bade/Adria and Nathaniel.

There’s so much I could say about the love story between Vincent and Matilda. Between meeting in dreams, a marriage of convenience, countless sacrifices, and a yearning so strong I could feel the ache, this slow burn romance was everything I could’ve asked for.

So much so that I was left wanting more when I finally reached the end. I would’ve gladly read another hundred pages if it meant we got a couple more reunions. But maybe like Vincent, us mere mortals are doomed to always be striving for our next taste of the divine.

And that EPILOGUE?! What a neat way to tie everything together.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Saturday Books are letting me read Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross! I was actually surprised by how much I loved this one since I wasn’t the biggest fan of Divine Rivals and I did not read Ruthless Vows, maybe the difference was that I just didn’t love the audiobook reader and this one I read myself. That said, I think I just enjoyed all the characters more in this, Matilda was such a compelling lead and Vincent’s yearning was top-notch.

I am completely undone 😭😭😭
The pining, the complicated strands of fate & desire, the cunning of Matilda & all the gods, the YEARNING, the tension between callous invincibility & indomitable vulnerability 😭

I was UTTERLY TRANSFIXED by this immersive world of ruthless gods, star-crossed fates, and devoted love!

In this epic standalone romantasy, Rebecca Ross transports the reader to the world of Iris & Roman, before their names ever graced the page.

As Herald of the Gods, and with no one to claim her, Matilda’s only safety is guarding herself from all attachments. All save for the boy who dreams of her.

When Matilda is called upon to deliver Death’s missive to the mortal realm, she quickly finds herself woven into a whirlwind of cunning, with the risk of love her only possible tether.

I did not think I could love Ross’ writing any more than I already did but she has proven me wrong yet again.

Spice: Brief open door scenes, non-descriptive
Language: none
Considerations: on-page violent death, loss of a parent, war descriptions, same-sex relationship of side characters, cutting/blood magic transfers.
Positives: incredibly intricate magic represented through constellations, immersive and lyrical writing which envelops the reader, THE PINING, so many doorways, travels and excursions between the worlds. True love as our tether through the winds & wilds of life.

ALSO THERES AN INVISIBILITY CLOAK, ADVENTURES WITH EITHRALS, ENCHATED RIVER SLIPPERS & THE MAGICAL TYPEWRITERS ARE EXPLAINED

Rebecca Ross returns to the divine with Wild Reverence, an adult romantasy that feels both ethereal and ferocious. Set in the same myth-soaked world introduced in Divine Rivals, this novel shifts our gaze to Matilda, the youngest goddess of her clan, born between under and sky. Her gift is messenger magic, yet what she truly carries is a dangerous secret, one that could unravel her fate if revealed.

Ross has always excelled at weaving words into something spell-like, and here the prose feels especially incantatory. Readers are swept from shadowed burrows to wind-tossed skies, trailing after Matilda as she collides with Vincent, a mortal boy who once dreamed of her. Their bond, severed by time and silence, rekindles with both tenderness and urgency. This is a love story threaded with longing, sacrifice, and the haunting question of what it means to trust when trust can be fatal.

At times the plot is ambitious and winding, with multiple climaxes and loose ends to follow, but Ross delivers a conclusion that feels satisfying and fated. What truly endures is the ache, the kind that keeps a story alive long after the last page is turned.

Wild Reverence is a lyrical, heart-rending exploration of divine power, mortal vulnerability, and love that transcends worlds. Perfect for readers who crave romance steeped in myth, mystery, and a touch of the otherworldly.

This book had everything I hope for when I open a Rebecca Ross novel. Her gorgeous writing is as lyrical and magical as ever. Devouring her words at times felt like being filled with sweetness.

The tenderness and yearning in the romance were everything. I enjoyed seeing a few familiar faces again, as well as meeting and connecting with new gods and goddesses. Experiencing the enchanting worlds she crafted felt like stepping into dreams.

Matilda, Vincent, Bade, and Nathaniel all have my heart! 📜✨

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC! 💚

I kept hearing all the buzz about Rebecca Ross! While I definitely enjoyed this, and Ross gives lots of info to those readers who were silly enough to jump STRAIGHT into this instead of the earlier series (I didn't realize!) it did take me a little while to catch up and figure out the world. Ross has stunning prose and I can tell how long she thinks about her stories before sitting down to write them. Enjoyed this!

Thank you for the opportunity to read.

Wild Reverence - Rebecca Ross

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️

“Asking questions about mortals is a weakness?” “Feeling for them is,” he corrected.

This was a LITERAL dream come true for me!!! First off I couldn’t believe it when I checked my email and saw a copy of THIS. I absolutely loved the Letters of Enchantment duology, so when I saw this I knew I would fall just as hard!!!

I don’t even know where to begin with sharing all of my favourite quotes either! 👀

Wild Reverence brings us back into the Letters of Enchantment world, only this time we are following the story of a goddess. Sadly it isn’t Enva, but don’t you worry. She has a part to play in this novel. 😘

I absolutely loved the progress of this novel. There are a few time skips placed throughout but they are done in a way to hook you back into the story. When things start to get slower, in comes a time skip from out of no where that leaves you on the edge of the seat with the want to know what is happening.

The romance between Matilda and Vincent is a really slow burn so be prepared. Now even where it’s slow burn, you are going to swoon from how sweet/romantic it is. Matilda has been taught to never trust anyone and those that you do hold trust in are few and far between. So watching Vincent slowly crack away at this wall was just so wholesome!!

Will be purchasing a physical copy as soon as possible to at to my collection!!!

3.5 🌟

I wanted to love this... but I didnt.

I loved Devine Rivals so I was so excited to get a copy of this book and it just fell short for me. We didnt get enough of the love story between the main characters. Also, this book was tooo long with too many subplots.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Divine Rivals is one of my Top 10 Favorite Books, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Wild Reverence.

But I was very disappointed by this book. I had zero emotional investment in any of the characters. The MCs barely spent any time together, so the romance was dull and unbelievable. There were so many twists and turns with all the subplots that I would audibly sigh and put down the book in annoyance. And it is long, way too long. While I love a big book, 200 pages and half a dozen subplots could've easily been edited out and not hurt the main story.

This is supposed to be an Adult novel, but it felt so juvenile. Maybe because the FMC is 12/13 for a good quarter of the story, maybe it was the writing. Maybe it was Matilda's personality (or lack thereof). There was an abundance of metaphors and flowery descriptions, but the prose didn't feel as pretty as in Ross's other books.

I did like the epilouge, where Matilda's magic influences Divine Rivals. The only emotional response the book drew from me was when I smiled as she typed an I and an R on the typewriter. 

3.5 stars rounded down to 3, but that's probably higher than it deserves. I love Rebecca Ross and feel bad for not liking it, and I probably wouldn't even write a review sharing my opinion if I hadn't received a free eARC from Netgalley and St Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

This book was everything that I wanted it to be and more! Rebecca Ross takes us back to the Divine Rivals world with this breathtaking Adult Fantasy Pre-qual. After reading this book I want to go and read Divine Rivals and Ruthless vows all over again, as you gain so much background knowledge on the gods. However, you can read this book and enjoy it even if you have never read Divine Rivals or Ruthless vows.

This book is a story of a young goddess Matilda and a mortal man Vincent. It is a breathtaking piece of work where their lives are interwoven. As a young boy Vincent has dreams of Matilda and meets her once when she visits the mortal realm. He prays to her on his darkest winter night when tragedy strikes his home. However, his prayers go unanswered until years later when she emerges thru his tower window. She is the herald of the gods with a letter for him from the god of death. This is where the story gets interesting with a constant battle of Matilda getting pulled across all the realms and being separated from Vincent. This is a wonderful slow burn romance that will have you crying at different times thru out the story. The ending of this book and the tie in to Divine Rivals is spectacular.

I'm so thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful E-ARC. I can't wait to go buy a copy of this book when it releases on 9/2/25!

I really enjoyed the concept of Wild Reverence and the fact that we get some back story for Divine Rivals. Overall, it was an entertaining read but did not leave a lasting impression for me the way Divine Rivals did.

I found the romance between Matilda and Vincent a little dull. They spend so much time separated with very little angst.

I did find Matilda to be an interesting god and I really enjoyed her being born of both realms and navigating between them.

We get this moment at the end of the story that felt like we finally made it, and then the epilogue is Enva calling on Matilda to help her with the typewriters. I felt like I didn't get enough of an ending with Matilda and Vincent and simultaneously did not get enough of the back story with Enva and the typewriters.

If you enjoyed Divine Rivals I still recommend this read because I did like it. I just didn't love it the way I loved DR. It may not be fair for me to compare them, but I can't help it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of Wild Reverence.

I was excited to receive an ARC ebook of Wild Reverence, by Rebecca Ross. This one got off to a slow start, and it took me nearly halfway through before I became invested and couldn't put it down. (Stick with it, you won't be sorry.) In the end, Ross did not let me down. I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC ebook that I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.