✨Wild Reverence✨

Rebecca Ross quickly became a favourite author of mine when I read the Elements of Cadence duology a couple years ago. Wild Reverence is her upcoming book which is a prequel to the Letters of Enchantment duology (Divine Rivals). While Divine Rivals isn’t my favourite of her work, I was still curious to see what this would add to the world. It can be read as a standalone.

Wild Reverence certainly has the lush and beautiful writing style that I love in any Rebecca Ross story. I just love the way she brings the reader right into the moment and has me vividly imagining each scene. Wild Reverence certainly expands the world as the reader experiences additional realms. While I liked Matilda and Vincent’s characters and the events they experienced, part of me kind of wondered if I really needed this story or more from the original duology. It was enjoyable overall, but part of me had that lingering thought. The final acts were definitely the most engaging and I definitely found myself more hooked into the characters and the story. I think that really improved the overall experience. There wasn’t anything wrong with the story per say I just felt kind of indifferent earlier on. Bade was definitely my favourite character even though he wasn’t a POV character, I’d actually love his story as a prequel if any more were being considered.

As I mentioned before, it can definitely be read as a standalone. You would miss some easter eggs but plot-wise you would be totally fine. The story had a lot of elements that I think people will enjoy, and it definitely has a lot of emotion woven throughout it. I think I’m just stuck on if the original duology really needed expansion. I love Rebecca Ross’ writing though and I will continue to pick up her work!

A huge thank you to @stmartinspress & @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! Wild Reverence is out on September 2, 2025!

⭐3.5/5 stars⭐

I liked Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows but I didn't LOVE them, and so I was intrigued to see what Ross would do with a standalone in that world--because the worldbuilding was, I thought, the most intriguing bit of that duology. Well, it's okay, but it's not a hit for me overall and I should probably just call it quits with Ross as I've now read four of her books but haven't given more than three stars to any of them.

For this one, there are two big flaws. First, the beginning quarter of the book is about Matilda, our goddess main character, as a child, basically from birth to age thirteen. This is a WEIRD choice for a book that is specifically marketed as a romance, because she is a literal child. There are some fleeting encounters with Vincent, the love interest, but nothing major. Most of this time is devoted to worldbuilding, which made the pace drag a bit even though I liked the individual characters we were seeing. It also took me quite a bit to work out that we are like CENTURIES earlier than Divine Rivals took place, because that IS NOT CLEAR at all until we're suddenly talking about knights on horses and such.

Second, this is a romance that HEAVILY relies on the premise "they met twice and now they are In Love." Believing this story and the relationship between Matilda and Vincent AT ALL relies on just accepting that they're in love without actually seeing them FALL in love in any way. They literally meet twice, and only once in person, as children, and then like thirteen years later they meet each other again and are like "Yup, we love each other." I don't think this actually works; there is no relationship building to make me feel invested in this couple, and while there are some nice moments between them, they really feel like they should have been used as building blocks rather than as a final relationship status. As this book is, once again, a romance, it feels EXTREMELY FLIMSY at best.

I do like some death/soul magic, though, and I enjoyed the found family aspect of Bade as Matilda's father figure even though he is not actually her father.

Just an FYI for anyone considering this book, it is essentially both a standalone and part of a series. It's technically the prequel to Divine Rivals, but it's so removed from that series that it might as well be a standalone. It is based in the world of the gods of the Divine Rivals series, which I personally always found to be the weakest part of those novels.

I DNF'd this, unfortunately. It felt like Ross read Circe and thought, "Hey, I wanna do that too!", however her world building and mythology is not on the level of Greek mythology. While I appreciated Ross' lyrical prose in Divine Rivals, it feels so incredibly overwrought and downright purple in Wild Reverence. I say that as someone who rated Divine Rivals 5 stars, so I know I can enjoy Ross' writing, I just didn't like this novel.

If you're looking for something like Divine Rivals, this one is not it. It's an overly complicated, relentlessly flowery tome that will find a lot of people tapping out before the end (where I see other reviewers say something actually happens).

4.5 ⭐️ I loved this so much!

True love is more divine than any ruthless god.

As Fate would have it, Matilda and Vincent were destined to find each other beyond dreams. There may be a chance for Matilda to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, but at immense sacrifice. She will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: to be vulnerable, and to allow herself to finally be loved.

The way this book had me DEVOURING every page, I loved this story and these characters. I loved the tie into Divine Rivals but also that it wasn't the main focus of this books. Matilda & Vincent's story was beautiful. Highly recommend this to adults who read Divine Rivals and loved it, this story is a great backstory on the gods and the magic.

Wild Reverence is a beautifully written fantasy about a goddess and a mortal boy, who once dreamed of her. Their story is full of magic, secrets, and slow-burn romance. The world feels rich and real, and the characters are easy to care about.
Rebecca Ross blends emotion, mythology, and powerful writing in a way that makes the story unforgettable. If you like fantasy with romance, strong characters, and a bit of danger, this book is definitely worth reading.

Thank you netgalley for an arc of Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross

Words can’t explain how beautiful this book was! Easy 5 stars for me. If you are a fan of Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vow, you will definitely love this one. It had my attention from the start and it takes you on a journey that had twists I hadn’t been expecting. This book made me feel so many different emotions while reading it. The yearning was top tier and made my heart ache for Matilda and Vincent. The writing was so beautiful and lyrical. I always feel fully immersed into the story because of the way Rebecca writes. The way she is able to weave the story together with all of the different characters is just beautiful. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Rebecca Ross, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a copy of this arc.

So I’m still a little speechless. This book was… incredible. Brilliant, magical, breathtaking, and a little devastating. I felt every single emotion while reading it and I enjoyed it so much.

Matilda and Vincent are my babies forever and ever. I loved them both so much and just want to give them a hug.

Now it did take me two weeks to read this (where normally it takes me like 2-5 days to finish a book) which is probably why it wasn’t a higher star rating but I still loved it so much!! My lack of motivation unfortunately made this a less enjoyable experience for me personally but it’s still absolutely incredible.

I think this was on purpose cause it was a prequel, but the plot felt a little too predictable for me. The foreshadowing was excellent and everything was done brilliantly, Rebecca Ross’s style of writing is so scrumptious and I want to consume everything she’s ever written. But I wasn’t surprised by… anything? Like I knew practically every single thing that was going to happen which made some of the bigger things that happened a little less shocking and fun, but I still adored it.

Overall it was a gorgeous amazing wonderful read and journey that I sincerely hope everyone will want to go on. This is an adult book that takes place in the Divine Rivals universe a few hundred years before the events of divine rivals!! Do not let my little details make it so you don’t want to read it, it’s absolutely amazing and I adored it, I just maybe wasn’t in the right mood for it whenever I read it which is 100% my fault.

I cannot wait for everybody to meet my babies and get to read this beautiful story 🫶

absolutely stunning! that epilogue wow :’)

Ross’s writing is immersive, transportive poetry and I feel like I’m floating in a dream world any time I read her words. This prequel of sorts to the world of Divine Rivals was beautiful and I’m so happy it exists.

Full transparency, I slogged my way through the first 30% and ended up temporarily putting it down until
the mood felt right again (it was hot as hell and I was melting in all that world building despite the beautiful world it so clearly is). Picked it back up during a road trip in the mountains and enjoyed so much more so I definitely think reading this in colder seasons will add a little more magic to the experience.

I loved the overarching plot of a messenger goddess and the magical abilities of the Divines although I wish this had been explained in a bit more detail. At times, it felt like things were meant to be understood but there had been no previous context given so it was a little confusing keeping track consistently.

On consistency, I think some readers will find the pacing to ebb oddly at times but also beautifully flow throughout the book. It wasn’t a lurching difference but it was noticeable both in the Letters of Enchantment duology (primarily in Ruthless Vows) and here in Wild Reverence.

For the romance subplot as this definitely veers more in a Fantasy Romance category and less Romantasy, I adored both characters and it’s undeniable that Rebecca has a skilled hand in penning an angst driven love story. I devoured every second of Matilda and Vincent being together but those moments were few and far and between so I found myself feeling bereft on the loss of more romance by the end. There is on page spice but it’s very minimal (like, maybe one page) and I appreciated this amount as any more may have felt gratuitous.

What truly captivated me was the epilogue. One of the most perfect endings I’ve ever read. I do think though, for this to impact other readers the way it did for me, I recommend reading the Letters of Enchantment duology first.

“𝘐𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥”

I loved everything about this book. Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows are a beautiful duology, but this book? Absolute perfection. Rebecca’s writing is whimsical and magical, with a special way of pulling at your heartstrings and keeping you immersed until the very end.

From the very first chapter, I knew Matilda’s journey was one I would want to follow. We’re immediately swept into political intrigue, one of my favorite magic systems, and a cast of exceptional secondary characters. The gods exist in a cutthroat world where alliances shift rapidly and killing is a means to seize another’s power, creating constant high stakes and tension.

Matilda is considered a lower-tier god, traveling between realms to deliver messages and remaining seemingly invisible to those seeking power. But she’s quickly thrust into a dangerous quest, where we also witness a dreamlike first encounter with a romantic interest. Once the dual POV began, I was completely locked in.

Step aside Anthony Bridgerton, Vincent is the definition of a man who YEARNS. I’m not typically a slow burn lover, but this book masterfully creates the ache of 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵. Every single character in this book has depth. They have complex motivations, strengths & flaws, and relatable humanity. Bade… you are everything. The relationship he and Matilda share is truly a highlight of this story.

I didn’t want this book to end and my only critique is that I want MORE.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Ross and St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books for this eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

If you’ve read Divine Rivals, you’ll enjoy this prequel of the divines. If you haven’t read Divine Rivals, you’ll still enjoy this book about gods and mortals.

What a beautifully written story. While I struggled at first to get engaged, because it is a long bit of world building, the story itself was worth it. The love story was so well done, but what really stood out was the relationships between other characters, the stand in fathers and the sibling bonds.

The first book of Rebecca Ross I read was The Queen’s Rising and I loved it. I also loved Divine Rivals so I was excited when I was approved to read the ARC of her new book set in the Divine Rivals series.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Overall, I enjoyed the book immensely. I love how the book connected to the Divine Rivals series but also made its own impression as a standalone. You can read it without knowing Divine Rivals but it does come back around in the epilogue.
I would say that a couple of characters could have been cut, as it can be confusing sometimes to remember each god and their power, not to mention the mortal characters you are introduced to. But aside from that, the story was easy to follow and I felt the main characters were fully developed.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/NetGalley for a chance to read this STUNNER - I feel so lucky I got my hands on this ARC 🤭

I loved this book! The world-building goes hard as hell & it was so easy to imagine yourself standing inside the story. It's beautifully written and the romance was just.. GOD. It had me choked up at times. Vincent is the LOVE of my entire LIFE!!!!!!

I'd probably give this a 4.25/4.5 (rounded up because I have taste, of course). I LOVE this as its own complete story, but as a prequel(?) to DR, I felt like there could've just been... more. More about Dacre & Enva... and the mystery of their wedding feast! Also - what happened between Thile & Zenia? Why didn't Matlida beat the everloving sh** out of Phelyra? I'm left with SO many questions. I hope there's a 'Letters of Enchantment' #0.1 - 0.9 :)

The fact that I can’t stop thinking about this book speaks for itself.
In all honesty the only reason it took me so long to finish was that I’m on a trip and the book is long to binge in one day.
I loved reading about this world once more, the little Easter eggs here and there from Letters of Enchantment were so fun I’d recommend reading the previous series that was set in this world before Wild Reverence.
The vibes were so fall and winter coded I could cry, for lovers of men who yearn you got the definition here!! Vincent, the man you are!!
Reading this book felt like going into the mists, the amounts of emotional damage, the magical setting, the immortal creatures, and world building are all impossibly, beautifully written. I immaculately drifted away while reading about all the realms and Matilda. Though I cannot emotionally recover, I loved how everything turned out and it made so much sense.
Reading this book felt poetic, it draws me inside so deep I want to live there. And no, I would never understand why would anyone hate this book, it is, by no mistake, a new favorite for me, I’ll forever cherish these words I am saying, I felt bewitched reading this book more than I have ever felt before.
Maybe I am deep in my feels and this spoke to me somehow, but isn’t that what everyone seeks? A book—or anyone, anything, really—that speaks to their soul? It seems so to me.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange of a honest review.

I am not at all surprised how much I enjoyed reading this amazing book. Rebecca Ross has an amazing way of sucking you in to her magical world. This standalone story was beautifully written and is by far one of my top favorites this year.

Everything a fantasy book fan would want is in this book.
Magic
Mythical gods
Once in a lifetime love
Yearning
Found Family
Loss
Life altering choices
Character growth
Lies/ Deception

This is part of the Divine Rival world. You do not need to read Divine Rivals to read this standalone.
This is a wonderful fantasy story that no one should sleep on.

The book itself was quite interesting had a lot of world building of the gods and magic system however I didn’t love the horoscope magic system, It was very nice to be back in the Divine rival world again!

I love a good prequel - and Wild Reverence is a great one!

As a fan of the Letters of Enchantment duology, I was thrilled to dive into a story that expands the world I already loved. Wild Reverence works beautifully as a standalone, but for readers familiar with the original series, there are plenty of satisfying connections to discover.

At the heart of the story is Matilda, a young goddess with the rare ability to travel between Skyward, the Mortal Lands, and the Underworld. As the youngest of the gods, she must come into her own power while navigating threats from all realms. Her journey is both gripping and emotional, especially when she begins to encounter Vincent, a third-born noble, in his dreams. Their mysterious bond adds a rich layer of intrigue and romance to the story and will both break your heart and mend it back up.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was how Matilda’s fear never defined her. She struggled, failed, and triumphed in turn, which made her incredibly relatable and easy to root for. I also appreciated how clearly the world-building was laid out - the gods, the realms, the rules - it all felt cohesive and easy to follow without sacrificing depth.

Wild Reverence is a great addition to the Letters of Enchantment universe and a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books for the advance digital copy, all opinions are my own.

3 stars, sadly this book did not live up to my expectations and I’ve been conflicted on what to rate it. It’s taken me a few days to mull over my thoughts, I was so excited to get this arc, this book has been my most anticipated read this year. Rebecca Ross is one of my favorite authors and if she writes it, I’m going to read it.

With that being said, the first 60% of this book was SO SLOW. The pacing, the story, the character development, inched along. I feel like a lot of the first 60% could have been edited a little more to cut down on the excess to clean up the story and help the pace move along better. This book took me awhile to finish because I was really struggling with how slow it was. The entire time I was reading I felt like I was waiting for something to happen.

The last 40% of the book did pick up and the story and pacing got much better. I still felt a little underwhelmed with the story and the romance overall.

Matilda and Bade were very well written and I loved their relationship and how it developed over the years. Vincent did not feel very fleshed out to me.

Rebecca Ross has a very beautiful writing style and that definitely shines through in this book. I did enjoy seeing the world of letters of enchantment before Iris & Roman enter the picture.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Ross, and the publisher for this ARC.

✨Love amongst immortals is a weakness✨
✨Forgive me, but I must kiss you now✨
✨A goddess who loved a mortal✨

This book was everything I love in a read — magical, romantic, heartbreaking, and beautifully written.

We follow Matilda, a young goddess trying to find her place in both the divine and human realms, and Vincent, a mortal boy-turned-man wrestling with the weight of his past and the dreams he thought he’d lost. Their lives inevitably intertwine in ways that feel fated yet achingly human. The result is a story that lingers long after the last page.

PS you don’t need to read Divine Rivals first to enjoy this one, though I’ve heard there are some lovely Easter eggs that longtime fans will especially appreciate.

If you’re looking for a story that sweeps you away with romance, myth, and heart, this one is absolutely worth adding to your list. 💫

Her writing is addicting! I can’t wait to have this in my hardback coming later this year. Going back into this world was done so so well—different but familiar. I think her writing is so poetic and beautiful. Well done. No notes.

Reading books by Rebecca Ross leaves me feeling as if I am a god from her stories, drinking in her prose until I’m heady with lush worlds and romantic tales.

I would insist that the reader needs to have read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows to fully appreciate this tome.

Matilda’s beautiful life enraptured me like the Gatekeeper’s unquenchable thirst for story.

I love that Vincent craved a simple life and Ross portrays that as admirable in a genre that exalts swords and wars.

Ross left a few minor things open ended allowing for more tales of the gods of Cambria and I eagerly hope for more from this world.