⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

Wild Reverence pulled me in right from the start with Rebecca Ross’s signature lyrical writing and rich, immersive world. Matilda, the youngest goddess of the under realm, is such a unique and compelling main character — I loved how her power wasn’t rooted in dominance but in quiet strength, loyalty, and vulnerability. Her journey felt both intimate and epic, balancing divine stakes with deeply human emotions.

The dynamic between Matilda and Vincent had me hooked. Their connection was tender yet powerful, blurring the line between dream and reality in a way that made their relationship feel magical but also raw and real. The political tension, the ancient rivalries, and the layered mythology gave the story so much depth, and the emotional weight carried through every page.

If I had one critique, it’s that the pacing slowed a little in places — Ross’s lush prose is gorgeous, but sometimes it lingered a bit too long and interrupted the flow. Still, that’s a minor thing in an otherwise breathtaking story.

Overall, Wild Reverence was enchanting, emotional, and unforgettable. It’s a story about sacrifice, hope, and love blooming in the unlikeliest of places — and it absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.

Rebecca Ross is a goddess. She tore my heart out multiple times and gave it back to me. Beautiful descriptions, emotionally beautifully character arcs, sweeping grandeur of the intersections of the realms of gods, goddesses, and mortals, expansions and connections to the Divine Rivals world, all tethered with a sweet, soulmate type of yearning slow burn romance.

I was immediately drawn into the lush fantasy world of the gods with their betrayals, motivations, and the balance between the divine and the mortal. Matilda's journey through this world is fraught with grief and betrayal which she has to fight through to grow in her own strength to her authentic self. Her decisions are at times heartbreaking but ultimately lead her into creating her own way without letting others control or define her. We also get Vincent's point of view and how he has navigated this world as a mortal. He is a tender soul who loves with all his heart even through all the horrific betrayals and feelings of abandonment. He never gives up on "Red" and is the embodiment of yearning. My one critique is that I wanted more happy moments with Matilda and Vincent as they had endured so much to make their way back to one another.

The ending made me smile with its connections to Divine Rivals. The wardrobe, the letters, the typewriters, the scorching love. So many delightful parallels and further explanations of the world of the gods that give me a deeper appreciation for this world. Read this book!

Simply beautiful.

As I read this book, I went back and forth on how I would rate it. You guys, that ending was perfect.

This was a long one, that is my main complaint. I found myself rolling my eyes at all the side plots. At the time, I found them annoying. They did, however, all play a role in how Matilda reached the end of her story. I can agree that it was all worth it.

I loved this love story. It had everything you need between true love and heartache and believing in the one you trust your souls with…I couldn’t have written this any better.

If you are struggling with how long it is, please keep going. I almost gave up twice, but trust me the second half is better and there is a HEA at the end for Matilda and Vincent. Just trust the process.

I loved how the epilogue made the connection between this book and the duology after. It was chefs kiss.

*_An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to the author and St Martins Press for an early copy of this book for my review!

I loved Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross I felt it was so unique and well written that when I saw a story stemming from the gods of that world I was very intrigued and knew I would want to read it.

I enjoyed this book I think the premise was really good I loved Matilda I loved learning about the gods and my favourite character was definitely Bade and I want a whole book on his story alone. I loved the story of growth of the gods and how you can do so much good and be forgotten.

I do really think the story of this is so well thought out and the magic and the way it passes on is so imaginative and like nothing I have read before. Her writing as always is beautiful, and I loved the way it progressed for the most part.

It has tropes of, found family, marriage of convenience and friends to lovers. There are some open door scenes but it’s not too spicy.

When I was reading this I thought it would be 5 stars but I felt there were some lulls in places and it made it feel too long for me, that lost the appeal so that’s why it’s a 4. But it’s still a very good book I enjoyed and will think about!

A huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for letting me read and review this book before it is released to the public.
Good Heavens, I enjoyed this book so much. This book follows the life of Matilda, Herald of the gods, who is born to Zenia (an Underling Goddess) and an unknown Skyward god. I initially learned about some of the Skyward and Underling gods in the Letters of Enchantments books but it is not necessary to read them before jumping into Wild Reverence. As Matilda is raised by her mother in the Underling word (Underground) we see who her true and perceived allies are, how cold and competitive life can be for the gods and goddesses, and how true love can bend and change even the wills of the gods. While Matilda is initially considered a fairly powerless, and lowly herald (messenger) of the gods she learns cunning from her mother, how to fight from Bade (God of War), and she meets Vincent, a mortal boy, who Alva allows her to visit in his dreams. Matilda and Vincent have this incredible bond that ties them together throughout the course of their lives and they fight so hard through so many challenges together. Everyone’s lives are tapestries being woven by the fates throughout the story and yet Matilda shocks everyone when she claims unknown and unseen stars. She angers important gods in the skyward and Underling realms, making her life very challenging for most of the book. There is love, war, jealousy, death, life, defying death. So much going on in this story but Rebecca Ross does not miss when it comes to her world building, the incredibly deep characters that she writes, the longing and yearning between those “who could never be”, the beautiful lyrical writing. Gosh, this book is truly such a treat and some of the “back story” for the gods that we see in “Divine Rivals” and “Ruthless Vows”.

Possible triggers:
War
Death
Two open door scenes (while there are written fairly well and without feeling uncomfortable in my opinion, they are still considered open door)
Parental Abandonment
Seeing family killed
Deep wounds

This book was so good. I love Rebecca Ross so lets get real I knew I was going to like this and I so did. I am such a sucker for a marriage of convience and this did not disappoint. The characters were so well done, I loved how this world was already set in one that we have already seen so it just expanded on what we already knew. Everything about this was just fantastic. If you love her other books then you must read this one

5 stars

"I would wait a thousand years for you. If you asked me, I would wait for you until only my bones remained upon an altar."

I am in awe of the beauty of this story. This book broke my heart, then stitched it back up together, piece by piece.

Set in the world of Divine Rivals, Wild Reverence is told through the POV of a goddess and that of a mortal. While I love DR and RV, it was interesting to see the focus shift on the gods and goddesses, how they interacted with each other, their plots and betrayals and alliances. Getting to know Matilda was a joy, and her love story with Vincent was heart-wrenching yet delightful. The writing made the whole book, with its romance and storylines, even more beautiful and intriguing. I liked seeing some familiar faces, and meeting new ones.

I am so excited for everyone to read this; I believe it's a story that will stay with you for a while.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy.

I think the central plot line if this story was very unique and something I haven’t really seen done. As always Rebecca Ross writing is beautifully unique! I really really loved the yearning in the romantic plot line of the story. The beginning did start a little slow for me but the ending more than made up for it. Overall 4.5 ⭐️

I had to pause before I wrote this review. Because the ending was so good to this book. It's an ending you have to just sit with for a bit. I have never read one of Rebecca's books before. I didn't realize it was both a standalone and a prequel

This story spans decades. It spans realms. It has mortals and gods and magical creatures. It's full of fantasy and love. Familial love. Brotherly love. Romantic love. It's poetic and vivid. Matilda and Vincent are well written characters. I love that they meet as children and, in a way, grow up together. I enjoyed the dual POVs and how we as readers get to move through their lives with them. The world building was rich and full. I'd even recommend this book to non fantasy readers because the story is that good.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ebook ARC. All opinions are my own.

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross is a magical, heartwarming romance that had me swooning from start to finish. Matilda, a young goddess with a secret she must protect, carries out her duties with quiet strength, but when her path crosses with Vincent, a mortal who once dreamed of her, everything changes.

Ten years ago, Vincent reached out to Matilda in his darkest moment, but now, a hardened lord of the river, he’s forgotten her. That is, until she tumbles into his life again, bringing with her a letter, and a love neither of them can deny.

The slow-burn romance between Matilda and Vincent is absolutely enchanting. There’s something so sweet about watching two souls, so bound by fate yet so reluctant to open their hearts, finally realize they belong together. Rebecca Ross weaves their love story beautifully, filled with emotional depth and tender moments that make you root for them from the very first page.

Wild Reverence is a perfect blend of magic, destiny, and heart, with a love that’s as powerful as it is irresistible. If you're a fan of swoony, slow-building romances in a fantasy world, this one’s for you!

4.25⭐️

rebecca ross you are such a talent. this was such a beautiful story. the writing was stunning and lyrical, the imagery was exquisite, and the world building (or should I say expansion) was wonderful.

as much as this was a romance, I wouldn’t even say that’s the selling point of the book. don’t get me wrong, watching matilda and vincent fall in love across time and realms was heart breaking and gut wrenching in the best way, but truly I think the storytelling of matilda’s existence is the true heart of this book. we get to see her grow up, make mistakes, make them again, and ultimately find her purpose and her why for existing. the way the story ebbs and flows very much feels the way just living life does.

one of the things I had wished for more of with divine rivals and ruthless vows was seeing more of the divines and delving deeper into their existences. I’m so happy rebecca chose to expand on that universe and not only give us a beautiful glimpse into the lives of some of the divines, but also tie it all back to iris and roman. it immediately made me want to go back and read the original duology again because i’m already feeling withdrawals from the world.

I will say wish we would’ve gotten to see more beyond that last chapter instead of getting almost an after-thought mention in the epilogue. I know people like to say it’s not always about the destination, it’s about the journey, but when the journey is 550 pages long I think we could make it a little bit about the destination maybe?

overall, I think this was a beautiful expansion of the world rebecca created - the writing, the characters, the story, the emotions?? loved loved loved. if she ever wanted to add more stories to this universe, could I just throw out that i’d happily welcome bade and adria’s story?

a million thank you’s to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this early copy.

I loved Divine Rivals so I was really interested to see what other stories would come out of the world and this one was truly beautiful. It wasnt. the story I guess it would be but it was so much better. The prose is in the same vein as Divine Rivals but turned up to 11.

The world building is just absolutely incredible, probably even more so than in DR. This book is not just an excuse to turn out another story, I brings everything together so cleverly.

Mortal/immortal is the trope I never knew I needed. The full spectrum of emotions were felt. The romance between Matilda and Vincent os beautiful (there’s a marriage of convenience aspect to it too but it’s a more minor part of it)

My only criticism is the story did seem a little long. There were some tangent story lines that were needed for the journey but maybe went into a little too much detail.

Thank you to NetGally and the author/publisher for an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I am so glad I’m done with this book. I just really started avoiding picking it up, which says everything basically.

The writing is beautiful, but actually tipped the scale to too much. The amount of descriptions and similes were overpowering. But my biggest issue was the pacing. Some parts jumped around so quick that I was confused while other parts dragged on and on and on. It felt like a scatter of thoughts without much thought as to whether they were necessary or added to the story. The main character was just yanked around a million different directions - it was a bit exhausting.

The last 20% of the story was the best part, but I just don’t think it made the rest worth it.

I am glad I stuck with it, if only so i don’t have to wonder about if I was missing something, but ultimately I am so disappointed that I didn’t love it since I did enjoy her other novels. There is so much potential in this fantastic world she’s built, but the characters and plot in this one just didn’t work for me.

This one is out in September and I’m so curious to see what the reviews are like.

I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t know the majority of what’s happening for most of the book but I enjoyed the ride. Also didn’t realize this was slightly a prequel for the Divine Rivals series that I loved. Loved Vincent and Matilda and how he automatically had the urge to protect her at all cost no matter what

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Truly such a privilege to have received this book early.

If you loved Divine Rivals, then I am most certain you will love Wild Reverence.

Rebecca has done it again. Her writing is so beautiful and dreamy. She has a way of making you love softer female characters. The ones who are gentle, kind, and wear their hearts on their sleeve. The yearning between Matilda and Vincent was truly lovely to watch unfold as children into adulthood.

This book is EVERYTHING romantasy readers crave. The yearning here is so real, the romance so well-developed, and the payoff so rewarding. Just like Divine Rivals, I predict Wild Reverence will take the book world by storm. For me, this is going to be an all-time favorite read. In terms of romance, I put it right alongside The Unmaking of June Farrow and The Seven-Year Slip - this story has me in a chokehold.

I do think there were a few balance issues - specifically in the beginning of the book. We spend 25% of the story with the main characters as kids, and I thought that entire section would have been better as a prologue with more time dedicated to the main story timeline.

Overall, this was an excellent, engaging read and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

DNF @ 35%

The writing in this was so beautiful, but I'm sad to say the story did not hold my attention. I had a hard time finding motivation to pick it back up and read the story.
I have loved all other works from Rebecca Ross but this one has fallen a little flat for me. I think maybe it was the pacing ? Just a little to slow for my taste, the story didn't have enough high stakes.

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross is an absolutely stunning prequel. The writing is lyrical, compelling, and beautiful. Every line feels purposeful, pulling you deeper into the story while giving you more of the world and characters you already wanted. The connections to the original books are spot on, filling in pieces of the lore while expanding the emotional depth.

The character work is extraordinary. You do not just follow these characters, you live alongside them. Their joy feels like your joy and their sorrow feels like your own. The relationship between Bade, Matilda, and eventually Adria is soul crushing in the most powerful way. It is more than found family, it feels like souls destined to meet and remain bound together. The way they see and accept each other’s strengths and weaknesses throughout the story is profoundly moving.

Ross also writes love in a way that feels both timeless and achingly human. The relationship between Matilda and Vincent is hard earned, and you find yourself rooting for them through every obstacle, every Odysseus-style trial, every test of heart and will..

This prequel is not just an addition to the series, it is a gift. It breaks your heart and stitches it back together with beauty and grace. Rebecca Ross has given us something unforgettable once again.

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

I received this book as an ARC.

Wow! This book was fantastic! I've read several books and reviewed several ARCs this year, and this is probably one of the best so far. The characters, plot and setting are well-developed, and the flow and pace felt completely natural.

I loved the mythology and magical elements Rebecca Ross tied into the story. It was more of a fantasy-centric plot compared to the setting in her more modern books, Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows. Yet, as a prequel to these books, it sets the stage and creates an effortless transition.

The story invokes heartfelt emotion, and I was completely onboard with how the relationship progressed between our two main characters. The style of writing Rebecca Ross employs to illuminate their feelings is utterly beautiful.

Overall, a really well-written book.

"We were doomed, she and I. One day, I would perish, and she would live on, endless as the stars. But if we were doomed, then let us fully embrace it."

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Rebecca Ross has done it again with a beautifully written story. Divine Rivals was the first book of her's I read and I immediately fell in love. It was so nice to come back to the world that I loved so much.

Wild Reverence, while set in the same world, takes place long before the events of Divine Rivals, but the tie in to that story was everything! This is the story of Matilda, a young goddess who is forced to come of age much quicker than most gods in order to survive. Her fate is woven with the mortal Vincent's and their slow burn romance had me on the edge of my seat. This isn't just a romance story though. It's the story of a young goddess who has to overcome grief, loss, and betrayal to become the goddess she was always meant to be.

Ross' writing is beautiful. I was lost in the world she so eloquently created. The mythologies were well developed and the characters were easy to love. It's not necessary to have read Divine Rivals or Ruthless Vows before reading Wild Reverence, but I cannot wait to go back and revisit those books now. Wild Reverence provides such a deep dive into the world and lives of the gods. I know I will see some things differently.