Wild Reverence absolutely blew me away – I LOVED it. The world building is imaginative and unique, with an incredibly strong female main character (FMC). She carried herself with such resilience, depth and maturity – her story will definitely stick with me.

The romance was one of my favorite elements. Spanning both realms and years of time, it’s a love story that manages to ache and melt your heart at the same time. The balance was perfect, with enough intimacy and emotion to feel both powerful and satisfying.

While it is a prequel, I think it can absolutely be read as a standalone or prior to reading the rest of the series. It’s the kind of book that enhances the whole series, making you want to experience the journey from the very beginning again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I am really torn on how to rate this one. On one hand, I want to give it 3.5 stars and then on another I want to give it 2.5 stars. I feel like this was much longer than necessary, where stories felt very familiar. There were obvious tie ins with divine rivals, using the same terminology and such. I just didn’t love it. I didn’t love the main characters (except for Bade bc COME ON). It just didn’t seem to enchant me the way some of Rebecca’s other books have. It was just meh.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy of this book.

Wild Reverence is set in the same world as Rebecca Ross' Letters of Enchantment duology. It takes place well before the events of Divine Rivals, in the world of gods and goddesses. Dacre and Enva, the divines responsible for the war in Divine Rivals, are present in this book, but they are not the focus. The focus is on Matilda, a young goddess trying to find her place in this world of gods, and Vincent, a mortal who has a connection with Matilda through dreams.

The story starts with Matilda's birth, and when she's about 13, she meets Vincent, a young boy who knows her through his dreams and feels a strong connection with her. Matilda is a herald of the gods and has a foot in two different divine realms and the mortal world. The beginning of the story shows a part of the world that we only got glimpses of in Divine Rivals - the world of the gods. The first portion of the story was interesting, though a little slower-paced. I wish I had re-read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows before beginning this book. I don't think it's strictly necessary to follow the plot of Wild Reverence, but I forgot some details, especially about the gods. I would like to re-read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows soon, now that I've read Wild Reverence.

I loved the relationship between Matilda and Vincent. The connection they had with each other was so strong despite the different lives they led, and the way they connected throughout their adolescence and adulthood was meaningful. The dreams Vincent has in the beginning are an interesting premise, as he feels like he knows Matilda, or "Red", quite well, while she has only read about his dreams.

I also really loved the relationships among the gods. They're similar to the Greek gods in that their motivations are not necessarily pure and can be quite selfish. Matilda can't trust anyone, and yet she forms alliances with certain gods that are so meaningful. There are some elements of Found Family. Her connections are strong and lead to emotional moments at the end of the book that made it impossible to put the book down during the climactic conclusion.

Divine Rivals fans will devour this book and it's excellent balance of action and emotion.

Absolute perfection. Beautiful, poetic writing that grips your heart from the very beginning. Getting to see the world of Divine Rivals from the view of the gods was incredible; and made me want to reread Divine Rivals again!

If there’s a micro-trope I’ll live forever, it’s the grumpy, mean, older character who becomes a loving father figure to the fmc. Blade was perfection.

Matilda’s love story with Vincent is so beautiful. The yearning, the challenges, the real sacrificial love; it was perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Saturday Books for providing an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Probably unpopular opinion: I liked the Letters of Enchantment duology but didn't adore it - I know it's fantasy, but the MCs age didn't work for me and took me away from the story. I also enjoyed Ruthless Vows more than Divine Rivals, and wanted to know more about the gods and their magic. So when Wild Reverence was announced and its focus was on the gods, I was super excited to read it and ecstatic when I received the e-arc. In the end, it reminded me more of the Elements of Cadence duology than Letters of Enchantment.

This story is beauty on paper, there's love in its ink. Truly, "the soul can be found in words, and words within the soul. The two reflect each other in the sky, do they not?"

Rebecca Ross' writing transports you, it's like you're there with Matilda watching her Fate unfold, witnessing the betrayals, the bravery, the irreverence. Smelling the ichor and tasting prayers on your tongue. Every page is earned, nothing is rushed, every moment is given it's time to unfold, the importance it's due, without feeling repetitive.

I wish I could go outside now and see Matilda's stars shining up in the sky. Matilda and Vincent will stay with me for a long while, and I'll treasure their story.

This story was exactly what my heart needed. 🖤✨
Wild Reverence is a quiet, devastatingly beautiful story that lingers like an echo long after you finish.

The plot takes its time, and for me that worked because it gave space for the atmosphere and the relationships to bloom. There’s a deep sense of history, politics, fate, and death woven into the setting, and I loved the way reverence for the past clashed with the characters’ desires for their own futures.
The romance is tender and aching, poetic and beautiful; filled with real stakes and devastating longing.

Overall, Wild Reverence is gorgeous, heart-aching, and best savored slowly.
If you love character-driven stories steeped in longing, myth, and lyrical atmosphere, this one will break your heart in the best way.

Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy and the opportunity to read this beautiful book early. All opinions are my own.

4.75 ⭐️ Rebecca Ross is one of my all-time favorite authors, so I went into this book with high hopes (especially after a few other auto-buy authors have let me down this year). Thankfully, this book delivered exactly what I wanted from her: that familiar lyrical prose, an atmospheric setting, and a story that feels like being swept away into another world.

The first third leans heavily into character development, court intrigue and world building. I could see some readers feeling like it meanders a little, but I absolutely loved being immersed in each realm and getting to know the characters. It gave me Circe vibes at the start, following Matilda as she grows up, and it also carried a nostalgic feel (similar to Chronicles of Narnia ) transportive and wonder-filled, without ever feeling childish. Once the plot kicked off, I was even more hooked.

Matilda herself was such a standout for me. Watching her grow up, stepping fully into herself & find her place in her world was so satisfying. The side characters also had surprising depth, with Bade’s arc being my favourite. And then there’s the romance: Matilda and Vincent’s childhood-friends-to-lovers storyline was so tender and heartfelt. I do wish there had been just a touch more romantic tension, but even so, I felt the ache and angst woven into their relationship.

Overall, Wild Reverence reminded me why Rebecca Ross is an auto-buy author for me. It’s beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and rich with
atmosphere.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Beautifully written; poetic and vivid.
Set before the events of Divine Rivals, this tells the story of the goddess Matilda, and her love for a mortal man, Vincent. It’s a story of romantic and familial love, sacrifice, hope, and perseverance.
I loved every moment of it!

I am so appreciative and thankful to have received an ARC of Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross. I don't have words for this book. I loved every minute of it. Wild Reverence might be one of her most beautiful stories yet. The writing pulls you right into the heart of the world she's created.
I loved how the story balanced magic, nature, and human emotion, it felt raw and real. The characters were dense and easy to love. The story explored love, vulnerability, and strength. It's the kind of book that lingers with you, the kind where you want to reread passages just to feel the weight of the words again. If you enjoy fantasy that's character driven, love that is everlasting and a world full of gods and goddesses, please read asap

I absolutely loved Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows but Wild Reverence captivated me! It is the prequel of the Letters of Enchantment series and I could not put it down!

We meet Matilda as a child. She is a goddess born with messenger magic. She can carry messages through all three realms, Underling, Mortal and Skyward. In her world, where gods and goddesses kill each other to steal power, she is not considered much of a threat. But Matilda hides secrets of her own. She meets a mortal boy, Vincent of Beckett, through his dreams. But when he needed her help most, his call to her went unanswered. He eventually moved on, until years later, when she tumbles through his window with a message and their lives once again become entwined.

I was consumed by this story. Once all of the world building set the scene of the book, I was engrossed in the world of the gods and goddesses. Learning more about the realms, the magic and the rules of the gods and mortals makes you look at Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows from an entirely new perspective. Matilda and Vincent both had to grow up too fast due to their circumstances and you can’t help but to fall in love with both of them and their stories! Wild Reverence is about sacrifice, grief and betrayal, but also about courage, survival, trust and love. I absolutely loved this book and cannot recommend it enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an eARC of Wild Reverence in exchange for my honest review.

Holy moly. Thank you St Martins Press and NetGalley for this arc.
I’m still reeling because this is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read this year, if ever.
The yearning. The lore of the gods set in the Letters of Enchantment world. The found family.
I’m utterly speechless and can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this.
Dare I say it’s better than Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows?

(Rating as a 4.5 star book)

I am SO happy I was able to read this book. Filled with twists, shocks and surprises, I both laughed and cried at this novel.

It’s filled with vivid descriptions that I often enjoyed, but at times dragged on. This was a slow paced read for me, that consists of a unique magical system. This book's characters were strongly developed and lovable.

I enjoyed the immersive world building and the emotional depth this book has. I really felt the chemistry and the romantic connection between the two main characters. I feel like the side characters in this book definitely stood out. The power of vulnerability is a big and important theme in this book.

One of my favorite parts was that we learn more about the entirety of the gods; powers, motivations, lifestyle, etc! It was so intriguing to me, and helped me appreciate Ross’s previous works more. We got to see some of the gods that were introduced in Divine Rivals and knowing more about them in depth added to what I was missing in the duo-logy! The epilogue made me tear up, because it really came back full circle. This was a fantastic read!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Divine Rivals, it’s 100% worth the read! My heart is fuller after consuming these beautiful words <3

I fell in love with the Divine Rivals last year and adored the world that Rebecca Ross had created. But this “prequel” just took that world and expanded it into an enchanting universe! The pining, yearning and longing these two characters share is heartbreaking and beautiful and I want to cherish it. What happens when a mortal falls for a lowly goddess? What happens when fate is tested? What happens when the games gods play come crashing into the mortal realm?

This is very much an adult book but also one that I think any romantasy lover would enjoy. But while the first duology leaned toward romance this one crashes open the gates of fantasy and pulls you into an intriguing world.

I feel like I have so much more to say and don’t know how to put it into words.

4.5 stars!

Oh man I loved this! A beautiful story of love, war, gods, mortals, and magic set in the same world as Divine Rivals well before Iris and Roman existed. It was so interesting learning more about the gods and how the world we know in DR came to be.

Matilda was a fascinating character and I loved how she came into her own with magic and also was vulnerable to loving a mortal, Vincent.

The different worlds were easy to understand and the love story was both tragic and beautiful.

Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I was really looking forward to this book. I enjoyed The Letter's of Enchantment duology. I figured this book would be a good background to the duology since it's a dive into the Gods we heard so much about during that story. Unfortunately, it just was not for me. I ended up DNFing the book due to it being super slow and me not feeling any draw to pick it up and read it.
I do like Ross's writing. It is lyrical and flows well. It's almost poetic. But I just don't think her story telling for this particular tale gave me the hook I needed to continue to be invested in the characters. I didn't feel any draw to Matilda or Vincent. I didn't care about their story or their relationship. I didn't feel the romance. And I didn't connect with either of them at all. I felt like there was hardly any development.
The pacing of this book left something to be desired. It felt like it dragged most of the time. The story was so dense. And the jump from the younger Matilda and Vincent to the older just seemed like too much of a time leap for me. And I needed a bit more world building. I felt like I was thrown in and left to gather the pieces on my own.
There was a lot of telling in this book, as well. I wanted to see what was going on and the writing didn't allow me to picture anything that was happening in my head. It felt tedious and dense, like I was trudging through very thick mud with no end in sight. And I was often lost with what was even happening in the storyline.
If someone comes into this one having not read the duology, I think it might actually be more enjoyable. It has a Greek mythology feel to it. But coming in and comparing it to those ruined it for me. I struggled to get swept up in it as I did with the others. I could not possibly continue on to finish a 550 page book when I was absolutely not sucked into the story.
I see many high ratings for this one so I am clearly in the minority with how I feel but it just was not for me and I'm so sad to say that.

I was so excited to receive this as an eARC from NetGalley!!

I enjoyed the Letters of Enchantment duology and was excited for a prequel that was written for adults about the gods. The beginning half of this book was a little slow for me, there seemed to be A LOT of plot points occurring and none of them seemed to be coming together, including the love story. But by halfway through everything started to get more interesting and plot points were coming together and paying off. The love story is very sweet and fairytale like in Rebecca Ross fashion and the ending was very satisfying. I still think that there were too many plot points by the end, some of which do not get resolved. Overall a pretty solid read and a sweet romance.

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross was beautifully written. The prose was gorgeous and easy to get lost in, and it made the story feel alive on the page.

I really enjoyed the sweet love story between Matilda and Vincent. It felt tender and genuine without ever feeling rushed. I also loved the father she found in Bade, which added so much warmth and heart to the book. The characters and relationships pulled me in right away, and I stayed invested the whole way through. I ended up reading it all in one sitting, which always means I was completely hooked.

This was such a joy to read, and it reminded me why I love Ross’s work so much.

Rebecca Ross paints such vivid scenes with precise words. Incredible, breathtaking, and painfully romantic. While the beginning and middle had some pacing issues, this read was worth the wait.

As a previous reader of Divine Rivals and Enchanted Vows, this book filled in many of the questions I was left to ponder. Matilda our FMC, is sure to woo all new and old readers alike.

Without giving too much away, I would just like to say thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the arc copy of this book. I’m delighted to join everyone in praise of another hit by RR. I missed this world so much, and reading this was like coming home after a long day.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC!
Rebecca Ross is one of those instant buy authors for me. Her prose is absolutely lyrical and divine, drawing you back into the beautiful and magical world first seen in ‘Divine Rivals’, expanding upon the world and Gods that were first featured there. Matilda and Vincent were EVERYTHING, reading their story both warmed and broke my heart and I’m a little devastated that I’ve finished this book because I (probably?) won’t getting more of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Will Reverence by Rebecca Ross.

As a Divine Rivals fan, I was so excited to receive this ARC and it did not disappoint. While not reliant on reading the Letters of Enchantment series, some of the context for the universe may be beneficial but it absolutely carries itself as a standalone.

There is a lot going on in this book and while well written, some spots felt a little slower paced than they should have been? That said, the anticipation for every twist and turn between our two main characters (Matilda and Vincent) is felt throughout the story. This is definitely a slow burn, so buckle up because you are absolutely being taken for the ride and experiencing the relationship between our two MCs as they are discovering it for themselves.

Great addition to the Letters of Enchantment universe and another great story by Rebecca Ross.