I have no notes, every single piece is perfect! I feel honored to have been graced with this ARC. I love everything Rebecca writes so I knew I would love this too. But can I say something kind of crazy? I may have liked this more than Divine Rivals, which is wild because that was my favorite Rebecca Ross work and I thought nothing would ever change that. Alas, sometimes we have to let go of what we love so it can become something greater

Wild Reverence was everything I hoped for and more!! Rebecca Ross’s writing is so beautiful, it feels like you’re stepping right into the myths and stories of the gods. I loved Matilda and Vincent’s relationship, the slow build and quiet yearning that made every moment between them feel important. The world-building is lush, the emotions hit hard, and the ending left me a little heartbroken. Easily one of my favorite reads this year. I was really impressed by the world-building especially since Rebecca personified the Gods in a way that is totally expected. They prioritize their own, are cautious, and are born with a goal in mind.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am so excited for this book to come out. I can’t wait to have this work of art on my bookshelf and I need other people to be able to enjoy this story ASAP.

The way Rebecca Ross writes prose always teleports me into her stories. I loved being back in the world of Divine Rivals, you don’t need to have read Divine Rivals/ Ruthless Vows to understand and enjoy this world.

All the relationships in this book are so great, not just the romance but no stone is left unturned. No matter if they are friends, enemies, lovers, allies, or some combination in between the bonds between characters are all richly layered. Everyone is trying to play 4D chess and out strategize each other while dealing with those silly little feelings like ‘love’ and whatnot. The divine viewing love as a weakness and mortals coveting love as a great desire is a great dynamic and adds a lot of emotional weight to the events of the story.

Vincent and Matilda have the type of yearning one could only wish for. They care for each other deeply and often embody ‘if you love something let it go’ they understand that life may pull them in different directions but every moment shared between them will be cherished greatly. The “childhood friends to estrangement to marriage of convenience to maybe something more” pipeline hits like crack.

I don’t want to go too far into the plot but if you loved Ross’ other books I would 100% read this one. The story is a little more A River Enchanted coded but set in the world of Divine Rivals, a perfect mix of two excellent stories. I would read the stories of every character in this book in a heartbeat.

"This is the beginning of the end, I thought. If heartless gods can be made soft by such love, we are all doomed"

"You are parchment, ink, cloves. You are water dripping down stone, and the smoke of a burning scroll. You are something deeper, darker still."

Matilda is a goddess unlike any other as she's been born of the Underlings and Skyward. She is the herald of the gods. She transcends the realms and brings change, especially as her path becomes intertwined with a mortal named Vincent.

If you enjoy exquisitely lush writing, I think you'll enjoy this. If you enjoy Ava Reid's writing, you will really connect with Rebecca Ross. I found it more difficult to connect with these characters than Iris and Roman from Divine Rivals/Ruthless Vows. The gods are intentionally colder beings, lacking typical mortal emotion, but that impacted how engaged I felt. The pacing is also much slower. If you like more mythology in your novels, this would hit for you.

this is hands down the BEST book i’ve read all year. it’s been the book i’ve been dreaming about since it was first announced, i’ve ordered 3 copies, and debating not reading this arc in all honesty to have my first read be physical (but i failed because i couldn’t wait.)

i never wanted this book to end while i was reading. rebecca ross has a way with words that just enchants you. there was not one dull moment in this book, i almost wished it was longer. matilda is a very special character, and i won’t spoil too much of anything, but she may be one of my favorite book protagonist i’ve read about in a very, very long time (especially in a fantasy.) the whole world rebecca created with this and how she describes it makes it so vivid in your head. the supporting characters, especially bade and their story, made me go through many Big Emotions.

matilda and vincent are something beyond special that i myself don’t have the words to describe. just know i deeply felt and loved every yearning moment they had with each other.

i just don’t think the synopsis does this book justice, i want everyone to read it but then i want to gatekeep it for myself. the epilogue made me smile… and the need to reread divine rivals duology. godbless you rebecca ross. new all time favorite book for the shelf.

As with any Rebecca Ross book, this was beautifully written. It was poetic and atmospheric and the story itself was a beautiful one. It’s a prequel to Divine Rivals, and the ending tied in nicely.

However, this was too damn long. There is no reason this book needed to be over 500 pages. It FELT long. There was a lot of repetition in the plot, and after a while it got tedious.

Rebecca Ross really delivered with this one. I absolutely loved Divine Rivals, though Ruthless Vows left me a bit underwhelmed. What intrigued me most, though, were the Gods in the Letters of Enchantment duology, and Wild Reverence finally gives us their story.

Here we see their viciousness, deception, and disdain for mortals, alongside the rare flickers of tenderness they try so hard to suppress. So what happens when a God falls in love with a mortal? To the other Gods, it’s weakness, and it must be hidden at all costs.

Matilda, herald of the Gods, first meets Vincent in his dreams when he’s just a child. She could never have imagined how deeply Fate and Death would entwine her path with his. Years later, long after Vincent thought he’d never see “Red” again, Matilda appears in the most unexpected way, saving him on the very night Death comes for him. From there, the story twists and turns in ways I won’t spoil.

I devoured this book. At first, I worried about the reference pages at the beginning, but I quickly learned not to stress—just bookmark them and dive in. The story explains itself beautifully as you go.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rebecca Ross for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

What a beautiful, epic story! This is a prequel to Divine Rivals & it was done perfectly. Rebecca Ross’s writing is so beautiful. The amount of highlights I have. Absolutely stunning. The love story between Matilda & Victor was EVERYTHING! The slow burn, the found family. I loved the world and the magic system. I absolutely loved Matilda’s character growth. And Bade!! I loved his character and he was there for Matilda. Ugh I need more of him! Also the epilogue— how it tied into Divine Rivals. Genius!

‎‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧

➳❥ Goddess x Mortal
➳❥ Forbidden Love
➳❥ Friends to Lovers
➳❥ Slow Burn / Yearning
➳❥ Marriage of Convenience
➳❥ “Who did this to you”

🌅When this book hits bookshelves, run, don’t walk to get it. Then, crack it open. From the very first page, like a spell, this novel will pull you in, like it pulled me under with its dreamlike prose and aching romance, the kind of story that lingers like an echo long after you’ve closed the book. Set in the same world as Divine Rivals, it works beautifully as both a standalone and a prequel, giving depth to the mythology of gods, mortals, and the fragile bonds between them.

The plot unfolds through two perspectives: Matilda, a young goddess bound by duty, and Vincent, a mortal boy haunted by nightmares. Their connection begins almost accidentally—born out of protection and longing—and slowly grows into a love story marked by yearning, sacrifice, and an ever-present awareness of its fragility. Alongside them, the tapestry of gods and realms expands: we glimpse their powers, jealousies, and vulnerabilities, each detail making this world feel richer and more perilous. I especially appreciated how the story doesn’t rush into action but takes time to lay the groundwork, offering a patient, layered exploration of its characters before thrusting them into deeper conflict.

Ross’s writing is nothing short of enchanting. Her ability to capture raw emotion in a single line left me rereading passages again and again:

“A tether formed between us. Invisible but undeniable. A cord wound from my rib to his.”

These moments make the romance feel timeless and haunting, while also grounding it in the very human desire for touch, trust, and belonging. The yearning here is palpable—every glance, every vow, every stolen moment feels weighted with inevitability.

This is a slow-burning fantasy romance, with a strong focus on atmosphere and character development rather than constant plot twists. Personally, I loved how it allowed the emotional stakes to build gradually, but readers looking for fast-moving action may find the first half slow.

The novel is also unafraid of darkness. There are moments of loss, violence, and grief woven through the magic, reminding us that love—even divine love—is never without cost.

What struck me most was how this book reframes the world of Divine Rivals with a fresh perspective. Knowing where the larger saga eventually leads makes certain scenes more poignant, while new readers will still find a fully immersive story on its own. The epilogue in particular is stunning—tying past and future together in a way that feels both inevitable and revelatory. I was smiling from ear to ear. What a satisfying way for this story to end!

A gorgeously written, emotionally devastating fantasy romance that combines the grandeur of myth with the intimacy of a love story. If you’ve ever been drawn to tales of doomed devotion or gods who can’t help but crave what they shouldn’t, this book will sweep you away. A HUGE thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased, honest review. I truly appreciate this opportunity!

Solid 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Wish I could give it more)
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This book had me giggling and crying and gasping the entire time! I loved getting to know the gods and all the magic that comes with it, and was fully immersed in this world every time I picked it up to read it. The yearning and longing between the mortal mmc and goddess fmc was everything, and I think I liked this more than divine rivals!! So many beautiful quotes as always and I’ll be thinking about this book and Vincent for a while 😭

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the digital advanced reader copy!

This is a prequel to the Divine Rival books which gives us some backstory about the gods and their world. It tells the story of Matilda, a lesser known goddess. I love Rebecca Ross’s writing style. It’s so beautiful and her stories and engaging and unique. That said, I liked the Letters of Enchantment duology, but I didn’t love as much as some of her previous books. But this book, was amazing! It could easily be read as a standalone and is magical and captivating in its own right. This book has a little of everything with romance, war, magic, loss, and love. Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I definitely recommend!

This book contains
✨️ unique magic system
✨️ adult slow burn romance fantasy
✨️ strongly developed characters (medium paced)
✨️ dual POV (can be read as a stand alone!)
✨️ mortal x immortal love trope

This book is magical. The writing feels lyrical, intricate and vivid. Learning about Matilda and her back story prior to seeing her and Vincent added an extra layer of character depth.
This book was a little on the longer side, but it's worth it!

THE LETTERS!!! (That's all im going to say)

An extraordinary, bittersweet novel full of yearning and introspection. The writing is achingly beautiful, and I found myself completely enraptured by the storyline. This book will resonate with me for a long while.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

As someone who has her Letters of Enchantment series as one of my absolute favorite reads, let me tell you I was absolutely screaming when I saw my request for this arc was approved. set in the same world as her aforementi0ned duology, I was relieved to see that the story still sat entirely apart from the story with a few references to aspects of it, but far from it being gratuitous fanservice. Even without the knowledge of Divine Rivals/Ruthless Vows, I would have very much enjoyed reading the story of Matilda and how her relationship with Vincent grows.

Something about me is I will always love a story about a pantheon of gods, and Rebecca Ross does NOT disappoint on the mythology front. The system of stars, power stealing, the divide between the upper and lower realms, the afterlife, I could go on and on. The writing of this book felt dreamy, which became increasingly apt as the story developed, and it truly felt like reading a myth that was the building blocks of a long ago time. While Matilda is unquestionably the main character, you also get to read from the viewpoint of Vincent, and I find a dual POV to be a powerful tool when it comes to the story of a relationship developing. Overall, this book was a breath of fresh air in the reading slump that has held me captive this summer, and I am so grateful that I was able to experience this story!

I absolutely adore Rebecca Ross. The Letters of Enchantment is one of my all time favourite YA series. I could not have been any more excited for Wild Reverence and I’m so happy to say that it lived up to my extremely high expectations.

Whilst reading this book, I had to keep stopping and just taking a moment to think about how absolutely incredible Rebecca’s imagination she is. Not only has she created one of my favourite fantasy worlds, she’s created a whole mythology that at this point is feeling just as familiar as Greek or Norse to me.

I was completely in love with every page of this book. We all know Rebecca’s prose is some of the best in the genre and paired with the most romantic, enchanting and gripping plot it truly took my breath away.

I am desperate for more stories in this world, there’s so many characters I would love to hear more about and I just feel so lucky to be able to read stories of this quality.

I honestly didn’t realize that this was a prequel to Divine Rivals before I jumped in… I only knew it was Rebecca Ross and I had to read it ASAP!

This was such a beautifully written story. I wanted page after page of Matilda and Vincent but I also fell in love with Bade and Nathaniel and so many other characters. I could read about them all forever.

The story itself at times was slow but not in a way that made me want to put the book down, the early chapters where we first meet Matilda and learn about the lives of the gods was important but not my favorite part nor what sucked me in and got me invested… it’s only as Matilda grows into her role among the gods where I found myself turning pages faster and unable to stop reading.

Ross weaves lyrical storytelling with myths of the gods and a coming of age story that tells the story of love, fate and sacrifice.

Thanks for you so very much for the opportunity to read this one early!

Wow. What a beautiful book. I love Rebecca Ross and her stories. I don't have much to say about this because I don't want to spoil anything, but it is such a good book. I highly recommend, even if you haven't read Divine Rivals (though you absolutely should read that one as well!).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Absolute Must-Read for Romantasy Lovers ❤️

Wild Reverence is a beautifully written and captivating romantasy that immediately swept me away. Rebecca Ross’s writing style is elegant yet effortless, with a flow that makes the story a joy to read from beginning to end.

The characters are exceptionally well developed, and the love story between Matilda and Vincent is tender, emotional, and heart-pulling in the best way. Their journey together is both moving and unforgettable.

Ross also crafts a unique and imaginative magic system that adds depth and intrigue without ever feeling overcomplicated. The vivid descriptions of the Skyward, Mortal, and Underling realms are so immersive—I felt as though I was walking beside Matilda, experiencing each world right along with her.

The book begins with world-building, which may feel a touch slower for some, but it lays the essential foundation for the story…and once the action kicks in, it doesn’t let up—making this novel a page-turner that’s nearly impossible to put down.

I highly recommend Wild Reverence to anyone who loves romantasy. It delivers on every front—rich characters, swoon-worthy romance, gripping action, and a vividly magical world.

✨ Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This may be the most stunningly tragic yet heartwarming love story that I’ve ever read.

Infinity stars. Roman Empire book.
I’ll never get over it.

Rebecca Ross does it again! Such a beautiful story, so beautifully detailed, so poetic. Matilda’s and Vincent’s story was energetic and captivating. A perfect continuation of Devine Rivals and Ruthless Vows! In instant 5 star!