I had no idea that Wild Reverence was set in the same world as Divine Rivals. It was a nice surprise to myself. I saw Rebecca Ross and had to request immediately. And I am happy I did. This book had its own lore and Matilda and Vincent...just wow. Epic love and poetic. Rebecca Ross always writes like a dream unfolding.

Thank you Net Galley & St. Martin's Press for the e arc, all opinions are my own

6 stars if possible! Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this lovely novel.

Rebecca Ross' writing style is so lyrical and haunting. This beautiful book is a standalone prequel of sorts to her Divine Rivals duology. We follow the story of a young god-child Matilda as she grows and learns about her role within the gods and her changing view of humanity.

I really loved everything about this book although it took a little longer for me to really dig into. The first part of the book, when Matilda is young, is such an important part of Matilda's story but it picks up pace-wise once she's an adult.

I wouldn't refer to this as a romantasy because I think the romance is secondary to the main story and not the purpose of the book. I also think her relationship with Bade may be the most compelling relationship in the book.

I highly recommend this book and will review fully online when it is released.

So as a giant Rebecca Ross fan, naturally I was really normal about it when I was selected to be an ARC reader. I definitely didn’t shriek like a wild animal when I got the email. No way. Anyways, Wild Reverence is set in the same universe as Divine Rivals and takes place about 1000years before the events of the duology. It follows Matilda, herald to the gods and Vincent, a mortal lord’s son who are drawn to each other from early childhood on. I really loved how this novel fleshed out the lore on the divinities and how exactly they live. Matilda’s chapters were very differently written than Vincent’s, as she is a goddess and has a very different outlook on the world than Vincent. Each of the narrators had such a different tone, and Matilda was depicted as otherworldly. The love story between the two was so unbelievably heartwarming and romantic, yet also had an edge of tragedy. I can’t remember the last book I read that made my cold, emotionless heart feel so warm and fuzzy. By the last chapter I was kicking my feet and giggling like the child I truly am.

Wild Reverence is an amazing book, and easily five stars. I really hope Ross continues to write within the Letters of Enchantment universe because she’s really created something special with it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy

Wild Reverence is the moment in a fantasy series where the camera zooms out and you realize the story you loved in Divine Rivals was only one act in a centuries long drama. It is absolutely a prequel but not in a filler way. It is the kind of prequel that rips your heart out and then gives you a new one. We are back in the same divine world but this time the magic is more raw the politics are messier and the gods are even pettier.

The forest setting feels like its own character and it is not here to be your friend. There is a weight to the magic that makes every choice feel dangerous in the best possible way. The romance has that devastating slow burn energy Divine Rivals fans will recognize except here it is tangled in curses and oaths that feel impossible to break. You can feel the echoes of this love story bleeding forward into the events of Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows which makes it all land even harder.

Four stars because I closed the last page feeling like I had been handed a key to a locked door in the series lore and also like I had been emotionally steamrolled in the nicest possible way. If you loved Divine Rivals you should read this before you ever reread it because Wild Reverence will make those moments land like a punch to the soul.

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross was a case of “love at first chapter.” I simply could not put it down. This book was exquisitely written- immersive without ever dragging. The world Ross creates is both enchanting and deeply layered, filled with tension, self discovery, and passion.

The story follows Matilda, a young goddess still coming into her powers, and Vincent, a mortal dreamer who reluctantly inherits his father’s lordship. Their paths merge and depart as Matilda learns to embrace the full scope of her divine abilities—proving herself to be far more than her humble messenger magic suggests—while Vincent wrestles with the heavy responsibility of leadership that should never have passed to him.
This book is a childhood friends-to-lovers Romantasy, full of longing and a slow, satisfying love story.
If you’re only going to read one Romantasy this year, make it this one—you won’t be disappointed.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC.

🌌 Rebecca Ross takes us back to the magical world of Divine Rivals, and this time, centers on the gods and goddesses. This prequel shows the complicated dynamics and history between and within the Underlings and the Skywards. This novel focuses on Matilda, a goddess who meets a mortal boy through his dreams…and how they come to know each other through them. There are definitely Divine Rivals Easter eggs! 📜🪶🚪

She writes with so much depth of beautiful emotions that your heart can’t help but be swept away as you follow Matilda’s journey. There’s growth and learning, betrayal and heartbreak, uncertainty and decisions to let go or hold on, despite deep physical, emotional and mental hurts. It’s paced incredibly well, and you’ll be intrigued by every character and won’t want to let them go (well, the good guys anyway, right? 😘).

I’d classify this as an adult fantasy, but keep in mind that it’s Rebecca Ross, and her romance scenes theme to be between married adults, and are seriously so full of emotion and just beautiful because of every struggle and breaking down of barriers that build up to that point. I really do appreciate this about her writing. 🤍

Wild Reverence will be released Sept 2, 2025. NetGalley gave me an advanced eARC to read, and I’m so glad I preordered the signed special edition. It’s a beautiful novel, inside and out, just like Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, and I can’t wait for it join them physically on my bookshelf. It’s definitely one of my favorite reads this year. 🔖

rebecca ross has my whole heart and at this point i am absolutely convinced she just does not miss. wild reverence is no exception and features all of the things that make a rebecca ross book so good: the sweeping, lyrical prose, the world building, unique magic systems, and characters you want to read about forever. i will say that this is definitely a book driven by the characters rather than the plot, but there's enough to get you hooked in the beginning that you want to keep reading. and there is certainly no shortage of action and excitement here! i was rooting for matilda the whole way through and rebecca has a way of making you question if she'll get the ending she deserves (she does). this is one of those books that is so immersive you can't put it down. another thing i love about this book (and her other books) is her ability to write romance without it entirely taking over the plot. don't get me wrong, i love a good romance, but this is a slow burn with lots of build up and yearning and it makes it all the more exciting when things finally do develop. an absolute must read if you like fantasy, folk-tales, and beautiful writing.

“One moment, you were there before me. The next, the wind had carried you away”

I started this book thinking I will be lost with the number of characters and the universe. But I got into it and I loved my reading. Mathilda is endearing and her powers are incredible. I loved how she meets Vincent and what they live together, how she is attached to mortals. The secondary characters are the strength of the book for me and I now dream of knowing the story of Bade. Now, I'm going to reread Divine Rivals because I'm not ready to leave the universe. I pre-ordered the book and I can't wait to receive it. Coup de cœur ❤️

"Once, my mother told me to never run from a
god. They are drawn to those they cannot have, by those who fear or loathe them. And while they enjoy a good chase, a vigorous hunt to stir up the color in their cheeks and the fire in their ichor, they will only grow angry and dangerous should their prey prove themselves faster, slipping away

How often have I broken my mother's
advice?

Many, many times."

From the first page, I felt like I wasn’t just opening a book, I was trespassing into something sacred. Mortals are not meant to know the secrets of the gods, and yet Rebecca Ross lays them before us, each word a key to a door we shouldn’t be able to open. I didn’t feel like I belonged in the pages, yet I couldn’t turn away. I was an intruder in a divine world, watching power and passion play out as if from the shadows.

The emotions in this story didn’t come softly, they struck like lightning. Frustration that curled in my chest and anger that burned behind my ribs. Intrigue that pulled me deeper. Pain that sat heavy and unyielding. And love.… a love that felt alien and yet achingly familiar.

The gods do not love as we do but Matilda shattered that truth. Her life, her birth, her choices, they broke the mold. She is not the damsel to be rescued; she is the white knight, the one who wields the sword and holds the line. Seeing a heroine written with such strength and agency was not just refreshing, it was exhilarating.

Then there was Bade.

From the first moment Matilda speaks of him, I was gone: heart, mind, and soul. He was more than a mentor or guide; he was the father figure she didn’t expect to care for so deeply. Her journey truly begins with the task she takes for him, and through every trial, his presence remains a quiet anchor, out of all the characters, he’s the one I still think about, the one who lodged himself into my heart.

Vincent’s story unfolds in parallel to Matilda’s, and in him, I saw a different kind of strength. We watch him grow, just as we watch her rise, but we also witness the weight he carries; the pain, the loss, the devastation that should have broken him but didn’t. For a mortal, he is unshakable, and I understood instantly why a goddess might see something in him worth loving.

Rebecca Ross doesn’t just tell a story, she weaves constellations into it. She takes the stars and scatters them across the pages, shaping them into magic so tangible I could almost touch it. This book doesn’t just sit in your memory; it lodges itself in your bones. I know people will talk about it for years to come, and I’ll still be here, turning over her words like prayer beads, feeling the echo of the divine.

Fully 10 out of 10 loved this book!

A story of greed, deceit, scheming, war, and love.

The story starts with a young Goddess, Matilda. Born among Gods who only care about power, she doesn't have many friends until she meets a mortal boy in his dreams. As they grow, they keep thinking of the other until an event brings them together. It's up to them to change a fate that has been woven and along the way, unlock a power Matilda didn't know she had. This power puts her life in danger from the other Gods who kill for power.

First, thank you thank you thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Rebecca Ross has some sort of magical powers that allow her to weave together beautiful stories of love filled with every day magic and elements of fantasy. This was no exception. Matilda and Vincent had such a wonderful story. Every time I put this book down I was thinking about the next opportunity I would have to read it. I am so excited for this to come out so I can recommend it, and continue to recommend Divine Rivals, to literally everyone I talk to.

DNF

I think that rebecca ross might not be for me. I was so excited to read this book but I couldn’t get into it to save my life. Maybe I’ll try again when the audio comes out.

In Wild Reverence, Rebecca Ross crafts a breathtaking, emotionally resonant story that bridges divine mythology with raw human emotion. Following the entwined lives of Matilda, a goddess born in the Underworld, and Vincent, a mortal dreamer, the novel spans decades of longing and love. From their first encounter in childhood dreams to their reunion later on, Ross explores the deep currents of connection that defy time and distance. The narrative also uses dual POVs, which enhances the intimacy of Matilda and Vincent's story.

Ross’s lyrical prose shines, as it does in her other novels, delivering a story that is both epic and romantic. Her gift for character development is on full display, particularly with Maltilda. If you loved Divine Rivals, you will love this even more. Wild Reverence is easily one of Ross’s finest works—powerful, immersive, and deeply felt. It’s a book you’ll never quite let go.

4.5 rounded up. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.

I’ll be honest in saying this book feels a little special to me. The timing of reading this, on top of several things throughout the text, felt like a sign from my sweet angel beyond. For that alone this book will hold a special place in my heart.

The prose in this story were absolutely gorgeous. It is honestly ridiculous how many highlights I have in this ARC. I’m excited to get a physical copy and tab it up.

The story and writing feel reminiscent of Rachel Giligs The Knight and the Moth, and Leigh Bardugos The Familiar. Elegant writing, historical setting, fantasy elements, and some hauntingly beautiful moments. This reads like medieval folklore and I loved it.

My only real critique is pacing. This story reads a bit slower and can drag a little at times. But I loved it nonetheless.

Bravo Rebecca Ross.

Omg this book was amazing! I’m so happy to be in the world of the divine rivals again! It was a slow start, but once the action started, I couldn’t put it down!

I can't even put into words how incredible this book is. I will read anything by Rebecca.
Full review to come.

I went into this book hopeful, especially with its connection to the world in Divine Rivals. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

The pacing felt extremely slow, and the prose leaned so heavily on description that it often stalled the momentum of the story. I found myself struggling to push through certain sections. I never truly connected with Matilda or Vincent, which made it difficult to connect to their characters.

That said, I can see how readers who enjoy lush, descriptive writing and slow-burn storytelling might find this appealing. The mythology and world-building are clearly crafted with care, and fans of Ross’s style may appreciate the attention to detail. For me, though, the combination of pacing, heavy description, and lack of character connection made this a tough read to finish.

I have quite literally NOTHING negative to say about this book.

The writing is poetic, magical, and full of elegant whimsy. This story gripped me from beginning to end.
It tugged my heart strings, shredded them, sewed them back together, all to repeat the cycle once more.

It is emotional, enrapturing, and impossible to put down.

The FMC is likable, the messages regarding humanity and love are admirable and inspiring.

The characters are well rounded, each adding something to the storyline.

The plot is absolutely GRIPPING from start to finish. Gods? Magic? High stakes? Romance? This book has it all.

If you like pining, invisible string theory, & found family this book was made for you.

The twists are so well written, seamless, and effective.

This is a refreshing twist on a classic tale of love. The ending was perfect, so perfect I didn’t want it to be the end. So perfect I was screaming in to the ether for more as if I hadn’t been fed a feast.

An absolute MUST read if you loved divine rivals. This book weaves a story that can stand ten toes down on its own, but is so beautifully intertwined with the original duology.

Rebecca Ross if you find my jaw on the floor please mail it back I have yet to pick it up off the ground.

I think the beauty in Rebecca Ross's writing lies in her ability to slowly immerse you into the world she's created, and then all at once pull you in so completely into everything that you are just compelled to continue reading until the entire story has unfolded. Wild Reverence is an adult novel, perhaps falling in the romantasy classification, about a goddess and a mortal. It's hard enough being a woman, but try being a woman who is a goddess, who is fighting for her place in a world where everyone kills each other to take each other's powers. I loved Matilda, the main character, and loved seeing how she grew over the years from an innocent child, to a perceptive, strong young woman, but also appreciated that we got a dual POV with Vincent. What I loved about this book was that while there was romance, the other parts of the story: the struggle between Vincent and his uncle's army, the challenges of growing up as a divine, were very much there. I think a lot of times books that are marketed more towards the romantasy angle are like 90% romance, 10% fantasy, but this is a FULLY fleshed out story. Loved this book and would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to an early digital version of this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Ross, and St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books for allowing me to read this as an e-ARC.

This novel was a touching testament to the enduring power of true love and the journey to love and believe in yourself. Our FMC, Matilda, is a goddess born in the Underworld who meets our MMC, Vincent, who is mortal in one of Vincent's dreams when they are just children. Matilda continues to appear in Vincent's dreams for years, until one day she is forced to flee the Underworld for the Skyward world, unintentionally cutting off contact with Vincent for the next 13 years. When they finally meet again, Matilda promises to help Vincent in a familial battle for inherited territory to rectify what she feels is her failure to help Vincent in his time of need. What follows is a fake marriage and our main characters finally being forced to come to terms with their feelings for each other, years after they last met.

This book was so beautifully written, poetic without being flowery, and powerful in its delivery. The author's usage of dual POVs for Vincent and Matilda really made this book so much more impactful; the reader has a much better grasp of each character's feelings even though they try so hard to deny them from each other for so long. Matilda is a fantastic main character--strong, determined, intelligent--but is consistently underestimated by others because of her youth and because they believe is a low-level powered goddess. However, Matilda is so much more than she appears at face value and her resilience throughout this novel is inspiring. And Vincent? Oh my god, this man is the definition of YEARNING. I don't think I've ever wanted a couple to finally drop pretenses and admit their feelings for themselves more than I did in this novel. The difficulties they have to navigate just to be with each other are heartbreaking and it makes you admire their resilience and belief in each other. Their love is so beautiful; Rebecca truly knows how to write an epic love story. Vincent's love letter to Matilda is probably my favorite part of the story. Authors like Rebecca are the reason women would rather have book boyfriends than IRL boyfriends. Every woman deserves to be loved the way Vincent loves Matilda.

I absolutely adored this book and would definitely recommend this book to a friend. This is a book I definitely will come back to again and again; there's just so much here that can't simply be explained in a review and that you need to experience first-hand to really appreciate the world Rebecca has built here. I'm so glad I was able to read this ARC and review it. Five stars for me :)