This started out a little slow at first, but ended up being a great book. There was quite a bit of world building in the beginning, but once the story picked up more I couldn’t put it down. This book was beautiful, magical, and at times heartbreaking. Watching how Matilda and Vincent’s fates were intertwined was wonderful to read. They both went through so much (particularly Matilda) for each other and to be together.

It was also interesting to see how it connects and sets up Divine Rivals. However, this can be read without having read the Letters of Enchantment duology. It can definitely be read as a standalone. Overall, this was a good prequel, but was also just a great story in general.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was everything! I just finished Ruthless Vows before starting Wild Reverence. To be truthful, the book started slowly but once I got past the first few chapters I was hooked. I loved the parallels between Matilda and Bade. They are the superior father-daughter duo (Thile can leave like 😒). I loved Matilda and Vincent's story so much, I was so sad that we didn't get to see more of them before the epilogue☹️. I'm hoping to see the both of them in the next book!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt so sucked into the story from early on. I loved being back in the world of the Divine Rivals series. This was genuinely such a stunning and beautiful read. I hope to see more of this. This has one of the best ending I have ever read. Such a beautiful ending. I loved the characters and getting to learn way more about the gods and magic. This was everything I wanted it to be and way more. Props to Rebecca Ross for including some letters because that was such a sob worthy letter in this.

ahhhhh!! what a fun whimsical story from rebecca ross!!! i loved revisiting this world again and getting to know the characters. so fun!!

This was another beautifully written story by Rebecca Ross that I did not want to put down!
I loved the characters and how they grew throughout the years of the story, and the world Rebecca created it so vivid and magical. I could feel the expanse of time as it passed, and the emotions of the characters were so real.
All the ties into Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows were perfection, and I love that we get to see the lead up to what happened in those books.
The way this author writes romance is so magical, both sweet and intense, and there is always the element of surprise, leaving you reading endlessly until you've inhaled the entire story!

Language: mild
Spice: 2 open door scenes, mildly detailed
Content: death, war, abusive relationship, flogging

this is not an afternoon pallet cleanser- it was a deeply emotional and profoundly poetic, meandering melancholy fantasy romance.
A slow burn of yearning for something beyond romance and physical touch on a soul-deep level that begins with their stories as children.

Wild reverence is so aptly named because it was like a drifting stroll through dreams and nightmares— a glimpse into wants vs expectations and I felt much like the Gate Keeper character; as if I were measuring the souls of these characters' stories myself, as the reader,

Matilda such a surprise as a heroine. She wasn't sassy, or self depricating, nor was she a meek damsel or a self righteous 'badass'— she was quiet and intelligent, with a strength that felt earned and a mind that had been sharpened by circumstance. she was someone who had never been able to let her guard down, and so when she did, with Vincent, I loved him all the more for providing her a space where eshe felt free to do so.

Vincent, for his part, was so kind and curious and, though he may have changed or hardened due to his own circumstances, it was so refreshing that he didn't lose who he was or completely, obstinately change. he was wary in a believable way, rather a frustrating one.

I loved their childhood friendship, however brief; the way they didn't just yearn in their lifetimes for romance or with physical attraction, but but for companionship, like they had been two parts of the same soul that felt at home and safe in one another's presence. The spice in Wild Reverence fits the rest of the book. It is reverent, slow, full of yearning. While it was open door, it was written with vague language and modesty, adding to the sweet innocence of their love for one another.

The ending was, of course, a HEA, because it's a romance. It may not have been the way I had kind of hoped for, it was a quiet, almost melancholic reverence of a happily ever after that was truly the perfect way to end the same such story.

I'd also like to mention that the villains are truly villainous, the side characters are rich and complex, and the world itself is beautiful.
I absolutely loved it.

Tropes if you'd like to be aware:
slow burn
dual pov
second chance
fake marriage
star-crossed/fated
childhood friends
gods & magic
god courts

I received an ARC of Wild Reverence through Netgalley, courtesy of St. Martin's Press. Thank you— it was a pleasure to read!

First off, thank you to St. Martin's Press (Saturday Books) and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. This book will be published on September 2, 2025.

Wow, I'm not sure where to even begin. I'm quite honestly still thinking about this book. Rebecca Ross has woven an INCREDIBLE world and magic system that is so complex and beautiful.

To be honest, I got about 50 pages into this book and was bored. I wanted to DNF and give it up, but something in me kept going. Like with any fantasy book, you have to get through the world building in order to get to the good stuff. Once I hit about 150 pages, I was hooked.

This story follows, Matilda (FMC), a herald to the Gods, and her mortal friend/lover, Vincent (MMC). It's honestly quite hard to put into words the plot of this story without adding in any spoilers, so my recommendation is GO IN BLIND. Get through those first 150 pages and then enjoy the ride.

I would also like to note, that I did not read Divine Rivals or Ruthless Vows before reading this book. You can read this book as a standalone with no issues at all.

Rebecca, how in the world must your brain work in order to come up with this stuff? I am in awe of the masterpiece you have created.

My only note to the author and publisher without (hopefully) any spoilers is... what happened to the wounded Eithral??? Did it live after battle or did it die? We never heard of it again and I am invested. Especially after Matilda's unusual connection with it. And what becomes of Bade & Adria after Bade returns???

My only reason for giving this book 4.5 instead of 5 stars was that I would have enjoyed a little more romance in this book. I would definitely say this book was not a Romantasy and much more of just a regular fantasy. If you are looking for lots of smut, you will not find it here. BUT you will find a wonderfully complex and magical world with a great plot.

I will DEFINITELY be adding the Letters of Enchantment duology to my TBR and I hope to read them soon.

More than anything, Rebecca Ross’s beautiful prose and world building shine in this book. The character and setting descriptions were undoubtedly what kept me reading even when some of the plot dragged. For a 500 page book, the scope is strangely small, centered around one castle and one river in this entire world. The romance was not especially compelling to me, even though I did love both of the characters on their own. I feel like this book needed a bit more urgency in terms of plot driving the story, like Divine Rivals and a River Enchanted, and more internal conflict for the romance. I did love spending time in the two magical realms and the pantheon - Rebecca Ross creates gods that feel both like trickster fey and Greek deities. Overall Wild Reverence is certainly worth the read, especially if you liked Divine Rivals, but I wouldn’t expect it to consume your thoughts or your heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Of Souls, And Words, And Vows, And Love ✍🏼✨
I.LOVED.THIS.BOOK.
Matilda + Vincent
A god-child & mortal boy, walking through dreams.
A goddess & Lord joining forces.
To herald their words, and guide their souls.
Destined to intertwine despite Fate & Death.
Please, mark your calendars for this one - out September 2nd.
So, so, so good. Instantly ordered a copy for my library.
Thank you, @Netgalley for the ARC

ARC provided by Netgalley!

WOW. What a thrilling and enchanting prequel (kind of) to the Divine Rivals series! From the first chapter, I was enthralled with this passionate story about a goddess who, despite her upbringing and instincts, chooses to follow her heart rather than her head.

This was the perfect tale of romance, self-discovery, redemption, and following your heart.

The story and world-building were so fresh that I couldn’t even predict where the story was going, which kept me on my toes!

Also, we got a happily ever after, which made my heart so full!

Rebecca Ross never disappoints!

This is an absolutely incredible story and I was absolutely blown away by this world. The world building, the characters, and their relationships with each other were incredibly well done. I found the story a little slow to get into, but once the pace picked up I was in love. Rebecca’s writing is just magical and she really makes you feel everything her characters are going through. Watching Matilda and Vincent slowly learn to trust and love despite everything they go through is heartwarming and I loved watching their story play out. Reading this book was such an incredible and enchanting experience, and I would wholeheartedly recommend reading it, even if you have not read the Divine Rivals books.

Dare I say that Rebecca Ross is one of the greatest storytellers of our time? Yes, I do. If Divine Rivals her or Elements of Cadence duology did not convince of you this, Wild Reverence will. I have absolutely no notes for this breathtaking story. The world building, the prose, the character development–brilliant! Rebecca Ross has become an auto-buy author for me. Looking forward to the world she creates next.

so far this year I have read 76 books and wild reverence is in my top 5 reads of the year it's SO good. Rebecca Ross really outdid herself with this one. It's a beautiful story of love, loss, longing, devotion and sacrifice. I truly loved every second of this book and will be buying a physical copy as I will 100% be reading it again. Rebecca Ross did a wonderful job with the magic, world building, and characters. Everything about this book is masterfully done.

Set in the same universe as Divine Rivals/Ruthless Vows but long before those books take place. This story stands on its own but gives a lot of background information and depth to the letters of enchantment duology. Matilda is the youngest of the gods and the herald of the gods, she was born in the under realm but her father is from the skyward realm so she is part of both realms but doesn't truly belong in either. As a child her mother's friend the goddess of dreams slips her the dreams of mortals and she finds herself in the dreams of a mortal boy named Vincent who she's never met. Even though she's never met him Matilda feels entwined with him somehow and is told that souls move differently in the dream plane and that theirs have found each other against all odds.

You absolutely must read Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross!!! It’s breathtaking and everything you’d ever want in a fantastical love story. Honestly, it’s the kind of standalone fantasy that still connects beautifully to Ross’s Divine Rivals universe—so if you loved that, there are little Easter eggs. If not, it’s a perfect entry point. I promise, once you turn the first page, you won’t want to stop. Rebecca’s lyrical atmospheric writing is more than worth giving this one a read! I love feeling transported to the worlds she creates you feel like your fully immersed must read!

I requested an advanced reading copy of this a few months ago, and was absolutely delighted when I received it earlier this month. As context for this review: I read a lot of fantasy and some mythology (both retellings and translations of ancient work), interspersed with literary classics. I thought the Divine Rivals series was lovely, but definitely aimed at a younger age bracket. I consider myself to be a fairly critical reader.
I loved this book. It was so seamlessly, reverently, *carefully* woven together. It feels ancient and new at the same time. In Wild Reverence, Rebecca Ross balances romance, mythology and magic, and an immersive plot, expertly avoiding the common pitfalls of a genre in which it’s common to lean too far in one direction at the expense of the storytelling. There is devotion, fate, uncertainty, love, magic, chemistry, YEARNING, and dreams. There are underground burrows and sweeping landscapes and palaces in the sky and a fortress in the river. There is betrayal and beauty and family. What more could you want? All in all, a 5 star read.

Oh my gosh I didn’t want it to end. I want to stay with Matilda and Vincent forever. A standalone prequel to the divine rivals series that I enjoyed even more then the originals. The world building, the the romance.. the magic! Perfection.

This was…beyond. Rebecca Ross’s skill with words has driven mine away! I don’t even *like* fantasy, but this story enveloped me and stunned me. At times, I would look up and be surprised to be in my own house, instead of the under realm or skyward. Quite the feat, given that I have aphantasia, so I didn’t see it, I just felt it. I’m now quite sad I didn’t pre-order a gorgeous copy to keep on my shelf.

My only issue is with the title – I can’t keep Ross’s books straight! I kept calling this one Ruthless Vows (which totally fits). Wild Reverence isn’t sticking for me. I’d say it should have been called something simple like ‘Matilda’, but that title is taken!

I had the best time getting lost in this story. The way the author writes makes you feel like you are in the story along with the characters. The world building was so imaginative I felt like I was right alongside Matilda. I liked reading about her growing from a young god child (who had much to learn in the ways of her world and court as well as the mortal realm) into being a full grown goddess. Her connection to Vincent from childhood to when they meet again in the story was perfect and paced so well. I loved many things about Vincent of Beckett and I admired how he never wanted to cage Matilda, own her, or try to change her. Their romance was full of tenderness and yearning and was beautifully done. I think Rebecca Ross may truly be the queen of characters writing the most beautiful love letters. I also loved the relationship between Matilda and Bade. Reading this book was a treat. I have read The Elements of Cadence series and the others in the Letters of Enchantment and after reading Wild Reverence I place it firmly in the number one spot as my favorite of all.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my review.

Rebecca Ross has a way of writing that feels like a bedtime story told in cadence, with a lullaby. It felt like watching a magical caterpillar turn into a beautiful butterfly. The vivid anticipation coupled with the soul-baring FMC & MMC makes this an unforgettable romance.

The romance in this book is bound to become a classic. The god-tier yearning coupled with the pining between Matilda and Vincent makes their love story extraordinary.

“War only makes love flame brighter, defiant.”

Set in the same world as “Divine Rivals”, Matilda is the herald of the gods, born to a Skyward god and an Underling Goddess, allowing her to be the only one with the ability to move through all three realms. She befriends Alva, goddess of nightmares and dreams, who would slip her scrolls of dreams. That is where she meets a mortal boy, named Vincent, who had been dreaming of her. Their connection was powerful, even though they were together only in his dreams. When chaos in the Underling Realm arises, Matilda is forced to seek sanctuary in the Skyward Realm with the father she never knew, breaking her connection with Vincent. Their paths only crossed again once they were adults.

“What could I have done to keep a goddess safe? I only realized it could not be achieved by embracing her. Only by letting her go.”

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

Vincent has made his way into one of my top book boyfriends. He’s the man that you wish your daughters would fall for.

“Forgive me, but I must kiss you now. They are waiting to witness it.”

“The way he clung to you last night, forcing you off the bridge with him. Only a weak man—a weak god—would do such a thing. He is still trying to hold on to you when he knows you have already slipped through his fingers.”

“I stared up at the sky, naming the constellations, until I found hers–a bright six points. Herald of the gods. A kestrel in flight. I willed those stars to always burn, because I could not bear to imagine them ever going dark.”

“If it takes you,” I said, “then let it also take me. Don’t leave me behind like this, Red.”

Bade, god of war, the unexpected investment I didn’t know I needed. I need to know more about Bade and Adria. Please let their story be the next one!

“I vowed to be childless unless they can be made in love. And I would rather be feared than to ever be loved.”

“Do you want to be feared or loved?”

“Although now I understand why you would be here, waging war. I understand why you would bring down a tower. If it was for love.”

“Because she is yours, as you are hers,” Bade replied quietly. “And she is precious to me.”

4.5/5
Thank you NetGalley for this advance copy, I feel so very lucky to have gotten a sneak peek.

Always extra points for books that make me cry. Only deductions for me was just how slow it was for the first 25%. But once it got going, I was hooked! As per this authors style, it's not all flash and action and thrills. It's a slow build, it's masterful storytelling. It's heart wrenching beautiful writing. I would highly recommend reading the divine rivals duology first, but I think you could get by without it.

Long before the story of Iris and Roman with their magical typewriters and epic love story - was another story of love and gods. Matilda grew up as an underling goddess, but knowing she didn't fully belong. Aware that she was born as half Skyward. A anomaly in the gods worlds, never seen before. But Matilda grew up, honing her skills and learning her place as a herald to the gods. Until one day, she found herself in the dreams of mortal boy. Through these dreams, Matilda grows a friendship with this mortal, Vincent. But life and loss tear them apart. They do not meet again for thirteen years. Both changed. But when Matilda has a chance to be there for Vincent once more, how much will she sacrifice? And how can love between a mortal and goddess ever last when they are from different worlds. Can an immortal survive the heart break of loving a mortal.