Return to the world of Divine Rivals in this all new prequel!

Matilda is unique among the gods—her mother is an Underling, a goddess of the under realm, and her father a Skyward, a god of the upper realm. Her constellations, however, reveal her to be a humble Herald, a messager for all three realms. But when her friendship with a mortal boy, Vincent, thrusts her into a war, she must learn to come into her power while figuring out which of the gods are her allies and which would kill her to steal her abilities.

I absolutely devoured this book! I LOVED Divine Rivals. It was unlike anything I had read before. So naturally I was stoked when I found out there was going to be a spin off book. Reading through Matilda’s POV we get to see all the little Easter Eggs and nods to the original duology, while at the same time learning more about the Divines, their magic systems, and the cultural differences between the Underlings and the Skywards.

As much as I enjoyed Matilda’s chapters, especially her relationship with Bade and Adria, I found myself completely falling for Vincent. It isn’t often we get a MMC as soft and completely in love as he is. Matilda was literally the girl of his dreams and even though she vanishes from his life for years at a time he never is able to forget her or move on. Despite being a mortal thrust into the conflicts between gods, he never hesitates to throw himself into the middle of it to protect or support her. His faith never wavered, even when there was no way of him knowing if she would ever return. His gentle and unwavering devotion is a breath of fresh air in a genre dominated by controlling, possessive, and domineering love interests.

Now I am not someone who gets emotional when characters die, but the relationship between Matilda and her ally Bade, the Underling God of War, just hits you right in the feels. I began to suspect that Vincent would die about halfway through the book (that’s a given when there is an immortal in love with a mortal who is currently embroiled in a war where the odds are stacked against him). It came as a complete shock when Bade was the one who ended up dying instead! When she chased him to the wastes trying to bring him back and called him Father for the first time I couldn’t help but tear up!

I was wondering when the books were going to tie in together (and if I needed a reread to see if they already had and we just didn’t know since we hadn’t met Matilda yet) so I adored the epilogue where we got to see Matilda and Enva create the magical typewriters that started it all.

I so enjoyed getting to return to this world and I avidly hope that there is more to come from Rebecca Ross in this universe!

Spoiler Free Review! Thank you NetGalley for the Arc :)

4.5 stars
I love majority of Rebecca Ross’ work and Wild Reverence is no exception. It has what I don’t really get from other books in this genre. Relationships (romantic but also platonic and adversarial) are the focus of the story, but the world building and plot are not forgotten. 0.5 taken from the rating only because I’m a hater who doesn’t want to be done with Matilda and Vincent’s story. I can’t say much about the book without wanting to spoil!

Wild Reverence
by: Rebecca Ross

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set in the world of Divine Rivals, Wild Reverence is a standalone romantic fantasy in which a goddess and a mortal must over come obstacles in the hopes of saving his lands. Matilda and Vincent are friends in his dreams, but one day, they meet - and it sets them both on a path they cannot turn away from.

Rebecca Ross has the most lyrical and beautiful writing, and she never fails to fully immerse a reader in the world her characters live in. If you desired more world building and information about the gods in Divine Rivals, then this story is for you! I could not stop reading this beautiful story of the life of a goddess who yearns for more.

This book is a must read if you like:
🍃 Standalone
✉️ Feuding Gods
🍃 Greek Mythology Vibes
✉️ Epic Love Story

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

I already knew this was going to be one of my favourite reads of the year (how could it not be? It's set in the same world as Divine Rivals) but it exceeded my expectations
Rebecca's writing is some of my absolute favourite, it's so immersive, beautiful and magical. I absolutely loved being back in the world of Divine Rivals and seeing some of the characters we'd met already in this book

I cried my eyes out in the last 20% of this book, and it was worth it (I have the really ugly selfies to prove it).
I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed this read, and I was constantly trying to figure out what was happening and where the story was going (I was wrong a lot)

Rebecca Ross please never stop spinning your stories

”Some stories claim that humans are beholden to the gods. But that is also not true. The divine is nothing without mortal hearts. And should we love them, we should not be punished for it. No, I think. It is all the more reason why we should be remembered.”

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Six stars.

My heart hurts, and the number of tears I shed over this book is embarrassing. Alas, let me introduce you to my favourite book of the year.

**Spoiler-free as this is a review for an arc!**

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Matilda is the herald of the gods. Born to a god and goddess, she is the only one to ever be able to travel between realms, making her ability to deliver letters and requests from the Underworld, mortal realm, and Skyward an asset to all. We follow her journey when she is young, 12 years old, and we see her grow into her role as a goddess, and what powers she has hiding waiting to emerge.

As she learns she can dream walk, she meets a boy named Vincent. He is a mere mortal, but their connection is apparent. After a situation arises where Matilda must leave the Underworld, she loses her connection with Vincent, until another mission leads her to him.

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We get:
•Found family
•Forbidden love
•A strong, powerful FMC
•Knowledge into the gods and goddesses that we only get a glimpse of in DR/RV
•Eithrals
•Betrayal, revenge
•Many different worlds: Underworld, mortal realm, mists/wasteland, Skyward

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⋆˙⟡♡ The romance in this story is one for the books. I absolutely LOVED that this was adult fantasy, as I felt that Divine Rivals could have gone a little deeper and crossed the bridge into adult, but Wild Reverence delivered that for me. The love story is so sweet; it has you pining for the two characters to get together, but we have to wait so long to truly see it come to fulfillment.

”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.”

“I do not know when this happened, when the current rose and when I let it take me, willingly, but there came a moment when I looked at you and could not breathe.”

This man was down BAD.

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The side characters in this book have my heart, specifically Bade and Adria. Bade, the god of war, was like a father to Matilda as a child, and he trained her up to be the warrior that she became as her salt-sworn ally.

The plot was exceptionally laid out, complex and heartbreaking when it needed to be. There were times in this book that I thought Ross would not actually make us suffer in the ways she eluded to, but she did. We gain and lose so much in this story, and the journey is a bittersweet one. The writing was melodical and enchanting, just like her previous books. I was drinking down every word.

The epilogue. GUYS the EPILOGUE. We learn how the enchanted typewriters were created!!

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This book was such a treat, and I fear it has become my favourite book of the year. With that, it further instills my love for the Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows duology, and truly no better prequel could have been written.

“I pray that my days will be long at your side. Let me fill and satisfy every longing in your soul. May your hand be in mine, by sun and by night. Let our breaths twine and our blood become one, until our bones return to dust. Even then, may I find your soul still sworn to mine.”

——————
The biggest thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this arc!!

e-arc provided by Netgalley

This was lovely, Rebecca Ross' writing was beautiful as always and I am a sucker for mythological/God/Goddess' fantasy. The story captured here was really well done, kept me hooked the entire time and the romance was exquisite and I can't wait to read her next book!

Set in the same world as Divine Rivals, this story takes place thousands of years earlier and focuses on the gods, particularly Matilda, the herald of the gods.

It’s a great addition to the world and offers much more depth to the divine lore.

That said, I found Matilda’s character a bit wooden at times and didn’t fully buy into her romance with Vincent.

Overall I enjoyed this though!

I’m not sure where to even start. Rebecca Ross truly has a gift. The worlds she creates are magical and wonderful. Filled with all of the emotions. I loved watching Matilda come into her own. Who she is as a goddess. How sometimes love is worth the pain. The way Vincent and her are together is nothing short of magical.

There’s something about the way she writes that is so engaging. I really enjoyed getting to meet all of the gods and goddesses that were introduced in Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows.

I can already tell this is going to be one those books that I spend my life wishing I could read for the first time again.

I absolutely loved this book. I think it provided greater context to the Divine Rivals duology but can be read as a standalone. I think I may have actually preferred this book more than the Divine Rivals books. I loved the mythology, the twists and turns, and the absolute yearning. I think the characters were better developed which made me truly care about them. Would highly recommend to those who have and have not read the Divine Rivals books.

6 stars.

I'm honestly at a loss for words here. I loved everything about this story- from the puzzling together of information connecting to Divine Rivals, the intricate world and magic system, learning more about the world and the gods and their roles, the attention to detail, the characters- all of it.

A moment of silence for the magic system here ----------- I've never read anything like it before, and I absolutely LOVED it.

This story- Matilda's journey- was not a lighthearted one. It was full of pain, longing, and belonging; from page one up until the end and after. It broke me and healed me simultaneously.

Wild Reverence opened up a door for a multitude of possibilities, and I cannot wait to find out what Rebecca has in store for the Letters of Enchantment world!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!!

I got completely lost in this book and the magical world it’s set in. This book takes place the same world as ‘Divine Rivals’ and is a prequel.

The Divine Rivals books are a great way to dabble in the fantasy genre. While ‘Wild Reverence’ is definitely a step up the ladder with more magic, gods, world creation, etc. I was worried at first by the author provided dictionary at the beginning to explain all the characters and their powers. However, don’t let that dissuade you from continuing on. It’s not hard to follow along as the author does a great job at retelling details throughout the book.

Despite the book being almost 600 pages, I ripped through it. It felt like a complete story of someone’s life from beginning to end and I was not left wanting.

Thank you to #netgalley and #RebeccaRoss for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to rebecca ross & netgalley for an arc of this book. all opinions are my own. ♡

₊˚⊹⋆ first thoughts: opening my romantasy era and excited as heckkkk to get this arc!! pls excuse me as i disappear into this world of dreaming, magic and love!!!

₊˚⊹⋆ final thoughts:

Oh my god! This book was amazing, it was one of my anticipated releases and I was so excited to read it! It was good and fun

It has been quite some time since I read Divine Rivals. It was a book I read so early on in my renewed reading journey that I don't even have a full review posted for it. I remember enjoying it but had no intense desire to immediately read Ruthless Vows. However, after reading Wild Reverence, I will definitely be circling back to finish the duology as it has peaked my interest once again.

I really did enjoy seeing the lush backstory to this world and how everything begins for Divine Rivals. This was a strong standalone story that I would absolutely pick up without even having any knowledge of Divine Rivals.

There were many Gods, Goddesses, and mortals to keep tabs on throughout the story. It was slightly overwhelming at first but everyone ends up flowing together easily with intertwined stories and fates. I had a soft spot for a few Gods in particular and some of the relationships carried heavy weight and emotional impact. Some just made me see red constantly.

I felt that Matilda was such a strong character in so many ways. She was not helpless or naïve. She was intuitive and was actively working around her hardened edges from her life in between the two realms of the Gods. You could tell her heart was aching to be soft and compassionate. Vincent was a strong character in his own way, although I do wish we saw a bit more of him at times. He was a YEARNER though guys....so precious. I just wanted to hug him and his big kind heart. The star crossed lovers hurt so good. I enjoy a little pain and tears with my romance.

Wild Reverence is a beautiful book full of emotion and beautiful prose. I had no desire to put this book down at all - it was one that consumed my thoughts heavily the past few days. The story is emotional and full of longing, love, strength, and betrayal. It also feels realistic in a way that is bittersweet while still carrying the romantic and whimsical feelings of fantasy/mythology.

As usual for an arc review, I won't dive deep into the plot since it will take away some of the mystery and anticipation. I am teetering somewhere between a 4.5 and a 5 because there were some very minor things that stood out that felt open ended but nothing that was glaringly terrible. It was more so....plot areas that felt unfinished or only added for the dramatic flare and then faded away. I'm rounding up to a 5★ for now - I really did love this. I have so many highlights and quotes that stood out that I can't wait to share once I get my final copy. ♡

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Saturday books for the e-arc! As always, all opinions are my own.

Wild Reverence is nothing short of breath taking. Rebecca Ross delivers a masterwork of romantic fantasy, one that feels like it’s carved from starlight and stitched together with dreams. Set centuries before the events of Divine Rivals, this story stands alone beautifully while enriching the lore and emotional weight of the duology in unforgettable ways.

We follow Matilda, a young goddess born between the Underling and Skyward realms, who serves as a divine herald, and Vincent, a mortal boy plagued by nightmares. Their connection begins in dreams and evolves into a love that defies the boundaries between gods and men, mortality and eternity. Their bond, tender, aching, and deeply earned, is the beating heart of this sweeping story.

Ross’s writing is pure magic. Every line feels intentional, every sentence soaked in longing and lyricism. The pacing is gentle at first, allowing us to grow with Matilda, understand the divine hierarchies, and immerse ourselves in the celestial magic system. Then, like fate quickening, the story takes off, layering suspense, romance, and heartbreak until the final, jaw-dropping act.

While the romance between Matilda and Vincent is deeply moving, it’s the entire emotional tapestry, rivalries, divine politics, found family, and quiet moments of grace—that left me completely undone. Bade, the god of war, stole my heart in unexpected ways, and the relationships threaded through this story, from mentorship to sibling bonds, added depth and resonance.

And the epilogue? Goosebumps. An absolutely brilliant payoff for fans of Divine Rivals, without ever relying on nostalgia to make the story sing. You could read this book first or last, and either way, it will break your heart in the most beautiful way.

This is Rebecca Ross at her peak: a story for the dreamers, the romantics, and anyone who’s ever wondered what it means to love something, or someone, you were never meant to keep.

Truly unforgettable.

This book is lyrical and immersive. The story felt both epic and intimate, full of longing, quiet strength, and that slow-building magic Rebecca Ross does so well. I loved the depth of the characters and the way the romance unfolded with such care and tension. It’s the kind of book that lingers, softly powerful, emotionally rich, and absolutely beautiful.

I went into this book blind, other than having read (and loved) Rebecca Ross’ other books. I really enjoyed this! The politics and dynamics between the gods and different realms were very interesting and unique and the writing was beautiful, Rebecca Ross always creates such dreamy, atmospheric settings in her books. The only reason I didn’t rate this 5 stars was that I felt it lagged a bit in some places, but I was never left feeling bored or uninterested in what happened next. Overall this was a beautiful love story with lots of mystery, magic, and intrigue.

Wild Reverence releases September 2nd! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Saturday Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’m honestly at a loss for words in the best way possible - Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross completely swept me away. This story, set years before Divine Rivals, feels like the mythic origin tale you never knew you needed. It's a luminous, aching love story woven into a celestial, brutal world of gods, war, and fate and I adored every second of it.

Matilda, the youngest goddess of her under realm, is utterly captivating. Her magic may seem humble, she carries words and messages, but her heart, her resilience, and the secrets she carries are anything but small. And Vincent, a mortal lord, irreverent and rough-edged, who once dreamed of a goddess on the darkest night of his life. Their love story is soft and slow, but burns with a quiet intensity. It’s one of those rare romances that feels cosmic, not just beautiful, but fated.

Rebecca Ross’s prose is, as always, exquisite, lush, lyrical, and alive with emotion. The world-building is absolutely stunning: divines born of stars, power measured in constellations, and magic that feels like it was plucked from the heart of a myth. I was enchanted by this celestial system, and even more so by the emotional depth it carried.

What makes Wild Reverence so powerful is how it embodies the divine and the human: the cruelty of gods, the tenderness of love, and the courage it takes to choose vulnerability in a world built on fear. There were lines that made me pause, reread, and feel my heart crack open. I definitely teared up more than once.

The subtle ties to Divine Rivals only deepened my love for this book. It's such a rich, resonant addition to the universe, epic and intimate all at once.

If you love stories that feel like they’ve been whispered down through time, that blend myth and magic with raw, human emotion, this is the book for you. Rebecca Ross has given us something divine.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Saturday Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow. I was completely and utterly blown away by this book. I wasn't fully sure what to expect going into it as it's been a long time since I read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, but whatever expectations I had were surpassed times ten. I loved this book so so much, probably one of my top reads of the year so far.

First off the writing was phenomenal. It felt very atmospheric and just completely perfect for the world and characters. None of the dialogue felt clunky or basic, it was all woven together so perfectly that I was hooked from the very beginning. I'm not normally a big annotator, but there was so much amazing dialogue and great quotes that I was constantly highlighting.

I loved that right away you jump into the politics of the Divine courts and the world building. I didn't remember much about the Divine from Divine Rivals, but that was totally fine as it's very different and everything is set up so well that you don't need any previous knowledge from DR to understand and fall in love with the world. There was also much more magic in this as opposed to DR & RV which I loved way more as I always felt they were a bit lacking in the magic aspect. I just loved how the world was fleshed out so well and so beautifully.

Then you meet Matilda. And I loved her from the very beginning. Her development throughout the book was incredible and I loved watching her grow over the years. I don't want to get into any spoilers, but her arc was fantastic and I just loved it and loved her so much. I also felt like every character was very memorable and all had their own fun personality traits. I sometimes struggle to remember names but I had no issues with remembering any names because they all stood out to me as individuals, even the minor characters.

Now the romance? Phenomenal. I was kicking my feet and SQUEALING at some of the lines between Vincent and Matilda. I absolutely adore them and I don't know if I'll ever get over how adorable and perfect they are. Just read it, trust me. It's so incredibly worth it JUST for them. But the rest is amazing too.

There was also never a dull moment in the plot for me. I was completely hooked from the very first page to the very last. I did not want to put this down. The pacing is great, and everything is wrapped up perfectly at the end. I loved when little moments from earlier came around to either haunt or help the characters later in the book.

Overall, I am just blown away. I really wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I do but wow I think I need to go and preorder every physical edition I can get my hands on that's how much I loved it. Absolutely amazing, a perfect 5 stars and definitely one of my top reads of 2025.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I tell you I TORE through Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows...they were some of my favorite fantasy I have ever read. You can imagine my shock when 1) I learned we were getting a "prequel" and 2) I GOT APPROVED FOR THE ARC!!!!!!

This book is SO good. I have to shoot Rebecca Ross up to the top of my list of favorite auto-read authors because the way she writes her characters and tells their stories is just amazing. She makes magical elements feel so REAL. It's impressive to me how relatable these stories can remain to the reader in the midst of gods, wars, and all of the magical mystique in between. Ross has given us another sweeping love story that is compulsively readable and will leave you with all of the feelings you want in finishing a beautiful story. I could read another 10 books in this universe.