This book is tough for me to rate. This was definitely written in Ross's typical lyrical whimsical writing. However, I almost DNF'd at the 20% mark because there was so much world building and it was a bit boring and tough to read through. Once you get to the 30% mark the book becomes really good! The love did feel a bit insta-lust for my liking. There wasn't enough tension and slow burn for me. Overall, I did not love it as much as I did Divine Rivals, a River Enchanted, or her other books. This is a 3.5 star rating for me, but I rounded up for this review.

“I waited for her return like the stars wait for the sun to set.”

Rebecca Ross has done it again! Climbing to the top of my favorites of 2025, Wild Reverence was a beautifully written story of star crossed love in an intricate magical world of gods and mortals.

I loved going back into the world of Divine Rivals and getting such a deeper understanding of the gods and magic of the stars. It’s technically a prequel to the Letters of Enchantment duo and while I think it enriched my experience having read those books first, it could also be read as a standalone. I came for the romance, but ended up also really enjoying the additional storylines that explored other types of love in the characters’ journeys with friendship, family, mentors, and allies that were woven together really well.

While I was lucky enough to get this as an eArc (thank you to St. Martin's Press & Saturday Books), I loved it so much I needed it in all the formats and also bought the hardcover and listened to some of it on audio from Libby. The hardcover book is beautiful and I adored the cover art! The audio was great and had a dual/multi narration.

My audio copy also had a bonus interview with the author that I found really fascinating! She read a chapter from her first draft which really showed how some of the changes she made along the way (like switching from 3rd to 1st person and adding in characters/storylines like Bade!) made such a huge difference in the emotional impact of the story. Definitely recommend checking that out!

I did find the story started a little slow for me and in the end I wanted more from the characters rather than just the glimpse we got. But that’s just me being picky because I found it nearly perfect otherwise! The main characters were easy to love and root for, and their stories made me think deeply about fate, power, strength, vulnerability, sacrifice, trust, and so much more.

Plus, she had magic Mary Poppins style pockets- what a dream!

TLDR: Read if you like a slower paced but beautifully written emotional story with a friends-to-lovers, against all odds, I’ll fight the world for you, slow burn, lots of yearning, type of love.

I am always so blown away by Rebecca Ross's work. She is by far one of the most talented authors out there and definitely on my auto-buy list.
I could not be more obsessed with these characters and this book. I will be recommending this book to no end to my audience.

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross follows the young goddess, Matilda, and her star-crossed romance with mortal Vincent. This book was so sweet and well thought out, following the winding road that was Matilda’s early life and how her fate intertwined with Vincents.
While a standalone, this book is a great complement to the divine rivals books, and I would highly recommend all readers of that series pick this one up too.

5⭐️

this was everything I wanted it to be and MORE.

Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows were two of my favorite books I read in 2024, so I have been truly foaming at the mouth waiting to get Wild Reverence into my hands.

Wild Reverence takes the world you thought you knew from the DR/RV timeline but makes you realize how much is truly lost to history. I adored getting to know Matilda and see all of the Underling and Skyward gods through her eyes. Seeing a Dacre before the events of the Iris/Roman timeline was fascinating. And learning more about his siblings and allies added a layer to his character that makes me want to reread DR and RV to see all the connections I may have missed.

Vincent is an MMC you love to root for. He is incredibly kind-hearted and exactly what Matilda needed many times (and vice versa). His never ending care for his family and people makes him such an endearing character. I just want to read another hundred pages of Matilda and Vincent doing mundane human activities together.

Spoilers next! The ending with the typewriters had me actually sobbing. The moment that Matilda sent a note through the door of the wastes, I knew what was coming for me. Seeing Enva just before the outbreak of the war with Dacre also added a fascinating element to the epilogue. I enjoyed the moment we got in Enva's mind and seeing her mention how the true nature and history of the gods had been forgotten. Also, Matilda touching the I, R, M, and V keys for Iris, Roman, Matilda, and Vincent had me giggling and tearing up. I loved that little touch and I ADORED the final line and how it sets up the typewriters being used in the DR/RV worlds so perfectly. I also genuinely sobbed at Bade and Matilda finally referring to one another as Father and Daughter! Such a sweet moment with them.

This book will for sure be a top read of my year, and I am so endlessly grateful to have gotten an advanced copy!

If you loved Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, this one is a must-read. I loved that it works both as a prequel and as the next piece of the trilogy; personally I read it after the first two and it added so much extra backstory that made certain moments click, but either order will work.

The worldbuilding here is gorgeous — the magic, the gods and goddesses, and the scenes that shift between realms are beautifully crafted and just ✨magical✨. The way the story moves between present and past is chef’s kiss — those glimpses into Enva and Dacre (especially Enva’s music) added real depth and atmosphere.

Our FMC, Matilda, is brave, strong, and full of heart. Our MMC, Vincent… I adored him in every single scene. The love he holds for the people in his life, and the sacrifices he’s willing to make, had me reaching for tissues more times than I can count 💚. After the Matilda & Warin forest scene when Vincent shows up? SOBBING. Their love is unstoppable and powerful, and I couldn’t get enough.

If you’re into lush fantasy with compelling backstory, powerful romance, and emotional payoff, Wild Reverence will stick with you long after the last page.

Rating 4.5

I am a big fan of Rebecca Ross’s writing. I went into this with high expectations and for me it delivers. I feel her writing can be a hit or miss but reading is subjective and I loved this book. Matilda and Vincent are such great characters and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the EARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wild Reverence is a stunning and emotional prequel that expands the rich world introduced in the Letters of Enchantment duology. One of the most compelling aspects of Wild Reverence is the deeper insight into the lives of the divines, particularly Matilda’s. Her duality as both an Underling and a Skyward divine, along with her ability to traverse realms, makes her journey unique and deeply affecting. Watching her navigate the trials of war, love, and loss adds layers of complexity to the world Ross has created, whose signature prose remains as evocative as ever. Her descriptions are so lush and vivid that the world seems to breathe on the page. Every emotional beat, every setting, every divine confrontation is painted in aching detail. I felt as if I were walking beside Matilda—grieving with her, fighting with her, and ultimately marveling at her strength and selflessness.

The relationships Matilda formed were deeply moving. Her bond with Bade, her salt-sworn ally and the man she had always regarded as a father, was especially powerful. Knowing he was the first to hold her as a baby, and hearing them finally call each other “father” and “daughter,” was profoundly emotional and beautifully earned. Then there is her love for Vincent. Their connection is timeless, soul-deep, and reverent. The fact that he dreamed of her before they ever met gives their love a fated quality, making every shared moment feel sacred.

The novel also brings clarity to characters like Dacre and Enva, who felt more like shadows in the background of the Letters of Enchantment duology. Here, they take on form and presence, and their roles in the future divine conflict become clearer. And witnessing the enchantment of the typewriters—the very objects that became the heart of the subsequent duology—felt like a full-circle moment.

Wild Reverence is a heartbreakingly beautiful story about sacrifice, love, and the echoes that ripple through time. While the Letters of Enchantment duology gave us the poetry of war and connection, Wild Reverence gives us the foundation that made that story possible.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for the opportunity to read this arc.

If I could give this book a billion stars, I would. I was already a fan of Rebecca Ross but something about this story sunk deep into my soul. It will be a forever favorite, in my Roman Empire Hall of Fame. I was so completely and wholly immersed in Mathilda and Vincent's story. There was a deeper element to their tale that enchanted me and lingered long after I read the last page.

The atmosphere of the book felt similar to a mythological retelling and I was so fully captivated. Although I think I expected something about Enva and Dacre, I love it all the more for being the quiet story of a young goddess and her connection with humanity. It will stay with me for years.

“Wild Reverence” serves as a prequel to the series “Divine Rivals” and further explores the relationship between mortals and gods. I thoroughly enjoyed the romance aspect of this novel, as well as how Ross further builds the world that she established in her preceding duology. I feel like I got a better understanding of the characters we have been introduced to, particularly Enva, and the politics of the other realms. This was a very cozy and emotional read for me. Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC!

Rebecca Ross does it again!! Divine Rivals is my favorite duology, favorite series, and favorite book of all time, so Wild Reverence had a lot to live up to. Let me tell you- it not only met but exceeded my expectations!! Wild Reverence is exactly like the other two, beautiful writing, engaging plot, and it's set in a unique fantasy world that I truly cannot get enough of.
This story dives deeper into the world's gods, having Matilda as our MMC, the messenger god. One of my favorite parts is the opening of the book, where we get Matilda's point of view of her birth. It was so unique and engaging. An incredibly strong way to start the novel.
If you have not read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, you can still enjoy this book first. I would, however, recommend reading them in publishing order for the full experience.
This might just end up being my favorite book of the year... time for a re-read!

I just don't even know how to put into words how Rebecca Ross does it. This was whimsical but dark and atmospheric. These characters just have so much depth and heart. I just love the tone and pacing of the store and the lore of the world from divine rival and how much more of the magic we get to explore in this story.

Rebecca Ross hits another home run. Everything I've read by her has been 5 shining stars and this in no exception!!!!

This was the most anticipated release for me for 2025. When I got approved for an eARC I was giddy with excitement.

In all transparency WR was quite slow to start and while it took me quite some time to read it, it was more so due to the fact that I really wanted to fully absorb everything this book had to offer and boy did it offer up everything I was expecting and more.

The Letters of Enchantment duet is definitely at the top of my favourite reads and Wild Reverence now has a spot there as well. lt was so exciting to be back in this world and see how things were for both the divines and mortals.

The ending was absolutely chef's kiss 💋. I am so happy I got to be pulled back into this atmosphere and would definitely be here for more.

"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."

"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."


*Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed.*

This book was my Mount Everest…my GOD it was long. Like I enjoyed it but wow, it took me over 3 weeks to read it. It was so cool seeing more about the Gods and Goddesses of the Divine Rivals world and I truly think it added so much depth to the universe and I absolutely loved how it was a standalone complete story.

Rebecca Ross does not disappoint with her beautiful writing in another installment for the Letters of Enchantment Series. If Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows left you yearning for more backstory of the divine beings, Wild Reverence is the book for you. It can be read as a prequel or a standalone.

The story follows a newly born goddess, Matilda, who is both Underling and Skyward— something unheard of in the realm of gods. She traverses the mortal and immortal realms, constantly seeking her place of true belonging. Her connection with a mortal will prove to have long lasting impacts that teach her lessons about what it means to live and love in a way that feels decidedly human.

Perfect for lovers of lyrical writing styles, god and goddess origin stories, fans of Rebecca Ross, and general fantasy lovers alike.

Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows were my top reads last year, but Wild Reverence managed to surpass the duology! This story was breathtaking and will stay with me for a long time. It’s my first ever 6-star read. I felt every emotion while reading - hope, mystery, tension, darkness - it was just incredible.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy <3

What an incredibly beautiful story! The way Rebecca puts words together just flows so beautifully.

I loved how it started and god was it a roller coaster through out the rest. I needed to take little pauses to prepare myself for what I thought was coming! So many things I did not see coming and some parts had me screaming, wanting to just throw up and cry! (But like in a good way 🤣). It was just so so good.

Matilda and Vincent, gah! Pulled together by fate and they do not have an easy road at all. But wow their connection and chemistry and the tension is just amazing. I love the way Vincent loves her. I can’t even, just swoon.

The secondary characters too? You just either fall in love with them or hate them lol it’s fun. And then the epilogue was so cool. How it unites it to the books it preludes! I really really loved this world!

kay, this book was poetic in nature. Rebecca did such an amazing job painting a beautiful story in a beautiful world, and the imagery is so on par with her prior to works, you truly felt as if you were sitting right there observing the entire journey of Vincent and Matilda.

That being said, this did have a slow start for me. I felt as if I did spend the first quarter of the book setting the stage, which sometimes felt like a bit of a drag, but the rest of the story far outweighed the beginning.

A beautiful journey, set before divine rivals, and absolutely worth the read!

Rebecca Ross knows how to write sweeping epic love stories and Matilda and Vincent's is no exception. You know your heart is about to be ripped out and put back together when the dedication is "to anyone who has ever had to let go of someone they love". This felt like a rich layer to the existing Divine Rivals universe that gave background to the gods, their secrets, and their motivations. I loved the incorporation of words/messages and how they are carried through time and realms through Matilda's POV. The epilogue was also a beautiful nod to the start of Iris and Roman's love story and how Matilda, while forgotten, will be remembered through her soul-bearing and words through the magic of the typewriters.

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

Yes, Yes, YES!! First of all, I have to say that Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows were two of my favorite books from last year. And this one did not disappoint! The world building was top notch and I am a stickler for fantasy books. Rebecca has this ability to capture your attention from page one and create a story that you will never forget. Rebecca, if you are listening, I need more!! I cannot wait to read what else you write! Many thanks again to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.