Thank you for the opportunity to read Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross.

Rebecca did it again, sending me into a tailspin of destinies and life.
Love it.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

No spoilers because I fully believe this is one book you should just buckle up and enjoy the rollercoaster of emotions that it forces you down.

Rebecca Ross is an exceptional writer. She is able to fully emerge you into a world of intense story building and incredible romance.

Reading Matilda and Vincent’s love story gave me flashbacks to Kitt and Iris. Set many years prior, you’re able to see the world as it once was when divine’s roamed the land. Before technology, before the typewriters, when hand written letters were the way.

I loved this book. I loved their love story. I love Rebecca.

5/5 stars. Perfection. Absolute perfection.

Here I am again. A YA author moving into NA. The bones of the story are interesting, however, the amount of similes and metaphors was ridiculous. If I start tracking, them, there are way too many.
I want more story and less cleverness.

I don’t even know what to say. Like I finished it a week ago and all I can think is, wow I loved it.

With it being Rebecca Ross, I knew it would be at least a 4 star read because she just gets me.

This book is so beautiful and full of depth and yearning. I loved, loved, LOVED getting more about the gods and goddesses of this world. I loved the character growth, I loved the romance, and I loved the characters themselves. The way Ross set up Divine Rivals millennia before it takes place: just perfect.

Five stars. Once again.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thoughts
I have some mixed feelings about this book. While there some things that I loved about the book (the writing, the overall themes and certain characters and scenes) something about this book felt off to me 🤔 I am definitely am going to have to reread this book at a later date once the audiobook is available and reread this

A fantastic story of love, typical of Rebecca's unique voice. Anyone who loves Divine Rivals will adore this novel set in the same universe.

How lovely to be in the world of Divine Rivals again! I thought the gods were the weakest part of the original duology's sequel--but I was quickly captured by Ross's storytelling in this novel. (I think this is because the gods take center stage in this story, and don't have to fit within a more contemporary setting.) Matilda and Vincent's story was a compelling and riveting fairy tale with plenty of emotional and tragic ups and downs. The one "con" of my reading experience was the uneven pacing, which I understand was necessary at some points due to Matilda's role, but it did feel too stop-and-go at times. Overall, an enchanting and well-crafted read.

I am a big fan of Ross' writing for adults, and I've read the first in her Divine Rivals series, so this may be an issue with me where I wasn't familiar enough with this world to get more of the nuance, but this book fell flat for me. I think Ross writes beautifully, so I enjoyed the prose, but I felt the world building, character work and action were missing to keep me invested. I'm not a huge romance person either, but even for that I felt the romance in this was stilted and lacking. This story takes place well before the events of the Divine Rivals series, with Matilda being born as a messenger of the gods. The first part of the book details her childhood where she meets and has a connection with a mortal. In the later parts of the book where she's an adult we see the consequences of that romance and how it shapes the world of the mortals and the gods. I just wasn't very invested in the characters or the story for this one, but again this could be just because I'm not as plugged into this world.

ARC Read: Thank you Rebecca Ross and St. Martin’s Publishing for allowing me to read the book for an honest review!

Review:
I am at a loss for words… I have been trying to process, still, all the emotions this book had me feeling!

Rebecca Ross’ writing was so beautiful poetic throughout this story, the entire time I was captured. I was lost in this world, from the tales that were spun of the gods to the intense love I had for the MC’s AND the side ones!

I never read Divine Rivals or Ruthless Vows, but if this prequel has done anything it’s that it fully convinced me I was…
1. Completely missing out!
2. That I will be reading them right after this review posts. Not just adding to my TBR and hoping I get to it soon, but jumping right back into the world that has had me in a choke hold the past week.

Glows:
1. The way this book is written so poetically, but so easy to read made me dub Rebecca Ross as the Poet Queen because she truly conquered!
2. She made me feel so many things for these characters. Complete awe, shock, joy, heartbreak, then joy again, then completely torn to shreds. The entire time though you knew without a doubt that she would pull you from the water like Matilda.
3. If I could pick one part where I knew this book would be turning into one of my favorites it would have to be her reading of Vincent’s dreams. I knew right then I was doomed! As wrapped up as Matilda was reading his dreams I was devouring them. Every chapter I wanted more of this fated love, and all the ways he sought out her presence.

Grow:
1. This might be an unpopular opinion, but my love for Bade goes so deep that I wanted more of him. I also know that would have taken away from the conclusion of the story but at the end I wanted to see him actually look upon Matilda and I wanted to feel all the emotions that went through him after all that happened.
Honestly, though I could be sounding really dumb if he is a man contributor to Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, so if he is then definitely ignore the grow!

All in all, I think between the story and the quotes I now have forever tattooed in my brain I will be giving this book a solid 4.75 ⭐️ and would 100% read this book again and again!

Rating: 4.75⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️ (It’s there, but there isn’t any graphic detail but it’s also not brushed over closed door or fade to black.)
TW: murder, death, abuse, domestic violence, gore but not graphic, very mild sexual content.

[Thank you to Saturday Books, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]

My initial thought was just, wow. This is a story that you absolutely have to savor.

Ross feels like one of the goddesses, weaving her words like a tapestry. Her writing is lyrical, making you feel entranced and cozy. The vivid descriptions meant I could easily imagine each character and setting. I’m in awe that Ross was able to not only write a brilliant sequel but have it perfectly set up the next book.

The love story between Matilda and Vincent was tender and beautiful. It’s a slow burn filled with yearning. Even with all the secondary characters (a list of characters and which realm they exist in is provided in the beginning of the book), it was easy to recall details about each one because they were given such depth.

It feels like there’s a me before reading this story and a me after finishing it. I had to lie down afterwards because the last 10% had me feeling every possible emotion. The epilogue is hands down one of the best I’ve ever read.

Honestly, it was all so enchanting and you need to read this book as soon as possible.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book 💖

wild reverence is enchanting, emotional, and exquisite.

“But love amongst gods makes us vulnerable. It is a weakness. A map of fault lines that instructs enemies where they can strike to wound us, deeply”

💌🪻✨

i don’t think i can adequately put my feelings for this book into words but ill try. if you loved divine rivals and want more, this gives to you. we’re in the same world and it truly feels like being back at home in the story.

we follow matilda, a goddess from the underrealm. and vincent, a mortal. their life threads are woven together by the gods.

tropes: mortal x god, marriage of convenience

we get to learn more about the gods from divine rivals and their magic. the story starts with matilda as a young girl, and as she learns all the ins and outs of her world as do we. because of this the story is slow to start, but once we have a solid foundation it really kicks off and i couldn’t put it down.

the characters gripped me and i fell more and more in love with them as the pages kept turning. some of the secondary characters held just as much weight to me (im talking to you Bade).

i truly love Rebecca’s writing, especially when it comes to divine rivals- and this made me want to go and reread divine rivals again! there are so many hidden little clues that can be found throughout the story if you’ve read divine rivals prior. but if you haven’t then it’ll set it up perfectly.

it had me crying, smiling, and angry at times but all the best books do!

I would love to live inside of Rebecca Ross' head because everything I've ever read from her is full of lyrical prose and makes me want to live inside of that book. I didn't want to put it down but I also didn't want it to end, this was one of my most anticipated books of this year and it did not disappoint.

This book felt like it was Matilda's story that just happened to include Vincent, and I completely adored that. The story felt ethereal and delicate while still having so much depth with everything Matilda had to go through. It feels like Rebecca Ross pulled off the impossible. It feels like a story that has been passed down for generations and it continually left me feeling absolutely everything.

I don't care what it is, Rebecca Ross will always be a must read for me and this just proves it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Saturday books for the ARC.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!! i loved every part of this book, a new favorite of mine. it is set before and in the same world as divine rivals. i felt so much for the characters, feeling their pain as it was my own. i sobbed for 4 chapters straight😭 its just that good. i need more of this world and would love a book about bade 👀

Thank you to Saturday Books and Netgalley for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

I read Wild Reverence in the wake of finishing the Divine Rivals duology. It felt right to stay within the same universe. But in truth, while Wild Reverence might be set in the same universe as Divine Rivals, it couldn’t be more different from the beloved duology. The atmosphere felt so vastly different from the war torn trenches I had become familiar with.

As I read this story, I couldn’t help but be reminded of The Song of Achilles. Not because this is a story about gods but because of its retrospective writing. The prose was very lyrical and had an elevated and mature flow throughout the story.

I also really liked the main character. This story is told from a dual first person point of view and I really liked that I got glimpses of both Matilda and Vincent’s mind. I also really enjoyed their romance development. I also enjoyed the side characters and Matilda’s relationship dynamic with them.

I can’t pinpoint anything that made me not enjoy this story. Except that it didn’t grip me. While I enjoyed the story, especially the first half, I found myself unable to immerse myself in the second half and often skipped descriptions. I just wasn’t as invested as I had been at the beginning. Some parts dragged on for too long and I found myself impatient to read the part I knew was bound to come.

Overall, Wild Reverence is a great story with lots or romance and lots of action for readers to enjoy. But I do think readers who dearly loved the Divine Rivals duology should keep in mind that, while Wild Reverence is set in the same universe, it is vastly different from the duology.

4.25 stars!

Stunning, gorgeous, beautiful.

I’m a huge fan of Ross’s writing style and storytelling—there’s something so lyrical and immersive about the way she crafts her prose that immediately pulls you in. I love how flowery and evocative her language is; it makes for such a compelling reading experience. The characters were well developed. Every interaction felt charged with meaning or emotion, and I appreciated how much depth was conveyed through subtle gestures and dialogue. The ATMOSPHERE feels SO dreamlike—I just love it. You can almost feel the texture of the world she’s created—the sounds, the smells, the mood of it all makes you feel truly transported. I also thought the pacing was excellent. Each chapter flowed naturally into the next. There was a real sense of rhythm to the storytelling that made it hard to put down.

Overall, this was a beautifully crafted book—rich with emotion, layered in meaning, and filled with a kind of quiet power that lingers long after the final page. I’ll absolutely be recommending it and look forward to reading whatever’s next!

** Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review! **

If I could give this book infinity stars I would. This is my first Rebecca Ross book and even though this book has the same gods as The letters of enchantment duology, I feel you do not have to read that first to understand. But I will go back and read that duology because I need more. I was not lost at all. It follows Matilda an immortal gods who is finding her way and true self within her magic. She is unique, and stands out among the other gods. It’s also a beautiful love story with a mortal named Vincent. It’s a dual POV which I love. The way it is written you feel like you right there in their world, following them through everything they are going through, feeling what they are feeling. There is a lot of world building and it’s beautiful. There is a war and it’s gut wrenching. There is a love story that I have never read before. I received this an as ebook ARC and cannot wait to reread in physical book!

Rebecca Ross CAN WRITE NO BAD BOOK!

A young goddess with messenger magic and a mortal boy who has spent his life dreaming of her. When fate finally brings them together, their love ignites, but their story is anything but easy. Oh no, our girl Matilda endures EVERYTHING (and I mean EVERYTHING).

Wild Reverence was an absolute masterpiece!! Such an enchanting experience I know I’ll revisit again and again. I’m utterly in awe of Matilda and Vincent’s breathtaking love story, a tale crafted for the dreamers, the yearners, and the hopeless romantics. This book delivers everything I hoped for in Rebecca Ross’s debut adult romantic fantasy, and so much more.

I clung to every page, heart in my throat, desperate for Matilda to find her happiness with the one she loves. Their bond is the very essence of "you’ll move mountains for each other." It was beautiful and tender love story. I also appreciated and loved seeing this story tye into the original duology, Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows.

As always, Rebecca’s lyrical prose and lush storytelling swept me away. She has a gift for making hearts ache with longing, weaving words so beautifully that you can’t help but be completely enthralled.

WILD REVERENCE was everything I hoped it would be and more. A blend of Circe and Divine Rivals, the story catapulted me into a richly fleshed out world and insightful character development. I cannot say enough good things about this story.

Taking place in the same world as Divine Rivals, this story examines the world of the gods. It is told through the perspectives of the FMC, Matilda, and Vincent, the MMC. But to say it is just about this is a disservice to the story itself.

Ross creates a world that the reader will not want to escape from because of a variety of factors. It’s got an incredible story, with the characters growth not only tugging at the audience’s heart, but seeing the struggles of finding purpose, embracing one’s identity and destiny, and trying to honor the values and promises made to others. Told on in an incredibly rich world, which is fleshed out and explained in a way that is not information dumpy, Ross has created a masterpiece here.

The story of Matilda and Vincent, while a love story, is so much more and was one of the more beautiful things about this novel. It’s reminiscent of Iris and Roman, but with a new lens.

Overall, this book was amazing and I loved every second of it. If you love fantasy books about gods and goddesses, love stories, character growth, and deeper messages, this is a book you’ll need to read.

Thank you to Saturday Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book. I very much enjoyed the almost prequel nature of the book and learning more about the gods that we hear about in the Letters of Enchantment series. The world building was amazing and the relationships between the characters was so well written. It made me want to live and hate them too. I did feel like the book was a bit long and a few parts dragged but overall a great read that took me back into the beautiful world Rebecca Ross built.

"Reverence is more than just ordinary respect; it involves a sense of profound admiration and wonder, often associated with something considered sacred or exceptional."

I cannot even put into words how much I enjoyed this book. I didn't want this to end! Whenever I read a book by Rebecca, it's like I'm watching a movie in my head. I felt attached with all of the characters throughout the story. I love the way Matilda was written for the FMC, the struggles she endured and overcame since birth. A very strong FMC! The worldbuilding made me feel as if I were there. I loved the magic system within the worlds of the gods and goddesses, the skywards and underlings. The magic system was intricate, but it wasn't difficult to understand for me. There were moments in the book where I posed some of the same questions for myself that Matilda and Vincent faced. There wasn't a moment that was rushed in this book, everything was a nice pace and I didn't have any questions when I finished. And that epilogue though? Oh my WORD. Perfection.

Earlier this year, I read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows for the first time and fell in love. And if you're a fan of those?? Go ahead and put this on your TBR. Immediately.

Overall, Wild Reverance is a beautifully written book with characters you will fall in love with (just as I have) and a story that will have your heart in grip. WR easily slid it's way into my top ten favorite books.

Bless you, Rebecca, for this amazing book. May both sides of your pillow be cool forever.

And thank you, NetGalley/St. Martin's Press, for my first ARC!