I think for me I've been out of this world for too long or maybe the series was done for me. I really wanted to love it but I think I just wasn't in the right reading space at the time. I will give it another try and maybe read the first 2 books again to go back into the world I loved.

2.5 stars

I liked this story in the beginning, but the further I got, the more contrived and forced it felt.

There was no natural progression anymore once Matilda went to Vincent and pretended to be his wife. And there also wasn’t enough build up between them. Just because she saw him in his dreams sometimes didn’t amount to any real connection between them that would have explained why they were so familiar with each other immediately.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed their little moments together, there was chemistry there. The author for sure knows how to create that. But little moments don’t make a real connection imo. They aren’t enough for me to believe their feelings for each other. Their relationship felt like it was still very much at the beginning, and so it felt out of place and rushed when they confessed their love.

I also felt somewhat indifferent about Matilda and Vincent. They were flat and uninteresting characters that I just didn’t care about.

The pacing felt off too. The first 30% or so are solely spend in the realm of the gods while she is a child. I found this part interesting, but it dragged on for too long, and then we suddenly jumped to her being an adult and proposing fake marriage to Vincent. This didn’t work for me; it felt like the author just strung together some ideas instead of working out a cohesive plot.

I do enjoy Rebecca Ross’ writing style, but with this book it just felt like too much. It was filled with unnecessary, repetitive and excessive descriptions, that totally bogged down the story and turned it into a 500+ page drag to read.

Looking at the other reviews, I’m obviously in the minority with my opinion on this book, so I’d recommend trying it for yourself and see where you land on it.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

A sweet and beautifully written story with a unique spin on gods, mortals and the insane drama they create. The first 30% was slow for me and there were certain elements that make me want to categorize this as a coming of age fantasy rather than a true romantic fantasy. Highlights for me were the lush imagery, poetic prose, and Matilda’s relationship with Bane. This will be a highly quoted book. I loved Vincent but have mixed feelings about their romance. I found the ending abrupt and felt like I could have used an entire second book. It feels a waste to have built such a robust world and then have it end it so quickly. There are so many scenes I would have loved to see.

I do like how it patched many of the holes left open from the Divine Rivals duology but I also feel it has now left some new holes of its own. All in all, I quite liked this and would love to read anything more from Ross in this world.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc.
Rebecca Ross’s romance is undeniable, always a beautiful prose I can’t stop highlighting.
This story is an adult prequel to the Divine Rivals biology. Knowing it was an adult romantasy scared me off a bit not knowing if it would be super spicy. There was only a touch of spice though.
I was not expecting so much world building in a prequel and the first 40% was hard to get through but after that point I was flying through it.
It was such a touching story of life and loss, long and grief that will stay with me.

“He chose me first,” I replied. “He dreamt of me before I knew of him. His soul found mine before I even knew how to look for his.”

It felt so good to be back in Rebecca’s writing. She is such a beautiful writer and she will always be a favorite author for me. This book did start out a little slower, but if you know her writing you’ll know that’s not out her norm and that the journey is worth it. I loved being in the world of the Gods. I LOVED the world building and the magic. I especially loved Matilda’s gift she discovered, it was so unique with so much meaning. The Romance was a delightful slow burn with beautiful depth. There was one character that completely took me by surprise and I fell in love with, but I don’t want to spoil anything!

🌿Fantasy/Romantasy
🌿2-3 Vague Open Door Scenes (Skippable)
🌿Mild Swearing (No F Word)
🌿CW: Death, War,

"Wild Reverence" follows Matilda, the youngest goddess of her clan gifted with messenger magic to carry words between the Underling, Mortal, and Skyward realms, and Vincent, a mortal that dreams of Matilda even though they had never met in the real world. One dark, bloody night, Vincent wrote to Matilda begging for her help, but his prayer went unanswered, and e became an irreverent lord—until Matilda comes crashing through his bedroom window with a letter for him. Matilda and Vincent were fated to find each other, but their path together is marred with blood, twists, and debts to be paid.

I loved the Letters of Enchantment duology, so I was INCREDIBLY excited when it was announced that Rebecca Ross was releasing an adult prequel novel set in the same universe, centuries before Iris and Roman's story unfolded, and "Wild Reverence" certainly turned out to be a compelling, emotional read! I absolutely loved spending so much time in the world of the gods and learning about the intricacies of their court and magic, and it was quite an adventure to learn about it through the eyes of Matilda, a young goddess that could come and go through all realms. She was such a complex heroine who grew immensely throughout the course of the novel, and I loved spending time in her head and seeing the courses all the relationships in her life took. My absolute favorite relationship she had in this book was surprisingly not with her great love, Vincent, but with her salt-sworn ally, Bade. Their found family father-daughter dynamic was incredibly touching, and I loved all of their scenes together. (As an aside, HOW can I get a book about Bade and Adria?? I feel like their story would have me on my KNEES.)

Vincent reminded me of the fantasy embodiment of the song "The Man Who Can't Be Moved." Even though he had every reason to despise Matilda for not answering his desperate prayer to her (even though it wasn't her fault), he quickly allowed her back into his life and even more rapidly opened his heart to her completely. His yearning for her was everlasting, and I have no choice but to love a man who yearns. But yearn-fest aside, Vincent was just a very tender-hearted man even though he faced many horrible things, and that's always admirable.

My only nitpicks were that it took a bit for me to get into the story, as it felt a little slow to start, and I also just couldn't find myself as invested in Matilda and Vincent's romance as I was in Iris and Roman's in the Letters of Enchantment duology. But even so, I felt like this was a really great addition to that universe and I am eager to reread Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows now that I have such a full backstory on the gods and the magic that brought Iris and Roman together!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved the Divine Rivals duology, so I was so stoked to read a prequel novel in the adult genre. "Wild Reverence" adds depth and dimension to the Divine Rivals world while standing alone as a compelling novel in its own right.

"Wild Reverence" had all of the poetic and almost lyrical prose that one can expect from a Rebecca Ross novel without sacrificing fantastically in-depth character exploration and delightful romance. While "Divine Rivals"/"Ruthless Vows" was inspired by World War I and concerned mortal affairs, "Wild Reverence" has a much more mythological feel reminiscent of "Circe" or the musical "Hadestown". Fans of the setting and vibes of Ross's Elements of Cadence series will definitely enjoy this one.

There were a lot of individual things I loved about "Wild Reverence". I loved getting to learn about the different gods of this world, their relationships, and their powers. While I didn't remember a lot of the details of what we learn about them in Divine Rivals, I loved picking up on little connections to the future of the world of the story. I also loved getting to learn about both Matilda and Vincent, and also many of the side characters I grew to love (or loved to hate).

The depth of this story, almost biographical chronology, and beautiful language really made reading this book feel like being told a magical myth. Ross always does a great job of distinguishing her adult books from her young adult books by having her adult characters grapple with really mature problems and power struggles. This book was no exception. While I don't think I connected with the characters in "Wild Reverence" quite as much as I did with Iris and Roman, I certainly shed a tear while reading this book. No complaints from me.

5 stars

Thank you Net Galley and Saturday Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

If you are a fan of Divine Rivals, you will love this book. It is set in the same world and has some characters appear in this book from the Letters of Enchantment Series. It felt a little too long for me, but the story was beautiful with a lot of action. It keeps you entertained with a lot twists and turns.

Wild Reverence swept me into an enchanting and achingly beautiful story filled with so much heart that I fell effortlessly for these characters and their bravery, love, and journey.

Set in the world of Ross’s previous work, the Letters of Enchantment series, generations before magical typewriters and secret letters, this tells the story of a goddess torn between worlds and her heart when her path intertwines with a mortal.

Ross expertly weaves together stories that deeply touch my soul. This one absolutely stole my breath away. The friendship, to partnership, to love that grew between our main characters was so tender and incredible to watch. It had me giggling kicking my feet, and just smitten with this book. This particular story felt like a combination of the whimsical Elements of Cadence series with the alluring magic and mythology of Divine Rivals.

I desperately need a prequel of the Poet Queen and the god of war!!!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Rebecca Ross has become an author whose books I will always read. I usually don't like feelings, but something about how she writes makes me enjoy reading about them. The writing has a great almost fairy tale or story type of vibe that I really liked. It fit the sweeping story of a young goddess who falls in love with a mortal boy. The young live story, the godly drama ... It definitely delivered.

Wild Reverence is fast paced, full of mystery and tension. The tenderness really creeps up on you in this prequel set before the time of Divine Rivals, one of my favorite YA romantasies to date. Rebecca Ross’ lyrical writing contains constant surprises.

Ross delves into the sharp, smoky world of the Under realm once again, this time focusing on Matilda, daughter of Zenia, Goddess of Winter, fire, and cunning. Alva, goddess of dreams and nightmares, provides Matilda with dream scrolls of a mortal boy named Vincent. Matilda finds she is a regular fixture within the dreams, although they’ve never met. Matilda grows up to become a herald of the gods, a winged messenger who is the only god to move between worlds, from the Underworld to the mortal realm, skyward and to the wastes. Matilda reminds me of Hermes, but with a twist. Fate requires Matilda to meet Vincent for real to deliver a letter. After deciding to help him face a feat of life or death, she must outwit scheming gods, including her powerful father, who look down upon those involved with mortal business. I loved to see the scorned, salt-sworn ally Bade, the god of war, by her side. The relationship between Bade and Matilda warmed my heart with even the most hardened god teaching Matilda there is strength in vulnerability. It was a delight to see Vincent and Matilda’s bond grow and strengthen despite unceasing bouts with adversity.

This is a slow burn, heart-wrenching love story, so tender and passionate, it made me cry. If you enjoyed the Divine Rivals duology, you will surely love this satisfying romance with a special surprise at the end.

<i>Death was moonlight on a sword, an ocean eddy at high tide. Ephemeral and vicious and cold, like frost over iron. </i>

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

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Saturday Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Divine Rivals was probably my favorite book read in 2024. This one didn't quite measure up to that level for me, but it was much more complex story with lots of world building. There were three different realms, dozens of gods/goddesses, and many powers. I really enjoyed the book more once Matilda entered the mortal realm after her years Skyward. I appreciated the growth of both the main characters over the years and how they learned to love and forgive. I will continue to read more from Rebecca Ross whenever she releases new books!

What makes Wild Reverence special:
-fantasy and gods
-same world as Divine Rivals (takes place 600 years before)
-war and alliances
-forgiveness
-slow burn romance
-dreams and reality
-beautiful storytelling

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for this eARC.

This was a beautifully woven masterpiece. I was hooked from the very beginning and was shocked how quickly I felt attached to the characters. Rebecca Ross has a way of reeling you in. Thank you so much for the arc!

4.5! really loved this book. a bit more grown up than her past duology which i really liked. definitely would recommend!

I’m an unabashed fan of Rebecca’s lyrical prose, and this book did not disappoint. Though set in the same world as the Divine Rivals/Ruthless Vows duology, it takes place hundreds of years earlier, so you don’t need to have read the previous books to enjoy it (though fans will appreciate the subtle nods). Rebecca expands on the world’s Classical-inspired mythology through the story of Matilda, a herald of the gods, and the mortal who was once her childhood friend. What follows is a tale told in gorgeous, poetic language, with rich character development that will break your heart and piece it back together again.

I did pre-order this since Rebecca is an auto buy for me (and I love how she signs and ships books through her local indie book store), but I also received an eARC via NetGalley so many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for that sneak peak! All opinions are my own.

Reverence was a standout novel set in the world of the gods from Divine Rivals. If Rebecca Ross writes it I’m going to read it. Her writing is almost lyrical in how beautiful it plays together. If you love stories that will not just capture your attention but will capture your heart look no further.

Wild Reverence
ARC review: Wow. This book hooked me IMMEDIATELY! If it wasn’t for my daughter being admitted to the hospital, I would already be finished! I always wanted to know more about the gods in Divine Rivals/Ruthless Vows and Wild Reverence DELIVERS! I am a world building girly and this has a lot, but it isn’t boring or tedious in my opinion. If you are someone who isn’t into that, this might be difficult for you to get into right away. There is mystery, murder, betrayal, romance, wyvern, magic/powers, allies, enemies, and more. Matilda is the first of her kind being she is half Underling and half Skyward. The other gods/goddesses are even intrigued by her. You first meet her with the story of how she was born and then some of her childhood when devastation happens. Fast forward 13 years and she is a grown goddess who is cunning, clever, and still curious about the boy she met in his dreams thanks to the goddess of dreams. Who will Matilda stay loyal to, herself, her love/friend, the Underlings, or the Skywards? I hope you read to find out! I also want to say that the writing Rebecca does is completely flawless and I appreciated her thanking the one true God in her acknowledgements. Wild Reverence is cozy, yet invigorating. I highly, HIGHLY (shall I say as high as the Skyward realm?) recommend this book. It is a masterpiece and will be thinking of this book often. May it sweep you away like a trade wind.

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

My goodness, what a beautifully written book. The world building and pace were quite slow, especially during the first half of the book; the overall story did not need to be as long as it was. However, Ross’ very lovely, vivid, and atmospheric writing kept me going.

As someone who had already read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, I loved that Wild Reverence gave us a “look behind the curtain” in regard to the gods and their magic within this universe. The added sense of fantasy and magic is what was missing for me in the Letters of Enchantment duology. Matilda is also a very likable, strong FMC. I loved the relationship dynamic between Matilda and Bade. 🥺 Overall, I enjoyed this story and the characters more than I anticipated.

"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."

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

*A wild thank you to NetGalley, publisher & Rebecca Ross for allowing me to read early for an honest review*

“How weak I must seem. But then I realized I wanted her to see me bare. I was weak for *her* alone, and I wanted her to know it.”

This story was just as magical & wounding as the Letters of Enchantment duology. I am consistently blown away by Rebecca’s way of writing. It’s so otherworldly & exquisite.

This story follows a young goddess Matilda and her journey to grow into her magic, her power, and her love. Half Underling & half Skyward, her purpose is found throughout the story due to her love for a mortal man, as she fights for him, fights with him.

I was just in awe throughout this entire story. It is emotional, heart wrenching, and beautiful.

This was the first book I read from Rebecca Ross, and her writing really is beautiful like I've heard everyone say! Unfortunately, that was my main highlight of this book.

While I enjoyed the story overall, the pacing didn't work for me. While I was tempted to DNF because of this, I couldn't because I was simultaneously bored out of my mind yet also wanting to know how the story was going to end. Matilda and Vincent were both young at the beginning of the story, and it took so long for the time jump, I began wondering if they were going to be 12/13 for the whole novel. While I did become more interested after the time jump between parts one and two, I had a hard time getting their adolescent voices out of my head since we spent a good chunk of the novel with them at a young age. So even though we eventually meet them both as adults later on, they read young in my head for the whole book.

As for the romance... I didn't feel their connection at all. I felt like we were just being told that they loved each other but I felt nothing. They randomly kissed as kids and I was like huh? And then as adults Matilda is like "We will pretend we're married!" And to me it seemed like that should have been a way bigger deal for Matilda as a god to randomly offer to marry a mortal man. I didn't get this deep connection between them that was apparently there.

In conclusion: the writing was beautiful and I was interested enough in the plot, but I was bored most of the time and felt nothing towards the romance.