The way I squealed when I got this book as an ARC. Truthfully, I hadn’t read anything from Rebecca Ross yet, but the description of this book drew me in and I had to apply.
This book was absolutely amazing. You join Matilda from the very beginning and Vincent joins in shortly thereafter, so there’s a ton of character development but also some very beautiful world building. For me, it’s a different take on gods and goddesses, but the world Rebecca immerses you in is both breathtaking and devastating.
Read this book!! Pick up one of the gorgeous editions with the character art covers. You won’t be disappointed.

Let me preface this by saying I did not love Divine Rivals the way much of the general public did, so I never picked up Ruthless Vows. I wanted more backstory and understanding—why the gods were warring, how the world came to be, and where the magic originated. I hoped Wild Reverence would fill in those gaps… and it kind of did.

I enjoyed following Matilda, a god-child in the Underling Realm, learning to fight and protect herself as the Herald of the Gods. She discovers Vincent’s nightly drowning nightmares and saves him, forming a bond that lasts into adulthood. Years later, their fates collide again—Vincent at war, Matilda discovering her powers, and both confronting the fate that binds them.
Their journey is marked by heartache, endless crossings between realms, political chess, sacrifices and love slipping through the cracks. Will they be able to find happiness together?
As with Divine Rivals, I love Rebecca Ross’s lyrical, whimsical prose—it reminds me of the type of writing that Rachel Gillig does. That said (and this is very much my personal hang-up), I still found myself questioning the rules of the magic system and the gods. Understandably, this book handles world-building better than Divine Rivals did, which I appreciated, and since this story focuses so mostly on the divine, I was able to be more forgiving.

I think I would have liked to read this prequel first before reading Divine Rivals, maybe I would have had a better time.
WR wasn't bad, I kind of got to a point about 50-60% in , where I needed the story to get to somewhere, I had to start speed reading. This might have been better on audiobook...

This book was beautifully written, romantic, and lyrical.

Unfortunately, the plot and pacing leave something to be desired. I was rooting for the romance, of course, but I did not find myself fully invested in it. I think that is partly because the main characters mostly met Vincent's dreams when they were kids, and the time skip. I can understand having affection for someone with whom you share old memories, but love is a different ballpark.

The impact of death is also greatly diminished in this book as a result of a certain reveal, and the stakes stopped feeling very high once that happened.

I still like the book overall, but I don't imagine myself revisiting it.

Enchanting. Ross writes so beautifully. It was so nice to be back in this world. I loved Matilda’s story and her connection to the magical typewriters, and now I want more stories of the gods.

This book was everything I wanted it to be. I don’t know how Rebecca does it time and time again. She makes you feel like you are in the story along with the characters. Once again a beautiful story!

Rebecca Ross, the wordsmith that you are. Pure magic. Wild Reverence is an absolutely epic love story, tumultuous and expansive, spanning the realms of gods and mortals. Reading this book felt like waiting to exhale after taking in a long, deep breathe and holding it in for ages. The pace was slow, requiring the reader to take time and care with the story, as it feels Ross herself did. For some it may be too slow, but I'm used to long winded Fantasy and while at times the book felt long, I found myself savoring every word. Rebecca Ross is a brilliant writer and her words were weaved perfectly to carry my interest through all the world building and scene setting, ferrying me to a heart racing final third. I am so impressed with how much was going on, how many different characters and elements and plot lines were included, and yet it never felt like she abandoned any one thread. I felt the love story between Vincent and Matilda keenly, as my current season of life I read this during, my own love and I are challenged by distance and a desire to be together; a scenario which the former two find themselves in frequently throughout. I so enjoyed their simple and deep love story, a heady but refreshing change of pace to so much of the Romantasy floating about in publishing recently. And obviously I really enjoyed all the easter eggs from Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows as well. Bonus moments of excitement for the reader that give even more depth to the world and plot as a whole. Making connections between the three books as new information was given has only made me want to immediately pick up Divine Rivals and give it a re-read, especially after that Epilogue! I hope Rebecca Ross has more planned for this universe, because I just can't get enough of these gods and their magic.

Absolutely wonderful addition to the divine rivals world and I will be excitedly picking this up as a physical copy

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Wild Reverence. This is a beautifully woven tale that follows the lives of Matilda, a goddess, and Vincent, a human, as they navigate their very different worlds, both together and apart.
One of the most captivating aspects of this story is the deep dive into the characters' thoughts and inner worlds. The author masterfully allows us to connect with Matilda and Vincent on a personal level, making their unique journeys feel incredibly relatable. The mythology woven throughout the narrative is not just a backdrop; it's a vital part of the story's progression, adding a rich, layered depth that truly enhances the reading experience.
While there were a few moments that felt a bit slow, the story always managed to pull me right back in with a sudden twist or a heartfelt revelation. This kept the pacing engaging and ensured that I was never bored for long.
I would highly recommend Wild Reverence to anyone who loves a well-crafted mythological fantasy and a truly wholesome, heartwarming love story. It's a wonderful read that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

This book is by far one of the best fantasy standalones of the year. Rebecca Ross is a beautiful and enchanting writer. Her words are so powerful and eloquent. The way she fully embodies the yearning, passion, and heartbreak of her characters through her words is truly remarkable. I absolutely loved learning more about the gods and goddesses from the Divine Rivals world, especially getting glimpses of Dacre and Enva. Matilda and Vincent were both wonderfully dynamic characters, and I loved watching their friendship grow throughout all the trials they faced. I loved the action, political, and family elements of the story. Ross balanced all these aspects with poise and grace, without straying from Matilda and Vincent's love story.

Let me start by telling you that I only read happy endings. Like always and only see movies with happy endings. Yes, I am that type of a person, but...I have come to realise that certain exceptions can be made with certain authors like Rebecca Ross

I lovedddd this book! I think when you read the blurb you already have an idea of how this is gonna end but.. I still went in cause idk.. I just needed to read this and I am so glad I took that decision! This book was so good and everything i didn't know I needed. Classic star crossed lovers!

Loved the world-building and mythology of this book. I truly got attached to the characters and felt like the pacing was great- there was always something happening but it was overwhelming. Lots of action and emotion all in one. I actually liked this better than divine rivals but it has encouraged me to finally read the second of the divine rivals series.

Let me start by telling you that I only read happy endings. Like always and only see movies with happy endings. Yes, I am that type of a person, but...I have come to realise that certain exceptions can be made with certain authors like Rebecca Ross

I lovedddd this book! I think when you read the blurb you already have an idea of how this is gonna end but.. I still went in cause idk.. I just needed to read this and I am so glad I took that decision! This book was so good and everything i didn't know I needed. Classic star crossed lovers!

Fuck this book really snuck up on me!

I was reading slowly to savor it - it started off really well and intriguing but not necessarily addicting or unputdownable.

Then I got to a point where I knew something rough was just bound to happen to one of the characters and I didn’t want to read on because I was so anxious (you know the feeling!). I had fallen in love with the characters and didn’t want to read about anything bad happening to them ever!

But my curiosity won out! Rebecca snatched my heart out of my chest and just when I thought I was a goner she shoved it back in and stitched me up <3

While reading I obviously couldn’t help but think about this book in relation to Divine Rivals. If Ross would connect it very closely, if there would just be some of the same characters mentioned, or if we’d only be building this story in the same world and that was all. I thought about whether I’d recommend reading it before or after the duology and whether it would pack a bunch comparatively.

This ended up being one of the most beauitful companion novels! It had just enough connection to the duology that you were excited when something familiar popped up but didn’t feel like you were just rereading the same information you already knew. And Wild Reverence was easily able to hold itself up firmly on its own!

Matilda, Vincent, and their love were so sweet! They’re relationship built so naturally and by the end of the book you’re crying because of how perfect they are together!

That epilogue!! Boy did it take me the fuck out! I knew Matilda’s friendship with Enva would somehow connect to the typewriters but it didn’t click to until the very end and I LOVE that in a story - please keep me guessing always!

Now… did Matilda’s ability turn into a bit of a cop out? Making some of the deaths feel a bit cheap?? You could maybe argue that. But because she had that bargain hanging over her head and the full extent of her abilities were often a mystery, it helped ease that feeling.

I’m just so happy we got to come back to this world!!

A prequel to Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, Wild Reverence rises to the high bar set by Rebecca Ross’s earlier works. Though the pacing is slow at the start (and at times in the middle), the story soon pulls you in, leaving you rooting for Matilda and hoping she finds a way to stay with Vincent.

As a romantasy set in the same rich world as Ross’s previous books, this novel does not disappoint. The world-building takes up a fair portion of the early chapters, but once the stage is set, the narrative quickly gains momentum. At its heart lies the story of a goddess and a mortal whose lives intertwine through dreams over twenty years, with love delicately woven throughout. What could possibly go wrong—and will the goddess ultimately prevail?

Ross has crafted another sweeping tale that balances romance, myth, and fate, making Wild Reverence a worthy and compelling addition to her universe.

I liked this more than I thought I would. I was so disappointed by Ruthless Vows but I told myself I had to give this a chance since I loved Divine Rivals so much. I found Matilda's story so interesting and exciting to follow. I loved Vincent, but the romance in this fell a little flat for me. I loved that this book could stand on its own. You don't need to read the other two books to understand this one. This book actually helped me understand Ruthless Vows a bit more.

All I can say is I'd die for ❤️Bade❤️. Best character, and I want more of him.

Yet again I’ve fallen head over heels for Rebecca’s writing. It’s just so effortlessly beautiful.

It was amazing to be back in this world, and to follow Matilda’s & Vincent’s story was nothing short of brilliance. I loved that it was in first person POV and that we got to learn more about the Divines. And that epilogue— just beautiful! What a sweet nod to what’s to come in DR & RV 🤍

4.5 stars!!!
If you loved divine rivals you will love this one! It’s set 600 years before that story. Matilda is a young goddess of messenger magic and Vincent is a mortal who dreams of her. It’s a coming of age story that has Matilda learning more about the gods and her magic and how she can help the mortals. It’s a slow burn that starts with them as kids and then gets reignited when they cross paths again further down the line!
With this book you get mythology, mortal struggles, you get sacrifice and love! I loved getting to see how the typewriters from Divine Rivals came to be and the gods that made that happen! It’s a beautiful love story between a goddess and a mortal and what someone will do for love!

Unfortunately, this one is a DNF for me for now. I hope to pick it up and try again in the future because I like the concept, but it was really dragging for me. This is nitpicky, but I didn’t love the choice to have Matilda narrate the first section. A lot of the provided details made no sense considering that she wasn’t actually there- even with the explanation that she’d been told the story many times, many of the details would not have been possible to include because you’re seeing them as if you’re there. Personally, I would have preferred a 3rd person narration for that first bit as a prologue, then jump into Matilda’s POV. Even having it shown to her in a vision would have worked.
I enjoyed Divine Rivals, but this one just wasn’t quite working for me.

A wonderful addition to a familiar duology — though not in my case… I mean, I haven’t actually read the duology yet, but this book completely swept me away. I’m eagerly looking forward to the moment I can dive into it as well.

In this book we get a closer look at the world of the gods through Matilda, a young messenger goddess, and Vincent, a mortal man. It’s the story of how their fates intertwine — of wars, betrayal, hope, and love. This book made me shed more than one tear (or was it PMS?). The events take place before those of the duology.

I absolutely love the characters and their stories.

For me, the book carries a bit of Heaven Official’s Blessing vibes in its mood.

Tropes:
— gods vs humans
— childhood friends to lovers
— forbidden love
— slow burn
— found family
— fated mates
— 1st person, dual POV

Thank you to Saturday Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5⭐️ | 2/5🌶️

It has been a minute since I’ve read a fantasy book and a really good one at that. This book was so enjoyable and interesting. I didn’t really know what to expect from this book but I was so captivated when I started reading. It was hard to stop! The world building and the writing was easy and beautiful to read. It got off to a slow start but as you read it does get faster.

I loved the plot and how all the little things that happen throughout end up coming together and it all just makes for an entertaining story. There were a few action packed twists I didn’t expect until it happened and it kept me invested. The romance, the action and especially the characters in this were everything!!

Matilda and Vincent were so fascinating to read about, I liked them a lot. I was so hooked on them!! The dual pov and the yearning especially from Vincent was so important to me!! He was so sweet to her and that ending was so heartwarming. Matilda’s journey with love was so special to read about because of the “immortal falling in love with a mortal” trope.

I honestly didn’t remember much about what happened in Divine Rivals with Matilda but it was interesting learning about her life and upbringing. I think this book gives you a much better understanding of how things work and that’s what makes it a good prequel. I find prequels are usually a hit or miss and this was undoubtedly a hit.

I would highly recommend Wild Reverence if you’ve read Divine Rivals or are planning to! Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for the arc in exchange for a free review.