3.5 stars

Rebecca Ross proves that she can expand on a pre-existing world by writing a prequel that both stands on its own and enriches the existing lore.

The two things that stood out the most to me about this book were how well-written it was and how much it reminded me of a Greek retelling. The writing was lyrical and rich in a way I haven’t experienced since reading Circe by Madeline Miller.

I liked Matilda as a vehicle for this story because she’s caught between three worlds. Because of this, she’s able to present a full, layered narrative. She was extremely relatable, representing adolescence and the struggle to find your identity in a world that doesn’t understand you. Throughout the book, we see her overcome prejudices and obstacles as she continues to grow and evolve. I think a lot of readers will relate to her on a deeper level.

Rebecca Ross was very intentional in her writing, knowing when to hold back information and when to drop breadcrumbs. For the most part, it worked really well. I found myself picking up on subtle hints that led to satisfying payoffs later in the story. However, the pacing was slower than I would have liked. The first half moved at a glacial pace, and I wished we had jumped into the core plot sooner. Once we got there, I was fully locked in, but it took until around the 60% mark for that to happen.

While I can see many readers enjoying the romance between Matilda and Vincent, it didn’t quite land for me. Despite this being a 500+ page book, very few of those pages are spent developing their romantic relationship. While the yearning is definitely there, it doesn’t feel like we—or they—earned their star-crossed lovers story. That said, the letters they wrote to each other contain some of the most romantic lines I’ve ever read in my life.

If Rebecca Ross had spent more time developing the romance and tightened the pacing, this would have been a 5/5 banger. Despite the issues I had, this was still a pretty solid read.

Thank you so much to Saturday Books for gifting me an early copy ahead of the official release!

4.5 stars, rounded up!

"And I knew the stars that belonged to her. I had memorized them. I could close my eyes at night and point in their direction. I could trace them on my palm."

When I heard that Rebecca Ross was writing another novel in the Letters of Enchantment world, I was curious what story she would choose to tell. This story is one of divine gods, both Underling and Skyward, and the mortal realm forever caught between. But more than that, it is a story of knowing someone at their soul and being known in return.

Matilda is the combination of both Underling and Skyward, an unknown in the world she was born into. The beginning of this story explores her childhood and experiences that shaped her. But it also shows her fascination, as a child, with the dreams of a mortal: Vincent. When dreams become reality, a love between realms develops and provides the framework for the rest of this story.

Some of my favorite parts of this book involved the different realms and the gods within them. The aspects of their magic, especially Fate and Death, were so intriguing. As Matilda's powers became known, I was curious as to how it would affect the plot and her personal journey. Although this book is a standalone, there are different portions throughout that make it feel like interconnected stories brought together for a bigger purpose. I greatly enjoyed the five act layout, and the way that Rebecca Ross chose to include an epilogue that directly ties in to Divine Rivals. Such a fantastic way to lead into the other books! Wild Reverence releases on September 2, 2025. I would highly recommend reading this book when it releases. If you haven't read The Letters of Enchantment Duology: I would suggest starting with this story if you prefer a chronological timeline, or reading the duology first if you like to look for easter eggs in interconnected books.

Thank you Saturday Books/ St. Martin's Press (via Netgalley) for gifting me with an eARC, all thoughts expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.

DNF @20%

This was not capturing my attention as much as the original duology did. I was honestly quite bored, which seems to be an uncommon opinion. I do think if you're interested more in the backstory of the gods in this world, you'll love this book. Definitely give it a shot when it comes out if this intrigues you!

I loved Divine Rivals, and I was excited to receive this book as an ARC. i LOVED this book, and I want to keep reading morem It gave me more than I thought I was going to get, and I loved every bit of it.

I wanted to be a herald, I wanted to fight, and I wanted to be her. I wish I could climb into this story, and be apart of it.

I would recommend this for anyone who is looking for a cozy read!

5 stars | A breathtaking prequel that shattered me in the best way

Wild Reverence is nothing short of extraordinary—lyrical, tender, aching with beauty. A love story of mythic proportions rooted in heartbreak, hope, and longing. This adult romantic fantasy explores the fragile threads that bind mortals and gods, and the quiet resilience of a girl who dares to love.

Matilda, the herald of the gods, is one of the most compelling heroines I’ve read. We follow her across decades—her lonely childhood in the Underworld, her fierce devotion to duty, and her forbidden, slow-burning connection with a mortal boy named Vincent. Their relationship begins with dreams, deepens through letters, and blossoms into a love that feels ancient and eternal.

The romance? Utterly devastating. Poetic. And earned. The yearning in this book is on another level. Lines like “We were doomed, she and I. But if we were doomed, let us fully embrace it” made my heart cave in on itself.

And then there’s the world-building—lush, vivid, and rich with lore. We learn more about the gods, their rivalries, their power, and the heartache that comes with immortality. Ross expands the Divine Rivals universe with such seamless depth that I now want to reread the duology through this new lens.

There were moments when I had to pause just to feel. Vincent’s POV was the softest punch to the heart. The writing? Highlight-worthy. Dreamlike. Soul-stirring.

Found family
Mortal x goddess
Forbidden love
Dreambonded soulmates
Lore-heavy + character driven
Marriage of convenience
The letter. If you know, you know.

This book has earned a permanent place on my favorites shelf. A hauntingly beautiful reminder that even gods can fall in love, and mortals can be remembered for it.

Read it slowly. Let it wreck you. You won’t regret a single page.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this e-arc!

I wish I had more stars to give! This book was full of such rich atmosphere and romance, I really enjoyed it.

This book was pure atmosphere. The writing was so lyrical and immersive, I felt like I was wandering through forests and ancient ruins the whole time. It had that quiet, magical feel where not a ton happens plot-wise, but you’re still totally pulled in. The romance was soft and slow in a way that really worked for the vibe, and the whole story felt like a love letter to nature and healing. I do think it moved a little too slowly in places and could’ve used a bit more urgency, but if you’re into poetic fantasy that’s more vibes than action, this one’s a stunner.

One of the most romantic books I've ever read.
This book is thiiiick - over 500 pages - and yet it felt like it went by so quick, because I literally could not put it down. Rebecca Ross is a true storyteller and you can feel the passion she puts into her words. It was beautiful. It was magical. It was romantic. It had some wonderful found family aspects. It had more lore than I expected and yet it didn’t feel overwhelming. Set in the same world as Divine Rivals (DR), so you’ll enjoy a few cameos from some of the Gods, as well as a lovely epilogue that foreshadows some very magical typewriters. It will give you a different perspective of the world we’ve all grown to love! 10/10 I will definitely read again and you should, too. This is how prequels are done!

After finishing the Letters of Enchantment duology, I found myself yearning for more from the rich, magical world Rebecca Ross had created. This book delivered exactly that. As someone who adores stories woven with gods, goddesses, and mythology, I might be a little biased, but the worldbuilding here was nothing short of spectacular. Ross has a true gift for atmosphere; the setting felt vivid and immersive, pulling me in from the very first page.
That said, I did find myself wishing for a bit more development between Vincent and Matilda. While their shared history as children was sweet, when they reunited I found myself not fully buying into their romance. A slower, more layered reconnection would have made their relationship feel even more impactful.
The pacing also lagged slightly in the middle, and there were moments where the narrative lost a bit of momentum. However, the final 15% more than made up for it. The ending was beautifully written, and the epilogue’s ties to Divine Rivals were an absolute highlight, subtle yet deeply satisfying for fans of the original series.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and a worthy addition to the world Ross has so masterfully created. If you loved Letters of Enchantment, this book will feel like coming home.

Book: Wild Reverence
Author: Rebecca Ross
Publisher:St. Martins Press/Saturday Books
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Length: 544 Pages
Overall Rating: 5 Stars

This is a 6 Star read and another stunning book where I am drawn into this world and never want to leave. This riveting book that is a phenomenal masterpiece which is a prequel to the series. Read this beautiful novel in one day, with it being one of those rare unforgettable books yar stays with you as you can’t stop thinking about! The magic system, character development and plot twists are absolutely incredible! I was thrilled to get the arc for this epic book I am absolutely obsessed! I loved this book so much and I highly recommend everyone to read this magnificent read!

This is another stunning book and as I was drawn into this world and never wanted to leave. This riveting book is a phenomenal masterpiece which is a prequel to the series. Read this beautiful novel in one day as I could not put it down! It is one of those rare unforgettable books that stays with you as you can’t stop thinking about it. The magic system, character development and plot twists are absolutely incredible! I was thrilled I got the earc for this epic book I am truly obsessed!

Romantasy✔️
Mythology✔️
Slow Burn✔️
Fake Marriage✔️
Friends to lovers✔️
Fantasy✔️
Magic System✔️
Banter✔️
Prequel✔️
Character Develop✔️
World Building✔️
Vengeance✔️

Thank you St. Martin’s Press/Saturday Books and Netgalley for this eARC. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair, review and blog. All words, thoughts, ideas are my own.

Wild Reverence is easily one of my favorite books of 2025. What a beautiful and enduring story of love, magic, and divinity.
Both Matilda and Vincent were excellent main characters with distinct personalities and flaws. Even though I initially felt that their love developed quite quickly, I loved watching them choose each other again and again, even if it meant enduring pain and sacrifice.
The setting and worldbuilding were absolutely beautiful. Rebecca Ross has a true talent for weaving words into tapestries, and Wild Reverence is no different. From the first page, I was fully immersed in the realms of the Skywards and the Underlings. Furthermore, Rebecca Ross was an absolute genius in the way she included crumbs of Divine Rivals within her story, laying the foundation for another beautiful, unforgettable story.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the absolute honor of reading and reviewing an eARC of this book!

I devoured Wild Reverence much like the gods within its pages devoured prayers. It was such a treat to dive into the Divine Rivals world again. Though this is a standalone book set within the same world as Divine Rivals, it is preludes the events that transpire between the Skyward and Underling clans that lead us into Iris and Roman’s story.

Wild Reverence follows Matilda, a young goddess, as she navigates the cruelty of the gods and her ties to Vincent, a mortal man. Loyalty and love are virtues that the gods regard as weak and a waste of effort and time, especially in regard to mortals. But as Matilda grows into her power and witnesses the ruthlessness of immortals like herself, she forges her own path, no matter the cost to herself.

Wild Reverence is heartbreaking, heartwarming, tear wrenching, and everything in between. Rebecca’s writing is truly poetic and she is able to articulate feelings in a way that had my heart bursting at the seams.

I am absolutely speechless. I don’t think I’ve been this moved by a book for a very long time. The lyrical heights Rebecca Ross reached and surpassed is nothing short of superhuman. This was a beautiful story of love, loss, power, and living. Ross has truly shaken off old and tired tropes and cliffhangers in Wild Reverence. The narrative stands on its own, bold and glorious, out in the open. No cliffhangers, switchbacks, or gotcha moments. The themes of love and loss, wanting and grief, power and pity are woven into every sentence. There is something absolutely spectacular about seeing an author come into their voice. This is Rebecca Ross’s moment. This book captures you from the first words and does not let you go.

We travel back to same universe as her previous two novels (Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows) but from the perspective of Matilda, the offspring of an Underling and Skyward god. The timelines are a little bit before Divine Rivals, but we don’t spend a great deal of time in the mortal world. This is the narrative of the gods, and that’s where we spend the most time. Ross gives us what we’ve been wanting since her last duology and it is everything we’ve wanted.

Matilda has a difficult upbringing, both without knowing her mysterious father and trying to stay under the radar of other gods who try to trick her and her mother into giving up their power. There’s the slightest hint that Matilda is more than she seems, but she does her best to keep it hidden from any and all. Content to be where she is, it’s only when she accidentally stumbles into Vincent’s dream does she realize there might be something more to herself and her future. What comes from that point is a beautiful and poignant story of the cost of love.

I devoured this book and my only regret is that I can’t read it for the first time twice. I suspect this will be one that I come back to many times, if only to notice new and beautiful threads that Ross wove into Matilda and Vincent’s story. It hits shelves everywhere on September 2. (And yes, you know I already preordered this one!)

Huge thank you to St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Rebecca Ross for this ARC.

Wild Reverence was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows are some of the most beautiful and amazing books I have read in years, and yet Wild Reverence is somehow even more. This is a six star, god tier read for me that I will be thinking about for a long time.

Rebecca Ross writes such beautiful, heart wrenching prose while weaving incredible worlds full of characters I will love and root for through every page. And somehow, this book managed to have a letter that gutted me more than I thought possible after the correspondence in her last duology.

I can't wait for my hardcover copy of this book to come and for the chance to delve into whatever worlds Ross creates next. A truly must read book.

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!