Ohhh. Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross is such a beautiful, heartfelt, magical story. I've never read the Letters of Enchantment series by Ross, but this poetic and romantic tale set in the same universe, prior to the events of Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, is something special. Protagonist Matilda, herald of the gods, child of two distinct separate realms, is compassionate and brave, determined and resilient. Her sorrows and joys and victories and griefs are so vividly painted and Ross breathes life into Matilda, Vincent, and the worlds they inhabit; their love story and journey is wrought with the kind of yearning and longing that made me wish I could wrap up both characters in a hug and keep them safe forever. Ross's imagination left me spellbound and I found myself completely swept away by this tale of immortals and gods, humans and humanity, and what happens when a goddess loves a mortal man with all her being.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys epic love stories, world-building and magic systems that embrace the fantastical and whimsical, and incredible adventures of heart and soul. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Oh. My. Stars. If you thought Rebecca Ross's previous books were enchanting, prepare to be absolutely spellbound by the Advanced Reader Copy of Wild Reverence! From the very first page, I was utterly consumed by the lush world-building – it felt so vibrant and alive, I could practically smell the damp earth and hear the rustling leaves.
And the characters? Forget about it! They leaped off the page with such depth and complexity. The protagonist is fierce and flawed in the most captivating way, and the supporting cast is equally compelling, each with their own secrets and motivations that kept me guessing. The relationships! Oh, the relationships! Ross masterfully weaves threads of connection that are both heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
But let's talk about the magic. It's not just a plot device; it's woven into the very fabric of the story, feeling ancient and potent. The way Ross describes it is simply breathtaking – visceral and evocative. The plot itself is a masterclass in pacing. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another layer would unfold, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very last word. I devoured this ARC in a single sitting, completely unable to tear myself away.
Honestly, Wild Reverence isn't just a good book; it's an experience. It's the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after you've finished reading, leaving you yearning to return to its world. If this ARC is anything to go by, Rebecca Ross has crafted an absolute masterpiece. Five stars doesn't even feel like enough! Prepare to be utterly and completely captivated. This is going straight to my all-time favorites shelf!

If I was going to have someone write my love story, it would be Rebecca Ross. ♡

Wild Reverence is a prequel to Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, and it ties into that world so seamlessly. I loved reading more of the mythology of the gods as well as the lore of the different realms: Underling, Mortal, and Skyward. There were several tales of love interwoven here, but the love story between Vincent and Matilda—star-crossed yet destined, yearning with a quiet ache, reverent and rebellious—was [literally] dreamy, and the ending made me cry then scream (first with anger then with joy) then cry again.

I don’t own a lot of physical books, but the Letters of Enchantment duology are two of them. When I heard about Wild Reverence, it was added to my TBR immediately! I was lucky enough to get an ARC, which confirmed why this book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC, and I can’t wait for my preorder to arrive!

4.25 ★ thank you to Wednesday books for an ARC! Divine rivals is one of my all-time favorite books and I truly believe that everything Rebecca Ross writes is magic. This story is a prequel to the DR duology and the epilogue! I loved how it all connected. Vincent and Matilda had such beautiful moments and I love the concept of watching a love story unfold between a mortal and immortal. I think, at times, the world building was a lot, the pacing was slow, or I was slightly bored. Generally, I thought it was great. Divine Rivals is still my favorite but the writing and story in this one was beautiful.

Beautifully written with a robust lore, Rebecca Ross' Wild Reverence is equal parts mythology, fantasy, and romance, with a dash of mystery thriller thrown in. I really enjoyed learning more about the gods who serve as the unseen foundation for the Letters of Enchantment duology, but also appreciated how separate this book felt from that set. It did make me want to revisit Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, though, now that we know more about the lore of the story!

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross

WR takes place in the world of Divine Rivals/Ruthless Vows. The chapters are from the alternating views of Matilda (the herald of the gods) and Vincent (a mortal who has dreamt of Matilda since he was a boy). The books of largely focused on the relationships between the gods, their fickle and backstabbing nature, and Matilda’s involuntary journeys through the Underlings, Skyward, and the Mortal Kingdom.

Although it was a little stressful at times, I liked how Matilda was swept away into dreams,up/down into the lands of the gods, dragged into rivers, carried away by the wind, pulled by mortals’ prayers and gods’ summoning, etc. Nothing felt static. Also, though deities were immortal, their lives were still threatened by plots of betrayal and advancement by other gods would sought to steal their stars and thereby absorb their powers. Gods and mortals alike did not feel safe, though different goals/treasures were at stake.

WR gives context and answers some questions that readers may have had in DR/RV. Namely, how did the typewriters send messages between people? (Or at least give us some hints!!!) Why did Enva and Dacre get married?

Overall, I thought this was well written and a different kind of dive into the DR/RV world. It’s a prequel set in the world but way before we meet Iris and Kit.

It took me a few chapters to get into this one, but once I did, I was allllll in. Matilda and Vincent’s love story spans both time and immortal realms, making them literal star-crossed lovers. I was excited (and secretly terrified) to reenter the Letters of Enchantment universe, knowing that there isn’t always a traditional HEA, but Ross did an excellent job creating a story that both kicks off Divine Rivals and stands as it own narrative.

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow, wow, wow!! I think this is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read in a really long time. I am always blown away by Rebecca Ross’s writing and sheer ability to spin words into worlds. She writes with lyrical magnetism, drawing you in and keeping you gripped into the story. So many lines of this book I just had to stop and appreciate! This book feels like starlight and ancient scrolls, completely captivating me with its magic!

I am utterly obsessed with Vincent and Matilda, and I cannot wait for everyone to meet them in September! Without giving anything away—Rebecca heard us asking for men who yearn, and SHE DELIVERED!! Being back in the Letters of Enchantment universe and seeing the threads woven between this story and Iris and Roman’s was such a fun experience!

I am aching to get my hands on a physical copy and to annotate all of these delicious words!!!! Thank you thank you thank you to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and Saturday Books for this advanced copy!!!

Rebecca Ross delivers another breathtaking story with her dreamy storytelling and poetic prose. I loved how the world of the gods was explored and expanse of time in which the story evolves over.

The love was otherworldly, the longing ached my heart, the sadness brought tears to my eyes, and the betrayals wounded me. Ross’s writing had me feeling every single emotion of her characters. I absolutely envy every single person that will be able to read Wild Reverence for the first time.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Saturday Books for a chance to read and give a honest review an advanced copy of this book.

Wow, Rebecca Ross has done it again. This book was an incredibly beautiful prequel to the Letters of Enchantment duology. The way her prose sets the most beautifully descriptive scenes is unmatched! I can still vividly see many scenes from the book in my mind, even after having finished the book. Matilda and Vincent's story is beautiful, and I cannot wait to tell all my friends to read it! I also loved how Ross ended up tying together the stories together in a really clever way. Overall incredible book, thank you so much for the ARC!

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Release date: September 2, 2025

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Saturday Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. Set several hundred years before the events of Divine Rivals, Wild Reverence follows the story of Matilda, herald of the gods. In the ruthless world of the gods Matilda struggles to trust those around her and find her vulnerability until she meets Vincent. Although, they meet as children in Vincent's dream they are inevitably drawn back together again and again.

Wild Reverence is a beautifully written and emotional love story. The immersive world building and intricate mythology are intriguing and bring the story to life. The best part of the novel is easily the story between Matilda and Vincent. The tension, emotion, and love between them kept me in a chokehold for the entire book. I laughed, cried, and rooted for them the entire time. The story follows both Matilda and Vincent from the time they are children into adulthood. Their character development from innocence to gaining wisdom and learning to be vulnerable with each other is relatable and incredibly well written.

If you loved the beautifully written prose, immersive world building, and couldn't get enough of Iris and Roman in Divine Rivals then you absolutely need to read Wild Reverence. It can also stand alone and is a wonderful introduction into the world. I know I will be thinking about Matilda, Vincent, and this story for a long time to come. Now, off to reread Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows to find all of the easter eggs.

wild reverence | rebecca ross

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Dear Matilda, I wrote.
I let the words flow for her.
And when the ink dried, I gave my very heart to the fire."

•••••

A young goddess born to carry messages from realm to realm - and a mortal who finds her in his dreams.

Matilda and Vincent... oh how I love you!

It was a slow burn, true love situation, between this book and I. It started off lovely, with beautiful writing and an easy going build. Around 50% the story really captured me, and by the end I was riveted... caught-in-the-web, head over heels in love!

I was nervous I wouldn't get that Rebecca Ross feeling that the Letters of Enchantment and Elements of Cadence series gave me... you know what I mean - those deep hearted, chest squeezing, melt into a puddle feelings? But I did. I had allllll the feelings!

It was the same - but different.

Wild Reverence takes us back in time in the world of Divine Rivals, and focuses on the Gods and Goddesses and their different realms. It has a strong mythology vibe, and I absolutely ate it up. This is a slower paced book. It happens when reading about the lives of immortals - that a story spans many years. I really enjoy a slow, well crafted story, so this worked for me!
You don't have to read the Letters of Enchantment duology before this standalone, but I think you'll enjoy it a tiny bit more if you do.

I'm telling you, I was ACTUALLY swooning in my seat over the words in this book. I'm convinced Rebecca has just a little magic in her veins... the way she creates such lyrical and atmospheric scenes on the page. And she is the absolute GOAT at writing dreamy, heart pounding love letters.
I am going to annotate the heck out of this book when I get my hands on a physical copy!

STUNNING.

"I would like to think my story began long ago when I came into the world as a pale, silent boy, destined to one day die. But it truly begins here, in this moment when my dreams grew bones and teeth and skin in the waking realm. The moment I met Red."

"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."

_____
{a gigantic thank you to Rebecca, Saturday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy!! Out 5/20/25}

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

I absolutely adored this book. It was great to dive into an earlier time period of Rebecca Ross' novel, one when the gods walked and interacted among the humans and more of them were still around. I would highly recommend this book.

rebecca ross’s writing makes me feel like she has cracked my heart open and taken a peek inside. there’s something so poetic and beautiful about it that tugs at my soul and feeds my hopeless romantic heart.
wild reverence is a story of gods and mortals, of fate and magic, of love and sacrifice. it’s set in the same universe as divine rivals and it follows matilda, a goddess and a messenger who is torn between three realms - underling, skyward and mortal. and vincent, a mortal who sees matilda in his dreams.
it didn't take long for me to fall in love with matilda & vincent. matilda is hungry for life, for freedom, for love and i felt so much for her - i wanted to hold her hand through all of her hardships. she is very guarded, with good reason, and seeing her trust vincent and slowly let herself be vulnerable with him made me emotional. i thought that her heart, while being her fault line and her weakness, is also her biggest strength. vincent's love isn't loud but it is strong and unwavering. and despite his mortality, despite his nightmares, he is so fearless in loving matilda. their romance and yearning, the tender way they love each other was utterly beautiful and brought me to tears many times.
i was completely immersed in rebecca’s storytelling, i felt like i wasn’t reading but listening to someone weave me a fairytale, a legend about a goddess who loved a mortal. i loved learning about the gods and their magic, the different realms and i loved how perfectly everything ties into divine rivals. it made me love the letters of enchantment duology so much more! rebecca ross is an amazing writer and this is undoubtedly going to be one of my new favorite books.
～thank you so much to st. martin’s press/saturday books and netgalley for the arc!

This story tells a tale of a godling half underling and Skyward. Her growth and journey into her power and love.

It was a good tale.
Satisfying ending
In the end she achieved what all the gods could not

To be honest, I went into this book with a lot of reservation. The Letters of Enchantment was such a perfect and beautiful duology that I wasn’t sure I even wanted more. Since the originals ended in such a satisfying way, I was worried this spin-off wouldn’t live up to my expectations.

But I’m happy to say that Wild Reverence surprised me! I ended up really, really loving it. I didn’t expect to care so deeply about Matilda and Vincent, but by the end, I definitely shed many tears for them. As always, Rebecca’s writing is so beautiful and lyrical. I feel like she has this gift of making you feel warm and cozy while also making you feel very emotional. While this book leans more into the gods and goddesses of the world, I think it still carries the same emotional weight and dreamy tone as the original duology. And I definitely think that Rebecca has managed to expand the world and tell a distinct story without losing what made the originals special.

Beautiful.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

(I was trying to avoid spoilers but I do end up touching upon some plot points as well as the end of the book so beware!!)

2.5 stars rounding down.

Ugh. I know I’m going to be in the minority here, but believe me when I say how upset I am that I did not like this book. What gets me the most is that I’ve read the author’s A River Enchanted and absolutely loved it so I know she’s a good writer, but this just wasn’t it for me.

I’ve been trying to figure out why I didn’t like the book, and I think, if I had to pick, one of the issues was putting it in first person POV. I have no problem with 1st person in other books, but it’s almost like author thought 1st person would allow the readers to get to know the two main characters (Matilda and Vincent) better except that I still feel like I didn’t actually get to know them that well. I couldn’t connect with them. A lot of times, it felt like we were dwelling on unimportant things but then other stuff, stuff I’d like to read about (like Matilda delivering letters between the gods) was just glossed over! Why?! Matilda’s and Vincent’s POVs also sounded very similar. If they hadn’t been physically in different locations so often, it would be very easy to confuse which character was talking.

Tied into the POV issue, the entire first half of the book just feels like Matilda is just *telling* us about her life. “This is what I did. This is how I felt.” I know you can’t write a book that is 100% showing, but this book definitely felt like almost 100% telling. Honestly, the way the book is presented to the reader, it felt like I was reading a slightly more descriptive script for a miniseries. I honestly think this would really work on the screen.

But having Matilda just tell us a lot of stuff, and not giving us Vincent’s POV until about halfway through was not a great way to get the story’s momentum going. The summary of the book focuses on Matilda and Vincent’s relationship, but they are only physically near each other for not even a week when you compile the time together. If this is a romance, I want to see the couple spend time together!! Every time Matilda gets near Vincent, she gets called away again by another god in the Underling or Skyward realms.

Going back to the miniseries comment, her whole escapade trying to help Vincent defeat his uncle—and honestly just the whole book—felt very episodic. But because the writing felt so flat to me, I never once felt like the characters we are supposed to care about were in danger. There was no tension, no urgency in the text to make you scared that the good guys might lose. Every new obstacle felt more like “Ugh, again?” than “Oh no!” It didn’t help that the few battle scenes we got were not super described very well and were over fairly quickly. Matilda’s never fought in a war before—I would’ve liked more of her descriptions of fighting and thoughts on that.

And because Matilda and Vincent don’t actually spend a lot of time physically near each other, they spend the majority of their POVs thinking about each other. But because they hardly know each other, I had trouble feeling that yearning within the text that I felt in A River Enchanted. It doesn’t help that most of Vincent’s experience with Matilda is just from dreaming about his idea of her, and Matilda’s experience with Vincent is from reading summaries of those dreams (that another goddess gave her). It just….it sounds great in theory (“He dreamed about her before they met!”) but if their subsequent meetings only encompass like three days because Matilda is busy doing other things, I find their yearning thoughts kind of hard to believe.

I did like what world-building we got and wish it had been developed/shown more. Some of the events that happen in the gods’ realms ended up being cut short because of the book being in 1st person. I would’ve liked a more in-depth answer as to why Enva put everyone to sleep on her wedding night and how they came to eventually wake up. (The answer given—that Enva didn’t want to marry Dacre—doesn’t quite work when he’s the head god of Underling. What was his reaction when he woke up? Did he think everyone just fell asleep? Was he mad at Enva? We never find out because the characters that were there, like Bade, also don’t know and therefore can’t tell Matilda anything. It just felt like the author needed an impediment in Matilda asking Bade for help—that he would be in a magical sleep—and didn’t quite think the whole situation through.)

I also found it a little weird and kind of creepy that Matilda first meets Warin as a kid and then ends up sleeping with him as an adult. I know the gods age a lot slower but that was still kind of creepy. (And I know Warin is meant to be a creepy bad guy, but I would’ve gotten that without her meeting him first as a kid.)

And then the ending. You can see the ending coming from ten miles away. You know Matilda is going to get called back into the Gatekeeper’s service for 7 years, and that she won’t be able to see Vincent until then. You can see it coming, but you know she’s going to end up with Vincent after all that. So why did we have to sit through several chapters of Matilda in the wastelands and people trying to set Vincent up with another lady if we’re only going to get the bare minimum of a reunion between the two???? The ending dragged on so much and then finally, she comes to his cottage. We get him feeding her dinner before sleeping together and that’s it. A few lines in the epilogue from someone else’s POV about how they spent *years* together but we don’t get to see it??? What is the point of framing this book as a romantic fantasy if the main couple are barely together on the page?? After an entire book of situations trying to keep the two apart, I think the readers were owed way more than what we got.

So yeah, I really really wanted to like this book and was super excited to get an ARC but it just didn’t land for me. :(

Rebecca Ross has crafted something truly enchanting with Wild Reverence. This book effortlessly blends the captivating allure of mythology with a tender and compelling love story, earning a solid 4.5 stars from me.

From the very first page, Ross immerses you in the rich and dangerous world of the under realm, where gods wield deadly power and alliances are as fragile as glass. Matilda, the youngest goddess with her seemingly modest messenger magic, is a wonderfully sympathetic protagonist. Her quiet strength and the secret she fiercely guards create an immediate sense of intrigue. Watching her navigate the treacherous politics of her divine family while harboring a hidden vulnerability is utterly captivating.

Then there's Vincent, the mortal lord haunted by a decade-old unanswered plea. His initial cynicism and world-weariness provide a fantastic contrast to Matilda's inherent grace. The way their connection, born in dreams, unexpectedly blossoms in the waking world is beautifully portrayed. Ross masterfully builds the tension and tenderness between them, making their burgeoning love feel both destined and hard-earned. The tagline, "True love is more divine, than any ruthless god," is not just a catchy phrase; it's the very heart of this story.

The world-building is richly detailed, painting a vivid picture of the under realm and the mortal realm. Ross seamlessly weaves in elements of mythology, creating a believable and fascinating pantheon with its own intricate rules and power dynamics. The plot moves at a satisfying pace, balancing the development of the central romance with the overarching conflict within the godly realm. There are moments of genuine suspense and emotional resonance that will leave you completely invested in Matilda and Vincent's fate.

The only reason this isn't a full five-star review is that, at times, the sheer number of godly characters and their shifting alliances could feel a little overwhelming. While each character has their own distinct flavor, keeping track of everyone and their motivations occasionally required a bit more focus. However, this minor complexity doesn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Wild Reverence is a beautifully written and deeply romantic fantasy novel. Rebecca Ross has crafted a world and characters that will linger in your mind long after you turn the final page. If you're a fan of mythology-infused fantasy with a strong and heartfelt love story at its core, this book is an absolute must-read. I eagerly await the next installment!

This book was just beautiful. To be back in the world of the Divines was wonderful. meeting Matilda and Vincent was a love story that I will want to recall again and again. I will forever sing the praises of Rebecca Ross’ prose and storying telling. I was sad to end this book but can’t wait to read it again.

I've got to say I loved every moment of the book Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross! I haven't read Divine Rivals or Ruthless Vows yet, but I can't wait to start reading them. The writing style is smooth and reads quickly. I am glad to report that this book worked as a stand-alone book. The characters were fleshed out and believable. I cried, laughed, and was cheering for the characters as we went.

The youngest goddess Matilda has many secrets and finds herself in the dreams of a mortal boy. They find their lives entwined together for better or worse. Fate has been weaving their stories together... will they find love or sadness?

5 out 5 stars