Rebecca how do you do it?! She is the queen of heart wrenching fantasies!

I absolutely loved the last half of the book (especially the end 30%). The way everything tied together was truly a masterpiece + her writing was just incredibly detailed and stunning. The world building hurt my brain and the first part WAS slow ok but it’s so worth it, if you just hold tight. I loved the descriptive writing this book has, truly transports you to another world. The last chapter and epilogue had me in tears!!!! TEARS. I just loved Matilda and Vincent’s story. It was beautiful. I did want a tiny bit more tension and build up than there was but nonetheless

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books, for the glorious opportunity to read an early copy of WILD REVERENCE by Rebecca Ross in exchange for my honest review!

628.

628 is the number of times I had to pause, highlight, and allow my bones to settle in this beautiful story. There is something about Rebecca Ross's writing that truly resonates with me on a deeply emotional level. I became a fan of hers first with A River Enchanted and she quickly became one of my favorite authors. WILD REVERENCE felt like her most lyrical prose, holding serve with the Elements of Cadence duology, but set in the world of Letters of Enchantment.

I don't know if my simple words will remotely do justice to how masterful I found this book to be. I took my time reading this book, letting every sentence and syntax take root, and I'm glad for it. Each time I went to pick it up I was engrossed. Matilda and Vincent are such special characters that I will treasure along with Roman and Iris, Jack and Adaira, and Torin and Sidra.

While I greatly enjoyed the medieval world building, this is ultimately a love story. Everything else is just a bonus. The level of longing, yearning, and slow burn of forbidden love that Rebecca builds between Matilda and Vincent is unmatched. But, oh, is it worth every moment. I would happily read another 600 pages of this, and I can't wait to reread and reread this story again.

Finally, the epilogue was such a sweet connecting point to the Letters of Enchantment duology. It made my heart so happy. It also makes me want to reread Iris and Roman's story immediately.

infinity stars.

Another masterpiece by Rebecca Ross. Wild Reverence had me sobbing! Matilda and Vincent's story was absolutely beautiful. I was expecting this to be third person narrative like the Divine Rivals series, but this is first-person and dual pov, and I truly have no preference, Rebecca Ross writes both narratives beautifully. And though this is a different tone of voice it still feels ethereal and elegant and has the same essence as Divine Rivals. I am in awe at how she's able to transport me into a story and draw out so much emotion. Even when we were in a slower part, I still found myself anxious at a lot of moments. I yearned to be part of this world.

I loved the characters, they had so much depth and were developed perfectly. Matilda is strong and so complex. Vincent is thoughtful and sweet. And I didn't expect to love Bade as much as I did.

The epilogue is probably the best I've ever read, it was perfect.

Wild Reverence
By Rebecca Ross

I cried as I finished Wild Reverence—honestly, I knew I would. Divine Rivals holds a special place in my heart, and I wasn’t ready to let go of Matilda and Vincent’s story. Their journey is a breathtaking tapestry of love, sacrifice, and loss, and this conclusion was nothing short of heartbreaking and beautiful.

Rebecca Ross writes with a kind of quiet magic that draws you in and never lets go. Her world-building is rich and immersive, with a magic system that feels both ancient and alive, full of wonder and danger.

In this book, Matilda is revealed to be more than she ever imagined: born a goddess of both the Underlings and the Skywards, a feat that has never happened before. Though she only holds the power of a herald, she can move between all three realms, Underling, Mortal, and Skyward. But she must tread carefully; in this world, gods can steal each other’s power through death. And within her lies a hidden strength even she cannot yet comprehend.

As a child, Matilda finds dream-scrolls left by Alva, the goddess of dreams and nightmares. Through these, she meets a boy named Vincent in his darkest dreams—and she saves him, again and again, without understanding why. Their fates were already entwined.

Vincent has always dreamed of a girl with red hair who would save him. After the tragic loss of his father and brothers, he becomes the Lord of Wyndrift. But as his grief grows and his life is nearly taken, he calls for her only to have her disappear. Until years later, when danger returns, so does she.

There are so many stunning, emotional echoes between Wild Reverence and Divine Rivals—themes of destiny, connection, and sacrifice that linger long after the final page. I gave Wild Reverence 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read this unforgettable story.

Rebecca Ross, the queen of longing and divine yearning.

Last things first: the epilogue left me with my mouth open, staring into the middle distance trying to manage my feelings. I had not expected this.

Matilda is a goddess and a messenger, Tristan is a human and eventually a hardened Lord.
What connects them are letters, dreams and prayers.

Their intertwined lifes are told in Ross's unbelievably good prose, guiding the reader through the three realms - divine and human.

If you liked the aspects at the gods and goddesses in the Letters of Enchantment dilogy, you will just love this book.

It's not perfect pacing, and at times I wasn't sure what the story at the core was - but just trust the author and get into the vibe and join the yearning.

4,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC!

#WildReverence #LettersOfEnchantment #Netgalley #Bookstagram

This story is a prequel of Divine Rivals .
Before Iris sat down and started writing at her grandma typewriter and before Enva sang her song and the war started.

This book is so magical and poetic in its own way. It’s about Love but not just about love in a romantic way but it’s about the different shape of it.

It’s about a goddess and a human and how a letter changes everything. It’s how a person can change the entire outcome of a war and how that person is willing to risk everything for just one person.

If you fall in love with Iris and Roman you will love Vincent and Matilda. You get to see so many hints from divine rivals and the epilogue is something we have have already seen but seeing familiar faces was everything ☺️

This book was everything. If you have got an hangover from Divine Rivals go straight into this no question asked

Thank you to @beccajross @saturdaybooks for the arc

❀.•.✿ ~ Wild Reverence ~ ✿.•.❀
by Rebecca Ross

Set in the same universe as the Letters of Enchantment diology, Matilda is the youngest of the gods and their herald. Everyone believing her weak, she tries to navigate through the intrigue that is part of the gods' world, but her connection with Vincent, a mortal, may be her undoing.

Since I haven't read the Letters of Enchantment diology, I was worried that I couldn't connect to the book, but this was absolutely not the case. Rebecca Ross described the story of Matilda and Vincent with such beautiful words, that I was mesmerized from the beginning and couldn't put the book down. Everything was well explained and I wasn't struggeling much to keep up with the world, without knowing the other two books.
I completely loved and don't get me started on the yearning... Vincent was so beautifully written and I can't stop thinking about him and his actions, as well as Matilda and her sacrifices.
The ending was also really satisfying and I think I will appreciate it even more after finishing Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows.

So I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, I’ll be real I hadn’t read Divine Rivals yet. Mainly for the reason that I am a heavy mood reader and sometimes I just have to be really excited to read a book. I saw the cover of Wild Reverence was instantly itching to read it. Between the cover and the UK cover along with the synopsis I knew that I was going to love this book. The plot of Matilda who for the most part has been a sheltered herald to the gods was something that I found very interesting because just the idea of a god being sheltered but visiting these different realms is kind of a juxtaposition. But along the way she finds herself visiting the dreams of a mortal and forms a friendship with him.

From start to finish I couldn’t put this book down. It felt like I could reach out and touch this realm that Matilda was apart of it was lush and just oh so perfect. I found it riveting how these gods interact with mortals and each other. You really couldn’t trust anyone because of the gods want for more power. The magic system with how stars are used and given between the gods is so vastly different than anything I have seen before, and it adds a new complexity to an already interesting world.

For the romance aspect of this story I loved how it evolved. I don’t want to give too much away because I think that you need to experience it for yourself and find out what happens but I loved every minute of it. Seeing how it starts to how it ends I couldn’t have asked for a better romance to the plot. When it came to the ending I was sobbing but I also couldn’t have came up with a better ending than what we got, the ending also makes sense to what Divine Rivals sets you up with, there really was no part of this story that hadn’t had some level of thought put into it and it shows.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a hard copy of this book and I will now be reading everything ever written by Rebecca Ross. She for sure is a new auto buy author if this is what I can expect with every book!

I feel like this took me forever to read but only because it's such a well-written story that I didn't want to miss a thing. I usually skim very detailed descriptions and I don't think I did that once. I absolutely loved the world-building, the characters, the love story - all of it. Admittedly, I was skeptical when it started off with Matilda as a child. But that was such a necessary part of the story that I'm glad I stuck with it. And it wasn't as if that part wasn't also well-written! It was a precursor to everything that developed and the entire story would have been less if it had been omitted or told only in flashbacks. Also, it's no small thing that this is a standalone fantasy novel. I was sad when it ended, but also entirely satisfied. Highly highly recommend!

Wild Reverence is the epic tale of Matilda, a goddess, born as a messenger between three realms. Her mother is of the underworld, the goddess of winter. Her father is a skyward god. In between is the mortal realm. When she is young, a mortal boy dreams of her and she travels those dreams with him not knowing how truly entwined their lives are.

From beginning to end, this story had me in its hold. The story spans an entire lifetime and ends with such a satisfying tie that I simply will not spoil for you. Everything that you would hope for is included here—love, conflict, magic, suspense, betrayal, devotion, and more.

This is what sublime storytelling looks like. Rebecca has delicately built these characters molecule by molecule with care and consideration. Each character has a purpose, each storyline is relevant, everything feels fully realized. There will be no disappointment here for her fans.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Saturday Book, Rebecca Ross and NetGalley for the digital copy for review.

the way I dropped EVERYTHING for this book the minute it was read now again and it delivered everything I needed in a book.

“But if we were doomed, then let us fully embrace it.”Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross was my first arc. I was lucky enough to receive it while it was on read now on Netgalley, and it also was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Rebecca Ross is one of my favorite authors. How she writes is absolutely beautiful and she knows how to stir emotions within her readers. I’m happy to report that this is everything I hoped it would be. I was truly immersed into this story! The world building was captivating. I got so attached to not only the main characters, but some of the side characters too. I will be thinking of this book nonstop for the next couple of months!

4.5 ⭐️

okay sooooo wild reverence absolutely swept me off my feet and then gently punched me in the chest—in the best way possible.

rebecca ross really said “what if i made yearning into an art form” and then proceeded to emotionally wreck me with every single chapter. this book is ethereal and dreamy and absolutely soaked in divine longing. i devoured it like i was starved for poetry and pain.

let's talk about matilda. matilda is a goddess (literally) but also in the sense that she’s elegant, mysterious, and deeply lonely in a way that hurts to witness. then we’ve got vincent—sweet, hurting, mortal vincent—who once whispered a prayer to her when he was young and desperate, and that moment lowkey changed both of their lives. like. excuse me??? that setup alone had me in a chokehold. they don't even meet face-to-face until way later but the tension??? the soft, aching, dreamy tension??? i was screaming internally the whole time.

the writing?? rebecca ross's prose is just pure vibes. it’s lyrical without being too much, magical but grounded in raw emotion. you don’t just read this book, you float through it. it’s like if yearning were a forest and grief were the wind and love was the quiet light through the trees—yeah. it’s like that.

the worldbuilding also slapped. the whole goddess-messenger thing, the different realms (skyward! under! mortal!), and the politics between the deities made everything feel so much bigger than just one love story—though the romance was still very much the soul of it all. i was definitely lost a few times trying to track all the divine drama and ancient grudges, but honestly, i didn’t mind. it just made the universe feel ancient and textured and real.

also: the epilogue. i’m not okay. i thought i was fine. i was wrong. it was so quiet and powerful and perfect that i legit had to sit in silence and stare into the void after finishing.

so yeah. 4.5 glowing, starlit, reverent stars from me. would’ve been 5 if the pacing hadn’t dipped just a bit in the middle, but that’s me being picky. if you’re into dreamy mythology, aching hearts, and prose that reads like a spell, wild reverence is 1000% your next read.

run don’t walk.

I truly don’t have words or complete thoughts to express how much I loved this book but I will try my best! I absolutely adored every aspect of it. From the characters, the setting, the magic system, and everything in between had me enamored the whole time. I found this to be some of Rebecca Ross’s most lyrical and rhythmic writing and it only added to the whimsical atmosphere of this story.

We follow Matilda, a god, and Vincent, a mortal, from adolescence into adulthood. We learn and watch as their lives become intertwined with one another’s. Every choice and journey that they endure is to get them to where they are meant to be.

As a lover of the Enchanted Letters duology I found that the gods were not my favorite within those pages but, Wild Reverence has truly changed my mind.

This is a story about power, choices, dreams, love, found family, existence, and so much more! It was truly a gift to watch this story unfold. The depth that Rebecca Ross was able to capture within these pages of this standalone will always baffle me. It truly had it all. My heart yearned, broke, and pieced itself back together over and over. I feel whole after finishing this book. A love story that’s written among the stars ✨ this book will always hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you to Saint Martin’s, Saturday Books, and NetGalley for this eARC and the opportunity to review honestly.

An Enchanting Myth-Spun Tapestry

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross swept me into a world so seamlessly interwoven with magic that it felt like stepping into a forgotten myth whispered by the gods themselves. Ross has a rare gift for making the divine feel familiar—like you’ve grown up hearing these biddings and bargains told around a fire under stars that remember your name.

The universe she builds is rich with wonder, but never overbearing. The gods don’t just meddle from the clouds—they negotiate, they entangle, they bid like mythic chessmasters, and somehow, it all feels... natural. Like of course that river is sacred. Of course the wind listens when you call its true name.

Ross doesn’t just create a fantasy world—she revives the kind of reverence our own myths once held. It’s lush, lyrical, and just mischievous enough to keep you up past bedtime saying, “Just one more chapter…”

A must-read for lovers of folklore, fate, and a little divine drama

ARC provided by Netgalley

Rebecca Ross is back with her lyrical and atmospheric writing. Wild Reverence is set in the same world of Divine Rivals and follows a goddess named Matilda. As a herald, Matilda delivers the messages of other gods and goddesses. But life as a goddess is precarious when allies become enemies in their quest for power. One day she is tasked with delivering a message to a human Lord whose kingdom is under attack and she vows to help him. I really enjoyed being back in the world of Divine Rivals and seeing a few familiar characters. The beginning was quite slow but the ending definitely made up for it. I do wish the romance was more center stage as it was in Divine Rivals. I feel like it was more of a subplot in this novel, kind of like it was in A River Enchanted. Overall I enjoyed the story, the writing was beautiful and the conclusion had my heart in a vise. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC I received.

I absolutely loved the world of Divine Rivals, and I am so glad we got to see more of it. This story is heart wrenching and beautiful and the pairing is absolutely immaculate. So far my favorite read of the year.

I really loved this book. This reminded me a lot of Divine Rivals, obviously not in the actual plot, but the writiing and topics: love, war, gods. Matilda was such a pure character, there is thought behind every action. Loved Vincent, like I actually have zero complaints about him.

There was a few things I wish didn't happen, but thats me wanting things to be perfect and no conflict and fairytale endings - some hurdles I wish were avoided. But thats if Im being extremely picky. I would have written things different and I have an idea of what I would have liked to actually happen, but I cant tell that without actually spoiling it.

The EPILOGUE. I gasped. It was 100% worth it and I didn't see it coming at all.

AHHHHHHH! Wild Reverence is pure magic woven into pages. If you loved Divine Rivals, get ready to cry all over again. This book felt like reading a dream—soft, powerful, and aching in the best way. Matilda, the youngest goddess with messenger magic, and Vincent, a mortal boy, completely stole my soul. Their story had me screaming, swooning, and sobbing all at once. The writing?? Ethereal. The romance?? Tender yet devastating. I highlighted so many lines it looks like my Kindle Colorsoft is a glow stick.

Rebecca has this unmatched ability to turn longing into poetry, and the way she connects this to Divine Rivals?? Goosebumps. Literal chills. Watching Matilda fight not just to save others but to let herself be loved absolutely broke me. It’s full of yearning, heartbreak, forbidden touches, and soft strength—and the final chapter had me clutching my chest. This isn’t just a prequel—it’s a masterpiece. I am utterly undone.

"I would wait a thousand years for you","..."If you asked me, I would wait for you until only my bones remained upon an altar. But it you must leave again, then let me follow you.”

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

"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."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
“movement was destined to be my armor” rebecca ross just doesn’t miss. Long before Iris typed her letter, and before Roman found an enchanted wardrobe, there was a God who carried others words with her. Matilda was a mystery from the beginning. Her stars were a riddle to be solved, however she knew one thing. She was never meant to stay still. She was meant to deliver messages to loved ones and lost souls. She even convey through dream, but only for one. Vincent thought his nightmares would never cease, until one night, a girl with hair of fire pulled him from the darkest parts of his mind. She would continue to save him night after night until the nightmares faded to dreams and dreams become bliss. Until one day the girl with red hair disappeared during his biggest nightmare yet. Years later Matilda is to return to the boy from the dreams, but little did she know he had lost his faith in the gods long ago, well all but one. Vincent must choose to have faith in someone who he has not seen since childhood. This is a beautiful tragic story of wild reverence. WOWZA. queen rebecca has done it again ladies and gentlemen. wild reverence was beautiful and poetic and everything you could need from a fantasy. I loved Matilda’s character for so many different reasons. she was bold and strong but also was peaceful and full of grace. We also have Vincent who’s the loml and is a perfect testament to finding joy in the little things. all in all i adored this book and would recommend to anyone who will listen.
Songs i thought of while reading:
Take me to church - hozier
wait for me (reprise) - hades town