Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Loved

I loved this book. I’ve read Divine Rivals and A River Enchanted series, and I loved this more. It’s a standalone prequel to the Divine Rivals world, focusing on the gods. I was sucked into the world immediately. Note: Reading Divine Rivals first is not required.

Quick recap: In a brutal realm where gods kill for power, Matilda must conceal her power until she grows strong enough to fight for herself. Fate leads her to discover her true destiny.

What I loved:
Matilda is fierce, powerful, and says what she thinks
Bade, the powerful father-like figure
The world-building

What I didn’t love:
Somehow, the relationship between Matilda and Vincent went from 0 to 100% love in a short amount of time that they actually talked to each other as adults

This was the first book I read in a while where I couldn’t wait to get back and finish it. Overall, loved!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Probably a 4.5 out of 5 for me, but absolutely loved it!!! While I liked and enjoyed the letters of encampment duology, I’m an even BIGGER fan of Wild Reverence/Matilda and Vincent! I also loved learning more about the gods and how that magic system works.

I loved that she is the god while he is the mortal and how they had to navigate relationship issues because of that (in addition to the politics and fighting and such going on as well).

Finally, I loved that while there are nods to things that happen in the letters of enchantment duology, it really can be read as a standalone! It had been almost a year since I read the duology, so it is possible that I missed a few connections but caught the major ones and while they’re nice, this book fully stands on its own as well!

Wild Reverence is the perfect love story. This story spans many years, in which we meet Matilda, the FMC. Matilda takes us everywhere; we went to the mortal world, the sky, and the underworld with her. We see her live her life as a little goddess and her life as an adult. In which we meet Vincent. It was so beautiful to see their relationship develop, the childhood friends to lovers romance was so sweet. This was Romantic, unconditional love which made this story so ethereal. Matilda fought for the life that she wanted with the love of her life, which she got after fighting through many hardships. Although this was happily ever after, it still hurts to know that you can defeat many things except death. Rebecca Ross’ writing is so magical that I could hear the rivers and the wind that she wrote about. I was soaring through the wind and walking on the bottom of the river with Matilda. Thank you, Rebecca Ross, for this beautiful story, and thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC.
4.75/5 👁️ 🗡️

Man, Rebecca Ross just knows how to write and weave a story beautifully. Her style really brings the reader in from the very beginning and never lets go.
I just love how her stories are so meaningfully poignant and have the ability to connect deep in your soul. Sometimes it's like reading a mirror and seeing yourself.

Her characters are always so well-developed and faced with such yearning. Most authors these days miss the yearn, but my goodness, Rebecca nails it. Sometimes it's even devastating. I may have shed a tear or two, I can't lie.

Everything about this book left me utterly speechless and I just want more and more and more.

Read. the. book.

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of this amazing book.

Huge thanks to Rebecca Ross, Saturday Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
When I first read Divine Rivals, I fell hard and fast for its world, its characters, and its quiet, poetic power. Ruthless Vows only deepened that love—and when I finished, I wasn't ready to let go. So the news of a prequel? I was ecstatic.

And Wild Reverence did not disappoint. If anything, it surpassed all my hopes. Rebecca Ross has created yet another breathtaking, emotionally rich YA fantasy that pulled me in. Her writing is nothing short of stunning —each scene felt so vivid enough; to make every scene feel like it was unfolding right in front of me. The tension, the battles, the beauty of the gods' realm — it all came to life.

This book explores so much: love, fate, war, trust, grief, and the quiet courage it takes to keep going. When we meet Matilda, we learn that she is a herald that can carry the words of the gods between realms. We also learn that she’s hiding a secret: a mortal boy named Vincent dreams of her, even though they’ve never met. We get to see this story carry them over several years to a moment when they reunite.

The romance between Matilda and Vincent is slow and patient, but when it finally begins to bloom, it's so incredibly powerful and deeply earned. Their connection feels soul-deep. Additionally, I absolutely adored Bade, and adored the father-figure relationship he played with Matilda. My heart, wow, as much as this story is for Matilda & Vincent, it is also for Matilda & Bade.

We also get a deeper dive into the divine lore that underpins the Letters of Enchantment series — more about the gods, their powers, and their rivalries. As such a huge fan of the duology, this book adds a whole new layer of depth. And the epilogue? Perfection!!!!! Wow. My heart had felt many emotions during this book, but the ending left me so excited as it sets up Divine Rivals in the most bittersweet and beautiful way. With that being said, I don’t think you need to read the duology first, but if you have, this book will make you fall in love all over again.

Wild Reverence is tender, poetic, heart-wrenching, and healing. It’s not just a story of gods and mortals — it’s a story about sacrifice, found family, and the power of love that waits, fights, and stays. :’)

Some of my favorite quotes below:

“My home is your home. My arms are a haven for you to rest. My last name is yours if you desire it. I will love you to my grave, and even beyond it, when the mists welcome me, when I am hopefully very old and gray and grouchy and have spent the seasons beside you when you are here and dreaming of you when you are gone. I love you dearly, Red.”

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

“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.”

“But I think you know that the soul can be found in words, and words within the soul. The two reflect each other in the sky, do they not?”

“She pressed down on the key marked by I, then R. The M and the V. She watched in delight as the typebars swiftly responded, flying up to hit the ink ribbon.” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows. But now that I have read this gorgeous prequel, it may be time for a reread. I think this may be my favorite of all five that I have read. The Elements of Cadence duology was beautiful too but there was just something special about this one.

It started off a bit slow but in hindsight, I found that the slow building of the worlds and activities of the gods and their magic lent itself to a more engaging story. With that being said, this is not my usual read as everything is not neat and tidy. It has romantic elements for sure but it is not the focus. The slow burn is so good as is the yearning between Mathilda and Vincent, a human she has known since they were small children.

I adored Mathilda and how powerful she became as she learned her magic. I loved the descriptions of the worlds both below and above. The gods and goddesses are well developed characters that really could care less for the humans except for how they worship them. Except for a few who grow and evolve. Found family is a definite focus, for so many of the characters, but especially for Mathilda.

There were a few aspects that I wanted more but to share would spoil some of the unfolding. There is also a spoiler at the end that gives insight into what will happen in Divine Rivals. But this could most definitely be read as a standalone. A definite autobuy author for me. Thank you to @netgalley for my advanced copy.

This book was stunning. I wish I could go back and reread it as if it was the first time just so I could experience it all over again. I loved the Divine Rivals duology and this book added so much depth to that story. I loved the relationships @beccajross created, especially between Matilda and Bade (and of course Matilda and Vincent!) This book is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. And can we talk about that character art on the cover??? 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 did I spend way too much time staring at it? Yes I did.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever wondered why things happen the way they do? Why wars are waged? How the seasons turn from one to the next? How a song can transport your soul? Enter the Underling, Skyward, and Mortal Realms. Where gods and goddesses bring favor or wrath to the mortals as their magic ebbs and flows.

Matilda, the daughter of a powerful goddess, enters the Underling realm, unaware of who her father is. Given her name by the god of war, she is draw to a mortal boy, Vincent.

Through a magical, painful, and powerful story readers will go on a journey following Matilda as she uncovers her own magic and writes her own story. Could the love for a mortal surpass the magic bestowed upon her?

I was really not sure about this story as I started to read it. I found it hard to follow at first and get grounded in what was going on, but I’m so very glad I stuck with it. It was a beautiful and rich story that blended magic with an epic love story. I found myself in a trance, unable to look away until I knew the fate of Matilda and Vincent and all the people on their orbit.

This book will be one you won’t want to miss. Sit in the story if you’re unsure. Let it marinate and give yourself over to the story. You won’t regret it.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher St. Martin’s Press for a free eArc of Wild Reverence in exchange for an honest review!

Overview
Loved it! Well executed romance, intricate world-building, & *beautiful* writing/narration. Minor problems with the storylines, mainly how they were concluded. My first Rebecca Ross novel & I absolutely would recommend. I’m excited to read the Letters of Enchantment duology.

Favorite Quote
“My home is your home. My arms are a haven for you to rest. My last name is yours if you desire it”.

What to Expect
- palpable love story, intense passion & yearning
- atmospheric setting; the world radiates vibrance off the page
- gods/goddesses/mythological lore
- poetic writing without being overdone; reads like a love ballad
- unique magic system that creates a sense of tension; starts off confusing, but keeps you excited to peel back the layers

Drawbacks
- it seemed a hundred or so pages too long, because some scenes drag in the middle of the novel. Most of these were detailed war scenes, which didn’t keep me interested.
- the setting and pacing switches rapidly at times, which can be confusing & leaves some storylines a little unfulfilled.

Video Review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8S4RDw1/

First of all I love the cover of this book. It's beautiful. Secondly I loved this book. I had a hard time putting it down. This was the first book I read by this author and it won't be my last. Im off to read her other books

An absolute triumph! A prequel that nearly surpasses its already perfect predecessors? You will want to immediately jump right back into Divine Rivals after you read this so be prepared!

Rebecca Ross does it again in a spellbinding prequel to the popular Divine Rivals duology. There is something about her writing that is familiar And inviting. The yearning in this book is impeccable and arguably, this is her best yet. The love story between Matilda and Vincent has been on my mind since I finished this book. I crave for what she has in store next, be it in this world or another. Ross has easily cemented herself as one of my favourite authors and I can’t get enough of her writing.

I loved this book! Rebecca is such a beautiful writer and Matilda’s story was beautiful. It gave me all the feels and I found myself so excited to see what would happen next! I really enjoyed the battle that Matilda faced between her heart and her head, and loved being back in this world again. Learning about all the different Gods and seeing the way they interacted was intriguing and kept me coming back. I also loved the twists and turns the story took. This was a great read!

I absolutely loved this book and I’d give it six stars. The prose of this book was fantastic. Matilda was my favorite character. I already have a copy of it and I can’t wait to read it again. If I could erase my mind and read it for the first time again I would. Highly recommend this book to people who love Letters of Enchantment and who love fantasy books.

Rebecca Ross delivers another beautifully written novel with Wild Reverence, blending lush prose, immersive worldbuilding, and heartfelt emotion. The story balances romance and fantasy elements with ease, drawing readers into a vivid, atmospheric setting. While a few sections move more slowly than others, the strength of Ross’s characters and her lyrical writing make the journey worthwhile. It’s a captivating read that reaffirms her place as a standout voice in the genre.

Enjoyed seeing this world again and learning more backstory of the "gods". I did find this book a little harder to get into than divine rivals--however would recommend!

I enjoyed this journey into the magical world Divine Rivals is set in, but I didn’t enjoy this adult standalone quite as much as the YA duology.

As always, Rebecca Ross beautiful words create a full sensory and emotional experience. If anyone’s writing ever deserves the term “atmospheric,” it’s her. She’s truly gifted. However, as far as plot, I found this and her River Enchanted duology to be a little slow for my tastes. Still beautiful, still memorable, but took me most of the book to get into. Fortunately, the writing style, characters, and worldbuilding are compelling enough on their own every time to make me persist to the action.

All in all, very enjoyable and I will continue to read anything and everything this woman writes.

From someone who loved Devine Rivals, I could not wait to be submerged into this story. I enjoyed how Matilda’s journey hinges on letting herself be vulnerable, even when she fears losing power or safety. The internal struggle between divine invulnerability and mortal emotional fragility is central. Also, Vincent’s place as a mortal, how much he can understand or reconcile with the divine, and what that means for belonging.

For some readers, the length paired with the rich mythos and many acts could be overwhelming. Scenes in the divine realms, while beautiful, can become dense in detail.

Wild Reverence is a must for Devine Rivals fans! Although the books are of the same works and not a series, they are for readers who enjoy lush mythology, slow-burning romance, high stakes, and morally complex fantasy realms, it will likely be deeply satisfying. It’s especially good for those who love epic fantasies with emotional cores, divine politics, and lovers who must overcome cosmic, not just personal, obstacles.

For readers less tolerant of long build-up, vague magic rules, or power asymmetry in romance, some patience will be required. But even then, Ross’s prose and emotional payoff make it worth the ride.

Ohhhh. Myyyy. Goshhhh. This book was soooo slow!

Listen, before you come at me, Rebecca Ross is a very talented writer- I fully acknowledge that. But I've come to the conclusion that her books are not for me.

I loved Divine Rivals, but then Ruthless Vows was disappointing. I was bored while reading A River Enchanted, so I skipped A Fire Endless.

And now, here we are with Wild Reverence. The storytelling is extremely slow and, to be honest, for such a lengthy book, the story itself was underwhelming. Ironically, Mathilda & Vincent's love story felt rushed. And, for this reason, I was not invested in them.

I received this book as an arc so I had it a whole month before everyone else and I still couldn't finish it by release day. In fact, it put me in a reading slump.

My favourite chapter was 81 (for reference, there are 84 chapters and an epilogue). It was almost enough to add an extra star to the overall rating, but not quite.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy. I am so grateful.

Oh, Rebecca Ross. My queen of romantasy with endless yearning is back, and I’m absolutely thrilled to be immersed in this universe once again. This book was magical, but, as always, the standout was the romance between Vincent and Matilda. Even typing their names makes me miss them so dearly.

I adore how loyal and vulnerable Vincent is. Some of his dialogue genuinely brought tears to my eyes. I want to quote him, but honestly, it would be every word. As a huge fan of Divine Rivals, I was worried this wouldn't be as addictively magical as it, but those concerns were swept away within the first few chapters.

I laughed and cried throughout this story, and now I eagerly await my next re-read of it.
5 out of 5 stars!