The best book I’ve read so far this year! Rebecca Ross created such a vivid world that I felt like I was actually there. The writing is gorgeous, the characters are written in a way that you genuinely care about them, and the story pulled me in. I kept wanting to read more but didn’t want it to end! It's one of those books you just want to live in for a while.

Rebecca Ross has once again crafted pure magic with Wild Reverence. Her lyrical prose swept me away from the very first page and carried me through a world so vivid, it felt like stepping into a dream woven with starlight and storm. The emotional depth of the characters, the intricacy of the lore, and the haunting beauty of every sentence left me utterly spellbound. This book is a masterpiece of atmosphere and heart—an ode to love, legacy, and the quiet strength that shapes us. I devoured every word and was left aching in the best way. Ross doesn’t just tell stories; she enchants.

"Wild Reverence" by Rebecca Ross is a beautifully crafted novel that intertwines themes of nature, love, and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of a richly imagined world, the story follows the journey of its protagonist, who embarks on a quest that tests her resilience, courage, and connection to the wild.

Ross's writing is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid images of the natural landscapes and the characters that inhabit them. The protagonist’s relationship with the environment plays a crucial role in her personal growth, making the natural world not just a setting but a character in its own right. This connection to nature is mirrored in the emotional depth of the character's relationships, particularly with family and friends, which are beautifully explored throughout the narrative.

The character development is particularly strong, as readers witness the protagonist's evolution from innocence to wisdom, driven by her experiences and the challenges she faces. Ross crafts a cast of supporting characters that are well-developed and relatable, each contributing to the protagonist's journey and the overarching themes of the story.

The pacing of the narrative is engaging, with a balance of introspective moments and plot-driven action that keeps readers invested. The themes of reverence for nature and the importance of following one's heart resonate deeply, making "Wild Reverence" a thought-provoking read that encourages readers to reflect on their own relationships with the natural world.

Overall, "Wild Reverence" is a poignant and enchanting novel that captures the beauty of life, love, and the profound impact of the wild. Rebecca Ross shines in her ability to weave together an exquisite tale that celebrates the interconnectedness of all living things, making this book a must-read for fans of literary fiction and nature lovers alike.

4.5 stars. Beautiful, lush, and immersive story. Rebecca’s prose truly transport you into the fantasy setting. The world itself was incredibly unique and very easy to understand. There are three realms in this world: underling, skyward, and mortal. God and goddess get their powers from constellations. We are following Mathilda the herald of the gods through the years and her struggles trying to navigate the policial and treacherous world of the gods.
It does take a while to get to the love story, but once you do it’s full of yearning! Vincent first meet Mathilda in his dreams and it’s enamored by her from a young age.
I was very hesitant about the moral x immortal romance, but it really delivered a beautiful love story!
I truly loved getting to learn more about the world Divine Rival is set in! I would classify this book as a sequel to that series.

Rebecca Ross has once again woven a heartachingly beautiful story with the magic of her words. She takes us back hundreds of years prior to the events of Letters of Enchantment to when many divines still lived in their realms above and below, and walked among the mortals.

In this tale, there are dreams and letters, bargains and betrayals. Underlings and Skywards, Death and Fate. And a messenger goddess of both realms who dares to love a mortal lord amidst the wars and schemes of both man and divine.

This story could easily stand on its own, but also bridges the past to the familiar world in Letters of Enchantment. Both forgotten and familiar stories and characters of the past are found within, tracing their threads through Matilda and Vincent's story. Their friendship and slow burn love takes center stage and endures through many trials. Matilda is such a strong FMC and Vincent's strengths complement hers well. But it is also the love of family, particularly found family, that shined so brightly to me.

I love Rebecca's work every time, but especially Letters of Enchantment. It holds such a special place in my heart. So getting the opportunity to read Wild Reverence early was truly such a joy and I genuinely loved everything about this story.

The magic felt ancient, mysterious, and fascinating. It reminded me of how it felt immersed in her Elements of Cadence duology and even a bit of Sisters of Sword and Song or The Queen's Rising. I loved seeing all the divines in their prime and how some of their lost myths actually played out. I even gained a love and understanding for *that* goddess when I had very mixed feelings about her throughout Letters of Enchantment. I loved the subtle glimpses of the unknown or forgotten ways the past seeped into the future. All in all, I found this to be the perfect prequel.

P.S. A special note for the lovers of enchanted letters like me: the epilogue is everything.

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books for this digital ARC.

I was talking to my cousin about favourite genres and books before she borrowed some, and she mentioned she didn’t love fantasy. I said that I did, but I always felt I had to be committed as so many of them come with long series and books that come out every 1-2 yrs between.
With so many novels and genres I want to read, I find that commitment … a lot.

But there is nothing like writing that take in a magical realism form that give you the purest escape. Lands far away full of evil and good, love and hate. And with a battle that lets the reader feel like they won something by the end of the book. That they relate not to the fantasy but to the characters that hold the same emotions or feelings.
It’s why when a fantasy book works for me (or an author), they become the current obsession.

And with the newest Rebecca Ross coming out in the fall, I suspect THIS will be the newest obsession on here.

It’s a prequel of sorts (no you don’t need to read Divine Rivals first) but it feels like a standalone. The characters you met in DR haven’t been introduced yet so I would suggest if you ARE going to do a re-read of the duology, then read this first and then do your reread.

For me: I loved it. A world that felt at times like Game of Thrones and at other times like Disney’s Zeus. It weaved death and Gods within the mortal world with the connection between love in all forms.

Guess I need to pick up DR again and see if any of my fav characters show up there

Do you ever start a book and feel like it’ll be a five star read not even halfway through? This was how it felt reading this book.

Wild Reverence has become a new favorite fantasy book for me. As soon as I started it, I knew it would be a book that would steal my heart. It was enchanting, fascinating, romantic, and heartbreaking. This book was perfect to me. An actual masterpiece.

It was one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read. The writing was so poetic. I hung on to every word. Every chapter had me hooked right from the beginning. The writing was immersive and truly made me forget I was reading. The storytelling was also captivating and beautiful. I felt all the emotions while reading and wish I could experience this all over again.

Matilda and Vincent, oh how I adore and love them both. They were both amazing main characters and have become one of my favorites ever. I was rooting for them from their first encounter. They have my whole heart. Their love was so pure and sweet. I loved their love story and their journey. And his nickname for her?? My heart!! There were moments between them that made me smile. Will never get over Vincent and Matilda.

There are so many quotes that will be living rent free in my mind. This book is everything to me. I’m obsessed. Definitely one of my top favorite reads of 2025. Will be thinking about this book forever.

Thank you Saturday Books for the arc!

Rebecca Ross has done it again! Wild Reverence was prose filled, romance driven, and magical in all of the best ways. Matilda was a character worth rooting for--A god who saw the good and bad in both the eternal vs. mortal world. Her proposal to marry Vincent had me kicking my feet and giggling. I loved these two together! The epilogue was also beautiful, and the addition of how the magical typewriters came to be tied everything together so beautifully.

The only reason I rated this book 4 instead of 5 stars was due to not being as interested in the conflict as I would have wished (and how I have been with her other books). Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early! I have placed my preorder and cannot wait for my hard copy to come in September.

Wild Reverence by @beccajross

I don’t think I’ll be able to eloquently describe how perfect this story was but I will do my best. This story was absolutely stunning, deeply romantic, and so moving. Gorgeous writing as always with Rebecca. I tried so hard to take my time with this and truly savor it. It was so fun to see the little hints from the Divine Rivals duology. I cannot wait to get my beautiful physical copies later this year. This is the kind of story that makes me feel so grateful to be a romance and fantasy reader, and inspires me in my own writing. 💛

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress @saturdaybooks for the arc!
Pub date: 9/2/25

The moment I got the email that I was auto approved for this book, I couldn’t pass. It was downloaded to my kindle so quickly. Ross is a beautiful writer. The four other books I’ve read by her are stories about the importance and beauty found in words, songs, and stories. Wild Reverence is no different.

I loved learning more about the gods we hear glimpses about in Divine Rivals. Matilda and Vincent’s story is so beautiful and heartbreaking. The love between a mortal and goddess you know is going to be heartbreaking and Ross makes it her own and is just so beautiful.

I loved the little nuggets we get that tie back to Divine Rivals. I loved learning about the Underworld and Skyward realms. I loved the medieval settings. The battle scenes were written well and everything was so vivid. I’m so excited to be able to purchase this when it comes out.

I will admit, at first the story was a little slow but I’m so glad I stuck it out. I love Matilda and Vincent. Seeing her learn all about her magic and growing into everything she can do was amazing.

But my favorite part of this story was the ending. Without any spoilers, read Divine Rivals before you read this story…

I only wish we got to see more of Matilda and Vincent together and see their relationship grow more.

I fear I am somewhat at a loss for words but I will try to articulate my thoughts about this book and at least what to expect. Huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for making this a Read Now option!

This is essentially a “prequel” to Divine Rivals but you could probably read the books in any order or just this one. It is technically a standalone! There’s a satisfying conclusion and you can end at this book if you want. It’s set in the same world as Divine Rivals, except we follow the gods that rule the Underling realm and Skyward. If you haven’t read Divine Rivals, that’s ok! The world building in this is AMAZING and you will not be lost.

At the beginning, we follow Matilda when she is a god-child living in the Underling realm. Matilda has to grow up quicker than most and by the time she’s a young adult, she’s forced into the shrewd games the gods play. Vincent is a mortal and often meets Matilda in his dreams yet they have not met each other in the waking world. As they grow older, their lives continue to become more intertwined.

This is genuinely one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. The magic was so creative, I was in AWE. I will write a more detailed review closer to pub date but, what you can expect from Wild Reverence:

✨ New Adult
✨ Standalone
✨ Gods and goddesses of the Under realm and Skyward
✨ Mortal x Immortal love
✨ Strings of fate
✨ Games played by gods
✨ Unique magic and amazing world building

Absolutely Stunning!

Wild Reverence was everything I wanted and more. I loved it! The writing was pure magic—so vivid and lyrical, it felt like I was being transported into another world. I’ve always loved stories about gods and mortals, and this one hit all the right notes.
The story swept me away from the very first page. Rebecca Ross’s writing is absolutely magical—lush, lyrical, and dripping with emotion. I’m a sucker for stories involving gods and mortals, and this one delivered that dynamic in the most beautiful way.

The romance? *swoon* I was completely swept up in the romance. The characters were rich and layered, and their connection gave me all the feels. It’s the kind of romance that lingers with you long after you close the book.
The plot had everything—heart, stakes, wonder, and depth. Every twist pulled me deeper into a world I didn’t want to leave. This book was more than just a fantasy—it was an experience. It was one of those books that you never want to end, and when it does, you're just sitting there hugging it.

If you're looking for a story that’s both epic and intimate, full of mythology, emotion, and a love that transcends, Wild Reverence is it. Rebecca Ross has outdone herself. Highly recommend to anyone who loves poetic storytelling, swoon-worthy romance, and tales where the divine meets the deeply human.

This book is the perfect balance of action, power struggles and reverence.

Matilda, the herald of the gods works to balance courts, power and love as the newest god in the underlying court. Vincent, a human boy, has nightmares - until he is pulled from the by the Herald. There story is beautiful and magical. A test image to true love and what it can bring you, how far it can take you and what you can suffer because of it.

The first half of the book felt slow but it sets a lot of groundwork and pays off in the latter half of the book. It really picks up after the 50% mark. It was so awesome to see a lot of the structure of the Underlying and Skyward courts and how they operate. How gods powers and alliances are forged.

I loved seeing the growth of Matilda and Vincent as they went from children to Adults.

The strands of story woven in from Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows was perfect. You don’t have to have read those books to love this one, but if you have then it is so magical to get to see some of the glimpses of the gods we got in those books be really fleshed out here.

Set hundreds of years before the events of Divine Rivals, Wild Reverence is a beautiful tale that gives us a deeper dive into the gods of this world and their magic. The story is told in what is essentially 3 major parts: the before/history that gives us context and establishes relationships when the protragonists are young, the meatiest part of the storyline wherein our MCs are entwined in a mortal battle, and then the aftermath of these events. This story reads more like an epic and it feels a bit medieval, with fortresses and battle camps and chainmail - at the risk of sounding cliche it gives some Game of Thrones (tv) vibes. And Rebecca Ross very masterfully crafts a story that allows you to visualize every setting, every detail, and immerse yourself into the story like you're watching it play out in your mind.

I loved Matilda and Vincent, their devotion and their love which had to withstand over decades. The romance aspect was really beautiful and well crafted, but there are also platonic and familial relationships that felt real and profound. There are easter eggs and connections to the original Letters of Enchantment duology which fans of that series will absolutely devour. I think this is a very well done companion novel and worked well as a standalone to allow us to learn more about the gods, the realms, the magic, and their relationship to the mortal world.

I really enjoy Rebecca's writing and I think this book ranks towards the top of her works for me, similar to how I felt reading her Elements of Cadence duology. If you like her previous work, I definitely recommend it, but it is also for anyone who enjoys romantic fantasy that doesn't lean on cliches we often see in romantasy. Thank you to Saturday Books, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

Rebecca Ross just has that beauty with words where her creations suck you in instantly and you feel yourself being transported into her writing. Just the way she writes relationships, love, life and everything in-between in a way that is easy without getting bogged down with extreme world building and the confusion that comes with many other fantasy writers.

This book brought me the same joy as A River Enchanted and Dreams Lie Beneath, you could feel that passion in her writing.

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross was a wonderful book that I took on vacation and hoped to fill some time with. Ha!

I had a five hour plane ride and was enthralled from the moment that I opened the book and didn't look up until we were landing. I sat at the pool pretty much ignoring my family until I finished it and then started re-reading it on the plane ride home. In other words, I loved it!

When Matilda, a goddess who has the gift of delivering letters through realms falls into Vincent's room, the magic is just beginning (in regards to their love story) and I loved watching Vincent go from the hardened man he had turned into because his pleas were ignored into something more.

The author is a wordsmith of the highest order, she weaves a tale that had me literally holding my breath in anticipation of what would happen next to these two.

This was my first book by this author, but definitely won't be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

The herald to the gods and an irreverent mortal - bound together by dreams, war, and love.

When I imagine someone saying, “Tell me a story…”, these are the stories they want told. It was wonderful. A perfect fantasy book. Compelling characters, world-building that is unique but not overly complicated, plot that dashes forward yet slows for a breath when needed.

Often when I read fantasy books, at one point or another, I am like, “Pffft that was silly.” This had absolutely no silliness in it, in the best way. Every detail was so thoughtful, meticulous. No opportunity left unsavored. Pure magic.

I absolutely did cry for basically the whole final act. The tears were worth it.

The biggest thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early copy to review.

I loved this. Ross's writing gets more and more beautiful with everything she publishes. This felt so mature (I see what she meant by this one being new adult but not wildly smutty compared to things she's previously written) and beautiful without being flowery and stuffy.

I loved so many characters — Matilda, BAAAAAAAAADE, Adria — and especially loved getting to see more of Enva. In particular, I adored the way this filled in so many sweet little gaps from the Letters of Enchantment duology. If you've ever wondered how those typewriters came to be, you have just got to read this book (to the very last page!).

The only reason I would "dock" a quarter star from this is that I felt it started a little slow... and... I was not especially attached to Vincent (don't hate me). (SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T READ) I would probably have enjoyed it more if there had been some more bite to the fact that he was mortal and she wasn't. I kept thinking, "She has 14 stars, surely she can give him a bunch of them, and they'll be gods together!" I'm totally good with Ross not going that direction, but the way his mortality isn't really a problem for her in the end felt almost too easy.

But still. Amazing book. Loved getting more of this world. So many stars!

Wow, I couldn't stop reading, I became so invested in the characters and the world-building, and I enjoy faster-paced, action-packed stories. like these so it was right up my alley! And the epilogue, chills! Will be recommending to our readers as well as other Rebecca Ross titles!