Set in the same world as Divine Rivals, this story takes place thousands of years earlier and focuses on the gods, particularly Matilda, the herald of the gods.

It’s a great addition to the world and offers much more depth to the divine lore.

That said, I found Matilda’s character a bit wooden at times and didn’t fully buy into her romance with Vincent.

Overall I enjoyed this though!

I’m not sure where to even start. Rebecca Ross truly has a gift. The worlds she creates are magical and wonderful. Filled with all of the emotions. I loved watching Matilda come into her own. Who she is as a goddess. How sometimes love is worth the pain. The way Vincent and her are together is nothing short of magical.

There’s something about the way she writes that is so engaging. I really enjoyed getting to meet all of the gods and goddesses that were introduced in Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows.

I can already tell this is going to be one those books that I spend my life wishing I could read for the first time again.

I absolutely loved this book. I think it provided greater context to the Divine Rivals duology but can be read as a standalone. I think I may have actually preferred this book more than the Divine Rivals books. I loved the mythology, the twists and turns, and the absolute yearning. I think the characters were better developed which made me truly care about them. Would highly recommend to those who have and have not read the Divine Rivals books.

6 stars.

I'm honestly at a loss for words here. I loved everything about this story- from the puzzling together of information connecting to Divine Rivals, the intricate world and magic system, learning more about the world and the gods and their roles, the attention to detail, the characters- all of it.

A moment of silence for the magic system here ----------- I've never read anything like it before, and I absolutely LOVED it.

This story- Matilda's journey- was not a lighthearted one. It was full of pain, longing, and belonging; from page one up until the end and after. It broke me and healed me simultaneously.

Wild Reverence opened up a door for a multitude of possibilities, and I cannot wait to find out what Rebecca has in store for the Letters of Enchantment world!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!!

I got completely lost in this book and the magical world it’s set in. This book takes place the same world as ‘Divine Rivals’ and is a prequel.

The Divine Rivals books are a great way to dabble in the fantasy genre. While ‘Wild Reverence’ is definitely a step up the ladder with more magic, gods, world creation, etc. I was worried at first by the author provided dictionary at the beginning to explain all the characters and their powers. However, don’t let that dissuade you from continuing on. It’s not hard to follow along as the author does a great job at retelling details throughout the book.

Despite the book being almost 600 pages, I ripped through it. It felt like a complete story of someone’s life from beginning to end and I was not left wanting.

Thank you to #netgalley and #RebeccaRoss for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to rebecca ross & netgalley for an arc of this book. all opinions are my own. ♡

₊˚⊹⋆ first thoughts: opening my romantasy era and excited as heckkkk to get this arc!! pls excuse me as i disappear into this world of dreaming, magic and love!!!

₊˚⊹⋆ final thoughts:

Oh my god! This book was amazing, it was one of my anticipated releases and I was so excited to read it! It was good and fun

It has been quite some time since I read Divine Rivals. It was a book I read so early on in my renewed reading journey that I don't even have a full review posted for it. I remember enjoying it but had no intense desire to immediately read Ruthless Vows. However, after reading Wild Reverence, I will definitely be circling back to finish the duology as it has peaked my interest once again.

I really did enjoy seeing the lush backstory to this world and how everything begins for Divine Rivals. This was a strong standalone story that I would absolutely pick up without even having any knowledge of Divine Rivals.

There were many Gods, Goddesses, and mortals to keep tabs on throughout the story. It was slightly overwhelming at first but everyone ends up flowing together easily with intertwined stories and fates. I had a soft spot for a few Gods in particular and some of the relationships carried heavy weight and emotional impact. Some just made me see red constantly.

I felt that Matilda was such a strong character in so many ways. She was not helpless or naïve. She was intuitive and was actively working around her hardened edges from her life in between the two realms of the Gods. You could tell her heart was aching to be soft and compassionate. Vincent was a strong character in his own way, although I do wish we saw a bit more of him at times. He was a YEARNER though guys....so precious. I just wanted to hug him and his big kind heart. The star crossed lovers hurt so good. I enjoy a little pain and tears with my romance.

Wild Reverence is a beautiful book full of emotion and beautiful prose. I had no desire to put this book down at all - it was one that consumed my thoughts heavily the past few days. The story is emotional and full of longing, love, strength, and betrayal. It also feels realistic in a way that is bittersweet while still carrying the romantic and whimsical feelings of fantasy/mythology.

As usual for an arc review, I won't dive deep into the plot since it will take away some of the mystery and anticipation. I am teetering somewhere between a 4.5 and a 5 because there were some very minor things that stood out that felt open ended but nothing that was glaringly terrible. It was more so....plot areas that felt unfinished or only added for the dramatic flare and then faded away. I'm rounding up to a 5★ for now - I really did love this. I have so many highlights and quotes that stood out that I can't wait to share once I get my final copy. ♡

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Saturday books for the e-arc! As always, all opinions are my own.

Wild Reverence is nothing short of breath taking. Rebecca Ross delivers a masterwork of romantic fantasy, one that feels like it’s carved from starlight and stitched together with dreams. Set centuries before the events of Divine Rivals, this story stands alone beautifully while enriching the lore and emotional weight of the duology in unforgettable ways.

We follow Matilda, a young goddess born between the Underling and Skyward realms, who serves as a divine herald, and Vincent, a mortal boy plagued by nightmares. Their connection begins in dreams and evolves into a love that defies the boundaries between gods and men, mortality and eternity. Their bond, tender, aching, and deeply earned, is the beating heart of this sweeping story.

Ross’s writing is pure magic. Every line feels intentional, every sentence soaked in longing and lyricism. The pacing is gentle at first, allowing us to grow with Matilda, understand the divine hierarchies, and immerse ourselves in the celestial magic system. Then, like fate quickening, the story takes off, layering suspense, romance, and heartbreak until the final, jaw-dropping act.

While the romance between Matilda and Vincent is deeply moving, it’s the entire emotional tapestry, rivalries, divine politics, found family, and quiet moments of grace—that left me completely undone. Bade, the god of war, stole my heart in unexpected ways, and the relationships threaded through this story, from mentorship to sibling bonds, added depth and resonance.

And the epilogue? Goosebumps. An absolutely brilliant payoff for fans of Divine Rivals, without ever relying on nostalgia to make the story sing. You could read this book first or last, and either way, it will break your heart in the most beautiful way.

This is Rebecca Ross at her peak: a story for the dreamers, the romantics, and anyone who’s ever wondered what it means to love something, or someone, you were never meant to keep.

Truly unforgettable.

This book is lyrical and immersive. The story felt both epic and intimate, full of longing, quiet strength, and that slow-building magic Rebecca Ross does so well. I loved the depth of the characters and the way the romance unfolded with such care and tension. It’s the kind of book that lingers, softly powerful, emotionally rich, and absolutely beautiful.

I went into this book blind, other than having read (and loved) Rebecca Ross’ other books. I really enjoyed this! The politics and dynamics between the gods and different realms were very interesting and unique and the writing was beautiful, Rebecca Ross always creates such dreamy, atmospheric settings in her books. The only reason I didn’t rate this 5 stars was that I felt it lagged a bit in some places, but I was never left feeling bored or uninterested in what happened next. Overall this was a beautiful love story with lots of mystery, magic, and intrigue.

Wild Reverence releases September 2nd! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Saturday Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’m honestly at a loss for words in the best way possible - Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross completely swept me away. This story, set years before Divine Rivals, feels like the mythic origin tale you never knew you needed. It's a luminous, aching love story woven into a celestial, brutal world of gods, war, and fate and I adored every second of it.

Matilda, the youngest goddess of her under realm, is utterly captivating. Her magic may seem humble, she carries words and messages, but her heart, her resilience, and the secrets she carries are anything but small. And Vincent, a mortal lord, irreverent and rough-edged, who once dreamed of a goddess on the darkest night of his life. Their love story is soft and slow, but burns with a quiet intensity. It’s one of those rare romances that feels cosmic, not just beautiful, but fated.

Rebecca Ross’s prose is, as always, exquisite, lush, lyrical, and alive with emotion. The world-building is absolutely stunning: divines born of stars, power measured in constellations, and magic that feels like it was plucked from the heart of a myth. I was enchanted by this celestial system, and even more so by the emotional depth it carried.

What makes Wild Reverence so powerful is how it embodies the divine and the human: the cruelty of gods, the tenderness of love, and the courage it takes to choose vulnerability in a world built on fear. There were lines that made me pause, reread, and feel my heart crack open. I definitely teared up more than once.

The subtle ties to Divine Rivals only deepened my love for this book. It's such a rich, resonant addition to the universe, epic and intimate all at once.

If you love stories that feel like they’ve been whispered down through time, that blend myth and magic with raw, human emotion, this is the book for you. Rebecca Ross has given us something divine.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Saturday Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow. I was completely and utterly blown away by this book. I wasn't fully sure what to expect going into it as it's been a long time since I read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, but whatever expectations I had were surpassed times ten. I loved this book so so much, probably one of my top reads of the year so far.

First off the writing was phenomenal. It felt very atmospheric and just completely perfect for the world and characters. None of the dialogue felt clunky or basic, it was all woven together so perfectly that I was hooked from the very beginning. I'm not normally a big annotator, but there was so much amazing dialogue and great quotes that I was constantly highlighting.

I loved that right away you jump into the politics of the Divine courts and the world building. I didn't remember much about the Divine from Divine Rivals, but that was totally fine as it's very different and everything is set up so well that you don't need any previous knowledge from DR to understand and fall in love with the world. There was also much more magic in this as opposed to DR & RV which I loved way more as I always felt they were a bit lacking in the magic aspect. I just loved how the world was fleshed out so well and so beautifully.

Then you meet Matilda. And I loved her from the very beginning. Her development throughout the book was incredible and I loved watching her grow over the years. I don't want to get into any spoilers, but her arc was fantastic and I just loved it and loved her so much. I also felt like every character was very memorable and all had their own fun personality traits. I sometimes struggle to remember names but I had no issues with remembering any names because they all stood out to me as individuals, even the minor characters.

Now the romance? Phenomenal. I was kicking my feet and SQUEALING at some of the lines between Vincent and Matilda. I absolutely adore them and I don't know if I'll ever get over how adorable and perfect they are. Just read it, trust me. It's so incredibly worth it JUST for them. But the rest is amazing too.

There was also never a dull moment in the plot for me. I was completely hooked from the very first page to the very last. I did not want to put this down. The pacing is great, and everything is wrapped up perfectly at the end. I loved when little moments from earlier came around to either haunt or help the characters later in the book.

Overall, I am just blown away. I really wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I do but wow I think I need to go and preorder every physical edition I can get my hands on that's how much I loved it. Absolutely amazing, a perfect 5 stars and definitely one of my top reads of 2025.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I tell you I TORE through Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows...they were some of my favorite fantasy I have ever read. You can imagine my shock when 1) I learned we were getting a "prequel" and 2) I GOT APPROVED FOR THE ARC!!!!!!

This book is SO good. I have to shoot Rebecca Ross up to the top of my list of favorite auto-read authors because the way she writes her characters and tells their stories is just amazing. She makes magical elements feel so REAL. It's impressive to me how relatable these stories can remain to the reader in the midst of gods, wars, and all of the magical mystique in between. Ross has given us another sweeping love story that is compulsively readable and will leave you with all of the feelings you want in finishing a beautiful story. I could read another 10 books in this universe.

BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL!!!! This is one I hugged to my chest after finishing it. I already want to read it again. Honestly, I wish i could give this infinite stars, but I’ll settle for five. This book consumed me. If i had to compare to other comps, it most reminded me of Madeline Miller’s Circe. Which happens to be one of my favorite books of all time. Wild Reverence has officially joined that list. Easily in my top 3 of the year. I EXPECTED NOTHING LESS FROM MISS ROSS.

Spoiler free review:

Wild Reverence is a story of gods, but mainly one god in particular: Matilda AKA Red. While we see glimpses of other gods from the Divine Rivals books, this stands all on its own. I loved that. I did NOT want another repeat of Divine Rivals (which I loved). I wanted something completely fresh and new. Rebecca DELIVERED. Yes, there were references (I’m talking about the epilogue!) that tied everything together, but this was Its own story, which is exactly what it deserved to be. These gods felt like they could be just as real as the Greek gods from our own world, which is something I appreciated most out of this story. Rebecca gave the world of Divine Rivals such a deep mythology. The world building was excellent!

Side note: I want a short story for Bade!!! Please please pleaseeee!!

Now, on to the story itself. The prose for this sweeping tale was beautiful and emotional. Yes, I definitely cried. Matilda and Vincent are star crossed lovers with a tale for the ages. I’m SO EMOTIONAL after finishing. While it is a romance, we get so much more! We get war, betrayal, and political intrigue. Matilda’s story starts at birth, as all god stories should. We see her life. We see how her relationship with Vincent grows and changes. It’s a story that spans decades. A story filled with happiness and pain, laughter and tears. Hardships and soft moments. I loved watching Matilda grow into herself, into her strength. I loved watching her face difficulties and tragedy because it made her triumphs so much more worth it.

This is a book that will stick with me for years to come.

Screaming crying shaking throwing up because somehow I got accepted to read this masterpiece and I could cry for YEARS. Thank you so much to. Netgalley for making this possible, I had an absolute blast reading this. Rebecca Ross never disappoints and this was not an exception. The story was so immersive, and I found myself getting lost into the world so easily. I loved Matilda and her strenght, as well as the other complex characters that made Wild Reverence possible. Absolutely incredible.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early electronic copy of this book.

I went into this blind so I was so excited to see that it was set in the same world as Divine Rivals. Seeing a glimpse of what happened before DR/RV was so entertaining to me. This book had very similar vibes without being a repeat of the same story and I enjoyed learning more about the gods and goddesses since so much of DR was a human POV.

The world building stood on it's own and no one needed to have read Divine Rivals or Ruthless Vows first to appreciate the story, although I felt like it made it all the more rich having a background knowledge in the world. I certainly appreciated when certain Easter Eggs were dropped that tied into DR.

In my opinion, I wanted maybe one more scene between Vincent and Matilda to really feel that longing as deeply as I did in DR and for that I subtracted some points, however I thought the story and overall message was so well done. There's a part of me that hopes Rebecca Ross stays in this world longer so we can learn more about the immortals because they are so fascinating.

Overall, this was a lovely read and I highly recommend.

Simply outstanding. A lush, deeply atmospheric love story that I couldn't put down! I adore everything about this story.

I enjoyed this beautiful, moody, tender story very much.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the advanced reader copy.

The first book I read by Rebecca Ross was Divine Rivals, and it instantly became my favorite. But Wild Reverence has now taken its place. Whimsical, heartwarming, and beautifully written, it’s a story that completely captivated me. The plot twists are masterfully timed, you’ll find yourself stunned in the best way. I’m not ready to part with Matilda; I need more of her story. The epilogue felt like a hidden treasure, an unexpected gift. I devoured this book in under 24 hours because I simply couldn’t put it down. For anyone who loves a truly unforgettable tale, this is an absolute must-read.