Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross was a great addition to the Divine Rivals universe. I love a book devoted to the Gods and their magic. This was a fast read that kept me hooked the entire time. The world building was phenomenal and the characters were well-written. Rebecca Ross is a wonder at writing fantasy and specifically Romantasy. This book was a beautiful story and would be great for any fan of the Divine Rivals series.

This entry into the Divine Rivals universe was very inconstant but ultimately I was glad I stuck with it. The POV from the gods this time was interesting though once again they might as well have been mortals with the usual foibles.

Story: Matilda is born of the goddess of Winter and an unknown father god. She soon learns she is to be a herald, shuttling messages between the realms. As she grows up, she becomes embroiled in the political machinations of her powerful relatives. Can she survive without being murdered and her power stolen? And why does she continually dream about a mortal boy?

There are two POVs here: young goddess Matilda and noble-born third son Vincent. Vincent is dealing with betrayal and politics on the mortal realm while Matilda is forever dancing around divine politics. Both worlds will intertwine thanks to the machinations of powerful people in both the mortal and divine realms.

As a character, Matilda could be frustrating to read. I believe the author wanted to give her some naivete suitable to her youth to provide character growth opportunities later. But at times the character was so frustrating and the deus ex machina (no pun intended) of the plot felt heavy handed and unrealistic, making her even less likable. Several times, I was seriously considering giving up and moving on, most because of how annoying Matilda was (or the situations the author choses to put her in just to further the romance plot). Vincent was a bit of a cipher - very earnest and perhaps a bit too 'good'. But that positive idealism is a hallmark of atuhor Ross' characters.

The plot was slow until finally at the end it was very exciting and had me riveted. I was glad I stayed with it until the end, a rarity situation in most books today that too often do not reward patience. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

I love the Divine Rivals books and the world building and magic atmosphere in those, so I was so excited when I heard Rebecca Ross was writing a book in the same universe involving the gods and mythology that connected to the duology.

The thing Rebecca Ross does so well for me is create such fascinating worlds and lore, and make me care about the characters. I was sobbing, I was fuming, I was absolutely absorbed in this book from chapter 1. The characters were so vivid and truly came alive on the page. Mathilda and Vincent's love story was such a beautiful tale of star-crossed lovers. This story gorgeously tells us that some things are worth fighting for and that even if something cannot last forever, the time you have with it can be joyful and special. I also loved how this story wove together and other myths and love stories were mixed into to this book. Ultimately, I think everything was masterfully written and everything was exactly how it needed to be to tell this story.

On to spoilers:
<spoiler>I just need to hear from my fellow Warin haters real quick because the SECOND I saw that man on the page, it was on sight.
When Mathilda called Bade father I was sobbing my heart out!
Bade's love story and the softening of his heart was one of the best things about this book in my opinion. The toxically stoic masculinity breaking down because of his love for Adria and Mathilda was so wonderful
Mathilda being the herald of souls and the extra constellations was such an interesting direction I was not expecting
Adria's powers to tie the other god's powers to them was such a cool addition </spoiler>

I cannot recommend this book enough! 5 stars! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

4.5/5 ⭐️

I absolutely devoured this book. I loved it!

Matilda is a goddess that was born from both a god of the sky and a goddess of the underworld. This does not normally happen. She is a messenger that can take notes through any of the realms. Vincent is a boy who dreams of a girl with wild red hair, and she saves him from his nightmares.

I loved getting to see Matilda as a child and watch how she had to grow up to survive in a place where gods kill each other for power. Her relationship with Bade is everything to me. It was also really cool to see how her and Vincent knew of each other as children and how they needed each other throughout their lives.

The reason that this is a 4.5 is because I wish we saw a little bit more of Matilda and Vincent actually being around each other.

I liked seeing how this tied into the Letters of Enchantment series and now I want to reread Divine Rivals!!

Thank you Rebecca, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my thoughts & review.

4.5 great read, very interesting. I enjoyed this book and this insight to the gods and how they influence humans.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this eARC.

In #WildReverence we find ourselves transported back into the realms of the Skywards and Underlings from #RebeccaRoss's amazing duology #TheDivineRivals! In no way do you have to read #DivineRivals first but I must say it was pretty great to read all the nods to #DivineRivals.

We learn all about the Gods and their constellations how their magic can be borrowed and stolen. We meet Dacre Lord of the Underrealm and Enva the Goddess of music. We also meet Matilda who is born of both Skyward and Underling heritage. She is something that the Gods and Goddess's don't care for but her magic makes her a Herald for the Gods able to travel between all three realms.

We also meet Vincent a young boy who finds friendship with a young girl from in his dreams he calls Red. Matilda (Red) and Vincent find themselves together more often than not in dreams. Eventually though one of Vincent's nightmares becomes all too read for Matilda and she flees his dreams and that is the day that her life changes forever. She finds herself fleeing Skyward to seek shelter with the God she has never met, who's name she doesn't know but who's blood runs through her. She spends many years in the Skyward realm unable to leave it. Until one day it changes and she finds herself in the Under realm once more.

Matilda's magic has become something wholly unexpected and coveted by the other Gods. She finds herself with Vincent once again but after believing that she abandoned him he no longer holds reverence for the Gods. Fate however has more in store for the two of them and they find themselves facing horrible odds.

I adored #WildReverence by #RebeccaRoss!!!!! I laughed, cried, yelled. I felt all the emotions and when the book was over felt a keen sense of loss.
I want to thank #Netgalley and #St.MartinsPress and #SaturdayBooks for the chance to read an eArc off #WildReverence by #RebeccaRoss in return for a fair and honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.25 stars

I am so bummed about this one.

I think if someone comes into this book without having read Divine Rivals, this would be mostly enjoyable. But coming in with the same expectations of that duology was a mistake for me. That story was so beautiful, so emotional, and this didn't really make me feeling anything.

The writing is still good, but where was the development? The relationship between the two characters is almost nonexistent for a good portion of the story, and there was nowhere near enough time for them to develop along with everything else that was happening. And both of the characters fell flat for me. No real depth, no real emotion showing throughout this story.

I will say the last 20% or so was really good and I finally felt the desire to keep picking this back up, but this book pales in comparison to DR ☹️

Absolutely beautiful book! Matilda is a goddess, and Vincent is a mortal man. The longing and love between these two is truly what drives this book for me. Rebecca Ross's writing creates these realms full of stories. If you enjoyed Divine Rivals and the letters between Roman and Iris, you will love this book.

Wild Reverence is everything I could've ever wanted and more from a romantasy novel! Rebecca Ross's writing is unmatched and on par with some of my other favorite romantasy authors--lush worldbuilding, unforgettable characters, and a romance that tugs at your heart. Matilda's quiet strength and Vincent's complexity made their story feel deeply personal, while the act-like structure gave the plot a natural rhythm and intensity. A sweeping, emotional romantasy that stands beautifully on its own while expanding an already beloved world by many. This was my first time reading a work by Rebecca Ross and I am hooked! I will definitely be reading other series by her in the future. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to review this amazing book!

I knew this book was going to be in the same realm as the Divine Rivals (Enchanted Letters series), though I didn't quite know what to expect. This takes place before Iris sat at her typewriter for the first time and before Enva sang her song.

Despite having read through these worlds before, the world building still took a bit for me to get a feel of. That said, I found myself getting sucked in deeper and deeper and feeling invested in the characters. We meet Matilda, a young goddess, who is able to wander dreams. She finds herself meeting a young Vincent in his dreams and they form a friendship. Then she stops appearing in Vincent's dreams and he gives up hope of ever seeing her again. This book is intricate in details, there are many threads being weaved on this loom of life. Matilda finds herself balancing between the underworld, the skyworld and the mortal realm and she can't seem to find her place.

The romance part of this romantasy is so good. It's been a little while where I've felt the butterfly feels while reading. I really enjoyed Divine Rivals so I appreciated where I could connect information from this book to the other two and then very end just made me want to go back and read all of these books again.

4.5⭐ (rounding up)

Tropes:
-Romantasy
-Slow burn🔥🔥🔥
-He Falls First
-Star-Crossed
-Fake Marriage
-I'll Wait for You

Wild Revenence
By Rebecca Ross
Format: eARC
Rating: 5/5⭐️

Lord have mercy. Rebecca Ross books are so *fraught.* She really puts her characters through hell, and this tender-hearted reader can hardly take it.

Ross knows her way around plot, which, to me, is always the crown jewel of her novels. She effectively moves her stories along, and Wild Reverence is no exception. I was breathless from the start, and the pace didn’t let up.

The book is encased within the loose structure of a play, an interesting framing device that firmly sets us back as an audience watching the increasingly madcap events unfold. The magic system is interesting, with the gods’ class system based upon how many star points are present in the constellation of their birth. Power can be amassed or stolen—and thus the stars changed—by killing other gods’ and thereby taking on their specific powers as their own.

Wild Reverence is a chunk of a book (544 pages), and there are so, so many balls in the air. From the beginning, the book has the momentum of a boulder hurtling downhill at such speed you know there’s going to be an explosive and devastating ending. At no point was I assured that a happily ever after was even achievable. We watch our intrepid FMC Matilda gather a satchel full of favors to be called in and warnings hanging overhead and plot points outstanding and callbacks waiting to come back and cut like an eithral scale at inopportune moments. The effect would manic and disjointed in the hands of a less capable author. But with Ross, each element is synchronized to perfection. (Although it was absolute hell on this reader’s nerves.)

I was particularly invested in the themes around unchosen family who are committed to hurting, using, and betraying vs. the unplanned, precious connections forged in loyalty and love. And the difficulty in accepting that love.

Although I will freely admit I was ready to move beyond the world of Divine Rivals, this story was…adjacent, but separate, let’s say, and stood entirely upon its own merit. In truth, I enjoyed this significantly more than the Letters of Enchantment duology.

Five stars.

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

Thank you so much Rebecca Ross & St. Martin’s Press/Saturday Books for the advanced digital copy of Wild Reverence in exchange for my honest review!!

4.5 stars rounding up!

and WOW! a beautiful standalone set in the same realm as the Letters of Enchantment series - it is public knowledge (and VERY known among my friends) how much I loved Divine Rivals & Rebecca Ross's writing generally so I was extremely excited to get into this. and it did not disappoint! honestly this book could be very easily read before diving into Divine Rivals - it exists as a standalone but provides so much rich context and exposition on the realm and magic system that these novels exist in.

my raves:
obviously this book is beautifully written. there's a lot of wonderful prose, especially how it relates to the gods and goddesses and their realms. the imagery is vivid and ross does a wonderful job outlining the character's motivations, drivers, and making it clear to the reader the differences between gods and mortals not just through their magic but through their character as well.

for whatever reason (user error) i assumed this would be part of a series so it should be noted that is a standalone and does have the pacing of a standalone! it's long but doesn't drag and the pacing overall is well done.

i love love loved the characters especially matilda (our fmc), vincent (our mmc) and BADE!

i also love the overall structure of the story telling especially in the context of the gatekeeper. i won't go into too much detail on my thoughts on the ending to avoid spoilers, but i will say that i loved it and it felt so earned.

my nitpicks:
and this is SUCH a minor nitpick in the grand scheme of things - all i wish is that we had more time showing matilda and vincent's interactions growing up. we can easily understand how vincent's dependence on matilda happens and how his bond to her is created but we don't get as much the other way. i wish they had spent more time together in reality prior to the later half of the book. to me it felt a little rushed and one-sided, though i still enjoyed it!

lastly, some of the "rules" of the magic system felt rushed in being introduced, especially when it came to new magic or new gods/goddesses. thankfully this wasn't something that took me out of the story, but did have me tilting my head.

to end!
overall, a wonderfully poetic story about love against all odds told in the backdrop of war amongst the divine, amongst man, & a lesson on how we choose our own outcomes. & we yearn!

This book hooked me from the beginning, and while it may start slow, it continues to steadily reel you in until the very end. Everything from the world building, the character development, the plot, and the relationships is not only well written, but is clearly written with love and thoughtfulness. Rebecca Ross again delivers a love story that transcends time, distance, the whims of gods, life, and death. I truly enjoyed every moment of this book.

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

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Summary / Initial Thoughts:
Wild Reverence drew me in right away with its beautiful cover and familiar setting. Taking place in the same world as Divine Rivals, I was excited to see if and how the stories would connect.

Writing & Pacing:
 Rebecca Ross’ writing style is one of my favorite aspects of her books. It is descriptive without being overly so, which makes it engaging and easy to follow. At times, the pacing felt a little too fast, but overall I was invested and entertained throughout the story.

Characters: 
I appreciated the introduction of new characters as well as the added depth given to characters from Divine Rivals and how their stories connect. I especially liked that the book began with Matilda and Vincent as children before showing their reconnection later in life. That said, their relationship didn’t always feel natural or gradual. On the other hand, Matilda and Bade’s connection was one of my favorites.

Enjoyment / Overall Impression:
 Overall, I really enjoyed Wild Reverence. For readers who loved the world of Divine Rivals, this book provides a fresh perspective while still carrying some of the same war themes.


Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of Wild Reverence in exchange for my honest review.

This book is set in the same world as Divine Rivals and serves as sort of a prequel. You do not have to read the duology before reading this book (I didn't, though I probably will now). Also, there is like twoish sex scenes in this book that aren't quite close door but are very tame. This isn't something I would classify as a spicy book.

This book made me feel things in the best way. I liked the slow burn nature of the relationship of Matilda and Vincent. I also loved the way this book weaved parts of familiar Greek myths into the stories of the Gods and Goddesses. There are the Underlings with their matriarch Death and the Skywards with their matriarch Fate. I also loved that when the Gods are born their horoscope and corresponding constellation determines their magic and power. Stealing or gaining stars also earns them more power. I loved learning about the magic system and the Parthenon of deities.

This book is a dual POV book between Matildia and Vincent. Matilda is born as the daughter of an Underling and Skyward, a forbidden union. A she grows and learns more about her powers, she also learns of a mortal boy who dreams of her. Vincent is the third son of a Lord in the mortal realm who starts dreaming of Matilda when they're both about 9 years old. Their story spans a moral lifetime, and I honestly had a hard time putting this book down. My one complaint is I felt like the ending was rushed. Several storylines all wrap up together at the same time and it felt too much like someone snapped their fingers and fixed everything. Otherwise, this was a pretty perfect read for me.

The overall plot is about learning to trust and love after spending your whole life thinking love is a weakness. Matilda and Vincent both have to shed prejudices and alter their worldviews in order to make their partnership work. The growth of the characters felt real, like you were reading about real people and how they change. I liked that their relationship wasn't perfect and though Matilda was powerful, so wasn't like the chosen one who can end all tyranny. I actually wish a little more time was spent on Matilda exploring herself and her power. We see her really come into her own and she is very young compared to the other deities, but I would have liked a little more of her learning her power and what it could do.

Wild Reverence has inspired me to pick up Divine Rivals and honestly Rebecca Ross might become an auto buy author.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Saturday Books for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

5 Stars

Wow, what a beautifully written story. Rebecca’s words read so lyrically and poetically. Wild Reverence is will put you through so many emotions. It will break your heart and put it back together many times. The ride of emotions is worth it in the end.

Matilda is one of my favorite FMCs. She’s so strong, independent, selfless and goes against the grain. She’s doesn’t care how she is perceived. Vincent is the most perfect man for Matilda. He truly understands who and what she is. The love and patience he has is refreshing. The fact he waited for her, just broke yet healed my heart. If soulmates are real, then Vincent and Matilda are a perfect example.

Bade was my favorite side character. No one can top him. His relationship with Matilda was so heartwarming. So unexpected from the gods/goddesses but that only made it more special and endearing.

Besides Bade, you have great side characters like Nathaniel and Enva. Plus the perfect villains. This book has everything you would need in a fantasy book. Do yourself a favor and read this book!!

In Wild Reverence, set in the same realm as Divine Rivals, we meet Matilda, a goddess who is blessed with humble messenger magic. (something about Ross and magical forms of communication just work so well 😉)
Then you have Vincent of Beckett, a mortal lord who once begged this goddess for help in his dreams. A friendship grew between them through their unique circumstances until Matilda vanished one day. Years later, Matilda literally tumbles back into his life, not just his dreams. Their fates intertwine beyond dreams, mixing mortality with the divine.

This story is lyrical, immersive, and filled with the kind of aching beauty Rebecca Ross does so well. From the very first chapter, I felt pulled into a story about gods, mortals, and the power of connection. The familiar tug of the Divine Rivals world was comforting. If you loved Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows like I did (God teir), this prequel carries that same magic. It feels like a love letter to her fans while also expanding this intriguing world in new ways.

What stood out to me most was the way Ross balances tenderness with tension. There’s an intimacy here, not just between the characters but in the way the story itself feels natural. Ross did excellent world building and character relationships. I loved getting to know more about the divine and their realms through the eyes of Matilda.

I can’t give much away because I think it's best going into this with a little information as possible... but you will not be disappointed. It definitely lives up to the hype.

I received an ARC for an honest review--- honestly this book deserves 6 stars 🌟

This story is incredible. The resilience that Matilda and Vincent show throughout pulled at my heartstrings from beginning to end.

Their yearning and willingness to hold onto what's important to them was beautiful and everything I was looking for in a Divine Rivals prequel.

This is a perfectly executed dual POV and gave so much background and insight to the gods. Absolutely loved it.

Rebecca Ross has such a magical way of writing that I will happily devour anything she puts out. Her style is always moody, vivid, and atmospheric in a way that makes it impossible not to get swept up in the story. Because of that, if she writes it, I will read it. Which is exactly why I dove into Wild Reverence.

What I didn’t realize at first is that this story is connected to the Letters of Enchantment duology. It has been a while since I read those books, so names like Enva and Dacre didn’t click for me until the epilogue. When I got there, my jaw absolutely dropped. To me, that just goes to show how invested I was in the new characters and their journeys.

As far as plot, this book didn’t really have a clear “this is the conflict” and “this is the resolution.” I found myself in the first half asking a lot of questions about the characters and their motivations. On the flip side, I really enjoyed the exploration of the three distinct realms and how Matilda is tied to each one but doesn’t truly belong to any of them. It added so much richness to the world, even if it slowed the pacing a little in places.

Once I hit the 70% mark, though, I was hooked. I could not put the book down. The characters, their relationships, and the way the magic wove through everything completely captured me.

If you loved the Letters of Enchantment duology, you are going to eat this up. It has everything that makes Rebecca Ross so special—lush writing, layered worlds, and characters you can’t help but root for.

5/5 Stars

“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 almost feel speechless writing this review. The imagery was stunning, the world building was flawless, and the love story was timeless.

It was a book I wanted to savor, not rush. We get to experience our main character, Matilda a new Goddess, grow and change, finding her place in both the mortal and Divine realms.

The book explodes with magic and lush, atmospheric prose. It doesn’t miss a beat and the pacing is phenomenal.

It’s a beautiful standalone about immortality, mortal consequences, and that no matter who or what you are, love can conquer all.