Rebecca Ross is one author that I will never underestimate. I am completely and utterly in love with this book. Wild Reverence incompetence is the idea of a romantic fantasy novel so many whimsical touches and so many moments that are going to pull at your heart string. This is such an amazing read that made me realize why I love this genre and why I love reading.

I just shut this book and I’m already nostalgic for that feeling to have read it over again for the first time.

This book has everything I’ve been wanting lately. A unique magic system, just as Divine Rivals, that takes you by surprise with the mortals vs divine.

Matilda is everything I wanted in a heroine. Vincent is the ever so supportive and protective husband he can be. I love them together and I hurt when they were apart. I loved their love.

The epilogue took me by surprise but rounds out the story perfectly. I think I need to go back and read Divine Rivals.

This review is pretty tame considering I wanted to scream at some points (both out of happiness and anger) but I think I’m hungover from this story. I loved it so much. A reread is in my future for sure.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press for providing me with the opportunity to review the ARC of Wild Reverence! I have not read Divine Rivals or Ruthless Vows yet, but now I'm absolutely adding them to my TBR!
This was my first Rebecca Ross book and I was floored with how good it is and with her enchanting writing style. This book was exactly what I was wanting but didn't know I needed in my life. Rebecca's writing and transitions are so smooth and the words flow beautifully from one page to another. I felt like I was in the life of Matilda and Vincent. "There is nothing more devastating to a god than to lose their power and immortality, for their name forgotten and blotted out in disgrace." "I willed those stars to always burn because I could note bear to imagine them every going dark." I wish I could list all my favorite quotes, but then this review would be way too long!
I love that this was dual POV! It is always nice to see what each character is thinking and experiencing. I think this writing style allows the reader to develop a strong connection to each character. This was certainly true for me. I love their story so much and I was sad when I finished the book because it was so well written.
This book is a slow burn romance that contains mythical beings/gods with magical elements.
"I can not pretend with you any longer. I love you. I have loved you for a long time." When this line was said, I literally squealed. My heart was so full by this point that I could not contain myself. I just love them so much! I swear anytime I read something so well written my husband ends up thinking something is wrong with me because I get so immersed into the story.
I would highly recommend this book! I did not feel like I was missing out on any content from not reading the other two books first. I hope everyone falls in love with this story just as much as I did!!!

Good Gods, I know it’s only August but Wild Reverence is without a doubt a concrete top 3 books of the year for me. It was absolutely beautiful and heart wrenching.

Rebecca Ross is a phenomenal writer, melodic with her words, and it’s equally present with this novel. While it takes place in the same world as Divine Rivals and we witness some of the Gods mentioned in DR, they are not the focus of Wild Reverence.

Matilda, a young goddess, falls in love with a mortal boy and though their future feels constantly doomed as Matilda navigates the perils and treachery of the Underlings and Skywards while Vincent continues to uphold his own virtues through a family member’s deception, their threads continue to intertwine.

Ross writes the Gods as being both vicious and ethereal which makes nearly every page high stakes. I could not put this book down.

Thank you Saturday Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book ♥️ It was devoured and loved.

I love Rebecca's beautifully descriptive writing. Wild Reverence kept me engaged from the first page. The love in this was top tier, and I know that this is a story that will stick with me for a long, long time. (and I really liked the tie-ins and epilogue after previously reading The Letters of Enchantment duology).

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for this eARC.

This was a lyrically beautiful story. Your heart ached for Matilda and Vincent. If you have read "Divine Rivals" and "Ruthless Vows", you will definitely enjoy this in depth story of how a god came to be.
This story felt similar to DR/RV, but had its own unique twist. I did feel like the beginning dragged for a little bit, and I wasn't fully invested in the story until about 70%, but it was really well written and full of the lore of gods.
You get insight into certain gods and the gruesome world they live in. You grow up with Matilda and ache for her journey.

This is a standalone prequel to DR/RV, but you do not need to have read it to enjoy "Wild Reverence."

This left me wanting more of this world and more of Matilda and Vincent. This has a unique magic and gods system that does take some time to gut used to, but once you get there, the story is truly wonderful.

Posted on Goodreads on 8/14/25- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7544508725

I loved this book! I was a fan of Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, and dare I say…this one may be my new favorite?! Emotional and full of suspense—a fantasy read of a goddess who falls for a mortal. It is as breathtaking as it is heart-pounding. Beautiful prose, high stakes, and a love story to be envious of. This should definitely be on your TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Wild Reverence is the mythology-inspired prequel to the wildly popular Divine Rivals duology.

Just as with Divine Rivals and its sequel, Ruthless Vows, this upcoming release is beautifully crafted. The author's lyrical writing creates an immersive world for readers, and her characters demonstrate emotional depth and vulnerability. The story is gorgeously romantic, but also adventurous and mysterious.

To top it all off, there is a stunningly perfect epilogue that shows how this book directly ties into the Divine Rivals series.

This is the fifth book I’ve read by Rebecca Ross, and I love the way that her stories feel at once whimsical and significant. The characters and lore are well thought out and interesting, with more depth than you expect given that the book isn’t a whole length saga. Whereas I didn’t fully take to the romance, I did take to the character of Matilda. She was strong and soft and managed to carve a path in the world that tried to crush her and make her small. I was drawn to her persistence and resilience, as well as her ability to find and build a family of her own.

4.5⭐️ (posted on The StoryGraph, rounded up on NetGalley)

Damnit Rebecca Ross you did it again 😭 just take my heart and rip it into pieces.

It felt like pulling on a favorite hoodie being dropped back into this world. Rebecca’s writing instantly transports you this world of gods/divines. There were so many things I wanted to know in Divine Rivals/Ruthless Vows that just weren’t explained. Wild Reverence fills all those gaps. It was a beautiful tie in.

You do not need to read the Letters of Enchantment duology to understand what’s going on (but would still strongly recommend, they’re awesome). This book stood strongly on its own with its own story. It does start off a bit slowly, but Rebecca is truly a master of beautiful endings.

Beautiful story, fantastic writing - loved it!

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/1e148040-ef6b-4cd1-b425-ec626895c3d9

I absolutely adored this book! Wild Reverence is magical, heartfelt, and immersive, making it the perfect prequel to Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows.

Rebecca Ross balances sweeping plotlines with deeply personal emotion. The relationships, whether romantic, platonic, or adversarial, are layered and compelling. I was just as invested in the quiet moments of connection as in the high stakes turning points.

Matilda and Vincent completely stole my heart. Matilda, a young goddess, exudes quiet strength and determination, while Vincent, a mortal, captivates with sharp wit and guarded charm. Their paths intertwine with tension and tenderness that leave your heart aching for every unspoken moment between them.

Thank you Rebecca Ross, St. Martin’s Press, Saturday Books, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is September 2, 2025!

4.75/5🌟
1.5🌶️
Release date: Sept 2🎉

I adore this book! I cannot wait for everyone to read it.

I had worried for a long time that I've simply fallen out of love with romantasy as a genre but Ross has reminded me why it will always have a special place in my heart .

(This is a standalone prequel to the Divine Rivals duology but you do not need to have read it to enjoy Wild Reverence.)

➕
- The story follows Matilda, a goddess born from a union of rival divine clans, the Skywards and the Underlings. She is blessed with humble magic but Fate and Death has much planned for her.
- Rebecca Ross's writing is effortlessly immersive and lyrical. The magical world she weaves feels real and enchanting.
- Vincent and Matilda 🥺. I love them so much. The longing. The yearning. The care. The letters! That ending is perfection.
- Bade left such a stunning impression on me. I love his whole arc. That scene with Matilda near the end killed me.
- It was so fun to see Easter eggs for the Letters of Enchantment duology.

➖
- I'm greedy! I wanted more of Vincent and Matilda, specifically I wanted to experience first hand one of their happier dreams when they were young.

Another beautiful book! I love Rebecca Ross from Divine Rivals and A River Enchanted so this one was no different! I adored the characters and the new layer of detail to the world Ross has added to her world. The writing amazing and I found the elements of the world-building fairly easy to follow despite the intricacies.

Reading *Wild Reverence* by Rebecca Ross felt like stepping into a myth wrapped in starlight, lush, dangerous, and achingly romantic. From the first pages, Matilda’s world of treacherous gods and fragile alliances bursts to life, filled with both grandeur and menace. As the youngest goddess in a realm where survival often means betrayal, her story is threaded with vulnerability beneath the surface of her quiet strength. I was captivated not just by the richness of the under realm, but by the tenderness of her secret connection to Vincent, a mortal whose dreams once reached her when he needed hope most.
What made the book unforgettable was the collision of their two paths, dream and reality entwining into a bond that felt destined yet fragile. Vincent’s hardened exterior, built from heartbreak and loss, plays beautifully against Matilda’s cautious bravery, and watching them slowly learn to trust one another was as poignant as it was thrilling. Ross weaves together high-stakes divine politics, hauntingly beautiful magic, and a romance that feels both timeless and urgent. *Wild Reverence* is a story about love’s power to challenge even the most ruthless of gods, and about the courage it takes to be seen completely. It left me spellbound, carrying the kind of reverence that lingers long after the last page.

3 stars

Thank you @NetGalley for this ARC!

Firstly, I adored Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows—Rebecca Ross completely swept me away with those stories. So when I heard she was writing Wild Reverence, I was thrilled to dive back into this world. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t land for me.

The plot felt forced, and I struggled to connect with the characters or the stakes in the same way as before. While the writing was still beautiful (Ross’s prose is always a highlight), the magic just wasn’t there for me this time.

I know many readers will still love returning to this universe, but personally, it fell short of the magic I was hoping for.

WOW!!!!! This story was incredible. Rebecca Ross never misses. I LOVED the way it connected with divine rivals and getting the background of the characters. The magic and world building was chefs freaking kiss. I felt so lucky to have received an e arc of this one, BEAUTIFUL story that kept me awake reading for 3 nights.

Will update with social media links soon

I absolutely loved the original two Letters of Enchantment books, so I was delighted to receive an early copy of Wild Reverance!

To start off, I want to say that I've been in a reading slump for the past few months, and sadly this book hit some of the aspects of mainstream YA fantasy that has been irking me. I struggled with the beginning of the story, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

Being notoriously terrible at re-reading blurbs before I start a book, I was surprised that the main character was not Enva. Matilda's story begins right at her birth, so I was scratching my head for the first few chapters before sinking into the narrative. By the time Enva showed up, I was sufficiently invested in the characters and it felt right to be seeing Enva and Dacre's story as significant but ultimately a sub-plot to Matilda's adventures. Since most of the characters are gods either of the under realm or sky realm, I was underwelmed with the stakes - it's hard to be TOO worried about these characters when they are all immortal and difficult to injure or kill. But Matilda met mortal Vincent through reading about his dreams when they were both children, and the evolution of their relationship is the force that moves the story.

Because of my preconceptions from the first two books, I was expecting a feel-good romance; not necessarily enemies-to-lovers, but a story where two characters have a satisfying development of their relationship 'on-screen'. Let me say, this is not that!! haha. Other readers who enjoy angst, longing, and two characters that just seem destined to be pulled apart will also enjoy this story.

I would have liked to see more of the development and understanding of Matilda's powers, but I believe how the gods' powers work was intentionally left mysterious to evoke that sense of 'this isn't information for humans to know'. I also would have appreciated a bit more humor mixed into the book, but I guess we can't have everything haha.

I couldn't find this information when I briefly browsed the internet while reading, so I'll share here: the book ends decisively with a satisfying epilogue that ties back into the first two books! There aren't any cliffhangers, and I walked away feeling confident that there won't be a follow-up book. This is important info to have for people who hestitate to read unfinished series. :)

4.5 Stars for another spellbinding story by Rebecca Ross ✨.

Wild Reverance is an epic love story that can have you giggling on one page, then sobbing in the next. Rebecca Ross has done it again with the story of Matilda and Vincent. A romance between a goddess and an ill-fated mortal. From the first meeting as children, these two forged a connection only to be separated by tragic events.

When they reunite, they’re much older, changed, and yet are still drawn to each other in every. single. scene. There are even more handwritten LETTERS exchanged. There are so many callbacks that make you think of Iris and Roman 🥹. This book will have you gripped until the end.

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

Wild Reverence is an enchanting NA fantasy romance standalone that precedes the Divine Rivals duology and gives backstory to the gods of this world. Through her immersive writing and lyrical prose, Rebecca Ross beautifully ties everything together in this Letters of Enchantment prequel with rich world building, divine lore and unique celestial magic system. The premise of this story follows a young goddess who heralds words and messages for the gods between the realms, the mortal boy who befriends her in dreams, and how their fate intertwines to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods.

This is a story of love, betrayal, secrets and sacrifice all wrapped around a beautiful and heartbreaking childhood-friends-to-lovers forbidden romance about a goddess who loved a mortal. Matilda and Vincent’s story was filled with passion, yearning, tension, vulnerability and some Arwen x Aragorn epic love vibes. I especially loved Bade’s character arc, the epilogue and mentions of the enchanted typewriters!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this ARC!

The following review was posted to Goodreads on August 14, 2025:

“4 ⭐️

Wow, what a fabulous prequel! I read divine rivals earlier this year and was unaware that this book was actually a prequel to the duology before starting it. Immediately I recognized the world and some of the names of the gods and got so excited! It absolutely did not disappoint.

Rebecca Ross’ writing style is just beautiful - I highlighted over 20 quotes in my initial read. I did find the story a bit slower at the start, and I had a hard time emotionally connecting to Matilda (FMC) for a while but I blame that primarily on the fact that she (and many of the initial characters) are gods who aren’t supposed to be likable or relatable. Having our FMC and MMC first meet in dreams was so creative, however, and I absolutely adored Vincent (MMC) from the start. He was a walking, breathing and yearning green flag. I also loved Matilda’s father figure in this story - that was a surprising development that made my heart melt into a puddle.

Ross wove together the most precious & heartfelt love story. We even had a fake relationship/marriage and, as that’s one of my favorite tropes of all time, that only added to my love for the book. I found this book to be plot & character driven with very little (and not terribly graphic) spice, so I would rate it a 1🌶️ on my spicy scale. I will also say that, the way that the ending of this story ties into Divine Rivals had me squealing and kicking my feet. It was such a satisfying ending. This book was perfection, and an absolute must-read for any lovers of the original duology. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rebecca Ross for this ARC of Divine Rivals!”

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7805232674

This was a fantastic read! My only critiques can be found in my review above, but simply put, I found the beginning to be a bit slow and had a hard time emotionally connecting to the FMC for the first third of the book. Thank you again to both Netgalley and Rebecca Ross allowing me to read and review this ARC!