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!

This was such a wonderful read that had me hooked from the start. It was so interesting to learn more about the divine in this world and how the worlds of the skyward, mortals, and underlings intersected. Matilda was an engaging protagonist and I enjoyed how headstrong and opinionated she was. Vincent was a great MMC - the yearning! Perfect for fans of the series who want to delve back into the realm and new readers looking for more context before beginning Divine Rivals alike!

Here’s another review that made me want to shout from the rooftops and even write a long song for. That’s how deeply this book hit me.
I didn’t just read Wild Reverence — I lived inside it. From the first page, I felt that quiet, undeniable pull that only a truly special book has, the kind that makes you forget the world around you. Rebecca Ross took me on a journey that was at once intimate and epic, and I came out of it both breathless and strangely healed, like I’d been walking through someone else’s myth and found pieces of myself along the way.

The world Ross built is spellbinding — lush, layered, and alive in a way that few fantasies manage to be. There’s myth woven into every shadow and whisper, gods with motives as flawed and raw as the mortals who worship them, and a history that feels so real I caught myself wondering what hidden door I’d have to find to step into it myself. The late nights I spent turning these pages didn’t feel like reading; they felt like crossing into another realm and watching its secrets unfold.

But what truly gripped me wasn’t just the atmosphere or the sweeping mythology — it was the people who lived within it. Matilda in particular. Her journey from grief and betrayal into strength and selfhood was devastating and beautiful. She’s the kind of heroine who doesn’t just win battles; she claws her way through heartbreak, through choices that cut her open, and somehow keeps moving forward. Watching her decide not only who she wanted to be, but who she refused to let others make her into, broke me in the best way.

And then there’s Vincent. Their connection — fragile, hesitant, but laced with a kind of inevitability — was one of the most genuine romances I’ve read in a long time. This isn’t the kind of love that arrives wrapped in perfection. It’s built out of longing glances, unspoken truths, and the unshakable sense that two people have found in each other what the world would rather they never discover. I couldn’t stop rooting for them, not just because of how much they needed each other, but because of how much they deserved each other.

What makes this book stand apart is how Ross balances the divine and the human. The story is full of gods, myths, and battles larger than life, yet at its core it’s about something achingly real: love, survival, betrayal, trust, and the courage it takes to keep reaching for light in the middle of so much darkness. That blend of magic and humanity is what gave me chills.

By the end, I wasn’t ready to let go. I sat with the book closed on my lap for a long while, just holding it, letting it sink in. It’s not often that a story leaves me with that kind of ache — the kind that’s equal parts loss and gratitude, because it means you’ve just experienced something extraordinary.

Wild Reverence isn’t just one of the best fantasies I’ve read this year; it’s one of those rare books I know I’ll revisit again and again, each time catching something I missed the first time. It’s powerful, romantic, and unforgettable — a story that left me changed in ways I can’t fully put into words.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Saturday Books for sharing one of the year’s most anticipated novels’ digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. I couldn’t be more grateful to have read this early.

I cried, multiple times actually. I enjoyed the world of Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, but I adored Wild Reverence from the very beginning. To be back in that world, well before the time of Iris and Kitt, was delightful. Soaking in all of the Gods history and make connections to the other novels brought me so much joy. That epilogue? Hell yeah. Super happy with this book. As much as I wish there was more, I also think that this was a great unexpected addition to the duology.

Rebecca Ross is my favorite author of all time, this is might even be my newest favorite book. To say I was beyond thrilled to receive a digital ARC of Wild Reverence from Net Galley would still be an understatement. :)

My only critiques are:
1. Warin was annoying (intentional, great writing) but I could only imagined him as Quagmire from Family Guy (annoying af), very happy when/how his ending happened
2. The chapters being labeled in Roman numerals is truly like gibberish to me because I don’t actually know roman numerals

Rebecca is an absolutely phenomenal writer…so unique! After this book, she’s officially an auto-buy author for me. Ahhh, it’s everything I dreamed it would be: amazing, beautiful, and all the things I hoped for.

This is a divine story about gods and mortals. Matilda is a young herald goddess when she first crosses paths with the mortal, Vincent. They don't see each other again until she tumbles through his window to deliver a message and here is where their story begins to unfurl.
Through their journeys, I fell in love with the main characters. I enjoyed reading along to see what was going to happen next.

Wild Reverence is a well-paced book that had me reading into the wee hours at night. It's a great companion piece to the Divine Rivals duology. I hope there'll be more to read about this world in the future.

Thank you, St. Martin's press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Where to even start with this book, it was so beautifully written and the story was so achingly sweet. I really enjoyed getting to know Matilda and Vincent and how they came together. I love that Ross did not try to humanize the gods because they aren't human and are not concerned with human morality, and I feel like if she humanized them it would have taken away from the story. The small easter eggs we get if you've read the Letters of Enchantment duology were so well done, but I do not think you need to read the duology first in order to get just as much out of this book. If I had to describe this book in one word it would be emotional, there was just so much raw emotion in this book it made me feel so deeply about this world and about these characters. I'm sad that it's over because I want to live in that world still.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Is love worth it even if it can’t last? A question I found myself pondering as a suffered through the myriad of emotions I felt while reading this book. I really loved this book. Matilda and Vincent had such a beautiful connection. Ross took her time weaving the story of Matilda’s life which made the payoff much sweeter. Each character was complex and added to the depth of the story. Bade and Nathaniel were two of my favourite more minor characters and I miss them already! The subtle links to Divine Rivals further enriched the story and I may just start a reread… Unlike the stories of some gods, this fantasy romance will not soon fade into obscurity for me.