4 stars (spoilers)

Unlike anything I’ve ever read.
This felt completely different from Divine Rivals to me in the best way, from the writing to the development of the plot.

I’m gonna be honest here and say that the first 20% was ROUGH for me. Maybe because it was so different from divine rivals and I finished the duology right before I started wild reverence, or maybe it was simply too long of an introduction to the world of the goddesses and their ways. Either way, the second Matilda and Vincent met again as adults I. Was. Hooked!
A slow burn marriage of convenience between an Immortal Goddess that comes to the rescue of the skeptical human Lord? GIMME THAT.

The way this man yearns??? That was something different because I thought Roman Kitt was down bad for his woman, but Lord Vincent of Beckett is on another level altogether.
Mister “I thought that I could perish then and there and be wholly content to die, on my knees before her” and “I would wait a thousand years for you, if you asked me I would wait for you until only my bones remained upon an altar.”
Yeah that man was gone GONE.

The writing in this was sublime in my opinion. I loved how it reflected the time and place of the story, given that we are talking about goddesses and events that happened hundreds of years in the past.
The pace, aside from the challenging bit at the beginning, was very good too.
I was so curious about the main plot line and how the battle would evolve, but all the different challenges Matilda had to deal with separately as a goddess were such an intriguing addition to it.

Her character was very well developed as well, with a perfect balance between being a strong woman conscious of her responsibilities and being soft and open to loving and being loved.

Another character I adored in the book was my teddy Bade.
As the god of war, he is portrayed as rough around the edges and always ready for battle, but underneath it you see how soft his heart really is and how he comes to care so deeply about Matilda. Their bond was truly so special to me (daddy issues where?) and that “I hear you, Daughter” in the end made me completely lose it!!

I do wish we got to see more of Matilda and Vincent together at the end but it’s clear they got their happily ever after, and a very well deserved one too.

Lastly I LOVED how we got to see Matilda being the origin of the magical elements in Divine Rivals. How she’s the one who first sends a letter through an enchanted door and her magic being the one that binds the typewriters together. Simply incredible and so full circle in my opinion.

I do recommend this book!! Such an interesting and imaginative read.

Wow, Rebecca Ross does it again with another God Tier Romantasy! Wild Reverence is beautifully heartbreaking and lived up to every expectation I had and then some. Will be shouting from the rooftops about this book for awhile to come! 🫶🏻

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Saturday Books for the eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I want to start off by saying I have not read Divine Rivals, Ruthless Vows, or anything written by Rebecca Ross- after this read I have realized I have been sorely missing out.

Wild Reverence was extremely magical. If you love stories with gods/goddesses/immortals, unique powers/magic, found family, court drama, yearning, forbidden love, immortal x mortal romance, alliances, loyalty/betrayal, and a strong FMC: you will devour this book like I have.

If you are someone who has not read Divine Rivals or Ruthless Vows like me, I can assure you will have no trouble following along with the story. Honestly, this book has gotten me to order both because I loved this story!

The book centers around Matilda, a messenger goddess, and Vincent, a mortal who meets her in his dreams. In the beginning of the story we follow Matilda as she grows from a god-child into a grown goddess. We witness her experience loss, tests of trust, discovering her power/magic, and explore the connection she has made with a mortal boy. This story involves a beautiful magic system involving the constellations that reflect a divine's strength and type of magic. The mistrust amongst the gods made the story very compelling and suspenseful.

Favorite Character: Bade

Overall I gave this book a 5/5 stars and can't wait to recommend this book to friends when it comes out on September 2nd! For a prequel book, I am blown away.

My first Rebecca Ross book, and ok, I get it now. Her writing is STUNNING. I fell in love with her descriptions and the way that she created small moments of intimacy with different characters.

This is the story of Matilda, herald of the gods, set in the same universe as Divine Rivals but taking place centuries earlier. Matilda finds herself stuck between the Skyward and Underling courts of the gods, not finding her place in either.
This is her story of growing up, how she becomes a goddess in her own right, and how she challenges the hierarchy and status quo of the different god courts. Matilda finds herself caught in a conflict between both courts and, while on a mission to deliver a note from death, is brought into a human one as well.

Vincent is irreverent of the gods, both Skyward and Underling, but as the Lord of Wyndrift, he finds himself unable to refuse Matilda’s help. They soon find themselves caught between both courts of gods, conniving family members, and treacherous allies. The two are both determined, stubborn, and strong-willed. Each used to not being able to trust those around them; despite this, they rekindle their childhood friendship and romance.

I loved the different pantheon of gods from Greek or Roman-inspired stories. Specifically, I really enjoyed that the Skyward weren’t portrayed as angelic and the Underlings as evil or demonic. The courts were quite similar besides their settings. The dynamics between Matilda and her Underling and Skyward counterparts were each believable. From War’s paternal protectiveness, to Warin’s superiority complex, and Enya’s friendship, I felt that the cast of gods were both so far above and so very much like humans.

Overall, I found Wild Reverence to be beautiful, yearning, and the back and forth of which side had the upper hand kept me captivated throughout.

Wild Reverence is the kind of novel that takes hold of you from the very first page and refuses to let go. The prose is lush and lyrical, painting vivid images that make the world feel alive in all its wild beauty and quiet brutality. Every sentence feels deliberate, carrying weight and emotion.

The characters are so well-crafted that they feel real—messy, complex, and unforgettable. I loved the way their personal journeys intertwined with larger themes of resilience, identity, and the unshakable connection between people and the natural world. There’s a heartbeat to this story that lingers long after the final page.

The pacing is perfectly balanced, moving with a steady rhythm that allows both the action and the quieter, more contemplative moments to shine. It’s equal parts gripping and deeply emotional, with scenes that will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—Wild Reverence is a stunning, soul-stirring read I will be recommending to everyone.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was beyond excited to receive an advanced reader’s copy of Wild Reverence, and it exceeded every expectation. This is everything a prequel should be and more. I did not realize how much I had missed this universe until I stepped back into it. From the very first page, I was captivated, every emotion pulled taut as Rebecca Ross tugged on all my heartstrings. The tension kept me on the edge of my seat, while the gorgeous, lyrical writing left me in awe.

Every thread weaves together with flawless precision, creating a story that feels both complete and deeply connected to what comes next. The subtle echoes and parallels that lead into Divine Rivals are pure chef’s kiss perfection, making the transition between the two feel effortless and inevitable. Move over Roman and Iris. Before them, there was Matilda and Vincent, and their story is nothing short of stunning. This book is an emotional, breathtaking return to a world I never want to leave. I’m so sad to have reached the final page, but the journey was absolutely worth it. Rebecca Ross is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Saturday Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Absolutely beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a prequel to Divine Rivals. However, not in the way you would expect. Dacre and Enva play a minor background role in this story. Instead, the story is about a young goddess, Matilda, and the ebbs and flows of her life.

Rebecca Ross has always written beautifully, but this is a work of art.

If you love reading mythology, then read this. It’s not your typical Greek mythology though so don’t expect Zeus or Hades or Poseidon. Rebecca Ross has created her own pantheon of gods. The world she’s built is real, immersive and wondrous.

OMG, THIS MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR!!!
I loved how despite being a love story full of magic and wonder, the narrative still felt haunted by Vincent’s mortality. It’s not the typical fantasy story where she gives up her immortality or he magically becomes immortal, no, we knew they would be separated by death eventually, and yet, I was still eager to see how they would evade it, I just knew a love like theirs had to survive death.
Matilda is now one of my favorite characters, it was such a journey to see her grow up, to see her realize that her love was not a weakness, but her greatest strength (cliché, I know, but whatever). I loved how she showed us the mortal side of the divines; their innocence, their desires, their fears, their love…
I’m so glad I got to read the book early, now I’ll be buying every special edition available. 😌

This book. How do I even begin to describe how the way this book had a vice clamped tightly on my heart from the start to the finish. The emotional beats and the atmospheric story telling just knocked the wind out of me. I went in expecting a Greek tragedy, because in Divine Rivals there weren't many living gods (iirc only five,) and Dacre was hellbent on killing them for their power so... odds weren't exactly in Matilda and Vincent's favor. So I read on in anguish, battling against my anxiety and my tears, and every word was worth it.

If you like
Fake Marriages
"Who Hurt You" MMCs
Found Families
and
Emotional Damage

This book is for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Rebecca Ross, and Saturday Books for giving me the ARC of Wild Reverence in exchange for my honest review.

P. S. Bade is the father I wish I had ;; _ ;;

I absolutely LOVED the Divine Rivals duology (as everyone did), so I was really excited when I got approved for this next book from Rebecca Ross.

But, sadly, I think I am kind of disappointed in this book. Don't get me wrong, it is not bad by any means. It is just not Divine Rivals level of amazing.

I felt like there was so much focus on starting the story and building up who our main character is that it just felt so slow and dragging. I love some good worldbuilding, but it doesn't have to be all at once. You can teach me things about the world as they come along, as I need to know them.

I think since the beginning third or so dragged so much, when fun stuff started to happen, I kind of lost interest. There was so much potential for me to love this, there's a marriage of convenience with all the great moments that come with that, but I just was tired by that point. (If you don't mind dense info-dumping, I'm sure you can overlook the beginning and absolutely LOVE this book).

Overall, I really do not think that this book needed to be as long as it is (it's about 600 pages, if I am remembering correctly). I think if it was shorter, a lot of the unnecessary and draggy information would've been cut out. I did have some good moment reading this, there were definitely parts that made it worth the read, I just wish I could've gotten as connected and invested as I did with Divine Rivals. That duology instantly had me hooked. We do get a little Divine Rivals reference in the epilogue though, so that was a fun little giggle moment for me as a reader. And I am sure everyone who also read that duology will have that same reaction.

I also think this is such a pretty cover.

I'm sure that plenty of people will enjoy this book, it just wasn't formatted for me. I am still so amazed and honored that I got approved to read it via NetGalley though. That's just so cool to me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Thank you Saturday books and NetGalley for the ARC!!


I forgot how heartachingly beautiful Rebecca Ross’s writing was until I picked up this book. It centers around Matilda, a goddess born to both the Skyward and Underling courts, and Vincent, a human. We meet so many other characters as well, and it’s not just a love story; it’s a story of family, finding your place in the way the world works, and finding happiness.

I love how Matilda accepted who she was and wouldn’t change herself for anyone else. She never bowed to anyone, and always kept her focus. Vincent was her softer side, that always tried to see the best in people. And Bade? The mighty god of war, but so much love in his heart.


This book ripped me apart and put me back together, and now my heart hurts and I feel like I should read divine rivals again to see if I can find any Easter eggs.

This one started off a little slow for me either that, or I just needed time to get used to the world. But once I did? I was hooked and didn’t want to put it down.

One of the coolest parts was the connections to the Letters of Enchantment duology. Every time a familiar character popped up, I was like, “I know them!!” You definitely don’t have to read that series first, but if you have, it just makes everything feel extra special and connected.

I really liked how the story developed and how we got to see these characters grow, with so many years passing in the story.

And the gods? Yeah… I had major trust issues with all of them for most of the book.

In the end, it’s such a beautifully written, emotional story.

We knew this was going to be special from the moment it was announced.

I am blown away and humbled to have gotten the chance to read the ARC for this very special book!

I knew from the dedication that it was going to gut me, and it did. This story goes so far beyond the romantic relationship between Mathilda and Vincent and delves deep into the world of fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends. You feel the magic on every page.

The pace is steady, it doesn't drag, and the ending is bittersweet in a perfect kind of way. the epilogue is a perfect cherry on top.

At times you feel aspects of Ross' other works peak through -- the Elements of Cadence specifically -- in the best way. The world building is rich, and the narration has a mythical quality to it that really brings home the idea of this being a prequel based on the gods.

It's a perfect standalone and I think a perfect ending to this world, though I won't complain if we get more.

An easy 5⭐s for Rebecca Ross!

I was shocked by how much I loved this story. As someone who wasn’t in love with Divine Rivals, I was curious to see how I would feel about Wild Reverence. It was fantastic. The relationship between the goddess Matilda and the human Vincent, as well as the other familial type relationships, were so sweet. The world and magic system were so unique and well developed. If you loved Divine Rivals, definitely pick this one up. If you didn’t love it, give it a try because it will probably surprise you! This can be read as a stand-alone story (prequel), you don’t need to have read Divine Rivals in order to understand this story.

Would I recommend? Absolutely
Would I read this again? Probably
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶 (almost no spice)

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book!

Let me start off with, I devoured this book like I was starving for it.
Originally, I read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows and loved them with all my heart. If you haven't read them, I suggest you do!
When I heard this book was coming out set in the same world as Divine Rivals, I was ecstatic, and it was well worth the wait.
I was approved to read this through NetGalley, so this is my honest and professional review.
Let's talk about Wild Reverence. It was well written and a welcomed aspect of the world from a gods pov. Matilda not only had a good head on her shoulders but a heart to help guide her, too. I won't try and spoil it for you, but this book had me gasping, shook, and heartbroken and then devouring it as fast as I could in hopes that the heartache would be false.
The pace and length of the book were perfect. I loved reading about the gods on how they changed or didn't change.
My favorite character? Bade. I would love to hear more of his story, but if there will never be more, then I will cherish all that was written about him in this one.
This did take me a few days to read, but if I wasn't reading about it, I was thinking about it. I was even thinking about what was possibly crossing over from Divine Rivals. (It's definitely going to be a reread soon!) Since I did read this as an ebook, I will have to go out and purchase it when it hits the shelves. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this lovely book! Great job, Rebecca.

Review:

Rating: 5 stars ⭐️

Summary:

Centuries before the events of Divine Rivals, a young goddess is born. Matilda is blessed with messenger magic, and positioned as a herald to the gods. However the world she is born into is full of power hungry gods who will stop at nothing to steal the power of another. Matilda’s unique ability allows her to carry word through the realms, bringing secrets and danger with her. After alliances break and many are forged, she flees to ensure her survival. Unknowingly, this puts her in the direct path of a mortal boy named Vincent. Vincent who has dreamed of Matilda despite never seeing her in his waking moments. As a boy, Vincent was full of hope and believed the gods would look down upon him and cast favor. After his prayers go unanswered he becomes solidified in his irreverent resolve. One night, Matilda finds herself falling through the window of a now hardened Vincent, thus beginning a story of love, loss, power, and betrayal.

My thoughts:
Rebecca Ross is a true curator of the written word. Every single page is poured over with love and written with such dedication that only she can achieve. I find myself absolutely breathless after finishing this story. My being is overwhelmed by the tragic beauty I have just experienced in the written word. Matilda and Vincent’s story is one that is written amongst the brightest of stars. This is the kind of story that grabs you right around the heartstrings and tugs fervently.
This story felt as if it had breath. It felt as if life was breathed into the pages of this very story and in turn, revived my love for the fantasy genre.
This is the kind of book you compare all others to. It felt like a love letter to fantasy lovers and those who feel that they do not belong in the world that they currently reside. Just like Matilda, this story crosses worlds, life, death, and even the stars. I loved that the story showed so much strength in love. Instead of it being a hindrance, it was a great power. I love that Matilda found herself through blood, sweat, and tears. Matilda was a character that refused to limit herself to what those around her believed her to be. It is something worth being admired in a female main character. Matilda was the heroine everyone could believe in who would choose what is right over what is easy.
The world that this story took place in was as poisonous as it was beautiful. I wanted to dive deeper and feel every painfully wonderful moment.
It was so refreshing to see a fantasy forward romantic fantasy. The way the story moved felt so natural. There was not a single element that felt it was forcefully engineered. I could reread this book endlessly and never change my mind.
I am so grateful that I was able to return to the world of Divine Rivals, and even more grateful that this story was able to still bring me to life and inspire me like Roman and Iris did many moons ago.

Rebecca Ross never misses when it comes to writing a beautiful romance. She has such a way with her words that the stories encapsulate the enchanted world for her mortal and imperial characters alike. Wild Reverence is set in the same world as the Divine Rivals duology, but it is a standalone and can be read without having read her previous works.

I found the book a little hard to get into, but I am so happy I continued reading because the storytelling really comes together. Matilda and Vincent’s childhood interactions were important to building the plot and their relationship is nothing short of magical as the two fight to be together. Their story spanning through the years creates such amazing yearning between the characters, while also providing the audience with the opportunity to witness their growth.

Overall, the writing of this book is absolutely stunning work and the slow beginning (world building) was incredibly detailed painting such a vivid picture for readers. I would absolutely recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC, it was such a pleasure getting to read this story.

One of the best books I’ve read this year. A beautiful love story, very unique divine mythology which contrasted so well with the mundanity of the mortal world. And the yearning! THE YEARNING! I will be posting about this book and telling everyone to buy it. Zero critiques.

This was a great to read! Rebecca Ross knows how to build a world and make it feel completely unique in itself.

The beginning was a bit slow and tedious to get through, and I did take off one star because some of the language was a bit repetitive for me. It could have been a bit more concise, but it was in no way a deal breaker! It did not keep me from enjoying the rest of the book.

Thank you St. Martins Press for giving me this opportunity!

5 stars across the board. I will literally devour anything in this world. The Letters of Enchantment is my all time favorite duology (Divine Rivals is my favorite book in general) and so when I learned there would be a new book set in this world I knew I needed to read it IMMEDIATELY. I could live between the pages of this world forever.

Thank you so much for the eARC.