4.5⭐️ rounded up.

First of all, I'm so very thankful that I got to read an early eGalley copy of this before release. I can't believe I got to be one of the first to read this!! I feel so blessed and so lucky, really! Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this awesome opportunity.

Wow. This book was so unique. I absolutely loved delving into the world of the gods that were first introduced in Divine Rivals. It was not what I was expecting but really blew me away.
You get a bit of a glimpse into Enva and Dacre's story, which I would love to know more about.

The last 30% of the book really made this! It was really building up most of the book for that moment. I loved it. I fell in love with these characters and the journey they went on.
The imagery was so ethereal. It's one of those books where I just want to really see it come to life on film because of how beautiful it is.

Matilda and Vincent. Though not quite on the same level of Iris and Roman - I love the wildness of their story. Matilda has to be one of my favorite fmc's right now. I loved her as a character! She was fierce, strong, compassionate, and unpredictable. Vincent was ever patient and steadfast in his love for Matilda. I absolutely loved him, too.

I loved the ties that brought it all back to how Divine Rivals begins.
I love good story telling and Rebecca Ross does just that. She's a great story teller!
♡♡♡

4.5 ⭐️

Divine Rivals is one of my all-time favorite books, and I’ve been chasing that same magic from Rebecca Ross ever since. Wild Reverence delivered. Her writing is so beautiful, it often feels like reading poetry.

Set in the same world as Divine Rivals, the beginning moves a bit slower, with more world-building. But once the world is set, watching Matilda grow into a formidable goddess was worth every page. I also loved the glimpses we get of the other gods, offering a deeper understanding of their power and personalities. Bade has stolen my heart, and I’d love a whole story about him and Adria.

Told through both Vincent and Matilda’s POVs over the years, we witness their first encounters as innocent children in Vincent’s nightmares and watch the bond between them deepen over time. I adore a dual POV that lets us see the MMC fall hard. That letter from Vincent 🥺 … my heart.

The cherry on top? The epilogue drops a Divine Rivals revelation but I’ll leave it at that.

If you love unique magic, fated love, and gods both good, bad, and everything in between..this book is for you. Fair warning: it’s more plot-driven than action-packed, but the beauty of the writing and the slow-burn intensity made every page worth it.

What a magical and emotional novel. Wild Reverence is deeply marketed as a prequel to Divine Rivals, but this novel is such a powerhouse in itself that it outshines her other books.

Wild Reverence follows Matilda, a young goddess coming into her herald powers, surrounded by the corruption of the gods around her, and with her fate mystically tied to a young man named Vincent. What follows is a splendid romance full of yearning.

With compelling characters, a fantastic slow-burning romance, and it's own mythology, Wild Reverence is a breath of fresh air in the romantasy genre.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rebecca Ross takes us back to the world of Divine Rivals in her newest book Wild Reverence. The story follows a young goddess named Matilda as she navigates her way through life in the underworld and finds in the dreams of an unlikely ally, a mortal named Vincent.

Ross expertly weaves the lives of characters together in unexpected ways. I loved being able to see decades of time for these young characters in the span of a single book so that readers could notice how different tragedies and choices within characters’ lives played out long-term.

This book was so lovely, heart-wrenching, sweet, painful, unexpected, and unassumingly powerful. I loved every heart break and soared with every joyful moment. I highly recommend this book; five stars 🌟❤️✉️

Rebecca Ross is an INCREDIBLE writer. This one is more A River Enchanted (or Ruthless Vows) than Divine Rivals. It’s a meandering story of gods and mortals and love and war and magic. Beautifully written and full of so many stunning quotes that break your heart and put it back together again. A perfect standalone.

A heart-wrenchingly beautiful story of star-crossed love!

Set in the world of “Divine Rivals,” “Wild Reverence” follows Matilda, the youngest goddess of her clan, and Vincent of Beckett, the mortal who dreams of her, as they risk everything to rewrite fate after their two worlds collide.

Ross’ lyrical prose transported me to new corners of the world she introduced in “Divine Rivals,” and it felt SO good to be back! She expands upon the lore of the gods she created and I really enjoyed exploring their different domains through Matilda’s perspective. It was fascinating to see how they perceive mortals, their capacity for cruelty, the extent of their magic, and how their power is transferred. Many are ruthless, heartless beings that don’t think twice about killing one another if it means moving up the ranks. Their blood-soaked ways provide much needed context for why Matilda has trouble letting her guard down around those she can trust.

I loved alternating between Matilda and Vincent’s threads of life and watching them intertwine. Their pasts are rife with tragedy, save for when their paths cross as children and then later as adults. Their development from allies to lovers is well paced, emotional, and layered. Both resist the pull between them for different reasons—Matilda initially viewing love as a weakness and Vincent expecting only the worst from the gods. They come from two different worlds, immortal and mortal, and have different lifespans because of it. The result is a doomed love and there was no holding back the deep guttural sobs I let out as they surrendered to it fully. As Matilda and Vincent’s story comes to a close, the final pages hint at what is to come for those who have not read the other books in the “Letters of Enchantment” series. There is magic contained in the pages of “Wild Reverence” that make it one of my favorite reads of all time!

I had no idea that Wild Reverence was set in the same world as Divine Rivals. It was a nice surprise to myself. I saw Rebecca Ross and had to request immediately. And I am happy I did. This book had its own lore and Matilda and Vincent...just wow. Epic love and poetic. Rebecca Ross always writes like a dream unfolding.

Thank you Net Galley & St. Martin's Press for the e arc, all opinions are my own

6 stars if possible! Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this lovely novel.

Rebecca Ross' writing style is so lyrical and haunting. This beautiful book is a standalone prequel of sorts to her Divine Rivals duology. We follow the story of a young god-child Matilda as she grows and learns about her role within the gods and her changing view of humanity.

I really loved everything about this book although it took a little longer for me to really dig into. The first part of the book, when Matilda is young, is such an important part of Matilda's story but it picks up pace-wise once she's an adult.

I wouldn't refer to this as a romantasy because I think the romance is secondary to the main story and not the purpose of the book. I also think her relationship with Bade may be the most compelling relationship in the book.

I highly recommend this book and will review fully online when it is released.

So as a giant Rebecca Ross fan, naturally I was really normal about it when I was selected to be an ARC reader. I definitely didn’t shriek like a wild animal when I got the email. No way. Anyways, Wild Reverence is set in the same universe as Divine Rivals and takes place about 1000years before the events of the duology. It follows Matilda, herald to the gods and Vincent, a mortal lord’s son who are drawn to each other from early childhood on. I really loved how this novel fleshed out the lore on the divinities and how exactly they live. Matilda’s chapters were very differently written than Vincent’s, as she is a goddess and has a very different outlook on the world than Vincent. Each of the narrators had such a different tone, and Matilda was depicted as otherworldly. The love story between the two was so unbelievably heartwarming and romantic, yet also had an edge of tragedy. I can’t remember the last book I read that made my cold, emotionless heart feel so warm and fuzzy. By the last chapter I was kicking my feet and giggling like the child I truly am.

Wild Reverence is an amazing book, and easily five stars. I really hope Ross continues to write within the Letters of Enchantment universe because she’s really created something special with it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy

Wild Reverence is the moment in a fantasy series where the camera zooms out and you realize the story you loved in Divine Rivals was only one act in a centuries long drama. It is absolutely a prequel but not in a filler way. It is the kind of prequel that rips your heart out and then gives you a new one. We are back in the same divine world but this time the magic is more raw the politics are messier and the gods are even pettier.

The forest setting feels like its own character and it is not here to be your friend. There is a weight to the magic that makes every choice feel dangerous in the best possible way. The romance has that devastating slow burn energy Divine Rivals fans will recognize except here it is tangled in curses and oaths that feel impossible to break. You can feel the echoes of this love story bleeding forward into the events of Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows which makes it all land even harder.

Four stars because I closed the last page feeling like I had been handed a key to a locked door in the series lore and also like I had been emotionally steamrolled in the nicest possible way. If you loved Divine Rivals you should read this before you ever reread it because Wild Reverence will make those moments land like a punch to the soul.

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross was a case of “love at first chapter.” I simply could not put it down. This book was exquisitely written- immersive without ever dragging. The world Ross creates is both enchanting and deeply layered, filled with tension, self discovery, and passion.

The story follows Matilda, a young goddess still coming into her powers, and Vincent, a mortal dreamer who reluctantly inherits his father’s lordship. Their paths merge and depart as Matilda learns to embrace the full scope of her divine abilities—proving herself to be far more than her humble messenger magic suggests—while Vincent wrestles with the heavy responsibility of leadership that should never have passed to him.
This book is a childhood friends-to-lovers Romantasy, full of longing and a slow, satisfying love story.
If you’re only going to read one Romantasy this year, make it this one—you won’t be disappointed.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC.

🌌 Rebecca Ross takes us back to the magical world of Divine Rivals, and this time, centers on the gods and goddesses. This prequel shows the complicated dynamics and history between and within the Underlings and the Skywards. This novel focuses on Matilda, a goddess who meets a mortal boy through his dreams…and how they come to know each other through them. There are definitely Divine Rivals Easter eggs! 📜🪶🚪

She writes with so much depth of beautiful emotions that your heart can’t help but be swept away as you follow Matilda’s journey. There’s growth and learning, betrayal and heartbreak, uncertainty and decisions to let go or hold on, despite deep physical, emotional and mental hurts. It’s paced incredibly well, and you’ll be intrigued by every character and won’t want to let them go (well, the good guys anyway, right? 😘).

I’d classify this as an adult fantasy, but keep in mind that it’s Rebecca Ross, and her romance scenes theme to be between married adults, and are seriously so full of emotion and just beautiful because of every struggle and breaking down of barriers that build up to that point. I really do appreciate this about her writing. 🤍

Wild Reverence will be released Sept 2, 2025. NetGalley gave me an advanced eARC to read, and I’m so glad I preordered the signed special edition. It’s a beautiful novel, inside and out, just like Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, and I can’t wait for it join them physically on my bookshelf. It’s definitely one of my favorite reads this year. 🔖

rebecca ross has my whole heart and at this point i am absolutely convinced she just does not miss. wild reverence is no exception and features all of the things that make a rebecca ross book so good: the sweeping, lyrical prose, the world building, unique magic systems, and characters you want to read about forever. i will say that this is definitely a book driven by the characters rather than the plot, but there's enough to get you hooked in the beginning that you want to keep reading. and there is certainly no shortage of action and excitement here! i was rooting for matilda the whole way through and rebecca has a way of making you question if she'll get the ending she deserves (she does). this is one of those books that is so immersive you can't put it down. another thing i love about this book (and her other books) is her ability to write romance without it entirely taking over the plot. don't get me wrong, i love a good romance, but this is a slow burn with lots of build up and yearning and it makes it all the more exciting when things finally do develop. an absolute must read if you like fantasy, folk-tales, and beautiful writing.

“One moment, you were there before me. The next, the wind had carried you away”

I started this book thinking I will be lost with the number of characters and the universe. But I got into it and I loved my reading. Mathilda is endearing and her powers are incredible. I loved how she meets Vincent and what they live together, how she is attached to mortals. The secondary characters are the strength of the book for me and I now dream of knowing the story of Bade. Now, I'm going to reread Divine Rivals because I'm not ready to leave the universe. I pre-ordered the book and I can't wait to receive it. Coup de cœur ❤️

"Once, my mother told me to never run from a
god. They are drawn to those they cannot have, by those who fear or loathe them. And while they enjoy a good chase, a vigorous hunt to stir up the color in their cheeks and the fire in their ichor, they will only grow angry and dangerous should their prey prove themselves faster, slipping away

How often have I broken my mother's
advice?

Many, many times."

From the first page, I felt like I wasn’t just opening a book, I was trespassing into something sacred. Mortals are not meant to know the secrets of the gods, and yet Rebecca Ross lays them before us, each word a key to a door we shouldn’t be able to open. I didn’t feel like I belonged in the pages, yet I couldn’t turn away. I was an intruder in a divine world, watching power and passion play out as if from the shadows.

The emotions in this story didn’t come softly, they struck like lightning. Frustration that curled in my chest and anger that burned behind my ribs. Intrigue that pulled me deeper. Pain that sat heavy and unyielding. And love.… a love that felt alien and yet achingly familiar.

The gods do not love as we do but Matilda shattered that truth. Her life, her birth, her choices, they broke the mold. She is not the damsel to be rescued; she is the white knight, the one who wields the sword and holds the line. Seeing a heroine written with such strength and agency was not just refreshing, it was exhilarating.

Then there was Bade.

From the first moment Matilda speaks of him, I was gone: heart, mind, and soul. He was more than a mentor or guide; he was the father figure she didn’t expect to care for so deeply. Her journey truly begins with the task she takes for him, and through every trial, his presence remains a quiet anchor, out of all the characters, he’s the one I still think about, the one who lodged himself into my heart.

Vincent’s story unfolds in parallel to Matilda’s, and in him, I saw a different kind of strength. We watch him grow, just as we watch her rise, but we also witness the weight he carries; the pain, the loss, the devastation that should have broken him but didn’t. For a mortal, he is unshakable, and I understood instantly why a goddess might see something in him worth loving.

Rebecca Ross doesn’t just tell a story, she weaves constellations into it. She takes the stars and scatters them across the pages, shaping them into magic so tangible I could almost touch it. This book doesn’t just sit in your memory; it lodges itself in your bones. I know people will talk about it for years to come, and I’ll still be here, turning over her words like prayer beads, feeling the echo of the divine.

Fully 10 out of 10 loved this book!

A story of greed, deceit, scheming, war, and love.

The story starts with a young Goddess, Matilda. Born among Gods who only care about power, she doesn't have many friends until she meets a mortal boy in his dreams. As they grow, they keep thinking of the other until an event brings them together. It's up to them to change a fate that has been woven and along the way, unlock a power Matilda didn't know she had. This power puts her life in danger from the other Gods who kill for power.

First, thank you thank you thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Rebecca Ross has some sort of magical powers that allow her to weave together beautiful stories of love filled with every day magic and elements of fantasy. This was no exception. Matilda and Vincent had such a wonderful story. Every time I put this book down I was thinking about the next opportunity I would have to read it. I am so excited for this to come out so I can recommend it, and continue to recommend Divine Rivals, to literally everyone I talk to.

DNF

I think that rebecca ross might not be for me. I was so excited to read this book but I couldn’t get into it to save my life. Maybe I’ll try again when the audio comes out.

In Wild Reverence, Rebecca Ross crafts a breathtaking, emotionally resonant story that bridges divine mythology with raw human emotion. Following the entwined lives of Matilda, a goddess born in the Underworld, and Vincent, a mortal dreamer, the novel spans decades of longing and love. From their first encounter in childhood dreams to their reunion later on, Ross explores the deep currents of connection that defy time and distance. The narrative also uses dual POVs, which enhances the intimacy of Matilda and Vincent's story.

Ross’s lyrical prose shines, as it does in her other novels, delivering a story that is both epic and romantic. Her gift for character development is on full display, particularly with Maltilda. If you loved Divine Rivals, you will love this even more. Wild Reverence is easily one of Ross’s finest works—powerful, immersive, and deeply felt. It’s a book you’ll never quite let go.

4.5 rounded up. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.

I’ll be honest in saying this book feels a little special to me. The timing of reading this, on top of several things throughout the text, felt like a sign from my sweet angel beyond. For that alone this book will hold a special place in my heart.

The prose in this story were absolutely gorgeous. It is honestly ridiculous how many highlights I have in this ARC. I’m excited to get a physical copy and tab it up.

The story and writing feel reminiscent of Rachel Giligs The Knight and the Moth, and Leigh Bardugos The Familiar. Elegant writing, historical setting, fantasy elements, and some hauntingly beautiful moments. This reads like medieval folklore and I loved it.

My only real critique is pacing. This story reads a bit slower and can drag a little at times. But I loved it nonetheless.

Bravo Rebecca Ross.