I'm so thankful for an e-arc of this book. I absolutely enjoyed reading it so much! I can't wait to get my hands on the physical copy of the book when it comes out...going directly to trophy shelf!

Genuinely one of the best books I’ve ever read. The magic system is beyond unique and is eternally beautiful. My breath was taken from my lungs so many times, lingered in suspense. I could not recommend this book enough.

Wow, this book was so good!! I loved everything about it. Before picking this up I did not know it was a prequel; such a pleasant surprise! I loved the political intrigue, system of divine strength, and fated romance. I loved all the jumps through time and the pacing never let up. Despite being broken up into 5 parts, I read this far too quickly. This book also hit on so many fantastic, unexpected tropes.

Wild Reverence is a perfect addition to the Letters of Enchantment universe. The epilogue was just fantastic. I wish I could live in this world forever. Finishing this made me want to immediately reread the original duology, especially Ruthless Vows, for all the divinity tie-ins. So happy I was able to read this a month before release; thank you Rebecca Ross, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley!

So amazing to dive back into this world and see some of the before to Divine Rivals! I was hooked from the beginning! I absolutely love Matilda and everything that she is and does! She is strong and kind yet vicious when she needs to be. Her relationships with others were all so powerful and complicated and could be seen in everything she did and worked to overcome.

A beautiful, heartwarming love story. Returning to this world reminded me how much I had missed it and how much I had loved her previous books. Rebecca’s writing is absolutely beautiful. I was crying at times laughing at others. I found myself so emotionally invested in these characters. I especially loved the relationship between Matilda and Bade. And obviously Vincent was everything. Overall a wonderful story.

Wow… Rebecca Ross has solidified herself as an automatic buy. This book is beyond amazing and I devoured it within 2 days (and that’s not easy feat with a baby!). Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book early, it is a gem and easily one of my top reads this year.

4.25 stars

i absolutely LOVED divine rivals for the romance, the yearning, and the poetic writing. if these same characteristics describe what you loved about divine rivals and ruthless vows, then you will also love wild reverence. there is something so soft and tender about the way that rebecca ross writes love, and i feel like that’s hard to come by when a lot of romances are more passionate and tumultuous. even when there are scenes of romantic passion, there’s something quiet and calm about it, and i think it’s supported by the tiny, mundane details that ross describes and uses as metaphors for what love feels like to the main characters. i loved matilda and vincent together, though my only critique on the romance plot line is that i wish we had spent more time on the dreams and how they came to love each other through them. because it lacked that slow build-up that divine rivals had, there were times when the romance felt a little insta-lovey, which is not a trope that i particularly enjoy, but if you do then this won’t be a con for you.

i would also say that this book is a really “trust the process” type of book. there seems to be a lot of threads that are laid throughout the first half of the book that seem unrelated, and initially i was worried that this book was taking on too much in too little space. however, the way the the threads come together to weave the ending of the story is really beautiful and doesn’t feel rushed. some of the threads are a little underdeveloped (which i won’t name for now because they are spoilers), but not so underdeveloped that i was bothered.

i really enjoyed one of the main questions of this book, which revolves around fate and how much of your life is predetermined. it poses the question of if you could know your future would you? and then, if you do choose so and your future unravels exactly like how it was told to you, was that fate or were you subconsciously acting in ways that lead you down that path? i kind of wish that this theme was extended more throughout the book because it would have made this story even more compelling than it already is. another main theme/trope of this book is found family and this one was honestly the shining star for me. the love that matilda finds beyond just romantic love is so heartwarming, and adds complexity to this book in a way i really enjoyed. this was the plot line that made me the most emotional and sad, and while i was happy with how it rounded out, i wish there was more of a mention of it at the end.

again, rebecca ross is the QUEEN of love letters. i love how it was still incorporated into this book without being exactly like divine rivals, as i feel like the letter writing is the true magic in this world and series. i also would like to note the tiny details that rebecca ross pays attention to with the writing style, such as using “sinister” to describe the left hand instead of saying “left hand” as it really helps build this sort of medieval world despite being a very small phrase. the writing itself is also just so beautiful, it really draws you in. i read this when i was very stressed, but whenever i picked this book up the words felt like a warm hug and really pulled me in. there’s just this overall softness to this book that i really enjoyed.

overall, a very solid romantasy novel with stronger romance than fantasy elements that i would recommend to anyone, but especially if you like soul mates, found family, and the type of love that is soft, quiet, and strong.

also the epilogue!!!! if you know, you know.

thank you to st. martin’s press, rebecca ross, and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review! so grateful i got to read this before release date as a huge fan of divine rivals and ruthless vows <3

I truly enjoyed Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross. Having read Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, it was a delight to return to this world and dive deeper into its history. The story offers a satisfying mix of action and adventure, with a medium-paced flow that balances some of the slower, character-focused and world building moments. While this prequel can be read without prior knowledge of the series, fans will especially appreciate the added depth. A strong YA/New Adult fantasy with some romance elements.

This was SO lovely!! Absolutely everything you could want in a standalone and just what I needed to get me out of a reading slump. For anyone who loves gods mythology and wants something that has both romance AND character depth - this is the book for you. I loved how rich and layered the world became and how the relationships amongst the gods (and mortals) was delivered in such an original and compelling way. This really shines as a plot-driven and grounded story while also maintaining a writing style that is incredibly ethereal, vivid, and beautiful. I was totally hooked in a way that just never really connected for me with Divine Rivals, despite being in the same world. I HIGHLY recommend picking this up if you were a fan of Divine Rivals duology, but still also really recommend this for anyone who was not. This is going to be one of my top YA’s of the year!

5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is a beautiful stand alone.

Easy to understand world building and magic system.
Compelling plot and characters.
Slow burn romance (1🌶️)
I really enjoyed this writing, felt like I was along side these characters throughout.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and after finishing it I would say it went beyond my expectations!! This story was atmospheric, emotional, and lyrical. For people who have read Divine Rivals, it was nice to be back in familiar territory but for people who haven’t, Rebecca Ross did a great job at making this story add a lot of fresh perspectives to the narrative and had organic world building so you don’t feel like you’re missing anything. Overall this was a 4.5 for me and has become one of my favourite reads of 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!!

Rebecca Ross has easily become one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint!
Her poetic way of writing combined with an engaging story left me breathless. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

I was lucky enough to receive this from NetGalley as an ARC. There is a lot of world building that needed to be done and a lot of characters that needed to be introduced. However, once the set-up was complete, I was absolutely captivated, hung on every word, and could not put this down. I loved these characters, I fell into their story, and I held my breath for the resolution. This one was an incredible ride.

Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, born with the decidedly unglamorous gift of messenger magic in a realm where gods prefer stabbing each other to sending notes. Her job? Deliver letters between realms and survive the political bloodbath of divine family drama. But when she literally tumbles into the bedroom of Vincent of Beckett—the mortal prince who once dreamed of her, begged for her help, and never got an answer—old threads start to weave into something new.

What follows is a lyrical, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance that’s also forbidden, complete with a glorious “who did this to you” moment and deeper, richer worldbuilding for fans of the Divine Rivals duology.

My Thoughts: Four Stars, A Few Notes

If you loved Divine Rivals, clear your schedule—this one’s going to steal your weekend. While it works as a standalone, it’s even more magical if you’ve read the first two books and can catch all the crossovers. That said, I could also see starting here if you want a taste of Rebecca Ross’s writing before committing to a full duology. You do you.

Ross’s trademark lyrical prose is here in full force—gorgeous sentences that occasionally meander—but the slower pacing kept it from being a full five stars for me. Also, if I had a nickel for every time Matilda was this close to spending time with Vincent before getting yanked away for some divine errand, I’d have… far too many nickels.

The dream sequences veer a little trippy—very “Tim Burton story hour”—but the worldbuilding is rich, the characters shine, and the foster father–daughter bond between Bade and Matilda absolutely melted me.

And while there are technically a few open-door moments between Matilda and Vincent, they’re written with such minimal detail that it’s more of a blink-and-you-miss-it sweetness than anything overtly steamy. Tender and romantic? Absolutely. But not quite enough to warrant a full three-chili-pepper rating.

Thank you to Saint Martin’s Press and Saturday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book hits shelves September 2

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!
This book was so beautifully written. The writing was lyrically and painted a vivid and lovely image, the world was unique and kept me engaged. I was intrigued throughout the book and did not want to stop reading. I definitely recommend this book to readers who like romance/fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think this is my favorite book by this author. It was incredibly unique and filled in some missing info from the Divine Rivals duology. Although this takes place in the same world as Divine Rivals, it still felt like a separate story and world. We learn more about the powers, motivations, etc and it helps understand her other series more. Dare I say this may be even better than Divine Rivals.

This novel is beautifully written… the characters and story are haunting. Couldn’t stop thinking about all of it. Same world as Divine Rivals and just as amazing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just finished Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross, and I’m officially obsessed!

I’ll be real—this one had me inching through the first couple of chapters. But stick with it, because when the magic finally ignites? WOW. It transforms into this lush, emotionally charged fantasy that sweeps you off your feet.

Matilda—an under-realm goddess with quiet messenger magic—teams up with an unlikely partner who is haunted by dreams, and it all unfolds into something beyond epic. The mythology, the tension, the romance… it’s like watching destiny weave itself in real time. The payoff is absolutely worth that slower build.

Highly recommend this if you’re into atmospheric romantasy with high stakes, tender moments, and an ending that feels like pure enchantment. 10/10 would recommend to my bookish besties—and I already have!

This books was amazing. The writing really makes you feel deeply. It’s such a beautiful story and connected with “Divine Rivals” makes me feel such an emotion deep in my bones.

4.5/5

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of Wild Reverence!

Rebecca Ross has now become an auto read author for me, and her newest novel has further reinstated her ability to create such a beautiful piece of work. One thing I find so unique about her writing is the lyricism in which she writes sentences. It really creates a vibrant world, and sets the tone for a fully immersive reading experience.

The novel follows Matilda, a goddess, and Vincent, a mortal man, at a time of great secrecy and a culmination of the past in both of their lives. I love how Ross starts at a time of beginnings, and as the story progresses, we get to see them grow up and grow into who they are, and the continual changes that happen well into adulthood. I like how Ross plays with time as well, and how that is felt in the different realms.

Wild Reverence really got to me towards the end, and I found myself crying for a good chunk of it. The combination of the sacrifices, love, and especially the way it was written, really hit me. Not only is she great at creating a unique plot, but she writes characters in such a way that you cannot help but feel for them. I like how Rebecca Ross doesn't shy away from difficult choices, and how she doesn't pick "easy" endings. It was very close to a 5 star read, and I think on a reread it could possibly reach that. A fantastic book from a fantastic author!

Plot: 4.5/5
Themes/ tropes: 4.5/5
World Building: 5/5
Characters/ development: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5