let me start this off by saying that i actually really liked this book. i have some nitpicky things to say that might make it seem otherwise, but it was a good read, i promise! i’m a terminal hater, it’s an affliction, it can’t be helped. but the takeaway message here is: unique premise, lots of fun, even made me tear up a bit. it’s a winner!

my one consistent hangup with rebecca ross’s books is that i think she’s a bit of a tryhard (sorry). the purple prose gets a little overboard even for me sometimes, and i say this as a purple prose apologist. but something about this style clashes with a first person POV, in my opinion — i’m not saying you can’t have flowery language when you’re using this type of narration, but when it’s supposed to come off as someone’s perspective/inner thoughts it feels more incongruous. it made matilda and vincent’s narration feel the same, instead of giving each of them more of a unique voice. the style feels a bit more awkward overall than it would if the story was told from a third person POV. and even then, when you’re writing about how “his eyes were riveted to mine as if he were afraid i’d evanesce if he looked away”, i need you to take it down a few notches. she used evanesce quite a lot, actually, and irreverent, too. which is kind of funny considering the fact that the title is wild REVERENCE, and vincent is the one who’s consistently described as irreverent. like, i got it! the man does not fuck with the gods like that! put “irreverent” down and slowly back away, rebecca ross. also, the random medieval words she threw in every so often kind of cracked me up. making sure we know this story is set a long time before her duology: check!

anyway, enough of that. like i said, i did have a good time reading this! something about her books are compulsively readable for me, and i’d much rather have flowery prose that skews a bit overwrought sometimes than some of the stuff that’s out there these days. it was cool to see the foundation of the world she built in divine rivals, and i loved matilda and vincent’s story.

Fans of Rebecca Ross will love this magical, lyrical book! One of my favorite things about Rebecca Ross’s writing is her creative world-building. Her magic systems are unique, yet feel so well-established that you all but forget they only exist within this book. I loved Matilda and Vincent—along with some of our side characters—and felt immersed in the star crossed fates of gods and mortals. A wonderful addition to the letters of enchantment universe.

I am so grateful to have received an ARC!

I am so grateful to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this absolutely stunning book in advance.

Set 600 years in the past in the same world as Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, this book tells the story of a goddess falling in love with a mortal.

Throughout the story the writing paints a picture in such a way that it almost feels like you are watching everything unfold in your mind. It felt immersive, which amplified the heart wrenching attachment the unfolds to the characters as you read.

This story reminds me of her books Sisters of Sword and Song and Dreams Lie Beneath, both standalones of hers that I loved.

I am so glad I read this book but am struggling through a substantial book hangover now that I’ve finished. I’m looking forward to read it again on its pub date- for anyone on the fence please GO, order it now and count down the days, you will not regret it.

UGH this was beautiful, just absolutely beautiful🥹🤍

I am convinced that Rebecca Ross cannot write a bad book. Everything in this book is beautiful and magical from the writing to the settings of both the mortal and divine worlds to the characters and their love for each other. Matilda and Vincent - I LOVED them and their journey and just everything about their relationship with each other (they kind of have a fake dating/marriage of convenience thing going on, and if you like the “my wife” trope, you will be happy). It was fascinating to learn more about the gods we first heard about in Divine Rivals, as well as other gods that had been lost to memory, and I really liked the epilogue and how it tied the whole story back to DR. I cannot wait to get this book in my hands later this year and I cannot wait for Rebecca Ross’ next book.

Thank you to Saturday Books and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions above are my own.

Yet another amazing story by Rebecca Ross! This prequel felt so well done and I loved the way the epilogue perfectly tied the story to Divine Rivals.

The writing style is, as always, so beautiful. The tone of the story felt closer to A River Enchanted than it did to Divine Rivals. I read the entire story in two sittings and I couldn't put it down for the last ~35%.

I loved they way the characters are written and I felt quite attached to (most) of them by the end. The different relationships between the characters felt so believable and nothing was rushed through. The yearning was immaculate and had me wishing that there was a sequel. I almost worry that finishing this book has given me something of a book hangover - I'm not ready to move on!

The pacing is quite slow in the beginning as it follows Matilda's early life. I can see why some people might struggle with the beginning, but I felt it was so necessary for the characters. The pacing does pick up quite a bit in the back half, with the main plot taking place over about 2 weeks or so. This was about the point that I found it quite hard to put the book down to do anything else. I absolutely had to know what was going to happen next.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

I absolutely loved this book even though it took me a while to finish it - life kept getting in the way. I love the world building Rebecca Ross has created and the characters were amazing in this book and so so lovable, especially Matilda!

I am so grateful I got the chance to read an early copy of this book.

I had never read Divine Rivals, but I was very excited to receive this ARC and read a book by Rebecca Ross for the first time. I was captivated by this story, and was in awe of the poetic writing. I will say that it started off a bit slow, but otherwise, this may be a new favorite read of mine.

Wild Reverence takes place in the same universe as Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows. It is from the perspective of a goddess rather than a human and takes place before the events of Divine Rivals.

It was a very slow start for me. Even though we’ve been in this world before, there was a good amount of world building left to explain the immortal realms. I got bogged down in it and almost gave up. But the second half of the book picked up and I really liked it!

I had no idea what to expect when I started to read this book. There were parts of Divine Rivals I had loved but also parts I had struggled with. But this book, I devoured! After reading so much fae fantasy it took me a bit to get into the world of gods but once the story started going I struggled again. I struggled to put the book down!! I loved the world and the characters Rebecca Ross created especially grumpy Bade. This has me wanting to go back to Divine Rivals with a better understanding of the beautiful world and how the magical powers came to be!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for the ARC.

**Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the gifted eARC**

Wild Reverence is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read this year. Rebecca Ross is a wordsmith. The way she paints a picture for the reader is unreal.

I absolutely loved Matilda and Vincent’s love story. There were times when I cried from sadness but also beauty and love. There were so many elements to this story that I enjoyed. Outside of the romance, the myths and magic system with the Gods/Goddesses was unique. I also enjoyed how much I ended up falling in love with some of the side characters and being thoroughly invested in everyone’s wellbeing. I will continue to read stories by Rebecca Ross after this beautiful story.

Wild Reverence is a beautifully written, atmospheric story that blends romance, magic, and strength. I think I am in my romantacy era. Rebecca has a way to pull you in with her detailed world building and in depth character building. I love the intertwining of Mortals and immortals. The slow burn between Matilda and Vincent, the yearning and heartbreak - Rebecca makes sure to keep you pulled in until the end. I just lover her writing style and pace.

Oh, it was just so lovely to be back in the magical world of the Letters of Enchantment duology. Rebecca Ross’s writing is honestly just as magical as the worlds she writes about—so lyrical, so immersive, so emotionally rich. This story was stunningly poetic, and despite most of the main characters being not human, it still managed to encapsulate the entire range of the human experience.

It was such a beautiful exploration of love and loss and everything in between. I didn’t really have crying in a hotel pool on my 10-year anniversary on my bingo card this year, but Rebecca Ross has managed to make that a reality. I guess it was worth it…

And OMG don’t even get me started on the epilogue!! I think I highlighted the entire thing. It was so, so special to see it all brought back together in such a meaningful, emotional way. This one will stay with me for a long long time.

all the stars in the constellations, this was everything I could have hoped for!

Rebecca Ross always has a way with words and weaving a story. Her lyrical prose keeps me captivated, much like Enva compelling with music. It felt so good to be back in this world, to learn more about the gods and their lore. To have my heart ripped out once again!

This story takes us back to Cambria centuries before The Letters of Enchantment duology unfolds. We're welcomed in with the rare birth of a new goddess, Matilda. The first third of this book follows Matilda in her early years and then pauses around age 12/13. This might seem weird for an adult book, but her early development is vital. We watch as she comes into her power, into her own, but also how cruel the divine and mortal world can be. We even watch as she makes some curious decisions as she explores her life as a goddess and tries to atone for unanswered prayers.

There was a soft, magical touch to the Letters of Enchantment duology, I think Rebecca described it perfectly as magical echoes. In the beginning, it left you wondering if the magic and the gods were even real. The story made me crave more of the world before and how things got to the way they were. I wanted to know of the gods and their nature, and how these magical items existed in a world where the gods slept. Wild Reverence scratched that itch, it filled in gaps, it expanded on so much, and I loved seeing these magical echoes turn into a captivating song. There was a great balance of expanding on this world without revealing all its secrets, and not overpowering the main theme of the unexpected love between a divine and mortal. You could read this without having read LoE, but I think it adds such a special layer, especially as you watch a subplot start to take shape.

This story was so full of complex characters. I could read forever about the gods and goddesses she has created- the Skyward and Underlings, the wastes and the mists...I would even read a whole book about the rogue wyvern (😭). Not a single character felt flat or one-dimensional; you find that even a hardened character has a great softness, that even seemingly loyal characters commit betrayals. There are even people who have done horrible things that you almost feel emotional enough to hope for mercy, even if just to avoid seeing a character struggle with carrying out justice. The gods and goddesses also show little glimmers of their mortal 'flaws'. It's clear that they aren't these overpowered beings and have their own set of weaknesses. They get themselves into precarious positions, and while they are quick to act like the mortals are nothing more than blips in time, there's an air of what they would be without the mortal in the midrealm. In the same vein, we see that even seemingly 'weak' powers might be underestimated.

The story starts a little slow but gradually ramps up. I appreciated that we never stayed in one spot too long, and we got to move all over the divine realms, and a bit over the mortal world, and even to the beyond. The main plot of this book takes place over about 2 weeks. After the halfway mark, I could not put this down. I finished it in a day, something I haven't done in years. I think the only thing I could have asked for was more interactions between Matilda and Vincent. They spent quite a bit of time separated, and it is clear that this was about more than just their love story, but I would have loved to see more of just...them 🥰

I could ramble on and on about the things we already know about Rebecca's writing, how beautiful and emotional it is. The yearning, the softness, the fire, and the tender love she weaves. The immersion and the way it can play out like a movie behind your eyes. The complicated feelings of family, faith, and grief. Losing ones that you love. Loyalty and duty. Sacrifice. All of the tapestry of life was woven into her words. Everything I have read from her has been skilled, but I think this even showed growth in her writing!

If you've read the Elements of Cadence duology, I think you'll be prepared for what to expect from this adult novel. I know that duology has some readers questioning if it belongs in the adult section, but I firmly believe it does and will defend that. We've lost the plot when it comes to recognizing what is adult content. It's not just the level of explicit content- it's the themes, the writing style, the complexity and plot points, and the words chosen. Explicit spice isn't something I would expect from Rebecca (not that there is anything wrong with explicit spice, it just doesn't seem to match her writing style). This book had maybe 3 scenes, and they were pretty similar to how she wrote scenes in the Elements of Cadence duology; there was one that might have had a little bit more detail. This also deals with themes of domestic violence (not between our main love interests but a previous courtship between her and someone else).


Big thanks to NetGalley and Saturday Books for the eARC! Wild Reverence will be published on September 2nd, 2025!

I didn’t think it was possible to love Rebecca Ross even more, but this book may have just done it! I loved the slow burn and attention to detail given to the world building and character development.

Rebecca Ross can actually do no wrong.
She has the most beautiful prose in my opinion.
I love her writing style and she weaves a beautiful story that just feels effortless. Amazing, per usual.

This was absolutely beautiful. Rebecca Ross’s writing always gets me. She’s able to pack so much emotion and love into her books. The romance was perfect as well as the backstory for both main characters. I just can’t express how much I loved this book. I wish a 6 star was an option.

Reading the Letters of Enchantment series first made the references mean so much more. Highly recommend reading Iris and Roman’s story before jumping into Matilda’s.

Divine Rivals is quite literally my favorite read of all time, that book is one I truly hold close to my heart...and I think I love Wild Reverence even more. It had everything that I loved from Divine Rivals such as the well thought out world, a relationship that developed over time but was also filled with yearning, but also writing that brought both the world and the characters to life - and it was done even better in Wild Reverence.

One of my favorite aspects of fantasy stories is the lore and the religion that serves as a backdrop for the story, but time and time again I find myself wanting to know more than the bread crumbs most authors give us. If this is you, this book is for you. A book filled with gods and goddesses who are cruel and power hungry but also heartbreakingly loyal. This book can be read as a standalone and I believe it was fully fleshed out with a complete story in it as well.

Our romance follows Matilda, the newest goddess born to the goddess of winter who dwells in the underworld, and an unknown father from the sky region, and Vincent - a human from noble birth. An immortal and mortal. I can honestly say I wasn't expecting the ending, their relationship was so well done. This book is more mature than Ross's YA books but those moments of tenderness felt earned, and not just for the sake of being there. But honestly it was the other relationships in Matilda's life that also pulled at my heart strings, especially with one gruff god of war.

I already cannot wait to do a reread of this one with a physical copy in hand!~

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press, Saturday Books and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Initial thoughts: this was everything I wanted and didn’t know I needed and so much more, this was amazing. I can’t believe I got a chance to read an ARC of this 🤯

Rebecca Ross has such a gift for storytelling and Wild Reverence might just be my favorite of hers yet.

Her writing is effortlessly lyrical, almost poetic, and in this book, it felt even more refined and immersive. From the very first pages, I was pulled into a world that felt fully formed, with vivid landscapes and a strong emotional undercurrent. While the beginning had a slower pace, it quickly found its rhythm, and once it did, I was all in.

What really stole the show for me was the romance. Matilda and Vincent’s relationship is the kind that unfolds with such quiet intensity that before you know it, you're deeply invested and fully wrecked. Their bond was tender, soulful, and completely unforgettable. The chemistry was palpable, but it’s the emotional depth between them that lingers long after finishing. (and trust me, I was savoring this story towards the end!)

Even though this is set in the same world as Divine Rivals, this story stands confidently on its own. It carves out its own space with a (mostly) fresh cast of characters and a storyline that doesn’t rely on any prior knowledge. You could walk into this world for the first time through Wild Reverence and still be captivated. It honestly provided the background information into the Gods that I wish we had gotten more of in Divine Rivals.

Beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and deeply romantic.... Wild Reverence is a story I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and Saturday Books for the eARC and the opportunity to honestly review.

I honestly can’t believe it took me so long to pick this up—what a gem. Set in the same world as Divine Rivals, this book pulled me in with its quiet magic and ended up completely wrecking me (in the best way). It’s one of those stories that sneaks up on you with how deeply it makes you feel.

The main character’s journey isn’t just about magic or ancient secrets, it’s about figuring out who they really are and what they’re willing to fight for. There’s so much heart here. The push and pull between love, loyalty, and ambition felt so real, and I got super attached to the characters without even realizing it.

The writing is gorgeous, vivid without being over the top—and the world feels alive in this wild, untamed way. I loved how the story moved between intense moments and softer, quieter scenes that made me stop and think. The pacing felt natural, like the book knew exactly when I needed a breath before diving back into the action.

Even the slower parts felt important, they gave the characters room to grow, and made everything that happened later hit harder. By the end, I didn’t want to leave this world. If you’re into stories that mix magic, self-discovery, and a little heartbreak, you need to read this. It’s honestly one of the most beautifully told adventures I’ve read in a while.

Ross has done it yet again— creating a bewitching story full of godly schemes and longing that transcends to even the most unknown of realms.
This prequel will cause heartbreak while simultaneously stitching you back together. There wasn’t one moment where I wasn’t captivated by Ross’s storytelling. Matilda & Vincent’s journey is one that truly resonated with me, filling even the most doubtful with hope.
If you love stories woven with myths, I know you’ll enjoy this. As someone who has a passion for greek mythology specifically, I loved catching all the small references to it throughout. It truly strengthens the plot when an author knows what they’re writing about.
Matilda definitely holds the gilded crown for being my favorite of all the characters. Her discovery of her capabilities, along with how her life was intertwined with those closest to her, were so intricate and powerful. You truly felt connected to the main character as if you grew up alongside her.
I think it’s easy to say, I will never truly get over this one. It holds its own weight apart from The Letter’s of Enchantment duology, yet it’s just as gut-wrenching and beautiful. Rebecca Ross, thank you for writing another story I instantly fell in love with.