Not entirely sure what to rate this. I think I'll settle on a 4 for now. Even though I loved certain parts of this, others were a bit underwhelming, and I think the book as a whole felt a little lackluster at times.

A list of a few (but not all) tropes you can expect:

*Friends to lovers

*Slow-burn

*Found family

1/5 🌶️ for a few non explicit scenes

<i>A Wild Reverence</i> revolves around the gods that we were introduced to in Divine Rivals, but this doesn't follow the story of Dacre and Enva like most would have expected; instead, this book follows a divine named Matilda and a mortal named Vincent whose paths were seemingly predestined to cross.

Wild Reverence seemed to lay the groundwork for Dacre and Enva's book by delving into their backstory, as well as explaining how the other divines are connected, so I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they're the focal point for the next release.

I have to admit that I hard a hard time getting into this initially, it didn't really "click" with me until around the 25% mark; but even then I struggled with connecting with the characters- like, all of them. Something about the plot just felt a bit surface level until the midway point, and still yet the relationships didn't always feel believable or adequately fleshed out.

The story between Vincent and Matilda was beautiful, but yet it also felt like it lacked pertinent information to make their stories cohesive. Some of their interactions felt rushed and predictable, but then others were intricate, poetic almost.

Matilda, a herald from the lower courts, came off a bit too stoic for me; she gave a lot of single word responses that just didn't fit the scene in my opinion. I think I expected her to be a bit more graceful/eloquent with her words. Not to say she wasn't at all, it just wasn't fluent. However, that all could just be personal preference, so take that bit as you may.

Vincent I loved, he was a third born son to a Lord in the mortal Realm, and I feel that his story flowed better...he was the easiest character for me to connect with. Perhaps it was because he was more attuned to his emotions as opposed to Matilda, in which case I can't fault the author because obviously a divine wouldn't necessarily start off with the same intrinsic desires/feelings as a mortal would. However, it seemed like his mother was possibly going to be an important character, yet we never found out anything about her. At one point I was even under the impression that she might have been a divine, but nothing more was said.

Allllllll of that to say, I still enjoyed it. I would still recommend it. I think I just went in with high expectations and I don't think I can say for certain that those expectations were met.

Huge thanks for NetGalley, Rebecca Ross, and St. Martins Press for the advanced digital copy!

the writing style of this book is stunning and the words feel like they are weaving a spell instead of a story. I experienced so many emotions while reading this book. the romance is captivating and the characters are nuanced and deep.

A mesmerizing masterpiece! This book was so beautiful and enchanting, I could feel it in my bones. I loved every piece of this story and Matilda and Vincent will forever hold a piece of my heart. Rebecca Ross is truly so talented a writer and has perfected such lyrical writing that completely draws you in. I was so sad every time I had to pause reading and so happy when I had time to pick up the book again. I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this beautiful beautiful story. Thank you so much For the chance to read this book early! I am so grateful for the eARC.

I loved this book.

This book was written the way I wished Ruthless
Vows had been written. It was beautifully descriptive. It was captivating and compelling. The relationships were fleshed out and made me invested in the characters. I was moved to tears more than a few times. "Father!" (Sobs).

Being able to get a glimpse into the lives of the gods and goddesses was intriguing and I felt the end of the book tied in nicely to Divine Rivals. I loved Matilda and her character development.

My suggestion: read it.

Wild Reverence left me breathless—literally sighing as I clutched the book to my chest, aching in the very place it had broken open. Oh, Rebecca Ross, how do you do this to me every time?

This story is a stunning tapestry of gods, mortals, fate, and defiance. At its center is a Harold—a divine messenger—who walks between realms with a destiny not yet etched in the stars. Raised in a quiet, sheltered corner of the world, Matilda is thrust into a realm of chaos and consequence, trained by the God of War and guided by the God of Dreams. Along the way, she collides with Vincent, a mortal boy whose connection to her is immediate, profound, and utterly world-altering.

From the first page, I was enthralled. Ross has always had a gift for weaving myth into something intimate and breathtaking, but Wild Reverence is a new level of brilliance. The gods here are capricious, dangerous, and gloriously complex. The mortals? Caught in their wake—until, of course, love dares to challenge the natural order. I adored the balance between divine manipulation and mortal agency. The stakes felt mythic, and yet deeply personal.

Matilda is absolutely perfect—a divine child aching only to be loved, yet growing into a fierce protector, unafraid to bare her teeth for those she holds dear. Her journey is one of transformation and finding strength in vulnerability and power in her humanity. Her relationships, even with her enemies, are layered with intensity and emotion. I rooted for her every step of the way, and my heart broke each time she was forced to pay the price for daring to feel. Vincent, too, is unforgettable as he is thrust into torment and war, driven by a heart that refuses to harden. His love for his people is rivaled only by the tender bond he shares with Matilda. Their love is soft, aching, and pure and exactly the kind that makes you want to cry in both joy and sadness as we are taught that a love between a mortal and a god is ultimately doomed.

As always, Rebecca Ross delivers lush prose, impeccable world-building, and characters that will haunt you in the best way. Wild Reverence is a divine addition to the Divine Rivals universe, and I’m counting the days until everyone gets to fall under its spell. This book has everything I love—mythology, romance, heartache, destiny—and it gave me more than I ever expected.


**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Loved this book! Set in the same world as Divine Rivals, Wild Reverence is the story of a goddess Matilda who is drawn to a mortal. I was drawn to this one due to the romance sub plot but loved the mythology woven into the story. I said I would write this review as soon as I finished but I already cannot articulate everything I liked about it! Ross’s writing and the way she wove the story together made this one hard to put down. Definitely recommend to others.

I enjoyed this! I’ve read DIVINE RIVALS but not the sequel. I appreciated the other worlds/gods mythologies and our narrator Matilda. I especially liked her father-figure Bade.

Oh. My. Gods. I am unwell. I fear I may never recover.

This book just completely swept me away. The story does start out a little slow (more like the style of A River Enchanted than Divine Rivals) but when it comes to Rebecca Ross you just have to trust the process. The early worldbuilding was so vital and it didn't take long for me to get completely sucked in and captivated.

I LOVED Matilda, she was such a force. She's a variation on the "Chosen One" trope which was really cool and fun to watch unfold. And sweet Vincent, her mortal soulmate, my whole heart. The two of them together were MAGIC. I was obsessed with how they were drawn to each other and how they managed to find each other time and time again. They were perfect.

There were just sooo many cool things in this book from the Gods and their powers/roles to the other little bits of magic. I was so jealous of Matilda's belt! This book was beautifully written and this world was wonderful and enchanting. I already knew I'd like this world because of how much I love Divine Rivals, but I can't even begin to express how amazing it is that Rebecca Ross can take a world we're already somewhat familiar with and add more mesmerizing layers to it. It is completely spellbinding.

It was a stroke of genius on Ross's part to take a myth from Divine Rivals and instead of making THAT story the plot of her prequel, it's the subplot. And then she interwines everything so seamlessly! Everything is so relevant and important and I am still in awe of her talent. We also get a chance to meet many more Gods in Wild Reverence and learn more about their politics and dynamics, but we're also always following Matilda and her curiosity and whims. She clearly cares about divine things but she also yearns for something more which is related to her "chosen one" potential and her love for a mortal man.

This book was a masterpiece and I will be crying about it for the rest of the year at least.

I cannot possibly thank St. Martin's Press and Rebecca Ross enough for the early copy of this book! This was my most anticipated book of 2025 and it has lived up to the expectation and more.

Rebecca Ross keeps us fed. I’m always a little scared with spinoffs and there is no need to fear. This books is so good. I loved our two leads Mathilda and Vincent and that we got to learn more about the gods and how people lived in the world with the gods. The writing is beautiful and this story swept me away.

Ahhh.. I just finished this and don’t event know where to begin… What an absolute beautiful story of love, commitment, family and honor. Rebecca’s writing will always be able to make the world even more magical through her prose. I loved the characters in this book and their relationships, but as much as I loved the main characters’, I really adored the bond between Bade and Matilda. This book made me feel all the feels and I couldn’t put it down for the last 40%. The pacing felt a bit off towards the end, almost as if it’s a bit rushed, but I feel like this is super hard to do perfectly with a standalone. I loved this world and am sad to leave it already. 5/5

Did I finish this book, or did it finish me?
That was one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read.
Beautifully heart wrenching. Rebecca poured her heart and soul into this book. No notes.
This was a stunning prequel and I cannot wait for you all to read it.
Thank you netgalley and Saturday books for the arc.

I have yet to read a Rebecca Ross book I didn't like. Wild Reverence to me felt like everything I loved about A River Enchanted and Divine Rivals.

We finally get to know the gods long before they all died and see their dynamics with each other as well as with the mortal realm. Matilda was such a wonderful main character to read about with her bravery and overflowing empathy. Her relationship with her family and Vincent was so heartbreaking and beautiful, I cried several times throughout this book. The small references to the events of Divine Rivals were even more heartbreaking as we know how that story ends many years later.

Overall I really enjoyed this as I always do with her books, and I cannot wait for my physical preorder to come in the mail.

Thank you to Netgalley as always for the ARC!

4.75 stars on StoryGraph

Wow, what a book. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book with this much of an emotional wallop to it. The end nearly made me cry.

I’d been waiting for this book for a while. When I heard that Rebecca Ross was returning to the world of Divine Rivals with an adult novel set within that world, I knew I’d have to read it. Getting the opportunity to read this early was an absolute treat!

This story is beautifully written, it reminds me of a fairy tale in the lyricism and beautiful prose the writing takes on for about the first 30%. From there, the story veers into a direction that was surprising and very fun.

The world built here with gods and humans is so well done. The lore built into the world, including some fun callbacks to Divine Rivals, is so deep that a number of books could be written about other characters. (Bade comes to mind as someone I’d love to see even more from!)

Overall, if you’re looking for a sweeping epic filled with some star crossed lovers, you’ll love this book. If you’re a fan of Divine Rivals, absolutely pick this up, and if you haven’t read the other duology, jump in anyway! The story stands on its own for sure.

Thanks to Net Galley and Saturday Books for an advanced readers copy of Wild Reverence, out September 2nd!

Wild Reverence, while a prequel to the Divine Rivals duology, will stand as a story for the ages all on its own. While there are threads for fans of Divine Rivals woven into the core of the story, the world is so immersive that anyone would be able to jump in and fully enjoy it.

Rebecca Ross crafted one of the most beautifully written, deeply romantic - in the purest form - stories I have ever read. For those who know me, Divine Rivals has a very special place in my heart as one of my favorite stories I’ve ever read. Only a very special tale can compete with my favorite story ever, and Wild Reverence might be just the story to do that.

The thought and detail put into every sentence flushes the plot so fully, that there isn’t single line or sentence that doesn’t mean something. The writing, almost lyrical, weaves together such detailed imagery. The characters jump off the page and are easy to develop attachment to.

Once my copy comes in, I will immediately be picking it back up for a reread!

this was so beautiful. I loved this so much, I could read 1000 more pages about Matilda and Vincent. The setting was so lush and the storytelling was so well done. I loved how the story was written even though it made my heart ache. One of the best books I’ve read all year!

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross

Thank you, Saturday Books, for the early copy!

Dual POV, fake marriage, found family, interesting world building, gods and unique power setup, slow burn, light spice, god and mortal

Matilda is a young goddess, and not a terribly strong one, but one born from two different factions. The gods are vicious and constantly on guard as powers can be stolen by a god who slays another. When Matilda meets Vincent in his dreams, they are instantly drawn to each other. But tragedy strikes in both their lives and Matilda flees to live with her father where she cannot be reached by Vincent. Years later, Matilda and Vincent's paths cross again, but this time Matilda is in a position to help him by pretending to be married to him as she helps to defeat his uncle who is attempting to overthrow him.

This was such a beautiful and interesting world! The setting and the power system of the gods raised the stakes in the story so there was a lot of tension between the gods as they watch their own backs. Rebecca's writing is engaging and I found myself flying through the book. Definitely had the heart wrenching and victorious moments for the full emotional impact. I really enjoyed Matilda and Vincent's story and Matilda's journey through discovering her powers.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7479545981?book_show_action=false

'Wild Reverence' is an exciting leap into a world of lush mythology, evocative imagery, and enchanted objects. The plot carefully follows Matilda and Vincent as they grow up navigating similar obstacles. That development sets the stage for the strength, loyalty, and passion that they find in each other.

The worldbuilding is immersive and detailed, referencing 'Divine Rivals', while also standing on its own. Familiar characters from the original duology also have small roles. The concept of constellations dictating people's abilities was fascinating. It was also interesting to delve deeper into godly politics and the ways that they make everything difficult. In the end, the threads of this book weave together perfectly, creating something beautiful and emotional.

Some parts of this story loosely reminded me of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Most fans of Rebecca Ross or 'Divine Rivals' should be very happy with this prequel. It might also be of interest to those who enjoyed 'The Shepherd King' duology by Rachel Gillig.

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

(Actual: 4.75⭐, rounded up) Stories utilizing the "Immortal x Mortal" relationship trope always make me CRY and this one is no exception 😭😭 I love Rebecca Ross and I loved this book! It was magical and moving and filled with so much of her signature stylistic flair; AND— while yes, I did initially come for the tie-in to the DR universe, I 1000% stayed & was enraptured by everything else this novel had to offer! Beautiful writing, well-rounded characters, and an evenly-paced plot.... I don't want to give away any spoilers since we still have several more months until pub day, but would definitely [highly] recommend and implore you all to check this one out/add it to your TBRs if you haven't already!!

Trying not to cry in public after finishing this was a real challenge. It was such an amazing read and so eloquently written. I loved the parallels between Matilda and Vincent and Iris and Roman. The epilogue made me cry (or try not to cry in public as previously mentioned). I loved the Divine Rivals duology so I was really looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint! It was really interesting to get some background into the Divine Rivals universe after reading the book. This was such a wonderfully magical read.

Thank you to Macmillan, Saturday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Wild Reverence is another beautifully written novel by Rebecca Ross! It’s a deeply emotional story, full of heart. Matilda’s journey from uncertain God-child to powerful Goddess reminded me of Circe (from the novel of the same name by Madeleine Miller)—so empowering and moving. The romance with Vincent? Swoon-worthy. Soulmates, truly.

If you loved The Letters of Enchantment series, this is a must-read. It dives deeper into the lore and expands the magical world in such a meaningful way.

Highly recommend for anyone who loves a lush, romantic fantasy with strong character growth and gorgeous prose!

Thank you to the publisher for the E-ARC!