Wild Reverence, WOW. This story is Rebecca Ross at her most lyrical (though you have to consider I’ve only read her Divine Rivals duology). It’s a story of gods, mortals, dreams, power, choices, and some mysteries. Her writing is lush and lyrical, deeply thought provoking. Returning to this fictional world was a gift.

I did find the beginning slow, because I was excited for Matilda to be an adult and also to see Vincent’s POV. But you have to get through her lore and “adolescence.” Once I got through the first act, it did pick up. Some chapters were slower than others, but I was always very curious where the story was going. There is so much world building, especially about the gods. It’s very fleshed out. Also, so many words I had to look up while reading - lots of old English/medieval type terminology. I learned a lot!

I looked for little snippets of Enva and Dacre that would become relevant for the DR duology and I actually think there was either some plot holes there, or maybe it’s that I forgot what was relevant for them. So that might have been a me issue, or something that will be worked out in her final edits. You can definitely read this book without having read the duology, since it’s a prequel. But I definitely think reading them after (or before is fine too) would be ideal!

Though this book is considered adult fantasy, the romance scenes are mostly fade to black or not very explicitly detailed. I’d rate it as no spice.

The last act is when I started getting teary and crying. So many emotions! Vincent and Nathaniel are my favorite characters, protect them at all costs.

The epilogue? CHILLS!

Thank you to St. Martin’s, Saturday Books & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rebecca Ross has this incredible way of weaving together magic and emotion, and this story absolutely swept me away. The world feels so rich and immersive, with gods and mortals tangled in a dance of power, secrets, and longing. Matilda’s strength and vulnerability were beautifully balanced, and I adored how her journey wasn’t just about survival but also about embracing her own heart. And Vincent. Oh, Vincent. There’s something so deeply moving about a connection that transcends dreams, where the echoes of the past linger even when memory fades. The romance had that delicious, aching pull, filled with yearning and tender moments that made me catch my breath. It wasn’t just the grand gestures or the fated pull that gripped me, but the raw honesty in their interactions. Every glance and every word felt heavy with meaning. Ross’s prose is stunning, poetic in a way that makes the emotions hit even harder. It’s the kind of writing that stays with you, painting vivid scenes that linger in your mind. And the themes. The weight of sacrifice, the fear of being truly seen, the power of love to defy even the gods. It’s all so beautifully explored. There’s a tension that thrums through the pages, a sense of inevitability that makes every choice feel monumental. The under realm is dark and dangerous, but there’s a strange beauty in it too, reflecting the duality of both the world and its characters. I loved it.

Infinite stars for Wild Reverence!

You can tell that Rebecca Ross has the most beautiful soul just through her writing. I am spellbound by her words. I felt every single emotion possible in this novel – happiness, grief, yearning, love, heartbreak, distress, peace – and I loved every second. The story ties in bits and pieces from Divine Rivals perfectly while still bringing in its own lore and mystery. It’s quite simply perfect. I can’t say much else other than that!

It’s only March, and I believe this will be my favorite book of the year. It certainly is my favorite of Rebecca’s novels so far, and I didn’t think anything could topple ‘A Fire Endless’ for that spot!

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press/Saturday Books, for my e-ARC!

”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. But if you must leave again, then let me follow you…”

If there is a story that defines what true love is - it is Wild Reverence.

Rebecca Ross write stories so beautifully and immaculately, Wild Reverence is no exception. The story flows smoothly and although we’ve seen a glimpse of this world in Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, there was still a ton to unfold and a lot to discover in Wild Reverence.

It is a story of gods and goddesses and mortals; of dreams and letters; of friends to lovers; of yearning and pining; of betrayal and alliances; of death and second chances; of horoscope and magic. And perhaps the most important of all, it is a story of love in its purest form.

Oh Matilda and Vincent, what am I to do with you… You made me feel love and also devastation. That ending is the perfect ending 🥺 This story will forever have me in its grasp.

Other things:
- Fake marriage
- Slow burn
- He has a nickname for her
- Who did this to you?!
- Father figure
- Chapters in roman numerals
- Chapter titles

I adore this cute little tidbit:
”♥️ The keys I and R and M and V ♥️”

And if there is a bible verse that describes Wild Reverence, it has to be this:

”Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Thank you Macmillan for the advance digital copy!

I’m almost at a loss for words on how to describe how much I loved this book. I loved Divine Rivals so I was excited to read an adult standalone set in the same world.

This book was just magical to me. Rebecca did an amazing job at embodying how gods are different from mortals, yet Vincent loves her because of that, not in spite of it. The love between Matilda and Vincent was so tender and so pure that I’m not surprised I shed a few tears while reading.

The writing itself is also just beautiful. Lyrical, magical, and giving life to the story unfolding.

I was not expecting this story to intertwine with Divine Rivals so deeply, on how Matilda’s story is the reason we have the typewriters, and how her life and her magic shaped how the typewriters work.

Rebecca Ross’ work is some of the most beautifully written that will resonate with you for ages and Wild Reverence is no exception. Told many years before Divine Rivals takes place, this is a story of a young goodness who is torn between many realms and who visits the dreams of a mortal man by chance. From there; their fate is forever entwined.

It was so beautiful and raw. I followed each word captivated with this story. I can not believe the feelings it invoked, my eyes full of tears. I can not find enough words to describe this story except that it has claimed a spot in my heart. People might say that this story was about a goddess who loved a mortal but it is so much more.

“I would wait a thousand years for you,” i will always remember this story and Vincent's word

I was really scared of this book, and especially reading it I thought it was going to end tragically. I did not feel sad at the end, I am also really awed by the epilogue and how it ties into Divine Rivals. This also had an amazing father/daughter duo that I was not expecting.

A must read for anyone who liked Divine Rivals. A young goddess finds navigating the courts of the gods and the human realm extremely challenging when fate, love, and death all seem to be at odds.

I love Rebecca Ross’s writing style. I think her prose is beautiful and flows exceptionally well. I was very hesitant when starting this book because it is set in the world of Divine Rivals (before those events) and the weakest part of those books were the gods. Only to find that in this book, the gods are fascinating, multi-layered, devious, and scary. Just what a pantheon should be. The character work was excellent (growth from multiple main characters) and the plot kept me hooked from start to finish. If I had a minor complaint, it would be the predictability at points, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I would gladly read another book (or 10) about these gods. But to have a stand-alone this good was a treat. There was an excellent balance between character building, plot, and romance. Rebecca Ross remains the gold standard when it comes to Romantasy.

I ate this like an Underling god recieving a prayer. It was delicious and I want more!

It was such a pleasure to be returning to this world of Divine Rivals. I loved that duology, so when I saw that Rebecca Ross was returning to this world with a story from before that time centering on the gods I knew I was going to read it!

We start of witnessing the birth of Matilda and her constellation of six stars. She is to be the herald of the realms, a lower mid-tier goddess born of two realms. Underling and Skyward. Caught between the two, not really belonging to either. I related to watching her struggle with this aspect of her birth a lot, it reminded me a lot of the modern day complexities that arise because you are biracial (enter me, a biracial lady).

She meets Vincent in his dreams when they were kids, starting the entanglement of their threads of fate there. Unfortunately some things happen that make a gap of time where they grow up, but they meet again when Vincent needs her help the most. There is a trope(spoiler of trope can be seen at bottom) here that happens that I was not expecting but ABSOLUTELY LOVED READING. It was well done in my opinion, and made a lot of sense.

There is a lot of Underling/Skyward political world building, and of you read Divine Rivals and wanted to understand more about how the gods were you get that with this book. But you don't have to read the Divine Rivals duology to enjoy this book!

Overall I finished this in a day and would read it again!

SPOILER TROPE: fake dating