Wild Reverence: A Novel
* This stunning luxe edition includes a jacketed printed case with custom character art, full-color designed endpapers, black stained edges and foiled cover elements. While supplies last! *
Set in the world of the gods first introduced in Divine Rivals, #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Ross delivers a sweeping, beautiful adult novel filled with tension, romance, and dark secrets.
True love is more divine than any ruthless god.
Born in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic. But in a land where gods often kill each other to steal power and alliances break as quickly as they are forged, Matilda must come of age sooner than most. She may be known to carry words and letters through the realms, but she holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest of allies to ensure her survival. And to complicate matters . . . there is a mortal boy who dreams of her, despite the fact they have never met in the waking world.
Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life—begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. When his request went unanswered, Vincent moved on, becoming the hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda. That is, until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.
As Fate would have it, Matilda and Vincent were destined to find each other beyond dreams. There may be a chance for Matilda to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, but at immense sacrifice. She will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: to be vulnerable, and to allow herself to finally be loved.
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Community Reviews
As far as the Divine Rivals connection, this honestly felt more akin to Rebecca's book Dreams Lie Beneath. Very similar vibes. There were some connections to the Divine Rivals story, and this book was the world building that was lacking in it, which was nice.
Overall I did enjoy this book, but it was just a little bit slow for me.
Matilda, our “humble messenger goddess,” starts out with the divine equivalent of being the kid who gets picked last in gym class. Except instead of dodgeballs, the gods are throwing daggers, curses, and entire kingdoms at each other. She’s got the personality of someone who will deliver your bad-news scroll with a polite smile and then secretly plot how not to die before dinner. Ten out of ten, would hire her as my celestial mailwoman.
Enter Vincent, the mortal lord with a tragic past and more emotional baggage than a god could carry without divine chiropractic care. He’s grumpy, he’s broody, and of course, he’s the exact mortal who once poured his heart out to Matilda in a dream when he was younger. Naturally, when she crashes into his life again (literally through his bedroom window—because subtle entrances are for lesser mortals), sparks fly, swords clash, and I start rooting for these two like they’re my favorite dysfunctional reality TV couple.
The romance? Equal parts sharp banter, longing stares, and “we really shouldn’t but we really, really should.” The world-building? Gorgeous. Blood-soaked. Messy in the best way. The pacing? Like being shot out of a cannon, but instead of screaming, you’re cheering because FINALLY a fantasy book that gives drama, stakes, and feelings all at once.
This book has everything: cutthroat gods, dream magic, a heroine who grows from “please don’t notice me” to “kneel or be smited,” and a romance that makes you want to throw the book across the room in the best possible way.
In short: Wild Reverence deserves every star, every flame emoji, and probably a fan club for Vincent’s scowl.
Many thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for this review copy!
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