I loved reading Rebecca Ross’ historical fantasy duology Letters of Enchantment, with Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows both serving as enjoyable and inspirational reads. The language use, tone and atmosphere, and overall feel of the books were so immersive and beautiful, and I remember them fondly. When I heard that Wild Reverence was being published, I was torn. On one hand, I really do like the narrative styles of Rebecca’s historical fantasy story world, but the YA-leaning characters and themes left me wishing for more. I wasn’t sure where Wild Reverence would sit, so I put off reading it until now.

Born in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic she uses to carry words and letters through the realms. But the gods will kill for power, and Matilda holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest allies. And there is a mortal who dreams of her, though 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. His request went unanswered, and Vincent became a hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda…until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him. Matilda and Vincent were fated to find each other beyond dreams. But to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, Matilda will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: finally allowing herself to be loved.

This review will contain minor spoilers, so please do not read if you have yet to read Wild Reverence. There are no spoilers for Divine Rivals or Ruthless Vows, merely referencing the stylistic and narrative elements for comparison.

As expected, the writing has been enchanting to read; the lyrical description and flow make for smooth reading and such an intriguing setting to soak up. The gods and goddesses are flawed yet cruel, hard yet soft, and create tense interactions and dynamics that Matilda has to weave between. Matilda herself is an interesting character, both juvenile and forced to grow up too soon, lest she face a fate worse than normalcy in the realm of gods and the divine. The beginning of the story provides so many lush details, but it still carries that young protagonist feel that left me weary with the duology. But then came Matilda’s choice to step into her responsibilities.

Matilda, the girl who is sheltered in the under realm and sheltered from her true power as a result, steps into her fated role at a moment of great emotional turmoil within the realm. When I read this part, I instantly liked her more as a character, even though she is still reckless in her actions and forethought. I expect from her as a young character, but this stepping forward to help an ally marks the start of her journey as a young woman growing into who she is meant to be. She is flawed, but she is brave and loyal, willing to help those who help her. I love this, and this scene served as the enticing hook for me.

What I also appreciate about Wild Reverence is that Vincent’s perspective only comes in once Matilda has met him, not earlier, where it would have been possible, but not necessary. I wouldn’t say it is a pet peeve of mine, but I can sometimes struggle to connect with a perspective if it isn’t providing anything for the narrative, and I fear this may have happened had Vincent’s point of view been used any earlier than this. It feels like a turning point for him, and from here, we see how his life has been completely altered by his brief meeting with Matilda. You can already feel his emotional investment from the first interaction, so you know it is going to be one of those achy, heart-wrenching, longing reads. I love a slow burn, and a man with emotional depth and layers just makes it all the more enticing.

Safe to say that Wild Reverence hit all the notes it needed to reach the same heights as Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, and the character development for Matilda definitely sat right with me. Wild Reverence doesn’t feel like a YA read to me; it sits in that “New Adult” space in terms of language use, themes, character depth and overall story layers. In a way, it reminds me of Circe by Madeline Miller or House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig. I would highly recommend it to fantasy readers who like that kind of dark fairytale-like fantasy and characters who are young protagonists who come across as strong, mindful, and emotionally mature. I enjoyed it so much, and it might be the reason I end up with some Rebecca Ross books on my shelf by the end of 2026.