“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.”
Wild Reverence, Rebecca Ross
I loved the Letters of Enchantment and the Elements of Cadence series by Rebecca Ross, and Wild Reverence is a perfect blend of the two storylines. Set in the Divine Rivals universe, Wild Reverence tells the story of a young goddess Matilda and the human boy Vincent she meets in his dreams. And when they meet again, they form a pact that forces both of them to consider how much they’re willing to sacrifice. Through decades, their relationship grows and changes, as Matilda spends time with the other gods in multiple realms and Vincent becomes the begrudging lord of his kingdom.
If you’ve only read the Letters of Enchantment series, you may be expecting a more “urban fantasy” type of storyline, with cities, newspapers, trains, and typewriters. This book is more in line with the fantasy of the Elements of Cadence series, with gods who control seasons and earthly elements, as well as war, music, fate, and many other elements. Also in line with the Elements of Cadence series, this is set in a fairytale-esque timeline, with lords and knights, castles, travel by horseback, and worship of gods.
Like any good Ross fantasy, this has a deep and cutting romance spun into the story’s very essence. Matilda and Vincent face a series of challenges that left me with my heart ripped out. As if their difficult choices weren’t sad enough, Ross writes so poetically and deeply that every sentiment was a nail in my emotional coffin. And as the final act ended, the tie-in to Divine Rivals was almost too much for me to handle.
Suffice to say, I loved this book, and highly recommend it to anyone. If you’ve read either of Ross’s other series I mentioned, this is an immediate yes in a “why are you even asking?” kind of way. And if this is your first Ross book, perfect! I hope you like it, and you should immediately get your hands on the other four books I mentioned!
Thanks to Netgalley and Saturday Books for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
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