By skyforbes 
by Jeneane Vanderhoof
Rebecca Ross’s Wild Reverence is a romantasy that delves deep into the brutal, often chaotic world of the divine, tracing the life of a singular goddess whose very existence defies the laws of her ancient kind. While the story functions as a fully self-contained narrative, it is a prequel to the acclaimed Letters of Enchantment series, setting the stage for a new mythology where power is not found in immortality, but in the vulnerability of love. For this first-time Ross reader, the discovery that this captivating world belongs to a larger series only deepened the overall satisfaction, immediately compelling the pursuit of the subsequent two-part duology.
The narrative centers on Matilda, who is born into the lowest tier of the Middle court of the Gods. She is a herald, a messenger capable of traversing the various realms — a skill that none of the more powerful Gods can achieve. This unique lineage — born of a Skyward father and an Underling mother, an identity her mother meticulously concealed — marks her as an outsider in both warring courts. Her mixed heritage makes her not only unique but profoundly vulnerable to the power-hungry deities who seek to steal her soul-bearing magic. Her life is a study in navigating treacherous divine politics, a necessity taught to her from birth in the firelit burrows of the Underling realm.
Matilda’s childhood is defined by the efforts of those who attempt to shield her from the inevitable danger. Her cunning Underling mother, Zenia, the goddess of winter and fire, raised Matilda in a shroud of secrecy, knowing that her daughter’s existence was a threat to the established order. Zenia, herself marked by ambition and a pragmatic understanding of the divine black market, took immense risks to protect Matilda. This includes the fatal illegal trade of eithral scales, a rare commodity capable of piercing the heart of a god. The brutal divine court, defined by gods who kill one another for power, ensures that Zenia’s transgression is met with deadly betrayal- she is murdered by Phelyra, a jealous god of cunning, who uses an eithral scale to seize her power. This assassination is the inciting incident that forces Matilda to flee her home in exile, confirming the harsh reality that, in the divine courts, love is a dangerous weakness.
Before her death, Zenia orchestrated a binding alliance for Matilda. Bade, the god of war, a gruff, scarred, and formidable figure, makes a salt vow to Zenia, marking him as Matilda’s guardian. Bade’s loyalty is the one stable force in Matilda’s life, and his relentless training — teaching her to wield a shield and a sword — is not about conquest, but about survival. Under his tutelage, Matilda learns that trust is a rare commodity and that the martial life can be driven by a powerful, protective love. Bade’s relationship with the mortal Queen Adria, whose words and charisma rival the power of the gods, further underscores this theme, showing that the fiercest gods can be susceptible to human emotions, and their love becomes a symbol of hope and defiance against the traditional boundaries.
The conflict between the divine courts is rooted in their contrasting societal structures and philosophies. The Underling Court, domain of the Underling gods who dwell in firelit burrows, represents a brutal, cutthroat society where power is hoarded and alliances are fragile. Though led by the Matriarch Orphia, the Goddess of Death, this society is too hostile to fully accept Matilda due to her mixed parentage, preventing her from becoming a member of the clan. This atmosphere of constant internal betrayal and lethal ambition stands in stark opposition to the Skyward court, whose deities inhabit magnificent celestial halls, and whose authority is more rooted in celestial and natural elements, though they remain embroiled in the larger, overarching divine conflict.
This chaos eventually connects with the mortal world through Vincent of Beckett, a mortal lord of the river. As a young girl, Matilda discovers she can travel through the realm of dreams and forges a bond with Vincent, who is plagued by nightmares. Their connection offers him solace and provides Matilda with a rare space of emotional authenticity. However, when Vincent, suffering from family betrayal and loss, sends a desperate childhood plea that goes unanswered, he interprets Matilda’s silence as divine abandonment. Over the years, this trauma and loss shape him into a hardened and irreverent young man who deliberately forgets the goddess he once trusted. He relies only on himself, creating a persona defined by world-weary skepticism and a deep contempt for the gods.
Matilda’s exile eventually leads her back to the mortal realm, where she is tasked by the god of death with a grim duty: delivering a final message to Vincent, who is “doomed to die.” Her deep bond with Vincent immediately complicates this divine duty. The message is a warning of an imminent threat from Vincent’s political rival, Grimald, who has formed a treacherous alliance with the cruel god of spring and rivers, Warin.
Warin embodies the worst aspects of the Skyward court. His divine portfolio, encompassing rivers and iron, amplifies his unchecked personal ambition and cruelty. He demands cruel tributes from mortals — such as third-born children — for safe river passage, and he views Matilda’s unique magic as something to be possessed. His alliance with Grimald signals a coming storm, forcing Matilda to defy divine law.
To protect Vincent and his people, Matilda enacts a desperate plan: she and Vincent enter into a ruse of marriage, posing as a divine-mortal alliance that they hope will deter the attack. This political maneuver forces them to confront their long-suppressed feelings and establish genuine intimacy and trust under impossible pressure.
The ultimate confrontation will arrive with the Siege of Wyndrift, Vincent’s fortress. The resulting battle is a collision of two worlds: the selfless, protective loyalty of the mortal and the compassionate, interventionist power of a goddess determined to save the one she loves. The narrative throws the heroes into the brutal climax, leaving the reader in the immediate aftermath of the battle with the core conflicts intensely unresolved. Matilda’s powerful feelings for Vincent, a mortal who was once a boy in her dreams, force her to unleash her power in ways the gods never intended, yet this act comes at an almost unimaginable cost.
What will be the final outcome for Matilda and Vincent? Will the powerful magic she wielded in the defense of Wyndrift be enough to protect them from Warin’s relentless jealousy and Grimald’s mortal treachery? And what of Matilda’s unique destiny — will her power, born of two warring realms, truly be a blessing that allows her to forge a new path, or a cruel curse that ultimately puts her own life and immortality in danger? Wild Reverence delivers a profound exploration of choice and sacrifice, leaving the most pivotal questions — about the endurance of love against fate and the cost of defying the gods — waiting to be answered.
Happy Reading!