Wild Reverence

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What is your overall opinion about Wild Reverence? What were your favorite and least favorite elements of the novel?

2. Compare and contrast Wild Reverence to the Letters of Enchantment duology. What stands out as most different about this prequel novel?

3. How did the Epilogue’s connection to the rest of the duology land for you? Looking back on Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, do you feel the presence of Matilda’s magic in the other novels? Why or why not?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Matilda and Vincent both struggle with the traumatic loss of their parents and cope by repressing their emotions. How does their method of coping compare to your own in difficult circumstances?

2. The tension between myth and truth is an important dichotomy in Wild Reverence. Think of a time you heard an important narrative that you later found out wasn’t true. How did finding out the truth impact you?

3. Matilda and Vincent initially struggle to build trust in their friendship and romantic relationship. How do you build trust in a new relationship?

4. Matilda frequently makes sacrifices for those she cares about, especially Vincent and Nathaniel. Discuss a time you were selfless for someone you care about. How did it affect you, the other person, and your relationship?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Consider the settings of the under realm, Skyward, and the mortal realm. What is the power dynamic, both between and within the realms? How do the novel’s representations mimic those of the contemporary world?

2. How does the issue of gender appear in the context of Matilda’s romantic relationships? What commentary does Ross make on the connections between gender and power in the mortal realm versus the realms of the gods? How does this exploration connect to real-life issues around gender and power?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Wild Reverence switches between Matilda and Vincent’s points of view before ending with an Epilogue by Enva. What are the unique aspects of each narrator’s passages? How does this structural choice affect the narrative? How might it be different if told only from Matilda’s perspective?

2. Matilda grows from an insecure, afraid young goddess into one of the most powerful goddesses in Skyward and the under realm. Trace Matilda’s growth in both power and confidence, discussing the most essential moments of her individual character development and the evolution of her relationship with Vincent.

3. Wild Reverence falls into the romantasy genre, incorporating conventions from both romance and fantasy. What genre tropes does Ross utilize, and what tropes does she subvert? Which stand out to you as most effective?

4. Discuss the importance of the lone eithral’s presence in the narrative. How does it act as a foil for Matilda throughout the novel?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were a deity in the Wild Reverence universe, would you rather live in Skyward or the under realm? What would your power be? Craft a character dossier for yourself.

2. If Ross were to write another prequel, taking place after Wild Reverence but before Divine Rivals, what would happen in that novel? How do you think the war between the Underlings and Skywards would play out?