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The Ouroboros #1
Godly Heathens
Godly Heathens is the first book in H.E. Edgmon's YA contemporary fantasy duology The Ouroboros, in which a teen, Gem, finds out they’re a reincarnated god from another world.
Maybe I have always just been bad at being human because I’m not one.
Gem Echols is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in the tiny town of Gracie, Georgia. Known for being their peers’ queer awakening, Gem leans hard on charm to disguise the anxious mess they are beneath. The only person privy to their authentic self is another trans kid, Enzo, who’s a thousand long, painful miles away in Brooklyn.
But even Enzo doesn’t know about Gem’s dreams, haunting visions of magic and violence that have always felt too real. So how the hell does Willa Mae Hardy? The strange new girl in town acts like she and Gem are old companions, and seems to know things about them they’ve never told anyone else.
When Gem is attacked by a stranger claiming to be the Goddess of Death, Willa Mae saves their life and finally offers some answers. She and Gem are reincarnated gods who’ve known and loved each other across lifetimes. But Gem – or at least who Gem used to be - hasn’t always been the most benevolent deity. They’ve made a lot of enemies in the pantheon—enemies who, like the Goddess of Death, will keep coming.
It’s a good thing they’ve still got Enzo. But as worlds collide and the past catches up with the present, Gem will discover that everyone has something to hide.
Maybe I have always just been bad at being human because I’m not one.
Gem Echols is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in the tiny town of Gracie, Georgia. Known for being their peers’ queer awakening, Gem leans hard on charm to disguise the anxious mess they are beneath. The only person privy to their authentic self is another trans kid, Enzo, who’s a thousand long, painful miles away in Brooklyn.
But even Enzo doesn’t know about Gem’s dreams, haunting visions of magic and violence that have always felt too real. So how the hell does Willa Mae Hardy? The strange new girl in town acts like she and Gem are old companions, and seems to know things about them they’ve never told anyone else.
When Gem is attacked by a stranger claiming to be the Goddess of Death, Willa Mae saves their life and finally offers some answers. She and Gem are reincarnated gods who’ve known and loved each other across lifetimes. But Gem – or at least who Gem used to be - hasn’t always been the most benevolent deity. They’ve made a lot of enemies in the pantheon—enemies who, like the Goddess of Death, will keep coming.
It’s a good thing they’ve still got Enzo. But as worlds collide and the past catches up with the present, Gem will discover that everyone has something to hide.
Audiobook
First published November 28, 2023
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About the author
H.E. Edgmon
13 books860 followersH.E. Edgmon (he/they) is a high school and college dropout, a militant queer, and an author of books both irreverent and radicalizing. His stories will always center the perspective of Indigenous people, trans people, and survivors of trauma. At present, he’s probably biting off more than he can chew, emulating the aesthetic of Dwayne from The Lost Boys (1987), and living out the found family trope in Brooklyn. Online, he can most often be found on Twitter @heedgmon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 822 reviews
May 9, 2024
A YA contemporary fantasy where gods from another realm are reincarnated as teenagers in small town Georgia, and not all of them are nice.
First of all, I love all the love this book is getting in the early reviews. I do think that if I had read this as a teen, it would have become my favorite book hands down, the kind that changes your reading life, and maybe your larger life because you finally feel seen. The kind you force into your friends' hands and shout, 'Read this now!'. The kind where you fall in love with every character who is messy and sexy and terrible in their own way. But, alas, I am an old, so my enthusiasm is a bit dampened. That's not to say I didn't very much enjoy the book. The worldbuilding is fun and creative, the twists are generally satisfying, and it is super queer in the best way. I have a few quibbles about length and structure and story logic, but I don't think they'll matter that much to the average teen reader who will find plenty to love. If only all the villain stories in YA could be this good.
I received a free ARC which in no way impacted my honest review.
First of all, I love all the love this book is getting in the early reviews. I do think that if I had read this as a teen, it would have become my favorite book hands down, the kind that changes your reading life, and maybe your larger life because you finally feel seen. The kind you force into your friends' hands and shout, 'Read this now!'. The kind where you fall in love with every character who is messy and sexy and terrible in their own way. But, alas, I am an old, so my enthusiasm is a bit dampened. That's not to say I didn't very much enjoy the book. The worldbuilding is fun and creative, the twists are generally satisfying, and it is super queer in the best way. I have a few quibbles about length and structure and story logic, but I don't think they'll matter that much to the average teen reader who will find plenty to love. If only all the villain stories in YA could be this good.
I received a free ARC which in no way impacted my honest review.
December 8, 2023
Queer reincarnated gods?!
The idea and concept are great, but I found it difficult to form an emotional connection with the characters, which hindered my investment in their journey. I wanted the characters to be more complex and multidimensional, with layers that add depth to the story. Also, the pacing was a bit uneven. Overall, an okay read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, H.E. Edgmon, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
The idea and concept are great, but I found it difficult to form an emotional connection with the characters, which hindered my investment in their journey. I wanted the characters to be more complex and multidimensional, with layers that add depth to the story. Also, the pacing was a bit uneven. Overall, an okay read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, H.E. Edgmon, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
November 6, 2023
Godly Heathens begins as an unsettling look at the mental health of an indigenous trans & non-binary kid, and then blooms into a fantastical tale of reincarnated teen gods at war among themselves. It's a story about pain, trauma, found family, and grappling with mental health challenges, but also about being your truest self. The characters are at best morally gray and all are broken in some way, their lives rife with trauma. But they love fiercely.
A super angsty and dark take on contemporary YA fantasy, this feels like the sort of book that some teens will absolutely love and find themselves in. The cast of characters is very diverse in terms of gender and sexuality and the main character-Gem's Seminole heritage is lightly woven into the narrative. There is also some discussion of ethical non-monogamy/polyamory though I wouldn't take the way it's handled here as a guidebook. But they're hurt messy teenagers so it's not like it's shocking. This is the sort of book that will either really be fore your or not but I'm glad it's out there. The audio narration is okay, though some of the voice choices for characters were a little weird, especially Enzo, the trans guy Gem is in love with. I received an audio copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings for violence, gore, depictions of torture, mental health crises, hallucinations, self-harm, blood, transphobia...
A super angsty and dark take on contemporary YA fantasy, this feels like the sort of book that some teens will absolutely love and find themselves in. The cast of characters is very diverse in terms of gender and sexuality and the main character-Gem's Seminole heritage is lightly woven into the narrative. There is also some discussion of ethical non-monogamy/polyamory though I wouldn't take the way it's handled here as a guidebook. But they're hurt messy teenagers so it's not like it's shocking. This is the sort of book that will either really be fore your or not but I'm glad it's out there. The audio narration is okay, though some of the voice choices for characters were a little weird, especially Enzo, the trans guy Gem is in love with. I received an audio copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings for violence, gore, depictions of torture, mental health crises, hallucinations, self-harm, blood, transphobia...
November 5, 2022
Holy shit this was BONKERS how am I friends with such a talented writer???
I don’t know what all to say about this except that it’s BONKERS and it hits home in so many ways that it balances with the chaotic absurdity and I’m still reeling. I will be thinking about this one for a long time
I once said that I almost wish the people who emotionally abused me for years in high school would try to reach out all these years later and make amends just so I could tell them to get lost because they irrevocably hurt my mental health, and this book is for everyone who’s ever felt like that, and I hope it finds them.
And if nothing else, pick this up because the goddess of death has the same legal name as my cat
I don’t know what all to say about this except that it’s BONKERS and it hits home in so many ways that it balances with the chaotic absurdity and I’m still reeling. I will be thinking about this one for a long time
I once said that I almost wish the people who emotionally abused me for years in high school would try to reach out all these years later and make amends just so I could tell them to get lost because they irrevocably hurt my mental health, and this book is for everyone who’s ever felt like that, and I hope it finds them.
And if nothing else, pick this up because the goddess of death has the same legal name as my cat
March 24, 2025
This book has been on my Netgalley shelf for months, but it was such an anticipated release for me that I couldn't bring myself to start it; it felt intimidating. I'm so glad I finally did though, because this was AMAZING.
It's hard to review this just because it felt so truly unique and it scratched my brain in a weird way that I can't explain, just like the Witch King duology did. This book combines two tropes that I feel are hard to do well: reincarnation and soulmates. But if done right, these tropes are some of my favourites of all time, and I loved them here.
I already said this book was unique but I have to reiterate that, because I've genuinely not read anything like it. If I had to comp it to anything, I would go with Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but this only holds up in part. I do think if you loved that, you will also love this.
I spent my entire time reading this on the edge of my seat, unable to predict pretty much anything, and I can only say I need the sequel NOW!
It's hard to review this just because it felt so truly unique and it scratched my brain in a weird way that I can't explain, just like the Witch King duology did. This book combines two tropes that I feel are hard to do well: reincarnation and soulmates. But if done right, these tropes are some of my favourites of all time, and I loved them here.
I already said this book was unique but I have to reiterate that, because I've genuinely not read anything like it. If I had to comp it to anything, I would go with Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but this only holds up in part. I do think if you loved that, you will also love this.
I spent my entire time reading this on the edge of my seat, unable to predict pretty much anything, and I can only say I need the sequel NOW!
April 3, 2025
First read 2023: This was great and I can't say enough how much I wish I had H.E. Edgmon's books as a teen.
A teenage Indigenous trans God who doesn't know they're a God living in a small town, slowly has to remember their past life to unravel the mess they're in and through uncovering lost memories reckon with if they're the hero or the villain in this story. This book is messy and heavy at times, everyone has a past and everyone has secrets and no one really knows what the "right" thing to do is. I really enjoyed Gem and Willa Mae as a morally grey characters, I loved how queer and trans this book is, and I loved how messy and terrible everyone is.
I had a bit of a hard time keeping up with the many characters with multiple names and flashbacks, but I do think the author did a great job of continuing to remind you who people were, I think I should have done some annotating to help me as this is generally a thing I have a hard time keeping up with. The plot got a bit winding with some leaps in logic, but I don't think I would have thought twice about that as a teen and for the most part just had to shut my adult brain off a few times.
Overall, I loved this and look forward to book two! Especially after that major cliffhanger of an ending! Can't wait to reread when the next book comes out.
CW: death, mental illness, gore, violence, torture, self harm, animal cruelty (mild) it's hinted at that something may happen to the dog, but the dog doesn't die, child abuse, racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexual content (mild)
Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the advanced reader copy.
Reread 2025
Reread this mostly via audiobook this time, which was great. I still ended up a bit confused by all the characters and multiple names, but kept it together well enough.
A teenage Indigenous trans God who doesn't know they're a God living in a small town, slowly has to remember their past life to unravel the mess they're in and through uncovering lost memories reckon with if they're the hero or the villain in this story. This book is messy and heavy at times, everyone has a past and everyone has secrets and no one really knows what the "right" thing to do is. I really enjoyed Gem and Willa Mae as a morally grey characters, I loved how queer and trans this book is, and I loved how messy and terrible everyone is.
I had a bit of a hard time keeping up with the many characters with multiple names and flashbacks, but I do think the author did a great job of continuing to remind you who people were, I think I should have done some annotating to help me as this is generally a thing I have a hard time keeping up with. The plot got a bit winding with some leaps in logic, but I don't think I would have thought twice about that as a teen and for the most part just had to shut my adult brain off a few times.
Overall, I loved this and look forward to book two! Especially after that major cliffhanger of an ending! Can't wait to reread when the next book comes out.
CW: death, mental illness, gore, violence, torture, self harm, animal cruelty (mild) it's hinted at that something may happen to the dog, but the dog doesn't die, child abuse, racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexual content (mild)
Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the advanced reader copy.
Reread 2025
Reread this mostly via audiobook this time, which was great. I still ended up a bit confused by all the characters and multiple names, but kept it together well enough.
November 26, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free via NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving my honest thoughts. Many thanks to Wednesday Books for the opportunity!
1.5 rounded down. 🙈 This sort of had its moments, but overall was a mismatch for me. I hate love triangles. I LOVE why choose. But this was a combo of both in the worst way that had me extremely frustrated for basically the entire read. I get it. Reincarnated gods. Gods can scheme, they backstab, they kiss and make up and then some. But I struggled with the MC when they were unintentionally hurting both of the people they cared about because they just Loved Them Both So Much they couldn't help themselves. 🥲 It truly does just feel like we're watching someone have two relationships, which is what we get for the LONGEST time. Both of the love interests also rarely talk to each other, are justifyingly + clearly hurt that the MC is interested in someone else without actually communicating to them what's happening and why the attraction is there.
On top of that, it didn't help that I honestly liked Willa Mae and Enzo WAY more than Gem, but we only have Gem's POV. 🤣I know that part of that is intentional in Gem's character development and hey, I can understand that Gem does have his appeal. I also do like Gem's relationship dynamics with Willa Mae and Enzo respectively, and I get there's a push and pull and everything. BUT the miscommunication Gem had with both of them was very blergh. Even when there were conversations, some of it just was tough to reconcile with the Gem's logic or explanations for me. They're lucky that they have two lovers who absolutely love them NO MATTER WHAT. 😂
The worldbuilding was so-so, but overall, I've had more fun with the concepts presented here in different books that felt like they had more depth as well. While certain things were explained, I do sort of wish we got more show than tell. The buildup with everything pulled me in a little bit, but then lost me every now and then. With all that said, I would probably give Edgmon a chance with another book, but I'm not interested in the sequel.
1.5 rounded down. 🙈 This sort of had its moments, but overall was a mismatch for me. I hate love triangles. I LOVE why choose. But this was a combo of both in the worst way that had me extremely frustrated for basically the entire read. I get it. Reincarnated gods. Gods can scheme, they backstab, they kiss and make up and then some. But I struggled with the MC when they were unintentionally hurting both of the people they cared about because they just Loved Them Both So Much they couldn't help themselves. 🥲 It truly does just feel like we're watching someone have two relationships, which is what we get for the LONGEST time. Both of the love interests also rarely talk to each other, are justifyingly + clearly hurt that the MC is interested in someone else without actually communicating to them what's happening and why the attraction is there.
On top of that, it didn't help that I honestly liked Willa Mae and Enzo WAY more than Gem, but we only have Gem's POV. 🤣I know that part of that is intentional in Gem's character development and hey, I can understand that Gem does have his appeal. I also do like Gem's relationship dynamics with Willa Mae and Enzo respectively, and I get there's a push and pull and everything. BUT the miscommunication Gem had with both of them was very blergh. Even when there were conversations, some of it just was tough to reconcile with the Gem's logic or explanations for me. They're lucky that they have two lovers who absolutely love them NO MATTER WHAT. 😂
The worldbuilding was so-so, but overall, I've had more fun with the concepts presented here in different books that felt like they had more depth as well. While certain things were explained, I do sort of wish we got more show than tell. The buildup with everything pulled me in a little bit, but then lost me every now and then. With all that said, I would probably give Edgmon a chance with another book, but I'm not interested in the sequel.
August 10, 2023
Received as an ARC.
Godly Heathens follows Gem Echols, and there’s really only three things you need to know about them: You owe probably half of Gracie, Georgia’s high school students’ queer awakenings to them, they want to move to Brooklyn to live with the boy they’ve been crushing on for years, and they’re an ancient, eons-old god reincarnated.
That’s what Willa Mae Hardy says anyway, the gorgeous and strange new girl who seems to know everything about Gem. Apparently, she and Gem are reincarnated gods who’ve known and loved each other across lifetimes. But Gem – or at least who Gem used to be - hasn’t always been the most benevolent deity. There are other gods coming for them, enemies they’ve made along the way of their eternal life. As worlds collide and the past catches up with the present, Gem will discover that everyone has something to hide.
I was fascinated with the premise of Godly Heathens. Literally sign me up for a queer fantasy story about godhood, contemporary Young Adult be damned. But there were problems with this novel that made me nearly drop it, and I only finished it for the sake of finishing it.
I was bored with the pacing of the story, where at times it seemed so slow to get to the point. The writing wasn’t spectacular either; I’m going to be honest, the dialogue switched between cringe-worthy to melodramatic, and I just couldn’t take it seriously enough. None of the characters or their problems compelled me also. Even more, the worldbuilding seemed weak and not wholly thought-out.
I appreciate that this book had a majority queer and POC cast, and the ending was interesting! But not interesting enough for me to wait excitedly for the sequel I heard was coming.
This story was not for me, but I know that younger queer kids would definitely appreciate this kind of novel.
Godly Heathens follows Gem Echols, and there’s really only three things you need to know about them: You owe probably half of Gracie, Georgia’s high school students’ queer awakenings to them, they want to move to Brooklyn to live with the boy they’ve been crushing on for years, and they’re an ancient, eons-old god reincarnated.
That’s what Willa Mae Hardy says anyway, the gorgeous and strange new girl who seems to know everything about Gem. Apparently, she and Gem are reincarnated gods who’ve known and loved each other across lifetimes. But Gem – or at least who Gem used to be - hasn’t always been the most benevolent deity. There are other gods coming for them, enemies they’ve made along the way of their eternal life. As worlds collide and the past catches up with the present, Gem will discover that everyone has something to hide.
I was fascinated with the premise of Godly Heathens. Literally sign me up for a queer fantasy story about godhood, contemporary Young Adult be damned. But there were problems with this novel that made me nearly drop it, and I only finished it for the sake of finishing it.
I was bored with the pacing of the story, where at times it seemed so slow to get to the point. The writing wasn’t spectacular either; I’m going to be honest, the dialogue switched between cringe-worthy to melodramatic, and I just couldn’t take it seriously enough. None of the characters or their problems compelled me also. Even more, the worldbuilding seemed weak and not wholly thought-out.
I appreciate that this book had a majority queer and POC cast, and the ending was interesting! But not interesting enough for me to wait excitedly for the sequel I heard was coming.
This story was not for me, but I know that younger queer kids would definitely appreciate this kind of novel.
May 29, 2024
3.5 - 4 stars. I didn't love everything about this... about 75% of the way through I felt like I lost the thread and didn't really get back to it until closer to the end. However I'm glad I stuck it out as I suspected at some point this confusion was intentional. H. E. Edgmon is making the reader feel as disoriented and confused about who is who (as each character has multiple names, memories, and recognition of themselves) in such a way as it is the closest I (as a bisexual woman) may ever come to having even an iota of understanding what it might be like to be confused about gender and sexuality as a teen (my own understanding of being bisexual was helped along by some key late 90's, early LGBTQ+ Internet pages) .
I'm looking forward to recommending this to my trans cousin and seeing what she thinks. I am confident she will want to read it when I tell her it's complex like Gideon the Ninth (Tamsyn Muir), as godly as Banewrecker (Jacqueline Carey), and as teenage romantic as Aristotle and Dante (Benjamin Alire Sáenz). It also features realistic physical moments between a trans character and their partner; such as running fingers over top surgery scars. I shivered a little at this at felt so genuine and definitely very intimate.
All that said... there are three important things to know, in my opinion, going into Godly Heathens: 1) The ending is abrupt and a cliffhanger. I was lucky to have book 2, Merciless Saviors at my fingertips to start immediately. You are likely to want to do the same. It is about one minute between the end of the first book and the opening line of book 2. I greatly dislike this, as it gives no reminder of the story if there has been some time between books (it's also just rude to readers to give no real ending at all...). I'm also not a fan of reading books one after another for fear of getting tired of characters or the story. That said, here I am making the exception for the first time in years.
2) There are a lot of characters with different names, abilities, memories, and situations. It's a lot to keep track of. I did not realize, until near the end, that there is a cast of the god characters at the back of the print book. However it should be noted that the list has spoilers for events in this first book.
One thing that does help a lot with this issue, and perhaps saved me at times, was listening to some chapters on audio. The narrator does a brilliant job of defining the characters and being consistent with the voices of each. In the end it helped me keep things together enough to keep going and not feel like I needed to reread/listen to sections, or just give up on the whole story. I did swap between audio and print a few times, and I'm glad I did. This gave me time to absorb some of the story in my head in print; but the audio helped define the different characters when I was lost. Kudos to the narrator for keeping the voices consistent and distinct (without being silly or obnoxious).
3) Morality and love are brilliantly put in opposition of one another in Godly Heathens. Edgmon takes us on a crazy journey and confuses us as much as the leading POV character is. It is brilliant; and it is frustrating. At times I wanted to yell at our non-binary lead to tell them to just do something!! Yet I also understood why they didn't (generally because of their heart being in the way). At the end of the day I love Edgmon's continuing message: "Surviving does not make us evil".
And now I am doing something I almost never ever do... I am heading into book 2 immediately. As I went to listen to the first chapter or two; and now I'm sucked in. (Insert a maniacal winning laugh here from Edgmon and the publisher that I'm caught in their web, lol.) So I suppose they win this round as I break my usual rule of waiting a book or two before heading into the next in a series.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
I'm looking forward to recommending this to my trans cousin and seeing what she thinks. I am confident she will want to read it when I tell her it's complex like Gideon the Ninth (Tamsyn Muir), as godly as Banewrecker (Jacqueline Carey), and as teenage romantic as Aristotle and Dante (Benjamin Alire Sáenz). It also features realistic physical moments between a trans character and their partner; such as running fingers over top surgery scars. I shivered a little at this at felt so genuine and definitely very intimate.
All that said... there are three important things to know, in my opinion, going into Godly Heathens: 1) The ending is abrupt and a cliffhanger. I was lucky to have book 2, Merciless Saviors at my fingertips to start immediately. You are likely to want to do the same. It is about one minute between the end of the first book and the opening line of book 2. I greatly dislike this, as it gives no reminder of the story if there has been some time between books (it's also just rude to readers to give no real ending at all...). I'm also not a fan of reading books one after another for fear of getting tired of characters or the story. That said, here I am making the exception for the first time in years.
2) There are a lot of characters with different names, abilities, memories, and situations. It's a lot to keep track of. I did not realize, until near the end, that there is a cast of the god characters at the back of the print book. However it should be noted that the list has spoilers for events in this first book.
One thing that does help a lot with this issue, and perhaps saved me at times, was listening to some chapters on audio. The narrator does a brilliant job of defining the characters and being consistent with the voices of each. In the end it helped me keep things together enough to keep going and not feel like I needed to reread/listen to sections, or just give up on the whole story. I did swap between audio and print a few times, and I'm glad I did. This gave me time to absorb some of the story in my head in print; but the audio helped define the different characters when I was lost. Kudos to the narrator for keeping the voices consistent and distinct (without being silly or obnoxious).
3) Morality and love are brilliantly put in opposition of one another in Godly Heathens. Edgmon takes us on a crazy journey and confuses us as much as the leading POV character is. It is brilliant; and it is frustrating. At times I wanted to yell at our non-binary lead to tell them to just do something!! Yet I also understood why they didn't (generally because of their heart being in the way). At the end of the day I love Edgmon's continuing message: "Surviving does not make us evil".
And now I am doing something I almost never ever do... I am heading into book 2 immediately. As I went to listen to the first chapter or two; and now I'm sucked in. (Insert a maniacal winning laugh here from Edgmon and the publisher that I'm caught in their web, lol.) So I suppose they win this round as I break my usual rule of waiting a book or two before heading into the next in a series.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
dnf
January 21, 2024 This is a book that for all intents and purposes should have worked for me. Dark fantasy world, diverse representation, morally grey characters; but for some reason it just didn't click and i gave it until the 30% mark but I found myself just not enjoying the reading experience.
I think that this book has alot to offer the right person, but that person is not me and this will be a soft DNF (not to say I wont try it again at some point in the future).
I think that this book has alot to offer the right person, but that person is not me and this will be a soft DNF (not to say I wont try it again at some point in the future).
December 19, 2022
FUCKING HELL, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DHDHDHEHSHSYSUEUWHEHSVDHSHD I HAVE NO OTHER COHERENT THOUGHTS
August 21, 2023
i don’t know what to say. rtc but wow H.E. Edgmon has really done it this time. wow.
edit 8/21: NEARLY TWO MONTHS LATER I RETURN WITH A SEMI-COMPREHENSIBLE REVIEW
as soon as i finished the first chapter, this book became something for me to latch onto and just escape. and escape i did.
i read this book in just one sitting and i honestly am not surprised at all. each and every character is so so important to me. they’re all chaos demons but in the best ways. (well i mean kinda.) they’re all literally immortals but die over and over again just to be reawakened in the next life. and they’re all just trying their best to survive. the struggles that they face are incomprehensible at times.
when gem has their flashbacks, you kinda see what’s happening but they’re not the most reliable narrator. (partially bc they’re lost through half the book but also because they refuse to say what they did). i had a little difficulty bonding with gem at first but as the book progressed, i began to understand their point of view and the things they’ve gone through because of their mental health. their mom also isn’t the most supportive person so that obviously doesn’t help at all.
the character i struggled with the most, however, was enzo. i saw enzo’s humanity pop out at certain moments and realized that he’s just a product of the broken system that rejected him. he is in just as much pain and enduring just as much suffering as anyone else but he turns his into villainy. (which i’m not rlly mad about) he struggles with his feelings and he does the best he can. my feelings for enzo started off as one thing but blossomed into something completely different by the end and i just love that for myself.
to cut it short, if you take a bunch of people who’ve been hurt over and over and over again, throw them together into a mass of pain and suffering and then inflict MORE damage onto them you end up with this. oh ALSO need not i we took how wonderful it was to see all the POC characters and all the trans and queer rep!!
all in all this is one of my fav books ever now. pls read it and @he i adore you.
edit 8/21: NEARLY TWO MONTHS LATER I RETURN WITH A SEMI-COMPREHENSIBLE REVIEW
as soon as i finished the first chapter, this book became something for me to latch onto and just escape. and escape i did.
i read this book in just one sitting and i honestly am not surprised at all. each and every character is so so important to me. they’re all chaos demons but in the best ways. (well i mean kinda.) they’re all literally immortals but die over and over again just to be reawakened in the next life. and they’re all just trying their best to survive. the struggles that they face are incomprehensible at times.
when gem has their flashbacks, you kinda see what’s happening but they’re not the most reliable narrator. (partially bc they’re lost through half the book but also because they refuse to say what they did). i had a little difficulty bonding with gem at first but as the book progressed, i began to understand their point of view and the things they’ve gone through because of their mental health. their mom also isn’t the most supportive person so that obviously doesn’t help at all.
the character i struggled with the most, however, was enzo. i saw enzo’s humanity pop out at certain moments and realized that he’s just a product of the broken system that rejected him. he is in just as much pain and enduring just as much suffering as anyone else but he turns his into villainy. (which i’m not rlly mad about) he struggles with his feelings and he does the best he can. my feelings for enzo started off as one thing but blossomed into something completely different by the end and i just love that for myself.
to cut it short, if you take a bunch of people who’ve been hurt over and over and over again, throw them together into a mass of pain and suffering and then inflict MORE damage onto them you end up with this. oh ALSO need not i we took how wonderful it was to see all the POC characters and all the trans and queer rep!!
all in all this is one of my fav books ever now. pls read it and @he i adore you.
November 27, 2023
I really wanted to like this but unfortunately it didnt work for me.
I wanted to DNF this book at least 4 times but I pushed through it.
I did enjoy the characters, but there are a lot (luckily there is a character list at the end which was very handy to have).
The romance is where I think the story lost me. I didnt like the love triangle that was going, I just didnt feel like any of them really clicked together.
the story itself was okay, I wasn't a huge fan of the writing but it wasnt bad by any means.
thank you Netgalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
I wanted to DNF this book at least 4 times but I pushed through it.
I did enjoy the characters, but there are a lot (luckily there is a character list at the end which was very handy to have).
The romance is where I think the story lost me. I didnt like the love triangle that was going, I just didnt feel like any of them really clicked together.
the story itself was okay, I wasn't a huge fan of the writing but it wasnt bad by any means.
thank you Netgalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
November 21, 2023
4.5
2023 reads: 352/350
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
gem echols, a nonbinary seminole teen living in a small southern town, doesn’t have many people who can relate to them. their best friend, enzo, is thousands of miles away, and gem plans on joining him in new york after graduation. but even enzo doesn’t know about gem’s dreams. no one does—or at least gem thinks, before meeting willa mae hardy. willa mae is strange, especially with the way she seems to already know gem. then she reveals that they’re reincarnated gods, and gem’s world quickly changes.
i really didn’t know what to expect from this book starting out. the cover is beautiful and the premise sounded promising, so i was eager to dive in. i don’t often read about reincarnated gods, so this aspect is one that drew me to this book. i really liked how this was explored and elaborated upon. another aspect i loved was the various relationships, be it romantic, familial, or platonic. i can’t wait to see where everything goes in book two!
2023 reads: 352/350
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
gem echols, a nonbinary seminole teen living in a small southern town, doesn’t have many people who can relate to them. their best friend, enzo, is thousands of miles away, and gem plans on joining him in new york after graduation. but even enzo doesn’t know about gem’s dreams. no one does—or at least gem thinks, before meeting willa mae hardy. willa mae is strange, especially with the way she seems to already know gem. then she reveals that they’re reincarnated gods, and gem’s world quickly changes.
i really didn’t know what to expect from this book starting out. the cover is beautiful and the premise sounded promising, so i was eager to dive in. i don’t often read about reincarnated gods, so this aspect is one that drew me to this book. i really liked how this was explored and elaborated upon. another aspect i loved was the various relationships, be it romantic, familial, or platonic. i can’t wait to see where everything goes in book two!
June 8, 2023
Oh, this one is raw and real and I am so happy that trans, non-binary, and indigenous teens will see themselves in this book. It's feral and queer as heck and full of complex emotions and situations that I feel are sometimes often overlooked in YA. Teens go through shit and sometimes that shit is dark and immoral. Gem is also an excellent narrator - I loved their voice - compelling and unique and not afraid to be outspoken and make unwise decisions.
H.E. Edgmon has built an awesome first book and that ending!! I loved reading about this found family stuck in a complex web of bad decisions, deceit, and yearning, and can't wait for the next installment!
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
H.E. Edgmon has built an awesome first book and that ending!! I loved reading about this found family stuck in a complex web of bad decisions, deceit, and yearning, and can't wait for the next installment!
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2024
3.5??
I have no idea how I felt about this book yet
*Review to come*
I have no idea how I felt about this book yet
*Review to come*
January 4, 2024
Ancient gods face off against teenage angst (and each other) in this YA urban fantasy
The central plot is that a nb teenager named Gem finds out that the strange dreams and possibly their mental health issues can be attributed to the fact that they are actually an ancient god. Gem and all the other gods from the realm are now on Earth where they reincarnate again and again, then "wake up" and some point and remember who they are.
Gem made more than a few enemies in their original god-lives, so the action begins when a new student at their school attacks Gem in the school parking lot and the other new student protects them.
This is an interesting premise and I of course enjoyed the representation that it brought. The characters are hilariously snarky at times and there were scenes that made me laugh out loud, most notably is Poppy vs Willa Mae "It's Camp" debate, and also this exchange:
"Are you still feeling sick?"
"My tummy hurts a little."
"This is the least attractive you've ever been."
But it was a struggle to appreciate the characters as the story goes on because their decisions and personalities don't make much sense. After the gods regain their memories, we get some insight into their previous lives and they sounded interesting and motivated. Yet having these memories doesn't stop the gods from being bitchy teenagers obsessed with modern lingo and fighting in school with the main antagonist literally trying for prom queen??
Unfortunately due to this and some writing and pacing issues it was difficult to get through. The aforementioned funny scenes are what kept me going. That being said I'm annoying and rate queer books up so 3-stars from me.
Recommended for teens
The central plot is that a nb teenager named Gem finds out that the strange dreams and possibly their mental health issues can be attributed to the fact that they are actually an ancient god. Gem and all the other gods from the realm are now on Earth where they reincarnate again and again, then "wake up" and some point and remember who they are.
Gem made more than a few enemies in their original god-lives, so the action begins when a new student at their school attacks Gem in the school parking lot and the other new student protects them.
This is an interesting premise and I of course enjoyed the representation that it brought. The characters are hilariously snarky at times and there were scenes that made me laugh out loud, most notably is Poppy vs Willa Mae "It's Camp" debate, and also this exchange:
"Are you still feeling sick?"
"My tummy hurts a little."
"This is the least attractive you've ever been."
But it was a struggle to appreciate the characters as the story goes on because their decisions and personalities don't make much sense. After the gods regain their memories, we get some insight into their previous lives and they sounded interesting and motivated. Yet having these memories doesn't stop the gods from being bitchy teenagers obsessed with modern lingo and fighting in school with the main antagonist literally trying for prom queen??
Unfortunately due to this and some writing and pacing issues it was difficult to get through. The aforementioned funny scenes are what kept me going. That being said I'm annoying and rate queer books up so 3-stars from me.
Recommended for teens
January 16, 2024
2.5/5 stars
it’s a hard reality to face when you’re approaching your mid twenties and stuck reviewing a book meant for teenagers. but ya know what? my feelings are still valid!
I know it’s a common trope for old hags like me to say “it would be better if it were adult!!!” but IT WOULD!!!
if I were lucky enough to be born a god and then was force to reincarnate into a teenager for all eternity….. please stab me with the snake dagger I beg of you.
the stakes being as high as DEATH and LIFE and SUN and MOON dying while also teenage hormones and petty relationship drama happening in the same breath…. girl be fucking serious.
I think it felt too much like a YA contemporary to ever take the colossal fantasy elements seriously. it genuinely felt so ridiculous that I was laughing from it and not in a good way.
the idea that I was suppose to believe these eons old gods were living in these teenagers’ minds/bodies yet still behaving this way was actually crazy.
if it were a hard hitting YA contemporary about a queer kid finding themselves and their love life, I would have loved it. if it was a true reincarnated god story, I would have adored it. but together it read like a discombobulated mess of a hormonal teen’s mind sprinkled with a poorly written god subplot.
it’s a hard reality to face when you’re approaching your mid twenties and stuck reviewing a book meant for teenagers. but ya know what? my feelings are still valid!
I know it’s a common trope for old hags like me to say “it would be better if it were adult!!!” but IT WOULD!!!
if I were lucky enough to be born a god and then was force to reincarnate into a teenager for all eternity….. please stab me with the snake dagger I beg of you.
the stakes being as high as DEATH and LIFE and SUN and MOON dying while also teenage hormones and petty relationship drama happening in the same breath…. girl be fucking serious.
I think it felt too much like a YA contemporary to ever take the colossal fantasy elements seriously. it genuinely felt so ridiculous that I was laughing from it and not in a good way.
the idea that I was suppose to believe these eons old gods were living in these teenagers’ minds/bodies yet still behaving this way was actually crazy.
if it were a hard hitting YA contemporary about a queer kid finding themselves and their love life, I would have loved it. if it was a true reincarnated god story, I would have adored it. but together it read like a discombobulated mess of a hormonal teen’s mind sprinkled with a poorly written god subplot.
January 17, 2023
I don't think I will ever be the same again after reading this. How beautifully executed, how stunning crafted, how completely and utterly filled with rage and pain and mess. How downright brilliant.
I could talk for hours at how well this book is written. There are lines that stopped me in my tracks at how perfectly placed they are. Sometimes it was a joke that had me putting the book down to laugh out loud, or something so dramatic I had to stop reading to process. From top to bottom, amazing on every single level.
As for the actual story, the characters, the emotional pit of this book. How do you find words for something that feels like it touches your beating heart? That encompasses something so large that it's hard to explain? Something made of gods and centuries and somehow human teenagers as well? Throw all of that together and you've got a lot of mess, a lot of feeling, and a whole lot of pain. And many, many razor sharp edges and whole lot of bloodshed. It's the villain story of my wicked heart, the entire bleeding muscle of it. Morally gray? No, let's get downright murderous.
Seriously, how do you find words for something so incredibly good it takes your breath away?
I could talk for hours at how well this book is written. There are lines that stopped me in my tracks at how perfectly placed they are. Sometimes it was a joke that had me putting the book down to laugh out loud, or something so dramatic I had to stop reading to process. From top to bottom, amazing on every single level.
As for the actual story, the characters, the emotional pit of this book. How do you find words for something that feels like it touches your beating heart? That encompasses something so large that it's hard to explain? Something made of gods and centuries and somehow human teenagers as well? Throw all of that together and you've got a lot of mess, a lot of feeling, and a whole lot of pain. And many, many razor sharp edges and whole lot of bloodshed. It's the villain story of my wicked heart, the entire bleeding muscle of it. Morally gray? No, let's get downright murderous.
Seriously, how do you find words for something so incredibly good it takes your breath away?
Read
November 19, 2023thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I absolutely loved H.E. Edgmon’s debut duology, and while in many ways this book is wildly different, it feels like it fits into the piece of me reading it right now. I’ve been anticipating this book ever since I first heard about it, and yet I’m not sure what I expected going in, although I can definitely now say I was sufficiently surprised. It’s a little bit hard to talk about this book because all my thoughts are thoroughly wrapped up in the experience of reading it, it truly took me out of what I was doing for a day and into Gem’s world. The twists and turns kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat, to the point that I stayed up just so I could finish the book (and then lament that I didn’t have the sequel already in hand). Something that Edgmon did so well in THE WITCH KING duology and dives even deeper into in this series is queer love and rage, and the ways in which they intertwine. The morally grey character is often lauded in fantasy, but what Edgmon captures is something indescribable about queerness in a society that doesn’t always want it, and makes it that much more satisfying to see these characters burn the world down.
In a lot of ways, I can’t directly relate to this book. Gem and I are so unlike one another (and frankly I can’t relate much to the other characters in the book anyway), and yet something about this book feels like it understands me. Maybe it’s that dream of escaping your Southern town to go to a city and live with your queer online friends, except I’m not a reincarnated god. I think what makes this book so good and so queer (besides the blatant queer stuff happening) is this feeling I can’t describe, the way Gem’s attraction works and feelings about themself, as well as all the others characterization just hits in a way that works. Sometimes that means the characters have elements of stereotype, but they become so much more because they’re not a character born from a stereotype, but a person (character) who is sometimes stereotypical because that’s how life works.
I could talk about the plot and the characters of this book all day. Death is a trans girl, War is a butch lesbian, and so on. When I tell you I almost threw my book across the room at one point after a particularly big plot twist, I am not exaggerating in the slightest. It’s a little hard to tell where the book is going at first, but then it absolutely explodes, making this more intricate fantasy than I often expect in YA without being confusing. Between the characters and the overall plotline, the story never slows down and ended up keeping me up just so I could find out what happened next.
Lastly, I can’t talk about this book without talking about queer love and rage. No matter how many times it happens, there’s something that’s always so special about seeing queer characters being loved (even if I can’t talk about it much without spoiling the contents of this book). Furthermore, the relationship dynamics, even outside of Gem, are so fascinating and so enmeshed in the characters in the story in such a stunning way. On the flip side, the queer rage is even more potent in parts than Edgmon’s debut. It is deeply satisfying to see a queer character be loved and appreciated and also take the world in hand and not always pick the right or ‘good’ decision. These characters aren’t role models, and it’s so much more compelling that way.
No matter how much I write about this book, it’s impossible to truly capture all my thoughts and feelings. It surpassed my expectations and I will be not so patiently waiting for the sequel to come out next year! If it’s not already on your TBR, I highly recommend picking this one up.
I absolutely loved H.E. Edgmon’s debut duology, and while in many ways this book is wildly different, it feels like it fits into the piece of me reading it right now. I’ve been anticipating this book ever since I first heard about it, and yet I’m not sure what I expected going in, although I can definitely now say I was sufficiently surprised. It’s a little bit hard to talk about this book because all my thoughts are thoroughly wrapped up in the experience of reading it, it truly took me out of what I was doing for a day and into Gem’s world. The twists and turns kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat, to the point that I stayed up just so I could finish the book (and then lament that I didn’t have the sequel already in hand). Something that Edgmon did so well in THE WITCH KING duology and dives even deeper into in this series is queer love and rage, and the ways in which they intertwine. The morally grey character is often lauded in fantasy, but what Edgmon captures is something indescribable about queerness in a society that doesn’t always want it, and makes it that much more satisfying to see these characters burn the world down.
In a lot of ways, I can’t directly relate to this book. Gem and I are so unlike one another (and frankly I can’t relate much to the other characters in the book anyway), and yet something about this book feels like it understands me. Maybe it’s that dream of escaping your Southern town to go to a city and live with your queer online friends, except I’m not a reincarnated god. I think what makes this book so good and so queer (besides the blatant queer stuff happening) is this feeling I can’t describe, the way Gem’s attraction works and feelings about themself, as well as all the others characterization just hits in a way that works. Sometimes that means the characters have elements of stereotype, but they become so much more because they’re not a character born from a stereotype, but a person (character) who is sometimes stereotypical because that’s how life works.
I could talk about the plot and the characters of this book all day. Death is a trans girl, War is a butch lesbian, and so on. When I tell you I almost threw my book across the room at one point after a particularly big plot twist, I am not exaggerating in the slightest. It’s a little hard to tell where the book is going at first, but then it absolutely explodes, making this more intricate fantasy than I often expect in YA without being confusing. Between the characters and the overall plotline, the story never slows down and ended up keeping me up just so I could find out what happened next.
Lastly, I can’t talk about this book without talking about queer love and rage. No matter how many times it happens, there’s something that’s always so special about seeing queer characters being loved (even if I can’t talk about it much without spoiling the contents of this book). Furthermore, the relationship dynamics, even outside of Gem, are so fascinating and so enmeshed in the characters in the story in such a stunning way. On the flip side, the queer rage is even more potent in parts than Edgmon’s debut. It is deeply satisfying to see a queer character be loved and appreciated and also take the world in hand and not always pick the right or ‘good’ decision. These characters aren’t role models, and it’s so much more compelling that way.
No matter how much I write about this book, it’s impossible to truly capture all my thoughts and feelings. It surpassed my expectations and I will be not so patiently waiting for the sequel to come out next year! If it’s not already on your TBR, I highly recommend picking this one up.
April 22, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Thank you NetGalley, H.E. Edgmon, and St. Martin’s Press for this Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review of Godly Heathens (coming out November 28th!)
This book was a JOURNEY. I just wish I hadn’t read it so early because now I have to wait for the sequel, which I need ASAP!!!
If you like morally gray MCs, are open to polyamorous love, and are looking for a diverse cast, look no further. Just pick up this story and get lost in the fantastic world building and fascinating duality of every single character.
For 2023, I’ll be using this rating scale:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I mourned the ending of this journey 🥹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ really enjoyed and would recommend
⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was fine
⭐️⭐️ I didn’t enjoy this journey
⭐️ I dnf’d or wish I’d dnf’d
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ this is smutty smutty erotica 🥵
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ medium burn / heat @ 50% or later
🌶️🌶️🌶️ slow burn / heat @ 75% or later
🌶️🌶️ romantic b plot / closed door / YA romance
🌶️ no romance
🌶️🌶️
Thank you NetGalley, H.E. Edgmon, and St. Martin’s Press for this Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review of Godly Heathens (coming out November 28th!)
This book was a JOURNEY. I just wish I hadn’t read it so early because now I have to wait for the sequel, which I need ASAP!!!
If you like morally gray MCs, are open to polyamorous love, and are looking for a diverse cast, look no further. Just pick up this story and get lost in the fantastic world building and fascinating duality of every single character.
For 2023, I’ll be using this rating scale:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I mourned the ending of this journey 🥹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ really enjoyed and would recommend
⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was fine
⭐️⭐️ I didn’t enjoy this journey
⭐️ I dnf’d or wish I’d dnf’d
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ this is smutty smutty erotica 🥵
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ medium burn / heat @ 50% or later
🌶️🌶️🌶️ slow burn / heat @ 75% or later
🌶️🌶️ romantic b plot / closed door / YA romance
🌶️ no romance
Read
June 1, 2024THAT ENDING???
I loved this book. It's full of teenage angst that's somehow completely in parallel with godly angst, because gods are always so angsty. It makes so much sense and it's done perfectly, I loved it.
---
I just started this today and it jumps RIGHT into the action. Excellent, amazing, astonishing, no notes.
Bookish Brews | Ko-Fi | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Facebook
I loved this book. It's full of teenage angst that's somehow completely in parallel with godly angst, because gods are always so angsty. It makes so much sense and it's done perfectly, I loved it.
---
I just started this today and it jumps RIGHT into the action. Excellent, amazing, astonishing, no notes.
Bookish Brews | Ko-Fi | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Facebook
November 2, 2023
2.80!
Not for me!
.
This was whimsical in a way don't get me wrong but it still fell plot wise I didn't really enjoy it. The characters were one dimensional and the world building wasn't that good.
.
I feel like the thing that I did like was the cover and the writing style a bit.
.
These are my thoughts and yours might be different so you can always give this one a try.
.
Not for me!
.
This was whimsical in a way don't get me wrong but it still fell plot wise I didn't really enjoy it. The characters were one dimensional and the world building wasn't that good.
.
I feel like the thing that I did like was the cover and the writing style a bit.
.
These are my thoughts and yours might be different so you can always give this one a try.
.
June 13, 2023
what the fuck. rtc.
November 4, 2023
I NEED book two :(
October 31, 2023
This book make a fist around my heart and squeezed and squeezed.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC.
September 18, 2025
all gods are trans? okayyyy!
December 13, 2024
Thank you to Wednesday Books for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
4.5 stars. As a huge fan of H.E. Edgmon's The Witch King duology, I was ecstatic to read the first of their new Ouroboros duology. Godly Heathens carries with it a similar anger as the The Witch King, but within a wholly new story.
Godly Heathens follows Gem Echols, a nonbinary teen in Gracie, Georgia. Gem's life would be completely normal — an overbearing mom, major daddy issues, the pressure of looming college admissions — if it weren't for their increasingly vivid, and often gruesome, dreams. When a new face shows up at school and seems to know exactly what Gem has kept from the outside world, Gem can no longer deny what makes them the furthest from normal: their existence as a reincarnated god.
This book was absolutely wild. I buddy-read this with Naomi (@the.naomi.chronicles) and although we guessed some of the plot twists before they were revealed, these twists were the wackiest and cleverest I've read in awhile. I loved the build-up and the way everything pieced together with little details.
I feel conflicted about Gem's character — although I am certain that was intentional. I loved being inside the head of someone who feels all these strong emotions and such intense anger at a world that seems to hate them in every way they exist. I relate so strongly to being frightened and angry and indignant about the injustice you are forced to take. It's a very queer feeling, from what I can tell. Probably my favorite part of this book was watching these feelings evolve.
That being said, there were a couple moments where I felt like we were cheated of a moment of growth for the sake of proving Gem's moral ambiguity. Though, of course, who is to say what is the "right" type of growth? If you are the type of person who gets frustrated easily by complex and often unethical characters, you may not enjoy this book. But for anyone like me, who is fascinated by a character who does the "wrong" things and understands them as wrong and right at the same time, this is a captivating read.
Almost every character was queer in some form, and they each had generations of history that they brought to the story (literally). I loved exploring each character's relationship with Gem, as well as with each other. Unpacking their memories and the complexities to all their relationships was fascinating, and definitely has me intrigued for the upcoming sequel, Merciless Saviors.
I had a rough time getting into this book at first. I was unsure of what I was reading; the magic in this world was completely new to me, at times horrifying, and much more complex than I have seen in most YA fantasy books. I had to put it down for a couple days, but I am so glad I came back to it (and that I had the accountability of a friend to read it with). If you're anything like me, you'll feel like you're flailing in bottomless space for a good portion of the book, but when you right yourself, you'll find an intricate story that has you completely enraptured.
4.5 stars. As a huge fan of H.E. Edgmon's The Witch King duology, I was ecstatic to read the first of their new Ouroboros duology. Godly Heathens carries with it a similar anger as the The Witch King, but within a wholly new story.
Godly Heathens follows Gem Echols, a nonbinary teen in Gracie, Georgia. Gem's life would be completely normal — an overbearing mom, major daddy issues, the pressure of looming college admissions — if it weren't for their increasingly vivid, and often gruesome, dreams. When a new face shows up at school and seems to know exactly what Gem has kept from the outside world, Gem can no longer deny what makes them the furthest from normal: their existence as a reincarnated god.
This book was absolutely wild. I buddy-read this with Naomi (@the.naomi.chronicles) and although we guessed some of the plot twists before they were revealed, these twists were the wackiest and cleverest I've read in awhile. I loved the build-up and the way everything pieced together with little details.
I feel conflicted about Gem's character — although I am certain that was intentional. I loved being inside the head of someone who feels all these strong emotions and such intense anger at a world that seems to hate them in every way they exist. I relate so strongly to being frightened and angry and indignant about the injustice you are forced to take. It's a very queer feeling, from what I can tell. Probably my favorite part of this book was watching these feelings evolve.
That being said, there were a couple moments where I felt like we were cheated of a moment of growth for the sake of proving Gem's moral ambiguity. Though, of course, who is to say what is the "right" type of growth? If you are the type of person who gets frustrated easily by complex and often unethical characters, you may not enjoy this book. But for anyone like me, who is fascinated by a character who does the "wrong" things and understands them as wrong and right at the same time, this is a captivating read.
Almost every character was queer in some form, and they each had generations of history that they brought to the story (literally). I loved exploring each character's relationship with Gem, as well as with each other. Unpacking their memories and the complexities to all their relationships was fascinating, and definitely has me intrigued for the upcoming sequel, Merciless Saviors.
I had a rough time getting into this book at first. I was unsure of what I was reading; the magic in this world was completely new to me, at times horrifying, and much more complex than I have seen in most YA fantasy books. I had to put it down for a couple days, but I am so glad I came back to it (and that I had the accountability of a friend to read it with). If you're anything like me, you'll feel like you're flailing in bottomless space for a good portion of the book, but when you right yourself, you'll find an intricate story that has you completely enraptured.
March 24, 2022
I will write a full review when I can stop screaming long enough to form a coherent thought. This book left me FERAL.
May 20, 2025
Gem is a big fish in the small pond of Gracie, Georgia; a pond he/they can't wait to escape. Add to that the dreams they just can't shake are flashes of a forgotten past, and a revelation just waiting to awaken within them and you have a recipe for adventure.
The world building in this is second to none, honestly. It grabs you from the beginning but unfolds in the perfect timing that so many fantasy novels miss. Often you find yourself overwhelmed with information or left in the dark so long it doesn't matter, but not with Godly Heathens. Gem is flawed and in some ways broken but Much if that is just because they're in survival mode. It's can't be easy being Transmale in Georgia. Much like Tinkerbell, Gem thrives on applause and attention, often to their own detriment. This is a big theme for them throughout the novel when big decisions must be made. The author makes a hero worth rooting for who isn't perfect from the jump or even annoyingly self righteous. The supporting cast is big, but easy enough to follow along and serves a purpose worth a group this large.
Honestly my one negative is the fact of the cliffhanger. We have a sequel, but I'm trying my best to distance myself from Godly Heathens before diving in. Why? The first installment was sheer perfection and I don't see how the second could live up to it's predicessor. I'm hoping some time away from this world will let me reset expectations for the sequel so I can truly enjoy it without book 1 hanging over me. I would love to be proven wrong....I hope book 2 is just as good....but there is alot to tackle in just one book.
If you're looking to escape into a fresh take on Gods and Villains, Godly Heathens is the next read for you! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The world building in this is second to none, honestly. It grabs you from the beginning but unfolds in the perfect timing that so many fantasy novels miss. Often you find yourself overwhelmed with information or left in the dark so long it doesn't matter, but not with Godly Heathens. Gem is flawed and in some ways broken but Much if that is just because they're in survival mode. It's can't be easy being Transmale in Georgia. Much like Tinkerbell, Gem thrives on applause and attention, often to their own detriment. This is a big theme for them throughout the novel when big decisions must be made. The author makes a hero worth rooting for who isn't perfect from the jump or even annoyingly self righteous. The supporting cast is big, but easy enough to follow along and serves a purpose worth a group this large.
Honestly my one negative is the fact of the cliffhanger. We have a sequel, but I'm trying my best to distance myself from Godly Heathens before diving in. Why? The first installment was sheer perfection and I don't see how the second could live up to it's predicessor. I'm hoping some time away from this world will let me reset expectations for the sequel so I can truly enjoy it without book 1 hanging over me. I would love to be proven wrong....I hope book 2 is just as good....but there is alot to tackle in just one book.
If you're looking to escape into a fresh take on Gods and Villains, Godly Heathens is the next read for you! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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