I have found that H.E. Edgmon spends the early part of books setting the scene and establishing the characters, and then towards the middle the story picks up for a wild ride until the end. And this book did that again to great effect. It went from good to I can't put this down because I can't believe what is happening! I enjoy the way Edgmon sets the scene. The descriptions are vivid and detailed, and the character interactions are very believable. The energy of the story is heavy and intense which matches this plot really well. I cannot wait for the next book. The writing is direct, but vivid in their descriptions. The characters aren't perfect, but I was still very invested in them which I love. The magic is interesting and the reader gets to learn about it with the main character which is a trope I also enjoy.

Representation: Queer and nonbinary Seminole MC with mental health struggles, nearly all queer supporting cast, many of them also BIPOC.

Gem Echols lives in a tiny Southern town where they often act as the queer awakening for their peers. Of course, living in a town like this, no one knows what Gem is really like, since they hide behind a facade. Only their best friend knows, and that friend lives thousands of miles away. The new girl in town starts talking with Gem, like they've known each other for years. Thousands of years even, and she knows all about Gem's haunting dreams of blood, magic, and violence. Then Gem's threatened by another person new to town who also knows Gem, calling herself Death. What the hell is going on? They finally get some answers, finding out that they're a reincarnated god, albeit one who hasn't always been the most benevolent. Gem--or their god-self--has a lot of enemies, ones who want them dead. Their worlds quickly start to collide, and a lot of secrets come to light.

Rating: 5/5 HOLY SHIT. I loved Edgmon's other books, The Witch King and The Fae Keeper, but this absolutely blew me away! I loved that we get this incredibly messy character that constantly messes up, or does things on purpose that are a little fucked up and won't apologize for it. This is a story that doesn't shy away from violence, the horror of godhood and stealing power that isn't deserved, and the struggle to maintain yourself while being pulled in all directions by others who may mean well or only want to use you for their own ends. Gem also has mental health struggles, and I really felt for Gem. Their mom frustrated me so much, even though I know where she's coming from. I really liked the dynamics between Gem and the love interest, very antagonistic but not hateful before Gem learns about being a god, and still antagonistic but loving after. One thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the pantheon and how it was set up. I won't say anything because I don't want to spoil too much, but I liked the roles the gods had and how they related to each other. I read through this book very quickly, I was completely hooked! I was NOT ready for it to end on a huge climactic scene, because I didn't realize this was going to have a sequel. I need it ASAP!

Beautiful book. Gem is such an interesting MC an and all the characters surrounding them we so vast and well rounded. You got the sense of the story without feeling overwhelmed, and it helped build the rest of the plot incredibly well and kept everything moving. Can’t wait to see how things go in the sequel.

This book is my dream trans fantasy. Like, a queer, indigenous, nonbinary teen finds out that they are secretly a god from another world? Yes. That. Give me all of that.
I feel like H.E. Edgmon has a very specific style of writing and I don't know if it works for most people, but it absolutely works for me. He features somewhat abrasive main characters that go through a lot of insane stuff, and I eat it up. In this case, Gem resonates really well with me, which is really helpful in allowing me to become invested really quickly. One thing that I do wish is that Edgmon would do a little more front-loading of "normal life" before throwing characters directly into the action, but that's a small gripe on my part. I am looking forward to book two so incredibly much, and would happily take it now, thank you very much.

Godly Heathens by HG Edgmon introduces a fascinating world with a promising premise and rich queer representation. However, my journey with the book encountered a hurdle in connecting with the main character. The protagonist's initial self-centered traits posed a challenge, and it took time to warm up to them. Despite this, the novel's evident potential and the allure of the series compelled me to persist. Edgmon's world-building and diverse characters create a foundation with substantial promise, leaving room for character growth. I'm intrigued by the unique elements and optimistic about the protagonist's development in future installments. While the initial impressions were mixed, the book's strengths and potential make it a series worth following.

A wild ride from start to finish

Godly Heathens follows a group of of gods reborn into teenage human bodies - ancient beings who skip class and run for prom queen when they aren’t battling over the fate of the universe.

I loved how each character in this novel refused to fit into typical categories of good and evil. Jem and their companions each made choices, sometimes for power but usually for love, that hurt others. But their motivations were clear and justified in their own minds. Loss and grief ripped across generations as two battling divine factions were reincarnated over hundreds of years.

I appreciated seeing Jem’s challenges with mental health and how the revelation of being a god helped them face the truth of their pain. Family challenges, being hopelessly in love with more than one person, and trying to reconcile conflicting human and godly identities were themes that really resonated with me.

This story alternated between deep reflection, witty banter, and the agony of impossible choices. The cliffhanger was *wild* and I can’t wait for book two!

With dark magic, difficult conversations about mental health, and plenty of LGBTQIA+ representation I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique and dynamic contemporary mythology story.

4 stars for teens, 3 stars for me personally. This book was definitely a struggle for me to get through. The premise is promising, and I know the intended audience will enjoy it. I found our main character Gem, to be insufferably unlikable. And I typically like an unlikable character, but them? Ugh. I also feel like the “thrown into the new reality” wasn’t handled well. This book starts off with action, and then attempts to build a world through our main character regaining their memories. It’s…okay. I will say that at 50% I wasn’t sold on reading the next book that came out. But the final chapter? Redeems this book about 75%, and I may pick up the sequel.

I found this book very intriguing. It starts off building the world and characters, and then drops more plot that develops pretty quickly (in a good way). Learning about the gods and their human forms, while also learning about their past lives as humans, creates a nice way to add depth to the current forms of the gods. I am eagerly awaiting book 2 - I think this is a good world and setting for the book that just adds characters and enough realism to lose yourself in the setting and experiences with the gods.

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, some major daddy issues, the pressure of looming college admissions — if it weren't for their increasingly vivid, and often gruesome, dreams. At least, Gem's life seemed mostly normal... up until a new face shows up in school and seems to know exactly the type of magic and violence Gem has been dreaming up.

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 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.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of Godly Heathens in exchange for my honest review!

This first entry in H.E. Edgmon's YA contemporary fantasy duology kept me gripped throughout the whole journey. Right from its very first line, it vividly paints a supernatural world that draws me into the quests and conflicts of its reincarnated gods. These mighty and flawed beings make for interesting characters to follow, characters who flesh out the narrative with morally gray layers that make you wonder who, if anybody, you should be rooting for. I appreciate how this weaves in the queer and trans rep with such authentic life (granted, I'm a cishet guy, so I can't look at this from a personal lens, but still, I love it). And all of this moves through a fast-paced plot that reaches an incredibly climactic ending and leaves me on the edge of my seat for the second book.

Overall, I'm officially rating Godly Heathens four out of five stars. It's definitely worth picking up, and I'll be eagerly awaiting the sequel.

I could not get enought of this book it was a fantastic queer read. Im so excited to have a new book YA. Book with queer and indigouus representain to read. Now TW there is violance, abuse and death in this book so if that is somthing that will bother avoid this read. I really enjoyed the world buliding in this book

I received a copy of this text for free, but all opinions are my own!

Having read the second book of this duology, I have changed my rating. I will post a full review on the sequel. I would say not to read this book as a standalone as the ending feels so incomplete and frustrating, but paired with the sequel, I think it's remarkable. My single missing star is to reflect how incomplete I feel this book is without the other.

Thank you so much, St Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

TW: gore, violence, abuse, death (please, do check all the TWs at the beginning of the book)

Gem Echols is a nonbinary Seminole teen, living in a small town called Gracie and they are always struggling to hide their insecuriosities, only allowing themselves to be who they are with another trans kid, Enzo, who lives far away in Brooklyn. But not even Enzo knows about their dreams, filled with gore and magic and violence. And now there's a new girl in town, Willa Mae Hardy, who seems to know everything and more about Gem, revealing them they are a reincarnated god. And some of the others are looking to kill them, like the goddess of Death.
As Gem struggles to understand what's happening, to remember their past lives, their present and pasts collide, pushing them to decide who they want to be to protect themselves and those they love.

Godly Heathens is the first book of the new duology called The Ouroboros, about this young teen, whose life is turned upside down when they discover they are not human.
I've found this book absolutely amazing! It's deeply original and filled with complex morally gray characters, ready to do anything in their powers to protect themselves and their loved ones and Gem is a magnificent MC. H.E. Edgmon wrote absolutely complex and fascinating characters, with their struggles, fears and difficult choices to make in order to save themselves and their loved ones.
They don't shy from writing cruel or morally gray or selfish characters in all their glory, showing how the world isn't a binary between black and white and how complex can everything be.
I loved how magnificent, cruel and original is the Ether, how complex its gods and goddesses and their lives, how difficult the clashing of Gem's two worlds and their pasts and present.
I can't wait to read more!



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.

Thank you for the advanced copy. I ended up waiting for the audio from my library because it’s the only way I get any reading done these days. I really loved this one. I thought the gods were fascinating and the way they integrated into the modern world was a new way to tell a story that’s been told so many times. I thought the conflict between their current life and their godly life was the best part of the story. Also, there was a love triangle turned throuple and it was perfect.

Note: I was provided with a copy from the publisher via Netgallery to review. All opinions are my own.

Within the first three chapters I know it was a book I need to reside on my bookshelf so I could reread and share with others! It was an epic read

There was action, romance, mythology, fantasy, friendship, reincarnation, alternate realities, and lots of twist and turns.

The diverse group of characters were at times annoying, anxious, and frustrating which made them relatable despite being reincarnated gods.

I await the next part of the series with eager enthusiasm!

This took me way longer to read than I wanted to but better late than never! I really liked the synopsis and that’s what pulled me in from the beginning. The author knows how to write and that is something I enjoy about H.E. Edgmon their books will always be well written.

To me the plot was unique and I did like some of the surprise elements that occurred. I did guess a plot twist but there were still some surprises so I didn’t feel like it was all predictable.

My biggest problem was the characters. I didn’t like any of them. Okay, that is a lie I didn’t mind Indy he didn’t do much. He didn’t appear too much but when he did I wasn’t upset. Everyone else I struggled with. The main characters I just couldn’t get into in any shape or form. I did like how they were morally grey and weren’t intended to be seen as perfect. I just couldn’t find any characteristics that were likable.

Overall, the plot kept me going and I did want to see the end for reasons other than it being the end of the book. I don’t think I’ll read the sequel but I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading this series. I think others will find it enjoyable, they may enjoy the parts I couldn’t. I will always try to share my support for books I think others will like even if I didn’t like it.

There was a lot I enjoyed about this book. It was a unique idea and started off strong.
A pantheon of gods, forced out of their own world into ours by the machinations of some of their own, and now just wanting to live their lives (over and over and over apparently). The cast of characters was interesting and diverse. I would have liked some POV from some of the other gods, I think it would have given more depth to the storyline.

But some it just left me confused. Apparently Gem was meant to be a morally grey character. Were they though? Yes, they were conflicted, holding their teenage self and their (mostly unaware) god self inside them... but mostly they were, at least in my mind, a confused and angry teenager. Angry at their mom for taking them away from their father after his psychotic break and for trying to get them help when they are self harming and engaging in risky sexual behavior (yes, she made mistakes, but she was trying) angry at a small, southern town for not understanding them... feeling like they didn't fit in... but none of this is morally grey so much as pretty average teenage coming of age, figuring ones self out feelings. When Gem discovers they are really a reincarnated god, they still don't become twisty and dark, but have more an "aha I knew I wasn't like you" moment, but still want to carry on with teenage Gem's life plan.

And yet, the more Gem remembers about being a god, the more ridiculous and teenager-ey they seem to become and act. Like okay.. you have powers now... cool... but also more memories and knowledge? Shouldn't you be acting more mature and less conflicted and random? Though to be fair, all the teenage gods, even with past life memories restored, acted like this, so maybe this is just how gods from the ether are, no matter how long they live. Sorry, teenage angst and bad decisions, no matter how cleverly written and visceral, doesn't not equal morally grey, it's just angst.

But the ending did see a bit of a twist and maybe it's in the second book where we see that actual cleverness and darkness emerge!

And also, how do they always wind up the same age at the same time? Does no one get reincarnated until the last god's earthly body dies so they can always be the same age together (Definitely overthinking this one, but it started to bug me)

Gods in the bodies of queer teens! As fun and convoluted as it sounds. I wish we got to spend more time with the teens-as-teens rather than just teens-as-gods and I found myself ahead of some of the plot twists, but the end left me in a place where I truly don’t know how the second book is going to go, and I look forward to its release to find out what will happen to Gem + friends/foes/loves etc!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-ARC!

{3.5 stars}

"I've studied them, catalogued the way they behave, tried to mold myself to the kind of person normal people want."

-----------------------------

This is the story of some teens who are not what they seem. They are reincarnated gods who are drawn back into each other's lives over and over with all the strife and drama that brings. So teen drama plus centuries of power struggle drama makes this one an intense read. On top of that, our main character Gem is non-binary, queer and indigenous.

As the quote above says, I am not who this book is for. I'm glad that books like this exist for the people who need them to feel "normal" or accepted. But it's also important for people like me to read to understand or empathize. That said, there were definitely times where I was confused or overwhelmed by the emphasis on sex and gender roles. I thought the immortal fickle gods analogy was a good one to help explain some of the complexity. But I definitely wanted more time in the gods' pasts than in the present. It does end with a bit of a cliffhanger so beware of that.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

DNF - though I adored the representation of queer people and POC, something felt missing and I couldn't generate enough interest in the god-war plotline to want to continue