I really wanted to like this book. The non-binary and queer representation in this book was amazing and it hooked me in with its raw and gritty take on what’s it’s like to be trans and non-binary while also battling mental illness. But where it lost me was about the halfway point and then was a dumpster fire from there.

All Gem wants to do is leave the little town they grew up in and move to the New York to start their future with the boy (also trans and a flamboyant theater kid) that they’ve been in love with for years. But when Willa Mae shows up and says Gem’s a reincarnated God and their soulmate? Shit hits the fan. What happens after is the biggest bunch of bullshit I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading.

::spoilers ahead::
I loved Enzo up until the point where I started to get suspicious. He’s got absolutely everything going for him and gets jealous easily and not in a cute way. So when it’s revealed Enzo is the big bad they locked away in the ether I wasn’t exactly surprised. What I was surprised about was Gem’s absolute devotion to this creature. And they had absolutely no redeeming qualities. And yet Gem made excuses and refused to let anyone kill Enzo or “reset the scales” that Enzo so obviously messed up by killing the other gods. I was screaming at Gem like they were a real person and I was their mother. Because the relationship between Gem and Enzo was TOXIC AF. And still is. Because the book ended on a cliffhanger and no one is redeemed. You could say that Gem learned nothing in their lifetimes because at the end of the day, why should Gem be the one to change? I’m not continuing the series.

I really enjoyed H.E. Edgmon's Witch King duology and so I think originally I added this book to a want to read shelf immediately with no knowledge of what it was about. Then the synopsis appeared and I was all in. Then, of course, as is natural, I proceeded to not read the book I was very excited about. This really starts off with a bang and hooked me immediately. I really loved Gem's process of discovering their godly identity and grappling with how that affects the human dreams they had for their life. The side character's were a lot of fun and I liked how other godly characters embodied their powers. I think one of my favorite bits in the book was one character's desperate quest to embody camp. I also really enjoyed the discussion on who's side of the conflict was right or wrong and just how morally grey all these characters were.

I will say the ending lost me a bit. We go from one big battle scene pretty much straight into another and yes battle scenes are exciting but it's also the most likely place in a book for my eyes to start to glaze over. They get complex so fast and my brain starts to eventually give up on what's happening with everyone. The ultimate conclusion of this book was interesting though and I'm regretting not get the sequel on NetGalley when it was available as a read now so I guess I'll be waiting until April to find out what happens next like everyone else.

(I debated on if I wanted to add this or not because it is a bit of a spoiler but seeing it in reviews of other books has made me pick up the books so I will add there is a polyamorous romance in here.)

To me, as someone who absolutely loves the English language in all its diversity and complexity, there is nothing more satisfying than when you are put in the path of a book that contains writing so linguistically beautiful, that you can’t help but feel modern speech is inadequate. Godly Heathens is just such a book.
Practically speaking, I know from a reader standpoint that the type of language used to beautify or embellish prose can often feel tedious when placed in a modern setting because it can weigh down the pacing. Admittedly, I am usually the first to complain about needless exposition. However, the fact that Edgmon avoided this pitfall, but Godly Heathens still manages to evoke an empyreal quality about its narrative while still being firmly rooted in the psyche of a modern day teen—be they a reincarnation or not— is impressive. It shows a mastery of language and knowledge of restraint to write like that and not go overboard.
To then combine that talent with a story as imaginative and unique as this one, in which past lives and wrongs come back to erode and complicate an identity already ill-structured? To be frank, it all just takes my breath away. I absolutely loved this, and I am excited to dive into H.E. Edgmon’s backlog and future work.

I really enjoyed this book. I hope the author continues to write more books in the future. I can't wait to see what this author releases in the future.

The blurb for the book sounded interesting but I couldn't get into the book. I did not finish the book. I think the book was set for a younger readership, which is fine, I still enjoy reading such books, but I think I was expecting something a bit different. What I read, was good - the author is a good writer, the subject/plot of the book was interesting enough that I wanted to read it. The basic plot was about high school kids who were outsiders coming of age and finding that they were more than just normal kids. Obviously, something was going to happen in which these kids were needed to save the world.

Godly Heathens had a premise I was utterly primed for. I really wanted to like this one. Reincarnation? Gods? Romance??? All the things I love!! I LOVE when a YA can take me on a ride. It started out so strong for me, sucking me in to its modern world immediately. I grew attached to Gem & Enzo, enjoyed meeting the new additions along the way like Willa Mae, Poppy, etc. Gem was a burdened character, one I wanted to protect. Enzo had an intrigue to me that I couldn’t shake. Willa Mae was a promising character that played a vital role in helping Gem learn about themselves. I admire everything this book was trying to do. All in all, it was a fun story at the baseline and I applaud how inclusive the author was.

However, towards the middle of the book, it took a turn for me. For a book about all powerful Gods, not much was shown that made me believe these Gods were that powerful? I felt like I was often told, without the descriptive action to follow up. It made for a lack of depth I was searching for. Additional characters started being introduced far too late, when Gem began realizing who everyone was—I started to get so confused and overwhelmed by the constant listing.

Alternatively, I understand this is YA, so some miscommunication was definitely going to happen, however I would have thought reincarnated Gods that have lived so much life, and had so much history together, that they’d be better at communicating with each other. Additionally, there was a bit of inconsistency with Willa Mae’s character that I wasn’t sure was done on purpose or not, even after discussing with another ARC reader. I also found some of the characteristics and descriptions over done. Poppy’s giggling as an example was consistently pointed out; there are other ways to show that a person is mentally unstable than constantly giggling. And while all of this could be my own qualms with the book, I still found it took away from the depth of the story.

I adored Enzo as a character, though. He was my favorite part of the entire book. He added a special flare the entire group of teens needed. Godly Heathens was inclusive and diverse, the trauma and difficult conversations what a younger teen needs to see in the books they read. But this one hit the mark for me. It had potential, given its premise, had it been tightened up more.

3 stars for me!

I genuinely have no words. I have not read ya in some time, but goddamn!! I need to reread this immediately,

This was probably one of the more unique YA books I’ve read in a while. Reincarnated gods in the bodies of teenagers in a small Georgia town? Sign me up! I really enjoyed the mythology system of this book. I thought it was really interesting. I loved the topics of gender identity, mental illness and also ethical polyamory this story brought up. I thought they were handled with care and also in a very nuanced way. I also really enjoyed the characters and the way they were written, Gem and Enzo especially. There were times the story was a bit slower paced, but there’s a lot of information to know and understand. The thing that REALLY got me excited though was that ending. The only reason I’m not mad about that cliffhanger is that I got approved for an ARC of the sequel and can read it right away. My god, those last few chapters were INTENSE. I’d say this is definitely on the older side of YA, but it’s not horribly graphic or explicit. I had a great time reading this one and definitely recommend it.
PS. The dog doesn’t die, but there is other animal death.
TW: mental illness, transphobia, violence, mentions of sexual assault and child abuse, racism

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so unique, it was refreshing. Everything in fiction has become very homogeneous lately, and this was so different.

First off: H.E. Edgmon knows what the fuck they're doing. GODLY HEATHENS is so brutal and beautiful and unlike any other YA fantasy I've ever read -- I sank into Gem's world immediately and never wanted to leave. This book truly puts its boot on the neck of Booktok's professed love of morally grey characters and doesn't let up: you say you like mess? Then let's get MESSY. So much of the book is concerned with binaries (good and evil, male and female, colonizer and subjugated, life and death), and Edgmon forces the reader to sit with what it means to exist in a third space of neither/and. I love Gem in all of their terrible sweetness, that walking Richard Siken poem, and I was consistently impressed by how Edgmon widens Gem's understanding (or remembering) of what's going on without falling into an 'info-dump' trap. Wildly inventive, truly fantastical, ruthlessly sexy, GODLY HEATHENS belongs on any queer fantasy fan's shelf!

Love the gender/sexuality and other aspects of cultural inclusivity, along with mental health representation! A dark fantasy that is definitely good for teens and young adults who like spooky things!

I initially picked up this book more as something to read around Halloween, but, you know, life gets in the way. Regardless, this isn’t necessarily a Halloween read and I ended up liking it anyway.

This story follows a non-binary teen, Gem, as they navigate their life and try to shake the feeling that they’re broken. All of that changes when Willa Mae shows up and shows them who they really are: a god that’s stuck on earth. Slowly, things unravel in front of Gem and everything makes more sense to them, especially once they have multiple other gods at their neck due to their past wrongdoings. Gem decides they want to repent, but after Enzo, their long distance lover, enters their life as another infamous god, Gem’s moral lines start to blur.

I think this book is good for angsty, queer teens, but it’s not quite my cup of tea. I genuinely only contribute that to the fact that I’ve mostly graduated from young adult at this point in my life. If I was younger, I think I would’ve really, really enjoyed this.

The characters are funny and pretty well fleshed out, first off. At least Gem and Rory (Willa Mae). The only character I really have a complaint about is Enzo, only because with him being such a major player, I feel like he should’ve been developed a little more. Like, he had character, but I wish I would’ve known him a bit more before the shift. (Love Shade/Enzo though. He’s funny.)

The storyline was also decent and paved an interesting opening to an additional book (which I think is happening, based on how Goodreads has it labeled as Ouroboros #1). Regardless of be being kind of meh about it, I’m curious enough to read a sequel purely because the ending was really interesting.

There were also really good one liners and anecdotes that had me laugh. So, thank you for that, H.E. Edgmon.

All in all, good, just not quite my deal based on changing personal tastes.

Recommended: for some people
For anyone who will love morally gray characters, for a book where tons of people are trans (and almost no one is cis het!) and that MATTERS, for some kind of confusing magic lore, for a lot of high school kids with no supervision or reliable adults
Pub date: Nov 28, 2023

Thoughts:
This book was kind of meh for me, but I think it has a lot to offer to people who are interested in it who are not me.

What dragged this down was primarily the fact that it felt like not much actually happened. This is a young adult book, and there was a lot of time where they were all just... in school. Doing classes. Hanging out at a party. It does focus mostly on their interactions and building the relationships, but BOY was this book a lot of exposition. It suffers badly from "book one" syndrome where it got all the boring setup out of the way and maybe book two will be way more exciting since it can move on to the action.

The other thing that dragged this down was that despite all that endless exposition, I was still confused about some of what happened in the characters' lives. There's a key element that was supposed to be a twist but I had already thought that's the way things were the entire time since it was never made very clear that it WASN'T, so the "twist" came and I was like, didn't we already know that? Duh? It also seemed like Gem didn't really think about the stuff they were told.

There's a lot of duality of self in this book, in a lot of ways. Gem is trans, as are a ton of other characters. There's a line that's approximately "there are no cis het gods" and I thought that made a lot of sense, and it's also reflected in their pantheon. Besides that there's also the human / god issues with identity that Gem struggles a lot with through the whole story. One character with she/they pronouns is referred to at times by she and at other times by they. I couldn't quite figure out why they were used at a specific time, but best guess is that it was roughly based on how they were presenting at the moment. Anyway, I did get a little tripped up sometimes identifying who was being referred to, but appreciated the commitment to that personal representation.

Good and evil are two of the obvious duality conflicts in this book. The discussion around this was nigh endless, but was very interesting to me. Be ready for some philosophical discussions though. One idea I enjoyed reflecting on was that some people are "evil" just because their needs conflict with or are the opposite of your own. Damn, yo.

I ran into some other issues towards the end. It's easiest to talk about them in spoilers though instead of trying to be vague, so read below if you're ok with a larger twist spoiler and a character-relationships thing that I'd consider more of a minor spoiler.

Final note: the trigger warnings at the start of the book scared me enough to feel hesitant about reading it but after finishing they actually seemed way more dramatic than the book actually was to me. Also? FUCK that ending, y'all. 😐

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.

Godly Heathens is a captivating tale that effortlessly weaves together exceptional storytelling, rich world-building, and compelling characters. The author's writing is nothing short of phenomenal, drawing readers into a vividly crafted universe that feels both enchanting and immersive. The narrative unfolds seamlessly, creating a gripping experience that makes it nearly impossible to put the book down. The characters are not only well-developed but also profoundly engaging, each adding a unique layer to the overall narrative. In Godly Heathens, the author skillfully combines elements of fantasy with a masterful touch, delivering a literary masterpiece that resonates with readers long after the final page.

I've been really into queer non-binary fiction lately. H.E. Edgmon did a great job representing this in their writing. The concept of the story is unique and fantastic. Edgmon did amazing in describing things and let us feel what the characters were feeling. It was very Mean Girls but Godly which I am so here for.

I loved our main character's journey to strive to be better and be a GOOD god, up til the end when he was betrayed for the final time and became the antihero. I love a queer story, I love a spooky almost-horror-ya-fantasy, and I LOVE the idea of gods actually being teenagers in small town America. That's SUCH a cool concept to me. I can't wait to see what happens to the crew in the next installment.

Review to be posted closer to realease date.
This was an interesting read. I have to say, I did struggle a little with getting into the story, but once I for into with, I was hooked. It offers an interesting mix including subject of trans and non-binary teenagers, mental health, trauma and betrayals. It offers an interesting view of flawed characters, who in many ways could each be the villain of the story based on who tells the story.

It is darker than I expected, and Gem makes a great main character, as they are really in a place where they are neither a good or bad character in the story. They are flawed, and in a way human, despite their godly identity. It is also really interesting to follow their vision, as they are rediscovering their history at the same time as we are.

Overall, it was a interesting book, and I definitely looking forward to reading the sequel.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for an arc of this one.
Gem has never felt like they fit in their world, or even their human body. They're just trying to get by until after high school when they can move to New York with their best friend, Enzo and let their life truly begin. But when a mysterious new girl shows up at school and tells Gem they are actually a reincarnated god, plans have to change, and Gem has to fight for their life instead of just getting through high school.
This book was so so good from start to finish. I was immediately hooked with the writing style, Gem's crunchy exterior but soft insides, and the world this book began hinting at. Things just kept getting better with the addition of new characters (soulmates???), new conflicts, and more struggles that Gem had to work their way through. 
Gem is such an interesting character. I loved the god-complex at the beginning and how that affects their decisions throughout the book, and their understanding of themselves that develops. I really loved the interactions between Gem and Rory and Enzo, even though Enzo has a bigger role later in the book.
The poly-panic going on in this book is so good. Also love how Gem is dealing with literally inter-dimensional problems but spends so much time worrying about their relationships. Teenagers lol. 
CW: death, child abuse, sexual content, slut-shaming, mental illness, gore/body horror, transphobia, racism, animal sickness

Oh my everything I needed this to be and so much more!

I couldn’t stop reading even if I wanted to. And I so did not want to. I can’t wait for the next installments in this enthralling and fantastical journey.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC copy of this read!

3.25

I adored H.E. Edgmon’s debut duology The Witch King and when I found out this new duology was going to center trans gods and relationships that span reincarnations I could not request this fast enough. The execution, however, has left me with mixed feelings.

The story follows Gem, a trans teen in rural Georgia who is counting down the days until he can move to Brooklyn and live with his best friend Enzo. Until a new girl moves to town and Gem realizes they are a reincarnated god.

I liked Gem’s internal voice and I liked that all of the characters are messy and dealing with their hurts and traumas in different ways. This is the type of morally grey character focused book I would have eaten up as a teen. That being said, I struggled with the pacing of this and I think that hindered my enjoyment. I also didn’t love some of the voice choices the audiobook narrator made, which might have also hindered my enjoyment because I generally love all of Avi Roque’s work.

All that to say, I did overall enjoy this and I am excited to see how Merciless Saviors wraps up the duology.