Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
Godly Heathens is everything I love most about young adult fiction. The quirky characters, the story that creates its own mythology, the humor that made me laugh out loud a few times. It's the kind of book that I wish had existed when I was in high school. Although I am long out of the YA age bracket, I feel this could be a life changing or affirming book for queer young people. Strong 5 stars.

Dear whoever approves Netgalley requests for St. Martin's Press, I hope you get a raise and both sides of your pillow are cool for the rest of your life. you're my hero. Thank you SO much to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and H.E. Edgemon for the ARC. All opinions are my own of course.

4.5, rounded up!

Out of the gate, this book is FAST. The pace set from the jump was enough for me to regularly flip back and make sure I hadn't missed any crucial details. The good thing here is that it matches with the emotions of Gem, our 17 year old nonbinary protag.

You see, Gem is struggling with vivid and violent dreams and hallucinations, just like their father. They've never felt quite at home being a person, wrestling being queer and mentally ill in their swampy, backwoods small town. Their dad went fully off the deep end some time ago, leaving Gem with a well intentioned but ultimately clueless mother. Luckily, their bff Enzo is also trans and has been monumental in keeping Gem off the ledge. Unfortunately, he lives in Brooklyn, some thousand plus miles away, and Gem has to graduate high school before they'll be able to create a future together.

After another terrible dream, Gem feels like their grip on reality is shifting, waiting just beyond a fog for Gem to catch it. This is made significantly worse when they are accosted by a new student, Willa Mae, who claims that they are soulmates. Oh, and gods from another world.

Things snowball from here, building towards something Gem cannot remember or name - something that places everything and everyone they love in danger.

The pace, while honestly breakneck, really helped me slip into Gem's shoes as they tried to navigate through their new reality. I was trying to connect the dots right alongside Gem (if you know the Always Sunny whiteboard meme, you have a sense of the complexity lol). I do think that the language was almost painfully gen z at times, but also I don't know that I love the idea that all books have to exist in this timeless vacuum either, so I'm tabling that complaint.

The characterization here is what really sold Godly Heathens for me. Gem oscillates between "good" and "bad", often landing in the morally grey camp, which is understandable. All of their intentions and insights make sense, especially for a 17 year old going through what I can only describe as a uniquely traumatic situation, who also has pretty severe trauma from their past. Edgemon doesn't shy away from frank conversations about Gem and their father's struggles with mental illness, or the coping mechanisms Gem has adopted along the way. It all feels very genuine and believable. I am a little sad that it's single POV, though. I look forward to book two, and hopefully seeing more of the pantheon as Gem reveals more about the other gods and their reasoning.

For all that I initially balked at Willa Mae's character, by the end I was cheering her on and hopeful for the romance between them and Gem. I had no reservations doing the same with Enzo, and could honestly probably make the case for an entire harem, lol. Gem talks a lot about keeping parts of themself hidden and being a sort of chameleon, so seeing them truly vulnerable and open made my Grinch heart grow.

Also, I have never felt as seen by a character as I do by Gem. I can't tell you how much of this ARC is annotated by my "relatable" highlighter.

The plot is revealed in halves - the past in the Ether told through hazy memories and dreams, and the present, racing toward some unknown destiny. I'm not usually a fan of that kind of storytelling, but it works here, for some reason.

I really, REALLY enjoyed this book. I laughed, I cried, I gasped so loudly my boyfriend had to check on me. I am also foaming at the mouth for book two, this cliffhanger felt like I had been punched. Phenomenal.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin Press!
I enjoyed The Witch King and ended up liking this one even more. Gem is a non-binary teen living in a small town. Throughout the book, we see their struggle and journey with mental health and family. It combines personal journies and fantastical stories. Packed full of reincarnation and goddesses as well as personal strength and identity. I love books that can combine deep and personal issues with a sense of fantastical elements.
The ending was such h a cliff hanger, and I literally need the second book!

An interesting premise and emotional story populated by complex, morally ambiguous characters - usually an instant hit for me. However, characters using internet-speak in books is an instant and powerful turn-off for me. Phrases such as "living rent free in my head" and "big-brained" feel incredibly culturally bound to specific moments in time, such that by the time this book is published, I'm sure they are already going to feel outdated and inevitably cringe. I had this problem with Red, White, and Royal Blue, and the issue persists in Godly Heathans. As a queer person myself, I understand the close-knit relationship between online dialect and queerness that is heavily present in this novel. While I can appreciate the notion, it makes the story feel trapped in the past in a way that takes me out of the story. An over-reliance on Gen-z idioms does not comedy make, and I feel like this distinction is utterly lost in Godly Heathans.

I enjoyed previous H. E. Edgmon's books and was excited to dive into this one. What makes this book the most special is that it is raw and real and holds no punches with the reader. I also love that trans, non-binary, and indigenous teens will see themselves in this book.

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.

I'm having difficulty reviewing this book, and providing a synopsis because there is just SO MUCH to say. Gem is the main character, who is a non-binary teen living in a small town outside of Atlanta, with Seminole blood and ancestors, who also discovers they are a God reincarnated...But at the same time Gem has trauma and their own personal fights, stemming from their father's struggle with mental health, their mom's difficulty to understand them, and their own mental health battle, and an overwhelming sense of not belonging/being wanted.

Overall, the fantastical story is catching and entertaining, to the point I feel like I need the second book ASAP following the ending cliff-hanger. But underlying the main story there is a deep discussion of more pressing issues, which in some ways left me feeling overwhelmed, and unsure of how to react. And to top it off Gem flips back and forth between "good" and "bad" and becomes a morally "grey" main character. The book was certainly worth the read and will stick with me for awhile, but the depth of some of the scenes and descriptions caused me to take a little longer to read versus other novels (in no way is this a negative, just caused me to use my brain more than I was expecting).

I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys YA/fantasy, and who has an open mind.

I personally didn’t connect with the story which is why I’m not posting the review.
It was a bit confusing and personally not for me. Thanks so much.

this novel is definitely something to keep an eye out for! this follows reincarnated god, Gem. it’s hard to get into it without spoiling but this has a rich plot and I loved the parallels between godly and teenage struggles and drama. I loved the casual queerness of this book as well.

The first time I tried to read this it could not hold my attention. The second time I tried to read this I got just far enough to decide it is Bad and put it away.

The writing is INCREDIBLY gen-z. This is not a bad thing in and of itself, but it was very annoying and honestly kind of distracting. There was a particular part of a phrase that made me put it down definitively "... if his crazy hadn't ruined their marriage..." the accusatory tone related to mental health rubbed me the wrong way and since I wasn't vibing with the book to begin with, I decided to put it away.

Did you ever read American Gods by Neil Gaiman and think man if only there was queer version of this fever dream that was written by the Euphoria producers? Then this is the book for you.

I requested this ARC thru Net Galley and before you yell at me for talking about a book four months before it's publication date, hold on while i tell you how cool this book is. Then you can yell at me.

Gem Echols is a 17 year old, non-binary teen living in Gracie, Georgia. They struggle with the feeling that they don’t belong, family issues, and figuring out how to fit into this discombobulating world. The whole nine yards. But then there’s a new student who knows way too much about Gem, leading to Gem finding out that they are a reincarnation of a god from another universe. And they weren’t exactly one of the good guys.

If you hate being confused while reading, this isn’t the book for you. Gem’s story takes you thru their life as a god, thru all the past human versions of themselves, and the current day battles they are fighting. The story is told in this disjointed dream like writing that pulls and shakes you. The only part where i was thoroughly confused was how these gods are switching bodies, and pronouns, and identities in every lifetime. I lost track of who was who a few times.

I did like how i didn’t like any of these characters. Let me explain. Most of these gods, like with most immortal beings who have existed for eons, aren’t good people. None of your fringe morally gray daddy issues ting. These kids are full on villains. But watching how they escalate their own drama was so engaging i couldn’t put this down. Incredible world building, thought provoking characters, the plot and pacing is all over the place, making for a hell of a ride.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC;all opinions are my own.

Godly Heathens by H. E. Edgmon is a five-star read that masterfully combines intense action with slower-paced mystery-solving. The well-paced narrative takes readers on a captivating journey, keeping them engaged as the story alternates between moments of high stakes and intriguing discoveries.

The character development, especially that of the protagonist Gem, is excellently portrayed, and I hope for even deeper explorations of the characters' histories in the sequel. At first, some of the characters' choices may frustrate readers, but it's important to consider their dual nature as gods and teenagers. Their messy decision-making process adds authenticity to their portrayal, making them relatable and lovable over time.

The development of the mythology is intriguing, offering glimpses into a rich and intricate world. Readers will be left craving for more as they uncover the origins and complexities of the characters.

Overall, Godly Heathens is an enthralling read. The well-paced narrative keeps readers hooked, while the realistic portrayal of flawed yet endearing characters adds depth to the story. The glimpses into the fascinating mythology will leave readers eager for the sequel, where they hope to delve further into the histories and intricacies of these compelling characters.

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Godly Heathens*
I sat with my feeling regarding this book for a week prior to reviewing it. I'm still not completely sure what to say about it! Did I hate it? Absolutely not! Did I love it? Not completely. I did thoroughly enjoy it and it left me thinking on more than one occasion so mission accomplished I guess. Just not quite enough to warrant the coveted 5 stars from me.
One of my favorite things about this book is the inclusion. I am so happy for teens to read this now and be able to identify with the indigenous as well as the queer/trans/non-binary aspects. As I personally cannot identify with any of these groups, it was a crash course for my 'cis' self. I appreciated the perspective and enlightenment I received and was elated that so many others can pick this book up and be able to identify with it.
The world-building was sufficient but left a little to be desired. I would have enjoyed a little more elaboration on "The Ether".
The characters were somewhat well developed yet I had a hard time seeing beyond their sexual orientation and how they identify. I know there had to be more to them and their personalities than their orientation. It was a bit in your face and took away from who they really were beneath. I would have also liked some more details as to the godly part of their personas. I feel that their powers and origin story could have been much more complex and elaborated on.
There was a good, slow-burn romantic element. The romance added a little to the story but once again, it seemed to kind of take over the main plot.
Overall, this was a solid 4 stars for me. I really enjoyed the premise of the book. I appreciated the romantic elements and the education in a world I was not very familiar with. I just feel like there should have been more to the story than that. I'll still be looking forward to the sequel!

Love the “ there are no cis gods” cause very true. Great book and characters can’t wait to read it again when it comes out

Suspenseful, Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Great novel that will be the perfect to lose yourself in. Thank you Net Galleyfor ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

I loved Edgmon's previous novels so much. While I can see the comparisons, Godly Heathens is darker, sexier, and more complicated in so many other ways than the previous ones. There is a vast cast and thousands of years of history to catch up on. I loved the queer representation, but the plot was confusing. I think that character development suffered at the hand of developing so many characters simultaneously.

I LOVED THISSS
this book was everything, one of my new favs and comfort reads even though most of the characters are morally grey and despite them sometimes being awful I would want to be apart of their group. This had identity reveal, sort of enemies to lovers, poly relationship, queer rep, and so much more. It's one of those books where I predicted a lot but I was so happy it took the path I was hoping it would. Also, everyone has cool unique abilities.

Plot: 4.75
Characters: 4.75
Writing Style: 5
Cover: 4
Enjoyment: 5
Buyable/Re-readable?: Yes. I am absolutely buying this duology, as a boxset or if they're sold separately. Heck, I'd even re-buy down the line if they did new cover re-releases. This makes not just the Top Ten of 2023, it makes the Top Three. I could have sat and finished this in one to two days, honestly.

TRIGGER WARNINGS! At the very beginning of said book, there is a content warning list from author. This is a dark book.

Iiiii love the writing style - I AM IN LOVE. Want to make out with it, it's just SO fabulous and spicy and real and magical (pun both intended and not), and messy and dark and just DAMN. If I still worked at a bookstore, this would be my employee highlight; I'd gush about it. This story is told in first person POV via our main character, who is 17. The setting is mostly Gracie, Georgia, with 'flashbacks' in various places (the deities original world, Scotland, etc). The titles of each chapter are quotes from said chapter. I thoroughly dig the world, the rules of the pantheon, the pantheon itself. I appreciate the exposure and the attention to details, that every character has their own Thing, their own voice. The world building, the bonds, the chemistry, the pacing, just... -sigh of contentment- There was only one possible hang up for me, which was the legal age for top surgery, but upon doing some research, my concerns were assuaged. I figured the author knew what they were talking about, and my assumption was correct. Excellent cliff-hanger, mostly satisfying twists (though I did find one somewhat obvious, but it didn't take away from the story, just the reveal).

Has 'American Gods' vibes (quote from the blurb - 'American Gods' meets 'All of Us Villains').

So many favorite quotes and the like, so much highlighting. Here is just one -
"'We’re immigrants. Immigrants add value to the society they join. Colonizers don’t join anything— they destroy it to build something of their own.'"

This novel was overall a good read. That being said, I believe the reader would benefit from a slower pace and more in-depth explanation of the world. Things happened way to fast in this book and went across time,space,souls, etc and was a bit overwhelming and difficult to follow. I found myself having to go back many times and god a bit of literary whiplash here.

Aside from that, great representation of LGBTQ+ characters and a unique plot of internal struggles of the human body vs the souls of the immortal gods within the main characters. Although confusing at times, this is the an epic love story between a power trio of vastly different people which simultaneously bring out the best and worst of each other as they battle to settle disputes spanning millennia and return to their rightful home.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and I would be interested in reading the second book! I hope the next novel goes more in-depth into the world building and the relationship history to tie up the many questions I had at the conclusion of the first book.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC. This book was such a wild ride. While there have been a lot of modern tales of gods, Godly Heathens manages to stand out as something utterly unique. The mix of high stakes, complex characters, and somewhat campy action sequences reminded me of the tone of Gaiman and Pratchett's Good Omens. Having a book with all these elements is so hard to balance without it all feeling too silly or too much like a CW drama, but H.E Edgmon nailed it. The scene with the plastic yard and massive gun fight in the middle of small town Georgia maybe went a little too silly for me, and I was momentarily pulled out of the narrative. Yet, even this outrageous scene, actually seemed to fit in in the long run. Gem is an absolute disaster and I love them so much. The cliffhanger was a bit cruel though.

I found godly heathens to be a very decent read. I found the premise to be quite unique, and I enjoyed my time with this book.

My overall enjoyment was surrounding the main character gem. I found this character to be extremely well developed and complicated and yet very interesting. He held my attention throughout the entire book, and I found his story arc to be extremely compelling. I definitely felt an emotional attachment to this character throughout the story, and I found that the trouble teen was very believable.

I absolutely enjoyed the storyline as well. While I did find some troubles with pacing periodically to my taste, overall, it was seemed to be very well done. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be trying for others.