I had so many issues with this book.
At the offset, it sounded right up my alley. I love books with LGBTQ representation, and this promised it in spades! The MC was also Indigenous, which is another plus, and the cover art is truly gorgeous. But the story itself was highly problematic.
Every single character in this book was either queer or presented as bad, which is really just not awesome. There was one exception, who was the dumb jock golden retriever character, which was how he was referred to multiple times. Like he was just too dumb to be a bigot. And the primary trait in every single character was their queerness. I can't tell you more than a few bullet points about the personalities of the MCs, but I sure know about their sexuality. There was nothing about them that made me actually care about these characters or sympathize with their issues. It was just really poorly handled.
On top of that, this book couldn't make up it's mind on if the characters were good or bad. Arguably, they're all worthless and have the morality of the ancient Greek Gods. However, the book expects us to care about them and the causes they champion without giving us any real reason other than surface stuff. On one page they're rallying against small-town bigotry towards anyone queer or POC or indigenous, and on the next they're literally abandoning a whole world they were responsible for, murdering people and gods without any discrimination or remorse, and openly stating how little they care about anyone who isn't them. I just didn't buy it and really didn't care about any of them. By the end of the book I just wanted them to all kill themselves off.
Another thing to mention is there is some gnarly animal death thrown in for entertainment value. One of the gods controls plant and animal life, and in fights she has birds act as suicide bombers to break into glass or attack her enemies, and it is treated with so little care or compassion. Really off putting.
The book ends on a "cliff hanger" and this is supposed to be a duology, but I absolutely will not be continuing on.

This was one of the most creative books I've read in a long time -- while it had a decidedly different tone than The Witch King, I enjoyed it nonetheless. I love seeing queer teens in genres other than realistic fiction because it often feels more real to me -- we can fit in anywhere, not just in narratives strictly about coming out or homophobia. There were some parts of the book that I found unbelievable, but on the whole, the magic system was well-crafted and engaging. I look forward to the sequel.

Gem is a nonbinary teen living in small town Georgia, and things have never felt quite right- especially that their best friend lives all the way in New York City. This not-right-ness comes to a head as disconcerting things start to happen and Gem learns that they're a reincarnation of a god from another universe, in the midst of a generation-spanning war for the lives of their fellow gods and the world they left behind.

I completely adored this book. Gem is complex- I rooted for them, but they make bad, messy, heartfelt decisions left and right. The thing that this book did the best was Gem's inner life- the combination of their mental health issues and the memories of their past lives flowing together, the all-consuming yearning that can't be contained to a single object of affection, the coping skills they try to use but aren't quite enough. I haven't seen quite this point of view on trans-ness, gender, mental illness, and growing up in the rural south anywhere else.

This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I can't wait for the next one- H.E. Edgmon hasn't disappointed me yet!

Teenagers that are actually reincarnated gods living in a small town in Georgia. Non-binary, trans, gay, and general queerness. Indigenous representation. A wide cast of diverse characters. Yep, this book has them all.

Fantasy with some horror, I can see teens really enjoying this book. There is representation for just about anyone. Choice vs destiny was one of the main themes in my opinion. Gem has to make many choices while learning her destiny. Does she make her own or follow paths others have set for her? How much of her is a god and how much is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in Georgia? Gem was a very lovable character. Watching her balance her life as a teenager with the growing power of her godhood made me sympathetic to her decisions. Even when I was internally screaming that they were the wrong ones.

The story was very engaging and dense. Confusing at times because of names changing and learning who is who in the god pantheon. The ending was tense and left me hanging for the next book but wrapped up the story at the same time. Recommend this for teens, especially those looking for representation and heavy plots.

I was really, really excited about this book. The concept was incredible and exciting, but, unfortunately, I just couldn't get past the writing. I had to keep going back and rereading sentences cause things weren't making sense. I wanted to like it so much more than I did. Gem seemed interesting, I just wish I'd been able to like the writing style more.

I received an e-galley of this book for an honest review.

I will start off by saying that this is going to be one of those books that people will love or hate it. This is not a bad thing, but it has many references to social issues that are current with the times - particularly around trans & gender identity. In particular, please make sure to read the content warnings in the front of the book as they are very on point with topics or things that occur within.

I will say that this book took me three days to get through. As someone with reading comprehension struggles, this book was more complex language, and I would say reads at a bit of a higher literacy level than most YA books that are coming out at the moment. This did not subtract it for me because not everyone will have these issues, and that is a personal preference, which I am just stating for those that may also struggle with syntax. The syntax that is used in this is extremely visually evocative. It was good with most aspects of the book, but it can be a bit much for those that have hyperphantasia during the graphic scenes.

With the complex syntax, there is still a very wonderful component which is the gender-inclusive language throughout the entire book. It was something I noticed, along with respecting character's genders and identities.

The characters are very well written, morally grey, chaotic as ever. I am told that this is common for this author so it was well done and received. They have depth to them and while the POV is limited to the main character, Gem, we still see development with all the characters at some point. With Gem's POV we get a really good look at the struggles that Non-Binary and Trans characters deal with: Dysphoria and Euphoria around their gender and their bodies. It was very well done, and can tell the author knew the topic they were writing with. As well as both internal and external able-ism. It is not stated outright, but key phrases indicate that the character is also Autistic.

The settings and the pacing are really thought-out and well-developed. They make it easier to be immersed into the story, especially with the memories.

Overall, this was an excellent read, though I am not a fan of the syntax writing style of the author - that is a personal preference that doesn't affect the rating. It was a harder but enjoyable read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for this opportunity to read this and review it.
This was posted to Goodreads, Instagram (with link to review) and Barnes and Noble (pending approval)

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This one is a hard one to rate. I loved the premise, the writing was good. But I just couldn't get into it. I ended up skimming to finish.

Godly Heathens is a roller coaster ride from beginning to end, with a bombastic main character and riveting story. Gem, our protagonist, is the quintessential queer teenager in a small rural town, an oddity and an outcast, though not loathed by their classmates. Their life quickly spirals out of control (though there’s a decent question as to whether their life was in control in the first place) and they find themself at the center of a feud thousands of years old.

I liked that the love triangle of this story reached the point of being an actual triangle. It was a refreshing element on top of an already refreshing read. The queer representation on display was top notch, and, while it is obvious this is the opening act of a duology, the story stood mostly on its own. Edgmon’s writing is snappy and quick witted and enjoyable from start to finish and the characters were compelling in a way that I have a hard time connecting to in young adult fiction. I particularly enjoyed that this grounded fantasy didn’t have many elements of a “coming out” storyline, and if you’re looking for a read where queer teenagers have way bigger problems than the fact that they’re queer, this is the read for you.

Godly Heathens is first and foremost the beginning of a duology. Its ending left me unsatisfied both with the protagonist’s character arc and the overall plot, a satisfaction I anticipate will come with the second book. Despite this, I overall enjoyed the story and characters, who felt both mature enough to be gods and immature enough to be teenagers. I’d recommend to anyone looking for a fast paced YA read with queer characters and light fantasy elements.

I didn’t want to put this book down. And then when I finished I had to sit with it for a moment because otherwise this review would’ve just been keysmashing, flailing, and crying about how I need to get my hands on the next book in the series. There are reincarnated gods from another reality that have lived many lives in ours. There are nightmares as memories. There is Gem trying desperately to hold onto their humanity while figuring out the reality they’ve just been dropped into. There’s love and loss. There’s harshness and sweetness and every character is messy in their own way. This book is fantastic!

I received and advanced review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Let me start by saying this author is an amazing writer. I really enjoy the style and had a hard time putting this book down. But, the the pacing of the book slowed down and I actually lost interest for a quick second. Sometimes it felt like the characters didn’t have anything to do. They would have a big fight only to go back to school and act like nothing changed. It felt like unless they were chasing object or people there was nothing else going on. Overall, a solid read but there were lulls that stall the momentum of the story. I’m curious about the next installment though. 3.5 stars.


Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

sitting on the edge of my seat and chewing at my nails waiting for the sequel to this stunning fantasy book

I'm so in love with how utterly queer this book is. Maybe I'm in love with precisely *how* the book is queer. Queerness is this theme that carries you through the larger story of these gods from another reality, the Ether.

The mythology and world-building is so interesting. I still have so many questions!! Edgmon has fully embraced the art of teasing out the world-building over the entire course of the novel, and leaving you wanting more at the end. I mean, not to mention the GINORMOUS cliffhanger.

Gem Echols is our narrator. They are a nonbinary Seminole senior in high school. They spend every day working toward getting the heck out of small-town Georgia, and most nights having nightmares about "their demon." Gem is a very sympathetic narrator for me. I struggle to call them a protagonist though. For the sake of story structure, they absolutely are. But when you consider the connotation of the protagonist being a *hero* they are definitely not.

But that leads into another of the huge themes of this story. It really explores the nuances of the ideals of justice, fairness, morality, and balance. It made me think about all of the ways these ideas are similar, and it kind of lives in the subtle differences between them.

Godly Heathens left me with no coherent thoughts. This book left me feeling shattered.

If there is one thing I love, it is morally grey characters. (Do murderous and violent characters count as morally grey?) This book is full of them! Godly Heathens also offers realistic queer, indigenous, and mental health representation.

This book is filled with hurt, rage, and a bunch of other messy feelings that make you feel for these characters. Some characters can be hard to feel for, but I found myself very intrigued by what made them this way. Godly Heathens was a very impactful book that I feel many readers will enjoy. I cannot wait for the next book and to see how this story continues!

This was a really unique contemporary fantasy!!

What I liked:
- The idea of gods being reincarnated into endless lifetimes is insanely cool
- Two trans and Native MC's!!! Hell yes
- The flashbacks to the past lives
- "The Chosen One" trope

What I didn't like:
- Modern teenage voices aren't my cup of tea. When I saw the first sentence was an Orange is The New Black reference, I had to prepare myself for what the rest of the book was gonna be like lol.
- The descriptions of the world/magic could be confusing at times


CW: mentions/descriptions of self harm

DNF @ 23%

I'm honestly super bummed about this. I really liked Edgmon's Witch King series, and this book has a very similar style (fun and quippy, protagonist who's simultaneously conceited and extremely self-conscious, rife with queer internet humor, etc.), but something about it just isn't gelling for me this time around.

The character's aren't quite hitting the same, maybe; Gem is, thus far, a sort of generic 'I'm So Confused By Everything That's Going On Right Now' protagonist, and Willa Mae is the equally generic 'Wise And All-Knowing Call To Action' character. I like the author's writing, but it isn't quite enough to hold my attention on its own right now.

I'm definitely a mood reader, though, so this could very well be a "me" problem. Might be worth revisiting later, when I'm more in the mood for this kind of fantasy book.

This book is beautifully queer & angsty & full of gay panic & a little traumatic in cathartic ways. I may have to take a break halfway through because I am processing a lot of things at the moment & it is very good, but sometimes ~uncomfortable~ to some of my current selves.

But it's full of gods & mental illness & queer people being awkward and ADHD/Autistic/etc & I love it <3

I can't believe how much I liked this book.

With how much I disliked The Witch King and considered its sequel a few good steps above, I went into reading this thinking maybe this one would be on par, perhaps a bit better, than The Fae Keeper. But I genuinely enjoyed this one much more than I could ever imagine.

I loved that Edgmon went balls to the wall in making every character unlikable and messy and goddamn insane. Gods duking it out in the bodies of queer teens living in rural Georgia causes so much juicy conflict that kept me hooked the whole time I was reading. Yes, everyone in this book is an asshole, but Edgmon doesn't shy away what it takes to make a monster, what horrible conditions one endures before they snap and embrace their monstrosity.

I think this is why I liked this book as much as a do. It is so unapologetic in nature, that, in truth, no one is a good person here. Through Gem's eyes, it's obvious that they're selfish, arrogant, power hungry and driven, all this and more exemplifies the traits seen in gods like in Greek mythology. This also applies to the other gods, too, especially Willa Mae being forced to confront the ugliness within Gem and the unbearable amount of secrets they have kept from her over literal lifetimes.

And, damn, that ending. I wasn't planning to read the sequel because I thought my curiosity would end here. What a fool I was. Not only will I be eagerly awaiting for the sequel, but I will be getting a hardcover copy when this book officially comes out this November!

Unsettling, thought-provoking, and outstandingly queer. This book was a great time.

Godly Heathens is a book that examines what it means to be both a god and a villain, in this life and all of the others. The main character, Gem, instantly drew me into the story. I found them to be a fascinating and relatable character with significant character development throughout the book. Living inside of their head for the duration of the book was, honestly, anxiety-inducing, but it was also extremely interesting.

Something that I liked about this book was its refusal to do what was expected. I gasped out loud at one of the reveals in the middle of the book. I hadn't expected the twist at all, and almost couldn't continue reading because I was so shocked. This book is unique in the way that you can both care immensely about each of the characters and be disgusted by some of their actions. The separation between the character and their actions is discussed extensively in this book, and I found it very interesting to read Gem's journey with their new (old) identity and figuring out how to reconcile it with the identity they had grown up with.

Having read H.E. Edgmon's other published novels, I found this one to be just as incredible. I think that this author has a very distinctive writing style that makes you really feel what the character is feeling, which is what happens with Gem in this book. I also like that the author doesn't shy away from taboo topics and instead writes about them openly and honestly, as with Gem's trauma and mental health issues.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the grotesque and magical, especially if they also enjoy reading excellent queer representation. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to experience this book!

This story starts off with such a bang it's sure to reel you in right from the start. It will have it's claws in you immediately and never let you go until the end. Godly Heathens is an incredible reminder that gods are flawed despite their power, they will never be perfect. It's a story of finding yourself and others and reconciling your past self with your present self. It's an incredible story of discovery, destruction, and wonder.

DNF at 25%.

I just could not get into this book. The first 15% was basically info-dumping. I felt that Gem's character was really inconsistent, and I didn't have a clear sense of their voice. Their mental health seems to be really important, but it's barely touched on in the first quarter. Their relationship with their mom is really vague. And Gem, themselves, was very inconsistent...at times angsty and full of self-loathing, at other times kinda arrogant? Just didn't work for me. Also, call me a grandma millenial, but I cannot relate to the Gen Z tendency to continually skip school and sneak around to each other's rooms constantly? Like does no one have any respect? I feel really old lady saying that but I can't help it I don't get it lol.