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.

3.5 stars

No spoilers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

H. E. Edgmon is an amazing writer and should definitely specialize in high fantasy. Similar to The Mirror Visitor series, he captivates his audience with highly detailed scenes and situations. I never had any question or doubt about what his characters looked or acted like thanks to his use of symbolism and similes.

Edgmon also does a really great job portraying the internal disconnect between humanity and our main character (MC). As a God, Gem has always felt like they didn't fit in and suffered a lot of mental strain trying to fit in and trying to survive when they realized fitting in was impossible. Edgmon touches on real, meaningful topics like mental illness in LGBTQIA+ teens which I thought was eye-opening.

AND THE ENDING!? Ugh, what a cliffhanger!

So why 3.5 stars when I have so many good things to say about it? Well, like The Mirror Visitor series, there's more action and reaction than dialogue and there were moments I found it hard to keep reading despite enjoying the story and the unique plot line. I fully believe those who are in love with high fantasy will love this book and give it the 5 stars I'm sure it deserves.

5/5

A perfect balance of godly disputes with intense, sometimes dark themes and humour reflecting on the struggles of growing up.

Gem shares the struggles a lot of teens have of going to school and trying to figure out who they are. It just so happens who they are is a powerful god with a lot of enemies and shady past lives and loves. Gem Echols, an indigenous non binary teen living in a small town in the southern United States is funny and flirty as a facade to disguise their anxiety and loneliness. As a god they’ve lived for thousands of years and may not have always been the hero of the story. There is no such thing as good and evil, the lines are blurred and it’s hard to know who to trust when you can’t even trust yourself.

Gem must figure out who they are and who to trust when it turns out not everything is as it seems and multiple deities are out to kill them. This book picks up quickly and keeps that momentum throughout as Gem learns more about their past and is forced to make hard decisions to balance this life and goals with their past lives. While fighting battles and balancing their relationships with their human friend, Enzo and the god that claims to be their soulmate.

I loved the representation in this book, how it handles mental health in a way that doesn’t make it the main plot, but still shows the struggles that Gem faces with it and it’s also not an excuse for their actions. There’s so much casual trans representation amongst the cast of characters. The main character is canonically demiromantic and pansexual and it’s not one of the many battles they need to fight.

Filled with magic, mayhem and complicated romantic and familial relationships. Godly heathens is for any fantasy reader looking for an immersive story with a morally grey protagonist.

Godly Heathens has amazing rep throughout and even better—it has a character voice that feels authentic. I can see readers enjoying this one, though unfortunately it wasn’t for me. From the opening, I had some trouble orienting myself in the world and feeling grounded. This was a DNF but I can see myself trying it out again for the voice alone.

A lot of emotions coming up with this one. Fantastic worldbuilding and a strong character voice really does set Godly Heathens apart. This was the book that made me actually use the Kindle highlighting feature - there are so many jarringly familiar and accurate lines.

While the overall writing style can sometimes feel almost... too modern? (or possibly 'too casual') in some ways, for me, it's none the less easy to read, surprisingly relatable, and absolutely glittering with Gem's voice.

While I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending of the first book and the overall trajectory of the story, I can't deny that H.E. Edgmon paints a vivid, dreamlike-yet-tangible world, and I'm honestly curious to see more of it.

I finished the book and immediately wanted to read the sequel, the concept of this book is amazing, the characters are interesting, and the plot keeps you invested. It’s nothing you would expect and the plot is slightly chaotic so there is really no predicting where it is going.

Gem has recurring nightmares of a demon performing truly awful acts. When Willa Mae shows up claiming to be a reincarnated god from an alternate dimension, Gem learns those nightmares may be closer to memories.

The gods are fascinating and the conflict between Gem and the other gods is really well written. The gods are hilarious (like poppy, the god of death dresses as camp as they can). I’m excited to read the sequel!

Cw: torture, death, mental illness leading to violence, mental illness

!!!!!!

I don't even know how to review this. From pretty much the first page I was obsessed with this book and that persisted through the entire book. Just absolutely fantastic. I'm going to be thinking it for ages to come, and I cannot wait for Merciless Saviors.

I went back and forth on this book all the way through reading it. I think it's not quite for me, but I can easily imagine the readers who will really love it! It's got some compelling moments and an interesting premise, and it's such a hugely delightful experience to read about trans characters in a plot that's not totally centered around the struggles of being trans. Those stories absolutely have a place, but I love reading about people just doing wild things while also being trans. I also really specifically enjoyed the embodiment of transness in this book--different kinds of trans bodies, people wearing binders, top surgery scars, attraction rooted in physical sensation, pronouns often decoupled from physical descriptions even as pronouns were shifting back and forth. WHAT! A! DELIGHT!

The plot had a comic-booky feel to me, in a fun way! Alternate universes, reincarnated gods, magical power and weird memory things, all pretty neat in concept. I honestly think a graphic novel adaptation of this book would be very fun. It's very fast-moving, and I've found that i usually need a little more time to get to know and love the characters before I can follow along with a story that escalates as quickly as this one does. The pacing and characterization often strained my suspension of disbelief and the twists were easier to see coming than i prefer, but for a different reader i think it would be thrilling and full of little surprises and turns!

I was really into the theme of balance happening in the book though, on every level from the cosmic good and bad of two different worlds to the very personal balance of the biracial, nonbinary main character! The push and pull between aspects of their gender, their god-heritage passed through one parent and Seminole heritage passed through the other, their opposing relationships--everything tied back to the balance theme, which was fantastic.

The ending is really where I got hung up. I enjoy a good cliffhanger, something that introduces a new conflict or problem or goal to draw you into the next book in a series after the main conflict of the book you're reading has been resolved. That's not quite what happened here; what seemed to me to be the main conflict, the latest incarnation of a battle between these various gods, came down to a choice made in the very last moment, with the resolution presumably yet to come in the next book.

I want to end on a high note though, so let me sum up by saying that this is an exciting and speedy, snappy book that I think a lot of readers will really enjoy!

Gem is learning a lot about who they are. They are reminded that they are a reincarnated god by Willa Mae, who claims that they have been in love throughout their many lives.

Gem is being hunted, they knew where a knife is that can kill deities. Now they must find the knife to save themself and their friends while the Goddess of Death is searching for them all.

It took me a minute to catch on to the different characters, but once I did, they were very distinct and the role they play is very obvious. I really enjoyed the book from that point on.

It is well written and I feel I got to know the characters well and found myself pulling for several of them in different situations faced by Gem and the others.

I was given the opportunity to read this text by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

This book said "what's a moral" with its whole chest and I was so here for it. The gods are here, and they are queer. Godly Heathens had me fully in its grasp from the very first line, and it never let me out of that grasp. The writing was absolutely superb - there are so many lines and passages that resonate with me, and I just absolutely loved the voice of main character Gem. The entire cast of characters were so well rounded and interesting (and diverse, and GAY!!), the story was wild and went in ways I didn't predict, and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel. Which is awful because the first book isn't even out yet.

Be gay, do interdimensional godly crime!

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an E-arc for review!

I was interested in picking up another book by this author to see how I felt about it. I tried out The Witch King last year and didn't particularly love the writing style, but I gave some grace as it was the author's debut novel. Both worlds have very interesting premises and really beautiful and important representations, and I really hoped to love them, but unfortunately, I just didn't. I don't know exactly where my issue is, but something about this author's writing style I just really struggle with and find very juvenile.

Stick and poke tattoo this book onto my heart. The way I would've been <i>obsessed</i> with this as a teenager. The main character in this is incredibly well-written, and even though they're a literal god, they're still so relatable. I don't have the words to describe my love for them. 💘

The storyline logic wasn't always logic-ing to me, and some of the fight scenes are borderline silly-outrageous, like something from a CW tv show, but whatever. I had a fantastic time reading this, and am for sure going to buy a physical copy when it comes out. And after that delightful (genuine, not sarcasm) cliffhanger ending, I am eagerly awaiting the sequel too. 🤸🏼‍♀️

This book might be for you if you're into...
• BIPOC representation.
• Parallel worlds.
• Queer <spoiler>poly</spoiler> romance. (One pepper on the spice scale.)
• Realistic depiction of Georgia, USA.
• Reincarnated, morally grey gods.
• Teenage angst.
• Unique magic system.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc! 💌

Godly Heathens is the angry, queer villian story I didn't know I needed.

The representation was phenomenal! Mental illness, mental health, gender identity, sexuality, BIPOC characters, everything.

The story was so unique. I've never read anything quite like it. Teenagers discovering their gods and reliving their memories. Trying to stay alive, and reconnect and right past wrongs (sort of). Accepting yourself as you are. Asking the hard questions, like why it's always on you to make the changes (cuz seriously why?! How is that fair?).

I'm here for the villian era. I'm here for Gem! They were a flawed, and relatable character.

The ending was superb. I need the next book asap.

I was anticipating this for so long! I couldn’t wait to get into it and nearly as soon as it went on read now I grabbed it and read it very quickly. The author is amazing at writing characters so dynamic and that feel human and that’s not something you see too often. Phenomenal can’t wait to read the next one!

This book has some amazing queer and mental health rep, and I know there are teens out there who will feel seen in the characters and story. The main character, Gem, has a lot of growing to do, and I admire the author for giving them the space to fuck up without demonizing them for it OR making excuses for their behavior. It was refreshing and this is a voice that the YA genre desperately needs.
As much as I loved the concept and the themes in this book, the plot itself had a lot of pacing issues and I didn’t always understand how one scene flowed into the next. Also, a lot of characters kept popping up and it became challenging to keep track of them all, and the magic system didn’t really make sense to me.
I wish this book had gone through another round or two of edits, but overall there were a lot of things to like about it and I hope to see more from the author in the future.

On the positive: this book has more LGBTQIA+ representation than I’ve seen in any other book I’ve ever read. Almost every character belongs to the LGBTQIA community.
Unfortunately for me, that’s all the pros I have to list for Godly Heathens.
It seemed as though the author packed a plot line worthy of 650-pages into half that. Naturally, the result felt very rushed, while also making the characters difficult to sympathize with, or even understand their motivations. Especially Zephyr’s character.
And while the story line is definitely unique, the writing style seemed elementary at times, and Gem’s narration felt lackadaisical frequently.
Overall, it feels more like a lack of proper execution than creativity. Even as it is, I could see a series or film adaptation happening. Personally, I just needed to understand the characters on a deeper level. If that had happened, it would easily have been a 4-star book for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Rights Holder for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.