"If they will never see anything but a monster when they look at me, then it's a monster I'm going to give them."

This book was weird, but also undeniably fun. I liked the idea that there were Gods living in human bodies, and I loved watching everything play out. At the start of the story there is some weird lucid dreaming happening with the main character, which later turned into waking dreams, and then memory flashbacks. It got a little confusing later in the book because they happened with no clear shift or warnings, but they gave a lot of backstory on the characters shown here.

This book contains a nonbinary main character who is stated demisexual and is in a polyamorous relationship. On top of that, they mention "there are no cis gods," and there are....maybe half a dozen or so to keep track of? So definitely go into this book not assuming anyone's gender, because chances are you'll be told how they identify later on. If gender fluidity is something you do not like/cannot "understand," then I definitely suggest not reading this book.

But for everyone else: I enjoyed this book and think it is worth a read!

I will say that the polyamory in this book tripped me up. First, there is a lot of talk about sexual feelings and a lot of sexual thoughts throughout the course of this book - and while there is no sex on page, the characters talk about wanting it and mention the want to engage in masturbation. But, back to the polyamory: this book goes beyond a simple love triangle. It is a love triangle where they know about each other, are okay with sharing the main character, and hint at a possible threesome at one point in the series.

Infidelity is a topic I hate to read about and loathe to see in so many stories. And while I know that polyamory is not infidelity if boundaries are drawn and all the characters are in the know, I struggled to get past the monogamous thinking I was born and raised with. Even love triangles are too much for me sometimes, especially when *touching* gets involved. But, that is really the only thing I struggled with in this book, and it does seem like something that will carry over into later installments.

Overall, this book was an interesting read and I had a hard time putting it down. I just wanted to know more about these characters and their complex relationships, and I always found myself wondering what would happen next. It ends on quite a cliffhanger, and seeing how I'm reading this book 7 months before publication, I know I have to wait even longer for book two. Worth a read though!
Content warnings(stated by author): gore, body horror, violence, murder, torture, sexual violence (off page), child abuse, domestic violence, transphobia, racism, genocide (mention), slavery (mention) animal death

I'm super upset this book is over. Absolutely addictive storyline and characters with some fantastic godly drama. The author does an excellent job with their handling of genders and sexualities as well. CanNOT wait for the next book, because that ending....whew!

This book….this book! A story that will resonate through our current culture, and satisfy many readers longing for nonbinary themes mixed with Gods and adventures. Showcasing courage and tenacity, Godly Heathens is for everyone who struggles to uphold their true identities. It is hopeful, yet suspenseful, and mixed with a youthful madness for truth. This should be on every library shelf in the country. I can’t wait for it to be published! Five out of five strong stars.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books publishing for the honor of reading and reviewing this arc for my honest opinions.

This book is amazing. I couldn't get enough. I'm excited for the series and to see where H.E Edgmon takes this amazing world.

I received an ARC of this title through Netgalley. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

Godly Heathens is the first book in a series, possibly a duology, about gods cut off from their home world, and in a cycle of reincarnation that keeps drawing together -- largely to try to kill one another, using a magical knife.

The main character is Gem, a nonbinary Seminole teen. (To give you an idea of the vibe, one of the chapters is There are no Cis Gods.) When we meet them, they're on the brink of discovery/remembering their divine identity. Those gory, but often erotic, dreams? Memories. They reunite with Willa Mae/Rory, with whom they've shared many lifetimes.

We're told early on that the gods, even if they don't always consciously pursue one another, tend to end up in each other's lives, and so many of the people in Gem's life are, well, not people. Or not just people.

Among the gods we meet is Poppy, who is a death job with a quirky fashion sense. Has that been done before? Yes. Do I still love it? Also, yes. Every lifetime she's a little more like an animated corpse, for reasons.

Gem is a character dealing with a lot even without the whole god thing. They're battling mental illness, like their father, as well as a sex addiction. They were also preyed on by at least one adult. They want to be wanted/worshiped at all times. They're a teen, with all the hormonal stuff, and having a parent to appease.

This is a YA title, and there's part of me that would have liked to see it as an adult title simply for the increased freedom and maturity. These characters are both formidable gods, and teens, which certainly can work but it makes them feel occasionally leashed.

It reminds me of the scene in Buffy where Anya says, "For a thousand years I wielded the power of the wish. I brought ruin on the heads of unfaithful men. I offered destruction and chaos for the pleasure of lower beings. I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe, and now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High! A mortal! A child! And I'm flunking math!"

None of this is to say the book is tame. There's a lot of blood and gore. Murder and torture. Gem is promiscuous, and while not everything there is spelled out, we're talking at least PG 13. If it were an adult title, it might have been more explicit, but still these topics are mature and the author doesn't pull too many punches.

These gods, even the ones we root for, have their villainous moments, and Gem in the events leading up to their arrival on earth was one of the most villainous of all. The gods connive, they plot, morality wars with expediency. I found myself initially less then thrilled at the (inevitable) revelation of a certain character, but Edgmon managed to win me over. All the gods have a point, even as they're trying to kill our main character. And Gem has a point in wanting to neutralize them.

This is very compelling read, though. While I can nitpick some of the logic, or why characters didn't always due the logical thing, I was SO INVESTED! This book ends at a pivotal moment, and I need to find out how it shakes out. There's a god that allegedly is out of play, but are they really?

I'm going to be recommending this title a lot!

Gem Echols is non-binary teen thrust from the mundane into the extraordinary in Godly Heathens, battling not only teenage woes, but dreams of death and destruction. Until one day, they are attacked by stranger claiming to be a God seeking revenge. Spinning their world into chaos, Gem must learn to trust themselves as well as new friends. Everyone has a secret and a story, but will they be able to unravel all the answers in time?

Another incredible win for H.E. Edgmon. Godly Heathens is filled with a dynamic cast of characters that so many will be able to relate to and see themselves represented in. I really enjoyed this book and am very excited to see where the story continues to go!

Godly Heathens is one of the few books I struggled to complete this year; where I truly loved the fantasy aspects of the novel and the magic system was refreshing after a never ending stream of worlds based on medieval Europe. But to me this novel fell short when it came to segments that took place in our world. Where I do understand that this is a convention of the genre it none the less pulled me out of the fantasy world that I fell in love with. For readers who are not bothered by the two world contrast; I think that Godly Heathens will be a great read.

HUGE thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC! because this book was absolutely amazing. It grabbed my attention immediately and did not let go until the final page had been turned. I don't know how I'm going to survive waiting for the book in this series.

The world building was so thorough and well thought out, including so much rich lore. The further I got into the story the twister it got. The characters were overall well developed and I loved getting to see their many sides. Honestly, there are few books I've enjoyed as much as this one. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for a diverse upper-YA story with fantasy elements.

*** SLIGHT SPOILER***

The only thing that didn't really grab me was the character of Willa Mae/Rory. I just didn't really feel any connection to them and couldn't care less about what happens to them. Their portion of the romance subplot felt a bit weak to me and I felt overall "eh" about them. But other than that one tiny detail, this book was perfection.

Wow. I just. I mean. Wow. This book drew me in from the very first sentence, and kept me hooked until that crazy (cliffhanger!!! 😩😩) ending.

I was already a fan of H.E. Edgmon from their Witch King duology. But, Godly Heathens? Well, this book has proven to me that I will read anything H.E. Edgmon writes.

Gem is a trans teen, living in small town Georgia. They have vivid dreams that feel way too real, while never feeling they fit in with, well, human existence. And that’s because they are a god reincarnated in human form, a process that’s repeated over the course of the last thousand years. The moment Gem learns the truth their existence, is the moment the adventure truly begins. And, wow, was it a wild ride.

I loved the richly diverse characters. I loved their queerness. I looooved how morally grey they all were.

I’m a fan of H.E. Edgmon’s writing, and how relatable they make every character, and even every crazy situation. I found the dialogue both funny and whip smart, laughing out loud on more than a few occasions. I really liked the discussion on what makes a villain - and if there’s really a bit of evil in all of us.

There were great depictions and explanations of the godly world, without being all ‘info dumpy.’ And there was lots of action, twists and turns. I was entertained the entire time.

I highly recommend Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon to lovers of the queer fantasy genre.

I happily received this ARC from NetGalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.

Godly Heathens is written in an engaging and lyrical style, and Edgmon's characters are realistically portrayed and sympathetic. The dialogue is natural and the pacing is excellent while being so thought-provoking and timely, and it encourages readers to think about their own decisions and how it shapes not only their own lives but others around them.
Full review to come on YouTube

Thank you for accepting me for this ARC! Godly Heathens is everything I'd want out of a book about young reincarnated gods. Their flaws make them feel very humans yet also very much like the gods of the various mythologies that have come before them. The way the novel interweaves everyone's past lives and past relationships with each other is not an easy accomplishment and H. E. Edgmon has done it in such a flawless, comprehensive way. I also feel like all stories featuring gods should be more queer and polyamorous and this book does not disappoint in the slightest on that note. I loved this author's work in The Witch King and I've fallen in love all over again with Godly Heathens and already need a sequel so bad!

DRC provided by St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I will always love books with non-binary, trans and genderqueer representation. We are in dire need of these books, now more than ever and H.E. Edgmon is a literary force to be reckoned with.

I have been procrastinating this review for a while now because I knew that my original thoughts were too angry to be objective. Whether or not you'll enjoy this book hinges on whether or not you'll stand the main character, Gem.

It's very obvious what the author wants to do with them, what they want them to be, but even knowing that it did not make me appreciate Gem's storyline. I was loving this book until the last third, up until that point I enjoyed Gem's complex character, the world and the extended cast of characters.

For example Marian was my favourite character. Since this is from Gem's (and the villain team's) POV I have no doubt Marian would have been the protagonist had the story been told from the other team's POV. But I also love gnc lesbians so much.

The worldbuilding was intriguing and I will probably pick up the next one to know what happens next.

The ending "twist" felt... i don't know, Gem is shown to be selfish throughout the book always preserving their interests first so it wasn't much of a twist but it just made them more annoying. I think that's my problem with them, they feel volatile in a way?

I'll end this review on something controversial but a certain main ship is very Darklina with a darker Alina (and i known some people enjoy that) if you know what i mean

Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon. Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC! This book is like a fucked up Percy Jackson (compliment). We love a true disaster of an antihero. A fun read that centers around the mess of queer identity and being a teenager. I liked how it handled the inherent chaos of figuring out your identity while being surrounded by people that want you dead and feeling like every decision you make will mean the end of your world/the world of the people you love. Angst…gotta love it. Though, some parts of the book felt like Chat GPT was asked to describe queer people. The dialogue was extremely realistic. Overall, very interested to know what happens next. 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley, H.E. Edgmon, and St. Martin’s Press for this Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review of Godly Heathens (coming out November 28th!)

This book was a JOURNEY. I just wish I hadn’t read it so early because now I have to wait for the sequel, which I need ASAP!!!

If you like morally gray MCs, are open to polyamorous love, and are looking for a diverse cast, look no further. Just pick up this story and get lost in the fantastic world building and fascinating duality of every single character.

Godly Heathens is book one in the The Ouroboros series by H.E. Edgmon.
And it’s an enthralling debut.
I’m so happy to see this is going to be a series.
Everything inside this book was simply outstanding.
The world building was nicely done and very descriptive, which I loved.
The setting of the story was really intriguing
The phenomenal diverse cast of characters.
And the writing was just atmospheric Edgmon pulled me in with its stunning cover and kept me enthralled throughout its entirety.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Wednesday Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is not written in a "mature" young adult style. It feels geared toward late middle school/early high school. I don't see it going over well in our libraries. Stopped at 3%.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this ebook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

H.E. Edgmon is one of the most talented authors I have ever read. Godly Heathens had me hooked with the best first line ever written. Gem is neither a hero nor villian in this gripping tale of quite literally escapng the Goddess of Death, a gaggle of Gods stuck in a different world, and your not so average love triangle. I loved that the book was full of representation of trans and non-binary individuals as well as a very diverse cast of Indigenous and Black characters. I need every book Edgmon has ever written.

I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
To start, I have to say I am absolutely floored by the beauty of this book. The writing was the perfect style for a story like this. There were flowery quotes that chilled me to my bones and will be stuck in my brain forever.
Additionally, I loved the development of the LGBTQIA+ characters, and there were a lot of them, including all of the reincarnated gods we meet. Gem is described as an androgynous sex god and uses they/them pronouns. Shortly after being introduced to Willa Mae/Rory, this character is wearing a She/They pronoun pin. Willa Mae/Rory even tells Gem "There are no cis gods," which I found beautiful. It made me think of the quote from Melanie Martinez's K-12 film on YouTube, "We are more than our bodies."
Furthermore, I will sell my entire soul for a thruple between Rory, Gem, and Enzo. They all have chemistry that exists within the story but is not the main motivator for the plot. I hate love stories that are the plot motivator, however, the love Gem/The Magician feels for Enzo/The Shade is what caused the events of the plot to transpire but Gem being reincarnated into their current body lessens the blow of a love driven plot. Gem is grappling with human emotion and having the memories and powers of the most powerful god among the reincarnated group.
The biggest theme I noticed within these pages was duality. Human Gem and The Magician (the god that Gem began life as) battle constantly. The Magician wants to keep the Ouroboros from being destroyed by the chain that could finally end the only weapon that can kill a god and give the killer the powers of the god they killed. The Magician created this weapon for The Shade to carve the powers out of the gods so that they could become all powerful and rule alongside The Magician. Several of the gods were killed by the Shade and the Magician and their powers were given to the Shade, including the Sun, Moon and the Caretaker, who was the twin sister of the Reaper (Death) and served as Life. Human Gem comes extremely close to wrapping the disarming chain around the Ouroboros to render it useless, before realizing that they were never meant to live past the final altercation of the reincarnated gods. The Magician and Gem dive off the deep end, playing with the future on the palm of their hand, and the readers are left on the best cliff hanger I have ever been exposed to.
I am absolutely screaming inside in the best way possible and will do anything to get my hands on the sequel as soon as possible..

Thank you NETGALLEY for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I requested this because the synopsis sounded so cool and I thought it would be a perfect read for the Transrightsreadathon. The cover just draws you right in its so beautiful. In a nutshell, we follow Gem, a non binary Seminole with mental illness finds out they’re a reincarnated god along with other teens in their rural southern town. This had a lot of teen drama that mirrors the struggles of gods. Gem is also in love with two other native trans people. Everyone is queer and morally gray, if you love reading about villains, this is perfect for you.

I enjoyed with book alot, the imagery was rich and I felt like I was in a rural southern swamp town. This author is great at world building without saying too much. I do think this book would have benefited it it would have been in multiple POV, even if the other character’s chapters were shorter. I loved all the characters even the ones I was supposed to hate. Sometimes there would be this build up for a major blow up in the scene and I was left underwhelmed in the middle of the book. I think the best part was the ending and it does leave on a cliffhanger btw.

I can’t wait to buy this book because I NEED it on my shelf and I’m looking forward to the sequel!