dnf’d at 26% i don’t know, i just could not get into the characters and the mc is kinda annoying to me

i just rather not waste my time listening to this one if i’m not enjoying it

This book was queer and feral and I adored it. Gem's voice was so good throughout and it was strong. I loved and cared about every character in the book and read this all in one sitting. This is definitely a can't miss book that queer readers will feel seen in.

This was good! I don't know if it is weird to say, but one of the things I kept thinking as I read it, was "This would make a great anime series." Gods reincarnated as teenagers with complicated past lives, fanart-worthy character designs, epic elemental magic fights on off-school days, humor and sarcasm running on high. Just way more queer than any anime I know (It's Queer AF, btw).

Gem, the main character, is flawed with insecurities and mental health issues. They are painfully relatable as a human to the point where I even took a break for a little while.

This may also be weird to say, considering I do read YA, but this is a very Gen Z vibe book. Not just the pop culture and easy queerness that isn't that hard to find lately, but a way of thinking and vibe that I can't quite put my finger on, that made me clearly think - this isn't my generation.

And that's completely cool and didn't stop me from enjoying the writing despite a little disconnect. It's action-packed, emotional, and has a hell of an ending.

It took me longer than I thought to read this, but it was a very good book! There was a lot of information in this book, to include who the characters were at present, who they were in the past, and who they were in between... I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. Since they were gods, I expected more mature behaviors, and yet the typical teen stuff came out too and that made for an interesting dynamic in each of the characters and how they related to one another. The ending was NOT expected, and that made me very happy. I can not wait to find out what happens in the next book.

This book was a phenomenal story, and I really enjoyed it for the most part. However, I don't believe the characters ages were appropriate for it. In my opinion, this should have been a New Adult or Adult fantasy. The YA of it all lent some angst and conflict but it was honestly wholly unnecessary given the conflict throughout the story. I did enjoy the Buffy vibes throughout, and that will appeal to a certain crowd- but again I think that crowd is older than the target audience here. If the characters had been aged up just a handful of years I think we're dealing with a different story that could've focused more on the plot than the YA of it all. That being said- the plot was amazing! An original, well executed foray into a new magical reality in which <spoiler the Gods are constantly reincarnated and struggle through their innate humanity in the bodies they are housed within to find their true identities, cope with them, and pick up the mantle of their age old conflict. > I look very forward to the next book in this series, and will follow this author closely.

I was really drawn to this book because I found the premise so interesting. Godly Heathens is dark and violent, yet the characters feel very YA. But I really enjoyed this book.

4.5 Stars

This book is so unique! It brings together a lot of different things, from reincarnation to alternate dimensions to gods and I was completely along for the ride. I had so much fun learning who was each god and learning about the world, as well as getting to know all the characters. Even the ones that we weren't meant to like were written with so much depth and all felt like fully formed individuals. I enjoyed getting to know them all! I liked being in Gem's mind and watching them learn about the world and who they really are, and watching them figure out what they want. I like how morally grey Gem is as well.

I also appreciated all the diversity in this book, because I just know that it's going to be a book that makes people feel seen, accepted and less alone. To that point, I liked all the discussion about whether Gem (and all of the others, including Willa Mae and Enzo) were separate from the gods that they hosted, and whether who they were as individual humans versus their thousands of years as that god mattered. It opened a great discussion about individuality and being accepted for who we are, and prioritizing our needs, and I really enjoyed that element a lot. I'm also super invested in that world and where the plot goes from here!

All that said, I do feel like some of Gem's decision, especially towards the end, did not mesh with who we were learning to expect them to be. For example, if Gem Echols matters just as much as the Magician, then I think it's hypocritical not to realize that Poppy matters as much as the Reaper does, etc. But, I know this the first book in a series so I am excited to see how Gem progresses as an MC.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC!

What a striking story. This book delves deep and it almost feels like you yourself are the main character and are experiencing every moment with them. Beautifully written!

Really loved this one. I think Edgmon is a fresh voice and I look forward to following his career. Definitely recommend.

I did not finish this book, sadly. (Got to 20%) But it's not the book's fault! I'm aromantic and asexual, and the main character of this book was just mega lusty, which I couldn't get into. I love deeply emotional romances, but when it's just sex for the sake of sex, I can't get into it.
I ADORED the concept, the world, the history, and everything about the premise. It was enthralling. So for the people this book is for, they will love it, I'm sure. Take my review with a grain of salt--I'm rating it three stars due to the quality of writing and intrigue of plot, but again I did not finish it! For the readers out there who love the spice and action and intrigue, you'll love this, so give it a go!

An incredible book to say the least. The idea behind Godly Heathens really stands out in todays titles and was so catching overall. Edgmon has written something that is so unique and fantastic, book two is going to be phenomenal!

I really like this. I think it's an interesting start to what could be a very complex series. The characters felt rich and well developed. The world building was solid, though I do hope to get more as the series goes on about the realm the gods come from. The combination of queerness and indigeneity was refreshing in a genre where if there are queer and trans characters and folks from the global majority, they are often the friend or other side character. I think centering the identities piqued my interest enough to get through what was a bit of an uneven start. Once the book gets going though, the plot and pacing really take off and make it a fun read while also be thought provoking. I'm excited to see what comes next.

The cover is STUNNING!! I definitely judged the book by the cover and I am not disappointed. I could've used this book as a teen. The queer representation is stunning and I couldn't put it down. Literally everything I want in a book. Overall 4 stars, the only reason it wasn't a 5 star was because of the love triangle!

I have found that H.E. Edgmon spends the early part of books setting the scene and establishing the characters, and then towards the middle the story picks up for a wild ride until the end. And this book did that again to great effect. It went from good to I can't put this down because I can't believe what is happening! I enjoy the way Edgmon sets the scene. The descriptions are vivid and detailed, and the character interactions are very believable. The energy of the story is heavy and intense which matches this plot really well. I cannot wait for the next book. The writing is direct, but vivid in their descriptions. The characters aren't perfect, but I was still very invested in them which I love. The magic is interesting and the reader gets to learn about it with the main character which is a trope I also enjoy.

Representation: Queer and nonbinary Seminole MC with mental health struggles, nearly all queer supporting cast, many of them also BIPOC.

Gem Echols lives in a tiny Southern town where they often act as the queer awakening for their peers. Of course, living in a town like this, no one knows what Gem is really like, since they hide behind a facade. Only their best friend knows, and that friend lives thousands of miles away. The new girl in town starts talking with Gem, like they've known each other for years. Thousands of years even, and she knows all about Gem's haunting dreams of blood, magic, and violence. Then Gem's threatened by another person new to town who also knows Gem, calling herself Death. What the hell is going on? They finally get some answers, finding out that they're a reincarnated god, albeit one who hasn't always been the most benevolent. Gem--or their god-self--has a lot of enemies, ones who want them dead. Their worlds quickly start to collide, and a lot of secrets come to light.

Rating: 5/5 HOLY SHIT. I loved Edgmon's other books, The Witch King and The Fae Keeper, but this absolutely blew me away! I loved that we get this incredibly messy character that constantly messes up, or does things on purpose that are a little fucked up and won't apologize for it. This is a story that doesn't shy away from violence, the horror of godhood and stealing power that isn't deserved, and the struggle to maintain yourself while being pulled in all directions by others who may mean well or only want to use you for their own ends. Gem also has mental health struggles, and I really felt for Gem. Their mom frustrated me so much, even though I know where she's coming from. I really liked the dynamics between Gem and the love interest, very antagonistic but not hateful before Gem learns about being a god, and still antagonistic but loving after. One thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the pantheon and how it was set up. I won't say anything because I don't want to spoil too much, but I liked the roles the gods had and how they related to each other. I read through this book very quickly, I was completely hooked! I was NOT ready for it to end on a huge climactic scene, because I didn't realize this was going to have a sequel. I need it ASAP!

Beautiful book. Gem is such an interesting MC an and all the characters surrounding them we so vast and well rounded. You got the sense of the story without feeling overwhelmed, and it helped build the rest of the plot incredibly well and kept everything moving. Can’t wait to see how things go in the sequel.

This book is my dream trans fantasy. Like, a queer, indigenous, nonbinary teen finds out that they are secretly a god from another world? Yes. That. Give me all of that.
I feel like H.E. Edgmon has a very specific style of writing and I don't know if it works for most people, but it absolutely works for me. He features somewhat abrasive main characters that go through a lot of insane stuff, and I eat it up. In this case, Gem resonates really well with me, which is really helpful in allowing me to become invested really quickly. One thing that I do wish is that Edgmon would do a little more front-loading of "normal life" before throwing characters directly into the action, but that's a small gripe on my part. I am looking forward to book two so incredibly much, and would happily take it now, thank you very much.

Godly Heathens by HG Edgmon introduces a fascinating world with a promising premise and rich queer representation. However, my journey with the book encountered a hurdle in connecting with the main character. The protagonist's initial self-centered traits posed a challenge, and it took time to warm up to them. Despite this, the novel's evident potential and the allure of the series compelled me to persist. Edgmon's world-building and diverse characters create a foundation with substantial promise, leaving room for character growth. I'm intrigued by the unique elements and optimistic about the protagonist's development in future installments. While the initial impressions were mixed, the book's strengths and potential make it a series worth following.

A wild ride from start to finish

Godly Heathens follows a group of of gods reborn into teenage human bodies - ancient beings who skip class and run for prom queen when they aren’t battling over the fate of the universe.

I loved how each character in this novel refused to fit into typical categories of good and evil. Jem and their companions each made choices, sometimes for power but usually for love, that hurt others. But their motivations were clear and justified in their own minds. Loss and grief ripped across generations as two battling divine factions were reincarnated over hundreds of years.

I appreciated seeing Jem’s challenges with mental health and how the revelation of being a god helped them face the truth of their pain. Family challenges, being hopelessly in love with more than one person, and trying to reconcile conflicting human and godly identities were themes that really resonated with me.

This story alternated between deep reflection, witty banter, and the agony of impossible choices. The cliffhanger was *wild* and I can’t wait for book two!

With dark magic, difficult conversations about mental health, and plenty of LGBTQIA+ representation I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique and dynamic contemporary mythology story.

4 stars for teens, 3 stars for me personally. This book was definitely a struggle for me to get through. The premise is promising, and I know the intended audience will enjoy it. I found our main character Gem, to be insufferably unlikable. And I typically like an unlikable character, but them? Ugh. I also feel like the “thrown into the new reality” wasn’t handled well. This book starts off with action, and then attempts to build a world through our main character regaining their memories. It’s…okay. I will say that at 50% I wasn’t sold on reading the next book that came out. But the final chapter? Redeems this book about 75%, and I may pick up the sequel.