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.

Wow! Still thinking about the characters and this books after I’ve read it. The representation was amazing and the storyline was unique. I look forward to the next installment.

Thank you H.E. Edgmon & NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I love how much growth there has been in trans YA books in the past 5 years because it means we get to have books like this. Books with a cast of trans / non-binary Gods reincarnated over thousands of years and now inhabiting the bodies of a bunch of southern teenagers, who get to be rough and complicated and lean into their dark impulses. This book is the opposite of the quote “if they go low, we go high” and instead asks, what if we go even lower?

And I love that, honestly.

As a trans person in this country right now, sometimes the escape I need comes from a book of unabashed queer joy. And sometimes it comes from the joy of watching queers bash (anyone who gets in their way).

But seriously, for the queer / trans / indigenous/ abused / angry, etc etc etc teens and young people who see themselves in this book, I hope it shows them that they deserve a voice and a happy ending too. Can’t wait to read book 2!

I would watch so many seasons of this.

Gem is a nonbinary teen who has one friend in the world: Enzo, a trans boy from New York who they met online. At school, they feel like they don't fit in, despite a variety of acquaintances who clearly like them.

Gem has been having dreams. Vivid nightmares where they flirt with a demon and commit unspeakable acts. Then Gem meets a girl, Willa Mae, who knows them, though they don't know her. Or they just don't remember. Gem fights against their mental illness and whether or not to trust Willa Mae, but as their memories return they realize the truth: they are one of many reincarnated gods from another world. And the others aren't too happy with them.

This book, despite being less than 400 pages, did so much, so well. I am an Old, but Gem is what I imagine to be a typical teen, while also an essentially immortal being. Their mannerisms, relationships, fears, and insecurities are all so authentic. The other characters are three-dimensional, so I easily sympathized with the "bad guys." No one is perfect or right; everyone is morally grey. They struggle with mental health, generational trauma, identity, relationships, and morality, to name a few. All woven together beautifully into a dark, heartwarming story, at its heart about people with flaws.

Typically, the main character's denial of the fantasy situation into which they are thrown is over the top, cringey, and annoying. Gem's resistance is due to the fact that their father struggles severely with his mental health, and Gem worries they're following in his footsteps. Their issue is less that they don't think this could ever happen to them, and more that they don't know if they can trust their own mind not to be making it up. "Refreshing" is the wrong word, but it does bring a depth that other "chosen one" stories lack.

Stunning trans, nonbinary, and Indigenous rep, with openness and acceptance of anyone who's "different." If the teens in this book are any indication of real teens these days (and I think they are) I have so much hope for the future. I can't wait to add this to my physical shelf.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.

What a gem of a book! Oh, the characters name is Gem 🥹 I didn't realize I did that.

All I saw was reincarnated gods before I was hitting that request button so fast. I squealed when I got the approval.

So thanks NetGalley!!

Anywho. This book is everything you want. The cast of queer characters is brilliant as is the story. The pacing is action packed and fast. You'll be sucked in front start to cliffhanger finish. Oh yah, I said cliffhanger. Enjoy each of the painstakingly slow days until the next book. But the pain is worth the read. I'm completely fine with this book hangover.

Holy hell, what a wild ride. What an absolutely fantastic book. I love the world building, the story, the characters. Very trans and queer. Absolutely an instant favourite. I can't wait for the next book!!

I was really excited to read this as soon as I saw it was available, as I loved The Witch King, and Godly Heathens sounded even better. And, no offense at all to The WItch King, it was. I am just so intrigued by the whole idea of this book, the gods and their realm, the gods and THIS realm, the magic system, their histories, everything. All the characters were so unique and intriguing, and I found myself invested in everyone. Everyone is a fucked up messy queer and I am so here for it.

Absolutely a must read!

I chose Ungodly Heathen because of the LGBT rep and I’m a big fantasy fan. The writing is good and the story is engaging and interesting. I had some trouble getting into the story and found it to be a bit slow tho. The characters did not feel relatable or likable to me. The trans and non-binary rep is great and I’m sure there are tons of teens who will love reading a book that has representation.

Wow! I'm still thinking about Godly heathens a week after finishing it. What a ride! I think this is going to be a best seller. There are so many cool unique elements, and I hope that we get more books with this kind of representation. And the ending! Students will be sure to snap this up.

4 1/2 stars

ARC provided by the publisher & NetGalley; opinions are my own.

Loved: the prose, the characters, the imagery, the cover, the inclusion of content warnings, all of the LGBTQ+ inclusiveness, particularly the Demiromantic rep

I have over 500 highlights, 20 notes, & 8 bookmarks of things that I either felt were important or just worded perfectly.

Issue: the pacing

I was sick while reading the first 30% & could not get hooked, but I wasn't sure if it was just me. I enjoyed reading while I was, but it felt very disconnected & difficult to find the drive to continue. After 30%, I just kept pushing myself to keep going, but the feeling of disconnect was still there. There were more than a few times where there was a build-up to action, & it fizzled off. It felt like the characters were circling each other & the problem, but also avoiding each other/it. & when they finally do face off, we get a cliffhanger. (I do love the final steps leading to the cliffhanger...)

I do think that the author has improved as a whole with descriptions & pacing since I read The Witch King, & I'm eager to continue reading his work

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC copy.

Whoa! Where do I begin? From the very beginning this book grabbed me and held on tightly to me. From the start, Gem is plagued by strange dreams that often turn into nightmares while they are participating in a grisly ritual with a creature they seems to know, but doesn't understand how, Then, while in school, she meets a girl named Willa Mae who tells them that the reason why they have these weird dreams and feel odd is because they are a god; both Willa Mae and Gem are. However, there are other gods who've also been reincarnated into this world that have a bone to pick with Gem, even if that means their death.

This book moves pretty fast and I found myself absorbed in it. I was pleasantly surprised to see not only a lot of LGBTQ+ representation but also a lot of trans representation which is so sorely needed during these times. While there were some places that felt a little repetitive and angsty (this is a book about teenagers, after all), there were several parts that had me like "whoa!"

There were a few times that I became confused because this book introduces way too many characters too early in the book and I often found myself confused by them. While there is a parthenon that needs to be explained, I think that a few of the characters could have been introduced within subsequent books or have less attention paid to them in this first book so that people can become attached to the current characters that are moving the plot. That lowered my score a little bit because I like getting to know the characters intimately and becoming attached to them (hence why GRRM gets me every time).

Other than that, if you're looking for BIPOC representation, gods with baggage, polycules, wonderful trans rep, and a serious cliffhanger ending, I would highly recommend it. However, fair warning: pay careful attention to the trigger warnings, they are there for a reason.