DNF 50%

Had a hard time connecting to and getting invested in the main characters. I like reading villian and unlikable character POVs, but something about Gem made me hating reading from their POV

I loved the witch king, but this one just did not connect for me

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ARC!
This book you guys—it’s incredible. Gods in Georgia trans teen bodies!? The banter, the talk of Colonization, so much queer love and (mostly) acceptance!? I adore this book so so so much 🥺
I’m not sure if it’s really YA—Gem & friends do discuss sex (often-ish) but the kids were all 17 or so, so maybe this is upper YA? Either way, I think this is really going to be so meaningful for trans & queer kids to read and find a home in.
Justice or fairness!? What will happen in the next book because I am on the edge of my seat waaaaaaiting oh my.

This is the first time I've read anything by Edgmon before and let me just say, I think it is one of my new favorites. The concept of the book had me hooked from the start. Reincarnated gods fighting an ages old battle? Yes please. The writing style had a way of flowing and creating strong imagery that really brought the magic to life.

I tried so hard and got so far... but in the end, I didn't even like it. 😔

I think I'll have to throw in the towel with HE Edgmon books. The characters are just so... unpalatable to me.

That's not to say the writing is bad or the story isn't interesting, because I wouldn't have kept reading if not, but I just cannot find it in myself to root for characters who are actucally, legitimately cruel and twisted and rotten. If that's your thing, more power to you. If you enjoy fucked up characters trying to find happiness and peace despite knowing in their hearts they don't really deserve to, then this is the book for you. Not me though. Not me. 🥲

<b>Plot Concept:</b> 5/5

<b>Plot Execution:</b> 4/5

<b>Pacing:</b> 4/5

<b>Writing:</b> 4/5

<b>Characters:</b> 1/5

<b>Romance:</b> 2/5

<b>Ending:</b> 1/5

<b>Overall Enjoyability:</b> n/a
would rather not rate this, since it's mostly a me problem that i didn't enjoy it

I received advanced access to this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks.

Big fan of the concept, and I greatly enjoyed the book. The pacing was a little weird to me but I'm not sure how to explain why. Overall a great book, but it lost a star because of the ending. I'll do my best to avoid spoilers, but it seemed as if all the character growth went out the window. They solved the problem and then the main character ruined everything. I get that their rage was a main plot point but I'm a sucker for a happy ending and I didnt get it.

I'll start this off by saying that I absolutely adore this author's other work, and that a lot of criticism I see about dialog/character voice doesn't bother me and is actually my favorite part as it actually sounds like how a lot of my friends talk.
I'm not exactly sure what went wrong here for me. I loved the premise, but it never quite clicked enough to make me engaged. There were smaller character choices that I thought were done well, but they were overshadowed a bit by never fully believing the plot as it progressed.

I can't decide if this book has characters that pancake a little too much of if the characters are just sides on a rubiks cube. The book was great and the ending was the cherry on top.

I will start by saying the non-binary representation in this book is fantastic! Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. I DNF'd at 35% and just couldn't get through the rest of the story. Which is a bummer because the premise is really really good. The writing seemed a bit childish and unfinished. I hope to come back to this one and give it another try at a later date.

•4.75/5☆•

"Life is full of little surprises. Some days, you find out you're a reincarnated god embroiled in an anient war that's maybe you're fault. Others, you walk into homeroom at seven thirty in the morning and find the grl who tried to kill you flrting with your favorite football player."

Gem has never felt like they fit in anywhere. They couldn't make friends with anyone and was only good as a way for their small southern townie neighbors to try out someone non-heteronormative. That was until the day that their self-proclaimed soulmate strolled into their life and told them they are actually a reincarnated god from another world.

This book gave me everything I wanted out of a YA urban fantasy novel. I am beyond blessed that I was able to secure an ARC from Netgalley for this and am so hoping I can get the second one as well so I don't have to wait until April 2024 to finish this duology.

Godly Heathens is coming out later this year and I am gonna recommend the shit out of this duology to every one of my reader friends who likes urban fantasy.

Love the queer and transgender representation coupled with the mythologies. Gave me a blood of Zeus vibe that I loved.

What a book! I loved how the story is unique but also told in a way that makes it feel very relatable.

A group of gods reincarnate in our world. Each time they come back, they are drawn to each other, this time in a tiny town as a group of teenagers. In any other story, they could be outcasts, misfits, those who don't fit into the mould of social norms. In this story, they are gods! Many of the main characters don't fit into conservative gender & sexual orientation, and they are obviously at a higher level of consciousness.

For a story about gods, it was oddly relatable. Self realization is a struggle, especially if it comes with flashbacks and memories of multiple past lives. Though we may have been one thing in a past life, we might be something completely else in this new life. Yet, there are always some similarities.

Most of all, I think at some point we all seem to struggle with the doubt of whether our motivations are good or evil (or is that just me?)... am I the monster, or are they?

Whoa! I did not know what I was going into with this book. But fully on board once it started turning into a fantastically well written tale of an indigenous enby main character. Already started reading Edgmon's other works.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this opportunity to read rage and review this arc which is available November 28,2023.

The thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is an indigenous story with a non-binary Seminole teenager named Gem. It is a quite powerful story full of gods, queer teens, some hard hitting realism and monstrous fantasy. I enjoyed it. It was fast paced and well written.

I loved The Witch King duology and had high hopes for Godly Heathens as well. I was not disappointed! Edgmon does such a great job inserting humor into situations that are often quite heavy. Morally gray, reincarnated Gods who are also currently teenagers- this book was chaos in the best way!

If there’s one thing H.E. Edgmon does well it’s write morally grey, chaotic characters that I love rooting for, but also want to give a good shake! This book was bo exception to that!
I had a blast and absolutely loved the world building in this one!

Thank you netgalley for this arc!

Tbh, this was kinda wild. A engrossing ride from middle to end. The beginning felt a bit muddled, but it’s justifiable when I look at the bigger picture. I’m so happy to have read this but also I hope the wait until book 2 isn’t forever.

This book is a really wild ride and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I very much enjoyed the pantheon of Gods as well as their human counterparts. The history of what happened between them and their goals at the time the story is taking place. I also enjoyed the amount of queer rep, especially in relation to the Gods themselves. There was also a lot of native rep which I enjoyed at well. A solid 3.5/4 out of 5 for me.

Full review here:

https://theweatherwriter.wixsite.com/blog/post/book-review-godly-heathens-by-h-e-edgmon

I absolutely love dark ya and this definitely hit all the right notes for me. I really had a hard time putting it down. The queer representation was phenomenal, mental health representation was solid, all of it was honestly fantastic.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974


Trigger warnings: death, murder, derogatory remarks about mental health

This book is not for the faint at heart. Gem is a reincarnated god. Other gods want her dead. There's always a ram in the bush or a "friend" to help and that is Willa Mae. Enzo is having parallel experiences and wants to know, what's going on. The book will keep you on your toes and you may find yourself rereading passages for greater understanding.

I hate not finishing a book, but this one just wasn’t for me. It is more than I was expecting in regards to graphic violence and triggering content. The writing is great and the characters come across as very authentic and real and complex.
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.