This was one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint. I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I loved the concept and darker elements of this book! Gem has been having nightmares that seem more and more real, nightmares in which they help a demon kill a girl that shines like the sun. Then one day a girl named Willa Mae claims to know them, Gem can’t recall meeting her. And shortly after they’re attacked by another girl named Poppy wanting to know where the knife is. Gem has no idea what’s going on, and then Willa Mae tells them they’re a god. Not just a god but a reincarnated god, and the other gods want Gem dead! Can Gem find the knife before the others gods? Can they keep themselves from being killed? I loved the world of the gods and how they all came to be on Earth! It’s dark but also humorous! Definitely shines a light on the shades of gray in the world, that things are rarely all good or all bad! They’re messy and I love it! And also the ending will leave you shocked and craving more! Can’t wait to read it again!

I DNFed at 25%. Its not a bad book, its just not one for me. Godly Heathens is dark ya, with amazing queer rep and deal with mental health. I could not handle the character view point switching, It occasionally switched more abruptly than I could handle. That being said its very well written and people who enjoy dark urban fantasy/dystopian books would really enjoy it. Godly Heathens has a dark iron druid mixed with portal fantasy feel to it. For the right reader this book would be amazing, though I 100% recommend checking out content warnings prior to reading.

I received a copy via netgalley and am leaving this review of my own volition.

3.5ish/5?

I loved Edgmon's novel The Witch King so as soon as I saw this one on NetGalley I immediately requested it. I have kind of mixed feelings about this one, so here's the breakdown:

-Edgmon creates a compelling small town gothic atmosphere. It felt very ya'llternative.
-I think it could definitely benefit from having a cast of characters list easily accessible, either at the front or back of the book. There are quite a few characters to keep track of and many of them have multiple aliases.
-That being said, Edgmon does a good job writing interesting, distinct characters so the further I got into it the easier it was to keep track of them, for the most part.
-The magic system and the backstory of the gods is pretty creative and interesting, although I didn't necessarily understand all of it (that could be a skill issue on my part).
-I like chapter titles in some books, but I didn't necessarily like them in this one. That's just a personal preference though, so it's really not a big deal.
-There are some pacing issues that could be improved. There were multiple moments where tension was built really high, but then it was released in kind of anti-climatic ways.

So yeah. I don't really have any major complaints with this one, but I don't have major love for it either. I think if this would've caught me in the right mood I could've liked it a lot more, but that's the unfortunate lot I have being a mood-reader. If any of this sounds compelling to you, I'd still definitely recommend giving it a try and I'd still like to read Edgmon's future books.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!**

~~ This review may contain mild spoilers~~

I enjoyed this novel, the first book by H.E. Edgmon I've read. My favorite part was the messy, likable/unlikable cast of queer teenagers/gods. I thought the concept was really cool and the queer rep was joyfully accurate and unabashed. The characters' interactions, whether they were fighting or making shaky alliances, while bantering in sharp dialogue filled with humor, were super fun to read. The representation of mental illness and how it can affect one's relationship with their loved ones was carefully written and made me curious to read more about Gem's parents and how they (hopefully, eventually) make up with their child. The burgeoning poly relationship between Gem, Rory, and Enzo was subtle and interesting and something I've never read in a YA book before.

The worldbuilding and magic were quite complex and you can tell there's a lot more to unpack (luckily, it's only the first book in a series). That complexity bled into the characterizations as well, which made Godly Heathens both a griping read and a somewhat messy one. The morally ambiguous internal monologue got a bit tedious at times. The book suffered from a few pacing issues (a few too many action scenes, characters going from one place to the other to the next with not much happening to progress the plot), and the very late introduction of seemingly crucial villains. Overall, Godly Heathens could have been a few chapters shorter without it impacting the story or my enjoyment of it.

A word of 'warning,' if you're not in the target age demographic for this book: the novel is written in a 'US teenager' voice that's both realistic and rather grating for an old fart like me. It makes me wonder how well the novel will age, as some of the pop culture references already feel dated. Then again, not a criticism of the book, just something to have in mind if teen speak annoys you.

Book CW: gore, body horror, torture, mentions of past self-harm, (management of) mental illness, family issues, unreality, animal death.

I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

DNF @ 26%

I wanted to read this book because of all the elements of queer representation, mental health representation etc. But as I was reading, I found myself thinking of what I was going to read next and I knew that was something I never do. I’m always engaged in what I’m reading. Yet I found myself just putting the book down a lot and having a hard time picking it up. I felt lost and where I thought I would catch up to what was happening, I didn’t know if I could. While I did not finish the book, I want to emphasize that the author did an excellent job of spiking my interest with their story and holding my attention for however long. An author's primary goal is to share their writings with readers, and for the time I shared with this book, I enjoyed getting to walk through the story/adventure. Even though I did not finish the book, I still want to leave a positive review because I believe that the author's work deserves recognition. The story is rich in diverse characters and queer representation, which is something that I truly appreciate. It's inspiring to see more and more authors creating stories that reflect the diversity of our world. The reason I did not finish the book was simply that my mind was not able to focus on what was going on. This does not reflect the quality of the book or the author's writing. I believe that this book could be a great fit for many readers who are looking for a unique and diverse story.Though it was not for me, I still would definitely recommend giving this book a try. I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future and supporting their work.

Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall a great read. Fast-paced and funny/fun it had me reading quickly and was fulfilling. I also really like the cover! It made me want to jump right in.

Looking forward to more...a book 2!

Godly Heathens was so damn good. The non binary rep was chef kiss. I loved all the queer rep as well. This book definitely make this queer girl feel seen.

Oh, this one is raw and real and I am so happy that trans, non-binary, and indigenous teens will see themselves in this book. It's feral and queer as heck and full of complex emotions and situations that I feel are sometimes often overlooked in YA. Teens go through shit and sometimes that shit is dark and immoral. Gem is also an excellent narrator - I loved their voice - compelling and unique and not afraid to be outspoken and make unwise decisions.

H.E. Edgmon has built an awesome first book and that ending!! I loved reading about this found family stuck in a complex web of bad decisions, deceit, and yearning, and can't wait for the next installment!

What did I just finish reading?! Seriously, I wasn’t expecting this ending, and I will need a few days to get over how it ended. I also need November to come so that way others will have read it, and I can discuss it with them.

The book’s plot is fascinating, and why I wanted to read it. I love a good mythology story, and having an original mythology was captivating. Edgmon’s world-building is so well-done that I kept forgetting these weren’t a real pantheon of Gods. There is one tiny aspect of the book that was a bit frustrating, and that was mainly the middle. Once Gem finds out who/what he is, the middle of the book drags at points. It’s still good, and I still wanted to read it. But it didn’t feel like a lot was happening. However, the characters were fascinating enough to have a high rating for this book.

Ugh!! The characters are the greatest. I don’t even know how to describe my love for all of the characters in this book, which is definitely surprising for me. I would say the Mountain has incredible, naturalistic powers and is absolutely gorgeous, but then there’s Poppy, who just seems like a cinnamon roll that could kill me, and I would thank her for the privilege. But Buck is too adorable for words, and I want to befriend Gem and then wrap him up in a blanket to protect him from the world. I don’t know if I have ever come across a novel were not only do I like/love all the characters, but also where I can understand and sympathize with their motivations. Cheers to Edgmon for creating such wonderful characters!

I couldn’t not mention the diversity present in this review. Obviously, Gem is our nonbinary Seminole teen, but there’s representation of other indigenous peoples in Willa Mae and Enzo. Not only that, but all the gods are transgender. Willa Mae actually says the line, “there are no cis gods.” Yes, please! Because, let’s be honest, gods are too omnipotent for strict gender lines. With all of them as transgender gods, Godly Heathens fully embraces the hypocritical stereotype of queers as monsters. If you’re going to treat me like an abomination, then I’ll give you one.

What I loved about this book
-Reincarnated gods with complicated interpersonal history
-Trans main character
-Phenomenal pacing
-First in a duology so I get to look forward to more with these characters..
What Didn't work as well for me
-dialogue, especially during faster paced sections came across slightly stilted.
Who I would recommend this title for
Godly Heathens will be a wonderful fit for readers of YA fantasy looking for a story that combines the grad scale of epic myth with more down to earth struggles of identity and self acceptance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a very refreshing YA read! The representation is top tier; the writing is very good as well. I loved the MC and how fleshed out the other characters were. I do think the pop culture references could be cut back on drastically. WOW at the cliffhanger ending! I really loved the concept of this book; however, the execution became confusing at times. I know this could just be a me thing as when you get into reincarnations and the like, it becomes a lot of working parts at once. This is not to say it's done badly, for me it was a little much to take in.

Godly Heathens follows a non-binary teen, Gem, who is plaugued by strange, vivid dreams.When new girls show up at school, claiming to know Gem and talking about their vivid dreams, chaos starts to ensue. Gem finds out they are a reincarnated god from a different world and made a damning decision for all the other gods in another life that forced them all to be on Earth. This book has a wild chaotic energy that is simpy addictive. All the characters are morally grey in the best way (not the "I did one bad thing ever, but I'm mostly good" morally grey). All of the characters have done questionable things, which I think makes them more real and relatable. I loved this book. The pacing of this book was the only issue I had. It had a lot of action, but after the action there was this lull of Gem just going back to school and talking to people at lunch like they were a normal teen, when clearly they are not. It seemed off.

Flew threw this! It was mad interesting and good, I loved the inclusion of a NB main character, it was so refreshing.

This is, honestly, one of, if not the best books I've read with a trans main character, yet.

Especially with a powered of a reincarnated God.

Gem is one of those kinds of characters that stick with you: They're thrown into a fantastic world that even they don't believe is true & also is trying to find their place in it.

H.E. has made each of the characters stick out & blend in as much as they could in this world.

The characters like Willa Mae, Indy, & a pint-sized Death, are a fantastic addition, as well as Gem's texting buddy (whose name escapes me, at the moment) all make this world believable & you really get to delve into the history behind the lead & Gem's own family which adds another wrinkle into Gem's life, which you see play out in the pages of the book.

I won't spoil much but, honestly, like the Duology series H..E. has also written, get this book, too, because, not only is it another hit on his hands, but, it's one of the most heartfelt books I've read in a while!

This book is grimy. It’s dirty. It’s dark, feral, queer, and just so good. It’s hard to decide if I actually like the characters or not- it’s so hard to pick who to root for. This is a book about trauma, choosing who you are, what you are. It asks you who the villain is, and it doesn’t quite anwser it. Do you believe Gem is in the right? Are they the villain? Is anyone actually in the “right”?

It’s about generational trauma, how the cycle can be reversed broken changed. It’s about how you choose to deal with that trauma, how you can conquer or succumb. It’s about being the villain, morally grey, and what that entails. It’s about the choices that are made to become the villain, how those choices are made. It’s about flaws, and how people choose to meet them.

This book is an overall gritty masterpiece questioning what it means to be yourself, and how you can come to terms with what that exactly means. It’s genuinely funny at times and I absolutely loved Gem. Maybe not their choices all the time, but they’re a very compelling main character and H. E. Edgmon brought them justice. I absolutely cannot wait until the sequel drops and I can dive into this world once more.

Thank you, St. Martins Press. H.E. Edgmon, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book. It is very dark, and I recommend reading the trigger warnings before reading. I had to stop halfway through the book for a break and read a different book. I loved the world they created and would love to deep dive more into the lore of it, maybe even get a prequel.

The one thing I did not care for was using parentheses. This is a personal thing that my college professor pointed out to me, and now it bugs me. My professor said that parenthesis is just a way to confident in what you want to say and to either not put that in your writing or write it and be confident. It pulled me out of the story several times when they were used.

I recommend this book, but please read the trigger warnings before reading.

If American Gods was written today, this book would be it. Mixing strong Indigenous, trans, and non-binary perspectives with gripping storytelling and compelling world-building this story grips you from page one and keeps you going right to the end. The twists and turns felt fresh and the characters were both believably human and compellingly god-like. My only complaint is that the story ends on a cliffhanger that left me wanting more.

I could say so much about this book but I don't need to. This book was the queer dark YA fantasy book of my dreams and there needs to be a book two. Right when I started to feel comfortable and cozy the story would surprise me. This book comes out in November 2023. Beware! The cliffhanger will leave you wanting more.

This book is an EXPERIENCE, and I have so many thoughts. I also want to share absolutely none of them, because going in blindsided is the best and only way to read Godly Heathens. It starts with Gem, a nonbinary Seminole teen living in Georgia and yearning to move to Brooklyn with their best friend/crush Enzo, a transmasc theater kid. Gem lives an ordinary--if confining-- life, but has vivid and horrifying nightmares of another world, where they are The Magician and are participating in various evil deeds with a demon/lover called The Shade. Gem's dream and real world combine when a girl named Willa Mae arrives at their high school, claiming to have known them and been in love with them in a past life...which sets off a chain of events that can only be described as WILD.

And that's about all I feel comfortable saying about the plot, because knowing anything else would ruin the amazing twists and turns that H. E. Edgmon weaves into the entire story. Honestly, it's been awhile since a book has truly surprised me, and this one did! I stayed up all night to devour it, because I just couldn't get enough.

The characters? Amazing. Morally gray. Queer AF. So funny and dark at the same time. I also LOVED the fact that the main trio was trans/nonbinary. The representation was top notch, some of the best I've seen in a YA Fantasy. I won't spoil anything, but you're going to love Enzo.

The lore? Top notch. I would read an entire book on the myths of various gods in Edgmon's pantheon. I cannot WAIT for Book 2 so I can delve back into these characters in their various incarnations.

The setting? So perfect. I love the way you can feel Gracie, Georgia as the backbone to this wild mythological battle, and it's interwoven so well.

I think the best way to describe this is if you took Rick Riordan books (especially the Red Pyramid series), threw in a wicked amount of horror (Claire Legrand-style), upped the representation, and dialed everything to an 11. I loved this book as a 20-something former PJO kid. I would have fangirled so hard for this book as a teen. Believe the early hype Godly Heathens is getting -- it actually is THAT good.

Thank you to NetGalley, H. E. Edgmon, and St. Martin's Press for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!