Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am so grateful to have had the chance to review this ARC, but it just wasn't for me. Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon is a YA fantasy novel centered around a nonbinary Seminole teen. Gem constantly has dreams of magical powers and otherworldly beings. When new girl Willa Mae arrives into town, she reveals that she and Gem are reincarnated gods and lovers that have existed across lifetimes. Now, the Goddess of Death and other gods are coming after them, out for blood and vengeance. Will Gem and their allies be able to survive their new reality?

Here is a captivating excerpt from the opening chapter:

"So, I’m standing there, trapped in one of my favorite nightmares, discussing gender euphoria with the demon who lives rent-free in my head.
“None of them know what to think when they look at me. They can’t decide if I’m their god or their monster.”
Well, maybe not everyone’s idea of gender euphoria, but certainly mine. Boy? Girl? Unspeakable horror.
I call this place the Garden of Death, a field of dry brown grass and wilted flowers, with massive trees scorched and twisted as if struck by lightning one by one."

Overall, Godly Heathens is an #ownvoices YA fantasy that with plenty of LGBT representation. One highlight of this book is that it centers Native/indigenous characters, as well as non-binary characters. It's so rare to see these identities represented in the YA fantasy space, which was why I was so excited to read this book. I also thought that the idea of reincarnated gods a la The Wicked + The Divine was really interesting.

I did take 1 star off because Gem is such an unlikable protagonist. Gem constantly thinks about how they are a bad friend to Enzo but doesn't do anything to be a better friend. Gem also constantly fights with their mother. Then, Gem meets Willa Mae for the first time, they keep thinking about how hot but annoying she is. Needless to say, I did not enjoy being stuck in Gem's thoughts all the time. I took off another star because I honestly could not connect to any of the characters, which made the plot less interesting. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy, you can check out this book when it comes out in November.

The story starts with Gem coming across as a conundrum of attention seeking and solitary, pleasure seeking and never satisfied. You know right off that they will be battling extremes, stepping both sides of a sea-saw, wavering and seeking balance. As the characters were introduced and started to develop, I liked Gem more and more. Moody teenage humans who are really eons old gods holding grudges is the stuff of nightmares and I loved every minute.

This book is so well written. I enjoyed the way the back story unfolded as the current situation evolved. And the ending, oh my you better hold on tight!

I wanted to like this book. I tried very hard to like this book. The first chapter was so promising; it caught my attention immediately, and I was sure this was going to be a book for me. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

I want to start with the good. There is so much representation and diversity in this book, and that’s great. I think a lot of trans and non-binary kids will see themselves in the characters. I also liked the idea of a morally grey main character, and I do think this is one of the better attempts I’ve seen of getting into the mindset of someone who is actually morally grey.

That being said, I couldn’t stand any of the characters. I understand what the author was trying to do but it just didn’t work for me personally. There was not a single character I was rooting for. I found the main character Gem to be especially annoying and I FORCED myself to finish reading because I was so sick of being in their head. I didn’t see what Willa Mae or Enzo saw in them, but I also didn’t particularly see what Gem saw in either of them, too. I also felt like there were a ton of characters suddenly thrown at me in the second half of the book, some of whom had never even been mentioned in the first half, who were now important to the plot?? By the last hundred pages I just didn’t care anymore.

I also felt that this book really dated itself with its overuse of internet slang and pop culture references. It seemed a little goofy to me that these literal gods were in a discord server talking about Broadway, and when a character was described as wearing an Ouran High School Host Club sweatshirt, I almost put the book down for good. The outfit descriptions felt like I was reading an emo Wattpad fanfiction. With the rate trends change these days, I think these descriptions will feel cringey to readers in just a few years’ time.

I’m definitely not the right audience for this book, but I do hope others enjoy it if for nothing other than the representation.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I will first start off with the fact that representation of non binary is really good! For me this book is out of what I would usually read but it is so interesting with the demons/monsters and our main character who’s also not a human but keeps trying to fit in even though the characters are Gods. I like our MC’s pov about dreams also it’s all really interesting. I like the friendship dynamic between Enzo and Gem and also Willa Mae. Wasn’t expecting stuff to be told as it was and I wasn’t expecting the little snippets of romance we got either. Godly fantasy like but also kinda very modern dialogue and descriptions I love that! Makes the characters kind of relatable. I enjoyed this a lot but I was confused at times of course because I’m branching out to new things in fantasy. Some parts were funny and some went over my head but I would recommend this book still to anyone who loves fantasy. :)

Godly Heathens was such a fantastic book! I really loved everything about it. The plot was awesome and super clever. The characters were the best, they were intriguing, intelligent, and scary as hell at times. I also was a huge fan of the author's writing style, it really worked for me. The whole Gods on Earth not knowing their past premise was really cool and I loved it when we find out more of their backstories and that some of them live in the town. I did call one surprise, I just had a feeling, and it turned out that he was indeed who I figured he was. The ending was nuts and I can't wait to find out what happens next. What a great story!

This book was a WILD ride! I loved H E Edgmon’s other books and so I was excited to get this as an ARC read from NetGalley, but oh MAN this is a much more serious, much darker book.

First of all, the representation was amazing! We had nonbinary, genderfluid, genderqueer, poly, demisexual and so many other identities.

Second, the way this book handles mental health and mental illness could have been heat handed- but wasn’t.

All of the craziness with the gods and magic and fighting was fun to read but for me it was all about the queer friendships, relationships, and challenges they faced and had to overcome.

"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