Godly heathens is a book I'm so deeply conflicted by. I loved it initially! I was salivating over the writing, the style, the characters, the potential. I was stricken with a love so fierce and so large that I'd already started proclaiming it a 'favorite' to anyone who would listen.

After adoring 'The Witch King' this book was proving to be just another story to fall in love with. I mean it has all the elements I love!:

- A snarky MC
- So much trans rep!!
- A nonbinary main character
- Polyamory
- Mental health rep
- Way too many shenanigans etc etc.

But it was the half way mark that I started having issues, one of our central characters Willa Mae uses she/they pronouns, once this is figured out - the MC refers to them only with they/them pronouns without interchanging with she/her. I understand this might be easier for the author - but as someone who uses multiple sets of pronouns this felt awfully invalidating. 15% later they'd be switched to exclusively she/her and so on... with little indication as to why this change happened. If she was genderfluid and her gender identity changed frequently this might have explained it or even just some indication of them wanting to use the other set of pronouns but... unless I missed something, there wasn't.

This was what took the rose tinted glasses off. Due to an event, the main characters personalities also completely shift - which is fine but... I preferred the old ones. It's just the second half of this book progressed in a way that felt so out of touch with the first half. I'm CONFLICTED. I wanted to love this - I did love this. But unfortunately, the love was short-lived. Oh well. I'm still intrigued to see what the next book has in store - but disappointed with how some of the MC's have been treated thus far.

4/5 stars
Recommended if you like: mythology, reincarnation, villain stories, morally gray characters, LGBTQ+ stories, characters of color

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 3/4 and my book blog as of 3/29 and will be posted to Instagram on 3/30.

Right off the bat I have to say that Edgmon did a good job capturing the exact reaction(s) and behaviors that would happen if a teenager was suddenly woken up to the fact that they are a god that's been reincarnated for thousands of years. That is to say, Gem does not have it together at all. They are not your smooth, suave MC but very much acts like a 17/18-year-old teenager who's trying to figure out their life and the life they were just dropped into. It was actually kind of refreshing and I appreciated that Gem still wanted to have their life as they knew it rather than just jumping into godhood.

In that same vein, I liked how morally gray and villainous everyone was. Gem as a human seems to be a good person, but Gem as a god has done things in the past that are morally gray or even straight up villainous (though more on villainy and morals later). Likewise, Willa Mae in this lifetime is fine but in previous lifetimes definitely committed murder. This same sort of thing plays out with each of the god characters. Beyond that, the book deals a lot with ideas of morality and villainy and balance, and whether someone is villainous for doing what they can to survive or for biting back after being belittled and abused. Questions of perception and forgiveness come in more at the end as well and the question of whether it's worth it to try and be good and just if you're only ever going to be seen as the villain.

Speaking of perceptions, I found the framing of the story to be very interesting. As mentioned, Gem comes into this as an almost-adult who is only just now finding out that they're a god, and not one who's been particularly benevolent. We see things from their perspective and so the book is framed as being on their side. But it also offers room for us to see things from some of the other gods' perspectives. It's easy to see some things from Marian and Poppy's side (okay, mostly Marian's, but still) and understand if the book were framed only slightly differently, we would be rooting for them and against Gem and Willa Mae.

Because of the framing and the morally gray/villainous thing, there are so many places where the characters almost make the right decision and then don't. That being said, there are some things that get in the way of Gem's decision making at times, largely due to the meddling of other gods, most of whom are very, very interested in smiting Gem.

Something I didn't like as much was the sheer amount of modern language and slang that was present (bestie? Really??). This is mostly an issue at the beginning of the book but becomes more manageable somewhere between 25-50% of the way through. Around that point in the book the language feels more natural when the characters are talking and when Gem is thinking and the slang/modern terms flow much more smoothly. At the beginning, however, it definitely feels a bit like we're being hit over the head linguistically with the fact that this book takes place In Modern Times.

I've already kind of talked about Gem, but they start off as being your average high schooler desperate to get out of their dead-end southern town. Despite their life not always being the best, Gem is working toward something better, and so when godhood is dropped in their lap, Gem isn't exactly pleased about it and instead clings very hard to that future they were striving to create for themselves. Eventually they figure the only way out of the whole 'other gods gunning for their ass' situation is through, and so bit by bit they begin experimenting with and embracing their magic. It's an interesting juxtaposition because over the course of the book you can see where the Magician starts overriding Gem because they do behave differently. Even when they seemed perfectly merged there's a while where Gem-as-a-human seems to be fairly subsumed. But then there are points when the balance is more even (and balance is a big theme of the book) and that's when they're at their most stable and some of their best decisions get made.

Willa Mae is one of the few people overtly on Gem's side from the get-go. She saves Gem's ass and then deals with Gem still wanting to be human and have the life they'd been dreaming of. Willa Mae has some secrets of their own though. What's interesting to me about her character is that she's fully on Gem's side, but also seems to be in denial for a lot of the story about who Gem is as a god. This is really one of the sticking points with the two of them and it's interesting to see how Willa Mae comes to resolve it within herself.

Indy and Buck were two characters I liked and wish we got more of. Perhaps it's because they seem to be the most neutral of all the characters and genuinely want peace. Or, at least Indy does, I'm not totally sure what Buck wants. I also want to give kudos to the author for portraying an all-knowing character whose 'all-knowing' and timeless nature actually has consequences for them and how they perceive time.

That being said, I think...I actually liked all the gods. Or most of them at least. Even Poppy wasn't wholly bad, though Cyclone was and the Librarian was kind of an ass. For the most part though, they all have something likeable about them.

I will say there was one pretty big twist that I guessed almost immediately. Like...literally, immediately. I'm not sure if that was the intention or not, but I know I was just waiting for Gem and Willa Mae to catch on for the first 50% of the book. That being said, I was insanely curious about how it was going to be revealed, so I suppose it doesn't really matter if I knew or not, I was just kind of wondering why it wasn't more obvious to them.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

THE ENDING OF THIS BOOK

I needed to give myself just a bit of time before I sat down to review it. I need to minute to process it. It was absolutely amazing.

The writing, the story, the characters, and the world building are all amazing.

I really enjoyed the writing of the story. I found it hard to put down once I started reading it. The pacing of the story was done really well the story was always moving along and there wasn’t any slow moments.

As someone who has always had fascination, ok obsession, with gods and mythology I loved that this book had reincarnated gods. I always enjoy when authors give the characters a believable journey. In this book I really liked seeing Gem’s journey. So many times with fantasy books when the MC learns who they are they are magically powerful or super gifted and they don’t have learn anything or catch up they are just powerful. I think because the readers see Gem processing all of it and still having to learn so much along the way it makes the journey feel genuine.

The world build was also fantastic. I could picture the small town so well in my mind. Along with how the reincarnated gods existed an were woven into this world was so good.

The ending left me stunned. I couldn’t believe it as it was starting to unfold. I can’t wait for the second book. I will absolutely read it. I also plan on reading Edgmon’s other books.

I absolutely recommend this book. If you like mythology and reincarnated gods. If you like like queer books or books with transgender characters. If you like fantasy.

Please check all CW/TW before reading.

Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon is a stunning debut novel that explores themes of gender, identity, and spirituality. The story follows Gem Echols, a nonbinary Seminole teen living in Gracie, Georgia. Gem's life is turned upside down when they encounter a strange new girl in town, Willa Mae Hardy, who claims that they are reincarnated gods with a complicated past. Gem is thrown into a world of magic and violence, and they must navigate the complex relationships between the gods while trying to stay alive.

The writing in Godly Heathens is breathtakingly beautiful, with vivid descriptions that transport the reader into Gem's world. The characters are all complex and well-developed, with realistic flaws and motivations that make them feel like real people. The themes of gender and identity are woven seamlessly into the narrative, and the book's exploration of spirituality is refreshing and thought-provoking.

Overall, Godly Heathens is a captivating and compelling read that will leave readers thinking long after they've turned the final page. It's a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy, mythology, or stories that push the boundaries of traditional storytelling. H.E. Edgmon is definitely an author to watch, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Godly Heathens is packed with explosive action from beginning to end, morally tangled, and surprisingly funny. I particularly loved the ensemble cast of disastrous & messy queer teenagers playing out a godly war of epic proportions in a small, rural town in Georgia, alternating between fighting to the death in a Piggly Wiggly parking lot and working on their Prom Queen campaign. This would have made a fantastic multi-POV book; every member of Edgmon’s pantheon feels so REAL, crafted with care, nuance, and a finger on the pulse of gen z culture. At times it feels like a shame that we only get to glimpse them in Gem’s encounters with them (which are often, as I mentioned, explosive.)

It bothered me that there was a moment around the midpoint that was built up to be massive and unprecedented which just sort of fizzles in an unsatisfying way, with a very underwhelming impact on the main character. I also struggled sometimes with the magic system, if you can even really call it that - I’m not opposed to soft worldbuilding, but it really felt like there were just no rules whatsoever and the gods’ abilities, particularly Gem’s, were not defined at all. There are also some moments where I felt like there were holes in the plot and/or story logic, or just obvious questions that the characters should clearly ask, but just…. conveniently don’t. You can see the major plot twists coming from a mile away, but that’s not always a bad thing, because it means they were set up well.

Altogether, I loved this book. It’s so fun in a sort of manically paced, adrenaline-inducing way that took me back to the how I felt tearing through a Percy Jackson book as a kid. When I couldn’t pick this up, I was distracted wanting to get back to it.

WARNING: Godly Heathens ends on a major cliffhanger! I don’t mind this but I know it’s a pet peeve for others.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I burned through this book and cannot wait to read the next one. Our protagonist Gem was a disaster walking, and so loveable in the same breath. The choices they made throughout were objectively bad and yet still endearing. Via Gem's thoughts and their conversations with others, it was enriching to read interesting thoughts and analogies about transness, mental illness and cycles of toxic behaviors.

My only complaint is that the last 20% of the book felt rushed. Maybe it will feel like better pacing once the next book comes up, but a whole lot happens in a short period of time including newish characters that suddenly turn the plot on its head. Still, very eager to continue the series and read more from H.E. Edgmon.

Thank you to the publishers through Netgalley for allowing me to have arc access in return for my honest opinion about the book.

4.5/5

What do you get when you cross a god complex or five, queer characters, and centuries long grudges? You get this book.

I loved the multitude of representation within this book while also tackling the difficult topics of being trans in a small southern town AND mental illnesses. The first half of the book was fairly slow to build towards where the plot needed to be to bring in the mutual aggressor. I won't say Villain because in reality, they weren't in the story long enough to feel a true villain. More of a centuries long nuisance with no regard towards his fellow gods.

No this book embraces the villain doesn't know they're the villain theme. And. I. Loved. It. Once Gem regains who they are as the Magician the pace picks up in their desperate race for peace making it an easier read. I was devouring pages to find out what would happen next between the four gods. The fact that by the end it's hard to convince yourself that Gem isn't in fact the villain as they remember more of their memories, is a testimate to how even the villain is the hero in their own story. Gem is your morally grey main character with pressure to be the good person and keep the scales balanced. While also being painted as the villain by everyone including themself for an event they can barely remember for majority of the book.

One thing that bothered me a bit was how quickly Gem accepted the Shade back into their life after not seeing them for over a thousand years. Yet even with all the memories of all the lifetimes spent with the Mountain back, they still pushed them away and fought the feelings they had for them.

Overall I enjoyed the book and was left wondering what secrets the Mountain is hiding, if the Shade is truly as bad as everyone made them out to be or if they're just a victim of fear, and most of all. What's going to happen next?? Also. Poppy. I just. I love them. They're maniacal but true to themself and I found myself looking forward to the next interaction with them.

In total I gave the book a 4.5/5 based on just how slow the plot took to build, as well as how tense and stiff some more romantic scenes felt between people are are supposed to be in love across centuries and lifetimes. The actual story was great, and the inner and outer conflicts kept it flowing well. Although it was a bit meh how Gem and their mom resolved their issues after the amount of fights they had throughout the entire book.

4 stars

*Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me an e-copy of this book for review!

This contemporary-fantasy will catch you off-guard. While I worried the contemporary aspects would feel out of place or annoying, the author blends the elements of each genre perfectly. I’ve never read a story quite like this, following otherworldly gods cast out to earth. They are doomed to reincarnate over and over again, always drawn to each other. All Gem, our protagonist, wants is to escape their small town and finally meet their partner, Enzo. Unfortunately, a dream demon and a handful of gods have other plans.

Gem is such a refreshing main character, because they aren’t really good or bad. Have you ever rooted for a character to just be selfish for once in their lives? They are so relatable. I won’t get into spoilers, but the romance (poly rep!) will absolutely have you by the throat. There’s a dynamic for everyone and so much good tension.

If I had a complaint, I’d like to learn more about the magic in this story. But I’m happy to wait and find out more in the sequels. There are trans and nonbinary characters in this series, and we also follow multiple Native characters, including Gem, who is Seminole. Overall, I would definitely recommend preordering this one! I can’t wait to get a physical copy for my shelves!

A vivid, if disturbing, dream life begins to bleed in to reality in ways that raise the question of sanity for one teenager who soon receives some unsettling answers about their dreams and self in Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon.
Living in the small town of Gracie, Georgia, Gem Echols deals with mental health issues while masking around peers, clinging to a reputation of serving as their peers’ queer awakening although not being close friends with any of them; instead, Gem’s closest friend is another trans teen, Enzo, who lives in Brooklyn and they chat frequently, envisioning their future together in New York. Gem has vivid dreams that are filled with a demonic being, magic, and violence that feels incredibly real, but doesn’t disclose these dreams to anyone out of fear of being cast away like their father was when his mental health declined. But when Gem drags themselves to school one day there are two new girls in town, which is such an anomaly on its own, but even more so when one of them, Willa Mae, seems to know a lot about Gem that they couldn’t possibly know, and the other, Poppy, attacks and tries to kill Gem. Willa Mae saves Gem from danger and can provide some answers to Gem’s growing list of questions, which change slightly after learning that they are gods who escaped from their world who persist through reincarnation and that Gem has made enemies in the pantheon who will continue to pursue and attack until Gem’s demise or theirs arrives at the end of the Ouroboros knife.
Exploring concepts of mental health, and how it can manifest, identity, breaking cycles, often of pain, and debating the moral or ethical nature of actions they could take, the narrative weaves in elements of the mythological and fantastic amid more mundane human experiences, making the topics easier to absorb and confront while also providing an entertaining and representative read. In a scene where a few characters discuss what makes someone a villain it was a meaningful moment for the characters to quietly reflect in a heated exchange on how they’ve behaved as well as how others have perceived them and how that has played a role in who they’ve become or who they might now want to be. The story builds in a quick but piecemeal manner as Gem is swept along in an intricate tale of survival while grappling with an uneven inundation of memories from lives past that both clash and mesh with the identity they’ve forged and claimed for themselves now; just as the story’s action seems as it if it might be resolving in a way that fundamentally demonstrates the change that Gem, the Magician, has gone through the story ends with a cliffhanger, leaving readers curious to learn how things play out specifically, as well as more generally about the gods, their magic, and their world.
Overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Godly Heathens was SO FUCKING GOOD. Another favorite read of the year. Just UNF. So many things I love, all wrapped up in a complicated, messy, oh so human, package.

I've read books by this author before and as always its a great read. Our main character are morally grey and if thats something you enjoy you'll love it here. It's well written and the parts where our main character is being an idiot are so well done it had me making a frustrated mom sigh at my kindle. The gods powers are just plain cool and the details used to describe how they use them are even cooler. I loved the portrayal of polyamory in the book too. Like all of the gods relationships with each other its plagued by their past lives and memories. The finale left me wanting to rip my hair out and crossing my fingers for a book two.

I read an eARC of Godly Heathens by H. E. Edgmon. Thank you by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.

And I have no idea what to think of what I just read. Partly that’s the ending. And to keep away from any spoiler, let’s just say it’s unhinged in the best but WTF sort of way, that honestly leaves me wondering what I should rate it, but I have to leave some star rating, so yes I put some stars here, but my formal rating is “WTF”.

Honestly, this book was all over the place for me. In the beginning, I was confused about the dreams, and annoyed I was learning information through dreams. Then the main character was also a fun character but also a bit of a cocky pain. I don’t know. I don’t mind confident characters, but there was something about them that was particularly annoying, but also just enough that I was intrigued to learn more.

Then the action started, and I was engaged, especially when the Reaper was showing off. And then there would be stretches, even ones with some action that I just wasn’t as engaged in what was happening or the thought process behind it all.

I don’t know. It was a fascinating, but also rather predictable, but also disappointing read that I’d had in quite a while. Conversations I’d like the main character to have beats that story could have taken, all lost in this story of Gods, a story of Gods with fascinating implication, but also woven in stories of emotions and flawed people that just scratches the surfaces and left me wanting so much more.

Maybe I wanted too much because of the flashes of greatness I saw in the book, but the rest of it was terribly boring and dull, so I would have rather it kept those moments of beauty with it, and I think the ending is the perfect reflection of all of that which in the end leaves me going: WTF did I just read?

This was an exciting nonstop read that had me hooked until the end. If you enjoyed Lore, or any other stories about gods being reincarnated you are going to love this!

Gem Echols is a trans high school student just trying to make it out of their small town to be with their maybe love interest in college. That all changes when they meet Willa Mae who reveals that the dreams Gem has had are actually memories of a previous life and they are the reincarnation of a god.

I thought that Gem was pretty funny at the start of the book and I was on my way to being endeared to them. But somewhere along the way I realized that I didn’t really like them. Or Willa Mae. Or Enzo. I love morally grey characters and they don’t have to do good things but I do need to like them on some level.

But there are a lot of good things about this book and I think a lot of other people will like it. It's got good trans representation, Native representation, discussions of colonization as well as mental illness.

I still look forward to reading the author’s other books and would recommend this to people, it was just missing ~something~ for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I must start by stating that I cannot wait for the second installment of this series. And also that I will have to reread this one again. I know there are so many things that I missed and overlooked because of how quickly and voraciously I consumed this book. It was so good and had me captured from chapter one.

There is so much that stands out to me in Edgmon’s newest work. The world building and mythology created for this universe is incredibly detailed. There are sleeping gods who are drawn to each other across space and lifetimes. Though, how many lifetimes they have left in this borrowed world remains to be seen.

Edgmon’s depiction of the queer experience in the rural south was so accurate. There are plenty who will support who you are. And there are those who will do their best to try and tear you apart for living as yourself. It was refreshing to see the rural south depicted accurately and not just demonized.

Mental health struggles are present throughout the entirety of the story. Gem references having to mask themselves to attempt to fit in many times throughout the beginning before their godly revelation. After this is revealed they think that may be the single explanation for their struggles to fit in. And then they slowly realize, that while their godhood contributed to some of their feeling lost, they do, in fact, have mental illnesses that have made life harder for them.

The trans- and native- majority cast was so wonderful. “There are no cis gods.” Of course there aren’t. If we as normal human beings are unable to find comfort in the restrictive gender binary, there is no fathomable way for a being who has lived millennia to fit into it.

In the same vein, there are no good or evil gods, they just are. They have all committed heinous acts against each other, just as they have all done wonderful things for each other at some point in their history (except for maybe Cyclone). But they are all currently stuck in cycles of generational trauma and abuse. There seemed to be a chance to stop the cycle, and maybe there still will be in the sequel, but Gem’s choice at the end has me questioning how anyone survives in book two.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this ARC to review early!

This book is WILD. It revolves around Gem who is a non-binary teenager living in a little middle of nowhere town in Gracie, Georgia. Their father is severally mentally ill and out of their life and their mother barely speaks to them. They don’t really have any friends except for an interest friend that lives in Brooklyn named Enzo. They also have horrible nightmares that involve a sexy demon who both tortured and loves them. But why do these nightmares feel so familiar? While Gem always thought something was strange and different about them, they never really considered they were the reincarnation of the God of Magic. Soon other Gods that have been reincarnated as teenagers begin to flood Gracie with good and mad intentions for Gem.


What makes someone good and what makes someone evil? Should you be punished for your past sins that you can’t even really remember? I really liked Gem for the most part, They are extremely flawed and a huge asshole, but they were loyal and ready to fight. Zeke was my fave tho /: I’m glad this touched on a lot of Gem’s struggles with their self worth and their destructive tendencies. I wanted to hug them. Also there’s a good bit of a poly relationship thrown in there that I’m glad got sorted out.

The other Gods were interesting and I’m hoping in the next book they touch on the God of Love and why Gem can’t remember her. There’s so much in the second book that needs to be touched on. What is Indy & Bucks’s deal? I’m curious why Indy was always in every little fight taking all sides. This book went from one bonkers plot to another. I’m looking forward to this being a series.

I really wanted to like this book, however I could not. I ended up DNF''ing it at 12%. The writing felt clunky and as if it wasn't well thought out. I couldn't find myself getting into the characters and I didn't care enough about the story to keep going.

Obsessed with the writing style in this book! And the feels it gave me.
Definitely love a villains POV story especially when they don't realize they are a villain.
So fascinated with sleeping god's and those that search for each other through lifetimes. There were flashbacks to gruesome scenes and different lifetimes images that built an echoey depth to these teen humans.
Gem is a non-binary Seminole teen in Georgia. They have graphic dreams and then some weird things happen at school. These characters were so interesting and as Gem uncovered secrets and memories those around them started remembering. Love the whole idea of this! 
"There are no cis gods" - for me this tracks.
PS Dwayne from the Lost Boys was the hottest! Good choice! I was obsessed with that movie when I was little (and still am).
Trying to check out The Witch King from my library to read this week.

Thank you wednesdaybooks and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

5/5 stars to the book that left me sitting on the floor staring at a wall.

Let’s start this off with one of my favorite things to read - angst. My goodness was this book off the charts with angst. The writing lent itself so well to this. The author had such a way of describing things that start off so simple and mundane, and then they turn and drive a knife through your heart. This book also asks a lot of questions of the characters: good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, fate vs. free will, justice vs. fairness, etc. and you have to ask them right back at yourself. A deeply contemplative experience as you gravitate towards characters or try to justify actions, but all the characters are morally gray or even downright evil at times. Make sure to check the list of content warnings at the start of the book before reading.

THAT ENDING. 5/5 screams! I literally swiped to the next page only to find out the book was OVER and then sat there with no idea what to do with myself. It was the biggest cliff hanger I have EVER read in a book, and part of the reason that I gave it 5 stars, because it will knock you senseless.

How fast did I gobble this book up? I usually consume books, but this book consumed me. When I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about reading it. From the moment I downloaded it I finished this book in about 24 hours.

You’ll enjoy this book if you like:
- Transgender and LGBTQIA+ representation
- POC and specifically Indigenous representation
- Mental illness representation
- Reincarnated old gods
- Morally grey/villainous cast

This book is an addictive kind of reading - you just have to keep turning the pages because you do not know what’s going to happen next. When you read this book, you aren’t just reading the story of Gem Echols, but a story filled with a lifetime of stories.

Last but not least, special shout-out to Hank - consider me a Hank stan and if you’re wondering who Hank is, I guess you’ll just have to read the book and find out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the incredible opportunity to read this book as an E-Arc.

This is a breathtaking, angry, joyful whirlwind of a novel, and I loved it so much. The combination of the title, that cover (!!), and H. E. Edgmon's name meant I went in with super high expectations, and they were more than met! Can't wait until everyone can read this.