Having loved the first book, I was excited to dive into "Merciless Saviors" by H.E. Edgmon. The initial book set a strong foundation with its intriguing concept, even if the world-building was a bit sparse, particularly regarding the magical elements. I hoped the sequel would expand on this and fill in the gaps.

However, "Merciless Saviors" unfortunately shares the same world-building issues as its predecessor. While the plot is compelling and the stakes are high, the magical system remains underdeveloped and inconsistent. The story often leaves too much to the reader's imagination, failing to elaborate on why certain events occur. This inconsistency undermines the narrative's tension; one chapter establishes a rule about magic, only for the next to break it without clear reasoning. This "because magic" explanation feels cheap and lazy, detracting from the story's credibility.

Moreover, many action scenes fall flat, often ending in stalemates or resolving themselves within the fight, making their inclusion seem unnecessary. These scenes seem to exist more for visual effect than to drive the plot forward, and they aren't described vividly enough for the reader to visualize the action effectively.

The story follows Gem Echols, who now wields the power of the God of Air after being forced to use the Ouroboros knife on Zephyr. This imbalance in power wreaks havoc, leading to chaotic consequences for the pantheon of gods. As Gem, Rory, and Enzo strive to restore balance, they face new horrors that test their resolve and morality.

Despite its flaws, "Merciless Saviors" offers a gripping plot and complex characters that kept me reading. You still love and adore the questions; however, the inconsistency in the magic system and underwhelming action scenes leave much to be desired. If Edgmon can tighten these elements in future installments, the series has the potential to be truly exceptional.

A really stunning conclusion to H.E. Edgmon's Ouroboros series, Merciless Saviors is an adventure. The coil continues to tighten before an explosive resolution you have to read to experience.

Merciless Saviors is the second book in H.E. Edgmon Ouroboros duology following Godly Heathens.

The explosive cliffhanger of the first book had me absolutely desperate to see what happened next, and author H.E. Edgmon did not disappoint! We get to learn more about the Ether, a somewhat parallel universe where Gem, Rory, and Enzo’s godly forms ruled before they fled to earth.

Tensions rise as more is revealed about the circumstances that led up to Gem and their companions leaving the ether. New alliances form, old bonds are severed, and Gem is faced with extremely difficult choices.

I absolutely loved the romance between Gem, Rory, and Enzo. All three of them are strikingly different but complement each other in a way that was empowering and comforting to read.

Seeing Gem come face to face with their actions, tangled in guilt and half-remembered trauma, was healing in its own way. The ending made me feel seen and appreciated in a way I had not expected, and haven’t encountered in any other novel. This story is a reminder that love of friends, family, and romantic partners can help us heal from and cope with horrors experienced in childhood.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys unconventional mythology stories, unapologetic queer representation, and themes of self-forgiveness and acceptance.

Everyone knows I absolutely loved Godly Heathens. Merciless Saviors went above my high expectations. I love everything about these books. The covers are stunning. The story is original and queer. I love to see so much representation in the books I’m reading. It’s so important for humans to have access to stories that are safe and familiar.

I could rave on H.E. Edgmon for hours for their inclusivity. However, I will not be doing that at this time. If you’re looking for nonbinary rep in a MAIN character - this series is for you.

Godly Heathens set my expectations ridiculously, impossibly high for Merciless Saviors - and, even still, I was blown away by this sequel. The characters and their relationships and worlds gained even more depth, with a deft balance of humor and violence. Edgmon is writing the chaotic trans rep we desperately need in the book world.

Usually I'm stressed when I'm late on ARCs but the fact that I didn't read Godly Heathens until recently meant I could immediately devour up Merciless Saviors pretty close to when I finished! While I wonder if it was intended to be a duology at first or a long boi split into two, here we have two books of one story and I was eating it up.

There were a few more parts that dragged in this one than the first (the RV journey...) but a lot was quick enough, with layers that got you thinking and wondering about the could bes and might have beens and is it..?s and I feel like I haven't had a book that set my brain on fire like these in a while! There were things hinted about in Godly Heathens that came to full light, both sort of vaguely and then flayed open (not unlike some of our gods here) with these teens who have lived over and over for a thousand years on earth and countless prior in the Ether being forced to come to terms with maybe they have returned to the Ether, but maybe their time on Earth didn't leave them unaffected in the least. Loved that. I think I've read enough stories where it's like, "AND AFTER A THOUSAND YEARS I AM THE SAME PERSON..."

I understand some of the issues some of the other readers had (some of them... some are very much reaches) but they weren't things that either bothered me in light of what I did love and I'm a vibes-rater who ate quite well here.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for review!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of Merciless Saviors in exchange for my honest review!

As someone who was very much enthralled by Godly Heathens, the previous book in H.E. Edgmon's duology, I wish this sequel could have been just as good, but it's still a generally worthwhile read. It returns me to Gem, to Enzo, to Rory, to all the interesting characters who inhabit this dauntingly mythological landscape. The authentically vulnerable, brutal, and touching ways in which it unpacks its characters' trauma is admirable, and it's an element that had been present in Godly Heathens as well. Same goes for the morally gray scale that the characters live by, that nimbly turns them into realistic individuals who aren't all good or all bad. The fleshed-out queer rep continues to be a superb element, too. However, the pacing does feel clumsy sometimes, particularly around the middle of the plot, and it's capable of putting me in a restless state. It doesn't help that there are points where the book shifts between different POVs, jarring me somewhat and making me wish we could stick with Gem's perspective.

Overall, I'm officially rating Merciless Saviors 3.5 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 3 stars. I'll continue to be interested in more of Edgmon's writing.

unfortunately I don’t enjoy this as much as I did the first book, and I didn’t finish after getting over half way through. The plot didn’t captivate me and I was left feeling confused

Though I liked the first book, unfortunately this one was not for me. The concept is amazing and the side characters were interesting enough to make me stay and not DNF, but I could not take Gem. In this sequel, they become a bully. I could not take the excuses of them saying lack of impulse control, doing something mean because they COULD, bullying someone because it brought them joy, and then becoming a victim when a situation didn’t go as planned. It made the whole story not fun for me.

Now this is just my opinion. This book does have an interesting idea and should be considered if you are interested.

This was a solid second book to the series, I did get a little lost in the middle but eventurlly was able to get back on track.

This was a very satisfying conclusion to this duology. The character development of the characters from books 1 and the new characters introduced was well done. You could feel the tension as the story moved forward. This books (and the duology) left me with a lot of feelings that I am still considering (in a good way).

I like the world and the ideas in this series. Unfortunately, this installment was a bit more difficult to follow for me, especially all the multiple names for the same characters. I always find that pretty hard to follow. I enjoyed reading book 1 a lot more because there were more drama focused interactions between the characters. A lot of this book is spent being very in Gem's head, which would be fine, but it was a little triggering with how much self-loathing this character deals with and how much they feel they don't deserve things. It's a bit overwhelming. I do appreciate the time the author takes to prove this character's feelings wrong. I think we got a pretty nicely rounded ending to the story overall. Definitely check the content/trigger warnings included by the author before you read. Things did get quite graphic at different points.

Holding my public review in solidarity for the SMP boycott. Please, please let the company know that I'd LOVE to talk about your books but I want to support readers of color.

------

This is a gripping and intricately woven conclusion to the intense duology. Gem and his godly friends find themselves thrust into a world of chaos and uncertainty at the end of the first book. It is such a stellar duology and I liked this one even more than the first.

Edgmon masterfully navigates the complexities of these characters, who are not only grappling with their newfound powers and pasts but also with their own human traumatic experiences. Gem, Rory, and Enzo's journey is one of self-discovery and evolution, as they search for a way to restore balance to a world in which their powers are thrown into disarray. The dynamics between the characters are rich and nuanced, particularly Shade/Enzo, whose complexities are my favorite among these amazing characters. The romance between the three leads continues to blossom amidst the chaos, offering a tender and heartfelt counterbalance to the darkness surrounding them.

At its core, "Merciless Saviors" is a story about change and sacrifice, as the characters confront difficult choices and grapple with the consequences of their actions - both now and in their pasts. Edgmon deftly explores themes of identity and humanity. Which is strange since it's about a bunch of gods, but it just WORKS in a way that I didn't expect.

The novel is not without its challenges, delving into unsettling topics with unflinching honesty and a ton of body horror. However, it is precisely this willingness to confront difficult themes that makes "Merciless Saviors" a powerful and thought-provoking read.

This is a worthy conclusion to the duology, showcasing Edgmon's talent for crafting compelling characters and immersive storytelling. Highly recommended for those who appreciate dark fantasy with depth and heart.

I found Merciless Saviors to be a solid ending to Gem's story. Exploring the Ether was fascinaiting (screamo Taylor Swift), every character got their time to shine, and the overall conceit of the series became a lot clearer. The line between dissociation and magic is very blurry in this story, which I believe is one of it's strengths. The world that Gem built in the wake of their CSA, in which no one could ever harm them because they were the most powerful thing, is one that many teen readers will likely relate to. The portrayals of love and kindess and the healing power of connection without obligation or exception are breathtaking.

Gem Echols is in shock. They just murdered someone. But they deserved it! Zephyr kidnapped their parents. Now, Gem is starting to feel the effect for ending the life of the God of Air. Gem is the magician, the God of the scales, and now the scales have tipped. All of the god’s powers are running amuck. It’s now up to Gem, Rory, and Enzo to right the world. But can they do it before they are torn apart?

This book was not what I wanted it to be in a sequel. The timeline jumps around everywhere. The names of the characters are used so interchangeably that I can’t tell what’s going on. I love the artwork on the cover. I really wanted to love it but I didn’t. Maybe I’ll give it another try in the future but I’m truly disappointed in the way this book went. 2/5 stars.

I will not be reviewing this title due to the boycott of St. Martins Press and its imprints. More information at @readersforaccountability on Instagram

In Godly Heathens, we meet Gem Echols, a nonbinary Seminole teen living in a tiny town in Georgia who uses charm to disguise their deep anxiety and sense of not belonging. In their dreams, Gem Echols is also the reincarnation of an ageless deity who has committed unforgivable sins. When other reincarnated gods start popping up around town, Gem’s two worlds collide.

To quote Rebecca’s Roanhorse’s stellar review because she said it best:
"I do think that if I had read this as a teen, it would have become my favorite book hands down, the kind that changes your reading life, and maybe your larger life because you finally feel seen. The kind you force into your friends' hands and shout, 'Read this now!'. The kind where you fall in love with every character who is messy and sexy and terrible in their own way. But, alas, I am an old, so my enthusiasm is a bit dampened. That's not to say I didn't very much enjoy the book. The world-building is fun and creative, the twists are generally satisfying, and it is super queer in the best way. I have a few quibbles about length and structure and story logic, but I don't think they'll matter that much to the average teen reader who will find plenty to love."

I adored Godly Heathens. As I mention in my review, it has some of the most engrossing first chapters I’ve read in recent memory; the book is dark, compelling, sexy, and brilliant. However, it’s not a perfect book– as Roanhorse points out, there are issues with pacing and structure.

Unfortunately, these issues are magnified in the second book. There’s a potentially powerful core here about trauma and protecting loved ones, but it’s mired in a seemingly nonsensical road trip, power creep, minimal world building, and some seriously jump-the-shark moments.

This one was definitely different than the first book, Godly Heathens. There were more horror and violent elements in this one, so I definitely appreciated the trigger warnings!
This was much more intense than I was expecting but I still loved it so much. Being able to see things from Gem’s unique perspective (especially with all of their past lives/experiences) was so interesting to see.
It was maybe a little difficult to keep track of who was who, especially at first; I think a brief recap would have been a great thing to have a little bit sooner in the beginning (I’m not going to lie, I forgot who was who from the first book!)
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read!

Loved being back with Gem in this book's world. It's so messy and complex in a way YA isn't often allowed to be. However, it very much felt like the middle book in a trilogy, with events happening but nothing really moving forward.

I really enjoyed the conclusion to the Ouroborous duology. Merciless Saviors had much stronger horror elements in it as well as violence/gore, so definitely check the trigger warnings. I didn’t like this one as much as the first mainly for that reason. I’m also so glad I went back and re-read Godly Heathens to get me reintroduced to all of the characters. 4.5/5