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ezwolf's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Dysphoria, Grief, Gun violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Self harm, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Bullying, and Transphobia
traeumenvonbuechern's review
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
[The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
CN: mental illness, trauma, (internalized) ableism, references to self-harm and suicide, graphic gore, body horror, violence (including murder and torture), off-page sexual violence (including experiences that involve children), abuse (including child abuse and off-page domestic violence), mentions of transphobia and racism (including references to slavery and genocide), animal death, vomit
“For anyone worried you might be the villain in your own story. Maybe you are. I think you deserve a happy ending, anyway.”
Oh. My. Gods. This. Book.
I knew from the first page that this was going to be a five star read, but I never expected that I would love it this much.
“The Witch King” used to be my all-time favorite book, and I still absolutely adore it, but “Godly Heathens” is on another level. I already know I’m going to reread this book at least once before it comes out in November, and many, many times after that.
If you’re looking for a book with…
· villainous main characters
· reincarnated old gods
· a t4t4t non-monogamous love triangle
· a trans- and Native-majority cast
· amazing mental illness representation
… then “Godly Heathens” might be the perfect book for you. It’s definitely the perfect book for me, and I will probably try to force everyone I know to read it as soon as it comes out.
I’m trying so hard to write a review that does this book justice, but I literally have no coherent thoughts right now, so please just trust me when I say that this book is absolutely incredible.
Please pre-order “Godly Heathens” or request it at your local library if you can!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Gore, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, and Child abuse
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Vomit
alphabetseeds's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
4.0
I received the uncorrected bound manuscript from the publisher. it's such a rush getting advanced copies. like I'm in on a secret club or something.
in any case, I had a hard time putting this book down, and it itched at the back of my brain while I wasn't reading it. I am filled with a burning fire in my heart now that I realize I have to not only wait for the actual release of the book this fall BUT THEN also wait for its sequel in the following year. the unfairness. this is unjust. I NEED TO KNOW what is going to happen to these walking disaster gays.
I saw someone on Twitter (@AllyScottAuthor) describe this as "if Sailor Moon was about horny teenagers and also extremely upsetting" and yes. that is accurate. the characters are assholes, ancient gods from another world tucked into complicated teenage bodies, and they are going to have sex and kill each other. this book is fast and unapologetic, and a main theme is that the main character needs to grapple with their messy eons-long memories of being a god from another realm and their actions throughout their lives on earth, and what to do with that information here and now.
I can't wait to read this book again when it officially comes out and it wrecks me all over again.
in any case, I had a hard time putting this book down, and it itched at the back of my brain while I wasn't reading it. I am filled with a burning fire in my heart now that I realize I have to not only wait for the actual release of the book this fall BUT THEN also wait for its sequel in the following year. the unfairness. this is unjust. I NEED TO KNOW what is going to happen to these walking disaster gays.
I saw someone on Twitter (@AllyScottAuthor) describe this as "if Sailor Moon was about horny teenagers and also extremely upsetting" and yes. that is accurate. the characters are assholes, ancient gods from another world tucked into complicated teenage bodies, and they are going to have sex and kill each other. this book is fast and unapologetic, and a main theme is that the main character needs to grapple with their messy eons-long memories of being a god from another realm and their actions throughout their lives on earth, and what to do with that information here and now.
I can't wait to read this book again when it officially comes out and it wrecks me all over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, and Gore
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual violence
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