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alexlynx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Instantly bought the second book. This is so unhinged in the best way, I am almost unsure if I just read a real book. The most fascinating part of all of this was (without giving too much away) that the main character has many versions of themselves and the writing style changes according to that. It adapts over time as well and it is hilarious, exciting, scary, marvellous. Can't wait to read the second part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cursing, Dementia, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Death, Grief, Animal death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Slavery, and Self harm
wormiebrains's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content warning is word for word what was stated in the audio book but it sounds a lot worse than what I felt it was, especially in reference to the graphic warnings excluding the violence and murder as there is a lot of physical fighting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Gore, Torture, Body horror, and Sexual violence
Minor: Ableism, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, and Self harm
tattooedbibliophile's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Chronic illness
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Self harm, Abandonment, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Deadnaming, and Torture
amobrien's review against another edition
I really tried, especially with how great the reviews are so far, but I just couldn't connect with this book at all. I hate giving up so close to the end. I love the trans and nonbinary representation in this story and the queer themes in general, and I feel like that was the main reason I stuck with this story for so long. There's just so much happening here and it felt like the author wanted to address so many different things but it felt really rushed. I could definitely see why so many people like this, but it just wasn't for me.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Mental illness
Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Self harm, and Confinement
ctara2123's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Murder, Gun violence, Blood, Violence, Mental illness, and Cursing
Moderate: Self harm, Homophobia, and Adult/minor relationship
mel_muses's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Animal death, and War
Minor: Torture, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse
the_b00kreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
In this book we follow Gem Echols as they realise their life is not as it seems. Gem is the reincarnated God of magic...this may seem pretty cool until they also find out that the other gods have a few deep-rooted grudges against them.
I was vividly entertained throughout the entirety of this book and found it to be a pretty swift read.
The plot in itself was really well drawn up and executed with plenty of thought going into it. The characters were really well developed and had dimension.
The only character that fell a little flat for me at first was Enzo, he was a little predictable.
I loved H.E. Edgmon's depiction of the gods and their home world, the Ether, although I will admit I'd love to know more about it and feel as though, in the next books, I might be able to do just that.
Being inside Gem's mind was certainly an experience. They had so many conflicting emotions when it came to making some of the greater decisions and I feel everything was portrayed splendidly. I cannot wait to see what comes next for Gem and the others but I can only guess it is not going to be an easy journey.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book!
I was vividly entertained throughout the entirety of this book and found it to be a pretty swift read.
The plot in itself was really well drawn up and executed with plenty of thought going into it. The characters were really well developed and had dimension.
The only character that fell a little flat for me at first was Enzo, he was a little predictable.
I loved H.E. Edgmon's depiction of the gods and their home world, the Ether, although I will admit I'd love to know more about it and feel as though, in the next books, I might be able to do just that.
Being inside Gem's mind was certainly an experience. They had so many conflicting emotions when it came to making some of the greater decisions and I feel everything was portrayed splendidly. I cannot wait to see what comes next for Gem and the others but I can only guess it is not going to be an easy journey.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Violence, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Death, War, Bullying, Torture, Genocide, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
ofbooksandechos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Ableism, Transphobia, Racism, Body horror, and Violence
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Genocide, Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Self harm, and Child abuse
CONTENT WARNING provided by the author. This story features a candid depiction of mental illness that, although based on my lived experiences, may make some readers uncomfortable. The main character grapples with managing their symptoms, accepting their own and a family member’s illness, some internalized ableism, and some ableism from others. There are references to self-harm and suicide. Other potentially upsetting content includes: • Graphic gore and 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 deathguybrushtmp's review against another edition
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and Daphne Press (Illumicrate's Press arm), NOT Wednesday (St Martin's Press). I support the boycott of St. Martin’s Press.
DNF: 75%. I choose to DNF this book as I found it mentally much more challenging than I am currently able to handle and felt it wasn't suited for me. I am giving this a 3.5 stars, but I think many will rate this higher for them.
This book is a lot. I tend to stick to happy even when labelled as a dark book, but this is wearing some scars that feel familiar and painful. And likely because it is very raw about mental health and the people are messy and mean at times (not the mean girl mean, but the other I say hurtful things mean). Some of those things (a lot of the first) I found myself slightly relating to but more being overwhelmed by empathy to the point it hurts.
For its intended young adults, I think this book holds something precious, something more unique than many of the generic fantasy YA books out there. There is a lot of angst and these character hurt each other with words like knives. But it is wonderfully written, queer af, and an interesting plot. Read your trigger warnings going in.
DNF: 75%. I choose to DNF this book as I found it mentally much more challenging than I am currently able to handle and felt it wasn't suited for me. I am giving this a 3.5 stars, but I think many will rate this higher for them.
This book is a lot. I tend to stick to happy even when labelled as a dark book, but this is wearing some scars that feel familiar and painful. And likely because it is very raw about mental health and the people are messy and mean at times (not the mean girl mean, but the other I say hurtful things mean). Some of those things (a lot of the first) I found myself slightly relating to but more being overwhelmed by empathy to the point it hurts.
For its intended young adults, I think this book holds something precious, something more unique than many of the generic fantasy YA books out there. There is a lot of angst and these character hurt each other with words like knives. But it is wonderfully written, queer af, and an interesting plot. Read your trigger warnings going in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, and Self harm
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Gem Echols is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in a small town in Georgia. They lean hard into their charm, known for being the queer awakening for their peers. No one really knows the anxious mess they actually are, except for a trans boy named Enzo living in Brooklyn.
But not even Enzo knows about the dreams Gem has, dreams that felt too real. Except the new girl, Willa Mae, who seems to know everything. And act like she and Gem are old friends. When Gem is attacked by the Goddess of Death, they learn that Gem and Willa are gods, reincarnated across lifetimes. And they’ve made a lot of enemies.
Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Godly Heathens by HE Edgmon to review! Though Edgmon has been on my radar for a while, I finally picked up his first series this year. And there’s just something about their writing style that has me hooked!
Though The Witch King is dark, I almost think this new duology is a bit darker. Gem is not always the most likable character, nor do they do the most likable things. As we get flashes of their past lives as a reader, our perception of them changes. Kind of like their perception of themselves changes. The way the book is written adds to this mythical world Edmon has created, and it just works really well for the way the story unfolds.
The story itself is wonderfully chaotic, with a cast of characters who have been hurt and traumatized but they’ve found each other. Sure, they’re all set up for more hurt and trauma, but you still know that they have each other. That idea of found family permeates through the core of the story, and even though it’s a bit dark, there’s still that element of hope.
The cast of characters themselves are wonderfully diverse, and it’s great for teens to be able to identify with that. I think my only complaint about this book is that at times, the jumping between memories is a little confusing, but it feels purposeful. We’re just as confused as Gem is for a lot of the book. Overall, it works to create an engaging story by the end.
Be warned, though, it does end on a pretty big cliffhanger. Luckily, you won’t have to wait too long for the second book to come out next spring! If you’re looking for a dark fantasy with morally gray characters, Edgmon is definitely worth checking out.
But not even Enzo knows about the dreams Gem has, dreams that felt too real. Except the new girl, Willa Mae, who seems to know everything. And act like she and Gem are old friends. When Gem is attacked by the Goddess of Death, they learn that Gem and Willa are gods, reincarnated across lifetimes. And they’ve made a lot of enemies.
Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Godly Heathens by HE Edgmon to review! Though Edgmon has been on my radar for a while, I finally picked up his first series this year. And there’s just something about their writing style that has me hooked!
Though The Witch King is dark, I almost think this new duology is a bit darker. Gem is not always the most likable character, nor do they do the most likable things. As we get flashes of their past lives as a reader, our perception of them changes. Kind of like their perception of themselves changes. The way the book is written adds to this mythical world Edmon has created, and it just works really well for the way the story unfolds.
The story itself is wonderfully chaotic, with a cast of characters who have been hurt and traumatized but they’ve found each other. Sure, they’re all set up for more hurt and trauma, but you still know that they have each other. That idea of found family permeates through the core of the story, and even though it’s a bit dark, there’s still that element of hope.
The cast of characters themselves are wonderfully diverse, and it’s great for teens to be able to identify with that. I think my only complaint about this book is that at times, the jumping between memories is a little confusing, but it feels purposeful. We’re just as confused as Gem is for a lot of the book. Overall, it works to create an engaging story by the end.
Be warned, though, it does end on a pretty big cliffhanger. Luckily, you won’t have to wait too long for the second book to come out next spring! If you’re looking for a dark fantasy with morally gray characters, Edgmon is definitely worth checking out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Toxic relationship, and Self harm
Minor: Genocide, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse