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psychaotic17's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
spunglass's review
2.0
I requested "Godly Heathens" by H.E Edgmon from NetGalley mainly due to the description that it followed a Seminole teen that was nonbinary and secretly a reincarnated God. As excited as I initially was, that excitement quickly died, and it has taken me over a month to read and review this book.
I was initially excited to see Indigenous representation in text since there are not many YA books for my students that have this... but this fell really, really short... if it wasn't for the blurb about them being Seminole I would never have gotten that from the text. It felt like this was going for more of a edgy shock factor... Gem just read as the kid who's only focus is sex... and how attractive people are. I get that people that are struggling with self image, abuse, and identity sometimes over compensate by becoming overly sexual... but this didn't read as fully realistic. Also, as someone who struggles with mental health issues - I didn't see that truly represented in here either, outside of 'something is wrong with me' and 'taking medication' - it should be more clear what they were struggling with.
About 75% of the book read as a fanfiction that revolved around texting, complaining, and how commentary on how attractive people are. Maybe 25% of the book focused on flashbacks to their past identity, and the showdown at the end of the book. The last part of the book was the only part I actually enjoyed.
I don't think this is something I would recommend.
2/5 (for the ending)
I was initially excited to see Indigenous representation in text since there are not many YA books for my students that have this... but this fell really, really short... if it wasn't for the blurb about them being Seminole I would never have gotten that from the text. It felt like this was going for more of a edgy shock factor... Gem just read as the kid who's only focus is sex... and how attractive people are. I get that people that are struggling with self image, abuse, and identity sometimes over compensate by becoming overly sexual... but this didn't read as fully realistic. Also, as someone who struggles with mental health issues - I didn't see that truly represented in here either, outside of 'something is wrong with me' and 'taking medication' - it should be more clear what they were struggling with.
About 75% of the book read as a fanfiction that revolved around texting, complaining, and how commentary on how attractive people are. Maybe 25% of the book focused on flashbacks to their past identity, and the showdown at the end of the book. The last part of the book was the only part I actually enjoyed.
I don't think this is something I would recommend.
2/5 (for the ending)
amyjoy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
EXCELLENT. This book was so engrossing, and the story felt fresh. Edgmon did such a great job keeping the reader guessing and rooting for the main characters.
exteenawreads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is not a story about "good people" or even "good gods." I like how H.E. Edgmon challenges the concept of what makes a person "good" or "evil." In the end, there are only people, what people want, and the moments when those desires conflict with each other.
The cast of characters are so LGBTQIA+ positive. I loved seeing all the transgender characters. AND!!! AND OMG!!! It's POLY!! I want to see so many more stories where the love triangle is actually polyamory. I also appreciated how the author made a point to explain that Gem's journey in their identity exploration is highly reflective of their own personal journey, and it may not reflect others' journeys.
The cast of characters are so LGBTQIA+ positive. I loved seeing all the transgender characters. AND!!! AND OMG!!! It's POLY!! I want to see so many more stories where the love triangle is actually polyamory. I also appreciated how the author made a point to explain that Gem's journey in their identity exploration is highly reflective of their own personal journey, and it may not reflect others' journeys.
gwenergy's review against another edition
dark
tense
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
laurreads03's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
okto's review
4.0
I liked this one a lot. It helped me out a mini reading slump and a row of mid to bad books.
rat_fairy's review against another edition
i wanted so badly to love this, and i did love it at first, but it honestly is just going so far downhill for me.
throughout this book i’ve been much more interested in the contemporary aspects of this book— as it is incredibly comforting to read about
a fellow southern queer person
than yet another queer YA set on the west or east coast of america— than the magical aspects (to me the magic system just doesn’t feel unique, it reminds me of every other ya book with gods out there).
butwhen enzo was revealed to be the shade is where this book lost me. gem is defending him so hard and genuinely… for what??? i dont understand at all why they are defending the shade. also im sorry but willa mae has been a horrific guide since they first appeared on-page.
the point where i stopped reading was when marian basically tells gem that it wont be long until one of them finds the knife. that really frustrated me because: if red can download all of someones knowledge by touching them,,, and he punched gem,,, then he already knows everything about where the knife is. just in general very frustrating.
throughout this book i’ve been much more interested in the contemporary aspects of this book— as it is incredibly comforting to read about
a fellow southern queer person
than yet another queer YA set on the west or east coast of america— than the magical aspects (to me the magic system just doesn’t feel unique, it reminds me of every other ya book with gods out there).
but
the point where i stopped reading was when marian basically tells gem that it wont be long until one of them finds the knife. that really frustrated me because: if red can download all of someones knowledge by touching them,,, and he punched gem,,, then he already knows everything about where the knife is. just in general very frustrating.
shaouais's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5