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tilltab's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
alenka's review
challenging
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
5.0
Well fuck. I'm kinda scared to read the sequel (in a good way tho?)
meldelizia's review
5.0
I’m not sure that I’ll recover from this one until I read the next one. Absolutely perfect and thrilling and beautiful and just wow. I can’t formulate real thoughts and have been sitting in shock for at least 20 minutes since I finished. Pls read this.
themoonlightbook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
-tw are disturbing as hell
-but book is queer af and I love that
-I don't know if I should read part two
-book ends ON A CLIFFHANGER AHHHH
-but book is queer af and I love that
-I don't know if I should read part two
-book ends ON A CLIFFHANGER AHHHH
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault
monarchsandmyths's review
thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I absolutely loved H.E. Edgmon’s debut duology, and while in many ways this book is wildly different, it feels like it fits into the piece of me reading it right now. I’ve been anticipating this book ever since I first heard about it, and yet I’m not sure what I expected going in, although I can definitely now say I was sufficiently surprised. It’s a little bit hard to talk about this book because all my thoughts are thoroughly wrapped up in the experience of reading it, it truly took me out of what I was doing for a day and into Gem’s world. The twists and turns kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat, to the point that I stayed up just so I could finish the book (and then lament that I didn’t have the sequel already in hand). Something that Edgmon did so well in THE WITCH KING duology and dives even deeper into in this series is queer love and rage, and the ways in which they intertwine. The morally grey character is often lauded in fantasy, but what Edgmon captures is something indescribable about queerness in a society that doesn’t always want it, and makes it that much more satisfying to see these characters burn the world down.
In a lot of ways, I can’t directly relate to this book. Gem and I are so unlike one another (and frankly I can’t relate much to the other characters in the book anyway), and yet something about this book feels like it understands me. Maybe it’s that dream of escaping your Southern town to go to a city and live with your queer online friends, except I’m not a reincarnated god. I think what makes this book so good and so queer (besides the blatant queer stuff happening) is this feeling I can’t describe, the way Gem’s attraction works and feelings about themself, as well as all the others characterization just hits in a way that works. Sometimes that means the characters have elements of stereotype, but they become so much more because they’re not a character born from a stereotype, but a person (character) who is sometimes stereotypical because that’s how life works.
I could talk about the plot and the characters of this book all day. Death is a trans girl, War is a butch lesbian, and so on. When I tell you I almost threw my book across the room at one point after a particularly big plot twist, I am not exaggerating in the slightest. It’s a little hard to tell where the book is going at first, but then it absolutely explodes, making this more intricate fantasy than I often expect in YA without being confusing. Between the characters and the overall plotline, the story never slows down and ended up keeping me up just so I could find out what happened next.
Lastly, I can’t talk about this book without talking about queer love and rage. No matter how many times it happens, there’s something that’s always so special about seeing queer characters being loved (even if I can’t talk about it much without spoiling the contents of this book). Furthermore, the relationship dynamics, even outside of Gem, are so fascinating and so enmeshed in the characters in the story in such a stunning way. On the flip side, the queer rage is even more potent in parts than Edgmon’s debut. It is deeply satisfying to see a queer character be loved and appreciated and also take the world in hand and not always pick the right or ‘good’ decision. These characters aren’t role models, and it’s so much more compelling that way.
No matter how much I write about this book, it’s impossible to truly capture all my thoughts and feelings. It surpassed my expectations and I will be not so patiently waiting for the sequel to come out next year! If it’s not already on your TBR, I highly recommend picking this one up.
I absolutely loved H.E. Edgmon’s debut duology, and while in many ways this book is wildly different, it feels like it fits into the piece of me reading it right now. I’ve been anticipating this book ever since I first heard about it, and yet I’m not sure what I expected going in, although I can definitely now say I was sufficiently surprised. It’s a little bit hard to talk about this book because all my thoughts are thoroughly wrapped up in the experience of reading it, it truly took me out of what I was doing for a day and into Gem’s world. The twists and turns kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat, to the point that I stayed up just so I could finish the book (and then lament that I didn’t have the sequel already in hand). Something that Edgmon did so well in THE WITCH KING duology and dives even deeper into in this series is queer love and rage, and the ways in which they intertwine. The morally grey character is often lauded in fantasy, but what Edgmon captures is something indescribable about queerness in a society that doesn’t always want it, and makes it that much more satisfying to see these characters burn the world down.
In a lot of ways, I can’t directly relate to this book. Gem and I are so unlike one another (and frankly I can’t relate much to the other characters in the book anyway), and yet something about this book feels like it understands me. Maybe it’s that dream of escaping your Southern town to go to a city and live with your queer online friends, except I’m not a reincarnated god. I think what makes this book so good and so queer (besides the blatant queer stuff happening) is this feeling I can’t describe, the way Gem’s attraction works and feelings about themself, as well as all the others characterization just hits in a way that works. Sometimes that means the characters have elements of stereotype, but they become so much more because they’re not a character born from a stereotype, but a person (character) who is sometimes stereotypical because that’s how life works.
I could talk about the plot and the characters of this book all day. Death is a trans girl, War is a butch lesbian, and so on. When I tell you I almost threw my book across the room at one point after a particularly big plot twist, I am not exaggerating in the slightest. It’s a little hard to tell where the book is going at first, but then it absolutely explodes, making this more intricate fantasy than I often expect in YA without being confusing. Between the characters and the overall plotline, the story never slows down and ended up keeping me up just so I could find out what happened next.
Lastly, I can’t talk about this book without talking about queer love and rage. No matter how many times it happens, there’s something that’s always so special about seeing queer characters being loved (even if I can’t talk about it much without spoiling the contents of this book). Furthermore, the relationship dynamics, even outside of Gem, are so fascinating and so enmeshed in the characters in the story in such a stunning way. On the flip side, the queer rage is even more potent in parts than Edgmon’s debut. It is deeply satisfying to see a queer character be loved and appreciated and also take the world in hand and not always pick the right or ‘good’ decision. These characters aren’t role models, and it’s so much more compelling that way.
No matter how much I write about this book, it’s impossible to truly capture all my thoughts and feelings. It surpassed my expectations and I will be not so patiently waiting for the sequel to come out next year! If it’s not already on your TBR, I highly recommend picking this one up.
lani_reads's review
3.0
3.5 stars
No spoilers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
H. E. Edgmon is an amazing writer and should definitely specialize in high fantasy. Similar to The Mirror Visitor series, he captivates his audience with highly detailed scenes and situations. I never had any question or doubt about what his characters looked or acted like thanks to his use of symbolism and similes.
Edgmon also does a really great job portraying the internal disconnect between humanity and our main character (MC). As a God, Gem has always felt like they didn't fit in and suffered a lot of mental strain trying to fit in and trying to survive when they realized fitting in was impossible. Edgmon touches on real, meaningful topics like mental illness in LGBTQIA+ teens which I thought was eye-opening.
AND THE ENDING!? Ugh, what a cliffhanger!
So why 3.5 stars when I have so many good things to say about it? Well, like The Mirror Visitor series, there's more action and reaction than dialogue and there were moments I found it hard to keep reading despite enjoying the story and the unique plot line. I fully believe those who are in love with high fantasy will love this book and give it the 5 stars I'm sure it deserves.
No spoilers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
H. E. Edgmon is an amazing writer and should definitely specialize in high fantasy. Similar to The Mirror Visitor series, he captivates his audience with highly detailed scenes and situations. I never had any question or doubt about what his characters looked or acted like thanks to his use of symbolism and similes.
Edgmon also does a really great job portraying the internal disconnect between humanity and our main character (MC). As a God, Gem has always felt like they didn't fit in and suffered a lot of mental strain trying to fit in and trying to survive when they realized fitting in was impossible. Edgmon touches on real, meaningful topics like mental illness in LGBTQIA+ teens which I thought was eye-opening.
AND THE ENDING!? Ugh, what a cliffhanger!
So why 3.5 stars when I have so many good things to say about it? Well, like The Mirror Visitor series, there's more action and reaction than dialogue and there were moments I found it hard to keep reading despite enjoying the story and the unique plot line. I fully believe those who are in love with high fantasy will love this book and give it the 5 stars I'm sure it deserves.
anactualdoughnut's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
the plot was predictable, everyone was a twat, and the writing was just ‘fine’, but i’m hooked enough that i’m starting the second book right away 🤷🏻♀️
roseandivy's review against another edition
dark
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
4.0
sashahc's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’m going to end as I began with a Turtle Island Indigenous author. “Godly Heathens” by H.E. Edgmon, is a dark and biting YA. It follows Gem, a non-binary mess of an indigenous teenager in Gracie, Georgia. He has been having visions and dreams of magic and violence, and somehow, the new girl in town not only knows about the dreams, but knows that Gem is the reincarnation of a kind of nasty god, Also, they are not the only one. It’s full of teenage bad decisions, trauma, ancient vengeance, and reincarnations of a pantheon from another realm.
HE Edgmon: “My Indigenous characters have their worldview, beliefs, morals, and actions shaped by their identities, like we all do, and that in turn shapes the way the story unfolds. But they’re also just… vibing. Living contemporary Native lives and getting dragged into the nonsense of my stories. You know? When fantasy world-building, I have to tackle it from a decolonial lens. Not only do I have the obligation to do that, to question every decision I make and interrogate my work for colonizer ideas I might unintentionally be regurgitating, but, to a certain extent, I can’t do world-building any other way. Like the Native characters I write, my identity shapes my worldview. And it bleeds through in the way I tell stories and create fantasy systems.”
H.E. Edgmon (Seminole, they/he) is a non-binary trans man who lives in the Pacific Northwest. They have an eccentric little family of their own design, several very sensitive pets, and a lot of opinions. It is always their goal to make fascists uncomfortable.