Scan barcode
the_b00kreader's review
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 deathbetweentheshelves'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
ladykyuuketsuki's review against another edition
dark
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Animal death, Body horror, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Ableism, Colonisation, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Body horror, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Blood
Moderate: Self harm, Grief, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Animal death, Ableism, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Transphobia
Minor: Slavery, Racism, Genocide, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Infertility, and Child abuse
traeumenvonbuechern's review against another edition
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
More...