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A review by queer_bookwyrm
Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: (provided by the author) mental illness, ableism, self harm mention, suicide mention, violence, gore, body horror, sexual violence mention, sexual abuse of a minor mention, abuse, domestic abuse mention, transphobia mention, homophobia mention, references to slavery and genocide, animal death
Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon is book one in the Ourobouros duology. I really enjoyed this book. It's more visceral and raw, but just as messy as their previous duology. It's also queer AF.
We follow Gem Echols, a Seminole trans masculine kid in Gracie, Georgia dealing with their mental illness, and wanting to get out of their small town to live with their best friend Enzo in New York. When a mysterious person named Willa Mae shows up at school and acting like she's known Gem all her life, Gem is thrown into a bunch of weird memories and visions of their past lives, including ones from another world. Turns out Gem and Willa Mae are gods from another world.
Once Gem starts remembering who they have been, they want to just be human again. With other gods showing up trying to kill them, and trying to figure out their feelings for both Willa Mae and Enzo, Gem's just got infinitely more complicated.
Like Edgmon 's last series, the main character is incredibly messy and very morally gray. Gem isn't necessarily a likeable person; they are selfish, whiny, and full of self-loathing. They are a complicated and layered character that I think a lot of people might be able to relate to. There is a lot in here about balance and justice, and how justice isn't necessarily the same thing as being fair. There is also a theme about breaking cycles, of violence and of grudges. But we also see a theme of the characters having the choice to be better, and deciding to do the opposite. I don't think any of the characters in this book could be considered the hero or the "good guys."
I love the way Edgmon has written an entirely new pantheon of gods and what they represent. Edgmon has also given us a look into what it's like growing up in a small southern town riddled with racism, transphobia/homophobia, and colonialism. It's also made clear that not all people in the south are bad people, but the history and propaganda there hasn't made it easy on anyone.
This book tackles a lot. None of the plot went the way I thought it would. It kept me on my toes the entire time, and I can't wait to read The Merciless Saviors.
Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon is book one in the Ourobouros duology. I really enjoyed this book. It's more visceral and raw, but just as messy as their previous duology. It's also queer AF.
We follow Gem Echols, a Seminole trans masculine kid in Gracie, Georgia dealing with their mental illness, and wanting to get out of their small town to live with their best friend Enzo in New York. When a mysterious person named Willa Mae shows up at school and acting like she's known Gem all her life, Gem is thrown into a bunch of weird memories and visions of their past lives, including ones from another world. Turns out Gem and Willa Mae are gods from another world.
Once Gem starts remembering who they have been, they want to just be human again. With other gods showing up trying to kill them, and trying to figure out their feelings for both Willa Mae and Enzo, Gem's just got infinitely more complicated.
Like Edgmon 's last series, the main character is incredibly messy and very morally gray. Gem isn't necessarily a likeable person; they are selfish, whiny, and full of self-loathing. They are a complicated and layered character that I think a lot of people might be able to relate to. There is a lot in here about balance and justice, and how justice isn't necessarily the same thing as being fair. There is also a theme about breaking cycles, of violence and of grudges. But we also see a theme of the characters having the choice to be better, and deciding to do the opposite. I don't think any of the characters in this book could be considered the hero or the "good guys."
I love the way Edgmon has written an entirely new pantheon of gods and what they represent. Edgmon has also given us a look into what it's like growing up in a small southern town riddled with racism, transphobia/homophobia, and colonialism. It's also made clear that not all people in the south are bad people, but the history and propaganda there hasn't made it easy on anyone.
This book tackles a lot. None of the plot went the way I thought it would. It kept me on my toes the entire time, and I can't wait to read The Merciless Saviors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, and Transphobia