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A review by creolelitbelle
Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon
dark
sad
tense
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
2.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the chance to read an early copy of this book.
My feelings about this book are conflicted. The story is definitely unique. The pantheon of gods, how their powers work, and their stories of traveling from the Ether to our world with living through multiple reincarnations is intriguing, but I also found the whole system and method of storytelling a bit confusing. A table of the gods human names, godly names, and powers would be helpful in keeping everything straight, especially when names switch throughout the novel. Much of the descriptive writing felt plan, but the dialogue moves the narrative along nicely. There is a LOT of dialogue, which is a bonus, and that component is done well. I appreciated the way text message conversations are aligned differently on the page to differentiate those sections from regular dialogue or other parts of the book. Some sensual and sexual scenes exist, but those are not very obscene and seem acceptable for the intended audience of teens. The romance is conflicted because of Gem's torn feelings, but her sentiments feel genuine.
Representation is extremely diverse among the characters, but to a point that it does not feel natural. Gender, sexual, racial, ethnic, political, religious, and disability identities are all touched on, often with multiple of those identities explored with the same characters. I am all for reading about diverse peoples, especially those different than me, but this felt like the author was checking boxes, whether forcibly or not. I read the entire book through to the end, curious how certain events would transpire, but I do not feel inclined to pick up the sequel. The unnatural variety of diversity with the same left a sour taste with me.
My feelings about this book are conflicted. The story is definitely unique. The pantheon of gods, how their powers work, and their stories of traveling from the Ether to our world with living through multiple reincarnations is intriguing, but I also found the whole system and method of storytelling a bit confusing. A table of the gods human names, godly names, and powers would be helpful in keeping everything straight, especially when names switch throughout the novel. Much of the descriptive writing felt plan, but the dialogue moves the narrative along nicely. There is a LOT of dialogue, which is a bonus, and that component is done well. I appreciated the way text message conversations are aligned differently on the page to differentiate those sections from regular dialogue or other parts of the book. Some sensual and sexual scenes exist, but those are not very obscene and seem acceptable for the intended audience of teens. The romance is conflicted because of Gem's torn feelings, but her sentiments feel genuine.
Representation is extremely diverse among the characters, but to a point that it does not feel natural. Gender, sexual, racial, ethnic, political, religious, and disability identities are all touched on, often with multiple of those identities explored with the same characters. I am all for reading about diverse peoples, especially those different than me, but this felt like the author was checking boxes, whether forcibly or not. I read the entire book through to the end, curious how certain events would transpire, but I do not feel inclined to pick up the sequel. The unnatural variety of diversity with the same left a sour taste with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence