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A review by kateywumpus
Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon
5.0
The thing you have to understand about this book is that the main character is not a hero. By all accounts they're the villain, though to be fair, none of the other characters are really that heroic. But here's the thing. They're only the villain because of what, and who they were, in a past life. *This* life they're just kind of a fucked up broken teen (more than usual), but when their past life, and power, starts to return they find themselves taking the brunt of the consequences of their actions in the past. And it's not like they try to rise above it either and try to 'do the right thing.' Not that it's entirely clear what the 'right thing' actually *is.* This doesn't mean they're not sympathetic, though. The author does a really good job of making sure that we're invested and actually care about what's happening to Gem.
One of the things I like about this book is that it's a cornucopia of representation. Gem, are main character is a Native non-binary person. Their first love interest is another Native non-binary person, and their *second* love interest is trans masc, and by the end of the book they work out their love triangle into a working poly arrangement. The other Gods, too, come in a variety of shades and gender identities, and it handles it all smoothly without really calling attention to it's representation.
As for my thoughts, well, this is definitely one of the best books I've read this year (which I admit isn't as much as I'd have liked), and I've already bought its sequel and bumped it up in the queue to be read next after this next book I'm reading. I highly recommend this book especially if you want a book that is *very* morally grey and there aren't any easy answers to right and wrong. I give it five stars.
One of the things I like about this book is that it's a cornucopia of representation. Gem, are main character is a Native non-binary person. Their first love interest is another Native non-binary person, and their *second* love interest is trans masc, and by the end of the book they work out their love triangle into a working poly arrangement. The other Gods, too, come in a variety of shades and gender identities, and it handles it all smoothly without really calling attention to it's representation.
As for my thoughts, well, this is definitely one of the best books I've read this year (which I admit isn't as much as I'd have liked), and I've already bought its sequel and bumped it up in the queue to be read next after this next book I'm reading. I highly recommend this book especially if you want a book that is *very* morally grey and there aren't any easy answers to right and wrong. I give it five stars.