Godly Heathens, H.E. Edgmon
Godly Heathens, H.E. Edgmon
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Godly Heathens
A Novel

Author: H.E. Edgmon

Narrator: Avi Roque

Unabridged: 13 hr 54 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/28/2023


Synopsis

"Avi Roque is the perfect narrator for this queer YA fantasy...The novel hits all the expected beats of YA fantasy, and Roque infuses it with even more life and drama." —AudioFile

Godly Heathens is the first book in H.E. Edgmon's YA contemporary fantasy duology The Ouroboros, in which a teen, Gem, finds out they’re a reincarnated god from another world.

Maybe I have always just been bad at being human because I’m not one.

Gem Echols is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in the tiny town of Gracie, Georgia. Known for being their peers’ queer awakening, Gem leans hard on charm to disguise the anxious mess they are beneath. The only person privy to their authentic self is another trans kid, Enzo, who’s a thousand long, painful miles away in Brooklyn.

But even Enzo doesn’t know about Gem’s dreams, haunting visions of magic and violence that have always felt too real. So how the hell does Willa Mae Hardy? The strange new girl in town acts like she and Gem are old companions, and seems to know things about them they’ve never told anyone else.

When Gem is attacked by a stranger claiming to be the Goddess of Death, Willa Mae saves their life and finally offers some answers. She and Gem are reincarnated gods who’ve known and loved each other across lifetimes. But Gem – or at least who Gem used to be - hasn’t always been the most benevolent deity. They’ve made a lot of enemies in the pantheon—enemies who, like the Goddess of Death, will keep coming.

It’s a good thing they’ve still got Enzo. But as worlds collide and the past catches up with the present, Gem will discover that everyone has something to hide.

A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books.

About H.E. Edgmon

H.E. Edgmon did not sleep for several years and is now the author of copious novels and short works for tweens, teens, and adults. Their line-up includes The Witch King duology, the Ouroboros duology, and The Flicker, and their writing has been described as “monstrously thrilling, deeply emotional” by School Library Journal. Across genres, H.E. hopes to find readers in their darkest moments and help them start a fire. In their laughably limited free time, they’re likely hosting themed parties for no reason or trying to predict the future. They live in the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by chosen family and giant dogs.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Rebecca on May 09, 2024

A YA contemporary fantasy where gods from another realm are reincarnated as teenagers in small town Georgia, and not all of them are nice. First of all, I love all the love this book is getting in the early reviews. I do think that if I had read this as a teen, it would have become my favorite book h......more

Goodreads review by Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) on November 06, 2023

Godly Heathens begins as an unsettling look at the mental health of an indigenous trans & non-binary kid, and then blooms into a fantastical tale of reincarnated teen gods at war among themselves. It's a story about pain, trauma, found family, and grappling with mental health challenges, but also ab......more

Goodreads review by Ally on November 04, 2022

Holy shit this was BONKERS how am I friends with such a talented writer??? I don’t know what all to say about this except that it’s BONKERS and it hits home in so many ways that it balances with the chaotic absurdity and I’m still reeling. I will be thinking about this one for a long time I once said......more

Goodreads review by Anniek on March 24, 2025

This book has been on my Netgalley shelf for months, but it was such an anticipated release for me that I couldn't bring myself to start it; it felt intimidating. I'm so glad I finally did though, because this was AMAZING. It's hard to review this just because it felt so truly unique and it scratched......more

Goodreads review by Mel (Epic Reading) on May 29, 2024

3.5 - 4 stars. I didn't love everything about this... about 75% of the way through I felt like I lost the thread and didn't really get back to it until closer to the end. However I'm glad I stuck it out as I suspected at some point this confusion was intentional. H. E. Edgmon is making the reader fe......more


Quotes

"Electrifying... Edgmon thoughtfully explores issues of agency, identity, and mental illness via an inventive mythology; a high-stakes, action-packed plot; and a vibrantly drawn, intersectionally diverse cast embroiled in realistically thorny relationships." - Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Fast-paced and engaging, the novel addresses queer identity, mental health, and belonging to and disconnection from one’s land and language, while weaving a vivid magic realm with its own logic. A thrilling fantasy series opener." - Kirkus

"Sharp as a blade, twice as vicious, and an outstretched hand all at once; a reminder to messy, angry kids that they can find their power no matter what they must do to survive. Absolutely unhinged and utterly unforgettable." - Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed with Us

"This is the kind of book that changes young lives. The kind readers will force into their friends' hands and shout, 'Read this now!'. The kind where readers will fall in love with every character who is messy and sexy and terrible in their own way. The worldbuilding is fun and creative, the twists are satisfying, and it is super queer in the best way. There is plenty here to love. If only all the villain stories in YA could be this good!" - Rebecca Roanhorse, New York Times bestselling author of Black Sun

“Vile, nasty, ill-behaved queerness—and I LOVED it. Godly Heathens takes the evil stereotype of queers as monsters—particularly ones in trans bodies—and embraces monstrosity with power and agency. A country-fried horror extravaganza you cannot miss!” - Adam Sass, award-winning author of Surrender Your Sons and The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers

"Godly Heathens is as whip-smart as it is delightfully unhinged, oscillating between heart-pounding action, laugh-out-loud humor, and poignant discussions of identity. Paired with its baked-in layers of queer teen messiness, it's safe to say this series is off to an explosive start. Edgmon does not miss." - Kayla Cottingham, New York Times bestselling author of My Dearest Darkest


Awards

  • School Library Journal Best Books of the Year