Godly Heathens

PNW author Edgmon follows up his Witch King duology with this series starter about a nonbinary Seminole teen who happens to be a reincarnated god. With the weight of lifetimes on their shoulders, Gem needs to face down their pasts to choose their future. But what futures do you have when the world will only see you as a monster? Recommended By Madeline S., Powells.com

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.

"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

"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

"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

H.E. Edgmon is an author of queer speculative fiction across genres. Once a stray dog in the rural south, he now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest with a family of his own design. Haunted and hopeful, his work aims to offer levity without flinching from hard truths. In his writing and his daily life, H.E. will always prioritize the pursuit of an Indigenous future, the safety of our most vulnerable, and making a terrible joke whenever possible.