Godly Heathens
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- £3.99
Publisher Description
Embark on a wild ride of reincarnated gods, past lives and intoxicating villains, where magic is real and all too dangerous, perfect for fans of Aiden Thomas.
Infatuation. Reincarnation. Damnation.
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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Transgender teen Gem Echols, who is of Seminole descent, learns that they're the reincarnation of an ancient god in this electrifying duology opener from Edgmon (the Witch King duology). Gracie, Ga., high school junior Gem is just killing time until they can graduate and start their "real life" alongside Enzo Truly—an Indigenous trans boy in Brooklyn who is Gem's best friend and secret love. Then Native, Alaska-born trans girl Willa Mae Hardy arrives in town, claiming she and Gem are soulmates and part of a pantheon of gods that ruled a realm called the Ether before a murderous coup forced their exodus to Earth. Every few generations, the remaining exiled gods are reborn as humans, gradually remembering their past selves. Gem fears that they're losing their grip on reality—until Willa Mae uses magic to save them from another reincarnated god intent on revenge for a transgression Gem doesn't yet recall. And per Willa Mae, things will only get worse. 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. Ages 14–up.