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.
Plot
Godly Heathens starts out intense and only gets more interesting from there. I read most of this book within a day as I just found it hard to put down. There are some great plot twists, some I saw coming but others that took me by complete surprise. This book does end on a cliffhanger, however, so readers be aware if that’s an ick for you!
Characters
The author does a great job of creating lively and lovable characters with great chemistry. Even the antagonists had some sweet elements to them that made me second guess which side I was rooting for. As a central theme of the plot, almost everyone in the book is morally grey, not really fulfilling the role of “good” or “bad” guy, which made the story all the more compelling.
Setting
The book is set in a small town in Georgia but flashbacks also show the reader brief glimpses of another world, called Ether. The magic system is well developed and unique for this genre. I was impressed that the author veered away from some obvious tropes for this setting and genre. I did expect the small town aspect to come more into play for the plot or to influence the character’s decisions more, but it wasn’t as notable as it could have been.
My Recommendation
Godly Heathens is the first book in The Ouroboros duology. This was an awesome book for me to start 2024 with as it scratched a lot of itches I’d been craving. The story heavily features LGBTQIA+ characters and the main character’s identity plays a pivotal role in the story. I recommend this for readers who love nontraditional romance, exciting plot twists, and don’t mind having to wait a few more months for the conclusion of the series. Personally, I already have the sequel Merciless Saviors queued up and can’t wait to read what happens next.
