Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon follows Gem, a demiromantic, nonbinary Native teen who begins to remember they're a reincarnated god when their soulmate appears, along with a whole pantheon of other queer gods searching for a deadly knife.

What really stood out to me was Gem’s arc into becoming darker and more morally grey. It added real weight to their character and sets up an exciting premise for the sequel, which I’m definitely looking forward to. For a YA fantasy, this had some genuinely impressive moments.

The romance had potential -possibly a trans/trans/trans poly love triangle- but right now it didn’t land for me. I don't care much for soulmates: we didn’t really get to see them fall in love, so it lacked emotional payoff. And the love interest I was rooting for completely changed personalities halfway through, which left me a bit disconnected.

Still, it’s a very promising start, and I’m curious to see where it goes next.