I really tried to like this book. The blurb sounded promising, and I loved the design, but I just couldn’t get into the story. In my opinion, an urban fantasy thrives on the idea that it feels like it could actually be real, but I never got that feeling from this book. It took quite a long time for anything significant to happen, and when it finally did, it felt overly complicated. Like the author wanted to write a complex fantasy story but it turned out more confusing than deep and complex.

[The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] CN: mental illness, trauma, (internalized) ableism, references to self-harm and suicide, graphic gore, body horror, violence (including murder and torture), off-page sexual violence (including experiences that involve children), abuse (including child abuse and off-page domestic violence), mentions of transphobia and racism (including references to slavery and genocide), animal death, vomit “For anyone worried you might be the villain in your own story. Maybe you are. I think you deserve a happy ending, anyway.” Oh. My. Gods. This. Book. I knew from the first page that this was going to be a five star read, but I never expected that I would love it this much. “The Witch King” used to be my all-time favorite book, and I still absolutely adore it, but “Godly Heathens” is on another level. I already know I’m going to reread this book at least once before it comes out in November, and many, many times after that. If you’re looking for a book with… • villainous main characters • reincarnated old gods • a t4t4t non-monogamous love triangle • a trans- and Native-majority cast • amazing mental illness representation … then “Godly Heathens” might be the perfect book for you. It’s definitely the perfect book for me, and I will probably try to force everyone I know to read it as soon as it comes out. I’m trying so hard to write a review that does this book justice, but I literally have no coherent thoughts right now, so please just trust me when I say that this book is absolutely incredible. Please pre-order “Godly Heathens” or request it at your local library if you can!