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Summary
Summary
The stunning conclusion to the Ouroboros series, a contemporary fantasy duology in which a teen, Gem, finds out they're a reincarnated god from another world.
That day at the First Church of Gracie changed everything for Gem Echols, and not just because Marian and Poppy betrayed them. Forced to use the Ouroboros knife on Zephyr, who had kidnapped their parents, Gem now has the power of the God of Air.
While for any other god things might work out okay, the Magician--whose role within the pantheon is to keep the balance--having the power of another god has thrown everything into chaos. The Goddess of Death can now reanimate corpses; the God of Art's powers are now corrupted and twisted, giving life to his macabre creations; and, while the God of Land has always been able to communicate with creatures of the Earth, now everyone can hear their cries.
As Gem, Rory, and Enzo search for a way to restore the balance without sacrificing themselves, new horrors make them question how far they're willing to go. In the end, Gem may be forced to fully embrace their merciless nature and kill off their own humanity--if it ever really existed in the first place.
Author Notes
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.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up--Picking up right where Godly Heathens ends, Indigenous, nonbinary, and--apparently--literally divine Gem Echols has used another god's powers, throwing off the balance they, the Magician, are responsible for maintaining. As the state of the world continues to deteriorate at the hands of gods who have powers they shouldn't have, it falls on Gem, Enzo, and Rory, Gem's soulmate through lifetimes who is also completely infuriating, to restore things to the way they should be and save all of humankind. As things converge on Gem, they realize that self-sacrifice may be the only way out, if they even have enough humanity left to be worth anything. Though this book is a bit more muddled and disjointed than its predecessor, many of readers' burning questions will finally be answered, the action is plentiful (and sometimes rather gory), and the characters are unique. The violent, difficult external chaos of Gem's life continues to keep pace with their internal chaos, showcasing the stabilizing power of found family and places of belonging. Some revelations are glossed over that could use more exploration while other sections are overlong, but the characters are compelling, rawly emotional, and tenaciously devoted to one another. VERDICT A satisfactory sequel; purchase where the original is popular.--Allie Stevens
Kirkus Review
Gem's adventures continue in the second book in the Ouroboros series. Picking up where Godly Heathens (2023) left off, Gem upsets the balance of the universe by killing the Cyclone. They inherit the ability to practice magic without sacrifice, and they use that power to seek revenge against Rory's abusive grandparents. Gem then goes missing, only to wake up in the Wheeler family's barn two weeks later. Gem returns home with a new awareness of their own past trauma, and they're devastated to discover that their loyal dog, Hank, needs to be put down. A police officer is also seeking to question Gem about Zephyr's death. Gem stabs themself with the Ouroboros, which sends all the gods back to the Ether, while their human bodies lie comatose on Earth. Now Gem must simultaneously piece together the fragments of their traumatic past and restore the magical balance of the universe by fighting their nemeses, all while dealing with the annoying humans who worship them. Less polished than the previous entry but more action packed, this is a chaotic adventure in which the gore of the gods is interrupted by human flashbacks from many lifetimes. Though confusing at times and disturbing at others, the novel features complex queer Indigenous characters and portrays the persistence and resilience of survivors of abuse. An engaging, albeit messy, sequel. (content warning, map, list of characters) (Fantasy. 15-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
This sequel to Godly Heathens (2023) will hurt your heart, but in the exact right way. Gem Echols, a nonbinary Seminole teenager, now has the power of the God of Air. Their position as The Magician creates imbalance among other gods, whose powers are now thrown out of whack. Poppy and Marian are closing in on Gem, Rory, and Enzo, and they must figure out how to restore the necessary balance without sacrificing themselves in the process. This book is emotionally dazzling, offering a deeper look into Gem's internal conflicts and deftly exploring mental health, trauma, and rage. While the sequel struggles with pacing at times, the stunning writing--some of Edgmon's all-time best--genuinely carries this story and adds to the weight of the plot and its impact on the characters. This book allows even further insight and nuance into these layered, complex characters, and readers will adore getting to spend more time with them. Everything you loved about Godly Heathens is turned up to an eleven in this conclusion.
