Merciless Saviors

The Ouroboros #2

by H.E. Edgmon, Avi Roque (Narrator)

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.

11 hrs. 18 min.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, Queer, Horror, Romance, Mythology

12 pages, Audible Audio

First published April 16, 2024

About the author

H.E. Edgmon (he/they) is a high school and college dropout, a militant queer, and an author of books both irreverent and radicalizing. His stories will always center the perspective of Indigenous people, trans people, and survivors of trauma. At present, he’s probably biting off more than he can chew, emulating the aesthetic of Dwayne from The Lost Boys (1987), and living out the found family trope in Brooklyn. Online, he can most often be found on Twitter @heedgmon.

Reviews

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only reason this second book of the duology gets 3 stars is because I understand and respect what young debut author H. E. Edgmon was trying to do here. Unfortunately I do not think it succeeds, and it definitely creates some concerns from my point of view. Most poignant is the idea of humans craving, and getting, revenge. Your gods can do whatever they want; but when you set a story up a certain way you have to be careful that you aren’t condoning problematic thinking on behalf of humans (like those reading your book). Given the trans representation here (which is amazing!) and the authors own private journey I completely understand why it would be cathartic for them to perhaps write this. Where the issue lies is I’m not at all sure it’s the content I want in the hands of a 15-year-old trans teen struggling to find their way.

Other issues I cannot understand:
- the point of this threesome? Is it just to have a non-binary person be pan? It doesn’t enhance the character, in fact it confuses them (and threesomes bug me on principle as a bisexual cis woman).
- umm… so are we gods or high schoolers? See you can’t have it both ways without being a huge issue (see problem one above that extends into so many others)
- wait… that ending?! I thought the whole point is that the ‘ending reveal’ wouldn’t be possible?! Not a fan. You cannot rewrite the rules of the magic whenever you want, even in your own book!
- there is so much crazy content here; but no time or descriptions, or ways to really absorb it. This books needs serious work to come anywhere near the likes of Tamsyn Muir, Brandon Sanderson or Jacqueline Carey.
- this series cannot be YA. End of discussion. If you want sex, gratuitous violence and gory descriptions, dark fantasy elements, etc (all of which is fine with me I usually love grimdark fantasy) then you MUST write your book at the level it’s intended to be consumed at. I would never ever put this book in the hands of anyone below 16… maybe even 18.

I’ve been meaning to get back to this review for a couple months now to make it more coherent. Unfortunately I’m not sure I can given the time that has passed since I read it; and there is a kind of parallel to the way this novel is written and my review. They are both haphazard, scattered, and mildly incoherent. This I’m going to leave it as is. Take it for what it’s worth, or not and scroll on by.

[Ty -Ty's Teatime Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to the first book Godly Heathens which I loved!
This book picked up right were the first left off. Gem, the "Magician" is faced with the consequences of using the Ouroboros on Zephyr. Rory, the "Mountain" and Enzo, the "Shade" are still right by their side trying to find their way with Gem.
As the TWO world seem to collide, Earth and the Ether, the Magician has some "soul searching" to do.
Other characters are introduced in this sequel that are relevant and important on how the first book happened. It give a good back story on the "beginning". I just got lost through the middle of the book a bit as the flow was a bit choppy for me. The back and forth between gods and humans was a lot to keep up with at times. BUT, I appreciate author H.E. Edgmon and how the story gives light to compartmentalizing trauma in conjunction with the minds imagination. Rory was my favorite character, always true, always the voice of reason, which is similar to myself; their role as the "Mountain" was spot on for their personality displayed in the book. In addition, I loved Hank and was excited to see him as a "Wyvern" in the Ether. I wish I could have a picture of that, but my imagination did just fine.
I was glad for the ending. Wonder if there will be a book 3: I would certainly want to read it.....

Overall 3 stars, as that middle flow was a lot to digest and follow.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via Net Galley, in turn for my honest review.

[miracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s 2:00am and i have just finished this and i may or may not be sobbing.

Merciless Saviors takes the raw emotion and anger in Godly Heathens and dials it up to an eleven from the very first page. It picks up right where Godly Heathens left off and it does not slow down once.

The anger and rage and love in this book is something so lovely, so engrossing, that I finished it in one sitting. The way Gem handles their trauma and processes the absolutely horrific things that happened to them is brutal and in your face and done so exceptionally well. Their emotions are palpable and the disgust the feel at themselves sometimes hits your gut in the most relatable way. What teenager hasn't felt so much self-loathing that wish they could just disappear?

But for all the gore and devastation in Merciless Saviors, there is so much love. Finding the people that will love and support you at your absolute worst, through the devastation where you hit rock bottom and keep going? Then stay until they convince you that you're worthy of that love? That's what I loved most about Merciless Saviors.

They're all still terrible people, terrible teenagers, and I still love every single one of them. I cannot recommend this duology enough.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duology is a masterpiece, it's as simple as that.

This book, in particular, is the kind of raw of an open wound left to the elements, of the rage that comes from the kind of pain that feels so embedded in yourself that nothing gentle can ever fit, of the decimation that can come from every shard left to rot untreated. The way it handles trauma is nothing short of a gift, never letting the ugly parts slip through the cracks. It can be bloody and brutal and so completely and utterly devastating but that does not mean there is not love to be had, that one is not undeserving of understanding, gentleness, and care.

And all so beautifully told through gods and magic and screaming battles because in the end, they're teenagers attempting to hold onto themselves in the face of unimaginable burdens - things are obviously going to get dramatic. Buckets of blood is spilled and a world burns from the inside out, but at it's core it's about a kids clawing their way through their pain, clinging to each other for a safe place to rest, and desperately, desperately, wanting to feel alright. It's wonderfully crafted and so, so mind bendingly good.

AND CAN I JUST THE EPILOUGE WHAT THE FREAKING HELL WAS THAT.

[Anniek · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's taken me way too long to actually finish this duology, even though I loved Godly Heathens, but I'm so glad I finally did. It's definitely a new favourite duology for me. Merciless Saviors added so much depth and emotion to the story, and I could not put it down. This duology is so unique, and I know it will stay with me for a long time.

[Elias H.]

I removed my review because of the St. Martin's boycott, and will not review or promote any other St. Martin's Press books until St. Martin's Press has addressed and denounced the islamophobia and racism from their employee.

[Clace · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @40%

The way this book deteriorated instead of improving like?? I had four free hours of read this but I couldn't make myself go through another chapter.

Truly very disappointing.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Did you want more of the first book’s incoherent action scenes? Do you want to read some gratuitous sexual violence against children? Do you love the it was all a dream and the revenge thriller tropes?

Another for the do not read list.

Pre-reading:
I don’t particularly want to pick this book up after I disliked the first one. This series got so many beautiful special editions though.

Thick of it:
OK, assumptions going into this. Willa is going to be evil, and something’s gonna happen with the god of love, and like maybe all the gods will come back to life. (All dead wrong.)

Oh, now they’re saying that one of the grandparents was clutching one of Rory‘s tampons. I’m so confused. Why are we doing this with the tampons?

Why on earth would you reward a would-be rapist with another child for them to abuse?

I don’t think forcing another woman to carry a pregnancy that’s going to kill her or make her upset is the solution. This is upsetting to read.

That makes no sense. He’s seen your trauma so he owes you his? That’s bullshit.

I would dnf this book right here. I am tired. I don’t wanna read more rape.

This book’s format is changing. I have no idea what’s going on. I’m so annoyed.

There's so much rape in here, and I hate it.

This is literally so much rape. I’m very upset.

Oh my god, and they’re killing the dog. What is this?

Things I don’t like: the fact that this book has been all rape, but now there’s underage children having a threesome. I don’t like it here.

I'm bored.

I don't know who the intended audience for this book is. Because it feels firmly YA but w/ how much rape and how graphic it is…like that's not for kids.

I'm getting more and more annoyed with this.

I know they're ageless gods now, but if you put in that little aside of lol they're also still high schoolers it feels icky to read about!

Also, what's with the media causes transness nonsense? The fuck is a line like that doing in a book like this?

I mean Apollo’s a massive rapist so maybe don’t liken your love interest to him?

I know the book is trying to be quirky and do memory flashbacks, but it’s just coming across very disorganized.

I just- there’s no logic to this book. Everything‘s a rule until it’s inconvenient for the plot, and then it just doesn’t matter anymore, so nothing feels like it has any stakes.

Again, all these books can try and teach me that immortality is bad, but my Capricorn ass does not believe them.

This book did not just pull the it was all a dream card. You made up murderous imaginary friends because you’re a traumatized child. Be so for real.

You know it really rubs me the wrong way that this book basically tells us that the Shade was born from Gem’s trauma, so essentially the message is to sexualize your trauma and everything will be OK. That’s so yucky.

Cool motive, still murder.

Yep, don’t like the messaging. Don’t know who the intended audience is. Going on my do not read list.

Post-reading:
I think I knew I wouldn’t like this going into it, but I had hoped that it would dig itself out of the hole that the first book set it up for.

It did not. It dug itself so much deeper.

This book gives you trigger warnings, which I appreciate given the scope of the content, but then I’m very confused who the intended audience for this book is. It reads like a YA. The characters are in high school. They do not have mature voices or perspectives. The amount of sexual abuse of children that’s on page is gross. It has revenge thriller fantasies that are unproductive and harmful to indulge. If you’re traumatized by rape, the solution isn’t to go and rape someone else.

I don’t want to read about highschoolers sex lives. I just don’t. It’s weird to me that you would point out that they’re ageless gods, so they can have sex now and have it be kosher, but then put in a little aside that mentally they’re still high schoolers. I just think you can write about underage relationships, even if there’s a sexual component to them, without trying to make them sexy.

I also have a big big issue with the book’s idea that the Shade character was born out of the main character’s trauma. Because then we’re essentially told the trauma loves the main character, and then the main character sexualizes their trauma, and that’s how they heal. That’s deeply fucked. I don’t think that’s the message that the author was trying to send. I do think it inadvertently comes across that way. I think it needs to be rewritten to not come across that way.

The sequel suffers from the same flawed logic regarding the magic system. It’s impossible to keep up with. The audience is told a rule in one chapter, only for the next chapter to immediately break that rule. That negates any of the stakes of the book. The explanation is always just because magic. It’s cheap. It’s lazy. So many of the action scenes end in stalemates or they work through the issues within the fight itself so there’s no need to even include them. They’re unproductive. It seems like they’re just in there for visuals and vibes and then they’re not crafted well enough for the audience to visualize what’s happening.

The only saving grace that the first book had was that it had something interesting to say about morally gray characters. This book abandons that. Everyone’s getting a redemption arc. It’s not mental illness. It’s just magic. And then to end your book essentially by saying that it was all a dream, it was all made up-I don’t think it’s possible for me to be on board with that kind of ending. It feels pointless. It feels like I just wasted all my time reading then.

For a book that is clearly attempting to champion diversity and queerness and mental health, there are some upsetting lines and mentalities present. There’s a particular line about media causing a character’s transness that has stuck with me. I think it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but it’s never properly addressed that that was a joke and that the character doesn’t actually feel that way.

I got nothing from this. I think because of the gruesomeness of the content it’s not appropriate for the intended audience, and I won’t be recommending it to anyone.

Who should read this:
No one
Compulsive finishers who need series closure

Do I want to reread this:
Nope.

Similar books:
* Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker-YA virtue signaling diversity, ensemble cast, urban fantasy
* The Night Hunt by Alexandra Christo-YA fantasy romance, Greek gods inspired
* Masters of Death by Olivie Blake-ensemble cast, gods and creatures vs each other, urban fantasy romance
* Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones-ensemble cast, YA fantasy romance, fairytale retelling, reborn gods
* Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah-YA Midwest gothic, magical realism, ensemble cast
* This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham-cringe YA dystopian horror, virtue signaling

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that hurts in the exact way you need it to. It will literally carve your chest open and strangle your heart and you will say thank you for it. If you need this series I hope you find it because it’s got the power to change the world. The first book comes out next Tuesday, so go pick up a copy ASAP!! (And not just because the goddess of death has the same legal name as my cat)

[Leni ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally, I didn’t enjoy the first book too much. I loved the representation, but I thought it was just a-okay. However, I liked the second book much more.

First, I felt that the characters had a lot more development. Especially since their journeys and development had been set in place. I felt like Gem’s morally gray character really grew throughout the series. From someone who is more moral to someone who is less so. And this is really fitting of their place in the story and their character journey. I felt like there were a lot more dynamic shifts.

I also liked the development of the other characters as well. I felt like because I was already introduced to the characters, I got to see more of them and know them better throughout the second book. I especially enjoyed Rory and Enzo and their relationship with Gem as well as how they changed as individual characters with the challenges that they faced. I also liked how there were some chapters from different perspectives as well. I thought it was an interesting authorial choice that gave the story more depth. Also, I thought Murphy’s characterization as a side character was the most interesting.

For the plot of the story. I felt that there was a lot more tension in the story and there was a lot more going on. I loved how the author carried on from the cliffhanger from the last book and built the tension throughout the story. I enjoyed how the book went in a different direction than I thought it would go (you’ll see when you read it), and it was interesting how the characters resolved things.

Finally, for the ending of the story. I thought it was fitting in terms of Gem’s characterization and also it befitted the plot, leaving readers pondering why exactly the story ended the way that it did. It was, to put it lightly, a surprising (but not really surprising) ending.

Overall rating, 3.7/5

[KMart Vet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping and intricately woven conclusion to this intense duology.

Gem and their godly friends find themselves thrust into a world of chaos and uncertainty at the end of the first book. It is such a stellar duology and I liked this one even more than the first.

Edgmon masterfully navigates the complexities of these characters, who are not only grappling with their newfound powers and pasts but also with their own human traumatic experiences. Gem, Rory, and Enzo's journies are ones of self-discovery and evolution, as they search for a way to restore balance to a world in which their powers are thrown into complete disarray. The dynamics between the characters are rich and nuanced, particularly Shade/Enzo, whose complexities are my favorite among these amazing characters. The romance between the three leads continues to blossom amidst the chaos, offering a tender and heartfelt counterbalance to the darkness surrounding them.

At its core, this is a story about change and sacrifice, as the characters confront difficult choices and grapple with the consequences of their actions - both now and in their pasts. Edgmon deftly explores themes of identity and humanity. Which is strange since it's about a bunch of gods, but it just WORKS in a way that I didn't expect.

The novel is not without its challenges, delving into unsettling topics with unflinching honesty and a ton of body horror. However, it is precisely this willingness to confront difficult themes that makes it a powerful and thought-provoking read.

This is a worthy conclusion to the duology, showcasing Edgmon's talent for crafting compelling characters and immersive storytelling.

Highly recommended for those who appreciate dark fantasy with depth and so much heart.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally got to book 2 after reading an arc of book 1 so long ago. The second book is just as good as the first. I love this series and love H.E Edgmon. I really think I would have been obsessed with these books as a kid/teen.

I did a tandem read of this with the audiobook and I'm glad I had a physical copy, there are some moments where seeing the structure in the book helped me figure out what was going on- there's some jumping back and forth in time and POVs. The plot also takes some winding roads in this and I did feel a bit lost sometimes, I couldn't completely keep up with the lore and I still got confused with who is who and their part in the story and lore. I was just along for the ride for a bit in the middle, but I think this stuck the landing and was a satisfying conclusion to the duology.

Gem is really going through a lot in this book and there are A LOT of heavy topics, H.E. Edmon does such an amazing job handling tough mental health struggles with love and care. I definitely had a few good cries from this. There is also a content warning at the beginning that explains this so you know what you're about to read, which is so appreciated.


CW: death, mental illness, gore, grief, violence, torture, self harm, suicidal ideation, SPOILER but if you read book 1 you probably felt this coming- the dog does die in this but also not really in a fantasy world way, child abuse/child SA, sexual content (mild, consensual)

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid sequel to the first book, and I really liked the ending. It's not one I would have predicted, but it made me smile. I also though the author did a great job of helping us process through the trauma and pain experienced not only by Gem/Magician, but also by some of the other characters. It was a difficult read at times, but you could absolutely feel Gem's pain. My favorite character was Rory, both in the first book and in this one, and I was captivated by the journey the three of them, Gem, Rory, and Enzo, take to develop the healthy relationship they have by the end.

The other thing that I liked and which I would have liked more of, was finding out more about their grandmother's culture and heritage. But I was glad to see them wanting to reconnect with that heritage. The epilogue left me wanting more, but it also gave Gem and the readers closure over some of their past trauma. While this ending was very satisfying, it makes me want a sequel series, maybe concentrating on some of the other characters, like maybe Murphy.

Where the book fell short for me was that I often got confused by whether we were reading about a memory or some that was happening at that time. While the writing itself was really good, I felt like a good editor could have made things clearer in terms of what was happening in the context of the bigger story. Many times, I found myself flipping back and trying to figure out if I had missed something. I couldn't always figure out if it was a memory, dream, or a little bit of both.

Overall, I did enjoy this book, but I found myself confused more often than not. But getting to the end was worth it, so I'm glad I read it. I look forward to seeing where this author will go in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Julia Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really, really enjoyed Godly Heathens, so I couldn't wait for the sequel; however, I didn't have the same excitement for this book.
Merciless Saviors by HE Edgmon picks up immediately where Godly heathens leaves off and it doesn't pull any punches. I respect the commitment to the body horror and the trauma, I usually don't love body horror, but there is something about Edgmon's prose that does it for me. It's the perfect balance of the grotesque and biting wit.
I also found that I had a hard time following the narrative, and found myself a bit lost jumping between the humans and the Gods perspectives. I think that might be what made me less excited about this one. Gem and the gang all knew they were Gods and had access to their memories. They mystery wasn't there. I really enjoyed the discovery and the stumbling around in the realization of the first book- it was very grown up, queer Percy Jackson. The characters knowing they were Gods and knowing eons of shared history took some of the fun out of it for me.
I know I said that I needed more poly relationships in YA since reading Iron Widow, but this was not what I wanted. I could not get on board for Enzo. Enzo as a villain? Sign me up! But Enzo as Gem and Rory's boyfriend? Ugh. I don't know why. I cannot explain it.
Overall, I am not mad I read the book, and I am very content with the epilogue, but I can't help but feel a little let down after how incredible book 1 was. I give this 3 out of 5 stars.

[whatssophiareading · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Wow. This book is the sequel to Godly Heathens, which ended on a cliffhanger, so if you're reading this review wondering if you should pick up the series, go look at reviews for the first book. If you've read the first book and are reading reviews to see if you should bother with the sequel, the answer is YES, you should!!

I spent the first half of this book feeling like if an epic poem had a baby with a fever dream, it would be this story, and I couldn’t tell if I was enjoying the ride or not. Then, with the shift at the halfway point, I was hooked. Still hadn’t been certain how I felt about the story, but invested nonetheless. And finally, finally, Chapter 30 pushed this into a 5-star read for me. I do not want to give anything away, either about the story or my own past, but that chapter was like a gut punch. All the way through to the last sentence of the Acknowledgements, which brought me to tears. A truly unexpected duology. This might be a book series I reread, which is rare for me. Usually I wait to post my review to let a story marinate for me before I gather my thoughts, but I couldn’t wait to write this review. I just finished the book and had to post this.

Congrats (slightly belated) on your pub date yesterday H.E. Edgmon! And thank you, and NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books, so so much for a free copy of Merciless Saviors in exchange for an honest review.

[Ariel (ariel_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. Merciless Saviors picks up right where Godly Heathens ends, and amps up the intensity by multiple degrees. Since I read one book right after the other, it was really cool to see how much of Godly Heathens was set up to Merciless Saviors, and how the final installment of this duology dives even deeper into the subconscious and the examination of "good vs. evil" in the fact of extreme trauma and pain. H.E Edgmon has crafted a stellar story, and I highly recommend these books if you're okay reading a rather intense YA. The character development from the first book to this one is very well done, and I felt like Gem was a very well thought out main character to the story, and their connection to their found family is top-tier.

Some content notes to be aware of: trauma, suicidal ideation, violence, murder, torture, family abuse, sexual violence, body horror, and animal death.

A huge thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my thoughts. I'm very interested to see where book two goes!

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea behind these a lot, I just think it's laid out in a way that can be confusing and I struggled to keep track of what the actual plot was and who was who. Each god is also a teenager and I didn't follow why sometimes the character was called Enzo and other times he was Shade (applied to about 8 characters). It didn't feel like there was a hard line between the two identities, so I wasn't sure how they blended.

I didn't really like Gem, especially how they treated their mom and dog. I know a lot is going on, but you just keep going MIA and don't seem to care how that affects others. Poor Hank :(

In the end, this just didn't hit for me, but I hope others enjoy it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

[Brittany Richmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series! So we begin again with Gem, Rory, and Enzo, battling it out on earth. They go through so many tribulations and I am so here for it.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of how mean Gem was when she got “home” but she recovered.
Enzo and Rory is a relationship I don’t quite understand and I’m okay with that.
There was so much drama in this story and I really hope we get another. I will be here waiting!

4/5 stars! Recommend to folks who love gods, self-discovery, love, maybe a sprinkle of magic as well!

**Thank you to NetGalley for proving a free review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[lua ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

i enjoyed the first book a lot more than this one :( couldn't really vibe or follow the pacing and the different time skips. a pity, but i still recommend the 1st book!

[Lyndsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Merciless Saviors:

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.75 Rounded up. My only critique is the pacing. Sometimes the pages would drag on and other moments I wanted to stay further in.

I've been waiting for the second installment of this duology since I devoured the first book Godless Heathens. Merciless Saviors starts right off where the first book ended. The book throws you in without a safety net and while there are moments of explanation in case you forgot - for me the first book and this one will be very difficult to forget. There were moments where I thought I was lost in what I was reading, which made sense once I got through that section. It really showcased the confusion that the MC, Gem, was going through during that time.

I highly recommend checking out the trigger warnings that are listed at the beginning of this book as Merciless Saviors dives deeper into the issues more than Godless Heathens. The gender commentary is not as prevalent in this book as it was in Godless Heathens, which did not detract from the impact of it. The first book had it as the forefront where now it goes to the back and is more subtle in its reveals. This book focuses on the trauma and healing of that keeping in mind the logic and emotions of what teenagers feel, no matter how messed up.

Ultimately, the duology and this book in particular are a love story. A story of self-love, looking into yourself and figuring out the jumbled mess of gender and sexuality while finding those that you can be yourself: the good, the bad, and the ugly. And they still love you because of how utterly human you are.

[Weronika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Merciless Saviors is the conclusion to the Ouroboros duology. I really liked Godly Heathens and this book picks up right after the cliffhanger. It took me a few chapters to reorient myself in the story but I really enjoy the writing and characters created by H. E. Edgmon. I like this theme of surrealism and experimentation we see in this novel. It’s a little weird but it kept me coming back to the book.

Gem, Enzo, and Rory are the focus this time around as their powers go haywire, the magic is out of balance and their friendship and alliance are tested.

One of the main plot points that stands out to me is Gem’s identity struggle. There were many internal battles in their head and that’s prevalent throughout the whole book.

Much of the story and focus is very confusing here unfortunately. One issue I had was the jumping of timelines and places. There is very little to no world building or descriptions of surroundings and how characters are moving about. Looking back at this as a whole, it’s a coming of age story but also learning to accept their gender identity.

The narration by Avi Roque was engaging, I felt like they showcased each of the characters’ unique personalities. The delivery was clear and able to evoke emotions for the protagonist.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

[Lisa Stanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quotes:

They are the roots I grew from, and the seed of new life left at the center of me when the rest is whittled away.
When they look at me, I think they see an eternity of forevers.

He is every falling star I’ve ever wished on, and when he touches me, I burn.

My name is the gospel he cannot avoid, and when he hears it, he remembers he’s still human.

And I do not have to spend another eternity being defined by the worst things I’ve ever done. I do not have to live the rest of my Forevers carrying the weight of every awful thing that’s ever happened to me, or haunted by the ghost of things I had to do to survive.

It’s not fair that sometimes the most loving thing we can do for someone is to let them leave.

There is nothing, in this world or any other, as powerful as the human heart.

[Diandra Knutson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though I liked the first book, unfortunately this one was not for me. The concept is amazing and the side characters were interesting enough to make me stay and not DNF, but I could not take Gem. In this sequel, they become a bully. I could not take the excuses of them saying lack of impulse control, doing something mean because they COULD, bullying someone because it brought them joy, and then becoming a victim when a situation didn’t go as planned. It made the whole story not fun for me.

Now this is just my opinion. This book does have an interesting idea and should be considered if you are interested.

[kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoyed "Godly Heathens," then you're very likely going to enjoy "Merciless Saviors" too. 👍🏻

This picks right up on the cliffhanger from the first book and chugs along with no downtime rehashing things. 🚂🚃🚃💨 And I was so happy to be back in this fucked up (said affectionately) magical world.

What I loved:
• The Shade. (if you read this i'm free on thursday night and would like to hang out. please respond to this and then hang out with me on thursday night when i'm free.)
• The writing. There's so many parts that are seriously poetry in how beautifully they're written. 🤌🏻💋
• Seeing more of the Ether and seeing more of the gods' powers. There was one battle scene where I was like "this is so great that it's setting an impossible bar for all other fantasies I read after."

What I didn't like as much:
• Some of the time-location jumps didn’t flow well and were hard to follow (but maybe that was the point, feeling confused and disconnected.)
• I personally didn't care for the overall resolution, but I understand why it went that direction, and I did like the little "hehe 😈✨️" moment at the very end.

This book might be for you if you're into:
• The first book in this duology. Lol.
• BIPOC representation.
• Parallel worlds.
• Queer poly romance. (One pepper on the spice scale.)
• Reincarnated, morally (dark) grey gods.
• Teenage angst.
• Unique magic system.

Content warnings:
• Childhood sexual assault/abuse.
• Gore and violence.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books - St. Martin's Publishing Group for the e-arc! 💌

[briar ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆⋆⋆½

this is one of the most unique and fascinating books i have ever read. it's also one of the most insufferable books i have ever read, but that's neither here nor there. the characterisation was much more in-depth in this installment. the fragmented narrative style truly made me connect with gem's mental state. i liked them slightly more in this book, but gem still isn't making my favorite characters list. i don't necessarily think that's a bad thing—at least 70% of my dislike towards them comes from the fact that i empathize with marian so much. marian is my twin. if we get a book about her and poppy (my favorite crazy lesbians btw) in the ether, i'd eat it up. the other 30% of my dislike for gem comes from their insufferable victim complex. i understand no one goes around saying things are their fault, much less an amoral god, but you can't go around murdering people's sisters and then say they started it when they fight back? let's look within? that's really my only issue with them—they almost never own what they do. (unlike enzo. he doesn't care. be like enzo. not that i like enzo either. well.) there was a semi-plotline about the shade being held hostage(?) by the other gods in the ether? i think that would have been interesting to explore more, unless it was just the classic school shooter ramblings of being previously bullied. the ending sort of felt like a cop-out, but i can't see it end any other way. and marian and poppy are alive and together, so bonus points for that. all in all, this was an enjoyable read.

[elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The conclusion to this duology was just okay. I loved the grittiness and personality of the first book, which Merciless Saviors still had, but it got bogged down by confusing structure. I listened to the audiobook for both books, but something about the second one was much harder to follow with the timeline and characters, and also just flat out figuring out what was real and what was a dream. I don't think my attention was fully there for this book. I think the complexity of this book will be appealing to others, especially avid readers of fantasy, but as a casual fantasy reader, I found it confusing and tiresome. Still, I liked the writing style and found the characters interesting, so I'd definitely read more from this author.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the first book in the series, Godly Heathens, I recognized I probably wasn't the audience the book aims for. However, I enjoyed it and this sequel. There are so many themes covered in this book and I loved that it was not a linear-time plot. It did make it a little difficult to follow but I've read other books by American Indigenous authors that are similar, and I've liked how they tie together with themes rather than dates. The end and epilogue were divine and I'm happy Gem had some resolution in their life. Definitely read the trigger warnings. However, all sexual scenes are fade-to-black, even the CSA thankfully. I would let my 16-year old read this but would not recommend it for younger due to the heavy themes. Maybe if read with a parent.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great conclusion to the Ouroboros duology featuring a group of queer former gods who have been reincarnated as teenagers on Earth only to remember their past lives. Dark at times and tackling tough topics like deadnaming, transphobia, suicidal ideation and more, this was such a great fantasy with a diverse cast, action, adventure, power imbalances and a polyamory romance. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of the Fallen gods series by Hannah Kaner. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[dobbs the dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be withholding my review and supporting the boycott of St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and other related imprints as a direct response to the publisher’s lack of accountability regarding statements made by an employee in their marketing department and their failure to respond to concerns about possible systemic issues within the department.

[Laura]

Sadly I was unable to finish. I struggled to connect with the story. Despite this, I appreciated the narration by Avi Roque, which kept me engaged longer than I expected.

A very special thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.