From the Publisher
"This sequel to Godly Heathens will hurt your heart, but in the exact right way . . . some of Edgmon’s all-time best. " - Booklist
"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. . .the characters are compelling, rawly emotional, and tenaciously devoted to one another." - School Library Journal
School Library Journal
04/01/2024
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 Reviews
2024-02-03
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)
