Title & Author:
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Publisher:
Harlequin Teen
Publication Date:
April 26, 2011
Pages:
297
Source:
NetGalley/Publisher
Plot:
Characters:
Writing:
Overall:
It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess. – Goodreads
I am such a huge fan of Greek mythology. So all these modern retellings that are coming out? Basically awesome. I am just gobbling them up. Including The Goddess Test.
The Goddess Test got off to a bit of a rough start for me, which was probably just my mood. It was just a bit strange, though. I’d be totally freaked out if what happened to Kate and Ava happened to me, but Kate just sort of seemed to brush it off, and accept it a little too quickly maybe.
Once I let go that The Goddess Test wasn’t supposed to be a super serious/believable book, I really got into it. It’s such a fun book and goes by so quickly.
I was not enamoured by Henry, although I’m holding out hope for the second book. Kate was a fun character, although I really do think she accepted things way too quickly. But I can sort of understand, given the circumstances with her mother.
The ending totally surprised me, and I was really impressed that all this was happening throughout the book and I didn’t even notice. I love being surprised by endings, and it seems to be very rare these days.
Overall, I thought The Goddess Test was a really fun and cute modern tale of the myth of Persephone, although it’s definitely less of Persephone and Hades, and more like what happens to Hades thousands of years later. I definitely recommend picking up a copy for a fun read. It’s a great debut and it has a gorgeous cover!
I thought the beginning was a bit abrupt as well – it just jumped into the story without much explanation. And I probably would have freaked out more than Kate did. But like you said – fun and cute. I’m really curious about the sequel now too.
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I think this was a great debut! I agree that Kate accepted all the strange and scary thing a little too easily, but overall it was a awesome read for me!
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