The Goddess Inheritance (Goddess Test #3)

The Goddess Inheritance was a complete and utter disappointment. After the cliffhanger ending in Goddess Interrupted, I was ready for an action-packed and suspenseful series conclusion. What I got was almost 300 pages of poor decision making and professions of eternal love. Considering the same plot device from previous novels was carried forward and then used multiple times, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that absolutely nothing came as a surprise in The Goddess Inheritance.

Arguably, The Goddess Inheritance is much more action-packed than either The Goddess Test or Goddess Interrupted. From the first few pages we’re thrown into Kate’s kidnapping and Calliope’s sinister plans to separate Kate from her newborn baby. In a moment of desperation, Kate promises Cronus that she will become his Queen if he saves her son. This bargain/promise is then used several times over, during moments of heightened tension. After Cronus levels the city of Athens, Kate promises him that she will be his Queen if he promises not to hurt anyone else. When Henry is gravely injured, Kate rushes to Cronus and promises to be his Queen as long as he saves Henry. How many times does a Titan fall for the same lie? And what, exactly, is so special about Kate that Cronus is willing to set aside a millennia long war as long as she agrees to stand by his side for eternity?

The over-use of this same plot device in The Goddess Inheritance wouldn’t have been nearly so frustrating if, during the moments when Kate wasn’t with Cronus, she wasn’t spending all of her time professing her love to Henry and their family. It truly felt like the bulk of the dialogue between Kate and Henry was designed convince the reader that their love was deep and true, instead of unsure and fleeting, since Kate had been so insecure about their relationship in Goddess Interrupted. Instead of focusing on the task at hand, namely how to overpower Cronus in the war without Calliope or how to convince him that war was unnecessary, Kate and Henry spent all of their time in Olympus reassuring each other that their love was unconditional, regardless of the choices the other person might make. Instead of preparing Kate, helping her to learn how to use her new abilities or how she might be able to help them when they’re fighting, they spent their time making eyes at each other.

I was also disappointed with Kate. In the first two books, I really liked Kate. She grew significantly in Goddess Interrupted and I was looking forward to seeing her use that growth and confidence in The Goddess Inheritance. Unfortunately, a lot of the insecurities about feeling inadequate as a demi-god reared their ugly head, as did her pent up anger when she discovered the truth behind her father’s identity. Instead of proving the Council wrong, by showing her worth as a demi-god, she proved their mistrust was well-placed by making foolish or rash decisions that ultimately came back to haunt her. Instead of showing that she has matured and that her opinions are worth being heard, she stomped her foot and stormed from the room, much like a child, when they refused to acknowledge her ideas. Instead of providing the Council with information they could use about Cronus or Calliope’s plans, she wasted her time with Cronus by trying to appeal to his inner humanity. And then there was her treatment of Ava. Instead of giving Ava the benefit of the doubt, or letting her explain her side of the story, Kate decided that Ava was a backstabber and unworthy of her trust or forgiveness. It was a truly ugly side to Kate’s personality that went against the compassion she has shown for those who have lied to her in the past.

The Goddess Inheritance’s ending was wrapped up much too conveniently, and if anything, left me with more questions than answers. I can’t get into details without getting in to spoilers, but how does someone easily overcome their peer when they are equally as powerful? Why grieve for your daughter, but barely spare your granddaughter a passing glance? Why get involved now, when you’ve never wanted to be involved in the past? While we do see one main character killed off, it was done in such a way that I couldn’t gather up enough energy to care. It felt more like it was done to get a reaction out of the reader, than because it had grown organically. I also found it was all very anti-climatic. The epic showdown between Kate and Calliope was..short-lived, and Kate merely proved her uselessness by mostly being thrown around like a doll.

I really have no reason for giving The Goddess Inheritance two stars instead of one, other than because I didn’t hate it. I was disappointed by the direction it took, disappointed by the focus of the plot, and disappointed by a much too convenient ending. But at the same time, it was a conclusive ending to a series that, up until now, I had enjoyed.

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter
ARC received from Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 2-26-2013
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: Traumatic, Tempting and Thrilling

(If you have NOT read the first two in this series, do not read the review, as it contains spoilers from the first 2 books).

The end is near, the war has come
And all are caught beneath Cronus’s thumb
The Council fights back, but is it in vain?
Will they fall under Calliope’s reign?

Or will love manage to beat back the dark
To light a beacon, to create a spark?
Til the end they will fight, both Henry and Kate
Will they live or die? What is their fate?

Reading the last book in a trilogy that you’ve enjoyed always brings forth all sorts of emotions—happiness because there is no more waiting, no more cliffhangers; and sadness because you will miss those characters that you’ve known for the past few years. I had put off reading this one for a few weeks because I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye. This was my first Hades/Persephone retelling, and I’ve always been partial to it because it introduced me to something new and different than what you learn in school. It made it personal and real, even though it was in the paranormal genre. It made a connection, and for that, I will always love this series.

This one starts 9 months after Goddess Interrupted left off, and it jumps straight into the heartbreak and action. I liked that we didn’t have to read about the 9 months of Kate’s imprisonment and the pregnancy because I just don’t know if I would have been able to watch her go through that much pain and suffering. Still, prepare yourself for some heartache!

This final book didn’t lack in the action. There was constantly a battle raging, whether it was internal or external. I didn’t find in lulls in the plot or anything that made me want to rush through, which is great because I hate it when books add too many details. It was actually shorter than I expected (the ARC was only 300 pages), and I’m thinking some things were added to the final copy because it ended up 380ish pages.

My favorite part of this book, of course, is Henry (Hades). I like thinking about him the way that Aimee Carter writes him—broody yet loving, hard yet caring. Add that to his dark power and he is by far the most interesting god in my opinion. He has dominion over the dead, so there is something heartbreaking and poetic about his views on life. It begins and it ends—that’s the way life is, and I really love how Henry is so poised in the face of death. Power drips off him in waves, and he is one of the most powerful of the Olympians, yet that power hasn’t corrupted him like it did Walter (Zeus). He was much more open in his feelings in this one, which is great, because he did get a bit annoying at times in the first two books when he wouldn’t just say how he felt. That insecure Henry is gone, replaced by a loving and revenge-bent greek god.

Kate is much stronger in this book, although she still has that annoying think before you act habit that makes me want to knock her upside the head. James (Hermes) even mentions it multiple times---her martyr complex he calls it. She really bugs me how she doesn’t open up to her family for help. Instead, she concocts a plan and runs straight into it without thinking about the consequences, which is infuriating!! So if you were one of those readers that got annoyed with Kate before, just know it’s not going to go away in this one.

Loss, love, hate, and revenge all collide in this final book causing a cacophony of emotions to swell up and pour out. This was a fitting (albeit sad) ending to such a great story, and I will definitely miss these characters. But as Henry says, “the time has come to fight,” and fight they will.

I am so sad to see this series end. I am completely smitten with Henry (and James), and this is a bitter sweet moment. This very unique spin on the Persephone and Hades myth captured my heart from book 1 (The Goddess Test). Sadly, Kate's story comes to a end with The Goddess Inheritance.

Just like the other books in this series, there is a lot of drama and betrayal going on. There is also a whole lot of Henry. (sigh) I was so happy see that he had a more active role this time around. He was present throughout the whole book, which made me very happy.

Of course, Kate is still Kate. She has matured a lot since book 2 (Goddess Interrupted). I was very impressed to see who she became. Of course, she's still pigheaded, which causes a lot of problems. That's Kate though.

The plot was pretty quick in this one. I managed to finish it in a little over 4 hours because it was so gripping. In true Kate fashion, she managed to be wishy-washy throughout 2/3 of the book, which really made the plot drag on. I was starting to get frustrated with the whole circular plot feeling, but then things picked up. I was catapulted into a hard-core battle of the wills. It was gripping and heart breaking all at once. Choices were made that had disasterous affects. Some of those choices were gut wrenching... leaving me twisting my face in disgust. You won't want to miss it!

As far as finales go, this was pretty solid. I was pleased with the ending, even if it left me a bit queesy in parts (due to a certain someone's choices). If you have read the other books in Aimee Carter's The Goddess Test series, do not let the finale go unread!

** spoiler alert ** If you have not read the first books in the Goddess Series, be aware there are spoilers

Background: Last we checked Kate was taken by Calliope upon leaving to search for Rhea. We start nine months later as she is about to give birth to her son in the confines of Calliope and Cronus. The war is escalating and Cronus is almost free of his confines. The gods and goddesses are planning for war and have just realized that Kate is being held captive instead of searching.

Review: This was a wonderful ending to this series. Wow. I ran through it. OK so the plot started right where it needed to, no months of waiting for the birth of Kate's son, just immediate action. Following this there is a lot of war planning and behind the scenes scheming and so you never knew who was on what side and how they were reacting. Very fast paced compared to the other books.

I felt like Kate finally grew. I have always liked Kate, she is independent and speaks her mind when she needs to...which would normally get her into trouble. She has learned to tone this down a little but express the important info. She learned how to be more compassionate as well. In this installment, the focus of the characters was really to show sacrifice and confidence in decisions. I think a lot of the characters expanded their personalities and I learned to like a few more of the gods.

Now for a few issues, I felt there were some points left open at the end. There were still assignments given out and even the blurb at the end of the book said "And so the Goddess Test series concludes -- for now" ummmm... For Now?! will there be more? off-shoots? Novellas? I need to know !!!! But I guess that I have to wait :(