Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2)

I was hoping that the reason I couldn't really get into The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter was because of my mood while reading it. However, after reading Goddess Interrupted, I think I've finally come to the conclusion that the series isn't for me.

I enjoyed Goddess Interrupted a good deal more than I did The Goddess Test. There was a lot more going on in terms of action and suspense. And I love a good fighting scene or two, which Goddess Interrupted had plenty of, that's for sure.

But I just couldn't connect with Kate. She was so up and down and mopey and whiny about Henry that I wanted Calliope to kill her. Again. She just doesn't seem to have much of personality. She's strong-willed and determined...except for when it comes to Henry, and then she just sort of rolls over. And Henry! Ugh! They just needed to sit down and have a damn conversation.

I actually did tear up towards the end of Goddess Interrupted when Kate was having an extremely sad moment, though. So that's a bonus.

And the ending. I just can't. There's a huge bomb dropped and then...it ends. Which I kind of expected - the cliffhanger ending, not the bomb.

But guys, this is just my opinion. While I've come to the conclusion that Goddess Interrupted and The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter just aren't the books for me, if you really enjoyed The Goddess Test, I definitely think you should keep going with Goddess Interrupted.

Be aware: if you have not read The Goddess Test DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW... a few small spoilers

Background: Kate Winters has won her immortality and is done with her summer vacation in Greece, and now heads to the Underworld for her coronation and to reunite with Henry. When she gets there she begins to have visions of a great evil and Henry in battle. She comes to realize that these visions are part of her new job and she will be able to see Henry wherever he may be. Before her coronation can take place a Titan begins to reek havoc on the Underworld and Henry and a few other gods are abducted. Now Kate must find them and rescue them, and she has no idea where to begin.

Review: This was a wonderful read. I love when you do not want to put a book down, and this one was like that for me. Kate is a wonderful character to follow, she is strong and opinionated, and stubborn, but aren't we all. She struggles with Henry and how they are going to interact with one another while she has to live in the Underworld, and while Henry is still hung up on Persephone. The story line from book one continues and gets so much better! Even better than that we learn a lot more about some of the other gods like Persephone before she became mortal. Calliope is still pissed and trying to kill everyone who had shunned her or even looked at her the wrong way, a huge disaster this has become.
I think that the reason I am enjoy this series so much, is because Carter doesn't give it all away, there is always something left open, even in the slightest bit. And as for the ending!!!!!!! OMG! Cannot wait for the next book!

Go read The Goddess Test, then pick this one up...although you may want to wait for the next book, because, boy was this a cliffhanger!

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter
ARC received from Harlequin via Netgalley
Release Date: 3-27-2012
Reviewed by: Jennifer McCoy
The Sisters Say: Enchanting, Enthralling, Entertaining

I started reading The Goddess Test yesterday and the moment I was done, I went straight for my ARC of Goddess Interrupted. I was excited to see how Kate and Henry’s romance was going to continue to unfold. While the action in the novel was great, and I loved getting to see deeper into the psyche of the Gods, I was somewhat disappointed in the romance between Henry and Kate. There was so much angst that at times I wanted to jump straight into the book (if only I had magical powers) and slap them both in the face and scream, “Come on! Get it together and kiss already! Quit wallowing in self-pity!” However, no matter how many times I wished for Harry Potter powers, I found none, so I just continued to grumble to myself.

That doesn’t mean that I did not enjoy the book. On the contrary, I cannot wait until the next book comes out; I just hope that Aimee Carter will give my heart a break and inundate me with some great kissy romance scenes.

So what did I like?

Even though the romance aspect was very tense, I still liked Henry. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a broken, broody guy whose eyes flash with love every so often. No matter how cold and distant he gets, I’d still rule the Underworld with him!

The evil in this book is so extreme that I am still reeling. Calliope—grrrr! That’s all I can come up with! She’s beyond evil—full of hatred and misery and determined to take everyone down with her. That’s what makes the action so overwhelmingly great…I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see when she was going to attack again. (There are no spoilers here…you see Calliope’s plan in the first 2 pages).

But Calliope is not the only evil that Kate must face—even worse…she has to face Persephone. Not that Persephone is evil, but let’s face it; having to enlist the help of the woman your husband is still in love with would make anyone a little furious. I really enjoyed the insight into Persephone and Henry’s relationship. It made me understand (somewhat) why Henry acts the way he does—cold and distant. Though I still wish that Aimee Carter would have given the angst a break, I did enjoy seeing how Henry’s past relationship starts to define his present one.

What did I dislike?

Again…the angst. We see very little emotion from Henry (I know, he’s Hades, he has to be cold). I would have liked to see him cave to his emotion, even once to give another layer to his character.

Not that I disliked the ending…it’s more that I dislike having to wait to find out what happens! This cliffhanger ending will make you want to scream even louder than the infamous Soprano ending! To me, there is nothing worse than not knowing! But I guess in the world of young adult, I must get used to the cliffhanger-break-my-heart-and-stomp-on-it endings. I’ll just say this—ARC of the next one, please!!!!!!

So….

I did fall in love with Aimee Carter’s world. She gives us and entirely new idea of heaven and hell. She creates a world where lies, betrayal, hatred, and envy are overwhelming and can only be combated by truth, loyalty, and love—things so few are willing to give. Take a trip to Aimee Carter’s Underworld, and like me, you might not want to return.

I've been highly anticipating Goddess Interrupted ever since I finished the first book in the series last year! Aimee Carter took me away to a world rich with Greek mythology, but one that still held one foot strongly in the mortal world. This time I knew that I'd be able to dive deeper into the characters, their lives, and the unique problems that they faced as gods and goddesses. I couldn't wait! As soon as this book arrived, I had to devour it.

When I first met Kate last year in The Goddess Test, I fell in love with her bold and brave attitude. Even though she started out as a bit tough to love, she soon transformed into a character that I could really get behind. That's why it was so hard for me when I started reading Goddess Interrupted and realized that the same old Kate was back. Tough to love, thoughts that bordered on depressing. The only reason I was able to cope with it better this time is because Aimee Carter does give Kate a mind of her own. Kate knows she's being that way, she tries to battle it, she just doesn't always win.

That's not to say that Kate's attitude isn't warranted. I'll warn you that Carter's characters face their fair share of issues in this story. From waking Titans, to old love affairs, there is a lot that is laid bare in this installment. I had a great time getting to know more about the cast of characters and how they were all linked. Kate and Henry's relationship didn't steal the show, but instead contrasted nicely to the feelings of war that were floating around the palace. So yes, Kate did have a reason to feel so down. I'll give her that.

What really saved the day for me was the ending. Once again Kate proved herself to be a stubborn and fiery character. I won't spoil, but let's just say that this is a cliffhanger that will make your mouth drop open! Upon reading the last page I was speechless. Despite any qualms I may have had while reading, the ending is more than enough to keep me reading on in this series. Bring on more Kate and more Henry. I'll be here to read it.

In The Goddess Test, I really enjoyed the way Aimée Carter created her own version of the Greek Mythology world and made the Olympian characters her own. In GODDESS INTERRUPTED, she took it to the next level (literally) by bringing the story to the underworld. Greek Mythology is all about personification and giving gods and goddesses human emotions. One thing the author is very good at, is differentiating her characters through emotions and personality, and since there are so many characters in this series, differentiation is a good thing.

For a young woman married to the King of the Underworld, Kate Winters was still very immature and naïve at the beginning of the book. Often, she was wondering if her husband Henry really loved her and if their marriage was just one of necessity. Her doubts were well founded, since Henry never really demonstrated his emotions. Sometimes, I just felt like slapping her because her doubts were present throughout the book and it became very repetitive. Fortunately, we saw Kate mature a little as the book progressed. She gained confidence in not only herself but in her capacity to become a leader. After battling it out against one of the only enemies that can kill Kate and the Olympians, I believe she has gotten closer to being real Queen material. One of the things I love to see, over the course of a series, is the evolution of a character into a stronger person and I think I’ve become more attached to Kate because of her personal growth. However, she still has a lot to learn before being confortable in her role as Queen.

One character I did not expect to meet was Persephone. In the first book, Henry’s memories of Persephone were a big threat to Kate. In this second book, this exact same person might be the only one who has the knowledge to save Henry. The animosity between Kate and Persephone was very tangible, right when they first met. I’m still not sure why Persephone tried to help Kate and the rest of her group, since I viewed her as a very selfish person. And for that matter, I’m still not sure if it was truly necessary for Persephone to have an active role in the book. I would have been content with her being just a memory, since she is, theoretically dead. Besides adding to Kate’s doubts, she really didn’t add to the story, in my opinion.

Along with her fictional character Kate, Aimée Carter is slowly maturing as an author. I love the world she’s created since it keeps me coming back for more. However, I would have loved to see more Henry scenes in this book. He’s such a broody and strong character that any scene with him is an enjoyable one. I just hope he’ll be more present in the third book. Also, the next book is guaranteed to start with a bang since the cliffhanger of this one is a huge. I think we can all agree that having the main character black out is a pretty abrupt and frustrating ending.

Overall, GODDESS INTERRUPTED was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone who’s a fan of Greek mythology.

The publisher provided me with a copy of Goddess Interrupted. No goody bags, sponsorship, material goods, or bribes were exchanged for my review.

I can honestly say that I enjoyed the first book over this one by far. Aimee Carter still had me on edge, though. Kate's story continues when she returns to Eden Manor in the fall only to discover that an angry Titan is out to kill them all. So, ofcourse, Kate wants to be the heroine and save the day. As all of us readers know from previous experience with books, that's not always the smartest decision. She gets herself into deep shit, along with making herself insecure and jealous of her sister. Throughout this book, I honestly made a connection between Henry and Edward (from New Moon). Most of us readers loved Edward in Twilight, but when he left Bella in New Moon, we were like "Nooooo, don't go!"

You'll have pretty much the same reaction to Henry in this, except more like "What. The. Hell."

So, if you've read the first book, this is a must-read. It's kinda-sorta fantastic. :)

Cover Factor: Pretty sweet
Rating: PG-13 for closed-door sex and some violence
Coffee Beans: 1.5 (And only that high because I liked the cover)
Favorite line: Ha! None
Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for this honest review.

Publisher’s Summary:
Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.
Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.
As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.
Henry's first wife, Persephone.

My Review:
“Oh, Kate!” Get over yourself, please.
I’m sorry to anyone who liked this book, but this review is going to be somewhat harsh, so, if you don’t want to be a witness to my forthcoming opinion, my feelings won’t be hurt if you mosey along.
I’ll wait.
…
Okay. Where do I begin?
Is it the fact that Kate is the WEAKEST female character I’ve seen in a YA book (yeah, I’ve seen plenty, but she’s near the top)? Is it the fact that….omg….I can’t even finish that sentence, there are just so many options to choose from.
Here’s my summary:
• A heavy-handed “theme” of, “It’s not your fault she got in trouble; she made her own decisions and these are the consequences” and while that is a positive theme, saying it (exactly like that, btw) five different times in the book makes me feel like you think I sit in the corner with a dunce hat on my head.
• Kate asking EVERYONE “Does he love me? I don’t think he loves me. I mean, he loves me, doesn’t he?” every two seconds is soooo tiresome! If your that insecure in your relationship, THEN MAYBE IT’S NOT THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU. Let’s not even address the fact that this is her husband from the first book in the series (I think it’s called The Goddess Test?). Her insecurities voices every. Single. Moment was such a distraction from the plot. Which was trying to prevent Chronus from escaping his prison in Hades and Calliope
• Kate’s relationship with her “husband”. Talk about codependent in the worst way possible. Constantly think about what she did to make him mad, what she could do to make him like her more, pay attention to her, and whatever else she needed to feel validated. (Ugh!!)
• Oh wait, and then there’s the insecurities/jealousy regarding her husband’s ex-wife, Persephone, and the fact that Henry cheats on Kate with Persephone while they’re married. I guess I can see here why Kate would question if Henry really did love her. I mean, he normally treats her like she’s some obscure painting on the wall, but this really says, “Eh, I don’t really care.”
I like stories about Greek mythology and I kind of like Carter’s spin on it (although, I didn’t get all of it in Book 2, since most of it was set in Book 1 and I am now refusing to read it). So I guess it would be a “positive” that this book was loosely based on that. Kind of.
Anyway. That’s all I’m going to say. I know this is A LOT shorter of a review than I normally post, but anything else I would have to say would just be beating a dead horse, and I love horses. Dead or alive. So I refuse that.
Usual disclaimer: pick it up and read it for yourself. You may feel differently than I do. But I doubt it.
I really, really doubt it.

Previously published on my blog: http://fictionfervor.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/review-goddess-interrupted-by-aimee-carter/

I was not a fan of the prequel to this book–The Goddess Test. It was a decent read, but there was nothing especially spectacular about it. And for the most part while reading Goddess Interrupted, I felt the same way.

Once again, I had trouble dealing with the modern names in this book. If Aimée Carter had used the original Greek names, I wouldn’t have trouble trying to remember who was who in the beginning of the novel. Eventually I pieced them together though. (Of course, when I finished the book, I felt completely like an idiot when I saw a list of the modern names versus the Greek names. It was definitely a facepalm moment for me.)

I have to admit, the plot and action was upped a little bit in this book. There was no longer any big, huge mystery, I think, but the return of Cronus (or Cronos or Kronos or however you want to spell his name) intrigued me. The war between the Titans and the gods in the beginning of time had always fascinated me, and I was glad that Carter had incorporated this into her take on mythology. I was also pleased that Carter managed to explain more of her take–for example, she explained how the gods and humans were created.

The organization of this book was a little bit … odd. Only half of the book is really spent on trying to save Henry, and the other half is spent on trying to make preparations so that Cronus doesn’t escape. The climax was sort of in the middle of the book. And the book leaves at such a sudden cliffhanger.

I despise Kate. She was decent in the previous novel, but now I’m so frustrated with her for putting up a fit with how Henry is treating her coldly. Come on, the king of the Titans–who can kill immortals, you know–is after you and trying to kill you, and you’re going to whine about how your husband isn’t paying any attention to you? Sure, I understand that I would naturally be a little worried about that, but seriously. My gosh, get your priorities straight, woman.

Kate’s relationship with Henry is unique, I’ll give you that. Usually I read books in which (1) both boy and girl are reluctant to be together, (2) girl is reluctant to be with boy, or (3) boy is reluctant to be with girl so girl tries to have a relationship with boy2. But Henry does do a great job of showing that he loves Kate without flaunting it, I think. And he’s confused with who he loves, I get it, so it’s only natural that he would act distant.

Goddess Interrupted was a disappointment. With the poor characters (especially the protagonist), I felt like the bad aspects distracted me from enjoying the plot of the book. I’m hoping that Aimée Carter might be able to redeem herself in the sequel.

Source: Galley received from publisher for review

Needy, Needy Kate.
"Henry doesn't love me" "Henry is still in love with Persephone" it goes on and on and on and on.
Why is Kate being so needy, so suddenly? I mean, she doesn't need anyone-she never had-(well except maybe her mum). She just went from "i don't date" to "why don't you love me?". I get the feeling of being second best- i really get it- but that doesn't mean she should mope around asking everyone if Henry loves her and lets him do whatever he likes with her whenever he feels like it.

I loved the action and tension in the book and i loved the how it ended - in suspense BUT.......
BEWARE! READERS WHO LOVE TOTALLY INDEPENDENT KATE. SHE HAS TURNED INTO A NEEDY, CLINGY AND MOPEY CHARACTER. (Just thought to give you a warning)
Can't wait to see what happens next in the Goddess Legacy and the Goddess Inheritance!

ISBN: 9780373210459
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 296


Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone


I received this book for review from Netgalley. Although it took me quite a while to read Goddess Interrupted I really enjoyed it! As much as I loved reading The Goddess Test, I preferred this book to the previous one as it seemed as though there was actually more going on within the story. I think I also liked Goddess Interrupted more because Kate became a stronger character, as she came into her powers and learnt more about herself and her "family". My favourite character was Kate, because she evolved from the weak, naive girl that she was in The Goddess Test to the strong, determined woman that she is in Goddess Interrupted, despite attempts by others to undermine her progress. I really like the cover of Goddess Interrupted as it is beautiful whilst remaining inkeeping not only with the Greek mythology theme within the series, but also with the previous books in the series.


Available at Amazon.co.uk.