The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1)

As someone who loves the idea of learning about Greek mythology, but never really took the time to sort through all the details, I mostly enjoyed the Goddess Test. There was some romance, some back-stabbing and some twists, all delivered in a fairly readable manner. But while being entertaining on the surface, once you dig a little deeper The Goddess Test starts to crumble and fall.

Kate is an ok protagonist. She's not overly strong or independent, basing most of her decisions on the fact that she doesn't feel she can survive without her dying mother, and anything Henry will make her do will be worth the consequences if she can just spend more time with her. Some people might argue she made her decisions based out of love, but I would argue that her decisions were based out of the selfish fear of being alone. She did make sure her mother wouldn't be in pain, but Henry admitted that all he would be able to do is prolong the inevitable. So while she ultimately was able to spend more time with her mother, it was at the expense of delaying her the peace that comes after fighting a debilitating illness for several years.

I didn't dislike Kate, but I did question her actions several times. After Henry seemingly brought Ava back to life, Kate continued as if nothing special happened. When it came time to explain what had happened, Kate was able to explain the situation without pointing out the impossibility behind it; it was just another fact of life for her, and warranted no special attention. Later however, when Henry is explaining that he is in fact a god and ruler of the Underworld, she questions her sanity and has a hard time believing him. I just couldn't understand how she could so readily believe he could bring someone back to life, but then completely disbelieve his claims to immortality.

Being quite ignorant of Greek mythology, I was ok with the liberties Carter took to use it as a backbone to her story, and I enjoyed learning the mythology behind the story of Persephone and Hades. I can see how making gods feel accountable and giving them some semblance of a moral compass would have other people bashing their heads in though. From what I do know, the ancient Greek gods wouldn't have worried about the seven deadly sins (a staple of Christianity) which were used to test Kate. Greek gods didn't conform to any human notions of morality or sin; they took what they wanted when they wanted without repercussion, as they were gods. If they did decide to grant immortality to a human (for whatever reason), they would send them on a quest, meant to test their strength, courage and intelligence - not the ideals behind a religion created thousands of years after they came into being.

Speaking of testing, I would expect that if I were given the chance to win immortality, the test(s) involved would prove to be quite difficult, pushing me to limits I wasn't aware I could reach. Kate, however, is completely unaware when she is undergoing a test, and spends her days being pampered, passing most of her time however she deems fit. When you start to realize that she won't be faced with obstacles to overcome, but is asked just to "be herself", any suspense is drained and you are left feeling disappointed with the anti-climatic conclusion.

The subtle hints dropped as to whom wished to hurt Kate allowed for me to successfully pinpoint the assassin, and the "surprise" twist at the end was something I expected from the prologue. As a reading experience it wasn't necessarily well-done, but it also wasn't poorly-done; it sits in the land of the mediocre.

I really do not know why I did not read this book sooner! I've had an ARC copy of it for a while now and just didn't have a chance to get to it, but, had I known how good it would be, I would likely have bumped it up the queue. While the book wasn't perfect, as I had some concerns with the pacing, I wholly enjoyed reading every page.

First of all, my one complaint: the pacing. This may be an issue that has been resolved in the print version, but, as I read an ARC, I cannot say. In this version, a few times the plot seemed to jump from one point in time to another without warning, as though a scene were missing. One example I remember off of the top of my head is that Kate receives a puppy and then, in the next chapter, a dog named Pogo is mentioned, without any mention having been made of the puppy being named Pogo. I figured it out, but it was a bit clunky.

The writing was fantastic, though. I really enjoyed the characters and the story line, even though it was rather strange. So far, Aimée Carter is doing something really new and I'm loving it. The ending of the book was totally not what I was expecting and I have some serious questions. I really wish I knew someone else who had finished this, so that we could discuss the book's conclusion!

If you love mythology, don't miss this YA romance!

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter caught my interest on the very first page. The Goddess Test revolves girl named Kate who is trying to deal with the fact that her mother has terminal cancer and doesn't have very long left to live. Her mother wants to move back to her home town "Eden,Michigan" to live out her last days and Kate wants her mom to be happy, so they move to Eden. While there Kate has to juggle with her mother's illness, a new town, and new kids at school. When she gets invited to a party she thinks that maybe things may be turning around ...until everything goes horribly wrong. She finds herself thrown into a place where no one is who they seem and every decision she makes could be a test that has serious outcomes. This story is laced with Greek Mythology, Betrayal,Love, and Loss. This debut novel is most definitely a MUST READ!!! This is the first Greek mythology book I've read and I can't wait to read more!

I have never really been into Greek Mythology, but this book really made me interested! I absolutely loved the mystery, myths, and history interwoven into this book. The world the author created was believable, yet magical. She took the myth of Hades and Persephone and created a new engrossing tale, which doesn’t require you to be a Greek Myth guru. The story is complicated, yet easy to follow.

When I read a book, it is essential for me to have some sort of connection with the protagonist. Kate was perfect! She has given up a good chunk of her life to take care of her mother. Once her mother’s care is out of her hands, it is exciting to see Kate find out who she is without the burden of worrying every moment about her mother’s well-being (although she can never really stop worrying). As Kate goes through these tests, she is never scared for her own life, she is constantly worried about the people she loves, and how her actions will affect them. To me this really makes Kate likable, as well as admirable.

Another thing that I loved about this book was that the author managed to surprise me! There were several things that happened throughout the book that I did not see coming. The reader often discovered secrets right along with Kate, which made me feel a stronger connection with her.

The next thing I read will be The Goddess Hunt (Goddess Test 1.5) and Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test 2)!

Kate is driving her mom back to her childhood home, where she wants to spend her final few weeks before she succumbs to cancer. Kate just wants to get through her school days and get back home to be with her mom as much as she can. She’s not interested in making friends. She’s just getting into a pattern of home to school and back again when she meets Henry, who tells her he is god of the Underworld and he can help her mother if she agrees to stay in his mansion home for 6 months while she completes 7 tests. If she passes, she will become his wife.

I really liked Kate, she was such a strong female character. She loved her mom and would do anything to help her, but she also knew that she was going to have to say goodbye to her soon. She could admit when she was scared to death of something, but she wasn’t afraid to face it head-on if it meant saving someone, even someone who was a total bitch to her. She wasn’t afraid to ask the hard questions or admit her feelings. On the other hand, I had a bit of a hard time liking Henry. He was hot, sure, but he was wishy-washy in the way he acted toward Kate. One minute he was tender and caring, then the next he went cold and distant, with no real explanation. Eventually he warmed up, though he still wasn’t as swoony as I would have preferred. The other characters were well rounded with their own personalities.

The plot was new to me, I had never read a Greek mythology remake, nor had I ever been interested in them. I did enjoy this one and wouldn’t mind reading more books featuring the Greek gods. Carter did a fabulous job of weaving the mythology in with current society and it didn’t feel like a boring school lesson. The writing was so descriptive, I could picture the manor perfectly. All of the rooms and grounds sounded luxurious. And, hello, a separate room just for racks and racks of clothes to choose from? Count me in.

The dialogue felt real to me. It was hard for Kate to know she was losing her mother and to imagine a world without her, but I thought she handled it well. Once she got into the manor and started talking with the people that lived there, I enjoyed the different voices. There were the quiet but stern guards, the tiny and energetic valet, the snob who was getting knocked down a peg, the grumpy but kind assistant. They all meshed well together to make a colorful living environment.

There were definitely swoon-worthy moments, most of it very chaste. Kate was a virgin and intended to remain that way for some time, but she still found herself falling for Henry and wanted to be affectionate with him. Their first touches were tentative and very sweet. The tension between them was slow and delicious. The ending was great, with plenty of surprises. Some I saw coming, others were unexpected, and I loved that.

I’m not too sure about the cover for this one. It’s pretty, for sure, but doesn’t really go with the book. The dress makes sense, but at no point do I recall Kate lying on a forest floor like that (especially looking all constipated).

I loved this book because it is interesting, romantic, and in a way a mystery. I can not wait for the next book!

Very believe retelling of the myth Persephone. The romance blossomed at just the right pace and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!

Aimee Carter is a debut author (and only 24 years old!) and her Goddess Test series is definitely one to watch for (planning on being a three book series...so far; GODDESS INTERRUPTED will follow in February 2012).

To start with, I felt abashed that this book made me cry so easily! The book opens with protagonist Kate and a rundown of her role as caregiver for her dying mom. Carter's description of this heart-wrenching process is mature and well-written.

This book also pays homage to one of my favorite myths, the myth of Persephone. I've been in love with pomegranates ever since first reading this myth, but Kate feels different about the seeds. She also feels differently about the prospect of spending eternity with Hades (who is a hottie!), but I won’t give away whether she disdains or enjoys his company.

But I will say, there is one big twist at the end and of course, the ending of the novel has me reeling to read the next book in the series, GODDESS INTERRUPTED.

Kate Winters has spent the last four years of her life taking care of her sick mother. Now, her mother has decided she wants to return to her home of Eden, Michigan for one last time before she dies. Kate isn’t thrilled with the idea of moving from New York City to a small town in the middle of rural Michigan, but she would do anything to make her mother happy. As soon as they arrive, however, things get complicated. Kate has to start her senior year over as a new student, to make matters worse, she clumsily bumps into the super jock boyfriend of Ava—the school’s most popular girl and cheerleading captain. Needless to say, it is not an instant friendship. Ava is not thrilled with Kate’s presence (and the attention she seems to be drawing from their school mates), but she shouldn’t worry. Kate is not interested in anything or anyone, except taking care of her mother.


When Ava invites Kate to a bonfire in the woods, she reluctantly agrees to join her. Once they arrive at the party, however, Kate realizes that it was a set up. Ava brought her to the woods—alone—to torment her. When Ava dives headfirst into the river, Kate is left standing on the bank fuming with anger. She is stranded in the woods at night with no way home. Pulled from the middle of her thoughts, Kate realizes Ava has been knocked unconscious… or so she thinks. Faced with the choice to face her terrifying fear of water in order to save Ava or to let her drown, Kate finds herself rushing into the freezing water and pulling Ava to safety. Only, Ava isn’t unconscious. She is dead.


Desperate to save Ava, Kate hastily makes a deal with the mysterious (and gorgeous) Henry. In return for saving Ava, he requires Kate to live with him during the winter. At first she refuses, but she eventually finds herself living at the elaborate Eden Manor. Thinking that Henry is a complete lunatic (he claims to be the god of the dead, after all), she plays along with her role in the deal. While living at the Manor, Kate has to face several tests that will determine if she is worthy of becoming the queen of the dead and an immortal. If she fails, she returns to her previous life with no memory of her stay at the Manor, and Henry dies.


If you haven’t figured it out yet, this book is a modern retelling of the story of Persephone. I just adore Greek mythology (ok, all mythology) and this book did not disappoint me. Too often I find retellings strained and disappointingly unoriginal. However, this book was great. The plot had plenty of similarities to the myth that we all know, which satisfied me. But it also added several original elements that I think enhanced the storyline. I loved that Kate was a strong-willed, kick butt female type. I also thought showing Henry as a compassionate and caring form of Hades was a nice touch. The characters were so well developed that I found myself tearing up a few times during the touchy mother-daughter scenes between Kate and her mother. At the same time, I found myself so completely irritated with some of the characters that I felt like I could strangle them with my bare hands if they magically manifested in my presence. It takes a very talented writer to take a reader through such a broad spectrum of emotions in one novel.


As far as the plot is concerned, it is certainly a quick, easy read. I found it hard to put down. There were several twists in the story that I didn’t expect. I had my suspicions at times, but the story kept me guessing until the end. I did figure out the role of James long before Henry confirmed it, but that’s ok. There was a pretty heavy hint that made it pretty hard to ignore. I mean, Henry said, “You’ll see.” You had to know something was coming.


I’m disappointed that this book doesn’t hit the shelves until April of this year. That means I have to wait until 2012 to read the next book! I love how the story ends at the perfect place for a continuation. The dynamics between the characters is so well thought out that there seems to be an endless possibility for what might happen. I am anxious to see how Kate and Henry fare during the following winter, and to see if the friendship between James and Kate recovers. I would certainly recommend reading this book if you like mythology retellings. I read an e-galley from NetGalley, but I’ve already pre-ordered my paper copy for the bookshelf. This book is worth having in paper form.