The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter | Book Review

(The Goddess Test #1)

Published: April 19th 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Every girl who had taken the test has died.

Now it’s Kate’s turn.

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 that 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.

If she fails…

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My Rating:  4/5 (Really Good)

Book Information

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre(s): Young-adult fiction, fantasy (mythology)

Page Count: 293

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 0373210264

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As I have finished and will be reviewing The Goddess Legacy, book #2.5 in the Goddess Test series (for the Popsugar challenge), I of course have to start off with a review on the first book! So let’s get to it.

The Goddess Test is a re-telling of Persephone’s Greek myth (you know, with the whole Hades-kidnaps-Persephone-and-she-eats-pomegranate-seeds-which-force-her-to-have-to-stay-in-the-Underworld-and-be-Hades’s queen thing). I would say Cassandra Clare described it quite accurately: “A fresh take on the Greek myths adds sparkle to this romantic fable.”

Quick summary

With her mother on a deathbed, Kate’s life hasn’t been exactly the best. When she’s offered a way to keep her mother alive for a bit more, she’s hesitant to take it, especially when the offer comes from the god of the underworld, Hades. The offer? Pass 7 tests to become his bride—and a goddess.

Perfect solution, right? Problem is, no one has ever passed the tests. They all died.

Plot

Intriguing, isn’t it? I love Greek mythology, and I was interested in seeing how Aimee Carter told her version of the Greek Persephone myth! Needless to say, I really enjoyed her take on it. The storyline was very interesting, and it definitely had its share of plot twists and suspense. After all, we follow Kate as she has to pass seven tests that haven’t even been explained. The hard part is to not die, but that’s kind of hard to do when she faces threats from the same unknown person who had killed countless victims of the goddess test! The plot has the making of a great story, and I’m happy to say Aimee Carter used it perfectly.

Characters

There was quite the variety in characters—Kate, the selfless protagonist, Ava, the diva-like best friend and Hades, the broody, mysterious male interest being only a few—and I loved how Aimee Carter managed to bring them all to life without making them useless. We mostly get glimpses of Kate and Hades, obviously, as they are main characters, but somehow we got glimpses of the other characters enough to get an idea of who they are. Calliope, is a sweet but shy maid, while Ava is a flirty man-hunter. Where Calliope is careful and reserved, Ava is reckless and outgoing. See what I mean?

I also really liked Kate. She was brave, and selfless, proven many times throughout the story. What I loved about her was that she knew exactly what she wanted (most of the time, at least) and did what she had to do to get it. She wanted to save her mother, fine. She’ll pass 7 tests to do it. She wants to help Henry? Fine. She’ll try even harder to pass the 7 tests. She was a bit naive in several parts in the story, but overall she was an enjoyable protagonist.

Writing Style

Aimee Carter had a very distinct writing style. I loved how she added bits of humor here and there, while still keeping an undertone of suspicion, danger, and occasionally, romance in the scene.

“Maybe you’ll win when hell freezes over.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“That could be easily arranged.”

I felt Kate’s emotions quite clearly, and I really enjoyed how Aimee Carter was able to switch from mood to mood depending on the situation.

Overall…

If you like Greek mythology, or more specifically, Persephone’s myth, then this book will provide an entertaining and fresh take on a traditional myth with just the right amount of romance! There is no love triangle, so if love triangles are your pet peeve, you have nothing to worry about. The story will make you suspect everyone while providing you with a chemistry-filled romance, so what could be better?

This is one test you don’t want to miss! Make sure to eat it!

-A