Review: Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Publication Date: April 19th, 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Page Count: 293 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon

EVERY GIRL WHO HAS 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 suceeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

IF SHE FAILS...

The Persephone myth is one of my favorite stories of all time. I love the idea of a woman being swept into the Underworld for 6 months out of the year to rule as Hades's Queen. For some reason, I find it oddly romantic. The Goddess Test is a wonderful retelling of this mythological explanation for the seasons, and despite it's strange beginning I really enjoyed it. It's a quick read at less than 300 pages, but it's full of intrigue, mystery, and action which are definitely a few of my favorite things. The Goddess Test grabbed my attention from the very beginning and left me begging for more by the time it was over.

Kate is a fantastic female protagonist, willing to do anything for her mother despite the consequences. She's truly loyal to her friends (and enemies) and she risks her life for them on more than one occasion. Her relationship with Henry is rocky at first, after all he's forcing her to live in a mansion for 6 months, but I loved watching it develop over time. Henry is so sweet with Kate, I really fell for him myself. I did think that some of the friendships in the beginning were kind of rushed and weird, but they definitely made sense in the end.

The story itself is fast-paced and entertaining and there were plenty of twists and turns. Some aspects were pretty predictable, but there were other elements that caught me completely off guard. By the end, I was pretty much in shock at how things were ending and I was glad that Carter didn't leave me with a cliff-hanger. While some things did become a bit muddled or confusing, I definitely enjoyed reading such an interesting take on the Persephone myth, especially something so modernized. I definitely think there was a lot of originality to this story as well; the idea that girls are tested before they can rule as Queen of the Underworld is something new, considering the original Persephone was kidnapped into her tole.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a fun, quick read with an original twist on one of my favorite myths. I definitely found myself tearing up at some points while others made me laugh out loud. The characters were easy to relate to, and the story was entertaining. I would highly recommend this one to lovers of Greek mythology, as well as romance and mystery.