The Goddess Test (Early Review)

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Goddess Test #1

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 now 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 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...

Kate would do anything to save her mom, even give up her own freedom. This is exactly what she does when she makes a deal with Henry, the lord of the underworld. She must pass seven tests in order to become immortal. She then must become his Queen and rule by his side. For all eternity. Problem is that she isn't the first girl to be given these tests, and every one of them died in the process. It is a risk she is willing to take as her mother's life means more to Kate than her own. So with a heavy heart she steps out to face what every one else has been unable to. She needs to succeed as the stakes are much higher than she ever realized. Failing could not only cost her mother's life, but Kate's heart as well.

Forget everything you know about Greek mythology, this book changes all the rules. Hades isn't some cruel god who relishes in suffering, but actually a guy with a massively damaged heart. This was actually a little disappointing to me as I was hoping to see him be a bad boy that would work to tempt Kate to his side. However, he just came across as broody and any moves towards progressing their relationship were made by her. Perhaps this wouldn't have bothered me as much if Kate's attempts hadn't been awkward at best. These factors just made it hard for me to really feel the relationship between the two of them. Speaking of relationships, I had a hard time believing the ease at which Kate became so attached to her new friends. From the start she kept making it clear that she didn't want to be friends with anyone, and was just there at her mother's request. She wanted to keep her head down and muster through, as once her mother passed she wasn't planning on sticking around. So when she all of a sudden becomes fiercely loyal to people she hardly knows, even willing to give up her life for someone who was cruel to her, well it just struck me a little far fetched.

One thing I did find admirable was Kate's determination. She may have had a hard time believing in herself, but she never once gave up, and fought tooth and nail the entire way. I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that she had to grow up much sooner than normal in order to take on the burden of caring for her mother. Instead of being out parting like most people her age, she was always at home with her mom. Yet despite this, she never once turned bitter. Kate only relished every more minute she got with her, knowing each morning could be the last. This alone would make her an outstanding character, but when you take in to account all of the moral decisions she makes throughout the book, you realize that she is nothing sort of phenomenal and more than worthy of becoming a goddess.

Even though some of this book frustrated me, it read very quickly as I couldn't seem to put it down. It was quite enjoyable, and I definitely think it is worth checking out. Perhaps as the series goes on, the characters will feel more fully fleshed out and the issues won't be as much of a, well issue. I'm a big fan of Greek mythology, and even though this book didn't fit the norm, it still was very entertaining, and for that reason, I'm rating this a four.

(Received from Netgalley)

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The Goddess Test



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