Review: The Goddess Test

Title: The Goddess Test

Author: Aimee Carter
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Publication Date: April 19, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: NetGalley

Summary: (from GoodReads.com) 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 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.

My Thoughts: The Goddess Test made made me wish that I would have paid attention during high school English.  The mythology stuff went right over my head.

The good news is that while mythology plays a big part in the book, my lack of knowledge did not interfere with my appreciation of Kate's story.  I was emotionally invested in the characters from the start.

While there were a few things I did not like (see below), The Gooddess Test is a good book with a fresh plot and plenty of heart.

Characters: The thing that struck me most about Kate was just how alone and vulnerable she was.  I instantly sympathized with her and wanted to see how things would work out with her mother, her life in Eden, and her experience with the gods.  However, I had a hard time figuring out Kate's motivation.  There were a few times when what I expected Kate to do and what she actually did were two completely different things.

Of course, I loved Kate's mom.  The time she spent with Kate in New York City was beautiful.  The mother-daughter relationship between the two was really well done.

Kate's love interest, Henry, was a mystery.  I understood his character completely sometimes and not at all at other times.  I believed his relationship with Kate at some points and did not believe it at other points.  And okay, this is the smallest, stupidest thing (that might not bother anyone in the world besides me), but I hated that he never (or rarely) used contractions when he spoke!  I mean, I know he's a god and all, but the language felt forced to me!

Setting: A book set in the upper peninsula of Michigan?  Love it!  I did have a hard time picturing Eden Manor, though.  For what seemed like such an interesting place, there could have been more details.

Ending (Spoiler-Free!): The other thing that I didn't love about The Goddess Test was how the ending seemed a too easy.  There were a few points where I thought to myself, "Oh, what a coincidence."  Beyond that, the ending had enough closure to make this book stand alone, but left me curious enough that I'll pick up the second book in the series (expected publication is 2012).  I want to know what will happen to Kate, Henry, and the rest of the characters.

Writing Style: Aimee Carter pulled me in with emotional connections and kept the pages turning through a fresh and exciting plot.  The pacing was good and I finished the book in just a few days.

Stars: 3 out of 5.

You can purchase The Goddess Test from Amazon, The Book Depository, or Barnes and Noble. You can add it to your GoodReads to-read shelf here.