Read my review here! --> http://www.gonewiththewords.com/2011/04/review-goddess-test-by-aimee-carter.html

Music Monday: The Goddess Test + 23 by Jimmy Eat World

It’s interesting that there aren’t more YA books based on Greek Mythology, because there is so much there to draw from. The crazy part about The Goddess Test is that I never would have thought to make Hades the love interest of any story because Hades has always been a bad guy in Greek Myth. If you aren’t familiar with the myth of Hades and Persephone and how he abducted her, don’t worry, you get to learn about it in the book. However, Aimée Carter tells us a version of that story that will break your heart…but not for Persephone, as it’s always been.

Kate has to be one of the most kind characters I’ve read in a while. She is incredibly unselfish and always puts other people’s welfare and feelings before her own. She is also strong, but at times, she lets things slide for too long or she’s too forgiving before she’s had it and decides to stand up for herself.

Henry, our Hades, is in fact “dark, tortured and mesmerizing”. He’s ruled the Underworld an eternity and he isn’t able to do it alone anymore. He’s tried for the last century to find a girl who could rule with him, but they have either not been strong enough or have tragically died before the tests. He’s ready to give up, but agrees to one more try. If this doesn’t work out, he will relinquish the Underworld to another God, and he will eventually fade into nothingness.

This is where it gets interesting for me. In this story, the guy isn’t trying to woe the girl because he’s fallen in love with her from first sight, and it’s not the other way around either…at first. Henry chooses Kate to be the next potential Goddess because he senses she’s different, and Kate only goes with Henry because he promises to keep her mother alive as long as she remains with him. Once they’re in Henry’s home and they begin to spend time together, they become friends, and Kate begins to fall for him. Unfortunately for Kate, Henry does not seem interested in taking their relationship anywhere beyond the realm of friendship. Trust me though, he has his reasons. I loved and suffered watching this relationship blossom. When they finally got there, I just about squealed I was so happy!

I was pleasantly surprised by the way the tests, and the ones who administered these tests, were unveiled. I don’t want to give too much away, but I’ll say that what surprised me was the fact that there was only one person working against Kate. For some reason, I thought more people were rooting against her than for her.

The Goddess Test ended on a bittersweet note, and I’m so sad that I have to wait soooo long for Goddess Interrupted. If you’re looking for something different to read, maybe a little magical, go pick up this book. I KNOW you’ll like it! :)

(This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.com for an honest review)