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Goddess Test #1
The Goddess Test
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...
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...
293 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2011
About the author
Aimee Carter
48 books4,699 followersAimée Carter is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the author of over a dozen books, including The Goddess Test series, the Blackcoat Rebellion series, and the Simon Thorn series for middle grade readers, now a #1 international bestselling series under the title Animox. Her newest middle grade book, Curse of the Phoenix, will be released in June from Margaret K. McElderry Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,362 reviews
March 12, 2011
Dear Ms. Carter,
Since you appear to unable or unwilling to stretch your research skills so far as to google the Greek gods, I have prepared for you a small primer, in the hopes that your future endeavours will not gratuitously and flagrantly denude one of the oldest mythologies in the world. Following is a (very short) account of some of the major Olympian gods who apparently play a role in your “book”.
Zeus: The ruler of the gods. That means what he says goes. This is a pantheon of the gods, not a bloody democracy. Now let’s see... Zeus, the man who is guilty of patricide, incest, adultery and bestiality. He, fulfilling a prophecy of Uranus and Gaia, killed his father and his uncles. He married his sister, Hera. He then went on to consistently cheat on her with a variety of mortal and non-mortal women. He is believed to have had secks in animal form with Leda. He is, in fact, related to most of the Greek pantheon BY BLOOD. He is the brother of Hera, Poseidon, Hades and Hestia, who were all born of the Titan Cronos and his sister-wife Rhea.
Hera: The sister-wife of Zeus, she spends all of her time chasing jealously after the various conquests of Zeus and attempting to destroy them and their demi-god offspring. You know what she didn’t have time for? Falling in love with her other brother, that’s what.
Poseidon: He is the vengeful god of the sea. He , like his brother, liked to chase the women and give them babies. He is said to have raped a nymph and slept with his granddaughter.
Demeter: In some mythological texts, this is another instance of brother-chasing-sister. She turns herself into a mare to avoid Poseidon, but he ends up catching her in his stallion form and having wild animal secks with her... literally! In so far as I am aware, she didn’t give a shit about Hades and his existence, except for hating him for kidnapping her daughter, Persephone.
Aphrodite: The goddess of lust and beauty. Need I say more?
Hades: Ah, the big one. Hades was the god of the Underworld. He tricked and kidnapped Persephone (his niece!) and trapped her in the Underworld. He was charged with maintaining the balance, which meant he was not about to randomly grant dead people their lives back. No, he was not in the business of patching up broken skulls and sending dead souls back into the living world. Really.
He was as sexually active as the rest of his family, pursuing nymphs left, right and centre. He was DEFINITELY not a virgin, and being guilty of patricide (and marrying his own niece), I find it hard to imagine that he would be happy about being portrayed as a lonely, troubled, sensitive and considerate young man. And as for being stuck with a pussy name like Henry, well, let’s just say Tartarus isn’t going to be a happy place for anyone guilty of such blasphemy.
Are you noticing the common thread here? No? Allow me to point out to you the things the ancient Greek gods DIDN’T care about: Anger, Envy, Greed, Pride, Sloth, Gluttony and LUST. You know what’s so great about being a god? You don’t have to conform to some measly human notion of morality and sin. You don’t have to ‘test’ the humans in order to give them immortality. You don’t have to pass your decision through a ‘council’. You just do what the hell you want, because you’re a god, not a paper-pusher. Accountability is a human notion; gods are above it. That’s kind of why they are called gods.
In the event that said gods wanted to make humans prove that they were worthy of being immortal, they sent them on a quest. That, in case, you didn’t know, is a heroic endeavour meant to test strength, courage and intelligence. Not moral fibre. Again, the Greek gods didn’t HAVE moral fibre, so they couldn’t care less about it. So, I’d say that pretty much rules out history tests and sharing your clothes with your friends. I mean, COME ON. Is that the best you can do? ‘You shared your clothes with your friends, my dear, so you can live forever!’
The Greek pantheon preceded Christian theology by several thousand years. Try not to mix your religions, it always ends badly. You might also want to keep in mind that gods are not sweeter, kinder versions of humanity. They have no humanity. They don’t fall in love, get married and live happily ever after in domestic bliss with 2.5 children. So if your heroine is asking the Lord of the Underworld whether he wants what other ‘people’ want — marriage, a home and a family, chances are, she is going to be laughed out of the Underworld. Not looked at wistfully and tenderly.
Henry is the worst representation of a romantic hero that I can think of. Unless we are now trying to portray the Greek gods as Victorian maidens. He moans and sighs and languishes in a manner that is an embarrassment to gods everywhere. It could have been an interesting plotline that Henry was in love with someone else, if it weren’t for the fact that he’s so drippy about it, you want to give him some laudanum and put him to sleep on the fainting couch.
Your heroine too, could use some increase in IQ. I believe, as she exists currently, she falls in two categories of unlikeable women: goody-two-shoes and too stupid to live.
On a non-mythological note, I would like to submit a complaint, as a reader of average intelligence. I am not five. Could you kindly refrain from talking down to me? The ‘twists’ in this book were laughably obvious. From Kate’s mother’s identity to that of James, to that of the murderer, it took me about five seconds to figure out. Maybe next time we could try for an actual mystery? Just a suggestion.
Also, if you could refrain from wimping out in your sex scenes, you would earn my eternal gratitude. Teenagers can and do have sex. Normal, happy sex with boys they love. They don’t need to be forced into it by a sophist trick like the inclusion of aphrodisiacs. If you could stop including plotlines that make me throw up in my head, I would be thankful.
I hope my little notes have been of a helpful nature in guiding you towards a more entertaining, well-researched novel. You will forgive me, however, if I don’t have the courage to verify for myself whether your next attempt at writing goes better than your first. I value my sanity.
Yours sincerely,
A Reader
P.S. This book was provided to me by the publishers via Net Galley. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, influenced this review.
Since you appear to unable or unwilling to stretch your research skills so far as to google the Greek gods, I have prepared for you a small primer, in the hopes that your future endeavours will not gratuitously and flagrantly denude one of the oldest mythologies in the world. Following is a (very short) account of some of the major Olympian gods who apparently play a role in your “book”.
Zeus: The ruler of the gods. That means what he says goes. This is a pantheon of the gods, not a bloody democracy. Now let’s see... Zeus, the man who is guilty of patricide, incest, adultery and bestiality. He, fulfilling a prophecy of Uranus and Gaia, killed his father and his uncles. He married his sister, Hera. He then went on to consistently cheat on her with a variety of mortal and non-mortal women. He is believed to have had secks in animal form with Leda. He is, in fact, related to most of the Greek pantheon BY BLOOD. He is the brother of Hera, Poseidon, Hades and Hestia, who were all born of the Titan Cronos and his sister-wife Rhea.
Hera: The sister-wife of Zeus, she spends all of her time chasing jealously after the various conquests of Zeus and attempting to destroy them and their demi-god offspring. You know what she didn’t have time for? Falling in love with her other brother, that’s what.
Poseidon: He is the vengeful god of the sea. He , like his brother, liked to chase the women and give them babies. He is said to have raped a nymph and slept with his granddaughter.
Demeter: In some mythological texts, this is another instance of brother-chasing-sister. She turns herself into a mare to avoid Poseidon, but he ends up catching her in his stallion form and having wild animal secks with her... literally! In so far as I am aware, she didn’t give a shit about Hades and his existence, except for hating him for kidnapping her daughter, Persephone.
Aphrodite: The goddess of lust and beauty. Need I say more?
Hades: Ah, the big one. Hades was the god of the Underworld. He tricked and kidnapped Persephone (his niece!) and trapped her in the Underworld. He was charged with maintaining the balance, which meant he was not about to randomly grant dead people their lives back. No, he was not in the business of patching up broken skulls and sending dead souls back into the living world. Really.
He was as sexually active as the rest of his family, pursuing nymphs left, right and centre. He was DEFINITELY not a virgin, and being guilty of patricide (and marrying his own niece), I find it hard to imagine that he would be happy about being portrayed as a lonely, troubled, sensitive and considerate young man. And as for being stuck with a pussy name like Henry, well, let’s just say Tartarus isn’t going to be a happy place for anyone guilty of such blasphemy.
Are you noticing the common thread here? No? Allow me to point out to you the things the ancient Greek gods DIDN’T care about: Anger, Envy, Greed, Pride, Sloth, Gluttony and LUST. You know what’s so great about being a god? You don’t have to conform to some measly human notion of morality and sin. You don’t have to ‘test’ the humans in order to give them immortality. You don’t have to pass your decision through a ‘council’. You just do what the hell you want, because you’re a god, not a paper-pusher. Accountability is a human notion; gods are above it. That’s kind of why they are called gods.
In the event that said gods wanted to make humans prove that they were worthy of being immortal, they sent them on a quest. That, in case, you didn’t know, is a heroic endeavour meant to test strength, courage and intelligence. Not moral fibre. Again, the Greek gods didn’t HAVE moral fibre, so they couldn’t care less about it. So, I’d say that pretty much rules out history tests and sharing your clothes with your friends. I mean, COME ON. Is that the best you can do? ‘You shared your clothes with your friends, my dear, so you can live forever!’
The Greek pantheon preceded Christian theology by several thousand years. Try not to mix your religions, it always ends badly. You might also want to keep in mind that gods are not sweeter, kinder versions of humanity. They have no humanity. They don’t fall in love, get married and live happily ever after in domestic bliss with 2.5 children. So if your heroine is asking the Lord of the Underworld whether he wants what other ‘people’ want — marriage, a home and a family, chances are, she is going to be laughed out of the Underworld. Not looked at wistfully and tenderly.
Henry is the worst representation of a romantic hero that I can think of. Unless we are now trying to portray the Greek gods as Victorian maidens. He moans and sighs and languishes in a manner that is an embarrassment to gods everywhere. It could have been an interesting plotline that Henry was in love with someone else, if it weren’t for the fact that he’s so drippy about it, you want to give him some laudanum and put him to sleep on the fainting couch.
Your heroine too, could use some increase in IQ. I believe, as she exists currently, she falls in two categories of unlikeable women: goody-two-shoes and too stupid to live.
On a non-mythological note, I would like to submit a complaint, as a reader of average intelligence. I am not five. Could you kindly refrain from talking down to me? The ‘twists’ in this book were laughably obvious. From Kate’s mother’s identity to that of James, to that of the murderer, it took me about five seconds to figure out. Maybe next time we could try for an actual mystery? Just a suggestion.
Also, if you could refrain from wimping out in your sex scenes, you would earn my eternal gratitude. Teenagers can and do have sex. Normal, happy sex with boys they love. They don’t need to be forced into it by a sophist trick like the inclusion of aphrodisiacs. If you could stop including plotlines that make me throw up in my head, I would be thankful.
I hope my little notes have been of a helpful nature in guiding you towards a more entertaining, well-researched novel. You will forgive me, however, if I don’t have the courage to verify for myself whether your next attempt at writing goes better than your first. I value my sanity.
Yours sincerely,
A Reader
P.S. This book was provided to me by the publishers via Net Galley. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, influenced this review.
November 21, 2011
*This ARC was provided for me by Harlequin and no money was exchanged.*
I requested this galley because, after reading the blurb, I immediately decided that the concept was awesome and that this book would be made of win. I tried to rationalize with myself that it might not be the fantastic story I was imagining, but it still had to be good, right? RIGHT?
Of course the concept of Vampire has already been taken, murdered, chopped into little pieces, jellified and poured into a modern, PC mould of super coolness.
[image error]
I just didn't realize you could do that to the entire Greek Mythology as well.
And this is where to entire book falls apart. Which is extremely sad because the concept was so awesome. There was potential for REAL characters, great dialogue, witty mythology-based banter, awkward circumstances and believable chemistry.
Mythology: The Greek gods and goddesses, like normal people except with immortality and individual powers. They torment, rape or save mortals and generally act insane before retiring for the evening to get drunk and partake in debauchery.
TGT: The gods and goddesses are no longer blood relatives and they're no longer Greek. They're equal opportunity dieties. They don't stand for any immoral shenanigans and consider human life valid.
[image error]
Mythology: Hades is a mostly okay god having only raped a few mortals and embroiled in a small case of kidnap which may or may not have given Persephone the world's first case of Stockholm Syndrome. He is the guardian to the Underworld which is a miserable place according to every spirit spoken to, the few retrieved or those couple who've bravely entered alive and lived to tell the tale. DON'T try to mess with or remove spirits from this horrible place. It seriously pisses Hades off though he has been known to return a spirit or two because he's a generally alright God. He's the eldest of his three brothers. He has an awesome helm of invisibility and a few other useful trinkets and also a three-headed dog.
TGT: Hades is a brooding, twenty-two year old (looking) VIRGIN immortal, with a ONE headed dog named Cerebrus and none of the awesome or LACK OF VIRGINITY. His only powers seem to be an incredible ability to angst up a room and all the romantic tact of a wet fish with a bad case of herpes (WHO IS A VIRGIN!) He also follows some preset rules (if gods don't make the rules then who does?) and is generally a pussywhipped virgin!
[image error]
Oh, how the mighty have fallen...
I could go on, but I think it's enough that the original mythology which was this book's biggest drawcard, has been destroyed and along with it, the possibility of a really great story. Because, after all, you can't proudly base your story so heavily on Greek mythology and then turn it into something so very uncomfortably western and Christian based.
The characters weren't all bad. Kate was extremely exasperating in the beginning of this novel. She, for good reason, believes that Hades has the ability to take life and death right up until she's in his beautiful mansion and has seen all the proof. Then she refuses to believe any of it and insist he's crazy.
The biggest problem is that when you're reading a story about being tested to become a god or goddess, you're kind of expecting the trial to be somewhat hard. You know, stealing the Girdle of Hippolyte or DESTROY A FREAKIN' HYDRA!!! It's immortality, dude. You can't just go giving that shit away.
One day I would like to discuss why a man gets twelve tests that require strength, skill, cunning and intelligence; and a woman gets seven tests requiring morality and humility. There seems to be an underlying message there for those people who want to draw conclusions.
And that's my final problem with this story. It's not that the writing is necessarily bad or that all that characters are bad. Most of them are fine and this book is actually readable. My problem is the massive copouts left, right and centre.
Being coerced into a deal to save your mother's life should involve maybe a few more hardships than getting to wear pretty dresses, living in a rich mansion and falling in love with a super sexy God. Tests for immortality should be a little more difficult than going an afternoon without food and letting your friends have the clothes that you didn't want anyway.
Finally, I felt the entire ending of this story was the biggest copout of all.
It's been a sad trend in YA lit that everything always has to be hunky-dory perfect with a kickass outfit to boot. I was really hoping this book would be something special and unique. The Goddess Test didn't pass its final grade.
I requested this galley because, after reading the blurb, I immediately decided that the concept was awesome and that this book would be made of win. I tried to rationalize with myself that it might not be the fantastic story I was imagining, but it still had to be good, right? RIGHT?
Of course the concept of Vampire has already been taken, murdered, chopped into little pieces, jellified and poured into a modern, PC mould of super coolness.
[image error]
I just didn't realize you could do that to the entire Greek Mythology as well.
And this is where to entire book falls apart. Which is extremely sad because the concept was so awesome. There was potential for REAL characters, great dialogue, witty mythology-based banter, awkward circumstances and believable chemistry.
Mythology: The Greek gods and goddesses, like normal people except with immortality and individual powers. They torment, rape or save mortals and generally act insane before retiring for the evening to get drunk and partake in debauchery.
TGT: The gods and goddesses are no longer blood relatives and they're no longer Greek. They're equal opportunity dieties. They don't stand for any immoral shenanigans and consider human life valid.
[image error]
Mythology: Hades is a mostly okay god having only raped a few mortals and embroiled in a small case of kidnap which may or may not have given Persephone the world's first case of Stockholm Syndrome. He is the guardian to the Underworld which is a miserable place according to every spirit spoken to, the few retrieved or those couple who've bravely entered alive and lived to tell the tale. DON'T try to mess with or remove spirits from this horrible place. It seriously pisses Hades off though he has been known to return a spirit or two because he's a generally alright God. He's the eldest of his three brothers. He has an awesome helm of invisibility and a few other useful trinkets and also a three-headed dog.
TGT: Hades is a brooding, twenty-two year old (looking) VIRGIN immortal, with a ONE headed dog named Cerebrus and none of the awesome or LACK OF VIRGINITY. His only powers seem to be an incredible ability to angst up a room and all the romantic tact of a wet fish with a bad case of herpes (WHO IS A VIRGIN!) He also follows some preset rules (if gods don't make the rules then who does?) and is generally a pussywhipped virgin!
[image error]
Oh, how the mighty have fallen...
I could go on, but I think it's enough that the original mythology which was this book's biggest drawcard, has been destroyed and along with it, the possibility of a really great story. Because, after all, you can't proudly base your story so heavily on Greek mythology and then turn it into something so very uncomfortably western and Christian based.
The characters weren't all bad. Kate was extremely exasperating in the beginning of this novel. She, for good reason, believes that Hades has the ability to take life and death right up until she's in his beautiful mansion and has seen all the proof. Then she refuses to believe any of it and insist he's crazy.
The biggest problem is that when you're reading a story about being tested to become a god or goddess, you're kind of expecting the trial to be somewhat hard. You know, stealing the Girdle of Hippolyte or DESTROY A FREAKIN' HYDRA!!! It's immortality, dude. You can't just go giving that shit away.
One day I would like to discuss why a man gets twelve tests that require strength, skill, cunning and intelligence; and a woman gets seven tests requiring morality and humility. There seems to be an underlying message there for those people who want to draw conclusions.
And that's my final problem with this story. It's not that the writing is necessarily bad or that all that characters are bad. Most of them are fine and this book is actually readable. My problem is the massive copouts left, right and centre.
Being coerced into a deal to save your mother's life should involve maybe a few more hardships than getting to wear pretty dresses, living in a rich mansion and falling in love with a super sexy God. Tests for immortality should be a little more difficult than going an afternoon without food and letting your friends have the clothes that you didn't want anyway.
Finally, I felt the entire ending of this story was the biggest copout of all.
It's been a sad trend in YA lit that everything always has to be hunky-dory perfect with a kickass outfit to boot. I was really hoping this book would be something special and unique. The Goddess Test didn't pass its final grade.
December 23, 2018
Warning: There are some vulgarities in here because I’m a very vulgar person. Look away if your sensitive eyes can’t handle it.
Man, getting through this book was like having my wisdom teeth pulled out with no lidocaine. Terrible, I tell ya.
But anyway, let’s get on to the review, shall we? The Goddess Test has an awesome, awesome premise. Girl going through tests to become the bride of Hades? HECK YEAH, GIVE ME SOME OF THAT! And it started that way but shortly after immediately crashed and smoldered. So much so that I ended up going, “no, no, take it back!”
I understand that it’s an author’s prerogative or free choice to reinvent staple figures of mythology, legends, stories, or what have you but really, I don’t care what you say. I hated it! You know those Greek gods that you loved because they were such dick-faced assholes that were vain, selfish, and just had unending reserves of violent natures?! Forget about that here. Now they’ve been turned into PUSSIFIED versions of themselves! I am not joking!
Hades, excuse me, Henry is some pathetic caricature of himself in which all he does is mope, sulk, mope some more, and does more boring things like fancy parlor tricks. Hah. By the way, he’s a virgin. Hold up, back the fuck up, did you just say VIRGIN? Yes! Are you going to tell me that the baddest fuck in Greek mythology who loved to murder, damn people to hell for all eternity, kidnap people, rape young girls, screw his relatives, and whatever is a FREAKING VIRGIN? Give me a moment to pick my jaw off the floor and suspend my moment of disbelief.
Sorry, nope it's not working. I guess I should have known what the premise calls him "dark" and "tortured". Those were my cues to STAY THE FUCK AWAY. Not to mention the stop eating crap. What the hell? If some bastard told me to stop eating I’m going to slap him in the face. It’s not like I’m a fucking whale that needs to watch their weight! It just rubs me the entirely the wrong way that this is perfectly acceptable when you consider how the media forces it down our throats of how we must be thin, be beautiful, and be absolutely perfect but telling Kate, who is fine the way she is (appearance-wise, her personality is another matter), has to fit into this model is just not taken as something wrong? That this is A-OKAY? No, sorry. Not gonna sit right with me, EVER. I don’t give a crap if it’s for some stupid test (Gluttony) or not. This is just wrong.
Which leads to another thing – the tests? They revolve around the Seven Deadly Sins. Do you not see something glaringly wrong with this? They are Greek Gods! GREEK! Why in the hell would they care about Christian ideology when, you know, they were/are a religion in and of themselves?! WHAT? Just why! And these tests were completely pathetic. I was propped up by the premise to expect something damn awesome but what do I get? NOTHING. I’m serious. If I could become a Greek god by just giving away my clothes or some shit like that, frick, why isn’t everyone I know including myself not one right now? Cuz damn I’d sure implement some changes if I had that kinda power.
Okay, okay, okay, I’m being a real whiny bitch. If there was one thing that I thought was a potentially redeeming factor it was the relationship Kate had with her mother, and the grief and pain she feels about having to lose her to cancer. Her pain was constant and emotive, something I can personally connect to because I have family members who have gone through cancer, and it is one of the most gut wrenching things you can ever experience.
But then this was circumvented at the end when we find out that Kate’s mom is actually a GOD and that her suffering was actually a TEST? Excuse me! How dare you demean and minimalize her suffering this way? I’m sorry but that just pushed my raging button. Where was my happy ending button when MY family members had cancer, huh? I horrendously disliked the way the author manipulated this character just so she can use this as an excuse for a plot point or character development. Ugh.
And what is up with the gods' names? What’s wrong with keeping to the original? And, heck, if you’re going to give them new names make them sound at least FUCK YEAH – I’M THE BIG SHIT IN THIS BLOCK. Instead of, you know, simple common names like Henry or Xander. Of course some people might argue that this is what makes it genius, but I beg to differ.
If you’re looking for balls to the walls character development here, you aren’t getting it. Most, if not all, the characters are devoid of life, personality, or distinguishing features that separate themselves from the other. In fact, I’ve forgotten who they are already after finishing this book two days ago. Pretty bad, huh? I’m serious. The characters feel like they’re just there for the purpose of moving the plot along rather than THEM being the plot.
It had SO much promise but failed for me in every way.
Man, getting through this book was like having my wisdom teeth pulled out with no lidocaine. Terrible, I tell ya.
But anyway, let’s get on to the review, shall we? The Goddess Test has an awesome, awesome premise. Girl going through tests to become the bride of Hades? HECK YEAH, GIVE ME SOME OF THAT! And it started that way but shortly after immediately crashed and smoldered. So much so that I ended up going, “no, no, take it back!”
I understand that it’s an author’s prerogative or free choice to reinvent staple figures of mythology, legends, stories, or what have you but really, I don’t care what you say. I hated it! You know those Greek gods that you loved because they were such dick-faced assholes that were vain, selfish, and just had unending reserves of violent natures?! Forget about that here. Now they’ve been turned into PUSSIFIED versions of themselves! I am not joking!
Hades, excuse me, Henry is some pathetic caricature of himself in which all he does is mope, sulk, mope some more, and does more boring things like fancy parlor tricks. Hah. By the way, he’s a virgin. Hold up, back the fuck up, did you just say VIRGIN? Yes! Are you going to tell me that the baddest fuck in Greek mythology who loved to murder, damn people to hell for all eternity, kidnap people, rape young girls, screw his relatives, and whatever is a FREAKING VIRGIN? Give me a moment to pick my jaw off the floor and suspend my moment of disbelief.
Sorry, nope it's not working. I guess I should have known what the premise calls him "dark" and "tortured". Those were my cues to STAY THE FUCK AWAY. Not to mention the stop eating crap. What the hell? If some bastard told me to stop eating I’m going to slap him in the face. It’s not like I’m a fucking whale that needs to watch their weight! It just rubs me the entirely the wrong way that this is perfectly acceptable when you consider how the media forces it down our throats of how we must be thin, be beautiful, and be absolutely perfect but telling Kate, who is fine the way she is (appearance-wise, her personality is another matter), has to fit into this model is just not taken as something wrong? That this is A-OKAY? No, sorry. Not gonna sit right with me, EVER. I don’t give a crap if it’s for some stupid test (Gluttony) or not. This is just wrong.
Which leads to another thing – the tests? They revolve around the Seven Deadly Sins. Do you not see something glaringly wrong with this? They are Greek Gods! GREEK! Why in the hell would they care about Christian ideology when, you know, they were/are a religion in and of themselves?! WHAT? Just why! And these tests were completely pathetic. I was propped up by the premise to expect something damn awesome but what do I get? NOTHING. I’m serious. If I could become a Greek god by just giving away my clothes or some shit like that, frick, why isn’t everyone I know including myself not one right now? Cuz damn I’d sure implement some changes if I had that kinda power.
Okay, okay, okay, I’m being a real whiny bitch. If there was one thing that I thought was a potentially redeeming factor it was the relationship Kate had with her mother, and the grief and pain she feels about having to lose her to cancer. Her pain was constant and emotive, something I can personally connect to because I have family members who have gone through cancer, and it is one of the most gut wrenching things you can ever experience.
But then this was circumvented at the end when we find out that Kate’s mom is actually a GOD and that her suffering was actually a TEST? Excuse me! How dare you demean and minimalize her suffering this way? I’m sorry but that just pushed my raging button. Where was my happy ending button when MY family members had cancer, huh? I horrendously disliked the way the author manipulated this character just so she can use this as an excuse for a plot point or character development. Ugh.
And what is up with the gods' names? What’s wrong with keeping to the original? And, heck, if you’re going to give them new names make them sound at least FUCK YEAH – I’M THE BIG SHIT IN THIS BLOCK. Instead of, you know, simple common names like Henry or Xander. Of course some people might argue that this is what makes it genius, but I beg to differ.
If you’re looking for balls to the walls character development here, you aren’t getting it. Most, if not all, the characters are devoid of life, personality, or distinguishing features that separate themselves from the other. In fact, I’ve forgotten who they are already after finishing this book two days ago. Pretty bad, huh? I’m serious. The characters feel like they’re just there for the purpose of moving the plot along rather than THEM being the plot.
It had SO much promise but failed for me in every way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2011
[image error]
Wrath- Zeus (or should I say Walter) shooting a lightning bolt at some poor soul
Greed, (and a little wrath) - Prometheus, the guy Zeus chained to a rock for all eternity because he gave fire to man
Pride - The Parthenon in Athens, of which Athena and Poseidon fought tooth and nail to be the patron of the city
Lust......do I need to show a montage of all the women, other goddesses, and the nymphs that some of the gods impregnated? (Not that the other goddesses, such as Aphrodite, the goddess of lust, were so innocent either)
Envy - Baby Hercules strangling the serpents Hera sent to kill him because she was jealous that Zeus had another kid with a mortal woman
Gluttony & Sloth- The Greek Gods lovvvvveeed their feasts where they would eat and sit around for days (or decades, didn't matter to them)
So, after this visual presentation, I hope people will realize how positively ridiculous it is that the Greek gods would care anything about Christian morality. First of all, the Seven Deadly Sins were created by some bored monk in the 14th century. They are not even in the Bible. Why would gods, who do whatever the fuck they want, follow them, or implore anyone else to follow them? Gods did not care about humans. Hell, they would kill off their own bastard half-mortal children if they were making too much of a fuss.
I probably don't need to say this at this point, but I did not like the way Greek Mythology was handled in this book. The traditional myths were undermined and pussified. I was really excited when I first received a galley of this book, as I love it when an author takes old mythology and twists it in a new way. AHHHH TOO MUCH TWISTING. Carter managed to take every interesting about the Greek myths -the lust, violence, cruelty, and romance- and stomp on it, turning it into melodrama soup. Vindictively, I might imagine. My god, even Percy Jackson, a series for TWELVE YEAR OLDS, managed to stay truer to the myths.
There was really no trace of the old mythology besides the fact that Henry was supposedly Hades, and Kate was his new Persephone (she crapped on that myth too, by the way). What kind of name is Henry for a god anyway? It's a name for 19th century carriage boys. Fear me, I am Henry, Lord of the Dead, the EMO VIRGIN Ruler of the Underworld! And don't get me started on the name Walter. She gave, Zeus, the King of the Gods, the name Walter. WALTER! WALTER !!!
Just uuuuggggggghhhhh. And the book was boring too. Kate did nothing. Nothing happened to her. She sat around, was fed and clothed by servants, and flirted with an attractive man. That was it. The tests that supposedly verify her worth as an immortal being were a joke. I kept waiting for something to happen, for Kate to get called down into some chamber or something and told to complete a maze, to slay a dragon, to bake a cake, SOMETHING. But instead the tests happen very boringly without the reader's knowledge. So apparently, if you give away clothes you didn't even want in the first place, you are goddess material. Hey, I gave my favorite pen to Amanda Lukevitch last week, does this qualify me for immortal life? Come on, at least make me a nymph or something!! Kate's best character trait (not that she has many, the boring lump that she is) is that she is selfless, willing to sacrifice her life for others.
And the romance between Emo McWhiney and Kate was as dull as the tines of a spork. No spark or anything. Not the slightest bit of tension. This could be because all of the characters were as flat and dry as cardboard.
And I just love how Kate wasn't tested on things like intelligence, judgement, or leadership ability.....She's chaste, isn't that all what matters?
The cover is gorgeous, the premise is fine, but the inside is a whole lot of HELL NO.
Wrath- Zeus (or should I say Walter) shooting a lightning bolt at some poor soul
Greed, (and a little wrath) - Prometheus, the guy Zeus chained to a rock for all eternity because he gave fire to man
Pride - The Parthenon in Athens, of which Athena and Poseidon fought tooth and nail to be the patron of the city
Lust......do I need to show a montage of all the women, other goddesses, and the nymphs that some of the gods impregnated? (Not that the other goddesses, such as Aphrodite, the goddess of lust, were so innocent either)
Envy - Baby Hercules strangling the serpents Hera sent to kill him because she was jealous that Zeus had another kid with a mortal woman
Gluttony & Sloth- The Greek Gods lovvvvveeed their feasts where they would eat and sit around for days (or decades, didn't matter to them)
So, after this visual presentation, I hope people will realize how positively ridiculous it is that the Greek gods would care anything about Christian morality. First of all, the Seven Deadly Sins were created by some bored monk in the 14th century. They are not even in the Bible. Why would gods, who do whatever the fuck they want, follow them, or implore anyone else to follow them? Gods did not care about humans. Hell, they would kill off their own bastard half-mortal children if they were making too much of a fuss.
I probably don't need to say this at this point, but I did not like the way Greek Mythology was handled in this book. The traditional myths were undermined and pussified. I was really excited when I first received a galley of this book, as I love it when an author takes old mythology and twists it in a new way. AHHHH TOO MUCH TWISTING. Carter managed to take every interesting about the Greek myths -the lust, violence, cruelty, and romance- and stomp on it, turning it into melodrama soup. Vindictively, I might imagine. My god, even Percy Jackson, a series for TWELVE YEAR OLDS, managed to stay truer to the myths.
There was really no trace of the old mythology besides the fact that Henry was supposedly Hades, and Kate was his new Persephone (she crapped on that myth too, by the way). What kind of name is Henry for a god anyway? It's a name for 19th century carriage boys. Fear me, I am Henry, Lord of the Dead, the EMO VIRGIN Ruler of the Underworld! And don't get me started on the name Walter. She gave, Zeus, the King of the Gods, the name Walter. WALTER! WALTER !!!
Just uuuuggggggghhhhh. And the book was boring too. Kate did nothing. Nothing happened to her. She sat around, was fed and clothed by servants, and flirted with an attractive man. That was it. The tests that supposedly verify her worth as an immortal being were a joke. I kept waiting for something to happen, for Kate to get called down into some chamber or something and told to complete a maze, to slay a dragon, to bake a cake, SOMETHING. But instead the tests happen very boringly without the reader's knowledge. So apparently, if you give away clothes you didn't even want in the first place, you are goddess material. Hey, I gave my favorite pen to Amanda Lukevitch last week, does this qualify me for immortal life? Come on, at least make me a nymph or something!! Kate's best character trait (not that she has many, the boring lump that she is) is that she is selfless, willing to sacrifice her life for others.
And the romance between Emo McWhiney and Kate was as dull as the tines of a spork. No spark or anything. Not the slightest bit of tension. This could be because all of the characters were as flat and dry as cardboard.
And I just love how Kate wasn't tested on things like intelligence, judgement, or leadership ability.....She's chaste, isn't that all what matters?
The cover is gorgeous, the premise is fine, but the inside is a whole lot of HELL NO.
Read
April 20, 2011This explains a lot.
September 8, 2013
This was a truly terrible book, but I feel so bad giving it such a low rating. It's like I just kicked a puppy. A really stupid puppy that's wet my bed for the 47th time, but still...kicking a puppy.
I've read a lot of unrealistic heroines in my day, but Kate tops the list. She's not all that terrible: I'll give her some points. She is kind, caring, with a soft spot bigger and more tender than a newborn's head. The first sentence of the story gives us a preview of her character:
It's like going to a job interview. When the interviewer asks "What is your biggest weakness?" If you say "I'm just too dedicated to my job, I'm too hardworking!" the interviewer is just going to internally laugh their ass off, because that's just not a believable fault. That sums up my feelings about Kate. She's just too perfect to be a good, believable character.
Her friendship with Ava...now, that pissed me off. I didn't feel like Ava added anything to the story besides making Kate look good in comparison. Ava's existence seems to serve the purpose of highlighting Kate's good nature and willingness to forgive. So in the beginning, Ava fakes friendship, only to abandon Kate with no choice but to cross a river, knowing full well she is afraid of water. Despite the cruel trick, Kate becomes her best friend anyway, no matter what kind of idiocy Ava gets herself into.
Ava becomes the shamed slut, and Kate the wrathful, righteous angel who puts down Ava the sinner in her proper place. There is very thinly veiled slut-shaming here.
Kate assumes fault for everything. Someone dies? It's her fault. She saves someone's life, only to have them die again? Her fault.
Regardless, she is so sympathetic, which is why I feel like I'm kicking a helpless animal every time I criticize her character. I mean, how can you not feel for her after reading this:
The other female characters in the book seems also to serve the purpose of highlighting Kate's godliness. They fight. All. The. Time. Screeching, yelling at each other, everything short of hair-pulling. I am so sick of the trend that only one single female character can be truly good, and all other females in the story serve as bitchy foils, be they friends of the main character or not.
Henry himself didn't register on my radar much. He spends the majority of his time moping about and being depressed, despondent, and feeling hopeless. I can't imagine he's any use as a god, he doesn't seem capable of anything besides pouting and sulking.
The plot itself is absurd. The land of the dead, in Michigan. Random residents of town are inhabitants of Henry's little kingdom. The pantheon of gods, which includes Zeus, Apollo, etc...and Henry. Somehow, my copy of Bullfinch's Mythology made the glaring error of omitting Henry from its list of inhabitants of Zeus' marbled halls. This is one instance when things would have gone better unexplained...the book gives an justification for everything, which only served to add to the preposterousness, and everyone seems to accept everything ridiculous that happens without any sense of disbelief.
What I thought was the major plotline, the tests, were weakly glossed over. They seemed to be put together in a rush when the author realized she completely forgot the major plotline, and I didn't find the result any more credible than the rest of the book and its characters.
I've read a lot of unrealistic heroines in my day, but Kate tops the list. She's not all that terrible: I'll give her some points. She is kind, caring, with a soft spot bigger and more tender than a newborn's head. The first sentence of the story gives us a preview of her character:
"I spent my eighteenth birthday driving from New York City to Eden, Michigan, so my mother could die in the town where she was born."Kate's had a tough life. No father, and her mother has been terminally ill from cancer for the last four years. She's known suffering, and she is kind, compassionate, and caring; she will forgive just about anything. Kate is endlessly supportive, endlessly optimistic, even while she's scared that she'll fail and let everyone down. She just doesn't give up. If I wanted to read about saints, I'd go read the Bible. Enough with the martyrdom already. The key to writing a good character is for them to have flaws. Believable flaws. Kate's flaws aren't so much flaws as they are embellishments of her oh-so-perfect personality. Even her flaws are good ones.
It's like going to a job interview. When the interviewer asks "What is your biggest weakness?" If you say "I'm just too dedicated to my job, I'm too hardworking!" the interviewer is just going to internally laugh their ass off, because that's just not a believable fault. That sums up my feelings about Kate. She's just too perfect to be a good, believable character.
Her friendship with Ava...now, that pissed me off. I didn't feel like Ava added anything to the story besides making Kate look good in comparison. Ava's existence seems to serve the purpose of highlighting Kate's good nature and willingness to forgive. So in the beginning, Ava fakes friendship, only to abandon Kate with no choice but to cross a river, knowing full well she is afraid of water. Despite the cruel trick, Kate becomes her best friend anyway, no matter what kind of idiocy Ava gets herself into.
“...you’re the reason it happened.” I stopped in front of the bed, running my fingers through my hair. “Ella wants you gone. Frankly, if all you’re going to do is waste your time sleeping with every guy in the manor and acting like the world revolves around you, then so do I. You’re useless here."
Ava becomes the shamed slut, and Kate the wrathful, righteous angel who puts down Ava the sinner in her proper place. There is very thinly veiled slut-shaming here.
Kate assumes fault for everything. Someone dies? It's her fault. She saves someone's life, only to have them die again? Her fault.
"No one else should have to die because of me."Because of me. Because of me. That phrase is repeated by Kate throughout the book and I became sick of it. You're not a serial killer, Kate. Nobody died because of you. Stop assuming fault for everything bad that happens! Even if something is clearly not her fault, it's still her fault because she trusted the wrong person...honestly.
Regardless, she is so sympathetic, which is why I feel like I'm kicking a helpless animal every time I criticize her character. I mean, how can you not feel for her after reading this:
“I’m not her, Henry. I can’t be her, and I can’t spend eternity trying to live up to your memory of her. I’m nobody to you right now, I get that...I get that I’m not her and won’t ever be. I don’t want to be her anyway, not with how badly she’s hurt you. But if this works—if I pass, I need to know that when you look at me, you’re going to see me, not just her replacement. That there’s more in this future for me than standing in the shadows while you wallow the rest of your existence away."It's like Meredith's "Love me" speech in Grey's Anatomy. It sucks to know that you're a replacement.
The other female characters in the book seems also to serve the purpose of highlighting Kate's godliness. They fight. All. The. Time. Screeching, yelling at each other, everything short of hair-pulling. I am so sick of the trend that only one single female character can be truly good, and all other females in the story serve as bitchy foils, be they friends of the main character or not.
Henry himself didn't register on my radar much. He spends the majority of his time moping about and being depressed, despondent, and feeling hopeless. I can't imagine he's any use as a god, he doesn't seem capable of anything besides pouting and sulking.
The plot itself is absurd. The land of the dead, in Michigan. Random residents of town are inhabitants of Henry's little kingdom. The pantheon of gods, which includes Zeus, Apollo, etc...and Henry. Somehow, my copy of Bullfinch's Mythology made the glaring error of omitting Henry from its list of inhabitants of Zeus' marbled halls. This is one instance when things would have gone better unexplained...the book gives an justification for everything, which only served to add to the preposterousness, and everyone seems to accept everything ridiculous that happens without any sense of disbelief.
What I thought was the major plotline, the tests, were weakly glossed over. They seemed to be put together in a rush when the author realized she completely forgot the major plotline, and I didn't find the result any more credible than the rest of the book and its characters.
August 17, 2014
It's official. Aimee Carter is now on my list of Authors who are fucking idiots didn't do enough research, right next to the Casts and dear Alexandra Adornetto.
Seriously. How can someone fuck up Greek Mythology that bad? Even my twelve-year-old cousin, whose only knowledge of Greek Mythology is from The Lightning Thief, knows that there are twelve Olympians, not thirteen, and mortals can't dole out punishments to gods.
Okay, I've calmed down a little. Now on to the rest of the review.
Summary
Katherine "Kate" Winters, is your ordinary goody-two-shoes Mary Sue, who wants nothing but for her mother to live the remainder of her days happy. Annnnd out of the blue, Henry (He's Hades, by the way. A fucking stupid name) invites Kate to his manor to be his new bride. It's way more romantic than how I just explained it. Trust me.
But it's not so simple. Henry is about to fade away, and unless he can find a new Persephone, his realm in the Underworld will be passed on to Hermes. For some fucking reason.
To determine whether Kate is suited for Henry or not, thefucking coucil has Kate go through several tests. They're not just any tests. They're... the seven deadly sins.
Yes, testing whether Kate sins or not. Not the twelve labors. Not going on some heroic quest.
You wanna know what the test for greed is? Hmm? Hmm? Kate's offered a pile of dresses, and since she offered to share it with someone else, she's not greedy.
Oh, Aimee Carter, you fail at both Greek and Christian Mythology.
And after that I kind of fell asleep for the entire book because NOTHING happens. Kate gets to spend time with her mom, slut-shames Aphrodite, has sex with Henry... And they fucking celebrate Christmas.
The fucking mythology
Since this is the #1 thing that irked me, I will address this first.
Look at this stupid list.
Let's start off with this list.
Zeus doesn't appear much in this book, and the only thing wrong is his name, so let's move on to Hera.
From Wikipedia:
You hear that, Aimee? Calliope is a fucking muse. Why the fuck would Hera go ahead and name herself after a muse? God, at least bother to search up a fucking name next time you write a book.
And get this. Hera is in love with Hades.
Yes. Hera, the goddess of family, so in love with Hades she almost killed Kate for it.
Next on the list... Poseidon. Doesn't appear in this book much. Moving on.
Demeter. She's actually Kate's mom in this book. Very motherly, very nice, yap yap yap. But wait. What's the name on the right of Demeter's?
Wiki again:
Equated with Artemis. So pray tell, why the fuck would Demeter use Artemis' name? I remember Kate asking about it...
*sigh*
Next on our list, Hades.
I just... I can't. There are so many stupid inaccuracies about him that I can't list them all.
Alright, fine. I'll try.
So about the Underworld. For some reason, without Persephone, Hades can't rule by himself, and he's going to fade away. Right.
But why the fuck would the responsibility be passed on to Hermes? He's already the god of messages, thieves, and I forget. He's one of the few that can go in and out of the Underworld freely, yeah, but why him? Why not Charon, or Thanatos?
And the reason why Persephone left was pretty lame.
I don't mind Aimee Carter playing around with Hades' personality and the way he speaks, but the bottom line is you don't screw up the basic stuff.
Next... Hestia.
So the book says there are thirteen Olympians.
Wrong. Hestia was replaced by Dionysus. When Dionysus was made a god, the Olympians argued on who should give up their place, and Hestia offered to do so.
Next, Ares. Not much to talk about.
And Aphrodite. Ah, the target of slut-shaming. Of course, Aphrodite is portrayed as a bitchy slut here.
And when two guys, Apollo and Dionysus fought over Aphrodite (Apollo, seriously?) , it was her fault.
Yes, because when two guys get in a fistfight over a girl, it's the girl's fault when one of the guys get hurt.
I don't have much to say about the rest of the list, because thank the gods, they don't play a large role.
Kate
I didn't find Kate to be selfless. At all.
She keeps droning on and on about how she wants her mother to be happy, how she wants her mother to stay longer. Seems selfless and filial, but in truth, she only wants her mother to stay longer because she "wasn't prepared to say goodbye".
This was emphasized and mentioned many times in the book. So in truth, Kate is only saving her mother for herself, not actually wanting to buy time fore her mom.
Kate is a Mary Sue cardboard cutout. If you've read about Bethany Church or Bella Swan, chances are you've already met Kate. It's not the worst part of the book, and I have read about worse heroines, so I'll leave it at there.
Conclusion
It's been a while since I was so enraged by a book. It's not even a so-bad-that-it's-good book, it's a so-bad-that-it's-bad book. So if you have a working knowledge of Greek Mythology, stay well away.
Seriously. How can someone fuck up Greek Mythology that bad? Even my twelve-year-old cousin, whose only knowledge of Greek Mythology is from The Lightning Thief, knows that there are twelve Olympians, not thirteen, and mortals can't dole out punishments to gods.
Okay, I've calmed down a little. Now on to the rest of the review.
Summary
Katherine "Kate" Winters, is your ordinary goody-two-shoes Mary Sue, who wants nothing but for her mother to live the remainder of her days happy. Annnnd out of the blue, Henry (He's Hades, by the way. A fucking stupid name) invites Kate to his manor to be his new bride. It's way more romantic than how I just explained it. Trust me.
But his eyes drew my attention. Even in the darkness, they shone brightly, and I had a hard time tearing myself away from his gaze.
But it's not so simple. Henry is about to fade away, and unless he can find a new Persephone, his realm in the Underworld will be passed on to Hermes. For some fucking reason.
To determine whether Kate is suited for Henry or not, the
Yes, testing whether Kate sins or not. Not the twelve labors. Not going on some heroic quest.
You wanna know what the test for greed is? Hmm? Hmm? Kate's offered a pile of dresses, and since she offered to share it with someone else, she's not greedy.
Oh, Aimee Carter, you fail at both Greek and Christian Mythology.
And after that I kind of fell asleep for the entire book because NOTHING happens. Kate gets to spend time with her mom, slut-shames Aphrodite, has sex with Henry... And they fucking celebrate Christmas.
The fucking mythology
Since this is the #1 thing that irked me, I will address this first.
Look at this stupid list.
Let's start off with this list.
Zeus doesn't appear much in this book, and the only thing wrong is his name, so let's move on to Hera.
From Wikipedia:
In Greek mythology, Calliope was the muse of epic poetry, daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, and is believed to be Homer's muse for the Iliad and the Odyssey.
You hear that, Aimee? Calliope is a fucking muse. Why the fuck would Hera go ahead and name herself after a muse? God, at least bother to search up a fucking name next time you write a book.
And get this. Hera is in love with Hades.
Yes. Hera, the goddess of family, so in love with Hades she almost killed Kate for it.
Next on the list... Poseidon. Doesn't appear in this book much. Moving on.
Demeter. She's actually Kate's mom in this book. Very motherly, very nice, yap yap yap. But wait. What's the name on the right of Demeter's?
Wiki again:
In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt, the moon and birthing, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals. She was equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, [...]
Equated with Artemis. So pray tell, why the fuck would Demeter use Artemis' name? I remember Kate asking about it...
"What kind of a name is Diana for a goddess, anyway?"
*sigh*
Next on our list, Hades.
I just... I can't. There are so many stupid inaccuracies about him that I can't list them all.
Alright, fine. I'll try.
So about the Underworld. For some reason, without Persephone, Hades can't rule by himself, and he's going to fade away. Right.
But why the fuck would the responsibility be passed on to Hermes? He's already the god of messages, thieves, and I forget. He's one of the few that can go in and out of the Underworld freely, yeah, but why him? Why not Charon, or Thanatos?
And the reason why Persephone left was pretty lame.
Henry's expression was blank. "She fell in love with a mortal, and after he died, she chose to join him. I did not stop her."
I don't mind Aimee Carter playing around with Hades' personality and the way he speaks, but the bottom line is you don't screw up the basic stuff.
Next... Hestia.
So the book says there are thirteen Olympians.
Wrong. Hestia was replaced by Dionysus. When Dionysus was made a god, the Olympians argued on who should give up their place, and Hestia offered to do so.
Next, Ares. Not much to talk about.
And Aphrodite. Ah, the target of slut-shaming. Of course, Aphrodite is portrayed as a bitchy slut here.
"You think I'm a slut, don't you? [...] I think Xander (Dionysus) only likes me cause I sleep with him."
Chances were good that she was right, but that didn't mean it was the only reason. Except for Henry, all of the guys eyed her everywhere she went. I wasn't sure what else she'd been expecting.
And when two guys, Apollo and Dionysus fought over Aphrodite (Apollo, seriously?) , it was her fault.
Yes, because when two guys get in a fistfight over a girl, it's the girl's fault when one of the guys get hurt.
I don't have much to say about the rest of the list, because thank the gods, they don't play a large role.
Kate
I didn't find Kate to be selfless. At all.
She keeps droning on and on about how she wants her mother to be happy, how she wants her mother to stay longer. Seems selfless and filial, but in truth, she only wants her mother to stay longer because she "wasn't prepared to say goodbye".
This was emphasized and mentioned many times in the book. So in truth, Kate is only saving her mother for herself, not actually wanting to buy time fore her mom.
Kate is a Mary Sue cardboard cutout. If you've read about Bethany Church or Bella Swan, chances are you've already met Kate. It's not the worst part of the book, and I have read about worse heroines, so I'll leave it at there.
Conclusion
It's been a while since I was so enraged by a book. It's not even a so-bad-that-it's-good book, it's a so-bad-that-it's-bad book. So if you have a working knowledge of Greek Mythology, stay well away.
April 30, 2011
Um…did I read a different book than many others? After reading rave reviews all over Goodreads and the Internet, I was expecting something swooningly romantic and highly inventive. Instead, THE GODDESS TEST read like a first draft of sorts, full of character clichés and a meandering plot that takes the excitement out of, well, “excitement.”
I stopped reading about a quarter of the way into the book because, at that point, still nothing pertaining to the main plot had occurred. It’s actually quite impressive how little plot this book got away with, considering its YA audience. The first quarter of the book consists of a really confusing series of exchanges that go something like this:
“I can save her life if you agree to do [STATIC] for me.”
“Okay, um, but what is it you want me to do?”
“*ominous voice* You know what I mean.”
“Well, um, actually I don’t, but, um, okay, whatever you say.”
*days later*
“Wait, WHAT did I promise I would do for you?!”
“You know what you promised.”
“Actually, I do not, but, um, sure, let me know what you want me to do.”
“It is too late. She dies.”
*she dies*
“Noooooo! Now I must go and save (again) the life of this girl who treats me like shit.”
Or something like that.
That’s the other thing that completely boggled my mind about this book: the characters. They are tropes. Kate is a total Bella Swan, the new girl whom guys are falling over to accommodate for no good reason. Her friend, James, is like this awkwardly done combination of male-best-friend-who’s-in-love-with-the-female-protagonist and male-best-friend-who-seems-to-be-hiding-a-secret-that-may-change-the-female-protagonist’s-life. And Ava. Oh God, Ava. One minute she hates Kate, the next she seems to suffer amnesia and think they’re chummy—no, really, they’re actually chummy, not just because Ava wants to seduce Kate into trusting her. So yeah, I quite clearly don’t get James and Ava and what purpose they serve in the story except to maybe press Kate into the path of Henry. Whatever. So unnatural.
I hesitate to recommend this even to people who enjoy Greek mythological retellings or who don’t have a problem with clichéd characters because it’s just so poorly structured, in my opinion. I requested this for review, but I think I’m going to stop there, because, as far as I can tell from similar reviews, the rest of the book isn’t going to get better.
I stopped reading about a quarter of the way into the book because, at that point, still nothing pertaining to the main plot had occurred. It’s actually quite impressive how little plot this book got away with, considering its YA audience. The first quarter of the book consists of a really confusing series of exchanges that go something like this:
“I can save her life if you agree to do [STATIC] for me.”
“Okay, um, but what is it you want me to do?”
“*ominous voice* You know what I mean.”
“Well, um, actually I don’t, but, um, okay, whatever you say.”
*days later*
“Wait, WHAT did I promise I would do for you?!”
“You know what you promised.”
“Actually, I do not, but, um, sure, let me know what you want me to do.”
“It is too late. She dies.”
*she dies*
“Noooooo! Now I must go and save (again) the life of this girl who treats me like shit.”
Or something like that.
That’s the other thing that completely boggled my mind about this book: the characters. They are tropes. Kate is a total Bella Swan, the new girl whom guys are falling over to accommodate for no good reason. Her friend, James, is like this awkwardly done combination of male-best-friend-who’s-in-love-with-the-female-protagonist and male-best-friend-who-seems-to-be-hiding-a-secret-that-may-change-the-female-protagonist’s-life. And Ava. Oh God, Ava. One minute she hates Kate, the next she seems to suffer amnesia and think they’re chummy—no, really, they’re actually chummy, not just because Ava wants to seduce Kate into trusting her. So yeah, I quite clearly don’t get James and Ava and what purpose they serve in the story except to maybe press Kate into the path of Henry. Whatever. So unnatural.
I hesitate to recommend this even to people who enjoy Greek mythological retellings or who don’t have a problem with clichéd characters because it’s just so poorly structured, in my opinion. I requested this for review, but I think I’m going to stop there, because, as far as I can tell from similar reviews, the rest of the book isn’t going to get better.
November 27, 2017
This book took me FOREVER to get!! And you know what it's like when you finally have access to the book you've always wanted.....
CUE THE CHA-CHA DANCE!!!
But seriously, even 5 MONTHS is still a little hard to take in....I mean, 5 MONTHS!!
Seems like Carter is a little famous in the book world!! :)
Ok, enough with the music and happiness. We're getting serious.
*puts on biker jacket and pretends to look cool*
This book was an EPIC read!!! As in- "when I was a 10 year old, I liked every single book there was out there!!" So yeah, I honestly don't know if I would love it as much as my little kid-self.
Just warning ya, folks. ;)
Kate is a girl who gets sucked in by Henry to the oh-so-magical underworld. However, her only hopes are to save her mother. So, obviously, in this action packed book, Carter makes this a life or death scenario. I mean, what did you expect?? Unicorns and rainbows??
No. A f-ing hot dude who gets a girl to take a test and marry him....or die.
Should you read it??......Totally your choice. :)
CUE THE CHA-CHA DANCE!!!
But seriously, even 5 MONTHS is still a little hard to take in....I mean, 5 MONTHS!!
Seems like Carter is a little famous in the book world!! :)
Ok, enough with the music and happiness. We're getting serious.
*puts on biker jacket and pretends to look cool*
This book was an EPIC read!!! As in- "when I was a 10 year old, I liked every single book there was out there!!" So yeah, I honestly don't know if I would love it as much as my little kid-self.
Just warning ya, folks. ;)
Kate is a girl who gets sucked in by Henry to the oh-so-magical underworld. However, her only hopes are to save her mother. So, obviously, in this action packed book, Carter makes this a life or death scenario. I mean, what did you expect?? Unicorns and rainbows??
No. A f-ing hot dude who gets a girl to take a test and marry him....or die.
Should you read it??......Totally your choice. :)
August 23, 2011
*This ebook was provided to me at no cost by the publisher*
This book....wow! Every now and then, there’s a story that stops you and takes your breath away....this was one of those. I loved it! Simply, completely, loved it. I can barely begin to say how much.
From the very beginning I was caught. I was sucked into Kate’s tale and her story and I didn’t want to leave. I finished it in less than two days and when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about reading it; eager to get back to the story. I love Greek Myth....I always have. There’s something so magical about it that I love, and I think this story was a wonderful example of how amazing and how much fun it can be. Considering this is a début novel, the author has done an incredible job. The story and characters were brilliant.
I loved all the characters....from Kate and Henry, to Ava and James to Kate’s mum and some others. They were all so fabulous and entertaining. They were each so different and unique and I loved seeing them in the story.
I think Kate was just brilliant! She is without a doubt one of the best heroine’s I’ve had the pleasure of following in a long, long time. It’s very rare to find just a wonderful, well rounded character. I think she reacted to things believably and naturally, and she was a wonderful person. She was kind and considerate, while still being strong and brave. I think I can say that she’s now become one of my all time fave heroines—that’s how much I loved her! I have no faults about her what-so-ever and considering that I usually even see tiny faults with the characters I adore, that’s really saying something!
I found I really liked Henry. He wasn’t exactly what I was expecting from Hades, and while I do still feel there is a bit more about him that we don’t know, I think he was a terrific male lead. He was a kind, considerate person, and I think he was a great match for Kate. I really felt for Henry, and his history with Persephone. I like the way the author changed the tale and showed it in a different way, which actually allowed Hades to be the good guy in the picture. There are not a lot of Greek Myth tales where Hade’s is a good guy at all; he’s always the bad guy, and I liked the change in this. I liked the opportunity for him to be an actual person with feelings and a heart....it was wonderful.
The relationship between Henry and Kate was excellent. I really liked how it developed over time and how they got to know one another. It was very sweet and normal, and I never felt like anything was forced. It seemed very natural and I liked that.
I was shocked with the twists and revelations at the end of this book! I can’t believe what came to light and I was gobsmacked to learn just who everyone actually was. I think the author has done an exceptional job here. It was so smart and wonderful....it couldn’t have been better. I can’t think of a better way to have had the ending and I was so happy to see Kate and Henry wed.
The ending of this book has me excited to read the next one and I simply CANNOT WAIT until it comes out!! If it’s anything as good as this one, I can tell straight out that it’s going to be BRILLANT.
This book was so incredible and I deem it a MUST READ!! Like....NOW, people!!
This book....wow! Every now and then, there’s a story that stops you and takes your breath away....this was one of those. I loved it! Simply, completely, loved it. I can barely begin to say how much.
From the very beginning I was caught. I was sucked into Kate’s tale and her story and I didn’t want to leave. I finished it in less than two days and when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about reading it; eager to get back to the story. I love Greek Myth....I always have. There’s something so magical about it that I love, and I think this story was a wonderful example of how amazing and how much fun it can be. Considering this is a début novel, the author has done an incredible job. The story and characters were brilliant.
I loved all the characters....from Kate and Henry, to Ava and James to Kate’s mum and some others. They were all so fabulous and entertaining. They were each so different and unique and I loved seeing them in the story.
I think Kate was just brilliant! She is without a doubt one of the best heroine’s I’ve had the pleasure of following in a long, long time. It’s very rare to find just a wonderful, well rounded character. I think she reacted to things believably and naturally, and she was a wonderful person. She was kind and considerate, while still being strong and brave. I think I can say that she’s now become one of my all time fave heroines—that’s how much I loved her! I have no faults about her what-so-ever and considering that I usually even see tiny faults with the characters I adore, that’s really saying something!
I found I really liked Henry. He wasn’t exactly what I was expecting from Hades, and while I do still feel there is a bit more about him that we don’t know, I think he was a terrific male lead. He was a kind, considerate person, and I think he was a great match for Kate. I really felt for Henry, and his history with Persephone. I like the way the author changed the tale and showed it in a different way, which actually allowed Hades to be the good guy in the picture. There are not a lot of Greek Myth tales where Hade’s is a good guy at all; he’s always the bad guy, and I liked the change in this. I liked the opportunity for him to be an actual person with feelings and a heart....it was wonderful.
The relationship between Henry and Kate was excellent. I really liked how it developed over time and how they got to know one another. It was very sweet and normal, and I never felt like anything was forced. It seemed very natural and I liked that.
I was shocked with the twists and revelations at the end of this book! I can’t believe what came to light and I was gobsmacked to learn just who everyone actually was. I think the author has done an exceptional job here. It was so smart and wonderful....it couldn’t have been better. I can’t think of a better way to have had the ending and I was so happy to see Kate and Henry wed.
The ending of this book has me excited to read the next one and I simply CANNOT WAIT until it comes out!! If it’s anything as good as this one, I can tell straight out that it’s going to be BRILLANT.
This book was so incredible and I deem it a MUST READ!! Like....NOW, people!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2015
I always, always love it when Greek Mythological deities and characters get resurrected, recreated and put in present settings. Goddess Test is another novel that sets an enjoyably creative take on Greek mythology. I also love how this book uniquely centers its story on one of the least liked Greek gods-of course you know him- Hades. I'm reading the sequel in the near but not definite future. Lol. ^^
December 13, 2011
I...just realized I never posted this here.
I was excited about The Goddess Test from the moment I first heard about it. The myth of Persephone and Hades has always held a certain fascination for me, and I enjoy reading adaptations of it and seeing what different authors do with the story. In Aimée Carter’s version, Persephone left Hades some time ago and Hades needs a new queen to help him rule the underworld. The queen candidates must first pass a series of tests, however, and someone keeps murdering the young women before they can complete the tests.
Enter Kate. She has felt set apart from other teens for several years, ever since her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Mom has one last wish: to die in the small town of Eden, Michigan. Kate isn’t too keen on living in the boonies, but she’ll do anything for her mom, so move they do. Then a classmate plays a prank on her that goes horribly wrong. Only Henry (aka Hades), the mysterious resident of Eden Manor, can help Kate, and there is a price to pay: Kate must spend half of every year, for the rest of her life, as Henry’s queen. But first there are those tests…
Aimée Carter writes with a smooth, unpretentious prose style that moves the story along quickly. Sometimes it moves a bit too quickly, in fact; it takes Kate several months to fall for Henry, but those months are summed up so briefly that it feels abrupt to the reader. On the other hand, this quick pace means The Goddess Test is emphatically not one of those YA novels that bogs down in hundreds of pages of angsty school scenes. There are a few of those at the beginning, and then we’re on to the meat of the plot.
Carter’s treatment of Greek mythology is less successful, however. The Greek gods as presented here are defanged and moralistic versions of themselves, and in most cases not very fleshed out, either. There’s tweaking a myth and then there’s gutting it, and this is the latter.
The problem starts with the nature of the tests: they’re based on the Seven Deadly Sins. This is an odd fit with Greek myth. If you’re familiar with the myths, your reaction to Zeus — Zeus! — proclaiming that he does not “abide lust” will probably be laughter. The sins are interpreted in troubling ways, too.
Moving on to the personalities of the gods, most of them are either undeveloped or unrecognizable. One of the central conceits in The Goddess Test is that the gods are all around Kate during her stay at Eden Manor, but she doesn’t know which “people” are secretly which gods. I understand why some obfuscation is necessary, but the end result is that Zeus is lecturing about lust (and not as a part of his “disguise”; this is after the reveal), Artemis likes corsets, a different deity altogether is going around calling herself “Diana” for some reason, Hades himself is rather dull, and several of the gods just don’t have much personality at all. The shining exception is Aphrodite, a character I don’t precisely like but who enlivens every scene she’s in. At first I thought she was written inconsistently, but as the story progressed it became clear that this wild inconsistency is an essential part of her character. She’s also one of the few who resembles the “real” god, and as such, she doesn’t quite fit in with the ersatz ones.
The Goddess Test ends with two occurrences that cheapen everything that has gone before. One of these occurrences concerns a huge lie that has been told to Kate for a long time. When the truth is revealed, I think I’m supposed to think it’s happy, but instead I’m furious on Kate’s behalf. The other occurrence throws a wrench into the romantic plotline; it helps set up a second book at the cost of making Kate look either naïve or fickle.
As I mentioned above, though, the writing itself is good. This could be a fun light book for readers who are less obsessed with mythology than I am. But for my part, I recommend Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series instead. It may be technically written for a younger age group, but it’s enjoyable for teens and adults too — and the gods are recognizably their capricious, perilous selves.
I was excited about The Goddess Test from the moment I first heard about it. The myth of Persephone and Hades has always held a certain fascination for me, and I enjoy reading adaptations of it and seeing what different authors do with the story. In Aimée Carter’s version, Persephone left Hades some time ago and Hades needs a new queen to help him rule the underworld. The queen candidates must first pass a series of tests, however, and someone keeps murdering the young women before they can complete the tests.
Enter Kate. She has felt set apart from other teens for several years, ever since her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Mom has one last wish: to die in the small town of Eden, Michigan. Kate isn’t too keen on living in the boonies, but she’ll do anything for her mom, so move they do. Then a classmate plays a prank on her that goes horribly wrong. Only Henry (aka Hades), the mysterious resident of Eden Manor, can help Kate, and there is a price to pay: Kate must spend half of every year, for the rest of her life, as Henry’s queen. But first there are those tests…
Aimée Carter writes with a smooth, unpretentious prose style that moves the story along quickly. Sometimes it moves a bit too quickly, in fact; it takes Kate several months to fall for Henry, but those months are summed up so briefly that it feels abrupt to the reader. On the other hand, this quick pace means The Goddess Test is emphatically not one of those YA novels that bogs down in hundreds of pages of angsty school scenes. There are a few of those at the beginning, and then we’re on to the meat of the plot.
Carter’s treatment of Greek mythology is less successful, however. The Greek gods as presented here are defanged and moralistic versions of themselves, and in most cases not very fleshed out, either. There’s tweaking a myth and then there’s gutting it, and this is the latter.
The problem starts with the nature of the tests: they’re based on the Seven Deadly Sins. This is an odd fit with Greek myth. If you’re familiar with the myths, your reaction to Zeus — Zeus! — proclaiming that he does not “abide lust” will probably be laughter. The sins are interpreted in troubling ways, too.
Moving on to the personalities of the gods, most of them are either undeveloped or unrecognizable. One of the central conceits in The Goddess Test is that the gods are all around Kate during her stay at Eden Manor, but she doesn’t know which “people” are secretly which gods. I understand why some obfuscation is necessary, but the end result is that Zeus is lecturing about lust (and not as a part of his “disguise”; this is after the reveal), Artemis likes corsets, a different deity altogether is going around calling herself “Diana” for some reason, Hades himself is rather dull, and several of the gods just don’t have much personality at all. The shining exception is Aphrodite, a character I don’t precisely like but who enlivens every scene she’s in. At first I thought she was written inconsistently, but as the story progressed it became clear that this wild inconsistency is an essential part of her character. She’s also one of the few who resembles the “real” god, and as such, she doesn’t quite fit in with the ersatz ones.
The Goddess Test ends with two occurrences that cheapen everything that has gone before. One of these occurrences concerns a huge lie that has been told to Kate for a long time. When the truth is revealed, I think I’m supposed to think it’s happy, but instead I’m furious on Kate’s behalf. The other occurrence throws a wrench into the romantic plotline; it helps set up a second book at the cost of making Kate look either naïve or fickle.
As I mentioned above, though, the writing itself is good. This could be a fun light book for readers who are less obsessed with mythology than I am. But for my part, I recommend Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series instead. It may be technically written for a younger age group, but it’s enjoyable for teens and adults too — and the gods are recognizably their capricious, perilous selves.
April 15, 2016
I was extremely disappointed with this book. I read the blurb and thought it'd be great and guess what, it wasn't.
This book like Shiver and Fallen were Twilight descendents. The writing style is similar as well as the characters. Katherine, oh I'm sorry, Kate(Warning lights already, remember Bella and her Isabella issue?) states she's not particularly pretty but a whole line of jocks notice her. James and Dylan are immediately mesmerized by her and want to hang around her.
Henry(Hades) is essentially Edward, he is gorgeous, powerful and hates himself. Need I say more? Ava is Alice who's bubbly and enjoys clothes. Kate, on the other hand, hates pretty clothes but is stuffed in them anyway like a human Barbie doll(another Twilight factor)
The other thing that really annoyed me was that the author didn't stay true to Greek mythology at all. I love Greek mythology and how Rick Riordan put a new twist on it in his Percy Jackson and the Olympians series but still managed to stay true to Greek mythology. The author didn't do that at all, in fact, she murdered it. It all stands to show that the author clearly did no research or simply didn't care.
If you're a fan of Greek mythology or original story lines, steer away from this book.
This book like Shiver and Fallen were Twilight descendents. The writing style is similar as well as the characters. Katherine, oh I'm sorry, Kate(Warning lights already, remember Bella and her Isabella issue?) states she's not particularly pretty but a whole line of jocks notice her. James and Dylan are immediately mesmerized by her and want to hang around her.
Henry(Hades) is essentially Edward, he is gorgeous, powerful and hates himself. Need I say more? Ava is Alice who's bubbly and enjoys clothes. Kate, on the other hand, hates pretty clothes but is stuffed in them anyway like a human Barbie doll(another Twilight factor)
The other thing that really annoyed me was that the author didn't stay true to Greek mythology at all. I love Greek mythology and how Rick Riordan put a new twist on it in his Percy Jackson and the Olympians series but still managed to stay true to Greek mythology. The author didn't do that at all, in fact, she murdered it. It all stands to show that the author clearly did no research or simply didn't care.
If you're a fan of Greek mythology or original story lines, steer away from this book.
March 1, 2011
I love Greek mythology. I love Greek tragedies. I love the gods and goddesses and what they all represent and the timeless stories that accompany them. As with all people who love something, I am weary with re-imaginings and modern day updates of these tales. Some can be brilliant and really update the text to fit with the modern era, others can fail miserably. I was holding out hope for Carter’s debut (with a sequel in the works) since I have always been fascinated by the Hades and Persephone myth. There’s also a number of Greek tragedy related YA books coming out soon (including the much talked about “Starcrossed” in which the author received a 7 figure advance for what is billed as Percy Jackson for girls) so my interest was piqued enough to request an ARC on GoodReads.
There was a phrase I kept using whilst reading the second half of this book – “What a dick move.” I apologise for the lack of eloquence here but it was the only thing I could think about the more this novel went on. To start off it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t brilliant and was definitely following a set pattern of mediocrity but there were a few moments I enjoyed, specifically Kate’s emotions regarding her dying mother. They were handled well and without overtly saccharine bucket-loads of cheap emotional grabs, and it was interesting to see a paranormal YA character dealing with such a difficult problem. Of course, this was quickly shoved aside for the plot, or what substituted for one.
For the first half, “The Goddess Test” wasn’t horrifically bad, it was just mediocre. It seemed to be made from a well worn mould of YA fiction – outcast heroine who immediately garners male attention, jealous female antagonist who quickly becomes friend but fits all the clichés of flighty and annoying, mysterious and tormented supernatural figure to serve as love interest, bad boy moments, technical entrapment, etc. I’d read it all before and it wasn’t anything particularly exciting. Kate and Henry’s relationship was very poorly developed and didn’t make a whole lot of sense, not to mention how decidedly dull Henry was. How can you make Hades dull? By making him a moping misunderstood bad boy, that’s how. The Hades-Persephone myth was twisted into a more teen friendly shape where Henry was made into the victim, which bugged me to no end. Then again, these characters are so un-godly it makes sense to twist the myths to fit them.
The characters are the story’s main failing for the bigger part. Kate is fine for most of it until she falls into love-struck too-annoying-to-live territory, typical for paranormal YA heroine these days it seems, and Henry is just dull. None of the immortal characters ever seem like fully fleshed out beings, let alone gods. They never convinced me that they were anything more than childish plot devices. The Greek gods could be childish but they could also be ruthless, passionate, cunning, devastatingly dangerous, charming, every other emotion you could think of. Here, the characters just served to keep the meandering plot from going too off-road.
And this was all well and good for the most part. Like I said, it was mediocre but not awful. Then we got into the second half and things changed. What made up the supposed plot and the tests that were so important in deciding whether or not a teenage girl was worthy to become an immortal and co-ruler of the Underworld and the dead become more and more contrived to the point where I was rolling my eyes every other page. Not once was I convinced that Kate was goddess material and the so-called tests just made me think that the Olympians need to hire a new manager or something. but the biggest dick move came in the final few chapters, which I am going to spoil because I was so peeved off by them that I need to share my rage.
SPOILERS BELOW.
I MEAN IT. DON’T BLAME ME IF YOU’RE SPOILED AND DIDN’T WANT TO BE.
...
Okay?
“The Goddess Test” is a mediocre book, chock full of everything one expects from paranormal YA these days, with serviceable prose and a few moments that keep things going amidst the dull characters and meandering plot. But the big reveal that makes everything okay for everyone except the reader just throws my ability to care out the window and frankly, it pissed me off. Can we stop using characters, especially teenage girls, as pawns in stories? Can we treat them with a little more respect than this? I can’t recommend this book, it just doesn’t seem to care about its readers at all, be they Greek mythology fans or not. This book’s left me with the same feeling I felt the very first time I saw the infinitely superior piece of entertainment, “The Wizard of Oz”, when it’s revealed to all be a dream. That wasn’t fair.
1/5.
“The Goddess Test” will be released in USA on April 19th 2011. I received my ARC from NetGalley.com.
There was a phrase I kept using whilst reading the second half of this book – “What a dick move.” I apologise for the lack of eloquence here but it was the only thing I could think about the more this novel went on. To start off it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t brilliant and was definitely following a set pattern of mediocrity but there were a few moments I enjoyed, specifically Kate’s emotions regarding her dying mother. They were handled well and without overtly saccharine bucket-loads of cheap emotional grabs, and it was interesting to see a paranormal YA character dealing with such a difficult problem. Of course, this was quickly shoved aside for the plot, or what substituted for one.
For the first half, “The Goddess Test” wasn’t horrifically bad, it was just mediocre. It seemed to be made from a well worn mould of YA fiction – outcast heroine who immediately garners male attention, jealous female antagonist who quickly becomes friend but fits all the clichés of flighty and annoying, mysterious and tormented supernatural figure to serve as love interest, bad boy moments, technical entrapment, etc. I’d read it all before and it wasn’t anything particularly exciting. Kate and Henry’s relationship was very poorly developed and didn’t make a whole lot of sense, not to mention how decidedly dull Henry was. How can you make Hades dull? By making him a moping misunderstood bad boy, that’s how. The Hades-Persephone myth was twisted into a more teen friendly shape where Henry was made into the victim, which bugged me to no end. Then again, these characters are so un-godly it makes sense to twist the myths to fit them.
The characters are the story’s main failing for the bigger part. Kate is fine for most of it until she falls into love-struck too-annoying-to-live territory, typical for paranormal YA heroine these days it seems, and Henry is just dull. None of the immortal characters ever seem like fully fleshed out beings, let alone gods. They never convinced me that they were anything more than childish plot devices. The Greek gods could be childish but they could also be ruthless, passionate, cunning, devastatingly dangerous, charming, every other emotion you could think of. Here, the characters just served to keep the meandering plot from going too off-road.
And this was all well and good for the most part. Like I said, it was mediocre but not awful. Then we got into the second half and things changed. What made up the supposed plot and the tests that were so important in deciding whether or not a teenage girl was worthy to become an immortal and co-ruler of the Underworld and the dead become more and more contrived to the point where I was rolling my eyes every other page. Not once was I convinced that Kate was goddess material and the so-called tests just made me think that the Olympians need to hire a new manager or something. but the biggest dick move came in the final few chapters, which I am going to spoil because I was so peeved off by them that I need to share my rage.
SPOILERS BELOW.
I MEAN IT. DON’T BLAME ME IF YOU’RE SPOILED AND DIDN’T WANT TO BE.
...
Okay?
“The Goddess Test” is a mediocre book, chock full of everything one expects from paranormal YA these days, with serviceable prose and a few moments that keep things going amidst the dull characters and meandering plot. But the big reveal that makes everything okay for everyone except the reader just throws my ability to care out the window and frankly, it pissed me off. Can we stop using characters, especially teenage girls, as pawns in stories? Can we treat them with a little more respect than this? I can’t recommend this book, it just doesn’t seem to care about its readers at all, be they Greek mythology fans or not. This book’s left me with the same feeling I felt the very first time I saw the infinitely superior piece of entertainment, “The Wizard of Oz”, when it’s revealed to all be a dream. That wasn’t fair.
1/5.
“The Goddess Test” will be released in USA on April 19th 2011. I received my ARC from NetGalley.com.
September 16, 2018
Okay, this was just so messy and meh and just BAD i don't even know how i got through it and actually finished it, so i'm giving myself a star for my hard work.
May 29, 2017
2 Sterne für den Debüt-Roman dieser Triologie. Der Anfang war echt anstrengend und ich war mehrmals kurz davor es abzubrechen. Man wurde nicht warm mit der Protagonistin, Gefühle wurden nicht wirklich vermittelt und nur platt beschrieben, außerdem hatte ich das Gefühl, dass Kate gar nicht geschockt darüber war, wer Henry ist. Es wurde nie etwas hinterfragt, sondern einfach alles nur hingenommen.
Allerdings wurde die Story ab Seite 150-200 echt noch ganz gut und auch das Ende hat mich neugierig auf den 2. Band gemacht. Der Plot an sich rettet das Buch, aber die Schreibweise ist echt noch steigerungsfähig.
Allerdings wurde die Story ab Seite 150-200 echt noch ganz gut und auch das Ende hat mich neugierig auf den 2. Band gemacht. Der Plot an sich rettet das Buch, aber die Schreibweise ist echt noch steigerungsfähig.
March 4, 2011
Kate Winters has always had her mother by her side, but now she's dying and Kate is driving to Eden, her mothers childhood home, for her last request. Kate only wants to take care of her mother and spend as much time with her before she goes, but her mother insists she go to school. So Kate reluctantly goes, but is quite content to stay invisible. She's not here to make friends, she's here to take care of her mother.
Soon she meets Henry. Lonely, haunted, and claims to be the god of the Underworld, Hades, and while Kate thinks he's crazy, she can't deny that he's brought back a (sorta) friend of hers back from the dead right before her eyes. But at a price.
If he could bring Ava back, does that mean he has the power to save her mother? Henry strikes a bargain with Kate, and if she passes the seven tests, she becomes his wife, and a goddess, but if she fails, then she will loss so much more then she ever thought possible.
Do you know the story of Persephone?
~She was playing in a field when Hades kidnapped her and forced her to stay with him. The land got cold while she was away. She wouldn't eat or drink. Her mother Demeter, pleaded with Zeus on her behave, and eventually Zeus made Hades give her back if indeed she hasn't eaten or drunk anything from the land of dead, but as it turns out, Persephone ate some seeds, so it was agreed that she could spend six months with her mother above ground, but she would also have to spend the other six months with Hades, as his queen.
It is the story of how the seasons came to be.
Aimee Carter breaks in the world of Greek Mythology and captures the legend of Hades and Persephone, weaving it into brilliance and beauty in her remarkable debut, The Goddess Test.
I've always loved, loved, loved, Mythology. I loved that hate and passion and the creation and destruction of it all. It's always been an element I've been fascinated with, so I went into this book with high hopes and was so glad that it did not disappoint.
Carter brings something fresh and exciting into this awesome world and I absolutely loved every minute of it.
I really enjoyed all the characters, in fact there wasn't one I didn't like. Each and every single one of these characters are beyond thrilling, each has there own unique role and each have a part they play, and I gotta tell you, these characters weren't anything I ever expected once this book was said and done. It's just...WoW!
~Kate Winters is an extraordinary character. I so adore her strength and tolerance. I mean, look at all the things she's went through? She couldn't bare to see anyone she loved or cared about or even hated, die. She is the most selfless character that I have ever meet and I loved that through it all, she stayed true to herself.
~Henry is simply amazing! Truly loved him to bits. There is a kindness to Henry that was such a wonder to see in the god of Underworld, and quite refreshing I might add.
When you think of Hades, you think cruel, dominating and well, evil, but instead we get someone tortured and haunted by past failures with a guilt-ridden heart but there is almost like an underlining of hope that lingers when every he speaks or moves or touches. He's captured in a way that is so breathtaking and heartbreaking that it's completely mesmerizing. Such a fascinating creature.
While the storyline wraps around the myth of Persephone, it's shaped in a different way. This is the stuff I love about books. Authors get to break away from traditional folklore and create something unique and bright and amazing. But I can also understand that some readers may not like the idea of there favorite mythology characters being taken out of there original design and conveying them in a different light, but for me, I had a blast with this concept!! I loved the entire set-up to this world and that ending had me completely floored! It shocked and awed me at the same time. Freaking Kudos!
Simply put. I loved this book! It has everything I look for in an escape. Unique, romantic, mysterious, compelling and ingenious. I was captivated from the very first page, till the very last and all I want is more.
An instant favorite! I can't wait to see what Carter has planned next in Goddess Interrupted. Is it 2012 yet?!?!
A Remarkable debut!!
(Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for giving me an opportunity to view an early copy of this amazing read)
Soon she meets Henry. Lonely, haunted, and claims to be the god of the Underworld, Hades, and while Kate thinks he's crazy, she can't deny that he's brought back a (sorta) friend of hers back from the dead right before her eyes. But at a price.
If he could bring Ava back, does that mean he has the power to save her mother? Henry strikes a bargain with Kate, and if she passes the seven tests, she becomes his wife, and a goddess, but if she fails, then she will loss so much more then she ever thought possible.
Do you know the story of Persephone?
~She was playing in a field when Hades kidnapped her and forced her to stay with him. The land got cold while she was away. She wouldn't eat or drink. Her mother Demeter, pleaded with Zeus on her behave, and eventually Zeus made Hades give her back if indeed she hasn't eaten or drunk anything from the land of dead, but as it turns out, Persephone ate some seeds, so it was agreed that she could spend six months with her mother above ground, but she would also have to spend the other six months with Hades, as his queen.
It is the story of how the seasons came to be.
Aimee Carter breaks in the world of Greek Mythology and captures the legend of Hades and Persephone, weaving it into brilliance and beauty in her remarkable debut, The Goddess Test.
I've always loved, loved, loved, Mythology. I loved that hate and passion and the creation and destruction of it all. It's always been an element I've been fascinated with, so I went into this book with high hopes and was so glad that it did not disappoint.
Carter brings something fresh and exciting into this awesome world and I absolutely loved every minute of it.
I really enjoyed all the characters, in fact there wasn't one I didn't like. Each and every single one of these characters are beyond thrilling, each has there own unique role and each have a part they play, and I gotta tell you, these characters weren't anything I ever expected once this book was said and done. It's just...WoW!
~Kate Winters is an extraordinary character. I so adore her strength and tolerance. I mean, look at all the things she's went through? She couldn't bare to see anyone she loved or cared about or even hated, die. She is the most selfless character that I have ever meet and I loved that through it all, she stayed true to herself.
~Henry is simply amazing! Truly loved him to bits. There is a kindness to Henry that was such a wonder to see in the god of Underworld, and quite refreshing I might add.
When you think of Hades, you think cruel, dominating and well, evil, but instead we get someone tortured and haunted by past failures with a guilt-ridden heart but there is almost like an underlining of hope that lingers when every he speaks or moves or touches. He's captured in a way that is so breathtaking and heartbreaking that it's completely mesmerizing. Such a fascinating creature.
While the storyline wraps around the myth of Persephone, it's shaped in a different way. This is the stuff I love about books. Authors get to break away from traditional folklore and create something unique and bright and amazing. But I can also understand that some readers may not like the idea of there favorite mythology characters being taken out of there original design and conveying them in a different light, but for me, I had a blast with this concept!! I loved the entire set-up to this world and that ending had me completely floored! It shocked and awed me at the same time. Freaking Kudos!
Simply put. I loved this book! It has everything I look for in an escape. Unique, romantic, mysterious, compelling and ingenious. I was captivated from the very first page, till the very last and all I want is more.
An instant favorite! I can't wait to see what Carter has planned next in Goddess Interrupted. Is it 2012 yet?!?!
A Remarkable debut!!
(Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for giving me an opportunity to view an early copy of this amazing read)
February 6, 2015
Hmmph... Is it just me, who wanted to read this book so bad just because of the beautiful cover and the amazing plot, or did this also happened to everybody else? *bigtimesigh*
I was counting the days for when this book is going to be released. But why, why Lord does this quote, "Do NOT judge a book by its cover" beat me every single time?
I mean, okay. Covers were always my weak spot, but the plot? Even the blurb betrayed me in this one. The theme of this book looked so exciting, I nearly shouted when I finally got to read this book and because of this excitement, I finished the book in 3.5 hours, but what did I get?
Nothing.
This book was a huge disappointment and has let me down to nowhere.
First of all, Aimee, the author of this disappointing book, messed up the Gods pretty bad. Hades for instance. I thought he was going to be scary and empowering but what do we readers get?
A lonely guy who is a virgin, has a sweet personality and is probably scared of spiders because that was scary in Aimee Carter's dictionary. And Kate is just like any other typical brainwashed Bella heroine, who acts like a machine and loves like Juliet. Even Siri could do a better job than her.
And do I even have to talk about Ava? Weren't you, like, Kate's mortal enemy in the beginning of the book and then after some milli-seconds you are her best friend? And then you are her enemy and then her best friend AGAIN? You need to get your priorities straight girl.
Dylan and James. I honesty don't even know.
The only real part in this book which I liked considerably was her Mom's illness scene and then everything goes down the drain and weird very fast. I won't say I didn't particularly enjoyed this, but then it did fail to meet expectation too, so I guess that's equal. In the end, I am just stuck in between and I think I have to read the second book to really see where this is going. 2.5/5 stars. But meanwhile, here's some advice for the author:
Aimee Carter,
Get your facts straight, and your characters straighter.
I was counting the days for when this book is going to be released. But why, why Lord does this quote, "Do NOT judge a book by its cover" beat me every single time?
I mean, okay. Covers were always my weak spot, but the plot? Even the blurb betrayed me in this one. The theme of this book looked so exciting, I nearly shouted when I finally got to read this book and because of this excitement, I finished the book in 3.5 hours, but what did I get?
Nothing.
This book was a huge disappointment and has let me down to nowhere.
First of all, Aimee, the author of this disappointing book, messed up the Gods pretty bad. Hades for instance. I thought he was going to be scary and empowering but what do we readers get?
A lonely guy who is a virgin, has a sweet personality and is probably scared of spiders because that was scary in Aimee Carter's dictionary. And Kate is just like any other typical brainwashed Bella heroine, who acts like a machine and loves like Juliet. Even Siri could do a better job than her.
And do I even have to talk about Ava? Weren't you, like, Kate's mortal enemy in the beginning of the book and then after some milli-seconds you are her best friend? And then you are her enemy and then her best friend AGAIN? You need to get your priorities straight girl.
Dylan and James. I honesty don't even know.
The only real part in this book which I liked considerably was her Mom's illness scene and then everything goes down the drain and weird very fast. I won't say I didn't particularly enjoyed this, but then it did fail to meet expectation too, so I guess that's equal. In the end, I am just stuck in between and I think I have to read the second book to really see where this is going. 2.5/5 stars. But meanwhile, here's some advice for the author:
Aimee Carter,
Get your facts straight, and your characters straighter.
December 6, 2016
I'm rating this book 3.25 stars. This book was good. Originally I thought the tests would be more dramatic and not as underwhelming as they were. That was a bummer. But the way the author did do the tests which was do them in plain sight without the heroine knowing was interesting. Overall I liked this and it was a quick read. One thing I didn't like was that Kate was so selfless. Yes. Yes. I know that's what most heroines are made of. But what really bothered me was that to save Ava's life after Ava abandoned her and the only way to get out was by passing her worst fear (water/swimming)Ava fell in and even though I would have tried to save her like the heroine. I wouldn't have offered to spent six months out of the year for the rest of my life to bring her back from the dead. So I do wish that Kate did have some self preservation. I liked Henry. What I really liked about this book was how the author put a twist on the classic story of Hades and Persephony. The Greek mythology was mixed really well in this book. The love story I was kind of like how? How did Kate fall in love with Henry. I felt no romantic or physical connection between both characters. And I would have liked it to be more falling slowly and passionately in love. But it was good not great but good.
January 22, 2011
Aimee Carter is a debut author (and only 24 years old!) and her Goddess Test series is definitely one to watch for (planning on being a three book series...so far; GODDESS INTERRUPTED will follow in February 2012).
To start with, I felt abashed that this book made me cry so easily! The book opens with protagonist Kate and a rundown of her role as caregiver for her dying mom. Carter's description of this heart-wrenching process is mature and well-written.
This book also pays homage to one of my favorite myths, the myth of Persephone. I've been in love with pomegranates ever since first reading this myth, but Kate feels different about the seeds. She also feels differently about the prospect of spending eternity with Hades (who is a hottie!), but I won’t give away whether she disdains or enjoys his company.
But I will say, there is one big twist at the end and of course, the ending of the novel has me reeling to read the next book in the series, GODDESS INTERRUPTED.
To start with, I felt abashed that this book made me cry so easily! The book opens with protagonist Kate and a rundown of her role as caregiver for her dying mom. Carter's description of this heart-wrenching process is mature and well-written.
This book also pays homage to one of my favorite myths, the myth of Persephone. I've been in love with pomegranates ever since first reading this myth, but Kate feels different about the seeds. She also feels differently about the prospect of spending eternity with Hades (who is a hottie!), but I won’t give away whether she disdains or enjoys his company.
But I will say, there is one big twist at the end and of course, the ending of the novel has me reeling to read the next book in the series, GODDESS INTERRUPTED.
November 6, 2021
ری تلینگ هیدس و پرسیفونه بود اما نبود🚶🏻یعنی قضیه همون بود ولی اینجا پرسیفونه چند سال پیشا دار فانی رو وداع گفته و حالا جناب هیدس دنبال جایگزینی ملکه مردگانه. همینم باعث میشه راهش به راه کیت بخوره.
حرف زیادی درباره ش ندارم چون یه داستان برگرفته از اساطیر یونان اما در زمان حال بود و هدفشم از همون ابتدا مشخصه. صرفا بگم که شخصیت هیدس توی این کتاب خیلی جنتلمنه و همین که برخلاف سایر رمان های کلیشه ای، یه لرد بی اعصاب خشن هات نبود، کار رو قشنگ می کرد. عشق هیدس و کیت هم دوستانه و جذابه.
حالا تا جلد دو رو بخونم و ببینم حرفم میاد یا نه🚶🏻
حرف زیادی درباره ش ندارم چون یه داستان برگرفته از اساطیر یونان اما در زمان حال بود و هدفشم از همون ابتدا مشخصه. صرفا بگم که شخصیت هیدس توی این کتاب خیلی جنتلمنه و همین که برخلاف سایر رمان های کلیشه ای، یه لرد بی اعصاب خشن هات نبود، کار رو قشنگ می کرد. عشق هیدس و کیت هم دوستانه و جذابه.
حالا تا جلد دو رو بخونم و ببینم حرفم میاد یا نه🚶🏻
January 4, 2015
The Goddess Test is the first installment in Aimee Carter's young adult, fantasy trilogy titled Goddess Test. I've had this title on my TBR list for quite a while but never picked it up until it coincidentally became BOTM on one of the goodreads groups I participate in. Don't you love it when you get a little nudge to knock a book off that long list!
Overall, I liked The Goddess Test. I enjoy mythology, and despite the title (duh!), I didn't expect the book to incorporate so much of the subject so that in itself was a plus. The cover art is stunning; the story offers fantasy, mystery/suspense, humor, and some young-adult romance. It kept my interest and I felt invested enough in the characters, but the experience was missing the "wow" factor that would warrant a 4 or 5 star rating from me personally. I went with 3 stars, which based on goodreads is not bad- I liked it afterall. I am interested enough to continue the series, but I don't find myself overly eager to continue the trilogy anytime soon.
My favorite quote:
“Sometimes we misjudge what is possible and what is not.”
Overall, I liked The Goddess Test. I enjoy mythology, and despite the title (duh!), I didn't expect the book to incorporate so much of the subject so that in itself was a plus. The cover art is stunning; the story offers fantasy, mystery/suspense, humor, and some young-adult romance. It kept my interest and I felt invested enough in the characters, but the experience was missing the "wow" factor that would warrant a 4 or 5 star rating from me personally. I went with 3 stars, which based on goodreads is not bad- I liked it afterall. I am interested enough to continue the series, but I don't find myself overly eager to continue the trilogy anytime soon.
My favorite quote:
“Sometimes we misjudge what is possible and what is not.”
October 20, 2015
Pretty fast and entertaining read! I love books revolving around Greek mythology and this was no exception.
March 6, 2018
Love the cover,
love the characters,
love the plot,
love the book,
because...
it's Aimee-zing!!!
P. S. : It's Greek Mythology!
love the characters,
love the plot,
love the book,
because...
it's Aimee-zing!!!
P. S. : It's Greek Mythology!
May 8, 2012
Original review from Little Book Owl
Full video review found here: Youtube
The Goddess Test is a unique take on the Persephone and Hades myth. The plot was very intriguing, keeping you in the dark about several mysteries throughout the entire story.
The writing style was quite nice, simple. However there are a couple of questions that still have me a little confused.
I loved Kate. She was a very strong main character with a moral and compassionate attitude. She was selfless, putting her life and future on the line for others.
Not so sure what to make of Henry. He was very disconnected and distant from Kate, even in the intimate moments. This left the romance feeling a little lacking in depth and character.
The side characters were great. I loved James, he was very funny and cute. Would have liked to have seen a little more of him, but his disappearance was understandable due to later twists.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I love the Greek mythology, and would highly recommend this book to everyone.
Full video review found here: Youtube
The Goddess Test is a unique take on the Persephone and Hades myth. The plot was very intriguing, keeping you in the dark about several mysteries throughout the entire story.
The writing style was quite nice, simple. However there are a couple of questions that still have me a little confused.
I loved Kate. She was a very strong main character with a moral and compassionate attitude. She was selfless, putting her life and future on the line for others.
Not so sure what to make of Henry. He was very disconnected and distant from Kate, even in the intimate moments. This left the romance feeling a little lacking in depth and character.
The side characters were great. I loved James, he was very funny and cute. Would have liked to have seen a little more of him, but his disappearance was understandable due to later twists.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I love the Greek mythology, and would highly recommend this book to everyone.
December 30, 2015
As an audiobook, the story was told beautifully – the problem is: the story was awful.
From the synopsis I was intrigued by a plot which looked so promising, and it could have been with the intricate references to Greek mythology but the characters ruined it. I couldn’t stand a single one, and even after discovering their true identities (something I predicted from the beginning) they continued to annoy the hell out of me.
Kate was by far the worst. It largely fell down to the fact that she blamed everything on herself. Someone tries to kill her and she feels guilty for the person’s twisted reasoning which wasn’t under her control. Someone basically imprisons her and she blames herself for when things go wrong and they get their just deserts.
Not only this but she is the most selfless protagonist I have ever read about – and it felt like a bad thing. She never spared a thought about herself, doing everything within her power to aid others when she shouldn’t have had to and they didn’t deserve it anyways! It was unbelievable and frankly unhealthy at times.
Henry wasn’t much better and they were constantly trying to outdo each other with the “I’m not worth you” nonsense. Arghh I wanted to shake some sense into them! Or at the very least slap them upside the head until they started thinking like normal people. Eventually it turned from me virtually tearing my hair out, to laughing aloud at the idiocy. Needless to say I got some weird looks as I walked along the street muttering to myself.
It was one of those things where if I didn’t laugh I’d cry; something I didn’t even know was possible in a book, let alone a bad one! I wanted to give The Goddess Test 2 stars for bringing some out sort of emotion, but I can’t. I just can’t, because I can’t recommend this.
Unless of course you like uninteresting Greek Gods who abide by morals. You heard me – morals. I mean come on, seriously? What myths has Aimee Carter been reading? They murder and sin and marry their family: they don’t “test” mortals by examining their character to see if they are worthy of immortality.
Unless of course you like bland characters that you want to stab.
Unless you want predictable “plot twists” STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK! You see it in a bookshop and you hide it behind something else before running away; save yourself the time and mental wellbeing. It’s safe to say I won’t be touching the sequel with a ten foot pole.
Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/
From the synopsis I was intrigued by a plot which looked so promising, and it could have been with the intricate references to Greek mythology but the characters ruined it. I couldn’t stand a single one, and even after discovering their true identities (something I predicted from the beginning) they continued to annoy the hell out of me.
Kate was by far the worst. It largely fell down to the fact that she blamed everything on herself. Someone tries to kill her and she feels guilty for the person’s twisted reasoning which wasn’t under her control. Someone basically imprisons her and she blames herself for when things go wrong and they get their just deserts.
Not only this but she is the most selfless protagonist I have ever read about – and it felt like a bad thing. She never spared a thought about herself, doing everything within her power to aid others when she shouldn’t have had to and they didn’t deserve it anyways! It was unbelievable and frankly unhealthy at times.
Henry wasn’t much better and they were constantly trying to outdo each other with the “I’m not worth you” nonsense. Arghh I wanted to shake some sense into them! Or at the very least slap them upside the head until they started thinking like normal people. Eventually it turned from me virtually tearing my hair out, to laughing aloud at the idiocy. Needless to say I got some weird looks as I walked along the street muttering to myself.
It was one of those things where if I didn’t laugh I’d cry; something I didn’t even know was possible in a book, let alone a bad one! I wanted to give The Goddess Test 2 stars for bringing some out sort of emotion, but I can’t. I just can’t, because I can’t recommend this.
Unless of course you like uninteresting Greek Gods who abide by morals. You heard me – morals. I mean come on, seriously? What myths has Aimee Carter been reading? They murder and sin and marry their family: they don’t “test” mortals by examining their character to see if they are worthy of immortality.
Unless of course you like bland characters that you want to stab.
Unless you want predictable “plot twists” STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK! You see it in a bookshop and you hide it behind something else before running away; save yourself the time and mental wellbeing. It’s safe to say I won’t be touching the sequel with a ten foot pole.
Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/
March 10, 2012
What an incredible debut from author Aimee Carter!! The Goddess Test was absolutely amazing!!! I’ve always had a love for Greek Mythology and Aimee has just set the precedence for Greek Mythology lovers.
The story is about a girl named Kate and her mother who is deathly ill. Kate’s mother wants to go back to her hometown where she was born and raised to die. Kate has taken care of her mother for the past four years and that’s all she knows. She doesn’t have a life outside of home and school. Kate loves her mother more than anything and will do anything to make her happy in her final days. The story really unfolds when Kate begins school in Eden. When Kate ends up falling victim to a vicious prank she meets Henry, a beautiful, dark and mysterious guy who makes a deal with Kate and now Kate has a bargain to uphold and many choices to make. She faces many hardships but also discovers comforts in other places and people, especially Henry. She is falling for him and is finding she relates to him more than she ever thought. They both have hardships they have been dealt but together they can face them hand in hand.
The characters in this story are well defined and well written. Our protagonist, Kate, was an all around amazing character. There wasn’t anything annoying about her and the emotions and the heart she showed was absolutely captivating! This had me on the edge of my seat with a Kleenex box in hand. This book truly pulls you to the core. Henry was yet again, another amazing character. You really learn and understand him better and become so wrapped up in everything he has gone through. I really loved the secondary characters as well. They brought so much to the story. They played such an important part in making it as wonderful as it could be.
This is a beautifully written book with such fresh and vivid details you can actually picture the settings and the see the story unfold in your own eyes. I was so captivated by this book. I will definitely be buying this as soon as it comes out. I’m looking forward to the next book Goddess Interrupted. This is a Must read!!!
Thank You to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen!!
The story is about a girl named Kate and her mother who is deathly ill. Kate’s mother wants to go back to her hometown where she was born and raised to die. Kate has taken care of her mother for the past four years and that’s all she knows. She doesn’t have a life outside of home and school. Kate loves her mother more than anything and will do anything to make her happy in her final days. The story really unfolds when Kate begins school in Eden. When Kate ends up falling victim to a vicious prank she meets Henry, a beautiful, dark and mysterious guy who makes a deal with Kate and now Kate has a bargain to uphold and many choices to make. She faces many hardships but also discovers comforts in other places and people, especially Henry. She is falling for him and is finding she relates to him more than she ever thought. They both have hardships they have been dealt but together they can face them hand in hand.
The characters in this story are well defined and well written. Our protagonist, Kate, was an all around amazing character. There wasn’t anything annoying about her and the emotions and the heart she showed was absolutely captivating! This had me on the edge of my seat with a Kleenex box in hand. This book truly pulls you to the core. Henry was yet again, another amazing character. You really learn and understand him better and become so wrapped up in everything he has gone through. I really loved the secondary characters as well. They brought so much to the story. They played such an important part in making it as wonderful as it could be.
This is a beautifully written book with such fresh and vivid details you can actually picture the settings and the see the story unfold in your own eyes. I was so captivated by this book. I will definitely be buying this as soon as it comes out. I’m looking forward to the next book Goddess Interrupted. This is a Must read!!!
Thank You to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen!!
Shelved as 'wishlist'
March 26, 2023I remember this was THE YA book to hate on back in the day, when everyone had decided the done thing was to hate on Twilight and its ilk. Now that the anti-hype has died down, I bought a copy, because I am SO curious to see what I think
October 29, 2011
I’ve actually been meaning to review this for a while. But I guess I just didn’t know hoe. So, after much care and consideration I have put together this review.
I picked this book up because…. I have no idea why I picked this book up. I mean it has gotten some really, really bad reviews. But I guess my subconscious mind wanted me to read it. So I bought it along with Glow and The Girl in the Steel Corset. Out of the three this was the first that I read, I picked it up first and I read it first. I started reading it on the bus ride home and I could not put it down. Surprisingly it was really good. Thank you subconscious mind.
I’m not going to bore you with the details of the book. So the book in a sentence: Boy (Henry, but actually Hades) saves girl’s (Kate) frenemy (Ava, one of the main characters becomes Kate’s BFF, even though she WAS a bitch) in return for Kate coming back to his lair and becoming his queen, she grudgingly agrees and he says to become a goddess she must pass a bunch of tests (unknown to her), her and Henry fall in love (as would be expected), Kate also has a bunch of threats on her life (by a jealous goddess, she’s in love with Henry). That’s basically the book in a nutshell.
The plot was good, if you forget everything you have ever heard or read about Greek Mythology you’ll probably enjoy this more, but even if you cant forget it’s still a good idea and it’s a good plot. I love how it all comes together at the end. I love the moment all the gods and goddesses reveal themselves. I also love when Kate finds out Henry is a virgin and she deflowered him (yep you heard me the almighty god of the underworld was a virgin).
I liked the writing, it was likeable. I have never been a good judge at writing, it’s either it kept me interested or it didn’t and this one kept me interested. So if I would have to rate it, I would give the writing 7/10. It kept me interested and I haven’t liked many paranormal romances lately.
The characters, I have no clue what to say here. I liked the characters they were all likeably enough; I liked the fact that the God’s were hidden amongst the normal characters. I liked how some of the characters had back-stories. I liked the main character although at times I found her a little unbelievable; she just seemed really two-dimensional at times.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I finished it in a day and a half. I liked it. I recommend this book to YA paranormal romance likers, you may not love it, but I recommend giving it a go and I don’t recommend it to people that are really invested and love Greek Mythology, you’ll probably just pick the book apart. When on the whole it’s a good book.
I picked this book up because…. I have no idea why I picked this book up. I mean it has gotten some really, really bad reviews. But I guess my subconscious mind wanted me to read it. So I bought it along with Glow and The Girl in the Steel Corset. Out of the three this was the first that I read, I picked it up first and I read it first. I started reading it on the bus ride home and I could not put it down. Surprisingly it was really good. Thank you subconscious mind.
I’m not going to bore you with the details of the book. So the book in a sentence: Boy (Henry, but actually Hades) saves girl’s (Kate) frenemy (Ava, one of the main characters becomes Kate’s BFF, even though she WAS a bitch) in return for Kate coming back to his lair and becoming his queen, she grudgingly agrees and he says to become a goddess she must pass a bunch of tests (unknown to her), her and Henry fall in love (as would be expected), Kate also has a bunch of threats on her life (by a jealous goddess, she’s in love with Henry). That’s basically the book in a nutshell.
The plot was good, if you forget everything you have ever heard or read about Greek Mythology you’ll probably enjoy this more, but even if you cant forget it’s still a good idea and it’s a good plot. I love how it all comes together at the end. I love the moment all the gods and goddesses reveal themselves. I also love when Kate finds out Henry is a virgin and she deflowered him (yep you heard me the almighty god of the underworld was a virgin).
I liked the writing, it was likeable. I have never been a good judge at writing, it’s either it kept me interested or it didn’t and this one kept me interested. So if I would have to rate it, I would give the writing 7/10. It kept me interested and I haven’t liked many paranormal romances lately.
The characters, I have no clue what to say here. I liked the characters they were all likeably enough; I liked the fact that the God’s were hidden amongst the normal characters. I liked how some of the characters had back-stories. I liked the main character although at times I found her a little unbelievable; she just seemed really two-dimensional at times.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I finished it in a day and a half. I liked it. I recommend this book to YA paranormal romance likers, you may not love it, but I recommend giving it a go and I don’t recommend it to people that are really invested and love Greek Mythology, you’ll probably just pick the book apart. When on the whole it’s a good book.
March 14, 2011
The Goddess Test is an awesome debut. It was a hypnotic yet comfortable read where the pages just flew by.
It is such an eloquently written story that I am surprised that this is Aimee Carter's debut novel. It is just a seamless read and a really remarkable debut. And the premises was incredible. I loved the way the mythology was weaved into the plot. It was creative, unique and easy to follow. And for a book that is part of a series is has a completely satisfying ending. YAY!
Kate, the female protagonist is a likeable and endearing character. She is a compassionate and caring person who will sacrifice anything for those she cares about. And there is a wide variety of secondary characters that are well rounded and entertaining. Okay there were also a couple I found annoying like Ava but overall it was a good bunch of a characters. I especially like James (not a love interest, just a friend....well at least at this stage). He is a little bit different and a mysterious character that I hope we get to see more of in the next installment.
The romance was sweet and tender but it lacked a little spark as did Henry. He was a nice guy who I liked but he lacked that something special to make him standout at this stage from all those literary leading men. I really hope that in second book he opens up more as a character and then I am sure I will be swooning.
Overall, The Goddess Test has a very familiar paranormal romance feel to it but yet it is different enough to be memorable and a highly enjoyable read. I am certainly eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the series.
Thanks to Harlequin Teen for providing me with a copy
It is such an eloquently written story that I am surprised that this is Aimee Carter's debut novel. It is just a seamless read and a really remarkable debut. And the premises was incredible. I loved the way the mythology was weaved into the plot. It was creative, unique and easy to follow. And for a book that is part of a series is has a completely satisfying ending. YAY!
Kate, the female protagonist is a likeable and endearing character. She is a compassionate and caring person who will sacrifice anything for those she cares about. And there is a wide variety of secondary characters that are well rounded and entertaining. Okay there were also a couple I found annoying like Ava but overall it was a good bunch of a characters. I especially like James (not a love interest, just a friend....well at least at this stage). He is a little bit different and a mysterious character that I hope we get to see more of in the next installment.
The romance was sweet and tender but it lacked a little spark as did Henry. He was a nice guy who I liked but he lacked that something special to make him standout at this stage from all those literary leading men. I really hope that in second book he opens up more as a character and then I am sure I will be swooning.
Overall, The Goddess Test has a very familiar paranormal romance feel to it but yet it is different enough to be memorable and a highly enjoyable read. I am certainly eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the series.
Thanks to Harlequin Teen for providing me with a copy
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