Published: April 19th, 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Source: Purchased
Grade rate: B+
It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.
My Review
The Goddess Test is a new take on Greek mythology, which I love.
I feel that other than Kate, we don’t get to know the characters in depth. The story is told from Kate’s point of view, which allowed me to get to know her better. I can commiserate on how hard her life has been taking care of her mother that has a terminal disease. Still, her sense of guilt and responsibility for everything and everyone was a little misplaced. I thought the friendship between Ava, James and Kate was a little forced and very fast to develop. Henry was very hard to figure out. The air of mystery that surrounds him and his clinginess to a lost love was hard for me to get over. Don’t get me wrong, I think that his deserved better that what he got and all the bad rep he gained by being Hades.
Ms. Carter’s writing was fluid and easy to read and the plot had both predictable moments and a few surprises as well. I didn’t care much for all the tricks that were played on Kate, but I guess they were necessary for her to pass her tests, after all immortality is a big deal. I don’t like this business of being apart from someone you love for six months of the year.
Overall, I enjoyed the Goddess Test and I am looking forward to the sequel, Goddess Interrupted, to be published in January of next year.
About the cover: The cover is very pretty. There is a good reason for all the green plants (it will be a spoiler if I tell you why) that surround the model. Also, the Greek dress and sandals are very appropriate due to the theme of the book. I like the placement and the font of the tittle and there are shiny ‘Greek’ symbols throughout the book.
I really want to read this. I love Greek mythology, too, and I've been really excited at YA going into this direction, with lots of retellings to choose from. I think this one sounds worth reading.
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