So, a couple months ago, I started following Aimée Carter on twitter because she was 2011 debut author, and I feel we must support our debut authors. But then she turned out to be really nice. And her book sounded sooooo good. And then it got a gorgeous cover!
And suddenly I couldn’t wait to read this book. April 19th was much too far away. Why are publishers mean to us like this? But then, oh glory! NetGalley saved the day.
Thank you NetGalley, for your awesomeness. …And also Aimée Carter and HarlequinTeen. You guys are pretty swell too.
I pretty much forced Christine to read the book as well, so she forced me to do a group review with her. And this was the result:
Caitlin: The amount of excited I was to read this book, does not have an appropriate scale. I’m not even sure why I was so excited. The book had next to no buzz…which actually might have worked in its favour. I love an underdog. It has a gorgeous cover, a super-awesome nice author, and a fantastic twist-on-a-myth plot. How could I not have loved it?
Christine: The moment you told me this book was based on the Greek myth of Persephone, I was hooked. I’ve always loved the Greek myths. They were my favorite subject to cover in English class and I knew right away which myth you were talking about.
Caitlin: The lord of the Underworld kidnapping a goddess for his own nefarious schemes was your favourite part of English class? Okay.
Christine: Hey, all the myths were my favorite part. I especially loved reading The Illiad and The Odyssey, but Persephone’s story always stayed with me because I felt sorry for her.
Caitlin: I always thought she was kind of a brat. Putting that aside, The Goddess Test is much more than a modern day Persephone myth. It’s the story of Kate Winters, being offered everything anyone could ever dream of having. Everything except the one thing she really wants.
Kate is given the opportunity to become the Queen of the Underworld, the wife of Hades, all she has to do is pass a series of tests. All while staying one step ahead of an assassin. All while waiting for her mom to die.
Christine: As much as I enjoyed this book, there was one thing that bothered me. Going into the deal, Kate didn’t ask many questions about what was expected of her, what was going to happen during those six months she’d be spending with Hades — whose name is Henry now because they change their names every once in a while — or even what would happen after those six months ended. I think if she had been in a better frame of mind, she might have asked those important questions, but grief and desperation do strange things to people and Aimée Carter did a good job at showing those emotions through Kate.
Caitlin: She did do a good job of that. I found myself tearing up near the beginning. I didn’t want Kate’s mom to die either. If I was offered a similar deal that included a six month grace period with my mother, I don’t think I’d ask too many questions either.
But besides that, what I really loved about this book was the cast of characters. And it’s really difficult to describe why I loved them so much without giving away a ton of spoilers. But, let’s just say, I dubbed one character the “disappearing, reappearing girl” because she just couldn’t seem to decide if she was alive or dead.
Everyone was so original, and yet fit into the world of the Greek Gods so well.
Especially Henry. I loved Henry so much!
Christine: Henry grew on me as I read. I knew who he was at the beginning, and every story, myth or movie I’ve read/seen always put him as the bad guy, so I started out not trusting him. But by the end of this book, I loved him, too. Aimée did such a 180 on Persephone’s myth that Hades became the good guy and Persephone, the spoiled girl who hurt everyone around her.
Caitlin: Which is exactly why it was so awesome! She kept the ruthlessness and separate-ness of the Greek Gods, while making them into something completely different from what they are usually painted as. Although, still drawn in such a way, that when you do find out who is who and what and why, it all makes sense.
I feel like I’m giving away too much even by saying that. But trust me, the characters are amazing and you’ve never seen the Greek Gods like this before.
Christine: I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of this world after reading the first book, since we only know what Kate knows. This is partly why I’m so excited to read the next book in the series. The other part would be to see Henry again. (I’m not ashamed to admit I’m halfway in love with a fictional character. I believe there will be a support group created after more people read this book. We’ll call it “I Wish Henry Was Real” and hold bi-monthly meetings.)
Caitlin: The world was very unique. At the beginning of the book, it seemed very similar to a lot of other paranormal YA stories out there, but the way everything came together in the end was so, once again, unique! It was clear everything had been thought out very well, and the ending left me satisfied and happy, while still desperate for more. And that is the perfect ending.
Christine: I wasn’t satisfied with the ending, but I was happy that Aimee wrapped up one major plot. Now I just need the next book to answer the ten other plots/questions that were left unanswered. And I’m sure that one will answer some, but make me want to know about ten more things. Basically, I require the two other books in the series as soon as possible.
Caitlin: Well, aren’t you demanding.
Although, I admit, I too would like the next book now…instead of in a year or whatever. Patience is so difficult. But trust me, everyone, when I say you want to read this book. Cause you do.
And, I’m on a bit of campaign to get the book added to 3000 shelves on GoodReads by its release on April 19th. If you are interested in reading this book, please go here and add it to your shelves. You won’t regret it. I promise.