55) The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter

The Blurb -


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 blurb for this one sounded promising and I found myself hitting 'Request' for a galley copy of The Goddess Test. However once the book found itself on my Kindle I also got a few new releases to read and this ARC sat waiting for me until I managed to start it last night. Considering I am not feeling 100% this weekend (cold...in Spring...gah!) I found myself finishing this book in record speed. However I am not sure why because it wasn't that easy to read.

The Greek Mythology aspect of this book is interesting but I am pretty sure that the author has ruined the classic gods. Any lovers of Greek Mythology need not bother with this one as I fear you will hate it. The story itself was extremely unique and different but I also found it a little confusing and complicated at times. At the beginning I was gripped by what was happening. Then somewhere the suspense disappeared and things became slow and fluffy.

The main character, Kate, is actually nice and likable but she was just too nice. The other characters were ok but nobody else really stood out. Henry was boring and I didn't see him as the good looking wonderful person everyone thought he was. Ava was annoyingly there the whole way through the book and James, the one guy I could have gotten to like, was just not there enough.

A twist towards the end was something I expected could happen but it still surprised me. A second book after this debut is not something I expected to see announced at the end though. This story came across as a one off and I was happy with that feeling. To know there is another book coming later on and that this is a series kind of hurts a little. Yes this book was readable enough for me to finish it but I doubt very much that I would read another of its kind.

Of course this is supposed to be Young Adult so I have to address those aspects. Kate comes across as a very mature young woman. Looking after her ill mother, getting a house, driving the car etc etc. However when it comes being in a relationship and feelings she is a total dud. Yes she has spent a lot of her teenage life looking after her mum but the author didn't seem to want to 'go there'. So nothing rude or explicit in this one. Aiming this at the younger teen group.

All in all, this book has its moments and it is those moments that kept me reading to the end. A nice leading lady was also a big reason for me to keep reading but a severe lack of anything else special makes me wonder what others will think of this book. Fantasy, Mythology and a lack of oomph leaves me unsure about The Goddess Test. Only time will tell if I actually bother with the sequel when it comes out.