Author: Aimee Carter
Series: Goddess Test #1
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Publication Date: April 19, 2011
Synopsis:EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.Review:
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 suceeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.
IF SHE FAILS...
How awesome does this book sound? A girl has to take seven tests to become a goddess and wife to Hades. Can you blame me if I thought this was going to involve a kick-ass heroine putting an end to her enemies and conquering the world? Alas, it just wasn’t to be. Those 7 tests were more of a personality check than actually any tests you would expect from a book based on Greek mythology. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.
The book begins with Kate Winters driving her sick mom to Eden, where her mom grew up. Kate had resigned herself to spending however long her mom has left in this new town in the middle of nowhere. When an accident happens to one of Kate’s “friends”, she meets Henry and agrees to his condition in order to save her friend. Thus it sets up a chain of events that leads her to Eden Manor.
Kate and Henry are both extremely depressing characters. Kate has taken care of her sick mom for the last four years, never having had any real life of her own. I can’t imagine a life like that and I respect her for it. But you can imagine what that does to her psyche. She mostly thinks about her mom’s death and never really has a happy thought. Don’t get me wrong. I like Kate, but there’s really nothing too special about her in a YA book. She shows kindness and empathy when other people treat her wrong. She’s courageous when needed. She tends to blame herself for everything. Everyone believes in her when she doesn’t believe in herself. Need I say more?
The same goes for Henry. He’s just so depressing all the time. It’s understandable, since he’s lived such a long and lonely life. Persephone didn’t love him. The previous girls all died because of him. It would be hard on anyone. If I were him I’d want to end my existence too! Yeah, he’s handsome. He’s a God and a hero in a YA paranormal romance. There’s no way he can be ugly. But he’s Hades!! When I imagine Hades I see a tattooed sexy as hell badass with an attitude problem, not this meek and sad little man. Btw did I mention that I think he’s a jerk? A girl tells him that she loves him and he says nothing and just ignores her and pretends she never said anything. No wonder the girl went crazy!
I love that the romance here isn’t insta-love. Kate and Henry took their sweet time falling in love. And it’s not a love triangle (thank you!) But their romance lacked any spark. There wasn’t that much build-up. There wasn’t a lot of “show not tell” going on. Instead we get Kate’s recitation of what’s happening as time passes. I’m always a fan of characters slowly falling in love, but there has to be sexual tension and sparks(think Obsidian by JLA). This book didn’t have any of that.
Then there are the tests! OMG can they be any more ridiculous? It’s Greek mythology! Where heroes killed Minotaurs and gorgons and whatever evil creatures there’re and Gods played with human lives just to have fun! What did Kate have to do? NOTHING! She just has to be herself, and of course just by being herself she has all the qualities the council is looking for in a goddess. Instead of tests, she gets to eat all her favorite foods and wear pretty dresses or whatever she wants and live in a mansion. Hard life? Right? And the council is the most rational and calm gods I’ve ever seen. No thunderbolts and no one was maimed or killed. Good for the Greeks!
Anyway, it’s not that this one doesn’t have any redeeming qualities. Like I said, no insta-love and no love triangle. The writing also flowed really well. I felt sorry for Kate and Henry and was actually cheering all the way for them to find some happiness, except I’m not sure the ending was a happy one. Well, it’s happier than the rest of the book I guess. Sadly to say, I won’t be reading the second book. I don't recommend this just because the character and the story didn't really stand out.
14 comments:
Oh thats sad! I have heard some good things about this book, and it does SOUND good. Its a bummer it wasnt better! Great review though
The Goddess Test was interesting at first, but then, like you said, the tests were too easy, and the characters were depressing. I expecting something more wild and exciting, maybe even life-threatening.
thanks! I know! I was excited about the tests but she didn't really end up doing anything, so it was disappointing.
same here! the story was dark and depressing and none of the characters were too special. If the tests were more difficult and that Kate actually had do do something rather than just sit around I probably would've liked it more.
Oh, darn :( I was looking forward to this one, since I love mythology and like you: I liked to idea of passing seven tests.. Bah, so sad that you didn't like it.. I might still give it a shot, but I will keep this in mind. Thanks!
I read this one a year ago, and liked it! >.< *dont shoot me* xD Lol.. no but seriously though, i want to get book two, but I'll have to do a re read of this one, I'm feeling masochistic at the moment xD lmao. Great review Ning, I also liked that it was a slow built relationship of luurve on not instant. But i def gotta agree, Hades in my head, the God of the Underworld is control, HOT, tempered, and alpha allll the way!! But this Hades makes the underworld seem like a sauna instead of a fiery pit of doomed souls >.< Lol :P Too bad you wont be continuing the second book but definitely better than having to continue a series you didn't quite connect with. On to another! :D
I actually loved this one. I can't wait for book 3. I actually liked the tests. While they didn't have a lot of action, they were the seven deadly sins and a lot of people wouldn't pass these tests. I liked that they were done while Kate was still learning to fit in and she never knew she was being tested. I'm a big fan of Henry and Kate. I can't wait for the third book. Sorry you didn't enjoy it more.
This wasn't the best read, I agree. Kate seemed to live a mundane life with no idea what's happening.
yeah don't let me stop u! a lot of ppl liked it too and it also might depend on ur mood. I probably wasn't in the right mind-set when I read this, so try it out!
haha thanks!! "fiery pit of doomed souls" indeed. I actually was thinking of the funny Hades in the disney movies, but this Henry was way too lifeless and bland for me. I tried reading Goddess Legacy too but I just couldn't get into the side stories. All the gods just weren't that interesting. Time to find another Greek mythology book lmao.
I know. it's actually interesting how the she mixed the 7 deadly sins w/ greek mythology. but it just wasn't for me. Kate seemed like one of those too perfect heroines who's just perfectly good. anyway, hope you enjoy the 3rd book. I know a lot of ppl liked this so I had to give it a try at least!
lol I agree. whenever she freaks out about her "history" test I was like "get a grip". Well, now's time to move on to better reads!
LOL @ Hades in the disney movies xD Yeah this Hades was too boring, seemed much too... what's the word.... tame? yeah, i like my Hades to be bad ass xD Mhm, I'm right there with ya Ning! On to another Greek Myth. book!! ^_^
Exactly! Creating an amazing test isn't exactly hard. Fighting a dragon could have been an awesome test to read about.
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