The Goddess Test

By Aimée Carter

It's always been just Kate and her mum– but now her mother is dying. And when her dying wish is to move back to her childhood home, Kate agrees. So she starts at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live much longer.

Then she meets Henry. Dark, tortured and mesmerising. He claims to be Hades, the God of the Underworld. If Kate accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while she attempts to pass his tests.

Kate is certain Henry is crazy– until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride– and a goddess.

But if she doesn't

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Aug 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781742901343

Aimée Carter

Aimée Carter was born in 1986 and raised in Michigan, where she currently resides. She started writing fan fiction at eleven, began her first original story four years later, and hasn’t stopped writing since. Besides writing and reading, she enjoys seeing movies, playing with her puppies, and wrestling with the puzzles in the paper each morning.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

How did it happen this time?

Henry tensed at the sound of her voice, and he tore his eyes away from the lifeless body on the bed long enough to look at her. Diana stood in the doorway, his best friend, his confidante, his family in every way except by blood, but even her presence didn’t help rein in his temper.

Drowned, said Henry, turning back to the body. I found her floating in the river early this morning.

He didn’t hear Diana move toward him, but he felt her hand on his shoulder. And we still don’t know…?

No. His voice was sharper than he’d intended, and he forced himself to soften it. No witnesses, no footprints, no traces of anything to indicate she didn’t jump in the river because she wanted to.

Maybe she did, said Diana. Maybe she panicked. Or maybe it was an accident.

Or maybe somebody did this to her. He broke away, pacing the room in an attempt to get as far from the body as possible. Eleven girls in eighty years. Don’t tell me this was an accident.

She sighed and brushed her fingertips across the girl’s white cheek. We were so close with this one, weren’t we?

Bethany, snapped Henry. Her name was Bethany, and she was twenty-three years old. Now because of me, she’ll never see twenty-four.

She never would have if she’d been the one.

Fury rose up inside of him and threatened to bubble over, but when he looked at her and saw compassion in her eyes, his anger drained away.

She should have passed, he said tightly. "She should have lived. I thought—"

We all did.

Henry sank into a chair, and she was by his side in an instant, rubbing his back in the sort of motherly gesture he expected from her. He tangled his fingers in his dark hair, his shoulders hunched with the familiar weight of grief. How much more of this was he supposed to endure before they finally released him?

There’s still time. The hope in Diana’s voice stabbed at him, more painful than anything else that had happened that morning. We still have decades—

I’m done.

His words rang through the room as she stood still next to him, her breathing suddenly ragged and uneven. In the several seconds it took for her to respond, he considered taking it back, promising he would try again, but he couldn’t. Too many had already died.

Henry, please, she whispered. There’s twenty years left. You can’t be done.

It won’t make a difference.

She knelt in front of him and pulled his hands from his face, forcing him to look at her and see her fear. "You promised me a century, and you will give me a century, do you understand?"

I won’t let another one die because of me.

And I won’t let you fade, not like this. Not if I have anything to say about it.

He scowled. "And what will you do? Find another girl who’s willing? Bring another candidate to the manor every year until one passes? Until one makes it past Christmas?"

If I have to. She narrowed her eyes, determination radiating from her. There is another option.

He looked away. I’ve already said no. We aren’t talking about it again.

And I’m not letting you go without a fight, she said. No one else could ever replace you no matter what the council says, and I love you too much to let you give up. You’re not leaving me any other choice.

You wouldn’t.

She was silent.

Pushing the chair aside, Henry stood, wrenching his hand away from her. "You would do that to a child? Bring her into this world just to force her into this? He pointed at the body on the bed. You would do that?"

If it means saving you, then yes.

She could die. Do you understand that?

Her eyes flashed, and she stood to face him. "I understand that if she doesn’t do this, I will lose you."

Henry turned away from her, struggling to hold himself together. That is no great sacrifice.

Diana spun him around to face her. Don’t, she snapped. Don’t you dare give up.

He blinked, startled by the intensity in her voice. When he opened his mouth to counter, she stopped him before he could speak.

"She will have a choice, you know that as well as I do, but no matter what happens, she will not become that, I promise you. Diana gestured toward the body. She will be young, but she will not be foolish."

It took Henry a moment to think of something to counter her, and when he did, he knew he clung to false hope. The council would never allow it.

I’ve already asked. As it falls within the time limit, they have given me permission.

He clenched his jaw. You asked without consulting me first?

Because I knew what you would say, she said. "I can’t lose you. We can’t lose you. We’re all we have, and without you—please, Henry. Let me try."

Henry closed his eyes. He had no choice now, not if the council agreed. He tried to picture what the girl might look like, but each time he tried to form an image, the memory of another face got in the way.

I couldn’t love her.

You wouldn’t have to. Diana pressed a kiss to his cheek. But I think you will.

And why is that?

Because I know you, and I know the mistakes I made before. I won’t repeat them again.

He sighed, his resolve crumbling as she stared at him, silently pleading. It was only twenty years; he could make it until then if it meant not hurting her more than he already had. And this time, he thought, glancing at the body on the bed once more, he wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes either.

I’ll miss you while you’re gone, he said, and her shoulders slumped with relief. But this will be the last one. If she fails, I’m done.

Okay, she said, squeezing his hand. Thank you, Henry.

He nodded, and she let go. As she walked to the door, she, too, looked at the bed, and Henry swore to himself that this would never happen again. No matter what it took, pass or fail, this one would live.

This isn’t your fault, he said, the words tumbling out before he could stop himself. What happened—I allowed it. You aren’t to blame.

She paused, framed in the doorway, and gave him a sad smile.

Yes, I am.

Before he could say another word, she was gone.

CHAPTER 1

EDEN

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. Nine hundred and fifty-four miles of asphalt, knowing every sign we passed brought me closer to what would undoubtedly be the worst day of my life.

As far as birthdays go, I wouldn’t recommend it.

I drove the whole way. My mother was too sick to stay awake for very long, let alone drive, but I didn’t mind. It took two days, and an hour after we’d crossed the bridge to the upper peninsula of Michigan, she looked exhausted and stiff from being in the car for so long, and if I never saw a stretch of open road again, it’d be too soon.

Kate, turn off here.

I gave my mother a funny look, but turned my blinker on anyhow. We’re not supposed to exit the freeway for another three miles.

I know. I want you to see something.

Sighing inwardly, I did as she said. She was already on borrowed time, and the chances of her having an extra day to see it later were slim.

There were pine trees everywhere, tall and looming. I saw no signs, no mile markers, nothing but trees and dirt road. Five miles in, I began to worry. You’re sure this is right?

Of course I’m sure. She pressed her forehead to the window, and her voice was so soft and broken that I could barely understand her. It’s just another mile or so.

What is?

You’ll see.

After a mile, the hedge started. It stretched down the side of the road, so high and thick that seeing what was on the other side was impossible, and it must’ve been another two miles before it veered off at a right angle, forming some kind of boundary line. The entire time we drove by, Mom stared out the window, enraptured.

This is it? I didn’t mean to sound bitter, but Mom didn’t seem to notice.

Of course it isn’t—turn left up here, sweetie.

I did as I was told, guiding the car around the corner. It’s nice and all, I said carefully, not wanting to upset her, but it’s just a hedge. Shouldn’t we go find the house and—

Here! The eagerness in her weak voice startled me. Right up there!

Craning my neck, I saw what she was talking about. Set in the middle of the hedge was a black wrought-iron gate, and the closer we got to it, the bigger it seemed to grow. It wasn’t just me—the gate was monstrous. It wasn’t there to look pretty. It was there to scare the living daylights out of anyone who thought about opening it.

I slowed to a stop in front of it, trying to look between the bars, but all I could see were more trees. The land seemed to dip in the distance, but no matter how I craned my neck, I couldn’t see what lay beyond it.

Isn’t it beautiful? Her voice was airy, almost light, and for a moment, she sounded like her old self. I felt her hand slip into mine, and I squeezed hers as much as I dared. It’s the entrance to Eden Manor.

It looks…big, I said, mustering up as much enthusiasm as I could. I wasn’t very successful. Have you ever been inside?

It was an innocent question, but the look she gave me made me feel like the answer was so obvious that even though I’d never heard of this place, I should have known.

A moment later, she blinked, and the look was gone. Not in a very long time, she said hollowly, and I bit my lip, regretting whatever it was I’d done to break the magic for her. I’m sorry, Kate, I just wanted to see it. We should keep going.

She let go of my hand, and I was suddenly keenly aware of how cool the air was against my palm. As I pressed the accelerator, I slipped my hand back into hers, not wanting to let go yet. She said nothing, and when I glanced at her, she was resting her head against the glass once more.

Half a mile down the road, it happened. One moment the road was clear, and the next a cow was in the road not fifteen feet in front of us, blocking the way.

I slammed on the brakes and twisted the wheel. The car spun a full circle, throwing my body sideways. My head hit the window as I fought for control of the car, but it was useless. I might as well have been trying to get it to fly for all the good I was doing.

We skidded to a stop, miraculously missing the tree line. My pulse raced, and I took great gulps of air, trying to calm myself down. Mom? I said frantically.

Beside me, she shook her head. I’m fine. What happened?

There’s a— I stopped, focusing on the road again. The cow was gone.

Confused, I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw a figure standing in the middle of the road, a dark-haired boy around my age wearing a black coat that fluttered in the breeze. I frowned, twisting around to try to get a proper look out the back window, but he was gone.

Had I imagined it then? I winced and rubbed my sore head. Hadn’t imagined that part.

Nothing, I said shakily. I’ve just been driving too long, that’s all. I’m sorry.

As I cautiously urged the car forward, I looked in the rearview mirror one last time. Hedge and empty road. I gripped the wheel tightly with one hand and reached out to take hers again with my other, futilely trying to forget the image of the boy now burned into my brain.

The ceiling in my bedroom leaked. The real estate agent who’d sold us the house, sight unseen, had sworn up and down there was nothing wrong with it, but apparently the jerk had been lying.

All I did after we arrived was unpack the essentials we’d need for the night, including a pot to catch the dripping water. We hadn’t brought much, just whatever could fit into the car, and I’d already had a set of secondhand furniture delivered to the house.

Even if my mother hadn’t been dying, I was sure I’d be miserable here. The nearest neighbors were a mile down the road, the whole place smelled like nature, and no one delivered pizza in the small town of Eden.

No, calling it small was being generous. Eden wasn’t even marked on the map I’d used to get here. Main Street was half a mile long, and every shop seemed to either sell antiques or groceries. There were no clothing boutiques, or at least no place that would ever carry anything worth wearing. There wasn’t even a McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell—nothing. Just an outdated diner and some Mom and Pop store that sold candy by the pound.

Do you like it?

Mom sat curled up in the rocking chair near her bed, her head supported by her favorite pillow. It was so worn and faded that I couldn’t tell what color it had originally been, but it had survived four years of hospital stays and chemotherapy. Against all odds, so had she.

The house? Yeah, I lied, tucking in the corners of the sheet as I made her bed. It’s…cute.

She smiled, and I could feel her eyes on me. You’ll get used to it. Maybe even like it enough to stay here after I’m gone.

I pressed my lips together, refusing to say anything. It was an unspoken rule that we never talked about what would happen after she died.

Kate, she said gently, and the rocking chair creaked as she stood. I looked up automatically, ready to spring into action if she fell. We need to talk about it sometime.

Still watching her out of the corner of my eye, I tugged the sheet down and grabbed a thick quilt, arranging it on the bed. Pillows soon followed.

Not now. I pulled the covers back and stepped aside so she could crawl in. Her movements were slow and agonizing, and I averted my eyes, not wanting to see her in so much pain. Not yet.

Once she was settled, she looked up at me, her eyes red and tired. Soon, she said softly. Please.

I swallowed, but said nothing. Life without her was unfathomable, and the less I tried to imagine it, the better.

The day nurse is going to come by in the morning. I pressed my lips to her forehead. I’ll make sure she’s all set up and knows what to do before I head to school.

Why don’t you stay in here tonight? she said, patting the empty space next to her. Keep me company.

I hesitated. You need your rest.

She brushed her cold fingertips against my cheek. I’ll get more with you here.

The temptation of curling up against her like I’d done when I was a child was too much to resist, not when every time I left her, I wondered if it would be the last time I’d see her alive. Tonight I would let myself avoid that pain. Okay.

I crawled into bed next to her, making sure she had enough blanket before I used the rest to cover my legs. Once I was sure she’d stay warm, I wrapped my arms around her, inhaling her familiar scent. Even after spending years in and out of a hospital, she still smelled of apples and freesia. She nuzzled the top of my head, and I closed my eyes before they started to water.

Love you, I murmured, wanting to hug her tightly but knowing her body couldn’t take it.

I love you too, Kate, she said softly. I’ll be here in the morning, promise.

As much as I wished it could be, I knew that was no longer a promise she would always be able to keep.

That night, my nightmares were relentless and full of cows with red eyes, rivers of blood, and water that rose around me until I woke up gasping. I pushed the blanket off me and wiped my clammy forehead, afraid I’d woken my mother, but she was still asleep.

Even though I didn’t sleep well, I couldn’t take the next day off. It was my first day at Eden High, which was a brick building that looked more like a large barn than a school. There were hardly enough students to bother building one in the first place, let alone keep it running. Enrolling had been my mother’s idea; after I’d missed my senior year to take care of her, she was determined to make sure I graduated.

I drove my car into the parking lot two minutes after the first bell rang. Mom had gotten sick that morning, and I didn’t trust the nurse, a round, matronly woman named Sofia, to take care of her properly. Not that there was anything particularly menacing about her, but I’d spent most of the past four years caring for my mother, and as far as I was concerned, no one else could do it right. I’d nearly skipped to stay home with her, but my mother had insisted I go. As difficult as the day had been so far, I was certain it was about to get worse.

At least I wasn’t alone in the walk of shame through the parking lot. Halfway to the building, I noticed a boy following me. He couldn’t have been old enough to drive, and his white-blond hair stuck out almost as much as his overgrown ears did. Judging from his cheery expression, he couldn’t have cared less that he was late.

He dashed forward to reach the front door before I did, and much to my surprise, he held it open for me. I couldn’t think of a single guy at my old school who would’ve done that.

"After you, mademoiselle."

Mademoiselle? I stared at the ground to avoid giving him an odd look. No use in being rude the first day.

Thanks, I mumbled, stepping inside and walking faster. He was taller than me though, and he caught up in no time. Much to my horror, instead of passing me, he slowed so we were walking together.

Do I know you?

Oh, God. Did he expect me to answer? Luckily, he didn’t seem to, as he didn’t give me a chance to respond.

I don’t know you.

Brilliant observation, Einstein.

I should know you.

Right outside the office, he swung around, placing himself between me and the entrance. Sticking out a hand, he looked at me expectantly.

I’m James, he said, and I finally got a good look at his face. Still boyish, but maybe he was older than I thought. His features were hardened, more mature than I’d expected. James MacDuffy. Laugh, and I’ll be forced to hate you.

Seeing no other choice, I forced a small smile and took his hand. Kate Winters.

He stared at me for longer than was strictly necessary, a goofy grin on his face. As the seconds ticked by, I stood there, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other, and finally I cleared my throat.

Er—could you maybe…?

What? Oh. James dropped my hand and opened the door, once again holding it open for me. After you, Kate Winters.

I stepped inside, drawing my messenger bag closer. Inside the office was a woman dressed head to toe in blue, with sleek auburn hair I’d have given my right foot to have.

Hi, I’m—

—Kate Winters, interrupted James, falling into place next to me. I don’t know her.

The receptionist managed to simultaneously sigh and laugh. What is it this time, James?

Flat tire. He grinned. Changed it myself.

She scribbled on a pink pad of paper, then tore off the sheet and handed it to him. You walk.

Do I? His grin widened. Y’know, Irene, if you keep doubting me like this, I’m going to start thinking you don’t like me anymore. Same time tomorrow?

She chuckled, and finally James disappeared. I refused to watch him go, instead staring down at an announcement taped to the counter. Apparently Picture Day was in three weeks.

Katherine Winters, said the woman—Irene—once the office door closed. We’ve been expecting you.

She busied herself looking through a file, and I stood there awkwardly, wishing there was something to say. I wasn’t much of a talker, but I could at least carry on a conversation. Sometimes. You have a pretty name.

She raised her perfectly plucked eyebrows. Do I? I’m glad you think so. I rather like it myself. Ah, here we go. She pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me. Your schedule, as well as a map of the school. Shouldn’t be too hard to find—the hallways are color-coded, and if you get lost, just ask. We’re all nice enough around here.

I nodded, taking note of my first class. Calculus. Joy. Thanks.

Anytime, dear.

I turned to leave, but as my hand touched the doorknob, she cleared her throat.

Miss Winters? I just—I wanted to say I’m sorry. About your mother, I mean. I knew her a very long time ago, and—well. I’m very sorry.

I closed my eyes. Everyone knew. I didn’t know how, but they knew. My mother said her family had lived in Eden for generations, and I’d been stupid to think that I could get away with coming here unnoticed.

Blinking back tears, I turned the knob and hurried out of the office, keeping my head down in hopes that James wouldn’t try to talk to me again.

Just as I turned the corner, I ran directly into what felt like a wall. I stumbled to the ground, the contents of my bag spilling out everywhere. My cheeks burned, and I tried to collect my things as I mumbled an apology.

Are you okay?

I looked up. The human wall stared down at me, and I found myself face-to-face with a varsity football jacket. Apparently James and I weren’t the only ones running late that morning.

I’m Dylan. He knelt next to me, offering me a hand. I only took it long enough to sit up.

Kate, I said. He handed me my notebooks, and I snatched them from him, shoving them back into my bag. Two textbooks and five folders later, I stood and brushed off my jeans. That was when I noticed that he was cute. Not just in Eden, but cute by New York standards, too. Even so, there was something about the way he looked at me that made me want to pull away.

Before I could do just that, a pretty blonde girl attached herself to his side and gave me a once-over. She might’ve been smiling, but with the way she was leaning against him and clutching his arm, she might as well have peed on him. He was clearly marked territory.

Who’s your friend, Dylan? she said, tightening her grip.

Dylan looked at her blankly, and it took him a moment before he wrapped his arm around her. Uh, Kate. She’s new.

Her fake smile grew, and she stuck out her hand. "Kate! I’m Ava. I’ve heard so much about you. My father, he’s a real estate agent, told me all about you and your mom."

At least now I had someone to blame for the leak in my room. Hi, Ava, I said, biting the bullet and taking her hand. It’s nice to meet you.

Everything about the way she looked at me screamed she wanted nothing more than to take me out into the woods and bury me alive. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.

What’s your first class? said Dylan, craning his neck to look at my schedule. "Calculus. I—we can show you where that is, if you’d

Reviews for The Goddess Test

[thelittlebookworm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Little BookwormTo save her dying mother, Kate makes a deal with the mysterious and handsome Henry. He will delay her mother's death if Kate agrees to spend 6 months out of the year with him for the rest of her life. But first she has to pass a series of tests that have left all the previous girls who've tried dead.Persephone is the new It girl, I am assuming. Because I know that Meg Cabot has a series coming out soon about her and then there is this book. It's not about Persephone per se but she figures into the plot a fair amount without making an actual appearance. I'm kind of hoping she shows up at some point in this trilogy. Anyway...Kate is an ok kind of girl. Her mother is dying and she doesn't know what to do with her life. Because she has devoted so much of her life to taking care of her mother. When her mother brings Kate back to her hometown to die there, Kate is manipulated into the position of saving her mother by taking the Goddess Test by Henry, the owner of a large manor house outside of the town. So Kate has to pass tests that she is not aware of even taking and stay alive since all the girls who have tried have ended up dead. Slowly, ever so slowly, Kate figures out who Henry really is and yet does not seem to get who everyone else is around her. She doesn't come off as stupid but she is not very aware or not aware enough. While I liked her, there were times when all I could think was Really? And Henry is the standard, standoffish brooding hero. I mean, given how Henry is, that is totally understandable, but you know, it had some Twilight moments. It was an easy read though, very engaging and, given how much I love Greek mythology, very fun for me. It was nice to see these characters in other settings and how the progression of history might have changed them. Kate is a super sweet and caring character and I didn't mind her. I'm curious to see how the series will continue since there was no cliffhanger ending. This is one series I will continue on with.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the things that initially drew me to The Goddess Test was the incorporation of Greek Mythology. I fully admit that I am a mythology nerd in all senses of the term. There is nothing that makes me happier than diving into stories about Persephone, Demeter and all the other fascinating Gods and Goddesses. That being said, I really adored how Aimee Carter wove this fascinating topic into an even more intriguing new story! The Goddess Test is everything a good read should be. Fast paced, full of intrigue and deception, and of course a little bit of love.

Kate comes onto the scene a broken shell. Her mother is dying, and she's not sure what she is going to do with herself when the inevitable finally comes. To be honest, Kate was tough for me to love at first. I understood her need to have her mother in her life, but I kept hoping that she'd see the good that comes with moving on alone. A new life, a new start. Her attitude bordered on depressing sometimes, and I really wanted her to see something positive about her situation.

However as the book progresses, Kate definitely does change. It's like a metamorphosis actually. One minute she is a shy, quiet, and lost girl. The next she meets Henry and everything changes for her. The Kate that develops is bold, brave, and full of life. I loved her so much. I won't reveal how this all comes about, or what happens afterwards, but I will say that if you feel the way I did at the beginning just make sure to read on. It gets so much more amazing.

Story wise, I couldn't have been happier with the way that Aimee Carter wove Greek Mythology into Kate's story. Henry was dark and mysterious, and each twist brought about a new aspect for me to fall in love with. The tie in of the story of Persephone definitely gives this book an added element. Watching Kate struggle to let go of her mother, learn to love herself, and try to help Henry, made for a fantastic read. I devoured the book from beginning to end and then lamented the fact that there was no more left to read.

In all honesty, The Goddess Test far surpassed my initial hopes for it. The story line, characters, and setting, all mesh into a wonderfully immersing read. I, for one, eagerly await the second installment in Kate's story. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

[alcarinqa_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love mythology – I used up all my electives at University studying it! So I’m intrigued retellings of myths and was very excited to read The Goddess Test. I enjoyed the story line and some of the relationships in it, but I found the Greek immortals to be highly incongruous to what I had expected. This, coupled with the inexplicable actions of the protagonist, retracted from my reading experience and I found myself not enjoying the book as much as I had hoped.I like the pacing of the plot because everything seems to progress naturally and there is never a moment where the story falls flat or progresses too quickly. While I found Kate’s scepticism about Henry being Hades annoying, I can understand it a little bit (although she still harbours disbelief after seeing him use his powers, which is odd) and I like their relatively slow realisation that they have things in common. As they get to know one another, their feelings grow, and I enjoyed it much better than the insta-love that permeates much of YA these days. Henry, his role in the Underworld, and the state of the Greek pantheon in general is slowly revealed so that we get closer to finding out the truth as the story progresses, which prevented me from being too confused about what was going on. I also like that there aren’t any glaringly obvious clues to who was behind the killings of the other candidates, and when it was revealed I was as surprised as anyone else.My favourite aspect of the book is definitely the relationship Kate has with her mother. So much of YA has absent or uncaring parents, but in this book Kate and her mother have a wonderful bond, and I have to say Kate’s mum is pretty cool. She wants her daughter to find happiness and encourages her to stop shutting herself off from the world and make friends. Kate, on the other hand, cares so much about her mother that she will do anything to save her, and struggles with the idea of saying goodbye. The author has a very clever way of keeping Kate’s mum in the story so she has a confidant – and through this we get glimpses of what Kate’s life was like before her mother’s cancer developed.I understand that re-tellings allow authors to take liberties with their characters, but I feel that Carter has made her Greek Gods and Goddesses unrecognisable and only superficially related to those in myths. This would have been acceptable if the book was focussed on how the Greek immortals are different from the myths that humans tell, but from what I gathered this is all skipped over and we’re meant to believe that the lying, manipulative, promiscuous Greek Gods never existed. The Gods that Carter describes are surprisingly tolerant and apologetic, and while they are not above manipulation they certainly seem to feel very guilty about it. Their tests to determine if one is worthy of immortality seem contradictory to me: they want some kind of paragon of purity in every sense of the word, but they themselves are anything but. Couple this with the horrible way Kate treats Ava for sleeping around and the improbability of Henry being a virgin after millenia of existence, and you’re left with a book that is almost laughable in its naivety and borders on preachy.I’m also not entirely convinced that I like Kate. I like her pragmatic nature and think that she is a good narrator, but her reactions to things are a bit odd. Even after seeing Henry bring one of her friends back from death, Kate reneges on her part of their agreement and convinces herself that there wouldn’t be consequences. When something horrible does happen, she claims she thought he was only joking. This is really weird – if I knew someone with power over life and death, I’d do what they told me to quick-smart! Even after she is warned that other candidates have been mysteriously injured or killed, and that she should be suspicious of anything out of the ordinary, she wants to open a Christmas present sent to her anonymously. Kate also completely flips out over a test on Greek mythology, even though she has been told that her tests to become immortal are unlikely to be knowledge tests but rather tests of character, and she will most probably not even know when they are being conducted. Kate is irrational and doesn’t listen to anything anyone says and then has the gall to be surprised when the unexpected happens.I feel The Goddess Test has been a worthwhile read – I enjoyed the plot and the sweet romance – and I will be continuing with the series. I am, however, hoping that the situation with the Greek immortals is dealt with in subsequent works (I want to know why they are so different from the mythology) and I hope the characters, especially Kate, flesh out a bit more. I feel that fans of YA will enjoy the book, but advise those who love Greek mythology to approach it with an understanding that the mythology has been heavily altered.You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.

[whatsmacksaid · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Goddess Test was generally enjoyable and I'm quite glad to have the rest of the trilogy ready for me to move on to. There were a few things that felt squicky, though--primarily how the main character punishes her so-called best friend when the BFF messes up. Essentially, the BFF ended up in the middle of a love triangle, one guy killed the other, and then the BFF was blamed and punished for leading them both on. Not okay. I kept waiting for the main character to pass some sort of humility or mercy test by recanting her punishment and admitting it was wrong of her to blame the BFF in the first place, but that never quite materialized.

There were a few other, smaller instances like that. Stuff that didn't *quite* make me want to gag, but gave me serious pause.

I didn't stop reading, though! It's a generally lighthearted, interesting story and I zoomed through it. A sweet love story, and a beautiful, strong, and deeply caring mother-daughter relationship. I really loved that part.

Really, the only other nitpick I've got is renaming the Greek gods without any rhyme or reason--or at least, no given reason until literally the last few pages of the book. "Diana" appears in the prologue, but she's not Artemis. Very confusing and unnecessary--but that's probably just the classicist in me.

[liscarey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kate Winters' mother is dying, and wants to return from New York City, where Kate has lived her whole life, to her tiny home town of Eden. Kate, completely dedicated to her mother's welfare and having as much time with her as possible, takes her back.

Immediately, odd things start to happen. Some of them are "normal odd"; it's a small town, Kate's Mom is remembered, and surrounded by strangers, she finds everyone asking about her mother. She enrolls in the local high school for her senior year, and is quickly befriended by James, the local nerd, and earns the enmity of one of the very popular girls, Ava, by attracting the interest of her boyfriend Dylan, the school's football star.

Other oddities aren't quite so normal. On the way into town, Kate nearly hits a cow who simply appears in the road, and then has to swerve again to avoid a young man standing in the road--and then they are both gone. And then Ava tricks Kate into coming with her to an isolated estate, Eden Manor, and tries to abandon her there. When Ava jumps into the stream to swim out through a small gap in the hedge. she hits her head on a rock, and Kate, who is terrified of the water, nevertheless goes in and thankfully finds the stream shallow enough that she can reach her and pull her out. Unfortunately, Ava's skull has been crushed, and she's dead.

The young man that Kate thought she saw on road coming to Eden turns up while she's still dealing with the shock. His name is Henry, he owns Eden Manor, and he offers to save Ava's life, if Kate will give him what he wants. She hastily agrees to do whatever he wants, if Ava lives--and suddenly Ava is reviving. astonished and grateful that despite her nasty trick, Kate braved the water to save her.

What does Henry want? He tells Kate to read the story of Demeter, and she'll understand. She has until the fall equinox to decide.

Henry is Hades, God of the Dead, and his Queen, Persephone, chose to give up her immortality for a mortal lover, and has died. He can't rule alone, and needs a new Queen, or his fellow Olympians will replace him and he will fade.

But it's not as simple as Kate merely saying yes. There are seven tests, and she has to pass all of them. Henry has been looking for a new queen for a century, and every girl chosen has either failed one of the seven tests very quickly, or has been dead by Christmas. When Kate agrees, she's taking her life in her hands. Henry promises her more time with her dying mother, though, and she decides it's worth it.

And so Kate embarks on a very challenging and confusing experience, living in a not-this-world version of Eden Manor, surrounded by the Dead who are Hades' staff and servants, studying, not knowing when tests are coming or what they'll be like, and not knowing who is friend or foe. She enjoys dream-time with her mother in Central Park, and struggles in her waking hours with inexplicable hostility and suspect friendship, as well as mastering all the knowledge she'll need and the uncomfortable idea of, at the age of eighteen, becoming the wife of Hades for eternity. There are layers of deception she hasn't guessed at, and she has to peel them all back to pass the tests, survive attempts on her life, and have a chance of building a future.

This is a good, solid story, with interesting characters who are more complex than they appear at first, and all in all this book should please not only its intended young adult audience, but adults who don't require "adult" content in a story. Fair warning, though, it's the first of at least a trilogy, and while there's a complete story here, there's also a larger story arc to be continued in later books.

Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

[tori_hoffert · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If you like the story of Hades and Persephone you will like this book. This book is a retelling of that myth. I loved the story of Henry and Kate. The thing I didn't like was the pace of the book.It would go back and forth from a slow to a fast pase. Other than that I loved the book!

[emma_manolis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cover Thoughts: Honestly, this series got on my radar strictly because of the beautiful book covers. Just based off the cover and the title I would guess that this is a story that takes place in a rainforest. It's about a girl who discovers she is related to the "Gods" and when she finds out the Fates begin to test her.

Why did I read this? I loved the cover and I loved the topic. After reading the summary, in some weird way it all reminded me of Beauty and the Beast with a immortal twist.

Thoughts: It is a rare day when a book is able to keep me guessing. This book was full of twists and turns and I had very little idea what could be around the next corner. Major props to the author in that respect.


I have read a bunch of books lately dealing with the God of the Underworld kidnapping Persephone tale. Okay, so maybe not a bunch but at least three! I honestly could care less if a story sticks to the original myth. Seriously what is the point of taking your own spin of an old tale if you can't take any creative license? With that in mind, this book takes the cake for me. Forget all the other recently published novels about the subject and just read this. I'm really not kidding.

I've read some reviews where people are ticked that the characters who were inspired by certain Gods and Goddesses were really nothing like them. To that I have to refer back to the word inspired. This is a completely different tale folks.


I just love all the different stories that are weaved throughout the main story. I love the relationships between the characters. I just need you to read this so we can, hopefully, spend an afternoon gushing over virgin fuzzy navels. The end.

[karen813 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter is the latest offering in the growing genre of YA myth and magic. The story revolves around the myth of Hades and Persephone but is set in present day and involves both real and mythological figures. Kate, our heroine, finds herself fighting to pass 7 tests and to stay alive, so she can become the wife of Henry, God of the Underworld. At first Kate agrees to undergo the tests in order to save her mother who is dying from cancer, but as the story progresses she finds herself wanting to succeed for a variety of reasons.I really enjoyed this book for several reasons. Initially I liked to idea of mixing myth with reality, I've always liked mythology and I like the other books that have brought mythological figures to life. I liked that Henry was a sympathetic character and not a scary representation of Hades. I thought that the relationship between Henry and Kate evolved naturally and slowly, Kate didn't immediately fall in love with Henry which made the arc of the relationship more believable. The love story in the book was well written and touching, I felt Kate's emotions strongly and I alternately celebrated and mourned with her throughout the book. I wish the reader had a little more insight into Henry's feelings, his character wasn't as vivid as hers and I found myself wanting more from his perspective. Overall I think the book was well written and interesting. There were a few flaws for me, it started a little slowly and didn't hook me until I was a few chapters in. I wanted more from the other characters, they weren't as filled in as they could have been and I hope to spend more time with them in the next book. I am looking forward to the next installment in this series. (I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley)

[staciesnape-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Now I'll be honest, first of all I didn't know what to make of this book. I've been dying to read the series for some times now and I got them at Christmas so I thought I would finally get around to it, it took me a lot longer than it normal would not because the book was bad, but because at the start of March my little girl turned 4, so with her birthday and the business in the weeks that fallowed, I was left without much time to read. Or motivation for that matter.It started of rather slow for my liking, which is ironic because the story was moving forward way too quick, and I think that's why it dragged for me. Kate moves to Eden, the birthplace of her dying mother, so that Kate can experience the place that she once called home. Her mum is dying from cancer, has been for years, and wanting to spend as much time with her before it happens Kate agrees to move, that and she doesn't want to turn down what could be her mothers dying wish.From the start Kate notices little things out of place, and when a prank goes wrong, Kate is thrown into the world of Henry aka Hades, and is forced to live with him as part of a deal. But that's not all, not only does she have to stay with him for 6 months, she also has partake in 7 tests to see if she's worthy or not of becoming his wife. And for Henry its his last time, countless girls have tried before but with him time is nearly up, Kate is his last hope.This is maybe the 2nd series I've started about Greek Mythology, first being Starcrossed series by Josephine Angelini, and even though it doesn't live up to the story between Helen and Lucas, it was still an ok story. I'm trying not to judge it too harshly as there are more books yet to come but even though I've given it 4 stars, it wasn't without faults. Kate's friendship felt fake, her relationship with Henry moved to quickly and I found a lot of the storyline and plot twists highly predictable. (not the authors fault as such, I just know what's coming half the time) but even that being said I found my self really liking it once I pushed myself back into reading. I loved Henry, really loved him, and sometimes felt rather fondly of James too. Kate did however get on my nerves, I don't know why, but she did.Like I said, it started of slow but picked up and became a book I was happy to read. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and just hope that it picks up a bit more :)

[tarklovishki · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Reading this book made me want to tear my hair out. It was so boring, full of cliches and bad characterisations. Really, it does bewilder me how it got high ratings. I don't remember much from reading it, as none of it struck me as interesting.

[kelsey.hintzman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Twilight but with the Greek gods. It was alright.

[emmyson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

*Received ARC through NetGalley; book to be published April 26, 2011*

From Goodreads: Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn. It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now 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. If she fails..

I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology, and pretty much have them all down. It's rare for a story to come up with surprises for me, but this one did. I didn't see a lot of things coming because Ms. Carter puts such a neat and unique spin on things.

Hades, in particular, has always been one of my favorite gods. Sadly, his story is always the same...see beautiful girl picking flowers, kidnap beautiful girl, trick beautiful girl into eating pomegranate seeds, keep beautiful girl trapped for eternity. I don't know, I always saw things a bit differently. This book went more towards what I've always thought, which I loved. Hades isn't the big bad wolf here. He's sensitive, thoughtful, and a tortured soul. He has feelings, weaknesses, and fears.

And Kate isn't your typical YA female sellout. She sticks to her guns, and only allows her feelings to come out when she's ready. It's so not the usual 'girl-meets-beautiful-boy-falls-madly-in-love-wants-to-die-for-him-can't-live-without-him trash. I love that she's strong, yet vulnerable. I love that she puts aside her own needs to be strong for her mother, and I love that she throws her fears to the wind to try and save a friend. That's a believable character to me.

As far as the plot goes, it worked seamlessly for me. I really liked where Ms. Carter went with it. It worked nicely. Things made perfect sense to me, and there weren't any plot holes. It could easily be a stand-alone book, but I understand that there is a sequel (at least one) planned. I'm very happy about that, and will definitely be picking up more books in this series.

The book byline is "A fresh take on the Greek myths..." It most definitely is. Very fresh and very refreshing. I think fans of mythology, YA romance, and the supernatural will be huge fans.

As for me, I loved it. I'm giving it a 'Pick me' rating.

[mvthebookbabe · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost.I finally picked this book up because I was in a "mythology mood" and I thought this might be the read for me. Based on reviews and such, I was fairly excited about starting The Goddess Test. But...turns out that it really wasn't for me.Let's start with Kate, shall we? Kate was... she was suffering from one of the greatest (and most fiendish!) of all book personality disorders - The Bella Syndrome. She was so whiny and self centered and I just couldn't fall for her as a character. She was so off-putting! To make matters worse, I found her to be very immature. I like for characters to have some semblance of personality, which is why I didn't like Kate. Her personality was as flat as the page it was written on.The romance between Henry & Kate was also flat. At first, I felt like it had a little bit of potential...but. Can you say "Stockholm syndrome"? Because that's what was going on here. Henry was so morose and quiet, so we never really got to know him as a character. He really wasn't in The Goddess Test very much at all.A lot of things didn't add up. And when I say "didn't add up", I mean that they really didn't. Maybe it made a little bit of sense in the end, but the things that made sense were ridiculous, and they pointed towards a fate (and plot point) that should have been obvious to Kate from the beginning, because I was sure questioning it.I know that I've already talked about Kate a little, but I feel like she's worth revisiting. In the beginning, I was all set to like her. At about two chapters in, though, I was ready to kill her. She meets not one... but two boys that are "interested" in her within the first ten minutes. At the beginning of the second chapter, she begins the dreaded "pretty" speech. (I wasn't conventionally pretty, etc.) Then, suddenly, she has a "friend". Quite truthfully, I saw no development on the part of friendship. It was awkward.At least there was no love triangle, though. That was a plus. You know what was a minus, though? The plot. I predicted most everything that happened. I wanted to be surprised, but... it wasn't meant to be. All in all, The Goddess Test just wasn't for me.

[debbiemccauley-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first book in the Goddess Series tackles the story of Hades and Persephone. 18-year-old Kate Winters has cared for her sick mother over the past four years through her battle with cancer. Her mother's dying wish is to be taken from New York to her hometown of Eden. Once they arrive in Eden, Kate starts her senior year at school and meets Henry. He claims to be Hades, God of the Underworld, and offers Kate a chance to save her mother. If she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests, at the end of it becoming a goddess and Henry's wife. Kate is Henry's last chance find himself a new wife (Persephone left him 100 or so years ago) or fade into nothingness. The trouble is that someone has been sabotaging his efforts in the past and the other candidates have ended up dead.Whist everything is not strictly according to tradition, this is a nice twist on Greek Mythology. Will read the next in the series.

[titania86_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

* spoilers *Kate Winters's life isn't like other teenagers'. Her mother has terminal cancer and she has spent years taking care of her mother through chemo treatments, sickness, and health. Now, the fight is over and her mother's dying wish is to move back to her childhood town. Kate wants to finish high school, but wants to be there for her mom as much as she can. At school, she's the center of attention as a novelty, but no one except odd yet friendly James befriends her. Ava is jealous and tries to play a mean trick on her, but ends up dying instead. Henry, a dark and mysterious stranger, offers to save her in exchange for her fulfilling the role or Persephone to his Hades, who he claims to be. Kate has to decide if he's jut some crazy person or if she should take his offer seriously.The Goddess Test is honestly kind of a mess. It's very Twilight like with Henry being the dark broody dark creature who just wants to be love with plain Jane Bella/Kate. I actually enjoy Twilight as a guilty pleasure, so I didn't have too big of a problem with that part. Their romance, while based on essentially nothing, was sweet. Kate's all over the place. I like her background taking care of her mother and having to grow up very fast. However, she makes some the dumbest decisions ever. All the other girls to take this test were killed by an unknown person and she thinks it's a great idea to open a random present. Girl, really? I was willing to let a lot of things slide to get my romantic guilty pleasure, but the last quarter of the book just pushed me other the edge.At the end of the novel, the 7 tests administered to Kate are revealed to be on the 7 deadly sins, which is a Christian concept. These gods predate Christianity by thousands of years and reveled in the 7 deadly sins. They slept with each other, killed people, raped people, went to war, fought over lovers, and a whole slew of other petty, unpious things. As gods, they are above human morality. Suddenly, they hold Christian morals and it becomes earth shattering if Kate wants to eat food or sleep with her soon to be husband, which she was manipulated into doing because good girls don't have sex. Seriously, stop with the slut shaming, which is particularly heavy handed here with Kate's situation and with Ava (Aphrodite), who slept with 2 men who ended up trying to kill each other. It was ruled to be Ava's fault and she was condemned to be ostracized. It's especially important for teenage girls to know that their sexuality isn't something to be ashamed of. Female sexuality is viewed in the most bizarre way in our society where women who have sex are slutty and dirty, but if they don't they're prudes or frigid. Narratives like this simply reinforce this ridiculous double standard.The Goddess Test ended up being a ridiculous novel that tells women that their worth is whether or not they have sex. I was on board for a guilty pleasure romance book, but this filled me with rage at its obviously Christian, puritanical message.

[twileteyes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Goddess Test was definitely better than I had expected. Several of the negative reviews I read took issue with how different Ms Carter's novel is from the actual greek myths it was inspired by. But this is a work of fiction based on another work of fiction...I love when a book wants you to look at things differently, and this book was written well enough that the authors' take on the myths seems completely plausible.

I also love when an author surprises me, so many of the books I have read later were 100% predictable, no real surprises. The Goddess Test had a couple subplots that completely surprised me--like Calliope being the bad guy-I truly was not expecting that at all.

I cannot wait for the sequel to come out-although I am truly hoping that Kate doesn't hook up with James, it doesn't seem likely at this point but with it being romantic trilogy it seems possible...

[jljaina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars

The story was captivating and I couldn't help but want to keep reading this. However it also threw in a lot of loops that make NO SENSE. And the worst part is I can't talk about it since it doesn't come out until the end!

kate's story is easy to follow and be a part of yet her lack on questioning anything annoys me. She is both strong in herself yet so very weak. She refuses to acknowledge life after her mothers impeding death and seems to have no desire to live her own life yet gets upset when others don't live theirs. Argh! Overall I did like her character though.

I mostly liked Henry but there is so much about him that is not shared. We have no real idea what kind of guy he is besides the wounded soul, protecting Kate. Ava annoyed me and Kate's friendship toward her makes no sense. Nor does how close James is to her after knowing him for only a few days.

**Review thoughts still in progress and will be ironed out when I have sorted through my thoughts on this book**

[spazzydragon13 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love Greek mythology and I love books about them, whether it's non-fiction or fiction. The Goddess Test definitely falls into my favourites. Its pages turned itself because of the suspense and the brilliant plot; there was no way it could wait for its reader to catch up.

I feel that the story moved really smoothly and the characters stayed true to themselves. The plot was thought out and executed in style. I don't think the romance was cheesy, bad, or not tasteful at all. There was no romance at first but when it bloomed between Henry and Kate, it seemed real. Not the romance made of fluffy bunnies and flowers and summers on the beach. It was forced at first, because Henry was having conflicting emotions.

How does an ancient god give up his emotions for his long dead lover, Persephone, who didn't want him in return? And then transfer them to a girl he's only known for six months? But, Kate manages to give him hope and to care for him which eventually blooms into real love.

Throughout all the romance and friendships, Kate is tested by the council. These tests measure if she's able to become the Queen of the Underworld with Henry and become immortal. If she fails, she loses her mom and forgets everything that happened between her and Henry. If she wins, she can choose to live normally, live with Henry, as well as hold onto her mom.

Plot aside, I think Aimee Carter did a nice job of pairing up the characters with their god and goddess counterparts as well as making them each represent their true nature. (Except for Ella, perhaps.) I loved a lot about this book, and I believe it's now one of my favourites. Can't wait for the second book!

[rosa.mill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Kate's mother is dying of cancer when the move back to Eden, her childhood home. Kate has spent the last four years taking care of her mother and has put her mother above living a typical teenage life. She doesn't make too many friends, except for Ava and James. Then she meets Henry, who claims to be Hades and offers her eternal life in exchange for becoming his wife, if she takes the deal she will live forever with only half her life spent in the Underworld, if she doesn't she wont remember any of it and will lead a normal life. However the choice is not just Kate's to make, she also must pass seven tests and be approved by the council.

This book was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be a retelling of Persephone going down to Hades, kind of a we got the story all wrong thing. It's actually more of a continuation of Hades' story. However that didn't make it any less enjoyable just not what I thought was going to happen.

I loved how this story worked but I'm afraid to go to into detail because I don't want to give anything away. I was really excited to see how the tests worked and who the council was. I did end up doing a little bit of research because I found what the tests were kind of a strange choice for the Greek gods but once I read more about them I thought it was genius. I liked who the council was and how they ended up judging and I was surprised to see who was who. I also loved watching Henry and Kate's relationship develop and that it wasn't all smooth sailing. There were steps forward, steps back and a lot of idling.

I'm very excited that it's actually going to have at the very least a sequel and I can't wait til the next one comes out.

[beckymmoe_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this book! I've always been fascinated by Greek mythology, ever since I found a book of myths at my grandmother's when very young. As a junior high social studies and English teacher, I was thrilled when the Percy Jackson series came out--my students loved them, and suddenly they shared my interest in the Olympians. Around the same time, I found Marie Phillips's Gods Behaving Badly, which gives another view of how the "Big Twelve" might deal with modern life. I loved it, but I certainly couldn't share it with my students! I've often wished there were a book or series in between that some of my older students could enjoy. The Goddess Test more than fits the bill.

As the book opens, Hades has been ruling the Underworld solo ever since Persephone, who never really loved him (turns out it wasn't a kidnapping as we've long been told, but an arranged marriage) left him for a mortal and has since passed out of existance. Tired and disillusioned, he's been trying to find a replacement for her without much luck. Girl after girl has been unable to pass the Goddess Test, and he's ready to give up. A fellow Olympian, however, persuades him to try just one more time.

Enter Kate Winters. Kate has brought her mother back to Eden, Michigan, her hometown, to die. Reluctantly, she leaves her mother in the care of a day nurse and starts classes at Eden High. She ends up offending one of the most beautiful and popular girls in school on her very first day, however, an incident that has near-tragic ramifications. Before Kate realizes what is happening, her mother is in a coma and somehow she has just promised to spend six months of her own life with a mysterious boy named Henry at Eden Manor, the immense and mysterious property just outside of town.

Henry claims to be Hades, and Eden Manor is Elysium, part of the Underworld. Kate is to be the last one to try the Goddess Test--if she agrees to, that is. If she doesn't, or if she doesn't pass the test, Hades/Henry will eventually fade out of existance and his successor will take over his position. Nothing like a little pressure, right? Kate is at first incredulous, then angry, then grudgingly accepting. Gradually she comes to really care for Henry, though she is sure that he is still too on love with Persephone to ever truly care for her. Before she knows it, Kate has made it further along in the Test than any girl before her. Is it what she wants, though? Will Henry ever care for her as much as she deserves? Who is trying to sabotage the entire process, and why? This book will have you guessing right up to the end!

One of my favorite parts of this book is trying to figure out who all of the gods and goddesses are. They are all there throughout the story, hidden in plain sight. Aimee Carter cleverly gives many clues throughout the book, as well as a few false leads. Almost as soon as I finished, I went back to reread some early passages to confirm my suspicions. I had some of them dead to rights ( including one I guessed very early on) but others I really should have figured out but didn't. If you like fantasy and/or mythology, this book is a must-read!

[jami_leigh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 3 stars
Style: 3 stars
Pace: 4 stars

I seem to be on a mythology and fairy tale kick this year. It's always fun to see what new spins get put on it. This could have used a bit more spin, but it's enjoyable anyway, and a quick read.

[zabetreading · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Found myself skipping through this one a lot. Characters were flat and boring, storyline was predictable and the links to Greek mythology were weak.

[punkfarie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book. It was a fast read, very good. Nicely tied in with Greek Mythology and the myth of Hades and Persephone. A little difficult at times, because a dying mom was central to the plot but still glad I read it! Can't wait for the next one.

[sszkutak_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Background: Kate is about to loose her best friend, her mother, who has been sick for a long time. Since the time is near, her mother decides to move them both back to the town where she grew up, Eden. Once there Kate's mother takes a turn for the worst and Kate is left feeling alone in a new place, with a new school, and new people. Then, Kate meets James, a kid that follows her everywhere and Ava, the head cheerleader; both of her new acquaintances are a little strange and eager to hang out with her. On a trip with Ava, Kate meets Henry, who says that he can help her mother live for just a bit longer, all she has to do is agree to live with him and take some tests. If she passes, she becomes immortal, if she fails... all is lost...Review: I started this book and in a few hours was finished with it and really enjoyed this modern take on Greek mythology. Kate was a strong female lead and the other characters had very distinct personalities.Carter gives the characters modern names in place of their Greek god and goddess names, which I found interesting and a little intriguing.OK - on to it: Characters- awesome, storyline- awesome, mythology- a little off but it worked.Carter's story of a young girl striving to keep her mother alive is very touching, I found that a few times I was almost in tears because of the affection Kate has for her mother. I was happy that this was finally a book where the girl goes for the 'bad' guy, in this case Hades. Yay bad boys. The way the tests were incorporated into the story were entertaining and it was great to see Kate grow throughout her journey.Already have Goddess Interrupted ready to read soon.

[thebookhoarder · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Kates’ mom is dying and wants to move back to her childhood home. While there, Kate meets Henry who says he is Hades and will keep her mother alive if she agrees to spend six months with him trying to past seven tests.How could I not enjoy a book like that? It sounded so good and I hadn’t read a book with a twist on Greek myths before. I am definitely happy that I picked The Goddess Test up. It was a fast, easy read that would be perfect for summer. I just wish I had saved it for the beach.I really liked Henry. I thought he was a great character but I’m not so sure how I feel about Kate. I honestly can’t say that I didn’t like her but I don’t know if I can say that I did. As for the writing, it was a little too easy and fast for me and I think that is the biggest problem I had with this book. I wanted more.I liked The Goddess Test but I just didn't love it. I still enjoyed it enough that I will be getting the second book, Goddess Interrupted.

[whitebalcony · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Decent premiss but totally lost amidst the over wrought teen angst. Snore.

[tfs93 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was very surprised that this was Ms. Carter's first novel. She did an Awesome job of creating a world that you would want to get lost in. I found all of the characters to be well written, and thought that they were the perfect mix of personalities. I especially liked Kate and could see myself making the exact same decisions that she made. I look forward to reading the next story. This one is my new favorite. Recommended for those who like their love story with a dash of mystery.

[andieb_5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Aimee Carter's novel "The Goddess Test" was a quick read for me. I started and finished it in about three hours give or take. Initially, as I started reading, the book seemed rather dull. As I got a bit farther into it, though, it got better and better and I can say that while I won't be reading it again in a hurry, I'm not sorry I picked it up in the first place, either. My biggest critisism is the unbelievability of the story. I don't mean this to attack the Greek gods and goddesses aspect of the book, just the way that these gods were integrated into society. The world of the gods was not connected to the world of mortals (like Kate, or you and me) in any real way.****SPOILERS******In fact, in the end you find out that the little town Henry's manor was next to and all of the people there were in on the secret. There was no one for Kate to share her surprise and betrayal with, no one who could understand how she felt at having all of this revealed, because ALL of the principle characters besides Kate actually knew what was going on the whole time and were in on the joke, so to speak.****END OF SPOILERS****I liked this book, it was a nice little diversion, but I don't think I will be reading it again soon, and because of the reasons stated above, I'm going to give this book three stars.

[irenereads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Library Summary: "It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now 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. But if she fails...Every girl who has taken the test has died."I read the summary of this book and thought that I might like it. And I did! Aimee Carter took the story of Persephone and added her own twist to it! I loved the fact that it took place in the modern day!The only thing that I don't like so much about this book is the fact that Kate has a whiney tone when it comes to whether or not Henry loves her like he loved Persephone. I found it annoying. While reading the book I thought "If he didn't love you, he wouldn't have asked you to take the test. Isn't that proof enough?" But other than that, it was a good book. I recommend this to all Greek Mythology fans.

[alaiel4kreuz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My opinion about this book is kind of complicated... Although I loved it and almost finished it in a day it lack a few things that I considered important for the plot.For instance, the background story was very good, Aimee did an amazing job bringing the old myths to the present time and making them very appealing. Especially Henry (AKA Hades), a character always misunderstood by people who picture him as a terrible god, capable of doing horrible things and ruler of Hell. But the Underworld has nothing to do with christian's hell and Hades has nothing to do with demons or Lucifer.So, as I said, Henry's personality was good and believable, he had all the things necessary to create a tortured character that will appeal to everyone. His background history is so heartbreaking that I did cry for him a little bit.As for the other gods, since I don't do spoilers I can't say too much about them, sorry.Kate's character was also amazing. Her relationship and the love she shared with her mom was very sweet and warm, I admire Kate's willingness to put her life on the line for the sake of the people she loves. One of the things I liked the most was to see her develop her personality as the plot unfolded revealing a fitting girl to become a queen.I really enjoyed to see Kate and Henry's relationship develop little by little, no rush, no insta-love and no silly things getting in their way. They both gave what they could in every situation and by the end of the book the support they showed for each other was great.But as far as the tests go I was not very happy. I understand what the author tried to accomplished with these tests that the future queen of the Underworld would have to face but I really wanted to see Kate going to each and every one of them... and it never happened. So yes, that was a disappointment.Saying that I also have to point out one very important thing: the ending was SUPERB. The identity of the gods and the truth behind the tests blew me away and kept me reading until the last page no-stop.Overall I think the book was good and the ending, that doesn't finish with a cliffhanger, well thought. That's why the next book, Goddess Interrupted, is already in my TBR pile.If you like Greek mythology then this book will please you for sure.