Book Review: The Goddess Test By Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test
Aimee Carter
Supplied by the publisher courtesy of NetGalley
Release date April 26 2011

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 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...



Normally I hate spoilers but because of a point I feel the need to make, there are spoilers contained in this review.


MY THOUGHTS

After reading the blurb I thought this would be a book I'd find interesting and enjoy reading.
Unfortunately for me I was wrong.
This book has been getting rave reviews and 5 star ratings everywhere but I'm sorry to say I cant agree.

I had a problem with the too convenient and strange friendships that the main character Kate has almost dumped in her lap, and by the time I warmed up to the characters of James and Ava they are left behind while Kate is confronted with Gods and tests and even stranger relationships to navigate.

I was bored and unsurprised for the majority of the book and by the time all was revealed I was relieved it was over.
My major gripe is that I was very disappointed with the the attitude of Henry at the end. After professing their love to one another, having sex, and then getting married, Henry tells Kate that its okay for her to go back on their vows while she's away from him for six months!! Even though Kate refuses and says she'll keep to her marriage vows, why even suggest it?
Is this a hint at the plot for the second book? Kate's struggle to keep her vows while partying it up with James in Greece?
Not a cool suggestion to make in a book aimed at teenage girls.

I found The Goddess Test slow and a little drab with moments of interesting thrown in.
Its one redeeming feature for me is the well written relationship between mother and daughter and because of that I'm giving this book a generous 3 out of 5 stars. I wont be reading further books in this series.