Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: 4.19.2011

Pages: 297

Genre: Mythology, Romance

Series: Yes, Goddess Test #1

Rating: A+

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

Review:

Every now and then a book comes along that is an absolute joy to read. You get a wide, goody smile in the middle of a crowded waiting room while reading it and people around you start shooting you “What’s that girl on?” looks, and you simply don’t care. The Goddess Test is that book.

As if Aimee Carter combining my love of romance and mythology wasn’t enough, she wrote a stunning debut novel that I tore through in a day.  Her words flow effortlessly off the page, mesmerizing the reader. Her characters are well developed and weave together to construct this tapestry that when you stand back at the ending, you can see how each individual character moved the story along. I will say the plot is nothing that an educated reader can’t guess, but that didn’t make it any less delicious. This is a book that I will buy and read again and again because it’s just one of those books I will never tire of.

While this book will have at least one sequel which is slated to be released in January 2012 (Goddess Interrupted, Harlequin Teen), there is no “cliff hanger” ending that left me frustrated with wonder. I went into reading this not knowing whether or not it was part of a series, because I find I almost expect that abrupt end that makes me huff an annoyed sigh because I have another year to wait before my questions are resolved. When I got to the end of The Goddess Test I was absolutely giddy at the idea of a sequel. This novel can easily stand on its own as whole, but with a sequel it seems like I get to have my cake and eat it too. And a girl can never have too much cake.

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