Tuesday 8 March 2011

The Goddess Test, my review

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter (Goddess Test Book 1)
Publishing date: 19th April 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 297


Summary (taken 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..



My thoughts:


Firstly, I was ridiculously excited about reading and reviewing this book for several reasons. Number one, I've been coveting it since I saw Aimee's post about it on one of the #yalitchats on twitter, and amazon.co.uk's ominous messages made me worry it wouldn't be released over here, which it NEEDS to be. Secondly, I love Aimee Carter, I follow her on twitter and she seems so young and happy and enthusiastic, I really want her to do well. And finally, this was the first ever book I got to read and review before it was published, so I'd really like to thank Harlequin Teen and NetGalley for giving me that opportunity. I can't tell you how happy I was when I got the email! I actually got around 8 books to review, but this was the one I really, really wanted. 


Now before you worry the above points have made me horrendously biased, they haven't, never fear. I'm as critical as usual (maybe I haven't been that critical so far as most of the books I've reviewed I've loved...if you don't believe me check out my Wondrous Strange Review)


Anyway, on to the book. At first it really reminded me of Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. All the other girls before Kate that failed, everyone's certainty that she'd pass, someone trying to sabotage her attempts, but I like Wicked Lovely, so I didn't really mind. Naturally I hated Ava at first, but I wasn't too sure about James. I felt for Kate, it must be hard to have to watch your mum deteriorate at that age for that many years, and I felt bad she'd never really gotten to have a life a a result of her mum's illness. I thought the story was a little predictable at first, but it was bound to be, so I didn't really find that an issue.


The majority of the novel seemed nice and easygoing, and I really enjoyed reading it. Kate was apparently subjected to 'tests' but these were never mentioned again...and a lot of the characters seemed really 2 dimensional, which disappointed me, because I love the way Aimee writes.


BUT then the ending happened, and OMG. You get totally lulled into a false sense of security with this nice, relaxing story then BAM! You get hit with  plot twist after plot twist, unexpected happenings, drama, heartbreak, revelations, you name it, it's in there.  It becomes blindingly obvious why Aimee made some of her characters seem so mundane-and you realise just how clever that is, just how clever she is. 


When I took my shower, I was going to give this book 3/5. It was an enjoyable read, but not much more than that. And then I read the last few chapters and wow, it really blew me away. It's not like Aimee thought "Oh no! I have to make something happen now" it's totally like she planned it, she got you all relaxed and comfortable then she whacked you round the head with her ending. So now I have no choice but to give the book 4.5/5. Yes really, 4.5/5. It's THAT good. 


You better all go out and buy it, because if I don't get to read this sequel, I'm gonna be SO mad. I want it already, and the first one isn't even published for another 6 weeks. So Aimee, if you'd like to send me an ARC of Goddess Interrupted any day now, that'd be sweet. 

12 comments:

  1. Oooh I just finally got this from NetGalley, I'm excited to read it! Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Totally agree with you on how awesome this book was!! I adored the Greek mythology that was intertwined with the story! It was amazing! Didn't think to connect it with Wicked Lovely, but now that you mention it I see it's similarity!

    With you on the waiting for Goddess Interrupted! So could use an ARC of that like yesterday! ;)

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  3. OMG! I just finished reading this book and my head is still reeling and my heart racing. It was awesome, indeed! SO FRICKING BEAUTIFUL!<3 I'm with girls, I want an ARC for Goddess Interrupted.RIGHT. NOW!
    xoxo

    (sorry about the caps, but I'm too emotional and excited LOL)

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  4. I'm glad you both enjoyed it as much as I did! Cat when you've finished it let me know what you thin =]

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  5. I started reading this last night and so far, I love it!
    NC
    Truly Bookish

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  6. Glad to hear you liked this so much. It's sitting in my tbr pile waiting for me to finish the book I'm working on so I can read it. I think I just found my motivation to hurry. :)

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  7. Cait, I love your site, it's awesome. Kind of dark, eerie yet friendly and welcoming at the same time :o]

    I have The Goddess Test and have put off reading it. I won't now, your review is so tantalizing and enticin I feel like I've got to get to it pronto! I know it's a remake of the whole Hades/Persephone Mythology! Good Job, Chica!

    Kristi

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  8. Glad you're enjoying it NC =]

    Aimee and Kristi I'm glad my review has made you want to read the book more! That's what I set out to do so I'm happy it's been accomplished! I hope you both enjoy it.
    I'm glad you like my blog too Kristi, especially as yours is so awesome

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  9. I think my heart stopped when I saw the Wicked Lovely comparison, I never really got into that series.

    And thats so awesome that you got the book early, congratz! I'm extremely jealous!!!

    Great review :)

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  10. Ah don't worry Catherine,its not *too* similar. There's just a few very basic plot similarities, that's all. If you join netgalley.com you can get it for free and early too, as an ebook download =]

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  11. Hm, you've caught my attention. Sometimes the last bits of a book are the best, make the whole book so much better than you thought it was.

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  12. Have been trying to decide what to read next from my Net Galley TBR pile and you have convinced me that The Goddess Test is next.

    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

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