The Goddess Test Review (Spoiler-free!)

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimée Carter
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Published: April 19, 2011
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Pages: 297
Source: Netgalley

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...

Kate's life is up in the air. Her mother is dying and her deathbed wish is to return to her obscure hometown which will, essentially, uproot Kate from everything she's ever known. Nevertheless, she does it, and she's thrown into a brand new world where she is surprised to find she makes new friends and finds herself building a new life for herself. Then Henry promises her the one thing she wants most - her mother to live a long, happy and healthy life. But choosing to follow her heart and save her mother might just be her own undoing.

The Goddess Test is one of the books I've been most looking forward to most this year, and I was so excited to see it featured on Netgalley. Presenting a world where Greek mythology and contemporary fiction collide, The Goddess Test is the perfect blend of fact and fiction, merging a story line with fascinating characters, layers of intrigue and story that sinks its teeth into you and doesn't let go. Aimée Carter has created a fresh debut with equal parts romance and turmoil with a fabulous writing voice that's engaging and moves with a steady, fluid pace.

Kate, the heroine of The Goddess Test, was the perfect character for me. She had this vulnerability about her that made her relatable in her situation, but she was strong, too. She never lost her inner voice or her power, despite her struggles. The secondary characters like James and Ava, though slightly stereotypical as the nerdy best friend and the cynically-tongued friend, respectively, added a touch of humour to a fairly dark and twisty tale. Above all else though, Henry, was perfection. He added a subtle depth to The Goddess Test, rather quietly, through his dark demeanor and hidden agenda. There was much more to him than what originally meets the eye (tall, dark and handsome, of course.)

The Goddess Test was a fabulous debut. It's a whirlwind of twists and turns, and the intermix of Greek mythology was refreshing and interesting. I give it a firm 5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to fans who enjoy YA fiction, especially those who enjoy fantasy and paranormal stories, as well as Greek mythology.

I received this eARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.