Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test

Series: Goddess Test #1

Author: Aimee Carter

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Greek mythology

Publication date: April 2011

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: Own Paperback

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Synopsis:

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.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Anyone who knows me knows that I am IN LOVE with mythology! Any mythology: Norse, Roman, Egyptian, etc. But my favorite is Greek mythology! I cannot emphasize that enough! I just find it really interesting! So when I found this book I was like, "Yes, this book I HAVE to get!" And I really, really liked it! I loved the mythology behind it (duh), and I actually liked Aphrodite in this book! Let's just say that Aphrodite is not one of my favorite goddesses, but I really like her in The Goddess Test. This was a surprise to me, lol.

However, there were a few things about the book that bothered me..

1. I understand why the gods changed their names, but, just no -_- I found all the name changing slightly annoying and I found myself going to the back of the book to see who was who much too often.

2. The person killing the girls...again, JUST NO! I mean sure this person is super vengeful and stuff...but the reason why this person is killing the girls...NO! (Gosh, this is so hard to explain without spoiling it!) This person is married and has been through a lot with their significant other...I don't think they would just give up like that. It goes against everything this person represents... literally!

3. The fact that Kate had to to pass tests dealing with the seven deadly sins?? I mean, what's up with that? For one, this is Greek mythology, so what the heck is Christianity doing here? I just don't think these two things should have been mixed. Also, these tests are not necessary for deification. When the gods wanted to turn someone into a god, they just did. But usually these people were heroes (like Heracles AKA Hercules). And lastly, I read a review that had a very good point (I'm sorry, I don't remember whose it was!): The gods don't give a hoot about the seven deadly sins! In fact, they ALL (or most, anyway) have done these! Let's take Lust for example...the biggy here is Zeus, and his bro Poseidon, and let's not forget the goddess of lust herself, Aphrodite.

Okay, that felt a little ranty lol, but I'm done now :) This does not, by any means, mean that I didn't like the book. I really did! They're just things that bothered me. I really liked the story line...Persephone giving up her immortality, Hades needing a new Queen, Hades looking for a new Queen (and bride). I have to say, it's pretty brilliant. And Hades...err, I mean Henry, is sooo sweet! He's really a nice guy :)

Overall, I really liked this book (except for those pesky, bothersome things, lol) and if you're a huge mythology fan like myself, this is a MUST read! Even if you're not, you might find yourself enjoying the story ;)

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a comment! :)