The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1) by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1) 

Aimee Carter

293 pages

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: April 19th, 2011

Rate: Loved it

"This is the gate between the living and the dead", he said. "You are still living. The others on the grounds died very long time ago."

A chill ran through me. "And you?"

"Me?" The corner of his mouth twitched. "I rule the dead. I am not one of them" 

Kate's mother is dying and her last wish is to move back to her childhood home. How she can say no even if she's starting a new life, with no friends, and fearing her mother's death?

She starts her new life there but a girl's prank turn out with her death and Kate decides to safe her. How? She makes a deal with a stranger. Even though the girl was mean with her, she tries to safe her and that's why Henry claims her to be the queen of the Underworld.

Kate thinks that's another prank, but when Ava dies again, this time with no return, she decides to try to safe her. Instead she's finds another deal: keep her mother alive until she's prepared to say goodbye, if she takes the test.

When dealing with the God of the Underworld could be an easy task, Kate finds out that he's not the only God around her and the astonishing thing is that she doesn't even know. 

What Kate doesn't know either is that every girl who had taken the test had died. If she fails, it's not her life that's only at risk...

"I care," he said in a trembling voice. "I care so much that I do not know how to tell you without it seeming inconsequential compared to how I feel. Even if I am distant at times and seem as if I do not want to be with you, it is only because this scares me, too."

I had this series on my to-read shelf and it was about time I give it a shot. It turns out that I'm in love with this books. Aimee Carter not only finds the way to keep the story with sense and interesting for the reader, but adds a little of Greek mythology in it. Thing that I love. 

It was nice to see a good Hades, God of the Underworld, tormented by the loneliness that Persephone left in his heart. You could think that being a God is an easy task, but keeping the Underworld in order is taking everything from Henry and he wants a partner with him, to help him and to ease that loneliness. 

To be at Henry's side, each candidate must take a test and pass it. The trouble in that? No one knows who is killing the candidates and what seemed an easy task, turns out to be a deadly test. 

However this time is not only the candidate, Kate, that will die. Henry has made an ultimatum. If Kate does not succeed, he'll let himself vanish forever. Because Gods don't die, they vanish, with no turning back.

Kate was a brave and strong character that even though she's not in the obligation of saving a girl who was nothing but mean with her, she safes her and that's what brings Henry's attention. She's a good girl with a big heart and she even cares for Henry. Although we can understand her distress at first, when  someone, from out of the blue, claims to be Hades, God of the Underworld, and that he wants you to be Persephone 2.0, can be a little bit stressful and made you judge the sanity of that person.

Henry is the tormented character with the little hope of finding a partner to share the Underworld. He's not asking for love, but for caring. He's sweet, but distant and is the one that keeps the mystery in their relationship.

James, on the other hand, is supposed to be geeky, but handsome. He truly cares for Kate and he's really cute and friendly. When we found out his secret, we were like OMG! That one we didn't see it coming. However we were glad to know that he'd be around for a while (*wink*). We had mixed feelings with Henry and James, so we would keep them both!

As for Ava, she's mean at first, but then she changes completely. She's more sweet and a little bit childish, but is something that suits this character. We don't know how to explain it, but she's a sexy,  but childish character that brings the fun to the friends relationship in the story.

With a terrific and wonderful plot and fantastic and original characters, this story is full of unraveling twists and unexpected secrets that would captivate you from the first page. Not only we have romance and mystery, but we can see a peek of supernatural and being truthful to the original mythology.

We can only tell you that we have already read the other three books of Kate's story. So don't hesitate, Book Addicts, and read this marvelous story full of Greek Mythology.

"Maybe you'll win when hell freezes over."

He raised an eyebrow.

"That could be easily arranged."

Shelley Hennig as Kate

Julian Morris as Henry

Diego Boneta as James

Diana Agron as Ava