The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Book Jacket

Every girl who has taken the test has died.  Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate nad 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.

If she fails...

Review

This was a great quick read, but it still didn't satisfy my craving for a really awesome retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone.  Although I liked Henry and Kate well enough, I think my main problem was the lack of grittiness.  Henry was a complete gentleman, and Kate had no idea about boys.  Neither of them seemed all that into each other until suddenly they were. 

Personally, I want to see a messed up Hades with inner pain expressed through, you know, kidnapping and crazy stunts.  I want to see how a relationship begun in selfishness and horror can turn into something beautiful.  It's like Beauty and the Beast!  Without puppies and everything handed to you on a silver platter, okay, Henry?  You're not dark enough for me.

The mystery of who is which god or goddess didn't live up to its potential either.  Because Kate didn't really care who anyone was, there was no drive to the reader to care either.  And without giving anything away, a few of the revelations felt a bit like copouts. 

Really, the book was too happy.  Hahaha.  So maybe that means everyone else will love it!  And I did very much enjoy it, and I couldn't put it down.  But if someone else knows of a really great reinterpretation of Hades & Persephone....let me know!

Three out of five near death experiences.

Release Date: April 2011
Reading Level: Grade 9+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: YPL CAR