Realm of the Sapphired Dragon: Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Released: 19 April 2011
Source: R.A.K Gift July 2011
Reviewed by: Sapphired Dragon

Sapphired Dragon rating : *****

Synopsis via Goodreads
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.

Review:

I have heard nothing but good things about this novel so I was really looking forward to reading this book and I have to say, it definitely delivered.

The Goddess test is not so much based on the the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone but more a continuation of the story. Persephone is gone and Hades (now called Henry) is looking for a new queen to rule the underworld with him and he has less than 20 years left to find her otherwise he will fade away forever.

Kate is the girl he has chosen to be his wife and Queen but she needs to pass seven tests to to be allowed to take on the role and is not even really sure she wants the job. However her mother is dying and this will allow her to spend more time with her before she too is gone forever.

This is a unique take on the whole mythology angle and I believe the idea is pulled off extremely well. The story does not retell the stypry of Hades and Persephone but rather uses the myth as a launch pad for a interesting and compelling read that you won't want to put down. In fact when about to finish it last night, I wanted to hold on to it for one more day to use for my Teaser Tuesday but at the same time didn't want to put off for one more second reaching the conclusion and finding out how it ended.

The story flows at a good pace and there is enough going on to keep your interest the whole way through pulling you too a conclusion that is both surprising and exciting . The two main characters Henry and Kate are both characters with some substance to them and also have their flaws. Kate is extremely selfless and has spent the past couple of years caring for her sick mother but in the process has forgotten how to live and Henry has given up and is ready to finish his last days and fade away. I have never been a huge fan of the love at first sight type story and so I loved that the friendship grew slowly and we got to see it growing throughout the story.

The peripheral characters are also not so peripheral and bring as much colour to the story as the main characters. I particularly enjoyed the characters of Ava and James. These characters ( Ava and James amongst them) and their interactions with Kate and Henry helped round out what was already a wonderful story.

I greatly enjoyed reading this book and thoroughly believe it deserves every glowing review it has received so far and have no hesitation whatsoever in giving this book 5 stars.