REVIEW: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

I've read a lot of mixed reviews for The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter - it seems as though you either love this one or you hate it. I was slightly worried going into it, but luckily for me, it's a book that I really enjoyed. And I'm looking forward to reading more in the series!

Perhaps it's the fact that I know very little about Greek mythology that allowed me to sink into the story and the characters without the extra burden of looking critically at the basis of mythology behind the book? I'm not sure. I thought it was a very readable story with likeable characters and a sweet romance.

I think what really pulled me into The Goddess Test initially is the relationship between Kate and her mother. When 18 year old Kate's mother asks for one last dying wish, of course Kate complies. She drives her mother back home and tries to spend as much time with her as possible. I loved this connection between mother and daughter. It's something that when done well, always manages to make me feel like my heart is being ripped out.

Kate's plan to spend every waking minute with her mother doesn't quite work out as her mother would like Kate to live her own life - go to school, make some friends. At a party that Kate never wanted to attend she witnesses the tragic death of a schoolmate. When a mysterious boy, Henry, offers to bring the girl back to life, Kate becomes involved in something much bigger and more complicated. In exchange for the life of the girl at the party, Kate has agreed to spend six months with Henry and if she passes a series of tests, she will become both Henry's wife and a goddess.

I really liked Kate. She seemed to have a pretty level head on her shoulders, she seemed to really care for the people around her and is determined to make the best out of her situation without being a push-over. I thought the slow build-up of romance between Kate and Henry was utterly sweet. The transformation from strangers to friends to something more is done so gradually that I almost cheered. It felt really refreshing to have two people fall in love over time rather than immediately and passionately, and I'm looking forward to further progression of this relationship in future books. There was also some really fun and interesting secondary characters but at times I did question the believability of some of their actions. But it all made sense in the end.

I liked it and will definitely be on the look out for the next book in the series!