The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter
Publication: February 26, 2013 (Harlequin Teen)
Source: E-galley from the publisher
Rating: Beam-worthy

___

Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

Memorable Quote

He stared up into the space I occupied, and I could hardly breathe.  He was perfection.  Calliope wouldn't take him from me.  I wouldn't let her. 

My Review

After enjoying both previous novels in this trilogy, I read The Goddess Inheritance eagerly.  The previous book ended on a terrible how-could-you-do-that-to-us cliffhanger, so when I saw the final book on NetGalley, I grabbed it.  (Thank goodness for auto-approval!)  As I read Aimee Carter's newest book, several things struck me.  I've talked to a few blog friends about how I'm writing and reading much more critically, seeing things I didn't used to when I read.  And more than anything, I want to read books that leave me speechless.  The Goddess Inheritance was enjoyable, and a mostly satisfying conclusion to the Goddess Test trilogy, but not much more than that.

As I read, although I was an en-spelled in Aimee Carter's writing as ever,  I couldn't quite get past some of the flaws in the plot of The Goddess Inheritance. All the characters I've come to care about were present, and they each had roles to play.  The stakes were higher.  But the plot felt circular to me.  Everyone kept going around and around, and in some cases, right back into danger once they escaped.  It felt like, to me, just a way to draw out the story. 

However, The Goddess Inheritance still held my attention, and by the end, I could appreciate the hopeful conclusion to this trilogy.  It was a good to see everyone finally pulling together, and to see Kate coming into her own as a goddess.  I was starting to think that wouldn't happen! We do see some growth from her, which was refreshing and encouraging.  I also enjoyed that Carter finally put Kate and Henry in a good place.

As The Goddess Inheritance came to an end, I felt somewhat bittersweet because the trilogy was ending.  I have hope that Aimee Carter might revisit this series down the road, even though this final book in the trilogy wasn't everything I hoped. 



Other books by this author:

The Goddess Test (The Goddess Test #1)
Goddess Interrupted (The Goddess Test #2)

Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1 - 2013 Harlequin Teen)

You're sure to fall for:

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

About Aimee

I attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and received a degree in Screen Arts and Cultures (a fancy way of saying I was forced to watch a lot of old movies) with a subconcentration in Screenwriting. I write. I watch a lot of new movies. Read a lot of books. Tweet too much. Love dogs and have two spoiled Papillons.

Visit Aimee at: her website | her twitter 

Shop for The Goddess Inheritance at: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository  

  

Review: Wake by Amanda Hocking

Wake by Amanda Hocking
Pages: 309
Expected publication: August 7, 2012 (St Martin's)
Source: ATW ARC Tours
Rating: Beam-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Connect with the author: Twitter | Blog


Beautiful. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Thea, and Lexi have caught everyone's attention, including the eye of practical Harper. But it's her sister, Gemma, they've chosen to be part of their group.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma seems to have it all - carefree, pretty, and falling in love with the boy next door. But her greatest passion has always been the water. She craves late night swims under the stars, where she can be alone yet belong to the sea. Lately she's had company. Penn, Thea, and Lexi spend their nights dancing, singing, and partying on the cove--and one night Gemma joins them. When she wakes up groggy on the beach the next morning, she knows something has changed.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. As she uncovers the truth about her new mythical powers, Gemma is forced to choose between staying with those she loves or entering a dark world brimming with unimaginable secrets.

My Review

After finishing Wake, the first book in sucessful author Amanda Hocking's new Watersong series, despite extremely high hopes, I have incredibly mixed feelings about this novel.  While I liked it enough to want to read the next book in the series, I also had some problems connecting with the characters, or really delving beneath the surface layer of this story about three beautiful, dangerous girls.  This one also felt entirely TOO rushed, like Hocking wrote it without taking a breath to pause.  I feel as if I had barely met the characters when the action started, and never stopped.  I closed Wake feeling as if perhaps I was not the target audience.  

I found the main character, Gemma, to be very flat; in fact, I found myself wishing that Wake had been told from her sister, Harper's point of view.  Harper was a fascinating character, and she was the one I clicked with immediately.  Gemma seemed TOO perfect, and honestly, a bit spoiled.  Harper took over the role of Mom after an accident left their mother incapacitated, and it was her I wanted to know more about.  Yes, Gemma had it hard, too, but I felt like she had everything handed to her - the awesome boy next door (more on him in a minute), being the star of the swim team, etc - and I felt like she didn't really appreciate any of it.  

Luckily for Wake, there were several minor characters who saved the story for me - including Alex (the boy next door) who was so sweet and amazingly supportive, and Daniel, who lives and works at the marina where Harper and Gemma's father works.  Daniel was mysterious and fascinating - the type of layered, complex character I adore.  I really loved watching his interactions with Harper.  She's very dedicated and practical, and he's very NOT practical, and they just absolutely were oil and water in the most delightful way.  Their chemistry was one of my favorite parts of Wake.  

Normally I love Amanda Hocking's books but this one fell flat; instead of being drawn to Penn, Lexi, and Thea, I was repulsed by them.  Their actions were incredibly selfish, and they never took into consideration what Gemma wanted or didn't want.   I did enjoy the glimpses into their pasts, and the mythology that Hocking spun into Wake, but again, the pacing felt incredibly like going 0 - 60 in about a minute. There was, however, a cliffhanger ending, which left me on the edge of my seat to know where the series goes next.

Overall, with the shaky, jumpy pacing, and the fact that I didn't connect with the main character, and didn't get enough time with the characters I DID like, I can't rate Wake as high as I would like to, but I do encourage you to read it for yourself and see what you think!

Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter
Expected publication: March 27, 2012 (Harlequin Teen)
Pages: 304
Series or stand-alone: Goddess Test (2)
Source: E-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Rating: Squee-worthy
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website
 
Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

My Review

Picking up six months after the end of The Goddess Test, Aimee Carter's Goddess Interrupted pulls readers effortlessly back into the lives of Kate Winters and Henry, the tormented Hades, God of the Underworld.  Kate returns to Eden Manor and to Henry's realm riddled with understandable nerves and uncertainties.  Though Kate is destined for immortality, and though she knows how she feels about Henry, the normally strong female isn't sure yet what he feels about her.  And it doesn't help that Henry seems to be pulling away from her.  With a mix of action and strong emotional ties to the familiar characters, Aimee Carter does a fabulous job of setting the stage for her second novel.

Diving almost immediately into the heart of the novel, Goddess Interrupted is almost a breathless read.  From the first pages when it becomes clear that trouble is brewing, to the frustrating (in a good way!) cliffhanger, Aimee Carter doesn't let up.  Goddess Interrupted packs several punches, whether it's a new twist in the storyline, or a new layer revealed of Kate, Henry, James, Ava, or even...Persephone.  Henry's first wife has a pivotal role to play in Goddess Interrupted, and Kate's half-sister is definitely a feisty, vivacious character - one I won't soon forget.  She and Kate are fascinating foils for one another; although at first, one would think they have nothing in common over the course of Goddess Interrupted, while their differences become evident, so do their similarities, and I loved the little character studies we got of the two women.  

Goddess Interrupted was a really quick, fun read.  In some ways, because there was so much action happening at every turn, it wasn't quite as emotional for me as The Goddess Test was, while in other ways, it was even MORE heart-wrenching.  This time, with Persephone back, Kate's fears that Henry is still in love with her are never more abundant.  As usual, I wanted to shake Henry, then immediately hug him.  For someone who has lived so long, at times Henry is SO clueless and such a guy.  He and Kate are adorable and just twisty enough to satisfy my tastes when it comes to couples; there's definitely a delicious, yet intense tension between them, and I, for one, will always be a fan of theirs.  

Aimee Carter sets the stage very, very nicely for the follow up book, and the wait will definitely be torturous.  It's safe to say that there is a LOT going on in Goddess Interrupted, both within Kate and around her.  It was fascinating seeing the lengths she would go to, to save Henry and her friends, proving once again why I love Kate - that she's an amazing character - self-reliant, brave, and strong.  And yet with all this happening, I was slightly disappointed with the storyline with Persephone - not the character herself, because I am actually rather fond of her, but with Henry's actions toward her and feelings.  

If you were a fan of The Goddess Test, I would definitely suggest you read Goddess Interrupted.  Be prepared to laugh, to tear up, and mostly, to be absolutely riveted.  I read this book in one sitting and it will likely be the same for you!

Further Thoughts

Have you read Goddess interrupted?  Are you, like me, twitching for the sequel?!  What's your favorite aspect of the books so far, or your favorite character? 

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Pages: 293
Published: April 19, 2011 (Harlequin Teen)
Series or stand-alone:  Goddess Test (1)
Rating: Squee-worthy
Source: Nook purchase
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Website | Twitter


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 Review

 

Looking back, I can't recall why I hesitated so long to read The Goddess Test.  I was interested in it when it was first published - I just wasn't reading much mythology based fiction, and definitely not YA mythology/fantasy.  But as I started branching out more, I finally took a chance on The Goddess Test, and I read it almost in one sitting, over the course of a couple of hours.  I'm used to reading mythology in my paranormal romances, but I was really quite pleasantly surprised by Aimee Carter's debut YA novel.  Protagonist Kate Winters is grounded, realistic, and skeptical of the situation she walks into, until tormented Henry - Hades, if she believes him - offers to keep her dying mother alive while she faces the seven tests that will determine if she is granted immortality or not. 

Kate enters into the bargain with him unsure of what to believe, and I liked her for that.  She isn't all doe-eyed innocence, nor is she hardened to the point that she - doesn't - believe.  She knows she caught up in something bigger than herself, but watching The Goddess Test unfold - and watching Kate grow and change - was emotional and heart-warming.  All she's known for so long is taking care of her mother, and as her relationship with Henry deepens and matures, from stranger to friends, to the poignant potential for more, Kate learns that she's put her life on hold, and that both Henry and her mother want the same thing for her: for her to live to her full potential.  Over the course of The Goddess Test, Kate learns a great deal about herself, as well as those around her.  I whole-heatedly applaud Aimee Carter for all the character growth infused throughout The Goddess Test - in Kate, in Henry, and in the secondary characters. 

There were a few weak moments in the plot that took a bit away from my enjoyment.  There were several twists that I definitely saw coming, including one that I assume was meant to be obvious, because it very much was.  In some cases, that would have gotten the book in question a lower rating, but what saved The Goddess Test for me (although it very much was a quick, and overall satisfying read), was the emotion.  I connected with Kate immediately, because of the fact that I've lost several relatives to cancer, and I could identify with her deep longing for "one more day," and to not have to say goodbye yet.  Henry was more detached in some ways, yet he appealed to me just as much as Kate did, though there were a few times when I wanted to give him a good shake.  The bond that developed between him and Kate intrigued me, and I found myself looking forward to their scenes together.  Their attraction and relationship was somewhat quick for my taste - not quite insta-love, which is a positive thing - and I hope that Aimee Carter develops them even more in the books to come.  

There were so many strong, powerful emotions in The Goddess Test: Henry's unrequited love for his lost wife, Kate's intense love for her mother and bond with her, Kate and Henry's connection, Kate's grief over her mother, Kate and Ava's friendship, and all of that, to me, was one of the best features of The Goddess Test.  There are also several secondary characters that I would absolutely love to know more about and hope we will see more of in the sequels. 

Even with a few flaws, The Goddess Test is still a novel I really enjoyed, and having received the sequel, Goddess Interrupted through NetGalley, I'm excited to read it soon.  Aimee Carter definitely left off on an interesting note, full of promise in more ways than one, and I look forward to seeing what else she has in store for her characters!