Staff Book Review

The Goddess Test

by Aimee Carter, 2011

Book Description: 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.


The Goddess Test is a modern retelling of a story in Greek Mythology of Persephone, daughter of Demeter, and Hades, god of the Underworld. Persephone is no longer in the picture and Hades must find another queen to rule the Underworld with him at the request of his siblings (Zeus, Poseidon,  Aphrodite, Hera, Hermes, etc.) or he will no longer be ruler of the Underworld. A series of 7 tests will find Hades a worthy queen, but over time, no one has survived. This is where the main character, Kate, comes into play. She will be the last to take the Goddess Test and there are many surprises along the way.

No spoiler alerts here, but The Goddess Test blew me away and I can't wait until the next one, Goddess Interrupted due out in January 2012. Want to find out what happens to Kate? Get your library card ready! Request it and pick it up at your local branch of the Burlington County Library System.

Interested in other Greek Mythology Fiction? Type in (or click on ->) Mythology, Greek-Fiction into the Subject Box on the online card catalog.

Keep up with the author, Aimee Carter, for new releases on her website. You can follow her on Twitter & like her on Facebook.


 Recommended for Grades 7+

Reviewed by Miss Theresa