[Book review] The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

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Greek mythology provides a wealth of story material that can be readily adapted to a modern setting.  And while I do appreciate when authors draw from mythic traditions other than the Greeks, I can’t deny the appeal of a retelling of one of the classics.  (I still own a very ragged and well-loved copy of D’Aulaire’s Greek Myths.)  It’s a pretty good bet that I’ll like most any retelling, but The Goddess Test is one of those rare novels that I couldn’t put down.

Kate’s mother is dying of cancer, and at her request, she and Kate move to Eden, where her mother grew up.  Although Kate would rather spend as much time as possible with her mother, she re-enters high school.  There she meets the loner James, and the dating couple Dylan and Ava.  Ava’s jealousy of Dylan’s attention to Kate leads her to play a cruel prank on Kate—but when it backfires and Ava is fatally injured, an enigmatic stranger named Henry arrives and literally brings Ava back from the dead.

In return, he exacts a promise from Kate: to live with him during the autumn and winter, and in return, Kate’s mother will live long enough for the two to say goodbye.  Henry is Hades, the lord of the underworld, and with the loss of his wife Persephone, he needs a new partner.  Kate must pass a series of tests to prove that she can fill the role, but many other girls have tried and been murdered.  Now Kate must not only face these mysterious tests, but avoid an assassin who may be anybody in Henry’s house.

From the very first page, The Goddess Test engages the reader and invests them in the story.  Kate is a likeable and realistic heroine—she voluntarily gives up her life to care for her mother, but she doesn’t try to deny the cost that it levies on her.  Her desperation at her mother’s condition, the creeping realization that her mother doesn’t have long to live, and the burden of having lived day to day for over four years, all combine to produce a main character that you immediately feel for.

As a romantic lead, Henry plays his part well.  There are more than a few overtones of Beauty and the Beast in this tale, with Henry visiting her every night and getting to know her over the course of a few months.  While Henry isn’t physically (or emotionally) ugly, he does represent one of the ugliest things in the world—death.  And his deal with Kate, like the Beast’s agreement with Beauty, traps her in the mansion.  Henry is often aloof throughout this novel, but it works, given the context.

The supporting cast is no less interesting, and each emerges as a fairly well-rounded individual: Ava, who is brought back by Henry to be Kate’s confidant and friend; Calliope and Ella, Kate’s maids; James, one of Kate’s few real friends and someone with a strange connection to the house; and of course, Kate’s mother, ever present in Kate’s thoughts and dreams.

The plot satisfies, with several surprise events and some interesting twists.  Readers shouldn’t expect the story to keep strictly to the Greek mythology, or even to the framework of Beauty and the Beast.  The Goddess Test is very much its own novel, and it covers quite a bit of ground that the original myths never dreamed of.  This is a classic tale rewoven to a modern drama, and it measures up quite well to its creative ancestry.

I have no qualms about recommending this book to anyone.  It has romance, action and mystery.  It hearkens back to ancient and enduring myths and fairy tales.  And it paints a heartrending picture of a young woman forced to let go of everything that she’s always held dear.  The Goddess Test is one of the best books that I’ve read so far this year, and I can’t wait for the sequel.

This book was provided by the publisher as an e-ARC through NetGalley.