REVIEW: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Inheritance (Goddess Test #3)
Author: Aimee Carter
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Publication Date: February 26, 2013
Format: egalley* 384 pages
Rating: 5/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Book Despository

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.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

For the past two or more years, Aimee Carter has enamored me with every Goddess Test book she creates, each one getting better and better as the story goes on. Like all good and great things, sometimes it just has to end. While I grieve and rejoice this last book, The Goddess Inheritance, I weep not only for an incredible story reaching its term, but for every single character I have come to love and hate. In this very last book, Carter gives us the epic ending we have all been waiting. It’s dramatic, compelling, and bittersweet to the very end. 

Aimee Carter starts off The Goddess Inheritance with a bang. Right away, we are back front and center into the action with Kate. In this last installment, the stakes are higher, the whole fate of humanity is at risk, and most importantly, Kate and Henry’s family are in perpetual danger. Cronus continues to wreak havoc and Calliope won’t stop making Kate’s life a living hell. When it all comes down to a raging war, death is inevitable and Carter makes sure we know this.

Kate really grows into her role of being a goddess even when she was still inexperienced. Despite this, Kate was much stronger, fiercer, stepped up and took initiative. Kate was determined as ever to save not only Henry and their baby, but her whole family and even the world. Again, we see how truly selfless Kate was; continuing to put others before herself numerous times. Though sometimes the decisions she made backfired along the way, Kate kept trying, never gave up, and learned from her mistakes. Tougher and wiser, Kate pushed all her limits to get to where she was now and in this final book she shined brighter than before. 

Henry will always be my favorite and though he frustrates me to no end, I love his devotion, dedication and the love and care he deeply felt for Kate. He continuously protects her; putting himself in harms way and sacrificing just as much as Kate does. There was no more doubt how strong and deep their relationship ran. It was much more stable and solid without the issue of trust. Henry and Kate belong together and they knew that and they made sure nothing and no one would come between them. My heart simultaneously ached and swelled with love for the both of them.

Like with the last two novels, Carter never ceases to amaze me with the world she has created within this series. She really took Greek mythology and twisted into her own masterpiece and her ability to enrapture doesn’t fail in The Goddess Inheritance. Carter definitely weaves in shocking revelations, never-ending betrayals and ultimate sacrifices that make this book heart-stoppingly good. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the ending to this one-of-a-kind series and Carter doesn’t just deliver, but she brings it home. It was everything I longed for and much much more. 

Overall, The Goddess Inheritance was a spectacular end to one of my beloved and favorites series of all time. Though this may be the end, I will never truly say goodbye. 

*Thanks to HarlequinTeen for sending a copy for review

_______________________________________________

Favorite Quotes:

All quotes are subject to change from the finished copy

"You're going to have me for a hell of a lot longer than this." Location 443.

"Kate, I swear, if you don't come back, I will tell Henry you kissed me. And that you said I have a nice ass." Location 457.

"Humanity is nothing compared to you." Location 695.

"I will not let you go, Kate, because I love you. Not because I believe you belong to me. Anyone who has been around you for five minutes knows better than to think that." Location 1539. 

"We did not have the opportunity," he said. "Now try to go into the bedroom. I will meet you there." I gave him a look. Location 1697.

"I see the sunrise now," he said. "Because of you, the days have color. Eternity has meaning once more. You found every broken piece of me and put me back together, even though I hurt you too many times for me to deserve it. You are the glue that holds me together. If I lose you, it will be the end of me. The end of everything good in this world." Location 1802.

Waiting on Wednesday #32

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you share an upcoming release that you're anticipating on reading.

 The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Expected Publication Date: February 26, 2013

Summary Not Yet Available.

Why I'm Waiting?

1. Farewell, my love.

I'm half part dying for this book and half part dreading it. I want it so bad because I have to know what happens, but then I also don't ever want this series to end. The Goddess Test series has been one of my all time favorites and to see it end breaks my heart just a little more. 

2. Kate.

I adore Kate so much and she has come so far. I can't wait to see what Aimee has in store for her. I have a feeling it's going to be so good.

3. Henry.

Ah, my favorite. I love Henry, always have and always will and I'm dying to know what he plans on doing in this last book. Has he finally moved on and given his heart fully to Kate? Does he still have lingering doubts? And how does he plan on... well that's all I should say. LOL. I just have so many questions. And honestly, I just miss Henry so damn much.

4. Goddess Interrupted WTFery Ending.

If you've read GI, you have to know what I'm talking about! That was just pure and utter cruel torture. I wanted to pull all my hair out in frustration it's no wonder I'm dying for The Goddess Inheritance. 

What are you waiting on?

Let me knooooow ;)

REVIEW: The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Legacy (Goddess Test #2.5)
Author: Aimee Carter - Website || Twitter || Facebook
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Format: Netgalley eARC* 395 pages
Rating: 5/5 stars

For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aime e Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.

Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness....

Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal....

Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another....

James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before....

Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope....

Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages.

My thoughts, feelings & reactions.

The Goddess Legacy was a wonderful addition to The Goddess Test series! I was thrilled that Aimee Carter decided to write these short stories. I was really able to fall more in love with all the amazing characters that Aimee Carter created.

I love the characters that Aimee Carter chose to write about and place into this book. What was so great was the fact that I was able to dive deep into the feelings and emotions of these characters. I was able to understand and even sympathize with them. Even better, I really got to know these characters in a new light, understanding why they came to be what they are in The Goddess Test and Goddess Interrupted. Aimee Carter gave them real human emotions and made them into characters that I can relate to. Even though there is more than one POV, Carter wrote each character with a different voice, personality and feel. You really connect with these characters in a specific way and you may even have a change of heart for some.

Hera/Calliope’s story was very eye opening. I really got to see how and why she is the way she is. Although I still don’t condone or think what she did to Kate was right, I can understand why Calliope acted the way she did. I really felt her despair, resent, anger, betrayal and loneliness. I like that I got to see a before and after side of her and what really made Calliope lose it. In this story, there is more background with how the council came to be and I enjoyed reading about that. I also got to know more about Zeus/Walter in this story and I totally get why Calliope feels the way she does.

Ava/Aphrodite’s story was very heartfelt and happy. I liked her story because I also got to see a new side of her. A side that was vulnerable and loving (in a true way). Ava just wanted to think for herself, make her own decisions and be happy. I loved reading about how she saw the difference between wanting and needing and passion and commitment.

Persephone‘ story just made me hate her even more. While Aimee Carter developed her character and story well, I just couldn’t bring myself to feel sorry for her. I found her to be extremely selfish and hurtful. It was pretty painful to read her story because of the pain she put Henry through. However, I did see that she never wanted what was placed before her. Persephone had no choice and while I pitied her because she was unhappy, I was angry because she lacked such immense amount of insensitivity. Like with Calliope, I understood her and I get why she decided to do what she did.

James/Hermes’s story was everything I hoped it would be! It was adventurous, full of humor and it was just plain fun. His story was all about finding true love, family and acceptance. He learned about adaptation and humility.

And then Henry/Hades. His story really hit home. I never did understand why he loved Persephone, but I really felt all his pain, sadness, sorrow, grief and burden of living an eternity alone. I loved knowing why Henry decided to fade. I enjoyed knowing more about the decision to find him a new queen, seeing him with Ingrid and my most favorite, when he got to see Kate for the very first time. It was so great to read about. Henry is my favorite character and with this short story from him, I loved him even more.

Overall, The Goddess Legacy was an amazing read through and through. Fans of The Goddess Test series will rejoice and devour this collection of short stories. It’s a definite must-read!

*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for allowing me to read this book :)

Purchase The Goddess Legacy today!

Amazon || B&N || The Book Depository

REVIEW: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Title: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2)
Author: Aimee Carter - Website || Facebook || Twitter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: March 27, 2012
Format: First Edition Paperback, 296 pages
Rating: 5/5

KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, 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 thoughts, feelings and reactions.

Goddess Interrupted was even better than the previous book. Once I started the book, I immediately realized how much I missed the world and all the characters in the story. Aimee Carter really outdid herself with this book. 

Goddess Interrupted starts off with Kate returning to Eden for the autumn equinox, coming back to Henry and to be crowned Queen of the Underworld. Just when things seem to be going well, Kate has doubts about her marriage with Henry. She fears that she will always be second best to her sister, Persephone, and that Henry will never love her. To top it all off, a powerful being happens to abduct Henry the day of Kate’s "coronation".

Already, the book dives into the action, excitement and darkness. I loved how familiar everything felt, from the setting, to the characters and their abilities. I had no trouble at all getting back into this enchanting world that was built up in the first book. The new threat that plagues Kate and the council is brought into the book in a well thought out way that is understandable and clear. Carter takes this part of the Greek myth and makes it into her own. She develops this well, giving readers a good twist. 

One of my favorite parts of Goddess Interrupted was Kate’s journey in the Underworld. While she was there, I got to imagine what Kate saw: the beauty, the fantasy, the despair and the sorrow. I’m glad that Carter described and visualized the Underworld. She also put in plenty of background and explained the inner workings of the Underworld to make it really seem within reach of reality.

Because of Goddess Interrupted, I felt even more close to Kate. Although her insecureness bothered me, I really felt her aching, her pain and all the hurt she was feeling. I completely understood what Kate was going through. Watching Kate slowly wither away from her doubt and fears really broke my heart. Reading about how much pain and heart break she was going through was so intense and emotionally charged, I had to keep putting the book down to pull myself together. But even through all that, Kate was brave and selfless all the way. Her devotion, love and loyalty, to Henry was inspiring. Her determination to save Henry and other gods/goddesses was especially admirable because Kate knew it could mean her life and she was willing to sacrifice herself for the love of her family. Even when having to face the one person she can’t stand, she still pulls through because that’s how amazing Kate is.

Goddess Interrupted was full of suspense, danger, but also plenty of romance. While reading it, I was swept up in a whirlwind of emotions from gut-wrenching sadness, to anger, to frustration and then to joy and back. And with that ending, I was wishing I could get more. Overall, this second book in the Goddess Test series was one fulfilling journey.


Read my review for the first book: The Goddess Test.

Purchase Goddess Interrupted:

Amazon || B&N || The Book Depository 

REVIEW: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1)
Author: Aimee Carter
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Published: 9 April 2011
Format: First Edition; Paperback: 293 pages
GR Summary:
 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:
I absolutely enjoyed and loved The Goddess Test! I thought it was fast-paced and more than an easy read. I love Greek mythology so much and Aimee Carter did not disappoint with the addition of it here. Everything that happened in the book was surprising and very entertaining. 



Kate’s mother is very sick and her last wish is to go back to her childhood home. Kate wants to make her mother happy and willingly moves despite having to start over again. This doesn’t trouble Kate much, but she’s afraid her mother won’t have much time left. She’s so afraid of losing her mother, so when she meets dark and mysterious Henry, she accepts his offer to be tested if it will keep her mother alive. Being the god of Underworld, Henry is looking for a queen and if Kate passes the tests, she’ll rule alongside Henry.

Aimee Carter sucked me into the world of The Goddess Test almost instantly. From the summary, it sounded like a regular story of a girl fighting to keep her mother alive, but there’s so much more to it. The added Greek mythology is crazy good. I love how Aimee Carter took the myth of Hades and Persephone and made it her own. The twist is super creative and very clever. It’s impossible not to get swept up by the story. 



I loved Kate’s relationship with her mom. I was able to relate to her in this aspect and I loved how close they were. It made me long for such a closeness. But I admire Kate for her inner strength. I know how hard and scary it is to lose someone you love so deeply. I thought it was brave of her to take the tests to keep her mother alive; to be with her longer.

I also loved Kate and Henry’s relationship. I loved how they slowly got to know each other throughout the tests. I loved how their relationship developed so beautifully. I thought it was really magical and sweet.  They’re connection was very endearing. I love Henry and Kate together. They are both amazing characters. 



I thought Henry was deliciously handsome. I adored him from the start. He seemed dark  and frightening at first, but he had such a wonderful personality. There’s so much more to him that just this powerful god of the Underworld. I loved how he really cared for Kate and did all he could do to help her. I really enjoyed that Aimee Carter made him this powerful being, but also made him seem human too.



The ending was probably my favorite part because I didn’t see it coming at all. It was so unexpected, but so amazing! I cannot wait until Goddess Interrupted comes out. I’m dying to get back into Kate and Henry’s world all over again. 



Overall, The Goddess Test was a wonderfully fun and highly gripping read. The story and mythology is original, different and oh so fascinating. The characters are interesting, well developed and very relatable. 



My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!


Waiting on Wednesday #2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you share an upcoming release that you're anticipating on reading.


This week's WoW is

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter (The Goddess Test #2)
Expected release date: 27 March 2012

WARNING- Summary below may contain spoilers to book one: The Goddess Test. Read with caution or just skip it..


From Goodreads:

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.

I've been dying to read this book since I finished The Goddess Test. If you haven't read book one, I think you should run to the bookstore and purchase it...NOW! You will love it because I sure did. I'm a big sucker for Greek Mythology. Her books have a different take on the mythology with a modern twist that I completely fell in love with and enjoyed so much. Aimee's writing flows with grace and is so easily read. The book is fun and quirky and just plain awesome. Besides, Henry is deliciously delicious and to-die-for. If you are not convinced by Henry, well my god I don't know what will!