Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

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Title:  Goddess Interrupted
Author:  Aimee Carter
Series:  Goddess Test
Publisher:  HarlequinTeen
Publication Date:  March 27, 2012
Source:  Netgalley

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 loved The Goddess Test, the first book in this series. So much so that I speed-read it and didn’t take a single note, and I never even wrote a review for it. The shame! I may go back one day and re-read it and review it properly, but for now, just know I adored the mix of mythology and romance and everything else about it…especially the yummy Henry.

Goddess Interrupted, however, left me scratching my head at times and completely freaking out at others. A whole summer has passed, with Kate and James in Greece while Henry continues with his Underworld duties at home. So, you’d think it natural to expect some romance and canoodling upon Kate’s return, right? Guess again. The bad guys have other plans for Kate, and so almost from the first page, Kate is thrust once more into the action, betrayal, and sacrifice that is the Underworld.

Speaking of betrayal, I’m not usually an advocate for love triangles, but I really like how Aimee Carter handled not one but two potential love triangles in this book: the Kate – Henry – Persephone triangle and the Henry – Kate – James triangle. Yes, Kate has earned immortality and is now married to Henry. But if you’ve read the synopsis, you already know that Persephone will make an appearance in Goddess Interrupted, and if you read The Goddess Test, you already know that Henry will probably always carry a torch for her. He may have married Kate, but it’s hard to let go of your first love. And then we have James. Clever, funny, too-caring James. I think it was pretty obvious in The Goddess Test that he had fallen for Kate. Well, after a summer together, it’s even more obvious that he’s in love with her. And no matter how much he would like for her not to return to Henry at summer’s end, Kate has already made her choice…hasn’t she?

I admire the fact that the author included her heroine’s love interest as the focal point of one of the love triangles. Usually it’s our protagonist who has to deal with two suitors, and true, that is the case in this novel, but the issue at the heart of the main triangle is whether Henry’s newfound love for Kate can ever overcome what he once felt for Persephone.

The characters definitely kept things interesting, as did the bad guys. What does it mean when an author can write such an awesome nemesis that he can become just as enchanting as the love interest? It must mean that Carter writes excellent characters because at times, I found myself liking not only Persephone (gasp!) but also Cronus, the King of the Titans and enemy to the gods of Olympus. I love how developed the characters are in this series, but I do have to admit that this second installment was lacking a little on the mythology-side. We got a heavy dose of it in The Goddess Test, but it was less prevalent in this book, much to my disappointment. The mythology was one of the elements I loved best in the first book.

I really enjoyed Goddess Interrupted, just not as much as The Goddess Test. Of course I missed the mythology aspect, but I also felt that Kate was too trusting and showed less strength of character than she did in the first novel. And the occasional sweet moments between Kate and Henry seemed almost non-existent, as well. I’m sure that will all change after the cliffhanger we’re left with at the end of the novel, though. The last third of the book really picked up and set the pace for the next book, inevitably leaving me wanting more. (And, yes, the irony of coveting the next book in the series when the one being reviewed hasn’t even been released yet is not entirely lost on me.)

So, to summarize: action? Check. Romance? Check. Cliffhanger and story that will leave you wishing for the next book? BIG FAT CHECK. I’d definitely recommend this book – and the series – to anyone who loves a well-written story with a little romance and a side of mythology.

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Also, don't forget to check out The Goddess Hunt, the novella set during the summer between The Goddess Test and Goddess Interrupted.  You can get it from your ebook retailer for $1.29:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble.

I couldn't find a trailer for Goddess Interrupted, but while I was searching, I ran across my friend April's (of Sim~Sational~Books) Sims trailer for the first book.  Behold the awesomeness:

Labels: book trailers, goddess test, mythology, reviews, src 2012