The Cat's Meow: Goddess Test Series

My first series read of the year! I decided to read the Goddess Test Series by Aimee Carter due to the fact that I had read book one then never once review it. So in a sense I read it twice but it still gave me mixed thoughts on the book which is fine, I thought maybe my brain was too over read to enjoy it.

What I like about the series overall was the deep influence of Greek gods and using that as the primary concept, I haven't read anything with Greek Goddess influence but I have watch Xena the Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys as a kid,  plus the Disney version of Hercules, but all of it involves around Greek gods, Titans, People of the earth.

Primary the focus was all on Henry or Hades (the god of the underworld), when his first wife Persephone decide to choose mortality rather than immortality with a mortal, Henry allows her that way she could be happy. But he couldn't rule the underworld by himself, so the council needed to find another person suitable for immortality and must pass the tests. 11 fails until Kate comes along, who might have what it takes to pass the tests.

While Kate faces changes in her life, her mother dying of cancer and then Kate's friend Ava unmistakeably swim recklessly and dies, and Kate pleaded that someone could save her and come appear Henry. But because Kate was a skeptic she didn't believe what Henry's bargain was for her until Ava dies again.

Kate soon believes and get to spend more time with her mother as a bargain with Henry when she accept the challenge of going through the tests. But the question remains, why did all the other girls fail? When Kate get attack by one of their own, Calliope (Hera) she stabs Kate then dumps Kate in the river.

Calliope love obsession with Henry, drove her mad after 11 girls came and then when Kate came along, Calliope knew that Kate could pass the test but not if she died just like all the others. But Henry and his people realizes that it was Calliope who was responsible for all the death of the other girls, Henry rush to the Underworld to save Kate but in the end Kate's mother save her that way Kate could live.

Pass the Seven Deadly Sins . . .

No consequences goes unpunished and Kate could only decide Calliope's punishment, spent time with each girl that she took until they each forgive her.

Kate earns Immortality after being away 6 months from Eden Manor, Kate was left out a lot, Henry still feared the past of all the girls that died but Kate try to do everything and anything to prove that she wasn't going anywhere.   

But then its up to Kate to save Henry from Calliope who attacks again but she has a very powerful Titan named Cronus on her side and promise him freedom from the gates of hell. However Cronus knows that Kate, James and Ava are down in the underworld to save Henry but he was determine to kill them. But Kate shows compassion towards him and for him that was unusual and decides not to attack her but as the search continue on Kate must find the one person who know where Cronus's gate is  . . . Persephone.

Persephone, she been dead for several decades and living her afterlife happily with the mortal she choose over Henry. She wasn't prepare to get visitors or to see Henry again, but she still cared for Henry so she would help out Kate but then in return be able to return back to her afterlife.

But Persephone and Kate shares some common problem they both have with Henry, the whole "first time" was awkward for both of them and went bad on both ends. But Persephone can see Kate love Henry more than she ever did and realizes that Henry been living in a fantasy with herself from the beginning. She explains to Henry that their time was nice but Henry need to let go of the past and start living his life with Kate for she loved him more than she did. 

I guess Kate and Persephone are sisters in a way, wasn't really expecting that but Kate was more furious on the fact that Zeus or "Walter" was her father and never once stepped in when her mother was dying from cancer. He said that he has children from all over that needs him but Kate believes that he was selfish.

The Goddess Inheritance had a change in dynamic, Calliope was determine to get Henry at any cost and with the help of Cronus, she just may get it but there was something much worst than Calliope wanting Henry. Kate left Eden Manor to search for Rhea, convince her to help put Cronus back in his gate but instead it landed Kate in 9 month captivity. Yes nine months being pregnant with her and Henry's child and Calliope plan it to take Kate's child as her own. Kate and Henry fights for their child, for the future of their family and for mankind.

Both Kate and Henry finally have fallen in love with each other or I should say Henry did and now he can't possibly lose Kate or their son.

The battle begins and in the end Calliope and Cronus loses but Kate loses someone she thought have betrayed her.

Ava was a pawn by Walter/Zeus order but because of her love for Kate she would do anything to protect her and her son. Even when Kate see her as the traitor but in the end Ava dies saving Kate's life and you can never replace the love Ava has.

I was really sad that Ava had to be the one that died, I guess I was thinking Love never dies but maybe the mortal body does and not the Love. I really like Ava although I had mixed thoughts about her, but she was the imperfection friend you would want and provide a calming peace in the most tense situation.

For all of the books I rated 4 or 4.5 Cat's Tails Up, they were a decent book to me but they didn't really WOW me like other books have. I still have to read the Goddess legacy which I do not have but overall it was a round of cat playing with the Goddess Test series.

Book Review: The Goddess Inheritance

The Goddess Inheritance (The Goddess Test #3) By Aimee Carter

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.
 

Paperback, 303 pages

Published February 26th 2013 by Harlequin Teen 

Review

Kate spent the last nine month in captivity and now the moment has come . . . the birth of her and Henry's child. It was Calliope finally fulfilling what she warn Kate she will do, but Kate didn't think that taking an defenseless child would matter to her.

Eager to protect her child, Kate unthinkably agrees to a deal with Cronus but figuring out how to save humanity and the gods. But whenever Kate willingly takes Cronus's offer, he will still destroy the world.
The council must try to put Cronus back to where he belong,before the world is destroy but they lack of a plan, and already too many people have died.

Will Kate and Henry be able to save the world? Or will it all end in turmoil?

This was a turn around from Henry being distance to wanting to be with Kate. The maternal instinct kicks in and not only Kate worry about her son, she's is willing to do whatever it takes to get him back. I give them 4 Cat's Tails Up, it was a good read and pace very well.


MEOW . . . MEOW. . . MEOW

So over all I like Goddess Inheritance, I like the fact that it pretty much take off after how Goddess Interrupted ended. 

So Kate has a baby, and it was apparent that was Calliope's plan all along. But it got me thinking, if she is the goddess of Marraige, Woman and Fertility.  Why didn't she do it sooner? I know she failed to kill Kate in the beginning but she did ploy Henry and Kate to sleep together. 

The whole thought behind having a weapon that can kill any god was very small. Calliope rarely used it although she wanted to the first chance she got. Then it wasn't until the very end where the weapon is finally used in it's proper manner. I just thought that the whole weapon idea was lacking emphasis. 

Kate learn how to go to places astrally I would call it, most of those was to her son's nursery, she can't touch him but she can see him and in some sense her son can see her or sense her presence. I like this part because Kate's son was taken away from her right at birth by Calliope but Kate won't give up on seeing her son and hold her son for the first time. another part of this was having Henry there but turns out that Cronus been disgusing himself as Henry. 

Henry still yet have to meet his son, because one he wasn't aware Kate was pregnant in the first place and when he did find out, she had already given birth and having their son be ripped away from his parent by Calliope. Henry and Kate now not only think about the world well being but they worry for their son, whether they were prepare to be parents they were ready to face the world ending to get their son.

Zeus or Walter, have been foolish throughout this whole thing, he would rather watch a few Billions people die while trying to figure out a plan and he used his own daughter AVA to be a betrayer to Kate, but Ava must defend herself while getting all the scrutiny and in the end, she dies saving Kate, she die proving the love for Kate and Henry's son. 

Kate was finally to hold her son, she and Henry along with the rest of the Council was able to send Cronus where he belong and Calliope was dead. The threat was gone and Kate and Henry could finally start their lives as parents and gods of the underworld.

Book Review: Goddess Interrupted

Goddess Interrupted (The Goddess Test #2) by Aimee Carter

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.

Paperback, 305 pages

Published March 27th 2012 by Harlequin Teen (first published January 1st 2012) 

Review 

Kate passed the test and gain immortality, now she return from her 6 months away from "home" but not everyone seem to be welcoming her with open arms.

Even Henry is being uninterested that Kate is back . . . is he still afraid of the past?

Calliope is back and she working on a master plan to win Henry at any costs and to kill Kate once again, but will she succeed?

But there is a much greater threat than Calliope, that the council spent eons to protect the world from this particular Titan, its apparent that Cronus can never be release into the world.

But then its up to Kate to save Henry but she has to get help from Henry's first wife, Persephone will she be willing to help?

Goddess Interrupted brought tons of actions and creating Kate as new person since becoming immortal, however kate feels like she is nothing unless she prove herself that she is worthy of being immoral. She'll have to face the underworld to save Henry and prove to him that it won't be like the past.

I give this 4.5 Cat's Tails Up, I like the actions that was in this book and I love how Kate was ready to prove herself worthy.

MEOW . . .  MEOW . . . MEOW

Finally some action! While I like Goddess Test it was lacking action for me, Kate's return wasn't welcoming during her cornantion of becoming queen Calliope attacks. Henry and part of the council takes off to stop Calliope and soon realizes that it was Calliope's plan all along. Only Henry can release a very mad and powerful Titan.

Now Kate must travel to the underworld to get help from Henry's first wife Persephone who living happily in the afterlife.  But will Persephone be willing to help?

Kate, Ava and James face the underworld while trying to find Henry but the powerful Titan Cronus is already on their tail and just when all hope is lost when Cronus finds them, Kate shows compassion towards him. Cronus decide not to kill them because he is taken by Kate's generousity but that not going to stop him from rising from the underworld and destroying mankind.

Since Kate's return, Henry been more distance than ever and Kate feels unwanted, unsure of what to do she try to talk to Henry about it but that fails and when Kate, James, Ava and Persephone help save him. Henry is all eye for Persephone.

Henry can't see pass Persephone when she around at the Eden Manor which left Kate feeling left out and due to her ability she can be in another place and Henry has a private meeting with Persephone but it wasn't all a meeting, more like kissing.  Heartbroken and hurt Kate didn't know what to do except try to figure out about Calliope and Cronus since now the gate is partly unseal.

Calliope hints a warning to Kate and immediately Henry jumps in to her rescue, and then later Kate and Henry have a talk. She is planning on leaving to search for a god that already establish she would not take part in the war but the council need everyone and anyone who can help close the Gates before Cronus breaks free.

Both Kate and Henry express their love for each other finally, they spend the last few days together before Kate leave. But what they both didn't know was what was going to happen when Kate leaves.

Ava desperation beg Kate to turn back to Eden manor but Kate march forward only to come face to face with Calliope. Calliope is ready to kill her but Ava pleaded to not do anything rash because Kate is pregnant and Kate's world will be turn upside down.

Book Review: The Goddess Test

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1) by Aimee Carter

Every girl who had taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.
 
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 that 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.

If she fails...

Paperback, 293 pages

Published April 19th 2011 by Harlequin Teen (first published January 1st 2011)

The Goddess Test is part of my Series to read, I have once read it before but I never posted a review and soon after I couldn't remember what happened. But since this was a series and I had the next two books, I added it to my books to read for this year.

Review

Kate Winters didn't have much outlook to life, taking care of her mother was the only thing on her mind everything else was disregard because it wasn't important to Kate. Moving to Eden, Michigan per to her mother request, Kate didn't expect to be in Eden long enough . . . She was wrong. 

Due to a freak accident, Kate plead to save a life then Henry appeared granting her plead ONLY if she is willing to give up six months of her life spending it with him. But there's a catch . . . always a catch, once 

Kate is at Eden Manor she learned that she must pass a series of tests in order to prove herself that she is capable of immortality. 

The question is can she do it?

I give this 4 Cat's Tails UP, even after reading it the second time the book drew my attention but I wish there was more somehow. i can't explain it but I felt it lack actions or such.

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

Now that I have read this the second time and could actually enjoy it better, I've dabbled on a few Greek Mythology and found it interesting but I didn't realize that someone actually wrote an book using Greek Mythology influence. 

Kate Winters is a very shy and quiet girl but I can see that she does that so people wouldn't constantly feel sorry for her due to her mom's sickness and nearly on her death bed. But when arriving in Eden, things are not what she expected to be.

Meeting James was one thing, befriending Ava was another and Ava unexpectedly dies from a freak accident and Kate couldn't bare to see someone her age, so young to die because she was being reckless. 

That's when Henry comes in, Henry seem very brooding but handsome at the same time he offers Kate an ultimatum however from the beginning Kate didn't realize what she was getting herself into and when she refuse him not believing in what he said about the deal. Ava dies AGAIN. 

Now Kate has to believe but she couldn't bring Ava back to life but Henry was willing to give her more time with her mom until she was ready to say goodbye. When she agree with the deal, she knows that passing the test is important because it wasn't about having more time with her mom, it was saving Henry as well.

HENRY a.k.a HADES, he seems a pretty decent guy but because of the past he distant himself from Kate fearing that everything that had happen in the past will happen again. But soon he grows fond of Kate, and in a small way believes that she could pass the tests. 

The tests were mention here and there during the time Kate was at Eden Manor and I was wondering what kind of tests was the gods going to throw at her. I expected like sequences that would challenge her, not like the hunger games or such. But something where it's surviving each task at a time. 

Her first non-official test was on what she knew about the Greek history and failed. I was glad that Henry had shared his failure on the test as well and I think after that point is when the two of them starting growing together. Kate admittedly believe that the more time she has spent with Henry, the more she was falling in love but did Henry in return? She was thinking will it all be worth it in the end, but the last thing she wanted was to feel responsible for if and when Henry will fade if she does not pass the tests.

I guess when facing a chance of immortality, the biggest series of the test was to be the seven deadly sins however while Kate had passed most of them there was one that she couldn't passed because the gods saw it as what it was, LUST and not influence by an scheme by Calliope. Kate wasn't guilty, she couldn't be and Calliope true colors finally shows when she get too close to Kate.

Soon it made sense to who had killed the other girls that didn't pass the tests or. Ever had a chance to, Calliope was madly in love with Henry but Henry didn't in return. Her success of killing Kate works but Kate's mom offer her life to save Kate. Even Henry was too late when he tried so hard to protect her, he took Kate mom offer and Kate was brought back to life. 

Kate knew that only she could determine Calliope punishment, she gave her the hardest one of all spending time with each girls that she has killed until they could forgave her.

Kate is on her way of becoming immortal, she has to believe in herself that she can help Henry rule the underworld.

Overall it was a good read/re-read, I'm already midway on the second book Goddess Interrupted which has a lot more excitement once Kate has arrive back from her six month but face even more danger.

Blogger Times

I apologizes for not blogging so much these past few weeks, I have been busy in my realtiy world.  Book world is so much better than reality, here's a few reasons why

1. It's my relaxing time
2. I can visit my book boyfriend(s)
3. Their world seems better than mine
4. Bloggers always have something to giveaway and give the best reviews
5. Too many books had come out that I'm barely keeping track

So here's some things in my Blogger Times,

• I have been given a chance to review a book called The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier, I'm still reading it and I'm loving every mintue of it!
• I have been waiting for my Barry Lyga's signed copies of "I Hunt Killers" and the sequel "Game"
• I purchase two discounted hardcover books, one by Kelley Armstrong and the other by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs
• I haven't open Fragments since last week because I still have three book to still review but I'm reading The Willows: Haven because Hope offered her book to me to be read and give a review.

So here's some book photos

 

 

 

Thanks Addendum Bookstore for sending the books to me!!!!

 

Now the two Discounted Hardcovers

 Virals(Virals #1) By Kathy Reichs.Brendan Reichs and The Gathering(Darkness Rising #1) by Kelley Armstrong.

 

I purchase these books at Books-a-Million(I won't blame you if you are not familiar with that bookstore. They are the company that brought out my old borders store although I wish we had gotten a Barnes and Noble instead)

 And the Books I Still have to review

 

On my Ipad I have School Spirit by Rachel Hawkins provided by NetGallery, Then it's the Goddess Test by Aimee Carter and Divergent by Veronica Roth.  I might consider re-reading Goddess Test and Divergent.