By: Cynthia Ayala

Author: Aimée Carter

Published: February 26, 2013

Publisher: Harlequin

Series: The Goddess Test

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, (Greek) Mythology

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. But even if she agrees, he’ll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council, and the consequences of her refusal are even more devastating.  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.

Goddess Inheritance, written by Aimée Carter, picks up nine months after the last novel.  Tricked by Aphrodite (Ava) and held prisoner by Hera (Calliope) and Chronus, she is held prisoner and very pregnant.  But her due date is coming closer as the Council of Gods plan their invasion and her rescue.  Published by Harlequin publishers on February 26 of last year, this novel gives young adult readers, and fans of the series, a riveting and heart wrenching conclusion to the Goddess Test series by combing paranormal romance and Greek mythology.

As with the previous novels in the series, Carter continues to breathe new life into the world of Greek Mythology, giving young adult readers something worth reading that is not a rehash of a tale already told.  Capturing mythological characters perfectly, she is able to make the reader understand the important role each character has in the novel.  Kate Winters especially who is new in her role of being a goddess and immortal. Both of those make her a very naïve character, but they also serve to make her headstrong, giving her character the proper balance in personality so that she captivates readers and becomes down to earth. 

However, there is the one thing about her character that will be incredibly irksome so fans and those knowledgeable of Greek Mythology: Kate’s apparent lack of knowledge in Greek Mythology.  Even in the first novel, The Goddess Test, the main character has had very small knowledge in the world of Greek Mythology, not knowing the story of Persephone and not even knowing that Aphrodite had a son, and a husband, who was none other than Hephaestus (known as Nicholas in the novel).  That is the main flaw in the novel because even when Kate herself has those bouts of doubt and depression, given the events of the book, as readers find themselves yelling at her to not give up; she continues to rise to the occasion.  Additionally, what makes her rise special is the fact that Hera and Chronus continue to push her down repeatedly, trying to tear down her hope and love.  That willpower, the will that Carter has bestowed upon her character makes her the hero readers want to vouch for, and her rage and strength make her human and relatable to the audience.

Now, the story as a whole is thought out and gives the reader an easy understanding of the novel.  Hera is vengeful, a scorned woman and is seeking revenge by making deals with even the most dangerous of beings, that being Chronus, the gods and Kate are trying to figure out ways to stop the pair of these evil doers, but of course they meet challenge after challenge.

It’s a high stakes chess game, played by the gods, by Zeus and Chrous and everyone to them is a pawn.  A bitter sweet end to a well-constructed series.  ★★★☆☆ (B)