Hell Hath No Fury Like a Goddess Scorned | “Goddess Interrupted” Review (Goddess Test, #2)

Cynthia Ayala ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

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, and even though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she feels as isolated as ever. Despite her growing love for Henry, he’s growing distant and secretive. In the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: Cronos, King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, Kate makes it her personal mission to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. Unfortunately, that means enlisting the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future: Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

Goddess Interrupted is the second book in the Goddess Test series written by Aimée Carter. Published on March 27, 2012 by Harlequin Teen, this novel picks up three months after The Goddess Test.  Kate Winters is immortal and lives by the standards created by Hades.  But upon her return, she discovers one of her new, god-given gifts: sight that allows her to see those far away. Its timing is bittersweet. Kate is able to witness an evil plot hatched by her nemesis Calliope, better known as Hera, Queen of Gods.  In her rage, she makes a pact with Cronos, King of the Titans to rid the heavens of the gods in exchange for his release.  Of course, these Gods, and especially Henry, better known as Hades, refuse to go down without a fight.

As a story, this installment moves fast, focusing a lot more on plot than character development. It’s compacted near the end of the novel, leaving Kate as a character with which readers should want to sympathize, but will find bland and childish.

As a character, Kate endures a lot of hardship. She returns to a husband who shuts her out, however unintentionally, and competes with the ghost of Persephone. The novel is rife with tension and angst, but the way Carter has written Kate as stubborn and easily overwhelmed makes her a frustrating character to read, rendering sympathy difficult. Her strong will is not a new characterization, but her inability to listen to other characters detracts from making her fun-loving and captivating. That coupled with her naivety makes her a character grounded in reality, lending an air of believability to her and to the story, but also makes readers less compassionate.

Goddess Interrupted is a well-written novel and wonderful addition to the young adult and Greek mythology genres as Carter continues to expand the fantasy realm for readers of all ages. ★★★☆☆ (B+)