The Goddess Hunt

Title: The Goddess Hunt

Author: Aimée Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publish Date:  01 March 2012

Pages: 71

ISBN: 978-1-42683-415-8

Source: Bought

Genre: Young Adult, romance, mythology

Series: The Goddess Test

Other books in series: The Goddess Test, Goddess Interrupted, The Goddess Legacy (July 2012)

A vacation in Greece sounds like the perfect way for Kate Winters to spend her first sabbatical away from the Underworld...until she gets caught up in an immortal feud going back millennia. Castor and Pollux have been on the run from Zeus and Hades' wrath for centuries, hiding from the gods who hunt them. The last person they trust is Kate, the new Queen of the Underworld. Nevertheless, she is determined to help their cause. But when it comes to dealing with immortals, Kate still has a lot to learn....

What did Kate Winters do during her first six months away from Henry?  This story starts out telling us some history of Castor and Pollux who are on the run from Zeus.  Castor and Pollux are twin sons of Zeus who were tricked by him.  One is mortal, the other is immortal.  The twins couldn’t picture spending eternity without each other and when Castor dies and goes to The Underworld, Pollux rescues him, which angered not only Zeus, but Hades, the God of the Underworld. 

                                                       

Fast forward to today.  Kate Winters has won immortality in The Goddess Test.   According to her agreement with Henry, she spends six months in The Underworld with him and gets to spend the other six months away from doing whatever she pleases.  During her first six months away, she spends the summer with James in Greece.  Things happen there that she doesn’t expect.  First off, James getting “lost” and finding Castor and Pollux, who have been on the run for centuries.  The last person that they want to trust is Kate, the Queen of the Underworld.  What happens when Henry (Hades) finds out that James and Kate has found Castor and Pollux?

I really like The Goddess Test series , but I wasn’t as excited about reading this novella and I’m not sure why.  Maybe because I had Goddess Interrupted to keep me busy at the same time.  Like Henry, I think that I really didn’t care what Kate did on her six months off and found it hard to believe that this would be an interesting story.  I was wrong.  This story drew me in like the other books in the series.  Carter never ceases to amaze me with her writing.  Not only is it grammatically correct, but the way she creates these characters that are ancient is astounding and I wasn't disappointed in this novella.  You would expect them not to use the same vernacular and grammar as those characters of today and she writes this flawlessly.

The cover shows a female, who is the same one on the other covers in the series, Kate Winters.  She is looking through a forest of some sort.  The font of the title is the same that is used for the other books in the series as well.  The consistency throughout the books is good to see.  I think that having her in the forest is appropriate for this novella because a lot of the story happens there.

 

• Kate Winters.  She is the main character.  Even though this is her time away from Henry and he has told her that she can do whatever she pleases and he cannot stop her, she is faithful to the vows that she made as Henry’s wife.  She shows some of her true character when dealing with Castor and Pollux.

• Henry.  Ah, Henry.  Every story that I read about him, I like him more and more.  Yes, he is angry and Castor and Pollux.  Nobody has ever escaped The Underworld before and this has upset him because that is his realm and he doesn’t want others to follow.  Having chased them for centuries, his patience is wearing thin.

• Castor and Pollux.  The twins of Zeus.  Zeus, being the master tricker that he is, made one of his sons mortal and the other immortal.  When Castor dies, Zeus makes a deal with Pollux where one day Castor can be immortal and the next he will spend in The Underworld and Pollux would get the same deal.  Pollux takes the deal because he thinks that means that he would get to spend eternity with his brother.  What he didn’t know was that he would never see him because their days would alternate.  Pollux really cares for Castor. He couldn’t see living without him and rescues him from The Underworld.  They are running and in hiding so Zeus and Hades do not find them and punish them for what they have done, which is outsmart Zeus.  At first, Pollux seems very abrasive.  I wouldn’t expect any less from someone who was betrayed by his father.  Castor is very polite and charming.

• Cerebus.  He is guardian and a dog of The Underworld.  Pollux punches him in the nose when he rescues Castor.  He comes again to the forest and encounters Pollux and Castor again.  You just have to  love dogs.  

 

• James.  James has been slowing going from the “like” to “did not like” side.  At first, he seems to really care about Kate and what happens to her.  After reading his history and the things that he has done, I’m beginning to like him less and less.  He was always there to fight with his brothers against the threats in Goddess Interrupted without question, but his heart wasn’t in it.  He tries to get Kate to go against her vows to Henry.  He finds Castor and Pollux when he knows that this will cause problems for them.

• The other Gods and Goddesses in this novella. Yeah, they have rules that they have to uphold, but they seem heartless when they do it.  Some of them surprise me, but for the most part they are prideful and cold. 

Author Interview: Aimée Carter

Aimée Carter was born and raised in Michigan, where she currently resides. She started writing fan fiction at eleven, began her first original story four years later, and hasn’t stopped writing since.

I'm really not very interesting at all. I attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and received a degree in Screen Arts and Cultures (a fancy way of saying I was forced to watch a lot of old movies) with a subconcentration in Screenwriting. I write. I watch a lot of new movies. Read a lot of books. Tweet too much. Love dogs and have two spoiled Papillons.

Aimée Carter, the author of The Goddess Test, The Goddess Hunt, Goddess Interrupted and The Goddess Legacies (released August 2012) answered a few questions that I had for her.

Goddess Interrupted, The Goddess Legacy and contest

The book trailer for Goddess Interrupted has officially been revealed by Harlequin Teen.  Goddess Interrupted is being released on March 27^th.






Not only did they release the trailer for the next book, Harlequin Teen also announced that there will be another e-book released on July 31^st called The Goddess Legacy.

For all those curious about the lives of the gods and goddesses before Kate met them, THE GODDESS LEGACY will fill in those details!
From the first seeds of discord between the original six to the love lives and losses of the rest, Aimée Carter's THE GODDESS LEGACY features five original novellas about Calliope, Ava, Persephone, James and Henry.

To celebrate the release of Goddess Interrupted on March 27^th, I am holding a contest. The prize? An autographed paperback copy of The Goddess Test and a paperback copy of Goddess Interrupted. There will be two winners in this contest.

Rules

• You will have 48 hours to respond or you will forfeit your prize.
•  I reserve the right to cancel the contest at any time without reason.  
•  I am not responsible for parcels lost or damaged in the postal system.  I will make every attempt to avoid this.
• You must be 13 years or older to participate.
• Contest is international.
• Names will be drawn by Random.org that is within rafflecopter.  
• Winner will be announced in this blog post at the conclusion of the contest and notified by the e-mail provided to enter the contest.  Make sure this is the e-mail that you want me to contact you!

Goddess Interrupted

Title: Goddess Interrupted

Author: Aimée Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: 27 March 2012
Pages: 304
ISBN: 978-0-373-21045-9
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Young Adult, Mythology
Series: Goddess Test
Other books in series: The Goddess Test, The Goddess Hunt

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.

Now that Kate Winters has won immortality, what happens next?  The story begins when Kate returns from spending the summer in Greece with James.  He shows her how to get to the Underworld so that she can fulfill her part in staying with Henry six months out of the year.  When she arrives in the Underworld, instead of being greeted by Henry, she gets a vision… a scary one.  She doesn’t understand why she is suddenly getting these visions.  Her mom explains to her that it is one of her gifts and she will learn to control it over time.

Things in the Underworld are not what Kate expected.  She expected Henry to be there with open arms when she returned.  He doesn’t show up because he is in a meeting and it is upsetting to Kate.  She wonders if she and Henry made a mistake and if she’ll be happy with him.  Assurances from everyone say that she is wrong and Henry loves her.  Why can she not believe them?

When Kate finally does see Henry, he has been hurt.  Things have changed in the Underworld.  Calliope is finally extracting her revenge for the punishment that was handed down to her in The Goddess Test.  She is in the process of waking up Cronus, the King of the Titans.  This creates havoc for all in the Underworld.  Titans are the only thing that can kill the Gods.  When Henry is abducted with other members of the Council, Kate must embark on a journey that not only proves her worth as Henry’s wife, but also as the Queen of the Underworld. 

Ever since reading The Goddess Test, I have been a fan of Carter’s writing and Goddess Interrupted did not disappoint.  This book was well thought out with a good plot and well-developed characters.  In the beginning, you are reminded who the main characters are.  Some of the characters are given more time than in the first book.  Goddess Interrupted is the second book in this series and it ties in well with the first.  There is no lapse in what happened from the first book to this one.  This book flowed nicely from one plot point to the next.  After reading this book, I wanted to go back and re-read The Goddess Test to be reminded of the beginning of the story.

 

The cover shows the same girl from The Goddess Test, only she is in a different pose.  I’m presuming that this is Kate Winters.  She is wearing a white, sleeveless gown, which is similar to what I think of when I think about the Gods in Greek Mythology.  I like the font of the title.  It seems appropriate for the Greek theme.  Kate again, is in a forest in this scene.  I’m not sure what this has to do with the story.

•Kate Winters.  Even though she is a bit whiny in this book, I still like her.  She has strengths that are admirable.  Nobody expects Kate to take on the journey and responsibilities that she does.  She is new to the Underworld.  To help Henry and the other members of the Council that were abducted, Kate asks for help from someone she never thought she would, Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

•Henry.  In this book, he seems distant from Kate.  It is explained to Kate that Henry hasn’t been married for 1,000 years and will take some time to get used to it again.  Other things have preoccupied Henry’s time.  The constant attacks on Tartarus, or the Underworld, is the first thing and he puts his duty to his “job” above his duty to Kate.  This is one of my favorite quotes from Henry:

If I were a better man, I would be able to show you the love and affection you deserve.  As I am not, I can only offer you what I am capable of giving.  But I assure you, just because I do not show it doesn't mean I do not feel it. 

•I loved reading about the Greek Gods and Goddesses and how they use their talents or gifts in this book.  I have always been interested in mythology and this book involves not only that, but also romance and action.  I also liked how they talked.  Their language was that of someone who was old and didn't use the jargon of today's society.

•James.  For the most part, he is a good character.  He is loyal to the Council and will fight for them whenever needed. He is a good friend to Kate and tells her things that nobody else has told her.  Why did I put him in the not like section?  He knows that Kate is in love with Henry and is his wife, but he still wants Kate for himself.  After the summer in Greece, Kate describes him when they return to the Underworld as “moody and proper.”

•Calliope.  I didn’t like her in The Goddess Test and that has carried over into this book.  She wants Henry and was prepared to do anything to get him.  When she realizes that she has no hope with him, she awakens Cronus, who wants to kill the Gods who imprisoned him.

•Cronus.  As I said above, he wants to kill the Gods who imprisoned him after the war between the original Titans and the Gods of the council.  This doesn’t just include Henry, but includes everyone on the council. 

•Persephone.  I will give it to her that she does help Kate when she needs it the most, but Persephone doesn’t do it gladly.  She would rather stay in her little piece of heaven (if that is what you would call her place in the Underworld) with Adonis. She does show improvement towards the end of the book.

Michigan Authors Giveaway

Since it is October, my favorite month of the year, I thought I would pay homage to my fellow Michiganders with a giveaway.  The following are three authors that are from Michigan and I have seen them frequently at book signings throughout the state.  I am giving away one autographed book from each author and 12 bookmarks that I have collected from these authors.  This contest is open internationally.

Hunted by DJ DeSmyter

Seventeen-year-old Lily Atwater has always kept to herself, living a lonely life with her workaholic dad. Not the most thrilling life, but it’s quiet and ordinary, two things she’s come to expect from living in Victor Hills, Michigan.
 
When kind and mysterious Alex takes refuge in her home, she is suddenly thrown into his world of werewolves, a world he wants to keep her safe from. But while the two of them grow closer, a relentless hunter continues his search, stalking the woods with hopes of catching the wolf that got away…

The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter

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.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

First there are nightmares.

Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.

When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.

Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

The Goddess Test

Aimée Carter

Before I could do just that, a pretty blonde girl attached herself to his side and gave me a once-over.  She might’ve been smiling, but with the way she was leaning against him and clutching his arm, she might as well have peed on him.  He was clearly marked territory.

Katherine Winters aka Kate returns to her mother’s home of Eden, Michigan when her mother is on her death-bed.  Kate has spent the last few years taking care of her mother while she was ill.  Now, she has to start a new high school so she can graduate.  While going to school, she meets Ava, a cheerleader who invites her to an after school party.  While they are out after school, Kate meets Henry and makes a deal with him.  At first, Kate thinks Henry is crazy until things happen and she realizes the severity of the bargain that she made with him.  With her mom in the hospital in a coma, she makes a deal with him to give her more time with her mother.  In return, she will take the goddess tests and possible become Henry’s future bride and the Queen of the Underworld.

“Kate.” His soothing voice did nothing to calm me. “You look beautiful.”

“Th-thanks,” I stuttered, attempting to curtsy.  It didn’t work too well.  “I see they didn’t make you wear a dress.”

Henry chuckled.  “Even if they had, I wouldn’t have looked nearly as lovely as you do.”

Goodreads synopsis:

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.

"I care," he said in a trembling voice. "I care so much that I do not know how to tell you without it seeming inconsequential compared to how I feel. Even if I am distant at times and seem as if I do not want to be with you, it is only because this scares me, too."

I like the way that Aimée Carter portrays the different Greek Gods and Goddesses in this book.  It is interesting to see how their personalities match up to what you would think they would be.  It wasn’t until the end of the book that you are enlightened as to whom people really are.  The way that she portrays Henry makes you want one in your life.  

"Do you think he's cute?"
I rolled my eyes. "He's a god, Mom. Of course he's cute."

This is the UK cover of this book.

"Maybe you'll win when hell freezes over."

He raised an eyebrow.

"That could be easily arranged."

UPCOMING BOOKS

January 2012

The Goodreads synopsis:

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.

Maggie Stiefvater book signing

Ilana waiting for the signing

My niece Ilana and I went to a book signing at Borders in Novi, Michigan yesterday.  It was a three-hour drive, but so worth it.  Maggie spoke first and was hilarious!  I loved it!

Maggie's Car

Love the license plate!!!

Maggie's Books:

Alternate Covers:

UPCOMING:

Released October 18, 2011

Other Authors:

There were some other authors there as well to get their books signed.  A few of them are from Michigan and I've seen them at other signings.

DJ DeSmyter

Tessa Gratton

Courtney Allison Moulton, Aimée Carter, Leah Clifford

Their Books

Released August 08, 2011

Alternate cover for The Goddess Test