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.