Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Book Description from the back of the book:

Paperback, 296 pages

March 27, 2012, Harlequin Teen

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.

Source: Netgalley (ebook), Karen, MM Publicity & Harlequin Teen (paperback) (Thanks!)

My Thoughts:

Kate was now Henry’s wife. She passed the test, evaded death and gained immortality. However, after spending her summer in beautiful Greece with her friend, James, she came home to a cold Henry. No warm embrace and definitely no welcome-back-kiss. She was disappointed, surprised and slightly worried that Henry might not want her after all. A lonely time like this was one of the best times to get to know her. I got to see her desperate side and her pained side. The author knew how to make me sympathize with Kate but more importantly, the author knew how to make me feel Kate’s pain. I ached for her. On the brighter side of things, Kate was a goddess now. It came with perks: powers. One of these was seeing visions. This played an important role in the novel.

Calliope’s wrath will wreck everything. With the help of Cronus, she brought the whole council on their knees. Henry and the others’ lives were in danger. It only got worse. To save Henry, Kate needed Persephone’s help. The gorgeous, too frank and slightly selfish former queen of the Underworld caused Kate so much pain, envy, and sadness. But above all, Kate started to doubt. The sisters were so different from one another. They were opposites.

Henry, one of my favorite male characters, broke my heart. I know that he was scared that his relationship with Kate might end up the same way his marriage with Persephone did but I can’t help flinching and hurting over how he treated Kate with such coldness. He was distant, unreachable. The growing strain between him and Kate drove me nuts. I was so frustrated at how Henry acted. After everything he did, seeing him soften up was worth it. In the end, I understood why he behaved that way.

The writing was still hypnotic and beautiful. I was lost in the words. In the middle, there were times when the journey felt too long for me but the suspense, the anticipation of disaster and the disaster itself made all the waiting worth it. The attacks delivered by Cronus were chilling. What struck me the most was Cronus himself. He was an intriguing character, very unpredictable. The ending was the final blow to my heart. It was hopeful, shocking, tragic and full of danger. I applaud Carter for this.

Goddess Interrupted is achingly beautiful and bittersweet. I was swept away, wave after wave of emotion. It was strange how I was caught up with the relief and excitement of The Goddess Test, looking forward to Henry and Kate’s happy future as king and queen of the Underworld, only to be shocked and pulled back to reality: Henry loved Kate but he loved Persephone more.  This installment brings the more serious and emotional side of Kate’s story, so people who like heavy and heart-breaking moments will delight in this sequel. Doom and gloom gets a whole new meaning in Goddess Interrupted.

Rating: