Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Review: The Goddess Inheritance

THE GODDESS INHERITANCE
Goddess Test #3
Aimee Carter
Paranormal Young Adult
Harlequin Teen
384 pages
Available February 26th
Received from publisher via NetGalley

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.


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. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

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.

Even if it costs her eternity.


MY THOUGHTS 
As befitting the final installment of a trilogy, The Goddess Inheritance is action packed from beginning to end, building on the physical and emotional intensity of the previous two installments and bringing everything to a dramatic and tearful conclusion. We pick up nine months after the brutal cliffhanger of book two, our concern for Kate returning with shocking clarity as our minds play catch up, and our nerves remain exposed throughout – the battle between the council, Cronus and Calliope wreaking havoc on characters and readers alike.

Kate has been a challenging character from book one, her instinctual reaction to fall on her sword as the solution to any situation that demands payment in the form of violence or sacrifice one that has plagued us from the beginning, but it is particularly strong in this last book. Despite both James and Henry calling her on this tendency, Kate simply acknowledges their comments and then disregards them when a new opportunity to save others arises, and while we at first applaud a mother's need to do anything and everything to save her child, the repetition of Kate's actions seems to gradually distort the grand gesture from a noble one to something else entirely.

Initially we can't help but see Kate's willingness to do what Cronus asks of her in order to spare her child and Henry further pain as the selfless act it appears to be, but it doesn't take long before red flags begin to wave themselves madly in our field of vision–suspicions that are later confirmed by Kate herself–to make us question her motives. We come to realize her actions are both admirably selfless and extraordinarily selfish; the decision to lay down her life for those of her family not simply about wanting to protect them, but even more so about wanting to protect herself, the weight of loss a burden she prefers to hand off to someone else because she's not strong enough to bear it herself. That realization–that she'd rather leave Henry and her family to deal with the agony of her death, especially knowing what Henry's already suffered prior to their marriage, than simply be honest and communicate with them to try and find an answer to their problems that doesn't result in her martyrdom–darkens and twists our perception of her into something we can't quite move past no matter how much we wish to.

Despite the issues with Kate, The Goddess Inheritance is as captivating as its two predecessors, the emotional dramas of the inhabitants of Olympus painfully riveting, and Ms. Carter does a beautiful job of deftly tugging on our heartstrings each and every chapter. Though Kate and Henry's relationship still doesn't feel quite as genuine as we might like, the love between them still feeling somewhat fragile and delicate even after all they've been through, they present a more unified front in this final book to give us a little hope that their romance will achieve that solidity in the future even if we're not able to witness it for ourselves.

Rating: 3.5/5

40 comments:

  1. My goodness, Jenny. Your blog design bewitches me every time I stop by. I intend to make a comment and then I'm like, "LOOK AT THE PRETTY" and all coherent thought flees.

    This is one series that I've circled, but never really latched onto. I don't know if it's for me. Hmm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. THANK YOU!!! My blog likes it when you make it feel pretty ;-)

      Delete
  2. I both want it and I am all ..no. Cos of something I heard and can't even remember anymore

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really enjoy this series overall, I just have had some issues with Kate since the beginning:)

      Delete
  3. I can definitely see myself getting frustrated with Kate, which is too bad. She sounds like such a conflicting character! Someone who can somehow manage to be both selfless and selfish is very confusing. I have to say that I've never really found the exact motivation that I need to really get into this series. Some aspects I would really love, I think; others, not so much. This was a very helpful review for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She is definitely a challenge. I would have been fine if this tendency to sacrifice herself ebbed over the course of the books and she learned to look for another solution before volunteering her death, but it only got worse and that was frustrating for me.

      Delete
  4. Recently you told me how you were a bad reader...ah my dear I'm the worst! I haven't started this series yet even though I've heard only great things about it. I'm glad you were able to enjoy the last (right?) one. Great review Jenny :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, this is the last one. In theory. The back of the book did say it was the end, but it left us with an ellipses and the words "for now" so who knows:)

      Delete
  5. Aww the romance between Kate and Henry sounds so heart breaking, I have yet to pick up this series, but your praise of the series so far despite some issues with Kate, gives me no doubt in my mind that I will enjoy this journey with these characters too! Brilliant review Jenny! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Henry is definitely a damaged character and I was drawn to him from the beginning, but their relationship never quite felt believable for me.

      Delete
  6. Hm, I was never really drawn to this series, and I couldn't even tell you why. Maybe it was because of all that Greek mythology that was crammed down my throat in Uni. *sigh* But based on your descriptions of Kate's behavior I know I wouldn't be comfortable with her at all. It would be too frustrating, and unnecessary martyrdom is a pet peeve of mine.
    Fantastic review, Jenny!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm a huge Greek mythology fan, so that was the draw of this series for me, but Kate's behavior was a bit trying at times. Despite that though, I did enjoy each book:)

      Delete
  7. I haven't read this series yet, but the mere fact that you've enjoyed it so much speaks volumes. As a lover of Greek mythology, I don't know why I haven't read this yet! Great review, Jenny! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Keertana! I'd be interested to see what you thought:)

      Delete
  8. Ooohh action packed? MEE LIKELY! There have been so many mixed reviews for the first book, and I honestly don't think I'll like the series much, so I'll have to skip this series. But I'm really glad you enjoyed this overall :) Great review, Jenny!<3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, you hit the ground running with this one and never stop:)

      Delete
  9. I made it through one and a half of these books but they just never stuck. I think it is because of Kate's propensity to fall on her sword and the detachment between Henry and Kate. I really wanted a sweeping love story, overcoming all the odds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I struggled with her wanting to fall on her sword at every possible moment throughout. Just once I wanted her to consider a different option - like talking to Henry:)

      Delete
  10. Well not an epic ending but it sounds like it was solid, I never picked this series up but I am glad you enjoyed them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're very entertaining books, and I couldn't put then down despite the issues I had:)

      Delete
  11. Thats fun that you stuck with the series, I broke up with this one awhile back...:( booooo. It sounds like it had a meh end too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love this series. I love Aimee. But I couldn't help but feel so frustrated with Henry and Kate in this book. There was, like you said, no communication. The two drove me insane with the way they behaved. All the self-sacrificing got old and I just wanted them to stand together instead of jumping in front of each other.

    Regardless, I this series still has a special place in my heart and I love it. The end sweetened a lot of the bitterness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YES! Exactly. I had hoped that in this final book she would have worked on her communication with Henry and learned from their past mistakes, but she didn't. Boo. Still, I do enjoy this series very much:)

      Delete
  13. Kate (and maybe even the romance, actually) sounds like it might frustrate me a little. I wasn't too keen on the first book and I don't think it's quite worth me continuing with this series now. Still, I'm glad you were able to find things to like in this, even though the end result wasn't completely spectacular. Lovely review as always, Jenny!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kate can be very frustrating at times, but maybe if you know that going in, it won't be as big an issue:)

      Delete
  14. The self sacrificing nature of Kate is what made me decide to not pick up this book. I can understand how being that way could be appropriate but for all three books? That sounds like being a doormat. Glad to know I made the right choice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I could deal with it in the first two books, but it was even more prominent in this last book and that's what really got to me. Any time any challenge came up, Kate would immediately come up with a solution that ended in her capture and/or death, rather than sitting down with Henry and trying to find another path to take.

      Delete
  15. Have I understood correctly that Kate is Persephone and Henry is Hades? I think it was that story.. I'm not sure though. I like everything myths and I know lots of peeps love this series. I'm sorry you had issues with the main character though, but this world sounds so fascinating! I think the first book is marked as TBR for me on GR. Do you think I should read them?

    ReplyDelete
  16. As much as I love mythology, for some reason these books just never caught my interest. I do like hearing what you have to say though so thank you for your thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have the 1st in this series...it's been patiently waiting on my shelf for a long time...but I'm afraid that I will have problems with Kate and thus keep pushing it to thebottom of my TBR.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I still have not delved into this series. I love Greek Mythology but I have not had a chance to read this yet. I am glad to see that it is still a good series for you, Jenny. Happy Tuesday!

    ReplyDelete
  19. You are so right! I had a hard time with this one because I didn't want to reveal too much in what bugged me. You achieved this nicely. Darn I'm jelly! :) I was so bothered by the fact she didn't confide in Henry. On the plus side, I did like Henry more! :D

    ReplyDelete
  20. I still haven't read this series yet although I've wanted to for some time now because I love mythology and this one seems to be rich in that field.
    I'm glad that you enjoyed the book despite the issues you had. I don't know about the MC. She doesn't really sound like my kind of character from your description. Still, maybe someday I'll give the book a shot!
    Lovely honest review, Jenny! :)

    P.S The blog design is GORGEOUS! :D
    I love blue! <3

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh crud. Now I'm scared to read this! She has always annoyed me a bit, but it sounds like she's doubly annoying (or frustrating maybe I should say) in this one. I'm DYING to know what happens but I'm quite sure this is a book that could be thrown across the room a time or two...

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ah Jenny..I am scared about this book! I also have been on and off about this series and while I love the series we do not have a relationship without isusses... I'm even more scared now after reading your review!! *bites nails*

    ReplyDelete
  23. I had the first book for the longest time and ended up giving it to a teenager I know. She loved it but said I wouldn't have. I will let her know another one is coming out though she probably already knows. Dang kids these days keeping up with stuff LOL

    ReplyDelete
  24. I just felt like the end really let me down. I expected more but it just didn't give me what I want. Nice review Jenny :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. You have me worried Jenny! I’ve read so many mixed reviews for this, all with conflicting likes and dislikes! My fingers are crossed that I enjoy this one because the series has been getting better, although not getting to the point of 'great' yet. I’m not too happy about not seeing a solid relationship form in front of me, seeing as the romance has been a sore point for me from the beginning, but I hope I’m okay with it once I actually read this for myself. Thanks for the great review!

    Lisa | Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have the first one of this series, but just haven't got around to reading it. I have a feeling Kate would make me want to pull my hair out. Her decisions to always martyr herself I'm sure would grate on me. I think I'm going to pass on this since the romance doesn't sound that moving either. :(

    Btw, I wish you would start The Opportunist so our mad and frenzied email exchanges could start up again! I miss our gossip! ;)

    ReplyDelete