Book Review: Goddess Interrupted, by Aimée Carter

 
Carter, Aimée. Goddess Interrupted. 304 p. Harlequin Teen. 2012. Paperback $9.99. ISBN 9780373210459. 

In keeping with my goal to read more sequels this year, I was eager to read this follow-up to The Goddess Test. I found Carter's debut novel to be a likable spin on Greek mythology, and really came to care about the main characters, Kate and Henry. As a refresher, Kate is a mortal girl who ends up agreeing to undergo a series of tests to become the wife of Henry, who is actually Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. 

Goddess Interrupted is an engaging read, but I found it to be a little less cohesive than the first volume. I admit that this may be a result of the way I read it-- on my phone, while nursing my little one. So I read it in brief, ten-minute chunks here and there over the course of about a week. This reading method works fine for some books, and other books... not so much. The plot is action-packed and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, and I suspect if I would have had a different experience with this book if I'd been able to sit down and just inhale it.

As it is, though, I feel this is definitely a worthy sequel. If you like the first volume, you'll like this one. Carter effectively creates tension in the romance between Kate and Henry, and plot twist of Kate having to interact with Persephone is intriguing, since Persephone's character was entirely "off screen" in volume one-- yet so very significant to the story. I liked that Kate had find a way to come to terms with her.

The chance to spend more time with characters I enjoy and a very suspenseful cliffhanger ending guarantee that I will pick up the third volume and see how Kate and Henry's story will wrap up.

On another note, I like the cover to Goddess Interrupted-- it coordinates nicely with the cover of The Goddess Test, but the girl pictured looks stronger. She's standing upright, hooray! The first volume's cover was almost flirting with "dead girl cover" territory. What do you think?


Goddess Interrupted hits bookstores everywhere on March 27. ARC for review provided by Harlequin Teen via NetGalley. Don't miss our podcast interview with Aimée Carter on Authors are ROCKSTARS! 

Eye-catching Covers

They say "don't judge a book by its cover," but we all do. In a sea of pretty girls’ faces, sumptuous dress, stylized angel wings, and shiny, futuristic symbols, what stands out on the YA shelves these days?

As I was looking through some new and upcoming releases, I noticed three particularly unique and eye-catching covers. They don't seem to fit into any current trend, but still manage to look contemporary and appealing for today's readers.

Harbinger, by Sara Wilson Etienne
True, this cover features a pretty girl. And okay, she’s wearing what appears to be a fancy dress. But the dress isn’t the centerpiece of the image. Rather, this cover is composed of some truly curious elements-- the blindfold, the moon, the intricate border... is it a reference to a Tarot card? The design is a bold an intriguing choice that makes me want to pick up the book and see what it's all about. (In fact, I just started reading this one and it's captivating so far!)

The Diviners, by Libba Bray
Frankly, it’s a weird cover, and to be honest, I’m not actually sure I like it (even though I'm sure I'm going to like the book itself-- I heart Libba Bray!). Regardless, this cover is like nothing else I’m seeing on the shelves these days. That eye staring out! It's so strange! The subdued colors and the fact that it's not a photographic image makes me wonder if it's meant to hold crossover appeal for an adult audience. It's not a very "teen" cover... which is what will make it stand out on the YA shelves.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, by Jesse Andrews
This cover is SO different from every other book on the teen shelf! It almost looks like a children's book, except that children's books probably wouldn't have "dying girl" in the title. The design has a fascinating use of bold color, linear composition, and creative papercuts. I just want to keep staring at it. I haven't read the book, but I understand it's quirky and holds appeal for both male and female audiences-- qualities the cover reflects quite well.

As much as I actually do like certain YA book cover trends (I'm still a sucker for the gorgeous dresses, I admit it!) it's refreshing to see some book covers that break away from the pack. What other books with unusual covers can I expect to see on the shelves soon? Has anything caught your eye lately?