Book Review: The Goddess Legacy

The Goddess Legacy (Goddess Test #2.5)

By: Aimee Carter

Published By: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: July 31, 2012

Page Count: 304

Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher via NetGalley

Audience: Young Adult - Fantasy, Greek Mythology 

If you're like me you have been enjoyed Aimee Carter's Goddess Test series, but it has left with you several burning questions. For example, why did the Gods and Goddesses choose new names? How did Calliope get to be so evil and jaded? I could go on and on, but luckily, Aimee Carter has decided to answer some of those burning questions in The Goddess Legacy. This little gem contains five original novellas featuring five of the characters you love (and hate) from the series. I am always a bit hesitant to buy the .5 novellas and short stories that came out, but this one is definitely worth the read. You learn crucial information about characters AND it flows more like a novel than a collection of short stories. There may be a few minor spoilers in the remaining portion of this review if you have not read the first two books - be warned.

The first story, "The Goddess Queen", sheds some light on Hera's behavior. She is the character I love to hate in this series. The woman just oozes evil. This is the first time where I truly understood where she was coming from and I have to admit that I almost wish I didn't know - now I feel almost sorry for her. Not only has she been seen as less because she's female, but she's also had to deal with being married to an adulterous jerk for thousands of years. That's enough to make any woman a bit grumpy. It was nice to get insight into her bitterness and not just think of her as a jaded hag. I still don't like her, but at least I understand her.

In the second tale, "The Lovestruck Goddess", Aphrodite takes center stage. As always, the vixen is having trouble being faithful to just one man. Her affair with Ares is hot and heavy, but it comes to screeching halt when Zeus orders her to marry Hephaestus instead. Is it possible for Aphrodite to truly love two brothers at once? Which one will ultimately become her partner? I didn't enjoy this one as much as Hera's story and it really just recycled a lot of mythology I had already read. Aphrodite's selfishness has always irked me and this story is no exception. My favorite element of this one was getting to watch Eros grow up and learn more about his gifts. 

Next up is Persephone in "Goddess of the Underworld". She is another character that I haven't been extremely fond of during my time reading this series. Again, that crafty Aimee Carter explains Persephone's attitude and actions in a way that made me feel sorry for her plight. I'm firmly convinced that Persephone's treatment of Hades was not something she did of her own free will. Hmmm, I wonder how many other readers will agree with me. I also really enjoyed the segments of this one that dealt with the conflict between Persephone and Aphrodite. In the end, this was probably my favorite story in this set.

The fourth tale gives Hermes his moment to shine in "God of Thieves". Minor Gods and Goddesses have begun to fade and nobody knows why. The Council starts to fear that their existence could be in jeopardy. Hermes finally gets to be the hero as he sets off on a quest to discover why the immortals are vanishing. Along the way he also learns some valuable lessons about himself and humanity. This was another story I really enjoyed. It was also nice to finally learn why Hermes chose the name James. It has more significance than I would have guessed. I also adored Tuck! She is a character you'll enjoy getting to know.

Finally, Henry is the character that makes my heart weep. He's so broken and tragic. I just want to give him a big hug and tell him everything is going to be okay. You get plenty of him during Persephone's story and can truly feel as each little piece of his heart shatters. In the last story, "God of Darkness", you learn even more about Henry's frame of mind. Readers will learn more about the girls who tried and failed to become Queen of the Underworld before Kate Winters arrives. It's also nice to finally see Kate and Henry's true first meeting.

This is certainly a volume that is a MUST BUY for all Goddess Test fans. You could read the series without this volume, but it will make the characters more detailed for you as you prepare for book three.

One Last Gripe: I almost wish this had come before Goddess Interrupted. It was hard to pull myself from the end of that one in my head to focus on this.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: I liked that it wasn't just filler reading to sell books. This edition truly holds valuable information for fans of the series.

First Sentence: In all the years I'd existed, I'd never expected to be free.

Favorite Character: Hades

Least Favorite Character: Hera

Summary:

For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aime e Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.

Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness....

Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal....

Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another....

James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before....

Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope....

Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages.