Aimée CarterBesprekingen

{my thoughts} – This book is about a seventeen year-old girl named Kitty Doe. She lives in an America where you have to take an aptitude test of sorts in order to determine where it is you will be the most productive in society. When she is labeled a III she tries to figure out what she can do in order to keep her and her boyfriend together. She makes a series of unwise choices which lead her to the predicament at hand.

The Prime Minister offers her the option of becoming a VII and she has very little time to decide. Without putting much thought to it she agrees and that is all she can remember once she wakes up two weeks later in a hospital like bed. Now it is up to Kitty to do what she is meant to do with her life.

This book covers a lot emotions. It covers sadness, loss, revenge, happiness, anger, impulse and so many more. I really enjoyed reading this book because I think it is nice to have the option to choose if you want to stand your ground or allow others to push you around. This book is about understanding one’s destiny and what it means to be chosen for a role even if you were forcefully placed in it. It’s a well written book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

{reason for reading} - I received a copy of this book from netgalley in return for an honest review.

When the American President comes to visit, Evan finds herself the center of attention once again as Thaddeus, the President's son shows interest in her. Gossip and innuendo follow Evan as she tries to find a way to be useful in her new role. Suddenly, though, that doesn't seem important when threats against her life and Kit's make it impossible for her to anything but hang out in the castle.

Royal Scandal continues the story of Evan and her life as illegitimate daughter of the King of England. Much of the early part of this book focus on the tabloids and the distrust of Evan by the majority of the British royals and the general population of Britain. At the halfway point, the focus shifts to danger and intrigue with several attempts on Evan's life. This part of the plot is over the top dramatic as well as addicting. Unlike the first book that spent time unearthing a mystery, this is more of a thriller. Overall, Royal Scandal is a very engrossing and entertaining read by lacks the charm of the first book in the series.

I enjoyed this, these books like this are up my ally when I want a quick read, I also do not over analyze books because to me that just takes away the joys of reading.
Kate has been chosen to either pass some "tests" to see if she would be the one for Henry (Hades), if she passes he will continue ruling and she will be his wife for 6 months in the underworld and 6 months above-- basically a Persephone and Hades type of story, which I am always up for, I love them even the cheesiest ones, call it my guilty pleasure but I will always enjoy different variations (well mostly lol) . Moving on ,, she is makes a deal with Henry that she will do her best to past these test and do what she must in exchange he will allow her more time with her dying mother. Now I will be clear this is not accurate to the stories of the Greek Gods ( no offense to those that believe they were real, just my opinion so don't come at me) but it's not like I believe them to be real to begin with so with that being said I enjoyed the book, it had cute, fluff and none of this over done spice that seems to be in way too many books lately so that alone was awesome for me.
and I look forward to reading the next book.

* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I loved this book. Maybe it was prefect time, prefect place. But i loved this book. Finding out you are the princess to the king of enlgland and all the wild things that occured. I also loved the mystery that infused in this novel. I loved the outside elements that help to expand this world. I also loved the small group of characters that were the focus of this read!! I loved all the plotical drama and also the family dynamcics that devleoped throughout this reead. The mysery went in a direction that i was not expecting and i am so excited for more books in this series. if you loved american royal but wanted mroe murder, check it out!! This book does have a trigger for sexual assult!!

* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I loved this book. Maybe it was prefect time, prefect place. But i loved this book. Finding out you are the princess to the king of enlgland and all the wild things that occured. I also loved the mystery that infused in this novel. I loved the outside elements that help to expand this world. I also loved the small group of characters that were the focus of this read!! I loved all the plotical drama and also the family dynamcics that devleoped throughout this reead. The mysery went in a direction that i was not expecting and i am so excited for more books in this series. if you loved american royal but wanted mroe murder, check it out!! This book does have a trigger for sexual assult!!

7/10, this was such an action packed and suspenseful book, I could not put this one down. The worldbuilding was very interesting, it felt like the oppressive government from 1984 combined with a fascinating faction system from Divergent, only this time there's seven factions, and they are based on intelligence. The beginning was very fast paced, the middle was kind of weak, and the ending was so suspenseful! I didn't realise who the true villain was, I thought it was another character, but it was a character called Augusta, she killed one character and kidnapped another, she was killed later, and a funeral was held for her, but no one felt any remorse for her. The characters definitely needed some work, most of them are quite flat. If you want an easy and unique YA dystopian story, this is the book for you.

The Goddess Inheritance is the final book in the Goddess Test trilogy.

I really liked the idea behind this story - Persephone and Hades's relationship but in a YA novel. At the time, it was kind of mind blowing for me. I was used to seeing vampire novels pop up everywhere, so this was a nice change.

So, that being said - let's look over the positives and negatives in this story. This MAY contain minor spoilers - so beware.

Positives:
1. This series had a really nice ending. I didn't feel like anything was left wide open and it wasn't an ending that destroyed me and made me hate Aimee Carter! Great job!!!

2. The cover is absolutely gorgeous! I like this series covers, so if you judge by covers this might be the series for you!

3. I really like Henry. I almost want a book just centered around a character like him and watch his character continue to grow. I felt like his character was WAY more likable than Kate, and we're following her story...

4. The side characters got more action in this book!! Gotta love when the author actually uses their side characters instead of throwing them away to focus on the main duo.

Negatives:
1. Man was this book SLOW. This whole series isn't the fastest paced or most addicting, but still book felt drawn out. This story felt like it could have been finished in two novels.

2. Kate is annoying, at least to me. I didn't find that her character developed enough over the three books, and she still felt just as whiny as the first novel. I kind of hoped for some wild character development in this book since the last book didn't have very much, so I was left disappointed. Perhaps she's almost...too flawed?

Overall, this book is a great romance YA novel. It's not super action-packed. It's definitely a good fit for the romance section. I need to read more by Aimee Carter soon, I just never seem to be able to have the time! At least it's nice to see her books pop up a LOT in my local book stores. She's always on the shelves!!

I definitely recommend this entire series to fans of YA, especially those who want a great romantic read!

Four out of five stars.

Eons ago I read The Goddess Test series by Aimee Carter. It was a delightful read I picked up in my teens and I loved it. When this book came out, I bought it at a local bookstore and then just didn't read it. It sat on my bookshelf for years (sadly, almost a decade) and I finally decided... it was time.

This book was a delight for me to read! It's fast paced, easy to read, and very intriguing for the entire story/plot behind it all. We've definitely read a lot of book where there are different levels in society, the lower the number the worse off they are, but this one just hit me the right way. It has a lot of YA tropes, but do I care? Nope! Give me the potential love triangle, a potential enemies to lovers, and lots of hidden lore. I AM ALL IN BABY.

If you're looking for some Oscar-like story with a lot of drama and depth, this isn't really the book for you. This book is a YA dystopian with all the drama of the early 2010s. It's still an absolute delight to read, but remember what book you are reading.

Overall, I adored this book and I am definitely grabbing the rest of the books in the series (hopefully not another decade between each one).

Four out of five stars.

Once I picked this book up I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. Incredible, creative and a female protagonist that isn't weak or extremely girlie. Just a unique caring person. A great twist to greek mythology.

In this dystopian society, you are tested when you turn 17 and are only as good as your number - anything below a IV and your life is going to be difficult, relegated to menial tasks and unable to progress above your station. The highest number you can get is a VII, but nobody but the uber-powerful Hart family ranks this high. When Kitty Doe tests at a level III, she's reeling, and when she is offered the chance to become a VII, she jumps at it without knowing exactly what she will have to do to earn it, which she will quickly regret.

I really enjoyed this book and its unique story. The characters were likeable, and the world building was phenomenal, as is always the case with Ms. Carter's books.

I liked this book enough that I'm looking forward to continuing with the series.

4/5 stars.

After she is arrested for setting fire to one of her classrooms, Evangeline Bright is whisked off to Windsor Castle in England where she will live with her father, the king, and the rest of the royal family until the end of the month when she will turn 18. Very few of the royals show any acceptance of her except for the handsome Jasper, but when a night out at a party turns violent, Evan will have to figure out what really happened in order to keep herself from being arrested once again.

Royal Blood is a well-written, well-crafted YA mystery with plenty of drama and angst, almost too much at times. Most characters have complete story arcs that lead to satisfying conclusions by the end of the book. At the same time, Evan's character provides a cute fish out of water plot line that drives the rest of story, adding some humor and emotion along the way. While the first half of the book shows Evan confronting the family that has denied her existence for almost 18 years, the last half focuses more on the mystery and the search for clues. Overall, Royal Blood is a great beginning for this new YA series and makes for an enjoyable and entertaining read. Fans of The Inheritance Games should like this book.½

This was such an enthralling read that captures the reader from the start. Evan's life was easy to get pulled into with the magic of having a royal/famous parent who is distant and a whole family unwilling to acknowledge her. As the story builds, it changes into something else with a mystery/suspense that becomes quite consuming. The elements of what happened are quite dark, as Evan was drugged for the purpose of assault, and though she was able to fight her way away, the details are fuzzy, so even she is unsure about whether she had a hand in the ensuing death. The discussions around the assault are really important discussing the way that blame is given but undeserved and situations in which this may not be so readily understood, but should be. While the context of Evan's particular situation is given, this is juxtaposed with others and these discussions are quite powerful. Another really strong and important theme was around mental illness, in the case of Evan's mother. The way both of these situations play out were really well done and open the door to critical discussions that would work well for book groups or buddy reads.

Evan is a compelling character. Even while she acts out and seems a bit prickly, she is really just trying to find her place in the world and people she can care for. Her life has been in turmoil since she was little. She lived with her grandmother while her mother was receiving treatment, until her death, and then her father's custody, which meant constant boarding schools. She cares deeply for her mother, but has not allowed herself to care for others as deeply for reasons she is still understanding herself. Her growth during the story opens herself up to difficult truths, but also to people for which she can care.

There ended up being a few consuming mysteries that kept the story moving quickly. This ended up being a read that kept the pages turning late at night to figure out what was happening and how all the chips would fall - with some good twists along the way. Should go over well with YA readers who like a little royal drama in their mystery.

Kitty Doe is an Extra (a second child born to parents who were only allowed to have one), raised in a orphanage, and just took the nationwide "test" that will determine her rank in society. Unfortunately, she got a III, which means she's facing a hard life near the bottom of the food chain. That is until she runs away and is "bought" by Daxton Hart, the Prime Minister. He gives her the option to become a VII, the highest rank, and she readily agrees. What she doesn't know is that she's going to be Masked as Lila Hart, Daxton's niece, and take over her role. This also involves Kitty agreeing to undo the rebellion that Lila was apart of.

Soon Kitty learns that she's merely a pawn in a game between Daxton (and his mother) and Celia (and Knox, Lila's fiance). Kitty believes in the rebellion, but worries that going against Daxton could get her boyfriend from the group home sent to Elsewhere (a prison that no one returns from).


I'm not a big dystopian girl, so trying this one was definitely going out of my comfort zone. But maybe because I'm not bored of these books where the evil government is trying to suppress the people (and a strong girl ends up standing up to it to save the day), I quite enjoyed the book. It's a high-paced book that doesn't waste a lot of time with exhausting world-building. Not to say the world isn't adequately described, it's just doesn't take a lot of time to get what world they're living in. I really had fun reading about Kitty's adventure down the rabbit hole.

The story was great. You have a girl who is from a lower class, and is now destined to stay in that lower class, and you turn her into royalty. She's scared to step out of line because of the threat of going Elsewhere and the threat of death to Benjy. At the same time, Kitty WANTS things to change. She doesn't want people to be doomed to starvation based on what scores they got on a single test. I loved that push-and-pull mentality that she had. Kitty is a stubborn girl, so the fact that she had to sit back and take orders from all these people proved to be problematic for her.

My problems with Kitty: She's not very likable, she thinks she's smarter than she is, and she thinks the same things over and over on repeat a lot. I know that she had grown up being fed all the B.S. that the government was putting out, but Kitty just seemed SO naive about things. For instance, she really believed that in a country where the rich have everything and the poor have nothing, that a test that decides your future is going to be 100% fair. That all people have an equal opportunity to "earn" a better life by doing well on the test. AND she thinks that despite the fact that she can't read AT ALL, that she's going to somehow get a really high score. Yeah, okay. The girl has a learning disability, so I feel for her... but I don't think an oppressive government like this one is going to give a crap and let her take the test orally. Plus this government is all about "what you can contribute to society" will determine your ranking. Having a disability is going to get you a one-way ticket Elsewhere, it just is. Until Kitty "earned" a III she was in complete support of the rank system. Then she gets a low score and it's all so unfair!! It didn't endear her to me very much.

I also wasn't wild about the romance in the book. I loved Knox and Greyson, but Benjy?? Meh. I wish we were shown more about why he was so amazing. I sort of just wish Benjy was never brought to Somerset and Kitty could let her friendships develop with the other people. Once Benjy came around she felt very closed to everyone else.

I love when books like this make me think about society and how we live. The ranking system and the fairness of it really got me thinking about how it's not too far off from what we do now. Sure, we're not ranked based on one single test (cough, SATs, cough), but how far we go in life is determined largely by what career you choose or who you marry. And the choices are infinitely greater and easier for people who grow up in households with larger incomes.

Besides from Kitty grating on my nerves a little bit, I really did like this story. There were multiple twists that I didn't see coming, and I am definitely going to continue with the series. I just hope Kitty gets a reality check somewhere along the way.

OVERALL: I loved reading this tension-filled dystopian. It was something different for me and I think it was well done. The main character could be a little dense at times, but I still rooted for her and couldn't put the book down at times.

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Kitty's stint as impersonating Lila Hart has come to an abrupt end. Betrayed by Knox, Daxton exiles her to Elsewhere. While there she sees the true depths of the rebellion and finds a way to use her famous face to help. As she goes deeper into the maze, she finds people along the way that she can trust... and some that she shouldn't. She also gets a bigger piece to the overall puzzle, finding out that maybe there's more reasons for her involvement than pure coincidence and the color of her eyes.

I don't know what to think about this book. One the one hand, I really enjoyed the story and the adventure. All the high-paced action and the new characters made me read this book quick. On the other hand, I wanted to hit Kitty over the head with a shovel. That girl got more thick-headed and flat-out ridiculous in this book than I thought possible.

I think the reason I like this series is Knox. He's level-headed and has a plan... and he's not going to risk it all because Kitty wants to know things. He keeps a lot from her, and honestly I would too. At times I started to think maybe he was being unfair, but her behavior confirmed to me that she can't be trusted. She acts like a spoiled child and sadly the consequences of her actions usually ends up with someone dying. She'll feel spurned in some way and then just stomp off and do the most reckless and flat-out dumb stuff to retaliate. She almost dies a million times, and I was kind of hoping she would (even though I knew that that was never going to happen). I think she felt like she was being a leader and "stepping up", but most of the time the things she did totally backfired, and had she stopped to think it through for a minute, people wouldn't have had to die and the rebellion wouldn't have been endangered. Now she does redeem herself at times by doing really brave things, but those times aren't nearly as plentiful. The author seemed to confuse bravery with blind stupidity and stubbornness.

I really enjoyed seeing Elsewhere and finding out what it was all about. In the first book it was this total question mark. I mean, I knew it wasn't going to be anything good, but it was interesting to see how the people there lived. Of course, Kitty grew up thinking it was some sort of Floridian retirement home, but anyone with a brain would know that it would be more like a concentration camp. But within a place so desolate, there was love and family, which was nice to see. I thought to use it as a setting for the middle book was a really great idea.

I hope Queen features much more of Knox and much less of Benjy. Benjy is just blah and he's just in the way. And I know Kitty loves him, but she puts him above all reason and that is a liability. I am going to finish the series because I'm super interested now in what happens. It's easy reading if you don't allow your blood-pressure to rise too much at Kitty's stupidity.

OVERALL: I enjoyed this second book in the Blackcoat Rebellion series. At times I really did NOT like the main character, but that didn't stop me from needing to know what happened. If Kitty was a tad more intelligent and less thick-headed, this series would be so fun!

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A stellar start to this new contemporary young adult trilogy!

Royal Blood is the first book in author Aimée Carter’s new contemporary young adult series of the same name. The book is exciting and full of intrigue, and definitely not the typical fairy tale or rags to riches story; it addresses some very serious topics. Evangeline, or Evan as she is called, is a wonderful heroine with a quick wit and a kind heart and carries some heavy issues on her young shoulders. I was rooting for this unique and engagingly sympathetic underdog from the first page.

Evan is surprisingly resilient and very understanding of the Queen’s and her half-sister’s feelings, even as they treat her horribly. So much information about her past, including her parents’ history with each other, had been kept from her, and it is no wonder that misunderstandings occurred. With the death of her grandmother, her mother’s mental illness, and her absentee father, she has way more hanging over her head than a child should ever have to handle alone. She deals with her situation the only way she thinks will be successful; she purposely acts out and gets expelled. Other than her having to change schools, though, her actions have no consequences.

Once ensconced at Windsor Castle and among the family and their coterie of relatives and friends, Evan is targeted by the media and attracts all manner of abuse from the press and their followers. But the intrigue starts immediately and although, Maisie, Gia, and Rosie start out as typical ‘mean girls,’ they eventually start to relent, especially when Evan holds the key to keeping their princess out of serious trouble. However, she finally has something she’s not had in the past: a friend her age.

The story includes an incident of drugging, attempted date rape, and death, and the author presents the events from Evan’s point of view without excuses from the perpetrator. As the tragedy unfolds, readers will recognize and relate to how easily the awful events happened.

Each chapter starts with either a text message exchange between characters, a news story, or a media interview related to what is happening in the story. These add some fun insight or extra needed information in an interesting way. Each chapter ends on a small cliffhanger that worked like magic on me to keep reading! The story completely hooked me from the start, and those teasers had me reading page after page until done. I am looking forward to the next book of the trilogy with great anticipation.

With its exciting plot, family intrigue, and great characters, I recommend ROYAL BLOOD to readers who enjoy contemporary young adult fiction, especially those who like a secret baby or fish out of water theme.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

A deliciously dark treat of a scandal with a snarky protagonist at the heart of it all. Perfect for anyone who loves gossip about the Royal family.

As the American illegitimate daughter of the king of the UK, Evan Bright is the biggest scandal on not one but two continents. But Evan would tell you being royal isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when you've never met your royal father.

When Evan gets kicked out of her eighth boarding school, she's brought home for the first time to Windsor Palace to meet her father and hide out until her 18th birthday. But, when her identity gets revealed, Evan finds herself swept into a glamorous life she doesn't fully understand, surrounded by royals who hate her. Evan finds it not all bad, though, as the Queen's nephew Kit befriends her, and the handsome Jasper invites her to a party. But, when Evan finds herself charged with murder, she's never needed allies more desperately.

The familiar settings will call to Royal fans - Windsor Palace and Buckingham Palace, as well as the descriptions of sumptuous, costly dresses and tiaras. The descriptions of clubbing scenes will make you feel like you were out with Kate and Pippa back in the day.

Evan provides the comic relief as she navigates royal life in a book that's not afraid to dig into the tough issues of parental abandonment and trauma from date rape. The whole book, I was rooting for Evan to find her people in the UK, no matter how much she thought they weren't there.

TW: Sexual assault

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and TBR & Beyond Tours for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Seventeen-year-old Evan Bright's life is up-ended when she learns that she needs to spend the 25 days until she turns 18 with the father she believes has abandoned her. That father just happens to be the King of England!

Evan has attended and been expelled from 9 boarding schools since she was eleven. Now expelled from the ninth, and the fire wasn't really her fault, she finds herself on a plane to London under the care of Jenkins who has been the only one there for her since she was 11. All she wants is to be with her mother who is an artist who suffers from schizophrenia but who is managing her life with medications.

Evan is a strong, independent young woman who soon learns that the Royal Family is hiding all sorts of secrets behind their glossy images. And those secrets are on the edge of being exposed when Evan is accused, by the court of public opinion and perhaps Scotland Yard, of the death of Jasper Cunningham who is the son of a media mogul and a school friend of her cousin Prince Benedict.

I really enjoyed this story. The story was strongly emotional. Evan seems to get her beliefs assaulted from all sides and she doesn't know who she can trust. I liked Evan and felt for the lonely young woman. I liked that she had support from Jenkins and from her new minder Tibby as she tried to navigate her new life. I liked that she built a new relationship with her half-sister and her father. And I liked learning that what Evan believed about her father and her parents' relationship was only part of the truth.

While this story explores the common daydream of becoming a princess, it adds depth to the daydream and doesn't gloss over any of the difficulties of being suddenly thrust into a family not expecting you and finding yourself at the mercy of the press and social media.

I did not love this book as much as I wanted to. I'm no stranger to myth retellings, but this was lacking something that I can't quite put my finger on.

This is the third, and last, book in The Goddess Test trilogy, and it didn't disappoint! I absolutely love everything about this series - the characters, the mythology, the plotline, everything! Aimee Carter is a goddess herself and I can't find anything to complain about with the conclusion to this amazing series. I recommend it to everyone who loves a YA book full of Greek mythology, fantasy and romance. A++++

5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Harlequin Teen, and Aimee Carter for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was about to auto-click "add to my books" because this had an interesting blurb. But having been subjected to "The Godess Test" It only goes into my list for recommendations improvement.

At first I was intrigued by the story,I dont think Ive ever read a supernatural YA book that starts out with the mother dying so that was interesting. Then things went downhill...

I felt like the heroine had multiple personalities,one moment letting people walk all over her the next making friends with the same people :/

The characters jumping to strange conclusions I swear sometimes it felt like I had skipped part of the story.

Really it felt like it wanted to cash in on Abandon by Meg Cabot


And I wonder...when the author wrote the book,did she at any point realize she was pairing off the heroine with her own uncle?

Luego de leer a Rick Riordan, sumado con mi ligero conocimiento de mitología... He terminado así:

uh

2.5

http://el-extrano-gato-del-cuento.blogspot.com/

El Extaño Gato del Cuento


Me gusta la mitología griega. Amo la mitología en general, mi infancia está plagada de ella, tengo libros sobre Dioses, tengo mis historias favoritas sobre ciertos personajes qué quizá no son muy conocidos.

Aprendiz de Diosa, me ha gustado. Es un libro bastante simple en realidad, esperaba más mitología pero sólo es coger algunos nombres de dioses y mencionarlo aquí y allá. Aún con mi decepción en no profundizar tanto en la mitología le doy la aprobación con un desarrollo de argumento entretenido y no estamos dando vuelta a la cuestión por demasiado tiempo. Es bastante fácil seguir la historia.

Hay algunas partes importantes bastante flojas para el sustento de la historia, llega a ser demasiado fácil en ciertos casos. Aunque es verdad que no supe quién era el malo malísimo hasta que éste lo insinuó.

La adaptación a la mitología que le da Aimee Carter está bien para pasar el rato.

Creo que en conjunto, se le podría denominar como una historia Light, aporta muy poco a mi cultura mitológica pero sí me distrajo, creo que si te interesa la mitología y pero no has leído absolutamente nada de ella, éste libro es un buen inicio, en cambio para los que sí hemos pasado gran cantidad de horas leyendo sobre Dioses o viendo al Narrador de Cuentos o a Xena, la Princesa Guerrera, nos vaya parecer una historia no tan acorde con lo que estamos acostumbrados.

Creo que quién mejor puede describir el libro es Cassandra Clare:

"A fresh take on the Greek myths adds sparkle to this romantic fable."

Sería algo así como: "Un aire nuevo de los mitos griegos añade brillo a esta fábula romántica."

Y todos sabemos lo que BRILLO quiere decir en literatura juvenil. Cassandra tan genial como siempre. Así que quién lo entendió, lo entendió.

Reseña Completa: El Extaño Gato del Cuento