Aimee Carter's The Goddess Test is a modern retelling of the Greek Myth of Persephone and Hades. It follows Kate Winters, a high school senior whose mother is suffering through the final stages of cancer and has asked to live her last days in her hometown in Eden, Michigan. After a tragic event, Kate meets mysterious Henry and strikes a deal with him. Confused at first, she pretends it never happened until he comes two weeks later to collect her end of the deal. 

In Carter's version of the myth, she has renamed the fourteen Olympians with modern, American names. Hades goes by Henry, Zeus goes by Walter, Hera goes by Calliope, and Hermes goes by James. In this version, Persephone died a thousand years ago leaving Hades to rule the Underworld on his own. Growing tired, he promised his family a century for them to help him find a new wife before he gives up his place as Ruler of the Underworld and fades – ceasing to exist. Each girl has been mortal and has endured the seven tests. Initiated by the Olympians,  these tests are intended to see if the candidate is able to handle immortality. This has been going on for eighty years, all eleven girls have been met with death. Twenty years later, Kate is the final girl and is Henry's last hope before fading. 

Carter's reinvention of this myth is made relevant in the contemporary world by humanizing the Greek Gods. She's provided them with human, modern names and given them each a role within the little town of Eden. Eden doesn't exist, not even in the book. It is a town the Gods created to help ease Kate into entering the tests. The town is made up of Gods disguised as high schoolers, teachers, neighbors, store owners, etc. Even Kate's mother is a Goddess, Demeter to be exact. Kate is the human sister of Persephone. By creating this "town," giving the Gods human personalities that are relatable, and a heroine that follows the rules of logic and rationality, Carter was able to incorporate this little impossibility within the contemporary world.