Trigger warnings: violence, murder, human sacrifice

(3.5 stars, rounded up)

I struggled with a way to describe this book without going into too much plot detail, but it's The Hunger Games meets Greek Mythology. The gods and their descendants are all involved in a competition for power in modern-day New York City. Lore has been trained for combat since childhood in a Divergent-style arena.

Lore is the last of the line of Perseus after her family is murdered, and she has left that life behind... Or so she thinks.

When old friends show up at a fight Lore is participating in, she is left reeling. Her former life returns to her completely when an injured Athena shows up at her door, begging for assistance.

Lore is thrust back into the world of godly lineages and their thirst for power, which can be obtained by killing a god or aligning with one. Lore and her friends have many setbacks and victories as they try to end a new god's quest for total domination.

Recommended for fans of Percy Jackson or The Hunger Games. Recommended for older teens and adults as the content is more violent than Percy Jackson.

If I could give this a 3.75, I would. I rounded it up to a four, but this novel definitely has some kinks that should have been worked out. Part Greek mythology, part dystopian NA-ish fiction. The first half of the book was pretty great and caught my attention immediately, but things started to get more convoluted and less polished.

I liked that this book addressed the power differences between men and women in Greek mythology and turned that into a plot line for the book. Wonderful moments of wisdom. On the other hand, Greek mythology in itself can be confusing, but the author definitely didn’t help to smooth it out for any beginners.

This was a fun read, very ambitious, and mostly enjoyable. It can be very brutal at times, gory, with some triggering moments for those that avoid rape and extreme violence (especially against kids) in books. I don’t have a problem with that, but want others to be aware.

Wow. This masterfully written YA novel will have you mesmerized by its brilliance. Greek mythology fans will literally die with this modern day spin on the gods, goddesses, myths and legends that Bracken cleverly incorporates into every detail and nuance. The adventure is captivating, and the relationships between the characters are woven so traditionally and uniquely I was shaking my head and yelling ‘Bravo!’ at the inventiveness surrounding this tale. I loved this book and am beyond impressed with the intelligence in which it was written. Bracken has won the golden apple with this one, and I really hope there will be more to come.

I have heard this book described as Percy Jackson meets the Hunger Games and I totally get the description. This book takes the ancient Greek heroes and pits them against nine Greek Gods in a punishment by Zeus called the Agon. This year's Agon, a week long manhunt to hunt and kill the Gods, led by the remaining families that descended from the ancient heroes like Hercules, Achilles, Perseus, and Jason, takes place In New York City.

The characters are entrenched in legacy and must fight to stay true to who they are in the face of such violence. I was impressed by the writing style, the intricate plot details, and the main character's hero journey. Really enjoyed this book.

I fell in love with Greek and Roman mythology when I was in middle school, and am always excited when I find a book that has mythological connections. The cover of Alexandra Bracken's Lore was enough to make me want to read it. Medusa!! Go Gorgons!

Lore Perseous is a member of one of the families descended from the original gods. Every seven years, there is a hunt, an Agon, that forces the nine original gods to walk as mortals and be hunted by descendants who, if they kill a god, gain that god's power (and immortality). Lore is the last of her line, believing her entire family was killed by Wrath, the "new Ares."

But this is not a simple story! After years living in hiding, avoiding the hunt, Lore is drawn back in kind of against her will by two people - one, her dear friend Castor, who is the "new Apollo" but who she believed dead, and the other, a wounded Athena, one of the last remaining original gods.

With the aid of Castor's friend Evander and her own friend Miles, Lore has to figure out how to end Wrath's terrible plan for the Agon, and keep herself and those closest to her safe.

I really enjoyed this book. Bracken depicts a very intriguing backstory for her characters, and the twists and turns were unexpected. I couldn't wait to turn the page and find out if Lore and company were going to succeed. There is treachery and betrayal fit for a story based on Greek mythology and I thought the depictions of the Gods and their descendants was clearly well researched and woven into the story.

If you like modern stories based on the Greek myths, you need to add this book to your library like now.

I love ANYTHING with Greek Mythology, and this was no exception! The world building was great, and I loved seeing all the relationships and mechanics of how things worked in this world. For any older Percy Jackson fans, I would highly recommend this one!

And thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read it early!

The eARC I received from NetGalley was 1000 pages, so it took me a while to get through, but it was very worth it. The plot is just very heavy, and although that isn’t necessarily a bad thing on its own, combined with the world building it was just difficult to read.

The world building in this book is so detailed. A little snobbish but brilliant. Which meant it was really hard to understand as well. So much of the plot takes place in this low fantasy complicated world, and I couldn’t grasp the world, which took my out of the story many many many times. Also, there were so many info dumps I could have done without. That being said, it could also just be me being a little dumb because the rest of this book was great, and I really did enjoy it.

The plot revolves around Lore, the title character, after she binds her fate to the goddess Athena. Definitely not the choice I would’ve made, but either way, she was a captivating character.

I’m not fully done with it yet, because, again, 1000 pages, but so far I’m really interested. I’m invested because the characters are invested, and I’m curious enough to see what they care about the most. It just got released on Jan 5, so go get y’all’s copies!!! It’s worth it

incredible, fast paced, stunning. i dont have enough good things to say about this book. and that ENDING. absolutely immaculate.

Anyone who knows me knows I love Greek mythology, and I’m always down for a wild retelling, even something billed as “Greek Mythology meets The Hunger Games.”

This was certainly that, and while I enjoyed how fast-paced it was, and how certain elements of the myths and gods were utilized in the present day, something was missing for me here. I think for me it was maybe TOO fast-paced. The violence and gore and twists are NONSTOP, and whenever Lore and her allies got a chance to catch their breath they’d be thwarted again almost instantly by a roving arrow or a betrayal. Some people will love this, but for me it was a bit too much.

The exception to this was Lore’s conversation with Athena about 60% in, which was my favorite part of the book. Despite thinking how some of the ways women were treated here as a bit of a stretch, I did appreciate how feminist this strived to be. I liked Lore and her allies, even if some of them were thinly sketched.

I also wish we had gotten more history on the original reason for the Agon, and on the heroes and bloodlines themselves. But that’s just nerd me talking. LOL forever at renaming Aphrodite “Heartbreaker” though.

Recommended for fans of: Percy Jackson, The Hunger Games, action-packed novels

TW: extreme violence, death, attempted rape

I absolutely love retellings of Greek Mythology or books that are based off of Greek Myths, so no surprise I was excited when I first heard about Lore.

Every retelling that incorporates Greek Myths into the story is a bit different, and I really loved Alexandra Bracken's take on it.

Our main character in this story is Lore, who comes from the house of Perseous. She has managed to get out of the hunt until certain circumstances bring her crashing back into this brutal world of war.

I really liked Lore as a character, I was able to immediately connect with her and keep connected to the story as it all played out. Alexandra Bracken's writing also lends a lot to being able to connect so well with the story. Her writing and storytelling flows so well.

This world of Gods and the Hunt really intrigued me and I loved learning more as the story played out. A few things did confuse me along the way, but I think that is just par for the course with such an intricate world and learning it all as you read, it can be a bit confusing at times but it never took away from the enjoyment of the story.

Lore was fast paced from the beginning and very easy to get hooked into quickly. I really did enjoy all of the characters, the humor, and the overall story that the author was able to create. It was definitely unique to any other book I have read about Greek Mythology, and I love that.

I very much enjoyed this book and I think even if you aren't a huge fan of everything Greek Mythology like me, you will still enjoy this story.
Definitely a must read in my opinion.

**Thank you Disney Hyperion and NetGalley for the review copy**

“It’s not always the truth that survives, but the stories we wish to believe. The legends lie. They smooth over imperfections to tell a good tale, or to instruct us how we should behave, or to assign glory to victors and shame those who falter. Perhaps there were some in Sparta who embodied those myths. Perhaps. But how we are remembered is less important than what we do now.”

I don’t think I have the words to accurately explain how much I loved this book. From the central focus on Greek mythology (which was so incredibly well researched and toyed with), to the action, to the suspense, to the undercurrent of love and family (both those you’re born into and who you choose), I was on the edge of my seat and obsessed from start to finish. This book had me biting my nails with an anxious pit in my stomach the entire time, never quite sure where it was headed. It was so well written, it was whimsical but still rough and intense, and I loved the characters, flaws and all.

I am literally in awe of this book. I keep trying to figure out how to explain how good it is, and I keep falling short. The characters were well-rounded, saw immense growth, and were incredibly complex individuals. Lore made me proud, she made me angry, and she made me squeal. I would absolutely die for Castor Achilleos, and I appreciated the supporting characters and everything they brought to the table. These characters faced plot twist after plot twist, immense conflict (both internal and external), and had to learn (and unlearn) aspects of their history they were previously taught to believe was the only way of the world. Watching them go through these trials, while fending off the remaining Gods during the Agon, was inspiring, exhausting, and enrapturing.

I was fully immersed while reading this book. While I do wish we had a liiiiiiiiiiiiittle bit more time to fully appreciate Castor and Lore’s relationship, I do understand it wasn’t the primary focus and I’m just greedy. There is so much to love in this book and I still find myself thinking about it days later. It made me so very happy, even when I was screaming and pulling my hair out.

I loved it. Did I say that yet? I loved this book. What a solid way to start off 2021.

**Thank you to Disney Books and Netgalley for the review copy**

If you’re a fan of young adult books, you’ve probably heard of Alexandra Bracken or any of her fabulous books like The Darkest Minds or Passenger series. However, her newest novel, Lore (released on January 5th), just might rock the YA literary world and start 2021 on a high note.

This book made my YA-loving heart so happy! If you mixed The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson series, you'd get an idea of what this story is like. It’s got all of the best parts of a YA fantasy book squished together and it’s amazing! The plot is action-packed and all of the characters we meet just help move the narrative along and keep readers invested in what will happen next. Between redeeming character arcs, plot twists, and a fantastical world, Bracken really pulls all the stops in this novel.

The world building in this book is phenomenal! Any lovers of Greek mythology will automatically fall in love with the way Bracken has built and shaped this modern Greek society hidden in the middle of New York City. However, if you’re not as familiar with the Greek gods and myths, everything is laid out and explained really well to make understanding Lore’s world a bit easier.

This book had me on the edge of my seat and I was eagerly flipping through the pages to see what would happen next. Lore is enchanting, binge-worthy, and the YA fantasy book all readers need in their lives. This book is a must-read and if you weren’t sure of Bracken’s ingenuity and creativity, then this book will prove that she is a writing genius!

This is a book that is designed to feel epic, and it succeeds.

In this world, it's possible to take on the powers of one of the great Olympians—if you can manage to slay one of them during a brief period of vulnerable time known as the Agon. Families with long legacies dating back to the old Greek heroes fight fiercely to take control of these powers, and at the center of the story (unwillingly) is a descendent of Perseus, Melora—called Lore for short.

Plenty of protagonists have the classic "resist the call to adventure," but Lore takes it a step further. Anytime our heroine contemplates jumping headlong into the adventure, she finds herself confronted with a version of herself she doesn't like at all: someone violent and terrifying with no sense of the moral compass she has when she's not in the fight. To complicate things, some characters encourage her fighting while others are trying to steer her away. Lore has a heavy past, and her need to come to terms with it drives a lot of what she does.

I've always been one to find the dynamic and dialogue between characters to be more interesting than action scenes between characters, so I was naturally drawn to the struggles Lore has between her core group. Nevertheless, the action scenes were intense and easy to follow. Moreover, they felt unique from one another, which can be a tricky thing to accomplish. Lore's outlook at the start of each fight has a big impact on how she approaches it, and you can feel her strong emotions through her actions and strategy. Lore became an admirable character not only for her strength but also in her humanity and her willingness to admit her weak points and mistakes.

The plot had a few interesting reveals that I didn't see coming—and one or two that I did, but nothing that held back my enjoyment of watching the story unfold. The scale is grand, but the emotions are personal.

If you're a fan of Greek mythology (and I most certainly am), the book is absolutely worth a read.

Greek mythology for the 21st century. Full of action and pretty gory at times, this was a fast paced read with a lot of surprises to keep you reading. It has appeal for all genders and maybe even a bit of adult crossover appeal,

Every seven years, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the Earth as mortals for one week, as punishment for a rebellion. They are hunted by the descendants of ancient heroes, seeking honor and glory, as well as the power and immortality they receive when a god is killed. Lore is a descendant of Perseus, and the last of her line. Her parents and sisters were murdered during the last Agon, and since then she has left that life behind her. But when Castor, a friend from her past, finds her, she is dragged back into that world. Lore aligns with Athena, one of the last remaining true gods, to avenge her family and kill Wrath, the incarnate of Ares that murdered her family.

I really wanted to like this book. When I heard that it was a mix of The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson, I was hooked. The problem is that it just kind of fell flat for me. There were so many times in the plot that came together messily or too conveniently, and it didn't seem organic. Also, I didn't get a good feel of a lot of the characters and their motivations because there wasn't much backstory for anyone except Lore. It wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't terrible either, so I'm giving it 3 stars.

I received this copy courtesy of Netgalley in return for my honest review.

Lore was an interesting book, but I found myself lost at some point and not really sure what was even going on anymore. It ended up being a good read and I did like the characters a lot, but I felt like I missed something to explain what the world was and why

'Lore' by Alexandra Bracken is an extremely creative born of the classic Greek pantheon of gods. Beginning with a theme of civil war which in traditional text included all but Hestia trying to challenge Zeus, Bracken's story is a little more centralized and results in much harsher punishments by the god king.

The main character, Melora or 'Lore,' is the last surviving member of her House.. the House of Perseus. The Persedes as they're known.. are one of 9 descended Houses of legendary heroes.. who after the uprising of the gods and goddesses, are essentially tasked with their punishments.

What is their punishment? The Agon. A hunt, basically.. that occurs every seven years.. when the 9 rebellious gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals while the legendary Houses try to run them into the ground, kill them, and take their power. As it turns out, whomever kills the previous god.. becomes the new one. At least, for another seven years until the next Agon when they have to join the hunt as prey.

I genuinely love mythology and I'm always eager to get my hands on new stories that are inspired or developed from the fascinating ancient stories, but 'Lore' is just exceptional. The origin of events is certainly rooted in a believable premise that sounds as if it could have come from the same beliefs, but the modern twist is smoothly merged with the classic theme.

The dynamics, both between the old gods and new, gods in general and those heroic descendents, and all of the above and any humans they come across are each distinctive and well-suited to what one would expect. In fact, while most of the new gods are egotistical.. it feels almost performative, like a youth who knows they were raised in wealth.. rather than someone working for it and overcompensating for that fact. The old gods are just casually arrogant and it's clear they simply don't think or understand beyond their experience.

Actually, I love Athena.. she's hilarious and in that unintentional, dry wit sort of way. Also, I enjoyed that Bracken gave the old gods a very formal speech pattern and a disassociated perspective of the world and those around them. Castor is another favorite, though the characters in general all have depth to them, individuality, and distinctively clear 'voices' making the read as comfortable as any every day conversation. The dialogue is fantastic and that's the thing I find is weakest in most works from literature to tv to film.

It's a definite page turner, whereas there's either some kind of tense fight or unveiled drama going on at most times. I love it so much, I have three copies coming.. and I highly recommend this title for anyone with a love of mythology and modern urban fantasy.

I wasn't so sure about this. Very few authors who have attempted to "modernize" the Greek gods have done so in ways that even touch the success of Rick Riordan - but this one certainly doesn't embarrass itself. Hugely different in tone and substance, I really enjoyed this. I doesn't shy away from violence and the horror of violence, but I do find it to be used judiciously rather than simply for shock value. There is rich history and world-building behind the novel's plot, and a depth of emotion that is compelling enough to keep one reading.

I read the first few chapters of this novel earlier in 2020 and was lucky enough to get a full copy a few months later! Initially I gave this one 5 stars but I had to knock the stars back a little. I really really liked this novel but there was something missing for me. I honestly couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I loved the action and loved the characters but there was something about the plot that seemed a little vague and like I needed more explanations. All in all it was a great read but I just felt like there were a few things missing. Thank you Disney and Netgalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, do you ever just get done reading a book and just think about how amazing it was? You just have to spend a couple of hours really thinking about how spectacular the plot, characters, world building, and everything in between was. Lore is definitely going to be one of my favorite books of 2021 and it's only January 5th.

I have loved the author's other books and I didn't think this would be any different, but I was a little skeptical about the plot. I was completely wrong because from the first couple of chapters I was completely hooked. I loved Lore the main character and I loved how this is about Greek mythology!

Every seven years Greek Gods and Goddesses are on earth and people can hunt them and if they kill them they get their powers. Lore was part of it, but she wanted out and was fine living a normal life. Until one of the goddesses shows up on her front step bleeding to death. I don't want to say anything more because I went into this with the bare minimum and it made it that much more interesting!

The world building and how this is a mix of mythology and the hunger games was so intriguing and I could not stop reading. I already ordered a physical copy of this book because I need it in my life.

Honestly, just such a wonderful standalone YA fantasy book! I hope everyone reads this.