I loved this YA fantasy standalone for its unique, modern take on Greek mythology. Every seven years, the descendants of ancient Greek heroes hunt the gods in attempts to claim their divine power and immortality in a Hunger Games-esque, weeklong even known as the Agon. Lore Perseous, the last of the line of Perseus, has turned her back on that lifestyle, but she gets dragged back into the hunt to avenge the deaths of her family.

I adored Lore and the entire cast of strong, complex characters. Lore just wants to be in control of her own destiny, but she fears she is bound by the Fates. This book also explores themes of duty, freedom, choice, legacy, strength, and sacrifice.

The writing was beautiful and full of exciting twists. The romance was perfectly crafted to give me all the feels without overpowering the plot. I also loved the way the story explored womanhood and feminism, particularly in one conversation between Lore and Athena.

I loved the book so much that I went out and bought the hardcover so I could have a physical copy of this incredible book with its stunning cover. This may be the first book I finished in 2021, but I can already tell it will be a favorite this year.

CW: sexual assault, graphic violence, death of family members/loved ones

Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lore is the 2021 release by YA superstar Alexandra Bracken. It is a mash up of urban fantasy and Greek mythology creating a epic story of hunters and gods battling it out in modern day New York City.

The heroine Lore is an orphaned young woman who is living in hiding from Argon, a once every seven year battle of skills that ends in death for many and new powers gained by the victors. As the Argon begins both the goddess Athena and Lore’s old childhood friend Castor seek Lore out and force her to face her past and the emerging threat of a powerful enemy. Lore keeps the readers on their toes as there are crosses and double-crosses and even Lore has to slowly discover who her true friends are and aren’t.

I enjoyed all of the characters (including the villains) and found Lore to be a likable and complex main character. It is easy to root for her and her companions because their hearts are all in the right place and their goals are noble. The world of Argon and the Greek gods is not easy and I found it hard to hold all the details of this world in my head. Although I appreciated Bracken not doing a giant info dump plus adding glossaries and houses to the front and back of the book I wish I would have read up on Greek Mythology before embarking on this novel.

I give Lore a solid 4 stars for originality and an exciting fast paced plot.

This book was such a novel concept, a story full of references to Greek gods, heroes, quests, monsters, and culture. It is not a re-telling, but a story of the Agon, a hunt that takes place every 7 years. The gods have been punished by Zeus and are mortal for a brief window. The bloodlines of prestigious heroes train their whole lives to protect their god/benefactor and hunt others in the hopes that they can become the new gods. Lore's whole life was the hunt. Lore lost everything because of the hunt. And how Athena needs her help - and they must join forces to kill Wrath, the new Ares who killed Lore's family and has her family's most precious treasure.

Much like Greek myths, not everything is what is seems. The gods are mischievous, tricksters, strategists, vengeful, and will do whatever it takes to survive the Agon. Lore has a destiny that she is trying to escape - above all, she longs to be free. She is the last of her line and the Agon will not let her go.

This well-crafted story is full of surprises, twists, deception, and mystery. It achieves a good balance of action and exposition, is fast-paced, and is a definite page-turner. To say more would spoil the adventure. As a lover of Greek mythology, I loved this world and found myself desperately wanting know what happens next, but never wanting it to end.

Lore is a fierce, strong main character. I love that Lore questions the status of women in her society, in Greek myth and Greek history. Alexandra Bracken always writes such strong, beautiful female characters.

**This title was reviewed on Goodreads on Dec. 28, 2020. The review was posted on Instagram on Dec. 28, 2020. Amazon, Bookbub, and Barnes and Noble reviews were submitted on release day, 1/5/21**

I love anything with Greek mythology and this definitely didn’t disappoint! I was kind of nervous going into this book because Alexandra Brackens previous books just weren’t for me but I was thoroughly surprised by Lore.
I loved the concept that nine gods rebelled a long long time ago and because of this the Agon was created to punish them. This made for a very interesting story line with Lora and Athena having to team up to end the Agon forever.
Lora and Athens’s dynamic was compelling to read about. Lora’s past has set her on a path for revenge intertwines amazingly with what is currently happening and the alliances being formed throughout this story.
Needless to say, I loved this book!

Lore will appeal to a wide variety of readers, but especially to those who have an interest/knowledge in Greek mythology. While author Alexandra Bracken gives you the framework, having a foundation going into the book makes for a richer experience.

The book’s namesake is a compelling character that may not exactly be likeable but still want to root for. She has a long, complicated past that she does not want to reexamine. This framework means it takes a while to understand her motivation.

Lore is not a particularly fast read. There’s something about Bracken’s prose that forces you to slow down, even when surrounded by action. She wants you to take it all in, even when that sometimes is impossible. I finished the book with the knowledge I didn’t absorb everything. I was at times confused as to all the players, and yet, I want to read it again.

Due to the violent nature of the hunt, I recommend Lore for more mature young adults, at least 14 years and older.

Thank you so much to the author and Disney for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lore follows Melora, last in the line of house Perseous, trying to escape from being pulled back into a seven day hunt which occurs every seven years involving Gods and their ancestral lines. During the Argon, the Gods become mortal and if a hunter from a chosen line is able to kill a God they become immortal and the new God of that pantheon. Lore found herself running after the previous Argon and wanting not to be involved; but when the new Aries, Wrath begins to hunt down other Gods and family lines a wounded God comes to Lore for help. What will happen when Lore gets pulled back into a world she had hoped she escaped, or will secrets and consequences from her past catch up to her before the Argon ends?

I adored this book! It had everything you could hope for. Action, adventure, a touch of romance, mythology, and mystery. The cast of characters all bring something necessary to the table, which is very refreshing for a young adult novel. Often we are introduced with fifty characters and the story can feel lost or forgotten when romance is introduced, but not with Lore. The writing is expertly done, and the pacing is just enough to keep you reading but not so rushed that you feel like any piece is anticlimactic. The plot is so well woven together that I was concerned by the end it would feel rushed, but it was perfection.

Five stars for Lore! I recommend this book for anyone 12+ who loves a thrill ride and has a love of mythology. This would make for a great highschool class read or even a mother daughter read. Pick up a copy today and let the world of Lore show you what makes a true warrior.

Thank you Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for an ARC of this work.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken is the story of Melora (or Lore), who we find out very early on in this tale is keeping her ancestors a secret from pretty much everyone she knows, including her best friend Miles. Lore is a member of the Perseous family, yes that Perseous, and we know right away that she is likely the last of her family alive due to a Hunger Games type battle called the Agon that occurs every seven years amongst the families of the Greek Gods. Early in Lore's journey this is all upended when her childhood friend Castor and Greek Goddess Athena show up looking for help. With a colorful group of characters including Miles and a messenger named Van, Lore sets out to end the Agon forever, while also searching for the answers surrounding her immediate families tragic demise seven years ago.

Lore is the perfect YA, fantasy novel. This could have easily been stretched out into a series, but because it wasn't the pace of the novel moves at one of the fastest paces I think I have ever seen, but still manages to flesh out quite a few characters, fosters a gay love story, and delves into Greek mythology. At just under 500 pages this story reads incredibly quick and was hard to put down. I highly recommend Lore.

Lore is a standalone YA urban fantasy novel rooted in Greek mythology. The setting is present-day New York, but our main characters are descendants of the famous Greek heroes (Perseus, Hercules, etc.) who have been sent by Zeus to hunt the Gods of Olympus who angered him around the time of the fall of Rome. Every seven years, the banished gods reside in mortal bodies and can be hunted and killed. Their power then is absorbed by the hunter who kills them. It is sort of an never-ending hunt for power and immortality.

This book will appeal to the fans of the Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi. It is a similar set up with ancient secrets, a quest, dangerous powers and a desire to right past wrongs. A big chunk of the book is dedicated to explaining the Agon (Greek for contest, conflict or struggle), and I must say, Bracken did it brilliantly. The book never felt like an info-dump. In fact, I kept reading because I wanted to know more about the world and the mythology behind it.

Our main character Lore is a hunter from the house of Perseus whose entire family has been killed by a rival house. She was able to escape the slaughter and for the past seven years has lived with the "unblooded" (i.e., normal humans who are not part of this secret world). However, she is yanked back into the Agon when an injured goddess Athena shows up on her doorstep one day.

This book is non-stop action. So if you like quest stories with many twists and turns, this one is for you. I personally find that even though I enjoy them while reading them, I quickly forget the plot soon afterwards. The book is also not without its flaws. I felt that the whole transition of power and immortality from gods to hunters is not well explained. I kept wondering what happens to the essence of they slain gods - do they just disappear? I was also confused why Lore was being compared to the Gorgon. In Greek mythology, Perseus is the one who kills Medusa the Gorgon, so why would his descendent exhibit her traits? This was never explained. In addition, Zeus' overall intent behind the Agon is not clear. I kept looking for some larger purpose and did not see it.

Overall, an interesting action-packed story. 3 out of 5 stars.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

I wasn't a big fan of this author's first series, but wow I loved this book. I'm always a sucker for anything greek mythology but it's hard to do something new with it. I don't know that that was totally accomplished, but it was certainly a fantastic read. I liked the twist to the story, even if it wasn't quite what I expected. I greatly enjoyed the entire book. For a decently long book it wasn't slow, as some YA (yes even with YA pacing) can get at times. There was no waiting to jump into the story. It started off fast and continued to get better. I really liked this book and highly recommend it.

“For seven days, every seven years, the gods walk on earth as mortals. If you can kill one, you become a new god and take their power and immortality, but you’ll be hunted in the next Agon as well.”

OOF. Talk about a wild ride.

This book was dense. Thicker than a snicker. It piqued my interest with the Greek mythology, lured me in with the promise of a brutal competition amongst gods and mortals, and won me over with the sheer pettiness and backstabbing. The plot twists gave me whiplash, and I loved it. Kept me on my toes and needing to know how it would all end.

Here are all the things I loved;
- The world building and actual, well, lore. There was a lot to learn right off the bat, but I never felt overwhelmed by it, which can often happen in YA fantasies. There were helpful little charts in the front and back of the book, if you forgot someones name and origin. We love a chart.
- Lore, the human, is a badass. Her emotional growth in terms of her anger issues had me feeling real soft. I identify with her so hard. One of my favorite quotes from the entire book was, “Lore hated her temper more than she hated any other part of herself -- how quick she moved from spark to flash, incinerating everyone around her.” These words slapped me across the face. She was easy to root for because she seemed so, human. She made mistakes and lost control, but it was always evident she had a heart of gold.
- Miles is a peach ring and I want to protect him at all costs.
- Athena made me scream several dozen times. The sheer disdain that drips from her mouth whenever she talks to literally anyone. Honey.
- The backstabbing! The twists! Perhaps I’m just obtuse, but I never saw them coming!

Here are some things I did not love;
- I was having a hard time connecting with the characters, especially Castor, during the first third of the book. This may be because it was so plot\action heavy. Something was just falling flat for me.
- The relationship between Lore and Castor never got me going. I couldn’t fully buy into it. There were all of these descriptions about how potent the tension was, how there was this insane chemistry between them, but I never actually felt it? I couldn’t sense the yearning. Where is the yearning!?

Overall, I really enjoyed it. If you’re a fan of Greek mythology and teens murdering gods, pick this up. You’ll be delighted.

A huge thank you kindly to Hyperion Books and Netgalley for sending this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Pub day to this amazing book! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for Lore by Alexandra Bracken (thank you very much to @disneybooks and @netgalley). It was my first book of 2021 and it was the perfect way to kick off the new year! I enjoyed it so much I ended up purchasing a physical copy to always have on my shelves.

Centuries ago, after nine Greek gods rebel against Zeus, their punishment is the Agon. Every seven years, the gods are forced into mortal bodies where they are hunted for seven days by the bloodlines descending of the famous Greek heroes. Anyone who slays one of the gods will thereby inherit their powers and be reborn immortal. Present day, Lore Perseous has fled this world after the tragic murder of her family. When someone from her past reenters her life, and one of the nine gods shows up on her doorstep wounded, Lore is propelled back into the violence of the Agon where she will try to end it once and for all.

This book is Percy Jackson meets Hunger Games and I am so here for it! The story focuses on overcoming grief and trauma, forgiving others and yourself, and underdogs defying the odds. While the ending may have been a tad too convenient, it was still a beautiful and satisfying end to a great book. I will definitely be thinking about this one for a while! @disneyplus can we get an adaptation of this ASAP?!

Head’s up, there’s a little hidden note from the author at the very end that was SUCH a joy to read, especially if you are a writer yourself.

Trigger warnings: violence, family death, sexual assault

Read if you like:
-Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youths 🎶
-Percy Jackson and the Olympians 📚
-Herbal tea ☕️
-Lamb gyros with extra tzatziki 🥙

Lore is a contemporary fantasy novel based on Greek mythology. I really enjoyed it, and appreciated the frank engagement with the violence/misogyny classical mythology is steeped in. Lore joins some of my favorite modern engagements with Greek mythology that honestly address the less savory aspects of the myths we love, and I’m glad for it. There have been some great storytellers reframing mythology out of the traditional patriarchal lens and it’s wonderful.

The original Greek myths -- especially as told by Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripedes, and the Roman poet Ovid (among many others) -- are pretty dark when you think about it. The gods are cruel, savage, and petty. The stories abound in violence, curses, and misogyny. Yet they're a bedrock cultural touchstone. Lore is a book that reflects a love for the tales of Greek mythology while addressing head-on the problems with it, and all through the lens of a really fun (and brutal!) story.

There's a lot of attention to detail, from references to the myths to a ton of attention paid to Ancient Greek spelling. For example, each of the key family lines in the story uses a patronymic based on an ancient Greek hero, using the rules of ancient Greek grammar (with some adjustments in transliteration to make some names more familiar, like Achilles instead of Akhilleus).

The cast of characters from Lore (the eponymous heroine) onwards is great, and there's a strong found family vibe. And the gods -- I won't spoil it, but the characterization of the gods is spot-on. They're both ancient, primeval entities with all too human cruelty, just like in the myths.

This book was so good. Absolutely unique and creative. I wish there was more.

Writing: Great storytelling. Once the story kicks off, it really ramps up. Obviously there had to be some exposition at the beginning but once the reader gets through all the gritty details, I think the story flows pretty well.

Characters: We have a good mix of distinct characters. Some shined more than others. The standouts being Athena, Miles, and Van. Athena in particular was such a complex character and kudos to the author for attempting to write for one of the most iconic literary characters, an actual goddess. I could never. Even if I didn't agree with all her actions, I felt sooo much for her. Lore, our main character, has gone through so much trauma. I felt bad for her but she is your typical tortured hero and didn't feel much intrigue from her. Castor was our love interest and most of his story and characterization revolved around Lore so I was the most indifferent towards him.

World/Worldbuilding: I do want MORE. This is a standalone so we get what we get. If there was some way this could have been expanded to a trilogy I would have loved that. I think the concept of the Agon was so interesting I want to know all the little details that revolve around this hunt. The beginning was a little rough I felt moments of confusion especially up until ch5 or 6 where we got a proper exposition chapter to clear up any questions.

Relationships: We saw some relationships built here. Some romances too. I loved the progression of one of the lgbt romances here. The relationship and conclusion between Athena and Lore was...so gripping. Chapter 33 was my favorite because of the intense scene we had between them. SO good. The main romance of the book was fine if a little dull.

Ending: I haven't quite made up my mind about the ending. What is the point? Is it completely over? I'm not saying its bad, there's definitely people that will like it. But I think there are people that won't feel satisfied. It feels bittersweet to me. I also don't really know what the future of these characters looks like.

Wow!

Bracken has intricately woven a phenomenal, powerful story centered around Greek mythology. There are “aha!”moments at the conclusion of each chapter. This is story will tackle your heart and refuse to let it go long after the final pages. Her latest endeavor will resonate with her devoted fans and win over new readers.

Lore, is a ferocious female lead with a tragic past and a legendary future she has not chosen. Her history is revealed gradually and it perpetuates her need for answers and above all revenge. Nothing and everything is as it appears and each chapter is more shocking than the next. This incredible fantasy kept me up at night and was my first thought in the morning. I could not read this fast enough but was saddened to see it end. I hope this isn’t the last we will see if Lore and her fascinating friends and family. I couldn’t be happier this book was my first read of 2021!

I was given an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this page turner! I am always eager to read anything associated with the gods and was pleasantly surprised with this book.

Starting with the magnificent cover art that basically begs you to grab it and read it and then display it proudly on your shelf, this book was fantastic! My main concern is that I felt that the ending was a little bit of a let down. It was a HEA, but just still pretty flat for me, or maybe I just needed more! I hope that there will be a book 2!!

The twists that you didn't expect were so exciting and the ones that you did expect and they didn't happen made this book even more interesting.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book, I appreciate it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney for this eARC of Lore! I enjoyed this book so much! This was the perfect modern answer to all the epic Greek myths and Heroes. Not only was it action packed, with just the perfect sprinkle of romance, but our Hero Lore was so sarcastic and imperfect in all the best ways. She went on a full journey not only physically, but emotionally as well, in a perfect character arc. I also really enjoyed all the feminist undertones and questions of morality. The only think holding this back from being 5 stars for me were some parts that were a little confusing or abrupt. But what epic Greek myth isn’t a little confusing at times?

Give me a book about Greek Mythology in modern life with Athena as the main character and I can promise you I will devour that book bit by bit until there is nothing left. This is exactly what I did for Lore. This book takes the reader from 0 to 100 in the first few pages and continues full speed ahead until the very end. Combine The Hunger Games with Greek Mythology and you have a slight understanding of how good this book is to read.

Lore follows the story of Melora, AKA Lore, as she tries to avoid the looming Agon, a brutal punishment inflicted by Zeus where for seven days every seven years, nine gods must wander the Earth as mortals while descendants of Greek heroes try and gain the power of the gods by murdering them. This is not your friendly Greek myth; this is a violent blood bath of epic proportions. And Lore, for good reason, wants nothing to do with it. However, a visit from a friend she once thought dead, and the half-dead goddess, Athena, sitting on her doorstep drags her back into the world she wished to leave.

Let’s start with the cast of characters first. There was such a large cast for this book which can sometimes be iffy as some characters are left underdeveloped or just nonexistent. However, I mostly didn’t feel that way about this group; there was an exception or two but I’ll touch on that later.

First, there’s Lore, the main character, who is an absolute delight. I knew from the first page I was going to love this character. She has such a mouth on her and her comebacks were the best. I marked so many of them because they all made me laugh. Her development throughout the story was interesting to see and I liked being able to note the growth when she realized she didn’t have to do everything alone anymore.

Next, is Athena, the goddess of Wisdom (as if she needs an introduction). Oh man, I loved this depiction of the goddess so much! Athena is my favorite of the Greek pantheon and if you know me then you know how hardcore I am about people portraying her right. I will throw down in a heartbeat if someone misrepresents her. Luckily, we don’t have to worry about that with this version. I loved how Bracken took the various myths surrounding Athena and chose to make her her own creation while still maintaining the integrity of the goddess.

Next up are Castor, the thought-to-be-dead best friend, Miles, the current roommate/best friend and resident cinnamon roll, and Van, Castor’s best friend and grumpy face. I loved learning about their relationship with Lore and how each one was different in their own way. And that each character wasn’t the stereotypical hot boi, Korean dude, and grumpy friend (okay, he was grumpy but he wasn’t 24/7 grumpy and actually had more to his character than just that one trait). They were all done so well and I loved getting to know more about them.

Now the exception to the rule: Iro. The first time she showed up I was so excited because it meant we were going to get more into Lore’s past in addition to a new ally. And then it didn’t go anywhere from there. It went from 0 to 100 to 0 without getting anything further from her. I really wanted to like this character as much as the others; I really did. And I mean, I don’t dislike her; she was an interesting character. I just wish we were able to get more of her. Her only purpose appeared to be purely plot-driven and I hated that. However, despite all that, Bracken did an amazing job with the rest of the cast and I absolutely loved every one of them, unless I hated them (looking at you, Wrath).

Now we’re getting to the really fun part. It’s worldbuilding time! The mix of Ancient Greece and urban New York was done so seamlessly. There’s this whole underground world that just resides in these giant cities and, due to the power of the new gods within the families, they can just pay the important people off so anyone outside of the world is none the wiser. It’s a really cool premise. I’m a giant sucker for family genealogy and I loved seeing how that all played out in how they interacted with each other, especially Lore’s family line when we get to learn more about that. And the misogyny that existed within these families made me so mad at times. So, only the male heads of the family are allowed to kill a god and take over their power because they believed it couldn’t happen. Then when it did happen, they shunned the new god because she was a woman. Despite the fact that half the pantheon is made up of goddesses but yeah, okay. It made me so mad and that’s how you know it was so good to read.

Last, but not least, the plot. A story earns five stars from me when I start connecting dots and threads like some sort of conspiracy theorist. From the first page or two, I was already coming up with theory after theory. And then, when one question was solved, two more were opened up. It just kept building one after the other until the climax, which, to be honest, I did not see coming. Even after all of my theories, I had no idea where it was leading. Although looking back now, the setup for the climax was always there, I just got thrown by the other theories and by what Lore was thinking of as well. It was so well done. A plot twist that makes you go, “WHAT??? Oh, yeah. I see that now,” is a great one. My brain is still trying to sort through everything that happened. That’s how good it was.

Really, the only big complaint I had was how fast everything wrapped up after the climax. I was expecting a bit more explanation like we were given at earlier points in the story, but nope. The thing happened, the thing ended, and then we get the closing scene. There was just too much, for me, that was crammed into the last two or chapters of the book. I honestly would have been fine with a few more chapters if it meant we received a little bit more explanation and more of the aftermath. But it wasn’t a deal-breaker.

Overall, Lore was exceptionally well done and I will still be reeling from it months from now. Five out of five stars.

🐍REVIEW: Lore by Alexandra Bracken🌬
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What it’s about: The Agon takes place every seven years. It is the punishment administered upon nine Greek gods for their roles in a rebellion by Zeus. During Agon, the nine gods must walk Earth as mortals while being hunted by the descendants of chosen ancient heroes. The hunter who kills a god gains their power and immorality, but in turn, join the never-ending cycle and become hunted too. After the brutal murder of her entire family, and the only other remaining survivors of her bloodline, Lore Perseous escaped her world, defying the only destiny she ever knew, trying to forget the man, now a new god, who took her family from her. At the start of the new Agon, Lore is asked to help the last two people she ever expected, Castor, Lore’s childhood best friend who should be dead, and the dying Athena, one of the last remaining original gods. United with a common enemy and a shared goal, Lore rejoins the hunt by binding her fate to the goddess to try to maintain the only thing she craves more than power: Freedom.
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My thoughts: If you have seen anything about this book, you have probably heard the tagline: The Hunger Games meets Greek Mythology, which at the most simple level, is accurate. Alexandra Bracken crafted a sweeping story full of morally questionable actions, betrayal, love, and the power of a single choice. The writing was stunning, with beautifully descriptive imagery. So many lines had me stopping to reread them in awe. Lore, as a character, was extremely inspiring as she learned to turn her anger into a tool she could wield. The feminist undertones in challenging the blatant sexism and horrors that take place in mythology were also refreshing and needed. The romance in the novel, at first bordered on rushed, but in the end I found myself on board. I really liked all the characters that came together to help Lore, especially after unlikely circumstances kept the story twisting with surprises and heart-stoppping action scenes. I felt at one with Lore, rooting for her strength, and angered by the injustices she faced. Also, every story needs a Miles. This was a great way to start my reading year, and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves urban fantasy and greek mythology. (Please see end section for CW’s!)
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RATING: ★★★★.5/5
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*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
**CWs: violence, murder, murder involving children and parents, terminal illness, mention of rape, sexual assault, and arranged marriage.

5/5 stars

Lore by Alexandra Bracken is an exceptional novel about power, love, redemption, family, and trusting oneself. The novel follows Lore, a 17-year-old, who lives in New York City who inherited a house from a man who she was a caregiver for. The novel spans over 7 days and is very fast paced. It is third person perspective. It takes place in modern day and based in Greek Mythology.

As the synopsis says, “Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.” In the last Agon, Lore’s family was brutally murdered and Lore left hoping to escape the world she was born into and brought death to her family. When the next Agon begins, Lore is brought back into the world she had spent seven years trying to forget.

A new God, Castor, who was a friend she believed was dead seeks her out to give her a warning. Even with the warning she is having second guesses about whether to join the hunt or not until one of the last original goddesses, Athena, finds her and offers her deal she cannot refuse.

Now, back in the hunt, Lore spends the next 7 days helping her own friend, assisting the goddess, and fighting for the revenge of her family.

I loved this book so much. It was hard to put down. The writing style was perfect for the story, the characters were incredibly detailed, and the pacing was fantastic allowing for a fast paced but still believable plot. As someone who loved mythology but has not studied it, I was still able to follow this novel—it also helped that Bracken provides a list of the houses and gods and goddesses so you can easily keep track of them throughout the story.

I loved all of the characters, but Lore is a powerhouse and there if a focus on female empowerment, and female power in this book that was very thrilling. Also, since Lore is trying to escape this world, she is constantly challenging the beliefs that she grew up being told and the way that world works. Seeing this unlearning and conviction and just growth is important and enjoyable.

The plot is really fun, and we get glimpses of the Agon before the current one (the one Lore’s family was murdered during) and it was a smart way to see the world and the way it worked as well as getting important backstory for the characters.

If you love female empowerment, Greek Mythology, love stories, fast-pace, badass fantasy novels this is the book for you.

*I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.*

Every seven years, the Agon begins. Essentially a punishment, during the Agon, nine Greek Gods are forced to walk the Earth as mortals, all the while being hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines. If a God is killed during the Agon, the hunter responsible for their death gets to seize their powers and immortality, thus becoming a New God.

Melora, known as Lore, is a part of the Perseous line. She is no longer participating in the Agon. Lore has left that whole world behind and kept herself hidden since the last hunt left her entire family dead in their home, including her two little sisters, murdered by a rival clan. Living in New York City, Lore has done a good job blending in and has successfully flown under the radar of anyone related to the hunt. At least that's what she thinks.

One night a blast from her past, her childhood best friend, Castor, ends up tracking her down. Their brief conversation intrigues Lore enough to make her question whether she really can leave that life behind. Their interaction really rattles her. She has suspected that Castor was dead, so to have him just show up like that, it was a lot. Little does she know, things are about to get a lot more interesting.

Arriving home, she discovers the Greek Goddess Athena, one of the few remaining original Gods, injured on the steps of her brownstone, pleading for her help. Before she knows it, Lore has rejoined the hunt, pairing with Athena and hoping to finally get revenge on the man she blames for the murder of her family.

Y'all, I loved this book from the start. I was so intrigued about this whole concept and absolutely loved the characters. I think Bracken did a great job of building this out and keeping the pace steady throughout. There was always plenty of action and intrigue to keep me wanting more.

Lore is a very strong character, but you can tell that she is hurting a lot. As her past is slowly revealed, through chapters focusing on her childhood and the end of the last Agon, my heart absolutely ached for her. This girl has been through it. Over the course of the story, you really watch her character evolve from a damaged soul to a true force to be reckoned with.

I loved the relationships within this story. The friend group, made up of Lore, Castor, Van, Miles and Iro, was so great to read. I loved their dynamic and the way their personalities played off of one another; particularly Miles, the only one not from an ancient bloodline.

The Agon, at its heart, really is a competition; one of my favorite tropes. There was a lot of danger. I mean really, the entire time, Lore and her friends are on the move. They're constantly in fear for their lives, which makes you constantly in fear for their lives!

This felt like a superhero story to me and I was living for it. Towards the end, there are all sorts of surprising twists and reveals. Lore is a blast to read! Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Book Group and NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. I truly appreciate it.