This review is for the full ARC of Lore. I accidentally posted it under both the sampler and the full ARC.

Oh my god wow!😍 This book was so beautifully written the it easily made the list of my top 10 favorite books ever!

Lore is set in modern day New York City except with a Greek twist. There are gods and decedents of gods living among everyday new yorkers. What they don’t know is that there is a war among the gods and the decedents that they can’t see. Through death and destruction of New York and the people who live there, these descendants (also known as hunters) seek the gift of immortality from the gods.

Lore just wanted to live a normal life. She wanted out. One day during a boxing match as an under ground fight club, her past comes back to pull her straight back in to the life she thought she left behind.

This book is so amazing! I finished it in a little over a day. The concept is so unique and I think that is what made me like it even more. I’m not a massive greek mythology fan but this book made me want to explore it more. If you are looking for a read that you can’t put down and is going to suck you into a world we didn’t think was possible, you should definitely check out Lore!

Lore follows Melora, an orphan who has tried to escape the world of Greek gods/goddesses fighting for immortality after it takes her family from her. Every 7 years, the gods temporarily lose their immortality and their powers will be passed to whoever can kill them. Families train for the hunt their whole lives, but Lore just wants to end it once and for all.

Fans of Percy Jackson who are ready to move on to more complex titles will eat this one up. Personally, I was a bit confused and it took me a while to get into the book. It's an ambitious debut novel with many characters and plenty of action. Every time I thought I figured out where things were going, there was another twist or betrayal to keep me on my toes.

I'd always loved a good Greek myth-inspired retelling set in the modern world. So, when I first heard about Lore, I was so intrigued. I mean, vicious and ambitious descendants of Greek heroes running off to kill Greek gods and take their power? Give me that!
I'm so happy that this book lived up to the hype. Think of Camp Half Blood kids in The Hunger Games. Except, instead of targeting each other, they're targeting the true enemy.
Lore is a great protagonist and the perfect character to show one of the underlying themes of the book, which is the forgotten heroes in Greek myth. We almost exclusively only hear about the Greek gods and, if not them, the male Greek heroes. But the women are often sidelined or forgotten. Well, in this book, Lore wouldn't be sidelined and I loved that the most. She's determined and fierce and an overall badass.
This is my first Alexandra Bracken book and I love it so much! Cannot wait to get a physical copy in my hands.

How do you cope if you don’t really like yourself, and want to escape your destiny? Melora (Lore) has ghosts haunting her, and it’s fair to say there’s the looming possibility of death that hovers over her as well.

This book has a really intriguing concept. It’s Greek mythology meets the Hunger Games in modern New York City.

Lore is a kick-ass feminist YA fantasy novel that combines intrigue and action while developing a rich protagonist. Lore’s an intriguing character who’s wrestling with a lot of demons. She’s haunted by choices she’s made and regrets she has, and she’s scarred by loss. These factors inform a lot of her decisions. When someone from her past (that she believed was dead) shows up, she feels her old life imposing on the new life she’s carved out for herself. She’s still determined to avoid her past, but circumstances prevent that. When she finds an injured god on her doorstep, she has to make some tough choices that pull her back into the Agon, where she has to fight for her life against the descendants of the ancient bloodlines, old gods, and new (false) gods who remain.

The tension between Lore’s old life and new life affects her motivation and choices throughout the entire story. On one hand, this is an action-packed book. Lore has to sneak into buildings, spy on enemies for information, and flee for her life on multiple occasions. There are also a lot of fight scenes. It isn’t enough that Lore’s own life hangs in the balance; her roommate is a potential target who doesn’t have supernatural abilities and has no idea what he’s been pulled into. As the last of her bloodline, Lore has to scramble to find allies wherever she can, and trust isn’t easy to come by. It doesn’t help that there are a lot of secrets Lore’s keeping, and she’s still wrestling with her guilt.

One one level, this is a story about epic battles and rival bloodlines, with sinister gods who will do anything to win the Agon. On another level, there’s a deep love between Lore and Castor that’s evident from the start of the story, but there are a lot of obstacles that make it hard for them to trust each other, and the possibility of a future seems hopeless. Their focus is on surviving the Agon, and as events progress this seems less and less likely.

Lore also has a rich character arc. She comes to terms with her past, and the choices she’s made that have affected her life and her relationships.

The multiple layers of the story had me thoroughly engrossed. I felt like no part of the story lagged, and I was just as interested in their recon operations and battles as I was in her history and how it impacted the present. Honestly, after a number of great reads, I couldn’t put this book down. And it’s important to note that none of the critical storytelling elements were sacrificed. The character development was as comprehensive as the plot and subplots, and there were plenty of surprises along the way.

Lore is also one of the strongest feminist stories I’ve read in a long time. I thought it was intriguing that the author raised the fact that history is written by the victors, and that as the rulers within their society, men determined what myths were passed on and changed the substance of them. There were a lot of bloodlines and names to keep straight, and I think it would have been easier to read this in hard copy, because there was a directory at the back. I had an e-arc, so I didn’t flip back and forth. Still, the volume of names and groups didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story at all.

Bracken uses an immersive writing style and takes you right inside the character, allowing you to feel her pain and uncertainty as she wrestles with the choices she’s forced to make, and this suits the story very well. It would have made my top 5 reads of the year if I’d read it earlier, but since I finished it after our best of lists were done, it counts as my first 5/5 read for my 2021 list.

RATING: 4 out of 5 Enchanted Roses

ONE-WORD REVIEW: MYTHICAL

READING TUNE: Afraid by No Wyld

TAG LINE:

Bind your fate to mine.

OPENING LINE:

Her mother had once told her that the only way to truly know someone was to fight them.

REVIEW:

I was fortunate enough to be gifted a copy of LORE on Netgalley -- thank you Disney Hyperion! LORE is actually the first novel by Katherine Laurin I have finished. I tried to read PASSENGERS and made it at least 2/3 through but had to DNF it (which I RARELY do, like ever but I would love to give it another chance in the future). Nevertheless, LORE was a completely different experience for me, in the best possible way.

I am a big lug for Greek mythology especially retellings. While LORE isn’t a retelling per se it is heavily inspired by badass goddesses and gods of Greek mythology. To add the icing to the cake, LORE's premise also heavily resides around cool ancient fighting tactics while using New York City as its arena for the hunting of gods during the week-long Agon. During the last Agon, seven years ago, Lore's entire family was murdered in their house and her best friend died from cancer. With no one left in the world, Lore was insistent on starting a new life away from all of the death, loss, and glory. To change her fate.

You may deny the Fates, but they will not deny you.

But on one fateful night, her past catches up with her when a legendary goddess bleeding from a mortal wound tracks her down and seeks her help. And forces Lore to deal with deep wounds and bloodthirsty desires for vengeance. I mean: COME ON! I love the premise of LORE.

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.

Having said that, as much as I enjoyed LORE there some adjustments could have been made to the story. It was a little hard to follow what exactly was going on in relation to making plot connections to the gods & hunters' motives and what they were searching for during the hunt. For example, it took me a bit to figure out Wrath a.k.a False Ares was searching for not one but two mythical items which explained why he was on this homicidal rampage. Also, I couldn’t understand why False Ares wanted these mythical items -- by page 275 I still was lost as to why Ares was on his search.

It also took me a long while to figure out why goddesses and gods were being punished by Zeus via being cast out of Olympus and thrust into mortal bodies --although they were able to retain their powers--which could be killed by the Houses of mortal hunters. Moreover, I feel like all of the logic and intentions of the Hunters and gods could’ve been clearer because I was pretty much lost for at least the first third of the story -- my understanding of Agon, motives, logic, etc. felt splotchy for a while there.

As for what I enjoyed most about LORE, there are many things. The characters were well-rounded and I connected with many of them. The worldbuilding was fleshed out -- it was the perfect blend of the real world and mythical legends. As a native New Yorker, I also think Bracken captured my city really well, which is always bonus points in my book.

I loved Bracken's play on the infamous lore of Greek gods and goddesses. But, most importantly readers were given the chance to see those gods in a different light, in an interesting and refreshing new way. As gods and goddesses, they are not required to uphold the same standards mere mortals are. Mortals are defined by their consciousness -- their conscious decisions to do right or wrong--, whereas Greek gods are not so restricted. Gods are not confined by the same moral codes of humanity. So, it was super interesting to see these unfathomable immortal beings of divinity cast into human roles, where they struggled to reconcile their divinity with flesh and blood bodies that could die, became physically fatigued, required sustenance, etc.

“You may be a god,” she told him, relishing the sight of his struggle. “But I’m the Perseides.”

The pacing was the perfect speed for the unfolding of the plot -- fast during the action-packed scenes, lulling but gutting during the emotional scenes. And let us not forget the incredible Plottwist crafted by Bracken, the goddess of Wordery. I will not spoil it here but: DAMN. It was great.

Monsters lived in the shadows. To hunt them, you couldn't be afraid to follow. And the only way to destroy them was to have the sharper teeth and the darker heart.

My favorite thread when I read is generally the romance, and Bracken -- who claims to have difficulty with romance beats -- did not disappoint! The story doesn't have the instalove trope but more of a childhood friends turned enemies (onesided) turned friends turned lovers trope going on I delighted in. I wanted to desperately squeeze and hug Castor while reading LORE. Lore and Castor had great chemistry and the tension in defining their rebuilding a connection make me swoon with its angst and sweetness.

"You confuse me," he said plainly. "It's always been this way. I want to tell you everything, but there's a part of me that's still afraid of seeming weak."

All in all, I had a great time reading LORE and recommend it to anyone who has a sweet tooth for badass heroines, soft, warrior boyfriends, Greek Mythology, and cool fighting scenes.

CHARACTERS:

LORE PERSEIDES: Suffice it to say Loris character is my favorite archetype of heroine. She is fierce as hell, can fight tooth and nail, surly on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside, and fiercely loyal to her friends. I empathize with her character very much because I understand what it means to have to hide your heart behind hard walls in order to survive.

She slammed a fist against the front of the shield, and the roar that burst from it was deeper than thunder -- it was primordial.
It raged through the air, bellowing through the quiet streets. She struck it again, and again, until her ears rang and she heard the call echo back to her from distant buildings. The power blazed through her. She felt invincible.

CASTOR ACHILLEOUS: Castor is my favorite brand of delicious cinnamon roll boyfriends. Although he grew up in a blood-thirsty world filled with bullying, hatred, murder, and betrayal, and suffering from cancer, he still managed to be sweet, kind, loyal to his friends, and loyal to himself.

“He didn't want to let her down, because she would have lost her training partner and had to leave the program. But more than that, he always wanted to see her. He always wanted to follow her, even if it was right into trouble."

FAVORITE QUOTES:

She had had her family. Her bloodline. Her name. Lore had borne the weight of those responsibilities from the moment she first learned the word Agon. Castor, though -- Castor had been different. It felt as if he had been given to her by the gods, and she to him.

+

"I accept your apology," he told Iro. "Thank you for helping the Achillides."
Lore blew a piece of hair out of her face. "This is why I always had to hold all of our grudges as kids. You've never had the heart for them."

Happy Reading!
Ashley
www.TheTatteredPage.com

Wow, that was pretty amazing. This reminded me a little bit of the War on the Gods series by A.P. Mobley, but it was probably a bit darker than that. It was sort of like a cross between the Hunger Games and War on the Gods with a bit more emphasis on the ugly aspects of war and sacrifice. But don't get me wrong--it was not a war book. The focus was on Lore and her friends and uneasy alliances as they fight to survive the Agon, which is a 7-day event that happens every 7 years when 9 of the Gods who betrayed Zeus will walk the earth in mortal forms and their houses have to survive to be the last ones standing. Several of the houses have already died off at the start of this book, and Lore is the last of her line, the house of the Perseides (Perseus). She has spent the last 7 years in hiding and trying to avoid the world of the Agon, but she is quickly sucked back in. This is an action-packed story and there is definitely a fair bit of death, but somehow the story is energizing and by the end, I was moved to tears, but not all in a bad way. I loved the ending and thought this was a great stand-alone novel. At 576 pages, it's a fairly hefty novel, but it's the perfect length for a serious stand-alone story. The author did a great job researching all the various myths and the story was both well-written and well-thought-out. I have not read her books before, but I will definitely check out her Darkest Minds trilogy after this!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

***I received an uncorrected proof of this ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

"The old gods must die to allow the new to rise."†

This book was basically Greek mythology meets the Hunger Games set in modern NYC. Every seven years, a group of nine gods are made mortal and forced to fight for their lives in the Agon. This is their eternal punishment for rebelling against Zeus in ancient times. If the human descendants of the other gods succeed in killing them, they gain their power and immortality. There are very few originals left by the time we get to Lore's timeline. This in itself is such an interesting concept! Readers still get to experience some recognizable Greek deities, but also new incarnations in the image of others. Lore has also got a great amount of legend built in and organically shaped to fit the narrative... tons of anecdotes, stories, weaponry, language-use. I'm Greek and a mythology-nerd so I was into it. Like, damn, this book really checked all my boxes.

Star lost for lackluster characterization of major "side-characters" (Miles, Van, Iro). They weren’t in enough scenes (present or past) to flesh them out completely. This made it difficult to understand their emotions and motivations.

Lore is a stunning example of a perfect standalone.* Bracken masterfully executed complex world-building and organic character development all while filling the plot with unexpected twists and turns. *I would not complain if she ever decided to return to this world and write about some of the previous Agons, just sayin.


†check against final text

I was very impressed with this novel. I wasn't sure that the story would hold up, given that it was a lengthier novel than I had expected, but there were no unnecessary lulls in the story. The pacing was well done. The action and intrigue remained interesting throughout, the plot twists (while sometimes predictable) were entertaining, and the characters were well developed. I would love to know more about Miles after his introduction to this world, and about Van's history. In my opinion, they both have stories to tell. However, I do think that the author inserted just enough of their stories into this novel, given that the principal storyline was based on the past of another character.

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for providing a copy of this e-book for review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for providing me with an ARC to review.

Lore was one of my favorite books that I read in 2020, as well as my last read of the year. There was something about this book that stood out to me from other books that I read—and it definitely wasn’t because it was fresh in my mind.

Lore is set in a world where humans have the ability to become gods. Due to a punishment from Zeus, nine gods—Athena, Ares, Poseidon, Dionysus, Artemis, Apollo, Hephaestus, Hermes and Aphrodite—face the Agon every seven years, where they walk the Earth as mortals. If they are killed by a hunter, the hunter takes on their powers and the original god is lost. In Lore, only four of the original gods remain—Athena, Artemis, Apollo and Hermes. Lore left the world of the Agon and hunting behind years ago, with no intention to go back. That is until a friend from Lore’s past finds her and Athena turns up at her doorstep with a promise: to help her kill the man who killed her family.

The dynamic between the new gods and the old gods was interesting and their distain for one another was well developed in this story, as was the Agon in general. This world is so expansive that, even though Lore is a standalone, there could be prequels told about this world and how the Agon came to be without over saturating.

The characters in this story and their friend dynamic were perfect, they felt as though they’d known each other forever, despite some of them having met during the course of the book. None of the characters fell flat and they all contributed to the story, the plot couldn’t have gone on without them. My one issue with the characters, though, was the childhood friends to lovers romance in the story. These two characters, in my opinion, showed zero romantic chemistry throughout the story and it almost felt like they weren’t the characters that were fulfilling this trope, but they were. The story could’ve remained the same without this added romance.

Overall, Lore is an action packed story with an amazingly immersive world and a cast of characters that feel like your friends while you’re reading. There was never a dull moment in this story and every twist and turn will keep you on your feet and the book in your hand. Lore is perfect for any fan of Rick Riordan or general greek mythology and turns those figures we know into something fresh and exciting.

TWs: blood, violence, murder (parents, children), gore, terminal illness, abuse, attempted rape/sexual assault, arranged marriagearranged marriage

This was really great! Based around the Greek gods, but such an original different kind of story. Quite a Hunger Games feel to it as well! I loved the characters and different houses of Greek heroes. Such a fast paced, exciting story with a tiny bit of romance too. I couldn’t put this down! I wish this was a series, but sadly it is a standalone it seems! A must read for anyone who loves Greek mythology!

As punishment for angering Zeus, the Olympians are destined to live the Agon, being hunted for seven nights every seven years. For the hunters, whoever kills a god, gains their powers. Lore, the last living member of the House of Perseus, has gotten out of the hunt. But when Athena arrives wounded on her doorstep, she is thrust back into the middle of the hunt, where she will now become one of the hunted.

I really loved this. I found it a little bit slow to start, but around chapter 7 or 8 it really picked up, and then it didn't stop. This book was such a page-turner. I was so invested in Lore's story. I adored these characters so much, and loved their dynamic. Lore is so sarcastic and angry, but has a heart of gold, Castor is such a sweetheart, and Miles is so precious. Alex Bracken always writes such amazing ensemble casts and found families.

There were so many twists and turns! I really found myself unable to put this book down, especially near the end. I was so invested in the characters and their plans. It was all so perfectly laid out, with all of the different plotlines coming together in the end.

Thank you, Alexandra Bracken, Disney-Hyperion, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

“My name will be legend.”

LORE
Lore by Alexandra Bracken was one of my most anticipated books for 2021 and was the final book that I read in 2020. The Agon has arrived. It is an event that occurs every seven years and is a punishment set by Zeus himself. Nine Greek Gods and Goddesses are punished for a rebellion so during the Agon, they walk on Earth as mortals while members of ancient families hunt them for their power and immortality. Melora Perseous, known as Lore has been avoiding the Agon since the destruction of her family years before. When she comes home and finds a wounded Athena on her doorstep, she would love nothing more than just to let her die, but the Goddess offers her something that she craves…revenge. Things become more complicated when her childhood friend reappears. Castor should be dead, but now he has the powers of the God, Apollo. They all must work together to survive the Agon and also prevent an enemy from becoming powerful enough to destroy humanity.

**Trigger Warnings: Child Death, Torture, and Rape**

This book did not just meet my expectations…It EXCEEDED them! The writing is beautiful. The characters are complex all while bringing together the ancient legends we all know. It addresses the male-female dynamics of ancient Greek culture and reimagines a modern world where these characters exist. Men still believe that they are in control and have the power over women and twisting that control in ways to serve them.

“There would always be a man deciding my fate, whether it was my father, an archon, or a husband.”

LORE
Lore is hardened by the life in which she was raised. But even more so after the brutal death of her family, which leaves her as the last of her house. She does have Miles, her roommate and dear friend. Miles is everything. I loved him so much. He is smart, funny, and brave even when surrounded by Gods and Goddesses. Even Athena respects Miles. While we are on the subject of Athena…I about lost it when Lore questioned her about Medusa! For those who don’t know the story, Medusa was raped by Poseidon in Athena’s temple. Athena then turned Medusa into a gorgon. She has snakes for hair and could turn anyone to stone who looked her in the eye. She was killed by Perseus, who happens to be the House that Lore belongs to. Anyway, Athena’s response is everything.

“They imagined her hideous because they feared to meet the true gaze of a woman, to witness the powerful storm that lives inside, waiting. She was not defeated by my Uncle’s assault. She was merely reborn as a being who could gaze back at the world, unafraid. Is that not what your own line did for centuries, staring out from behind her mask?”
-Athena

LORE
As someone who studied mythology in college, this statement is perfection. I had to set the book down to take a deep breath and collect my thoughts. As a survivor of sexual assault, I had always related to Medusa. In fact, I had planned on getting a Medusa tattoo someday. While she is frequently depicted as a monster. She has actually been a symbol to ward off evil. Even her named, Medusa, means to protect. Her face is seen on ancient shields and even ancient houses or buildings. —-But I digress. This moment of the book meant so much to me.

Overall, I can’t recommend this book enough. What an incredible way to end 2020?! It was a terrible year…but the books have been fantastic. This book is epic (the battle scenes are brutal and VERY descriptive), complex, romantic, and beautiful all at the same time. This book deserves more than 5 stars. Make sure to preorder this book or add it to your wishlist! It comes out on January 5th, 2021!

Alright, let's dig into this unique, cheeky piece of literature, shall we?

*I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The following opinions are purely my own. Lore is set to be published on 1/5/2020. This review does NOT contain spoilers.*

UM, OKAY. Lore. From the gorgeous cover, I (wrongfully) assumed this was a Medusa-esque retelling. And while the myth of Medusa does become relevant to the story, we actually follow young Lore and a few ragtag friends in New York City over the span of one week. Yes, this entire 480 page book takes place during 7 days (though there are some interesting flashbacks to break it up a bit).
Here's the basics: Lore and her friends are part of a secret-society-style community of ancient bloodlines that train their children to become Spartan-like warriors in the hopes that one of their own may achieve "kleos" (glory) by killing one of 9 ancient Greek gods during this one-week span that occurs once every seven years-- a weeklong event called the "Agon." During the Agon, 9 Greek gods become mortal, and if a member of any "bloodline" kills a god, that person inherits the god's power. You with me? Because we're just getting started.

Honestly, for the first half of this book, I wasn't overly impressed. It didn't really seem like it was doing anything new; it felt more like a superhero story with Greek mythology overlaid on top of it. HOWEVER-- after maybe the 40% mark or so, this really picks up. And I mean REALLYYYY picks up. Like, you-should-look-up-the-trigger-warnings picks up. I'm not kidding. Because by the 70% mark, this had become one of the gnarliest, grittiest, most open-faced and bold young adult fantasy stories I've read in a loooong time. Lore does not shy away from the tough stuff, unlike many young adult fantasies that pull their punches to remain more broadly appealing. LORE DOES *NOT* PULL ANY PUNCHES. I cannot overstate this. Look up the trigger warnings, okay?

My actual thoughts: Even though I wasn't enamored from the start, I was certainly enamored by the end. This book did surprise me, and I'm happy to say it. There are scenes in this book that felt both raw and refreshing to see in a female-led young adult story. There are extremely intense themes addressed and I really think Bracken did them justice and let the emotions of the characters breathe.

Speaking of the characters..! Where to begin?! Our main heroine Lore is complex, flawed, has a temper, has lots of baggage, and struggles to process her guilt, past traumas, and grapples with the idea of destiny (or the "Fates") and whether she is truly in control of herself. Her best friend Castor is both strong and soft, emotionally intelligent and silly, comfortable in his manliness AND also insecure because of other normal human-y reasons too. WE LOVE COMPLEX CHARACTERS IN THIS HOUSEHOLD! We love characters that have pasts that do more than just serve the plot! We love characters that GROW and process their actions and reactions throughout the events of the story, to lead up to an absolute nail-biter of a conclusion that felt 100% earned/justified because of all the work and growth we went through with the characters. Honestly, a masterclass. I said it.

Nuts & Bolts: The pacing was BREAKNECK. This is definitely a zero-to-sixty kind of story. There were moments where I felt like I had whiplash. Again, this happens entirely over just seven days. That being said, I really admired the balance Bracken found in separating character-driven, emotional moments vs. super action-packed fight scenes. The fight scenes read beautifully and clearly without any fluff, and the deeper character moments read with passion and intensity without feeling cliche.

Overall: This is dark and twisty, feminist and loud, and (admittedly) a fresh and exhilarating take on a Greek mythology retelling. I am positive this is going to be a huge book this season.

Look at me, starting off the new year with an on-time review! Lore is Alexandra Bracken’s latest fantasy novel and it’s a standalone - total, satisfying completion in one easy book. I must admit, I was drawn in by the striking cover featuring Medusa. This is based on Greek mythology so that and the title are quite appropriate!

Lore is actually the shortened name of our main character Melora Perseous, last of the line of Perseus. She was formerly part of a society of hunters descended from the famous ‘heroes’ of legend (Herakles, Perseus, etc.) and it is their mission to hunt down the nine Greek gods during a period called the Agon. The Agon occurs for seven days every seven years and during this time the gods become mortal and can be killed. Their killer will take up their mantle, usually enriching their own house in the process. It is a vicious cycle, with the houses hunting down the mortal gods, but also killing one another. House Kadmou is the strongest and their former leader and current Ares incarnation is the one that murdered Lore’s parents and baby sisters during the last Agon. Lore stepped away from that life and has been hiding ever since, but the Agon is in New York again and when Athena shows up on her doorstep wounded, she makes a deal to hunt down Aristos Kadmou and get her revenge. 

This was an edge of your seat adventure throughout and I actually had to put it down a couple times when I just knew something terrible was about to happen. Alex Bracken is not afraid to hurt the characters you love or have them hurt others so be prepared! Lore’s desire for revenge and the rage she holds inside really propel this story forwards, but it’s certainly not all about vengeance. She is reunited with a childhood friend she thought dead since the previous Agon and there’s some happiness, a lovely found family arc, and plenty of heart-pounding action. The story is further rounded out with a series of flashback chapters from seven years (or more) prior, when Lore was first meeting Castor and Van, her first encounter with Aristos Kadmous, and the revelation as to why Aristos would want her dead. 

This is for real one of the best young adult fantasy books I’ve read in FOREVER. This would easily appeal to those who primarily read adult fantasy, though the characters are teenagers. The writing is mature and the characters aren’t a bunch of childish idiots and none of them suffer from being overly powerful or the Chosen One. Lore was an excellent change of pace from what I’ve been reading, as it is set in present day New York and I was surprised to find that I do in fact still dig stories about Greek gods in modern times. Overall, I’d highly recommend this for any YA fans, adult fantasy readers looking for an excellent mythology story, and most definitely for fans of Alexandra Bracken’s previous works!

Do or die stakes of Hunger Games meets Rick Riordan in this YA mythical novel.

Lore lost her family in the last agon, and this time around, she wants to end it once and for all. With a diverse group of mortals and gods, she might throw off the heavy mantle of her past and redeem her family.

Or die trying.

This was a fast-paced, action-packed mythic book. I loved the mixture of the modern and the old, the human world with the gods, and Greek mythology. A few places where the action becomes burdensome, but the author makes up for it by every scene having a purpose that ultimately leads to the last showdown between Lore, a 17-year-old girl, and immortal beings.

This will be perfect for Rick Riordan fans who mourn the ending of their favorite series and a great way to draw others into the myths and stories of ages past. Also a great read for fans of the Divergent series, Hunger Games, and other dystopian novels. If you are a highly- sensitive person, please be aware there are some triggering scenes and descriptive acts of violence.

This book while placing the gods in modern times like Rick Riordan does in his series brings out a darker side of the gods. The character development of Lore, Miles, Castor, and Van draw you into their lives and make it easy to connect with them through out the book. I love how the author gives each of the characters a back story that slowly reveals itself as the story goes along. Lore is torn between two worlds. One in which she is the last surviving member of a powerful Greek family, who every seven years partakes in a battle for power over the Gods who have fallen to the earth. The other in which she longs to leave that world behind and just be a normal teenager. When the new Agon cycle starts Lore's past draws her back into the fight. What will be reviled and can Lore end the Argon? The story itself is fast paced and easy to follow. This is a wonderful book to read if you have any interest in the Greek gods. Thank you so much Netgalley and Disney for allowing me to read an advance copy.

Looking for an action-filled adventure full of magic, epic battles, and amazing characters? Lore has got it all! Set in NYC, Lore deals with both mental and physical battles. This is the perfect read for fans of The Percy Jackson Series or The Mortal Instruments!

I was lucky enough to read a sampler a little earlier on and I was hooked, so I was incredibly excited to read Lore! As with most of the books I read, I love to try and predict what comes next and it safe to say there were quite a few twists and turns in Lore's journey I did not see coming! I absolutely loved following Lore's adventure and my sister was witness to my audible gasps as my kindle was filled with notes of "OMG" or "WHAT", it's one of those books!

While the adventure is something I really enjoyed and want more of, as a romance lover I couldn't help but wish more some more continuations of the romance in Lore! Although this book is easily a five-star read without any further romantic plot, the romantic in me can't help but wish for more!

Since I couldn't go back to NYC for college this year, I was really happy to have a magical escape starring NYC! If you're craving some Greek mythology and action you should definitely pick up Lore!

It’s a challenging read; I was confused for the first quarter of the book until more plot elements came to light. This was compounded by the fact that some of the characters are referenced using multiple/different names. There are a LOT of action scenes, but they’re balanced by quiet moments between friends. I loved the focus on relationships and life contentment. There’s a slight bit of romance, but it’s on the back burner and very mild.

When I taught 6th grade language arts, I had students who chain-read the Percy Jackson books because they couldn’t get enough of the mythology. I was always encouraging (bribing) them to branch out and read other books as well. I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending Lore to most of them due to the violence, strong language (one F-bomb and a few other words), and plot complexity. However, the more mature readers would eat it up! I have NO doubt that this will be a movie someday.

Yikes. I guess I'll be in the minority on this one.

I wanted to love this. I wanted to love this SO BADLY. The premise is so interesting - an Agon happens every 7 years during which one of the members from the bloodline families can kill a god and take on their powers and immortality. Some of the original gods were killed off long ago and some are still alive, hiding every 7 years. This <i>sounds</i> fantastic and I have been anticipating this one for a long time because I'm a total Greek mythology nerd.

Unfortunately, this was honestly kind of a mess. There was a lot info-dumping, but none of this dumping came at the right time and it always seemed to be lacking a few details. In flashbacks, you're given part of the backstory and then propelled back to present time. In these flashbacks, I really didn't get a good feel for Lore or her family's role in this whole thing. I know it was stated several times, but I still honestly don't get why.

Also, there are friendships highlighted that are supposed to be a big deal, but they're not really given any focus so it's hard to care about those characters - Miles, Iro, Van. And again, with each of these characters, you're given part of a backstory and then the present day just continues. Nothing seemed to be fully fleshed out.

I'm so disappointed and frustrated because I expected to love this. It was pitched as Percy Jackson meets Hunger Games... and I guess plotwise, it was seeing as it's about Greek gods having to fight to the death to survive. But that's it. None of these characters (including Lore) were really developed and I felt the world-building was poor seeing as I can't tell you the impact the Agon has had on these gods or bloodline families for the past century. All you know is that they're being hunted so others can take their immortality and powers, but there was no mention of the impact of the Agon besides that.

Such an intriguing premise, but really weak execution.

First, I'd like to thank Disney Publishing Worldwide - Hyperion and Netgalley for my ARC!

This book starts off strong and grabbed my attention immediately. When meeting Lore we learn that she is a strong, independent woman who you don't want on your bad side. Once the story gets going you're thirsty for more information. Who's Castor, what's his backstory with Lore and most importantly what is Lore's backstory. Then arrives Athena, who educates us on the Hunt and, let's say, the various Olympian God's lineage. It was here that l could tell this book was extremely well researched, giving the reader a lot of information. However, I will admit it did overwhelm me and from that point on I struggled to keep everything straight. That combined with the pacing I found myself sadly losing interest.

Unfortunately, as much as I love Mythology, I don't feel like I was the right audience for this book. As I kept reading I felt that even though I was given answers to my questions, I still wanted more. I wanted to feel more connected to the relationships of the crew and more backstory in general. I will say that I absolutely loved the concept and it's unlike anything I've read before.

If you enjoy Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games, pick up a copy of this book!