I want to thank the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book to read and review.
I'm a huge fan of Bracken's dystopian work. I tore through it when I read it.
This book is nothing like that. And I was glad to see the author pick up a different genre and still do so many great things with it.
I adored the concept of the Greek Gods/Goddesses mythology background in this book. It was refreshing to see them take on human form and walk among the humans without anyone being the wiser. It was also refreshing to have this twisted as a different tale, with the Gods/Godesses seemingly more human and able to be killed. The fascinating twist of the original Gods/Godesses being usurped and losing their lives and powers to those who were lesser was a nice addition to Greek mythology. I will say there is a large cast of characters and, while the book does provide information before you start on who they are, it was still a bit hard to keep it all straight. I did find myself back peddling to make sure I understand who was who and who stood where with whom.
Bracken did a wonderful job fleshing out each character and helping us understand all their personalities.
I was surprised to find there would not be any more books in this series (at least not any I can find) as I think it could definitely be expanded. Overall I was very happy with reading this one.

The Agon takes place for one week every seven years. During the Agon, the Greek gods are mortal and hunted by descendants of ancient bloodlines. If a god is killed by a hunter, their power is passed onto the hunter who then ascends to become the new god. As this Agon begins, Lore receives a warning that the god responsible for her family's murders is trying to track her down. She plans on leaving the city for the week when she finds Athena dying on her doorstep. Lore is thrown back into the life that she has been running from and she needs to fight for her life.

This book had me hooked instantly. I felt like I was going through the entire experience with Lore and her friends. I was intrigued by the twist of Greek gods becoming mortals and hunted as punishment. Lore is a fantastic and immersive book that I didn't want to put down even after the last page. I will definitely be reading more of Alexandra Bracken's books.

Trigger warning: sexual assault

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Alexandra Bracken, NetGalley, and the team at Disney-Hyperion for the advance reader copy of Lore, a standalone contemporary fantasy

I was a huge fan of Alexandra Bracken in my teens, especially The Darkest Minds series. I applied for Lore on a whim on NetGalley never expecting to get it because I am not exactly a strictly YA reviewer. Nonetheless, Disney-Hyperion took a chance on me. So keep that in mind when you read my review, I was a huge fan of her earlier work and I do not read as much YA as I used to.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
Characters: Lore is the main character of this standalone urban fantasy novel. As an orphan Lore has fended for herself for quite a while, she’s a fighter both physically and emotionally. The story begins in medias res, in the middle of a boxing match she is in. Lore is really Melora Perseous, the last remaining member of the House of Perseus. It is one of many Houses named for famous Greek Heroes and it is these Houses that compete in the Agon. When the Agon occurs the Gods of Olympus walk the earth as mortals and the descendants of the heroes have one week to kill them in order to take upon their powers. The most important God in Lore’s story is Athena, who shows up on her doorstep bloodied and wounded. Athena knows who killed Lore’s family and offers to help Lore avenge their deaths. Castor is the other important character in the story, he was Lore’s childhood best friend and training partner. He has been dead for the last seven years so when he appears at the start of the new Agon it floors Lore.
Pacing: A lot of the reason why I docked stars from my rating came from this category. I often felt like the pacing was off. When I was invested in the story the book was flying by and then I would hit walls of dense mid-book territory that kept me reading this for days on end. I worry a not as fast reader would really slog through this. So if you love Alex’s work or Greek mythology it may be worth the slog for you. This is not to say that I think the book could have been shorter, the world was so expansive and cool. Such a unique take on Greek myths, something that I loved seeing played around with, in books and fictional worlds. I just wish there were more action scenes and less of what felt like filler in some parts.
Setting: The story is set in modern-day New York City and it really takes center stage in the story. Lore and her pack of friends galivanting all over the city. Often the city bears the brunt of the damage this Agon is inflicting. Lore really identifies with her home and works tirelessly to protect it.
Romance: The romance between Lore and Castor is one built on friendship. Lore spends a lot of the book staring longingly at Castor, commenting on his beauty. This is not a major part of the book and that could have been a combo of things. I would not have said it was because it was a YA book because based on Alex’s previous track record she is not scared of writing heart-stopping romance. It may have just been the nature of this being a standalone that not much time could have been afforded to the romance.

"My name will be legend."

I read my first Alexandra Bracken book back in 2015, and I was instantly hooked. Her stories and characters mean the absolute world to me, and she forever will be one of my favorite authors. Any time I’m roped into a conversation about books and favorites, I always find an opening to talk about the Darkest Minds series. I can talk about her characters for hours. I’m always telling everyone to pick up at least one of her books from the store. Heck, I could spend days thinking about the very small, but very important, two-word phrase—”um, hi?”—from the Passenger series because I fully unraveled after reading that duology.

When Lore was first announced, I don’t think I could have been more on board if I tried. And when the sampler was released through NetGalley, I immediately became attached to the characters (especially Miles) and their stories. Then, I was gifted with a full ARC of arguably my most anticipated release of 2021? I was, and still am, absolutely beside myself.

A HUMONGOUS thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for providing me with an advanced copy of Lore in exchange for an honest review!

tw: violence, fighting, blood, gore, sexual assault.

Synopsis: 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.
Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family’s sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man–now a god–responsible for their deaths.

Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods.

The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore’s decision to bind her fate to Athena’s and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost–and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.

Whenever I pick up an Alexandra Bracken novel, whether it be my first time through or a reread, I have to constantly remind myself that I’m reading about fictional people. Her ability to create such complex and realistic characters never fails to astound me, and Lore is certainly no exception to her amazing characterization.

Only a few pages into the full book, and I was immediately obsessed with and intrigued by Lore. She is resilient and stubborn. She is strong in more ways than one, and she will not let anyone judge her by her appearance, gender, or past. Lore is fiercely protective over the people she cares about, and that’s evident through her whole journey. Whether she’s trying to avenge her family’s deaths or attempting to keep her roommate as safe as she can, Lore will do absolutely anything in her power to help anyone she loves.

We first meet Lore in the basement of a restaurant as she’s earning her keep through underground fights. And, right after she pummels her opponent to a pulp, we meet Castor, a person from Lore’s past—a person in which she has spent the last handful of years believing him to be dead. You see, as Lore was growing up, her and Castor trained together so they could be prepared for the Agon when they came of age. But, Castor left the fighter track and began training as a healer. Between that path change and the whole Castor-is-dead scenario, it’s safe to say there’s some existing tension between the two. Then, Castor steps in the ring with Lore.

I will definitely get more into this later in my review, but I am utterly obsessed with the way Alex reveals her characters through small details within their actions. This fight between Lore and Castor, for example, puts both of their personalities on full show. Lore, surprised to see someone she thought died years previous, uses her anger as fuel to win. Castor on the other hand, while putting on the show, immediately asks Lore if she’s okay after punching her. Not only is this showing Lore’s stubbornness and festering anger, but it showcases Castor’s mask that he has become so used to donning. He puts on a strong, hardened face stepping up to the fight but can’t avoid his true nature and immediately asks after Lore because he cares for her. I mean, just within that small moment, you learn so much about the two characters, and I could probably gush about it forever.

As we learn more about Castor though, it’s pretty dang hard to not adore him. He’s kindhearted, strong in more ways than he thinks, and courageous. Like Lore, he’ll also do just about anything for anyone he cares about; he is loyal through and through. And, on a more casual level, he’s incredibly witty and capable of fantastic sarcasm. I’m struggling with where to include one of my favorite quotes from him within this whole review, and I can’t not post this without it, so please enjoy: “Of course, you may continue to refer to me as my lord or Radiant One. I will even respond to Your Supreme Excellence on occasion.”

Then, we meet the wonderful, wonderful Miles. I kid you not, after reading his few appearances in the sampler, I knew I would absolutely love him in the whole story. I mean, right after he’s introduced, Miles and Lore stop at a diner and he orders Mickey Mouse-shaped chocolate chip pancakes and coffee, served with whipped cream. If my spirit animal can be a fictional character, it would almost certainly be Miles.

Other than his diner order and his overall sass, Miles is a fantastic character for a lot of reasons. As Lore’s mortal roommate, he knows nothing of her past life. To Miles, the ancient gods are probably nothing more than myths taught in school and he’s never once heard of the hunt, whereas Lore grew up training for it. But, once he’s introduced to the Agon and ancient bloodlines, his head is reeling and he’s understandably confused. Because of that, he looks to Lore and asks clarifying lessons about all of it. So, while Lore is explaining her world to Miles, she’s explaining it to us. While we do get a grasp on the world as we learn from the characters already immersed in it, we’re able to relate to Miles because its new to us too.

Lore, Castor, and Miles are different from one another but they’re also so very similar. They’re each strong and brave in their own right, as well as protective over specific people. But they portray these attributes so differently, and that’s what makes them so realistic.

Also realistic in relation to the characters, is their dialogue. No conversations between any two characters ever feels forced or unnatural. Or, if it does, it was done intentionally. Much like the way in which Alexandra Bracken reveals her characters through their actions, their dialogues reveal a little more. If characters have known each other for a while, their conversations are organic; they know their song and dance because this isn’t their first time. But, with awkward first encounters, you can feel that apprehension. You can feel Lore’s anger when she first sees Castor again or even when she sees a bleeding Athena on her doorstep. The dialogue is just. so. good.

It’s probably obvious at this point, but I could scream about these characters for a good long while (and I think we’re nearing that point already). They are very distinctly themselves; their personalities and traits never falter, no matter their doomsday situation. And on top of it, the emotional character development is top tier as far as I’m concerned.

"Sometimes you just have to survive to fight another day."

Much like the characters themselves, the world building in Lore is next level.

The opening of the book brings you right into the hunt as Hermes is killed and his power passed on. As readers, we are quite literally thrown in the middle of it from page one, and that really helps shape the world we are inhabiting. It’s essentially a matter of showing rather than telling, and it allows us to fully immerse ourselves into the story. This way of inviting the reader in is prevalent through the whole story through perfectly placed flashbacks, and it really just works.

Another amazing feat accomplished by Ms. Bracken in creating this fantastical urban world is that everything from the plot to the world-building itself is a slow progression.

Like I’ve said, after we see Hermes perish, we’re thrown right into the ring with Lore years after she took herself out of the very world we’re trying to learn about. At that point, we don’t understand the Agon, the ancient bloodlines, what killing a god really means, etc. We’re in the dark about the world Lore grew up in, and I mean all of this in the best way possible. Because, once we start collecting details here and there about that very world, we’re able to piece it together. We start understanding the hunt; we learn the different positions within each family; we learn who is alive and who is dead. By being slowly introduced to the world, we’re able to get a solid grasp on the world before the plot really amps up. So, once the plot does amp up and actions are answered with their consequences, we understand how devastating those consequences can be. As readers, we understand the severity of what is happening and how it can literally destroy everything.

On top of that, because of the beautifully slow world-building, it was so easy to immerse myself within the story. I could run around Manhattan with the characters because I knew what their city looked like, the rules they had to live by. This is master storytelling at its absolute finest.

The slow world-building also allows for a slow-building plot. And that plot pacing works flawlessly in the same way because the small discoveries and side tasks add up to a really explosive moment that further helps you understand the gravity of the Agon and the severity it can cause. And, when there are action-packed scenes back to back, it’s not at all overwhelming because of the pacing. Again, if I haven’t said it enough already, Alexandra Bracken is a genius.

"There are far worse things to become than a monster."

Like I said earlier when I was gushing about Lore, Castor, and Miles, the characters of Lore can’t help but reveal themselves through their mannerisms, their dialogue, and the way they hold their shoulders. I mean, I don’t know that Miles is protective over Lore because I’m told he is. I know that because I can see it first hand.

This showing of characterization happens on nearly every page, but let’s go back to the opening fight scene with Castor and Lore.

Lore defeats her first match no problem. He’s an absolute jerk, makes some comments he shouldn’t have, and Lore easily beats him. There is no hesitation, no question marking her face. When Castor steps into her vision, Lore is confounded. Her mind is running a mile a minute with questions and confusion, which invites that hesitation. And, during this scene, Lore is more observant of those watching the fight. She’s more aware of her surroundings because she is less focused on her opponent because she’s thinking too much. So even with just that slight switch of writing tone, we know that there is a long history between Castor and Lore. Not only that, but we want to find out everything we can about that history. Because of Alex’s writing style, you can’t help but want to inhale the story in one go.

Not only did Alexandra Bracken reinvent Ancient Greek gods and place them in one of the most well-known cities, fighting for their lives, but she also found the time to bring up women’s rights and what it means to be a female.

Women weren’t always allowed to become hunters. And, once they were allowed in the hunt, they were still ridiculed and oppressed. Even when a woman killed an ancient god and overtook his powers, she was looked down upon, as if she broke the rules of the game, when she so clearly didn’t. And in casual conversation surrounding the hunt, there were numerous allusions to young girls being sold off to marriage, only to produce more children for that bloodline.

A woman’s place in this world is transparently laid out, and it’s obvious what is expected of them; it’s truly horrifying. Even Athena herself talks about the need of creating your own fate and not following the one a man created for you. Again, being able to talk about women’s rights and what it means to be a girl is an incredible feat and was probably one of my favorite elements of Lore.

"When we can’t change the past, the only thing left is to move forward."

I’m still reeling from this book. It was so amazing, everything I knew it would be and more. The ending was so satisfying and it wrapped up in the best way possible. I truly loved these characters and their stories entirely, and I hope that you all feel the same way if you pick up Lore.

If it’s not obvious yet, I could gush about Lore for hours on end (and thank you for making it through this lengthy review this far! I appreciate you!). I have pages and pages of notes that I could probably create three more blog posts with. I mean, there were so many quotes I fell in love with but didn’t exactly have the room to include. But, for your enjoyment, here are a handful of them:

‘Manhattan had once knelt before him, and would again.’
‘While grudges could feed themselves over centuries, memories faded at the pace of years.’
‘Her destiny was a gift, and now she would manifest it.’
‘In that moment, the past became the present, and the present the past, and it was just the two of them in the shadows of their city, the way it had always been. The way it should have been forever,’
‘But how we are remembered is less important than what we do now.’
‘Strong or weak—I hated those were the only things we were allowed to be. I wanted to be defined by the life I lived.’

Lore by Alexandra Bracken officially releases on January 5, 2021. Find out where you can pre-order the book on her website or run to your local bookstore on the release date!

Another big thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for providing me with an ARC for review!

You might like this if:
- you’re interested by greek mythology
- you love friends to lovers
- you like strong female protagonists
- you play ‘happiness’ by Taylor Swift on repeat
Overall: 5 feather necklaces out of 5 – ★★★★★.

This was my first Alexandra bracken book and it was interesting. As a stand-alone that had a ton of world building to accomplish I felt the first half dragged with explaining the world and the vast amount of characters. It was clunky and failed to establish the necessary chemistry between many of the characters. Some of it felt robotic. Also was not expecting the level of violence but this is definitely a heavy well researched book of Greek
Mythology so maybe I should’ve. I’ve seen it described as a hunger games meets Greek mythology and I’ll agree. The descriptions are very detailed as well so I even get dirty while reading it as there’s plenty of blood and gore here. I think the concept was great and I loved the feminist touch to the Greek stories. It was definitely out of my usual reading zone even though it did have romance elements. It was an enjoyable read that kept me interested.

I loved this book! The plot was fantastic and so original. I went in thinking this was going to be a Medusa retelling based on the cover, but it wasn't and it exceeded every expectation! I loved Lore and the supporting characters, and everything about them was fantastic. There was great character development, and a friends to lovers trope that I loved. I'm not usually a fan of friends to lovers because even though it's the opposite of instalove, I feel like we don't get to see the growth of emotions between the characters because they knew each other before, and it was finally culminating. This didn't feel that way and I was rooting for them the entire time. I'm sad it's a standalone because I want more, but the ending was satisfying and trying to make a sequel wouldn't have felt right.

I was provided an ARc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this! Despite being a touch on the side of too long, it kept my interest the entire time. Everytime my attention started to stray, Bracken threw in some morsel of information or a twist to peak my interest and get me re-energized and back into the story. If you are a lover of Greek Mythology, you are going to really enjoy this YA standalone.

This follows Melora aka Lore who has renounced her part in the Agon as the last surving member of her bloodline. As the Agon begins again she is reunited with her best friend whom she believed to be dead in the last Agon and she finds herself pulled back into a life she wanted nothing to do with. As fragile alliances are formed and Lore struggles to keep those she cares about safe until the end of the Agon she can't help but remember the heinous crimes done to her in the past and the person she used to be.

This book has it all, a complex plot, non-stop action, great references to Greek Mythology (which I love), and great characters. Each time I thought I had the plot figured out the author threw us another twist to keep things interesting. I really enjoyed the take on the original mythology and gods she choose to use and the creation of the Agon as punishment for their meddling and destruction in the human world. I also appreciated seeing a strong female lead who called out some of the misogynistic tendencies we've seen in these stories of old. It was nice to see the old ways challenged and the God of War bested by the same "little girl". I also loved the other characters. Castor, Van and Miles all kept Lore grounded and they never compromised themselves for the Agon. I really appreciated the inner turmoil Lore faced throughout the book regarding revenge, killing other, returning to the Agon, and ending the Agon completely. She constantly struggled with her feelings and we actually got to see it on the page. I really enjoyed her growth throughout the book.

I believe this is intended for a YA audience, but much like the Greek myths it is pretty violent and dark at times. There is alot of violence and death in this book, which is inline with the subject matter. It is no worse than The Hunger Games or the actual Greek myths so if you are OK with reading those I would say you'll be OK with this.

I loved this and if you have loved Bracken's other books or like mythology I really think you'll love this too! So why not 5 stars? I'd give it 4.5 if I could. It is a touch on the long side, but it is worth it. The ending is a bit open ended. I won't spoil it but I would have liked a bit more of a conclusion about what happened. An epilogue would have been nice to wrap things up completely, and perhaps there is one in final version. I'll have to check when it comes out in a few days. I'll be buying a copy of this for myself for sure!

This book had it all, love and heartbreak, hope and despair, strength and weakness, friendship and betrayals. I laughed and I cried, but most of all I was once once again in awe of Alexandra Bracken’s writing. I had pretty high hopes going into the book, as I’ve read and adored pretty much every book the author has previously published, and let me tell you this story did not disappoint! It blew any expectations I had right out of the water. Both the plot and the characters kept me completely entranced, putting a refreshing and creative twist on mythology and ancient gods.

Books with Greek mythology can often be very daunting to me, so much history and so many names I will never be able to pronounce, let alone remember, but I LOVED this book and it’s mix of modern day times with a mythological twist. The main character, Lore, is an absolute LEGEND (no pun intended haha). She’s strong, fights like a boss and has an iconic sense of sarcasm, can I be her please?! Something I really admired was how realistic the characters were, they made mistakes and were far from perfect, all fighting their own demons while striving to be better. Even the relationships in the book, while being absolutely ADORABLE, were filled with ups and downs. Am I jealous of fictional characters and their love lives? Yes, yes I am. Did I mention that, like many of Bracken’s books, we get an ethnically diverse group of main characters AND a lgtbq+ rep? Have I been obsessing over pretty much all of the characters since I read about them? Yes!

This book covered some heavy topics (warnings at the end of review!) and had many good messages to go along with them. Although of course it was in woven into a fictional story, sexual harassment and rape is a reality in our world today and something that has affected women and men all across the world. Even the less heavy topics like gender inequality were wrote in a way that could easily be applied to today’s society. It was all covered in a realistic way, and helped to shed light on the different things people face and the emotions that can go with them.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and will probably be thinking about it for the next few weeks. I’d recommend it to anyone who’s previously enjoyed Bracken’s writing, or anyone looking for a thrilling new YA book to read. I’d especially recommend to readers who like Greek mythology and are looking for a fresh perspective on the gods.

*warnings: some language (swearing), attempted rape, violence, gore, death*

Huge thank you to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book!!

Initial Thoughts

I was so excited to get an ARC of this book on NetGalley. I loved the Passenger series by Alexandra Bracken and also love Greek Mythology. I started it right away.

Some Things I Liked

Mythology in modern NYC. I loved the nods to both contrasting elements. I loved the rich history and myths woven into the story as well as the backdrop of NYC and all it’s familiarity.
The opening scene. I loved the drama of the fighting in the opening scene. It really grabbed my attention.
The romance. I thought it was subtle and I actually really liked that about it. This isn’t a story of romance. It’s an epic tale of a hero’s quest to save the world from gods gone wild and there was a bonus sprinkle of romance.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

Density of the world building. The first 30% of this novel was HEAVY with concepts, names, and world building and it was a struggle to keep up. Despite having a robust glossary, I found myself constantly confused for the first 150 or so pages. Once I passed that hump, I really enjoyed the story, but it was a struggle to get into.

Series Value

As much as I love the world here, I don’t think there is much series value given the way the story ended. I will, however, say that I like Alexandra Bracken’s writing style. Despite the information dump at the beginning of the story, I would recommend this as well as her other books and I’d keep reading what she writes in the future.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed this book. It was a race to the finish and this was the last book I read in 2020. I literally finished at 11:56pm and this was the book that pushed me over the 100k page mark in GoodReads. I’m glad I read it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken – if you enjoyed the writing style in Lore try Alexandra Bracken’s time travel duology.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan – if you liked the idea of Greek Mythology mixed with the modern world, look no further than this epic series.

overall, this was a pretty good story. i really liked the characters and how everyone worked together, even if they didn’t 100% trust each other. but, there were some parts that i just was so confused, since i think i just read this so quickly. but, i still really liked it. and the greek mythology part of this book was honestly so cool, and the friendship and romance was so amazing. i do wish though, we got told a lot of the info about the family death and gods upfront, since it would be a lot less confusing.

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley, Hyperion publishing, and Alexandra Bracken for providing me with an eARC of this book. This is an honest review, all opinions ae my own.

I'm such a sucker for Greek mythology and I've read and loved everything by Alexandra Bracken that I've read, so it's no surprise that I ate this book up. The world created was so interesting and I loved seeing how gritty and realistic a lot of this book felt.

I felt like I was a part of all the action scenes, everything was so vivid in the descriptions and I loved that.

Lore was such a great MC for this world. I feel like she really held her own as best she could and realized some moments she needed to accept help. She was stubborn in her own way, but true to herself until the very end and I loved that about her.

This book was fantastic and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

OMG- Greek Mythology/ Percy Jackson world of bloodlines plus a Hunger Games type set up? Count me in. I nearly chose this for our YA Round table group but didn’t get to read it in time. I regret that now so much. I may add it this Spring and bump something else. It’s a 5-star read IMO. Every seven years there is a war called an Agon, people in the bloodlines of ancient Greek heroes have the opportunity to kill and steal the powers of gods during a seven-day hunt. Nine greek gods have to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by other descendent houses to achieve immortality and power. After the last Agon, Lore took off and as the new one begins, she is drawn back in. Her longtime friend and a Goddess need her help.

4.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this and Disney Worldwide Publishing. I am actually mad with myself. I received this copy a few months ago and I sat on it. I think, partly, the number of chapters intimidated me. Boy, was I mistaken. I voraciously plowed through these chapters; once I started, I was hooked and couldn't put it down.

I've always been intrigued by Greek Mythology and this book brings it to the present century a la Hunger Games style. Every 7 years there is a war of types called an Agon, Nine greek gods have to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by other descendent houses to achieve immortality and power.

Lore fled this lifestyle after the last Agon and as the new Agon begins, she is drawn back in. Two unlikely participants seek her help; Castor, a longtime friend thought to be dead and Athena the Goddess herself. Now they are fighting to survive.

I absolutely loved this story and its original take with Greek mythology. It was refreshing. I was enthralled at the bravery of our female heroin, Lore. You definitely should pick this book up, you won't be disappointed.

I don't get to read a lot of YA, so I always cross my fingers that when I do, it will be a treat. And this did not disappoint. Very gritty, but Lore was an incredible protagonist and this was a very engaging read. If you are a fan of Greek mythology (or, heck, even if you aren't) you will get a kick out the twists in this story. These are not the same gods and goddesses you came to love-to-hate in Percy Jackson.

Lore has lived a rough life and as you dig more and more into her back story you are torn between wanting to throttle her and comfort her, but she has a good heart. Many of the secondary characters are well-developed, as well, and they are necessary to the story.

All in all, a good read. I thought some of the romance was unnecessary, but it wasn't terribly distracting.

Seven years ago, Lore Perseous fled the world of the Agon, a deadly competition where the Greek gods must walk the earth as mortals, hunted by those descended from the ancient bloodlines who are eager to kill a god and seize their immortality and divine power. In the last Agon, Lore’s family was brutally murdered, leaving Lore desperate and alone. For years, she’s refused to believe that she can seek revenge against the man—now a god—to blame for their deaths. Yet with the next hunt beginning in her home town of New York City, Lore is forced back into the world she thought she’d never face again to help two participants: her childhood best friend Castor who was believed to be dead and a perilously-wounded Athena, one of the last few original gods. The goddess presents a dangerous deal: if Lore binds her fate to Athena’s and rejoins the hunt, the goddess will avenge Lore’s family’s deaths. But with time ticking and enemies around every corner, Lore and her friends must work together to stop the rise of a new god set on destroying humanity or watch as their beloved city crumbles to ruin.

This book left me speechless. Alexandra Bracken’s brilliant writing combined with a premise as intense as The Hunger Games packed with Greek mythology references creates a masterpiece that everyone needs to behold. The entire book is so full of heart and passion that you can feel it in every word and every bit of Lore’s character. And speaking of Lore, she is a wonderful character who teeters between being a hero or a villain because nothing is as straightforward as it seems. The ending was the best that I’ve read in a while and left me thoroughly satisfied. With heart-pounding moments and a slow-burn romance, this book is perfect for any lovers of high-stakes fantasy novels.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change.)

I have been keeping my eye on Lore for the last few months as I’m a sucker for Greek mythology and am so grateful to have received an advance copy for my honest review.

In Lore, Alexandra Bracken creates an amazing world where every seven years, people in the bloodlines of ancient Greek heroes have the opportunity to kill and steal the powers of gods during a seven-day hunt. Lore, the main character, is the last of her bloodline and is trying to leave the world of Greek mythology by living in a townhouse in New York City. However, she’s dragged back in during the coming cycle as Athena appears on her doorstep injured.

This 500-page book is action-packed from cover to cover. In addition to that, all of the main characters are absolutely amazing. Castor, Lore’s childhood friend, is definitely my new literary boyfriend. Miles, Lore’s roommate and best friend, is full of wit and is hilarious. Athena is a badass like always.

Lore is a truly loveable main character, being extremely confident in her abilities. She has some Rose Hathaway vibes from The Vampire Academy series, which I’m all for.

In general, anyone who is a fan of books like The Shadows Between Us, Throne of Glass, Sorcery of Thorns, and Crescent City will thoroughly enjoy this book. If you’re looking for a YA fantasy book that’s a standalone and full of action that’ll keep you glued to your seat, look no further than Lore. Be sure to check it out when it hits shelves next week on January 5!

Thanks to Netgalley, Disney Books, and Alexandra Bracken for the opportunity to read and review this book. For all YA fantasy fans, this is a must-read.

3 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. Here is that review:

When I originally requested the arc for this book, I did not realize I was requesting the chapter sampler (it was not labeled as such originally). I tore through the chapter sampler just in time to learn that I had been approved for the full book; I was thrilled!

While I found the chapter sampler entertaining and the beginning - plot, characters, and concept alike - quite promising, that all fell apart for me when I moved on to the rest of the novel. For me, this was so slow. As a person who teaches children's and young adult literature and great myths and legends at the college level, this mashup should have been almost tailor made. Instead, the lengthy descriptions of every thought and movement felt like I was experiencing the world through the eyes of a preteen reimagining their first crush. I wanted a different pacing experience, especially for the genre.

I know there is a lot of love for this one, and I am glad. I wanted to love it, but it just dragged for me. Because of the concept, I'll still recommend it to students and carefully considered others, but, sadly, this was not my favorite.

This book right here is what Percy Jackson would be like if it had a kickass female lead.
We follow Lore, an 18-year-old teenage girl as she gets pulled back into her ancestral world. Lore comes from a long line of people descended from the gods and heroes of Greek myth. Every seven years these bloodlines, or houses, come together to fight in the Agon, a battle lasting a little more than a week in which anyone can claim the life of a god or powerful figurehead of a bloodline and gain complete power. Things are different this time around, Lore is the last of her bloodline as her entire family, including her little sisters were killed off. Lore plans to get revenge over the power-hungry man responsible for killing her family, along with the help of a friend she thought had died when they were kids- turns out he’s now a god.
This book is filled with epic battle scenes, betrayal, love, loss, and the darkly lush world of greek mythology.

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I loved every bit of this book. I adored lore as a character, she's tough as nails, headstrong, and courageous as hell. Castor is still the shy nerdy kid, but in the body of Captain America, he’s incredibly compassionate and impulsive. Our side characters were also great in their own right, I loved the banter between the two.
I really enjoyed how these characters interacted with other gods in the story.

I honestly can’t pick a single bad thing about this novel, I was immediately pulled in and wish I could’ve finished it faster than I did, it was such a fun action-packed story that took you away from reality for just a moment.

I highly enjoyed this book and couldn’t recommend it enough.

5 stars.

**ARC provided by Disney Publishing Worldwide via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So I guess I am too "old school" to have fully enjoyed this book. I was so intrigued by the cover. I love reading books on mythology. (One of my favorites is Circe by Madeline Miller). I thought this would be a retelling of an ancient myth, but it was not. The author took the names of Greek gods but then created a story of the Agon, a punishment set forth for the gods rebelling and threw in a bunch of twenty-something year olds. Every 7 years the gods are made to walk the earth as mortals and are hunted by descendants (mortals) of the ancients bloodlines. It was a lot of fighting and really had no back story of the ancient gods. I actually found it a bit confusing about the gods being gods, and then mortals and then other people killing them and then they become gods, but not "real" gods. It was more about a group of young kids who were trying not to die. Not what I thought it would be and it was just ok for me. I received a complimentary e-book.

Alexandra Bracken took Greek mythology to the 'Hunger Games' in 'Lore' and it was everything I had hoped it would be.

In the middle of New York, there is a girl named Lore who has felt more heartbreak in her life than any teenager should. She was once a part of a world full of gods as a descendent of Perseus. Her family was one of the last of the bloodline. When they were all horribly murdered, leaving Lore alone, she decided to leave that brutal world forever.

I’m a reader who enjoys character-driven stories so of course I found Lore to be the most captivating part of this story. When we meet her it’s painfully obvious how grief has taken hold of her life. It weighs her down but it also drives her will to live.

Every seven years the nine Greek gods become mortal for an entire week; this is known as the Agon. The descendants then hunt these gods in the hopes that they can murder them and take all of their power to become the new god. When the time has come for the Agon, Lore is pulled back into its world by not only an old friend, but by a god she least expected would need her help.

Athena is one of the last original gods left and she seeks out Lore during the Agon. Lore is ready to decline an alliance with her until Athena offers something Lore simply can’t refuse. Once she officially binds herself with the god the deathly hunt truly begins.

Alexandra Bracken knows how to capture her readers and keep them on the edge of their seats. There were so many twists and turns! Plus, the world-building, on top of everything, else was brilliant.

There is a lot of information dumped throughout the book, though. Pairing it with the fast-paced action it was sometimes hard to keep up with. For readers that aren’t too familiar with Greek mythology, I think it might be harder to grasp the plot than readers who have a bit of knowledge already. Still, it was very enjoyable.

I have actually missed the YA era of 'Hunger Games', and 'Lore' brought back all the thrilling memories of reading those stories. There is a lot more diversity in this book than what we got back in that era which I was happy to see.

All of the characters in 'Lore' are fun and played a role in the overall plot. They instantly captured my heart. I wasn’t expecting to find the found family trope in this book but it was the highlight of the story and absolutely fitted into the telling of it.

Overall, I enjoyed 'Lore'. There was a lot of action and a bit of romance, but the Greek mythology and characters were the best parts of the story. It was a bit bloodier than I thought it’d be, but that wasn’t a negative for me.

I was happily surprised that this wasn’t going to be a series. The ending felt final but I think if Alexandra Bracken wanted to expand on this world then she could. I’m glad the plot wasn’t dragged out and ended the way it did.

If you’re a fan of 'Hunger Games' or 'Percy Jackson' then definitely pick up this book when it releases on January 5th!