Combining Greek mythology with a present-day adventure this story covers a more grown-up version of a PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF style fantasy. Every seven years for seven days gods walk among the mortals and if you can kill one you will become a god. Lore's whole family was killed during the last Agon and now she really wants nothing to do with any of it. The next Agon is happening and it is in New York City and Lore gets pulled into the battle to stop a demigod and avenge her family. Bracken does a fantastic job of world-building and holds us suspended between the world we know and what is happening in between. The action never stops and we also deal with the themes of family, grief, and big-time revenge. Fans who started out with and outgrown Percy Jackson, as well as readers of the RED RISING series by Pierce Brown or THE CITY WE BECAME by N.K. Jamison will enjoy this young adult brutal fantasy. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

As soon as I heard about this book, I was ecstatic. I absolutely love any story that involves greek mythology, and when I realized that Bracken was going to be bringing the story to life, I was even more excited. And luckily, I was not let down. The beginning of the story was a little confusing because the idea of the Agon was something that I had never heard of before, but once I got into the story and figured out how all of the bloodlines and the Agon worked, I was hooked. Bracken did an amazing job at bringing greek myths into the mortal world, and her constant twists and turns kept me turning pages as fast as I could. I also loved the relationships in the book. It has that found family aspect that I absolutely adore, and I became way too attached to the characters. I loved this book and I can't wait for everyone else to experience it's magic.

I quite enjoyed Lore! Really wasn't what I was expecting, much more of a serious fantasy straying more towards adult than YA. I do see why it has had comparisons to The Hunger Games in the sort of short time period killing 'games/event.'

Criticisms were the beginning dragged a bit due to the amount of info-dump, but it wasn't too bad. I also really enjoyed this being a stand alone fantasy - and I feel like it did well with character arcs and plot in just 500 pages. I do wish her friend 'Miles' got more development, he felt rather unneeded.

Lots of twists and turns that kept me interested, and I definitely did not see some of them coming.

Alexandra Bracken was really popular with our teen readers a few years ago and Lore, a fantastic Greek mythology mash-up, will absolutely give her even more readers. It's a fast read, and a really good one. I hope the cover will be embossed or something though, as the all white version I've seen online is so flat and not likely to entice casual or reluctant readers to pick it up. Still, that's a pretty minor quibble!

First Glance
I’m a sucker for anything involving a revised version of mythology, particularly Greek mythology. So when I saw this book on NetGalley while browsing for advanced copies to request, I couldn’t resist. The idea that some of the gods were being punished with a hunt in mortal bodies sounded gritty and exciting!

Positive Bits
The slow feed of information on the Agon and the people within it was done well. There weren’t a bunch of info dumps to slug through while reading; instead, the details were woven into the story and explained as needed within the context of the story. It helped that one of the main characters isn’t part of the Agon’s world, so we gain lots of explanations via his questions to the other characters.

I enjoyed Athena’s role in the story. As the goddess of strategy and reason, her choices made sense the way you’d expect a deity to consider choices (as opposed to a mortal person). The other gods were interesting in their own ways, but she held a unique place in Lore’s adventure.

An overall theme of being raised within a culture and wanting to leave it played well into the plot, from start to finish. It echoed a familiar thread seen in people who leave certain churches or political factions for their own well-being, and thus it really hit home how lost Lore felt and how hard the entire experience was for her.

Less Enjoyable Bits
Maybe it was just me, but I was left confused several times in the beginning. While the book is written in third person following Lore’s point of view the entire time, there are moments when the scene slips out of focus. I think part of that had to do with reading too fast in sections that included explanations of this Agon event and the world-within-our-world in which it occurs.

Some plot points disappointed me, largely due to the letdowns between culture and choices made by various side characters. If you live in a culture were honor and glory are key to everything, I don’t understand how betrayal of your people fits into that picture. Ever. So sometimes I was left scratching my head and wondering how choices made sense.

I had envisioned a different ending (or two, or three). There’s nothing wrong with the ending that we got, but I personally hoped for more. And without spoiling anything, I had hoped that the person with Poseidon’s power would be more involved in the story. They were mentioned enough to seem important, but then they came and went from the actual plot with little fanfare.

Is it worth the coin?
Yes – This book is an action-packed reimaging of the Greek gods, and I think it’s worth a read. I can’t help but wonder if the author will release any similar myth-based stories in the future, because I’d grab them too!

I expected I would love this book after seeing the gorgeous cover, that it was written by Alexandra Bracken, and that it had Greek mythology, and I was not wrong! It was even better than I thought it would be!

It's the story of Lore, who thought she had left the world of the Agon, only to be thrown back in when a bleeding Athena shows up on her doorstep and the best friend she thought was dead is back in her life. The Agon happens every 7 years and is the time period where, in punishment for their rebellion, the Greek gods become mortal and can be killed to have their powers claimed. Lore must face her past, fight her enemies, and try to break free from this patriarchal world.

I was hooked from the beginning! Lore's personality and her fight against the patriarchy was amazing. As a Greek mythology lover, I enjoyed all the references to Greek mythology, but you do not need to be familiar with the stories to follow the book.

I also appreciated the length of the chapters. As a wife and mother, I get interrupted a LOT when reading and I liked that I didn't have to stop in the middle a long chapter if I had to set it down!

I can't recommend this book enough! It comes out January 5th and is the perfect book to start your 2021.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a complementary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t going to request this one but then I kept hearing about it and greek mythology/retellings always get me so here we are! 😂

This was my first time reading a book by this author. Although I have heard of her other works, I just haven’t picked them up. I did enjoy her writing style and maybe reading this one will give me the push to check out her other books.

This is a unique retelling of Greek mythology and one I liked for the most part. It was hard at the beginning to get into but I think that was based on trying to understand everything and remembering each house’s details. The action is a bit slow but once it builds, it easy to get swept away and then I was flying through the book. Plus, the plot twists were ones that I never saw coming. I will say that I wasn’t really a fan of the ending because it just didn’t leave me satisfied enough. It was very open-ended and left me with a few questions.

The character development was a bit hit or miss for me. Some had more development than others, which is to be expected since it is a standalone, but I also wish I would have been given more background for certain characters. For the main characters like Lore, Castor, Miles, and Van, it was easy to like them from the beginning. I like when that happens because it just makes their story that much better.

As with most books, there is a bit of romance. Out of the two, I did like one more than the other and that was just based on development. One had more but I can see others really enjoying both.

When it came to Lore, I didn’t realize how dark this book would be. From the blurb there is the mention of hunting the gods/goddesses down but dang, these people are intense! Even though it isn’t super gory, it still details the attacks on people and it does talk about blood a lot. Another thing that came up a few times was the way women/girls were treated by the archons or gods. You get the gist of what they are referring to and an encounter that Lore had goes into a bit more details than other mentions. I did like that the author talks about the bad things gods/goddesses did and doesn’t sugarcoat it like other retellings have. If you aren’t a fan of those things, I’d steer clear or go in prepared. It didn’t bother me but I know it can when it comes to others.

Overall, this book was pretty good. It was a unique retelling with characters and a plot that many will enjoy.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Disney publishing for this ARC.

I was really excited to read Lore as I have always been fascinated by Greek mythology. Our main character Lore loses her whole family in last year's Agon. She does that thing a lot of characters do and associates they're deaths with something that they did. You don't find out until about 3/4ths of the way through what a bombshell that is.

You get to meet some of the Gods and learn some of the history as these lineages fight in a seven day battle ( this happens every seven years, the Gods become mortal and battle it out). Throughout the years of battles the original God's fall and are replace by new God's. One of the writing habits I didn't care for in the story was the constant labeling of one of the main characters as a "new God". I get it I don't need to be reminded still 1/2 way through the book. Readers are not that forgetful.

You go through the week long battle with Lore and get ragtag group. There's some growth in the characters which is always nice to see. You become invested and hope none of them die, also a good sign in the writing style.

Over all the story was pretty good, it has a few good twist I want ready for. If you're into Greek mythology and liked the hunger games this book is for you.

This novel was such a dark, enticing read. I loved getting to see this THG, PJATO crossover of sorts, and Bracken was very successful with the overall plot, characters, and ending. I'm truly a sucker for anything Greek mythology, so it was a delight to see these new interpretations of long known gods/ goddesses I adore. Bracken definitely gave a modern interpretation to these long beloved beings, and she DID NOT back down from the sucker punch that is Greek myth cruelty.
This was definitely Bracken's darkest book, in my opinion. I feel as if I have seen her grow and evolve through her writing over the years from TDM to now Lore, and while this book was hard at times to read due to certain themes, I still found times to smile and laugh. Bracken's humor could never be distinguished!
I think the only thing that delayed this book was the slow pace at the beginning and start to the middle. It took quite some time for the actual storyline with the other hunters to progress, and this led me to not pick up the book as frequently as I expected. Also I am in the midst of finals and college craziness, so that is something to take into consideration too.
All in all, Lore is my favorite Bracken novel. A solid 4.25/5, and I cannot wait to see what she releases next!

Lore is the most 2020 book I've read.

In a world where the Greek Gods still exist and their powers are passed to those who hunt them, Lore finds herself standing in between, but will history repeat itself?

I loved Lore's rage. I loved her constant pull back into a world she continually tells herself she's done with. But mostly I loved the relationships the characters had with each other - both romantically and platonically. Bracken skillfully brings into focus whether we have the ability to chose our own paths despite our history and live in a new world being so deeply flawed by the old.

Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games in this novel about survival and loyalty. When Lore bumps into a boy from her past whom she thought was dead, she is thrust back into the world that she left long ago—the world that killed her family. As she is forced to face those who had destroyed everything she held dear, Lore discovers that everything she knows about the Olympians, about herself, and about the world she thought she knew, is wrong. Alongside a goddess in danger, a newly-created god, a one-armed warrior, and her human best friend, Lore must stand up to fight against the evil that killed her parents, or risk losing the world all together.

As a Greek mythology nerd, I absolutely loved this book. From the first pages, I was enveloped in Bracken's world. Perfect for fans of fantasy set in a modern setting, Lore delves into the repercussions of the familial feud plaguing the Greek Pantheon. Each aspect of this novel intrigued me—the romance, the action, and the emotional turmoil. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology!

~Lore~
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2.5/5 stars
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I’m someone who grew up reading Percy Jackson, and reading The Song of Achilles this year reawakened my love for Greek mythology. I knew when I saw this cover and read the synopsis that I would have to get my hands on it, so thank you to Netgalley for approving my request.
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Pros:
+I love love love this concept! Greek gods in current society is so fun
+The cover is also top tier!! It’s beautiful.
+Great action scenes! They get my heart pumping with adrenaline
+I love the child hood best friends get reunited trope
+Honestly the new gods choosing names like “Tidebringer” and “Heartkeeper” is so funny to me and reminds me of children naming their Webkinz haha
+The best characters are definitely Miles and Castor. I will protect both.
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Cons:
-Very confusing at first. You kind of just jump right in with no explanation and then get hit over the head with the backstory all at once.
-I would have assumed that through the decades the bloodlines would choose to abide by current societies laws like the laws of consent. There was too much mention of “bedding” young girls in this for me. Like I get that it’s supposed to show how evil they are but I would have preferred it to just not be included.
-In general it was pretty graphic which just isn’t my thing
-The plot twists were so weird imo. They were so random and took me out of the story to the point where I no longer cared what happened.
-Maybe that was because I didn’t really feel connected to any of the characters.
-I also think there might’ve been an issue with pacing for me? It felt like it dragged on even though it was only supposed to be seven days.
-Also a very anticlimactic ending
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TW: attempted rape/sexual assault, gore, murdering of children, graphic violence
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Overall I went in to this book with high hopes and left it feeling kind of... meh. It was an amazing concept but I just struggled to connect to the story. I could see a lot of people really enjoying this one but it fell flat for me. By the end I was just waiting for it to be over. Id still recommend people give it a chance if they’re interested in it because just because I didn’t love it doesn’t mean you can’t love it!

"You are no monster. You are a warrior"

This was such a great read. I'm a huge Greek Mythology fan and this was akin to Greek Mythology takes on The Hunger Games taking place in NYC in the modern world. So many great characters to love and just as many to loathe. Lots of action and twists and turns.

As punishment for past rebellion, every 7 years the Agon begins and Greek gods are forced to walk on earth as mere mortals to be hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines. When these descendants kill the gods they take on their divine power and their immortality for themselves. Lore Perseous lost her entire family in a bloody massacre during the last Agon, so she fled that lifestyle and tried to live a normal, mortal life in NYC. As the new Agon approaches two participants look to have Lore help them with their endeavors - Castor, her childhood friend and training partner and Athena the last of only a few remaining original gods. Choices she makes will send her on a dangerous, wild, bloody ride into a world she swore she'd never be apart of again.

Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An original, unique take on mythology, “Lore” keeps the reads engaged and wanting more. It contains much ancient history to satisfy the loyalist mythology students, yet meshes new ideas and stories that pique the interests of those old and new to the world of the ancients. Diverse, well-developed characters that are fallible, likable, and relatable resonate with readers. A lengthy, yet enjoyable read.

I was blown away by how much I loved this book! I’ve always loved Greek Mythology and Lore was so fast paced, I could not put it down!

This is quite the book. It takes a bit to wrap your head around what the plot and major people are. God's being killed so others can have their powers. I had to keep looking back at the chart. But once it got going I really enjoyed the story. Strong female, friends to lovers. Great plot.

Rating: 5 ⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was so freaking amazing! I’ve never been super big into Greek mythology, but then I decided to take a Classics class in Uni this year and I think that’s why I enjoyed this book so much!

This didn’t follow one but many different myths and Alexandra Bracken interlaced them so that they all fit into one full story. It felt it’s own myth.

We start the book with Lore fighting in an underground fighting ring and it’s so exhilarating that I was so excited to keep reading. We are introduced to the mythic characters right away and it was fun because Lore and Castor have a past and you can just feel the angst rolling off the page. Their band of merry imposters, humans, hunters, and gods is soon formed out of alliance to avenge Lore’s family’s murder. The friendship in the book so genuine and was built out of trust and I really liked the relationships that were formed. Especially Van and Miles! They’re just so adorable and true cinnamon rolls! Lore and Cas were so wholesome and I really liked that we saw flashbacks into their childhoods and how they grew up. It really added to the story and we got to see how they were shaped into the characters they were in the present day.

One of the aspects I really liked was that it was so modern. Intertwining mythical gods with current day characters and worlds can be a big struggle but I think Bracken did a great job. You can see how well the imposters and hunters adapted to the modern world through Van’s use of technology. While being a skilled hunter and protector of Cas, he is also very knowledgeable of technology. It made me thing of him as half hunter half computer nerd which was awesome. Another modern thing that I noticed was that the characters actually used the taxis and transportation that was provided in New York City. Some other books have worked in a storyline where the characters seem to always be able to drive around New York in their own cars without hitting any traffic which isn’t very realistic, but Bracken worked the reality of New York into the story.

The tag line where the story is compared as The Hunter Games meets Percy Jackson is spot on and I would highly recommend this book if you love either of those series!

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I actually loved this book! So looking forward to Bracken’s next novel!

This book comes out January 5, 2021

In a world where gods are mortal for 7 days, and their power can be transferred to those who kill them, 9 gods and goddesses are doomed to walk the earth while others hunt them. Lore had gotten out of that world... until 2 participants in the hunt seek her out and want her help.

Okay, this one had some reeeeally dense world building, which is appreciated but felt a bit overwhelming at first. I had to take some breaks to process all the information and go back and reread stuff to fully understand what’s happened. It’s really well done, but this is not a casual read. The details are important to the story, and there’s a lot of details.

I don’t typically enjoy books that don’t have a fairly substantial romance plot going on, but I did enjoy this one. It’s much more action based, and there’s only a very very small romance subplot, so if you’re a big romance fan, this might not be for you. I will say the romance that did happen was very well done and I enjoyed it!

The characters were really well developed and I enjoyed seeing all of the various character arcs and how they built off each other. There’s betrayal, vengeance, love and loyalty, reception, sacrifice, all the good stuff!

The action and battle scenes were REALLY well written! There was a lot of action, and it’s so easy for those to be written hastily and not well thought out. Not the case here. They were believable and realistic and I really liked them.

Holy plot twists Batman! I did not see ANY of the plot twists coming!! They were all very well done and developed so naturally. Usually plot twists are either too predictable or forced in there just for shock value. These fit the story and advanced the story without being obvious. Fantastic!!

I was definitely satisfied by the conclusion to this one. I’m not sure if it’s intended to be a series or a stand-alone, but I don’t think a sequel is needed. The character arcs were wrapped up nicely, and there weren’t really any lingering questions that didn’t get answered.

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

This review will be posed on my instagram (@the.barnacle.bookshelf), and my blog (thebarnaclebookshelf.com) on December 11th. A release day post will be made on Jan 5th with a shorter review/blurb.

Technically, Lore would be classified as Urban Fantasy, but the incredible history and world that it encompasses defies a simple lable. The book is set in modern day Manhattan, blending mythology and reality so seamlessly, it's hard to separate the place from the characters. New York City has its own heart and soul in this book, and it made me view the city in a whole new light. I confess I'm not well versed in Ancient Greek mythology, but it wasn't necessary for me to be wholly sucked into the story, breathless from the first page to the last. Alex Bracken has another hit on her hands with Lore.
4.25 stars

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley.

This was a fun twist on the Greek mythology with Lore being the last of her family house, and the fight to become God's every 7 years. It was definitely a good book, but I really loved the twists and turns that randomly showed up throughout the book. I hope there is more. I can't wait!