Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I loved the twists and turns of the story. I loved the development of Lore and her relationships. And I especially appreciated the ending. This story could have easily turned into a series and I’m so grateful that it isn’t. It ended perfectly!

Lore is full of strong females, Greek mythology, Hunger Games vibes and so much more!
I definitely recommend picking this book up if you've not already devoured it!!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. Lore and Mile's characters is great. This is a quick paced book. This book has good LGBTQ representation. It is in stores for $18.99 (USD). This is a good book. I can't wait to read more books by Alexandra Bracken in the future. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

What a unique story inspired by Greek mythology. I couldn't put it down once I got into it. Alexandra never disappoints!

New York My God did I get tired of the New York references. We get it.


This book felt so long to me. And there was constant action. Everyone knows how I love my action. But it was 500 pages straight. I got tired reading it. I know that we are supposed to appreciate the twists and turns, but I felt like they were just excuses to continue writing.


Lore was an okay character overall. I liked her enough. I enjoyed her willingness to jump into the fray, though at times it seemed that she was just looking for trouble for the sake of it. Or that she had something to prove from the time she was in class with Castor. That she deserved to move above her family rank or something.
Castor was such a boring god. All that power and he is just bland. I get that he didn't want it to go to his head and all. He made that clear early on with Phillip. But still, he just didn't do anything for me.
Athena there in the middle. I wanted to like her. I did like her for a while. She wasn't all bad in the end, but still not what I wanted her to be.
Wrath kept things interesting what with being the primary antagonist. He came off as more a thing though, like a force, than someone who was once a person.

Overall, not the most impressing mythological re-write I've read.

3.5 stars - Lore is fast paced with vividly written descriptions. Some of passages were a little over the top and the book is lengthy for its intended audience. As soon as I finished it, I put it in the hands of a student who has read everything Riordan has written. I'm hoping we'll hear from Lore again - readers need strong female protagonists, and Bracken did an incredible job setting up Lore as likeable and relatable with physical and mental strength. I have already picked up a copy of The Darkest Minds. Thank you so much to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #Lore by Alexendra Bracken!

whew, what a wild ride this was! this was technically my first Alex Bracken book, and it was impressive! growing with Rick Riordan contributed to my mythology geek (still am one) and may have made me a bit based for this review, but that doesn't matter! it made me see the gods from a whole new perspective, kind of like Trials of Apollo but gorier, edgier. with the supporting main character being Athena, my intuition told me it would be an amazing book. and i was right.

This is an easy read YA. I really wanted to like it but I had a hard time starting it. Thankfully I was able to get past it. I enjoyed the introduction of Ancient Greek gods into a modern day New York setting with a hint of gladiatorial survivalism. The fact that there is a murder melee every seven years to take the powers from the ancient gods for your own is an incredible idea. But also what I liked the least.

There was also a lot of self discovery from almost every character introduced.

The scheming from the characters was pretty clever.

Lore is fast paced, murderous, action packed, and has a hint of romance. I loved Lore! She's a baddie from the moment we first meet her. She's literally in a boxing ring kicking boys asses! You go! If you like mythology and you're in the mood for some YA urban fantasy read this! The hype is real!

I have tried to love this book for so long. It is such a cool and interesting story line, and the cover is AMAZING I just think it might be a little too long. I love the fact that it’s a YA story.

<i>Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Admittedly, I requested this book because I found the cover to be enticing. I usually do not like YA fantasy. Of course, there are some exceptions from time to time, and there are some YA fantasies that have ended up being some of my favorite books, so I was hoping that <i>Lore</i> would be one of those exceptions.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting through this book. It was easy to read, but I just couldn't get myself invested in the plot. The characters were not that memorable and I found my mind wandering throughout the book. Even though all the action, suspense, and twists and turns were present, I still was bored and felt like the plot was dragging. Honestly, I lost my understanding of the plot early on in the book, not because it was deeply complex but because I was having an incredibly difficult time paying attention. There were some interesting moments here and there, but nothing to write home about. However, if you are a die-hard fan of YA fantasy books from the early to mid 2010s, you'll probably still like </i>Lore</i>.

This is sooooo good! I already bought it for the library and a personal copy as well. I pitch it to kids as Hunger Games meets Percy Jackson and they gobble it up. Well written, great plot, and well developed characters!

Unfortunately this book was very slow for me and was not enticing enough. I had trouble following along with all of the Greek mythology and hoped it would have been better explained. I did love Lore’s character, though!

I was so grateful to receive this epub, I am a huge fan of mythology and Alexandra Bracken, so this was the perfect book for me! I was incredibly engaged the whole time I was reading, the story and writing were amazing!

It has correctly been described as a The Hunger Games-read alike. It has lots of action and danger, as well as magnetic characters. As soon as I picked it up, it was impossible to put back down. There was a lot of world-building, but it never felt like an info-dump or caused any lulls in the pacing of the book. As soon as I finished it, my teenage daughter (who is NOT a reader) picked it up and finished it in less than a day!

LORE is a sweeping and enthralling stand-alone YA fantasy based on Greek mythology. Lore is a descendent of the bloodlines involved in the punishment of the gods by Zeus. Every 7 years, they must walk the Earth for 7 days as mortals, during which time they can be killed and their powers handed to the person who dealt the death blow. The family lines which hunt these gods do so for the power which their family can hold upon the successful killing. Many of the lines are dying out as their rivalries are detrimental to their existence.

Lore is the last mortal in the Perseous line, and she has tried to stay away from the Agon and the families since her family was brutally slain following the previous one seven years ago. However, when her former best friend, Castor, shows up with a warning for her, and then a wounded Athena is found on her front stoop, Lore must quickly decide whether the revenge she desires for her family's murders is worth re-entering this world she tried to leave behind.

What I loved: This book was full of action and carried a quick pace that really made the pages turn quickly. I was quickly invested in Lore's story and the alliances and friends she has made. Her life has been difficult through her training and friendships through to betrayals she has and will face. This story really came to life through her - and it is really brutal and raw, in the vein of Greek mythology. The connections with the mythology are plentiful throughout, and this would definitely work for people who enjoy retellings, particularly with modern twists.

There are also some interesting themes about destiny/fate and the ways that this concept can become twisted, as well as the problems with a patriarchy and its ability to be abused. Lore has faced the patriarchal society and seen its brutal realities in many ways. Although she is a talented fighter, her skills are considered secondary and in many cases unnecessary. The discussion around the meanings of sacrifice and the ways that "justice" are carried out were also intriguing. Although there was a focus on action and suspense, the book also presents some thought-provoking themes that would be interesting to discuss with a book group.

What left me wanting more: I did want to see more of Lore's past. We do get some tidbits throughout, but it wasn't enough to really immerse in it (and these were not clearly delineated but just occasional reflections). I also wanted a bit more of the romance, as I really liked it, and it was minimal/background at best. I would have enjoyed this book also being more spread out so that we could get more insight into other characters as well. The gods/goddesses were pretty intriguing, and I felt we only got glimpses of them. On the other hand, this does keep the book moving quickly and action-packed, so I do see the other side.

Final verdict: Enthralling, brutal, and raw, LORE is a riveting stand-alone YA fantasy with ties to Greek mythology. Recommend for fans of THE YOUNG ELITES by Marie Lu, HALF-BLOOD by Jennifer L. Armentrout, and THE TRIALS OF APOLLO by Rick Riordan.

As "Lore" by Alexandra Bracken begins, the Agon has just begun. It occurs every seven years, since Zeus, in his rage, cursed his fellow Greek gods and goddesses to walk the earth as mortals for a week.

While they are in this form, they are hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.

Lore Perseous, a descendant of the Greek demigod and hero Perseus, has turned her back on the Agon after her family was brutally slain at the end of the last cycle.

She believes they were killed by Wrath, the current God of War Ares, for something she did, and yearns for revenge. When she finds the wounded Athena on her doorstep, she makes a pact with Lore to help her kill Wrath.

But Lore’s decision 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.

I enjoyed "Lore" very much, partially due to my affinity for Greek mythology. While it is aimed at the young adult audience, there is a lot of violence and murder, including one incredibly unpleasant to read, and some unpleasant sexualized situations, as well.

But there is also hope, and friendship, and even love, both hetero and gay. There's heroes and villains, and a lot of characters that occupy the various shades of grey in between.

I'm giving 'Lore' by Alexandra Bracken 4 stars out of 5. It's a can't-put-down kind of read.

4⭐️

Lore is the last of her House. She turned her back on the world of Gods, Hunters, and the pursuit glory seven years ago after her family was brutally murdered by a rival House. This is until a wounded Goddess arrives at her doorstep seeking aid, in return she offers her assistance to help Lore achieve the one thing she has never been able to have- revenge and justice for her family.

This book was fast paced, action packed, atmospheric, and gritty. A modern mythology+mafia meets THG/GOT. I loved the hidden world in New York, urban fantasy aspects of this story.

It had a great and compelling cast of characters. And it takes you on a wild ride.

However, I did feel at times that the nonstop action did a disservice to the story by taking away from the plot. There was just much action, that it overtook the development of the characters. For how epic Lore is a the heroine of the story, she felt really hollow because there wasn’t enough time given to develop her substance on the page because it was all dedicated to the rising action of the story.

It ended more abruptly than I would have liked, but I’m glad that it’s a standalone book.

Overall, this was a hard book to put down. Definitely worth the hype!

As many reviewers have mentioned this is a Greek mythology/Hunger Games mash up. If you like action forward books with twists you should really enjoy this. I have to say that this is the first time I have been reading a book and thought "I wish this was a movie". Some of the action takes time to explain but, if it was a movie we could see what was going on much more quickly. Though this book is gory and should have many trigger warnings, I enjoyed the action packed scenes coupled with several plot twists.

Alexandra Bracken is such a talented writer. I also have a copy of the book from Owlcrate and it's beautiful. I waited for a year and watched all of her Instagram videos on the editing process for this book and it was such a pleasure to read the final product. It did not disappoint.