This is going to be one of those stories that you either love it or you hate it.  For me this one suffered from the same thing that The Darkest Minds had.  Way too much description that slowed the story down.  It had a lot of filler that you just didn't need and it made the story so stagnate.

For a book with a cover and synopsis like this one, I was really expecting something more engaging.

This book was REALLY info-dumpy. There was so much info-dumping to the point that everything just became really confusing. This then caused some extreme disinterest in what happened from that point forward. I think the worst feeling to have towards a novel is disinterest. For books I hate or love, I can easily write any sort of review to coherently express my thoughts. This book, however, is in a territory I would not like to venture towards. I can't find anything that I enjoyed about it which makes it very hard to write a review, and even books that I hate can get a really thorough rant from me. This one just exhausted me.

I really enjoyed this book. I have fallen back in love with mythology and have always loved  reading about it. I hope to read some books by this author, Her writing style was unique.

I absolutely love Alexandra Bracken and will read anything that she writes! 

Lore is basically Greek Mythology meets The Hunger Games. It starts off a little slow, but that's mainly due to world building and keeping up with names (which I appreciate a good world build). It's also definitely not an easy book to read because it deals with trauma and violence, so if that's something that could be triggering, then definitely consider the content warnings before diving in. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for Bracken's next novels!

*posting 9/21/21

I was really excited to see a YA book with Greek mythology so I immediately ran to request this book on Netgalley when it went up. This is a review for a sample so it'll be short, but I hope it'll convince you to check it out.

The concept for this book sounded really fun to me. Think Hunger Games but with Greek mythology. After a failed rebellion, a group of Greek gods are hunted down for their powers. Whoever deals the killing blow takes the God's immortality and abilities, but it also means they'll be hunted too. It reminded me of the Nikki Glass series (so if you like Adult Fantasy, definitely consider checking that one out), which I loved.

The plot aside, I have to say the prologue wasn't the most elegant way to kick the story off. The writing was a little confusing in the beginning. There was a lot of information thrown at us all at once. Plus, it was implied that there might be other reasons behind the rebellion. I'm sure that's a mystery that will be unraveled more later, but with so much information to start with and then a mystery too it felt like a lot. The good thing about all of it is that Lore explains the story in a much clearly way later on that helped me make sense of the prologue.

All in all, I think the book had a slow start and some bumps, but nothing major. I'm still really interested in seeing where the story goes and I feel like it has a lot of potential and room to grow!

I received a copy of this book for fair and honest review. I have been a fan of myths and legends since I was young. I know this is a retelling of those stories. It was a new spin on but there were vague moments of things I knew about the gods and their neverending war. The right of a new god that want to take the place of the gods of old. Lore ties her fate to another's. Reconnects with a long lost friend. It is definitely worth the read. It has me wanted Lore to succeed since I met her. She had this aura of confidence and bravery about her. It opened my eyes to Alexandra Bracken's work.

This book was one of the very few books by Alexandra that I actually read and enjoyed.  This book was written a lot better than I expected and it kept my attention all the way through. Compared to her previous works, this one had a lot of action that took place and I was kept on the edge all the way through the book. I wish she would write more books like this because I really want to love more of her work.

great into to the book. I love mythology and I can't wait to continue reading this one! The writing is wonderful and the characters are extremely engaging.

While I love Bracken's writing, this was a lot more graphic than I was anticipating. I think it's too graphic for me to continue but I could really see this being someone else's jam.

This was one of those books where I thought I loved it once I was finished but now that I have had a while to think about it, the rating has gone down. The world was very interesting but seriously, God's were pretty much just throwing temper tantrums and killing people for no reason.

I LOVE greek mythology, and this book didn't disappoint. I liked the pacing and all of the character dynamics so much. I liked this book enough to not only purchase one, but two copies of it for myself. Thank you for letting me get a chance to read this!

I absolutely loved this! Really interesting blend of Greek mythology and modern YA fiction. I would LOVE another book set in this world.

Lore has a great story line. I loved that it felt a little different than the traditional YA read. It had great elements (action, love, mythology, fierce heroine). 

I wish we got more background on and got a deeper plot on some of the characters but overall enjoyed this book. 

Cover art is gorgeous! 

Thank you Disney-Hyperion & #NetGalley for an advanced copy of Lore in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fun story with a spin on Greek mythology! I really ended up enjoying this one. I will say there could’ve have been more information given, as I felt like there was a lot of assumed knowledge. Other than that, great read. 4 stars

I've been on a huge mythology kick.  I don't know if more authors are coming out with the books or if I'm just looking for more of them, but either way, I love it.  This one was a very interesting concept of a battle amongst greek gods for dominion, and Lore, who is sucked back into a world she tried very hard to get out of.  There's a lot of Greek mythology in this, so a great read for fans.

LORE is a sweeping and enthralling stand-alone YA fantasy based on Greek mythology. Lore is a descendant 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.

This was only a sneak peek of the novel, but it fully captivated me and left me wanting more. I did end up reading the entire novel after its release date and rated it five stars! The characters and plot were compelling, and I became immersed in this world.

The idea of a Medusa retelling was what initially caught my attention, but it’s more a Athena retelling mixed with hunger games and that’s fine. Although Medusa wasn’t the main character  “Lore” was amazing. 
The story came together towards the end and all the questions I had were answered. 
Thank you to Disney-Hyperion and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this copy.

This book was awesome! I loved how the author portrayed greek mythology and it kept me fascinated on every page.

Reading the excerpt of this book has let me amazed. Cant wait for the complete version. Alexandra Bracken once again demonstrates that she is a fantastical author with this retelling of the greek myth