I really really enjoyed the first several chapters of Lore by Alexandra Bracken. I was a huge fan of The Darkest Minds and all the twists her writing puts on modern life in such interesting ways. The book follows Lore, the last mortal of a nearly extinct greek lineage as she tries to survive the Agon, an ancient week long hunt for the prize of being an immortal god. The plot was a little confusing to follow at first but it started to all fall in place faster than I expected which was really nice seeing as books like this usually has a lot of world building that can sometimes get hazy to grasp. I can't fully form an opinion yet because I only received the first few chapters but I can't wait to see what comes next for Lore and her totally relatable friend Miles.

Lore has a completely fascinating set up but is also unapologetically brutal. THe opening scene was so visceral that it had me cringing big time. It did a great job of setting the scene and plunging us immediately into the world, stakes, and tone very quickly and efficiently. But, sadly, at the same time, it told me this was not the book for me. I'm sure readers will eat this vivid and interesting tale up but I'm a bit of a weenie about intense described violence and the opening had a bit too much for me, so I'm going to respectfully decline.

This opening is so exciting and rich, I was hooked into the action immediately. The stakes are so high and the world feels so vast and I can't wait to read the rest of the book!

Fantastic! Already a fan of the author Lore was no exception. Immediately drawn in, from the very first page I can't wait for this to come out in the New Year.

When my sample of the first 6 chapters came to an end, I was so sad, I just kept trying to turn the page on my kindle. If you love Greek mythology this is definitely something to look forward to, I know I am!

i read the chapter sampler and i will literally cry if i dont get this book like... the mc fights... old friends like cas.... the oercy jackson implications im so excited about this i think i would cry if i dont get the full arc

This was only the preview, but even through limited pages I was engaged and excited to read more. Alexandra Bracken has a knack for grabbing her reader's attention early on, this was no different.

I am actually so excited for this book! I read the sampler and it was perfection!!! I loved our mysterious and edgy main character, Lore. The plot of this book sounds thrilling and from what I've read - it's going to live up to that expectation (and probably exceed it). Alexandra Bracken does such a great job at revealing details slowly and without it feeling like info-dumping which is pretty hard to avoid in fantasy. So so pumped to read the full book!

Reading the first six chapters of the book, I feel the potential for character arc and plot the next seven days our characters have to live thru.

The characters, so far, are written good, and as I've said has much potential arcs. Lore as a character has a strong overall presence and I'm honestly interested how this story will go for her. Six chapters and I am already rooting for her! I honestly hope they won't pull the "gay sidekick just for fun" and as a narrative device so that the readers can understand all throughout the novel, and give them the rightful arc they deserve.

As for the plot, it was not that easy to understand the terms of Agon at first but Bracken's writing and voice has made it flow naturally to piece the parts. The backstory is starting to present itself too, which is good for a standalone novel.

Moreover, I know people have reservations about authors not telling the story right as it is in the "canon," but if the canon happens in the story, the "what if"s that led to the premise of this book won't happen. So generally, I'm okay and I am here with some twisting of canon here and there to serve the plot.

Also, having read Alexandra Bracken's novels since, I was not surprised at the feminist themes and the approach and presentation of it, and honestly? I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. But I generally didn't feel anything particular about it.

Overall, an enjoyable start to a book, cut off just right to be interested and curious about characters and the plot.

I read the first 6 chapters of this book and really enjoyed them. I have always loved Greek mythology and this new take on the gods and their descendants intrigues me. In the first 6 chapters you meet the main character Lore and she is fascinating, her will to fight and survive as well as care for others. I look forward to reading the rest of the book when I have access to it so I can see how the story develops.

Read the first six chapters as a sampler and am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the book. It is difficult to rate a work with so little to go on, so I will submit a final review on Goodreads once I have read the entire story, which I absolutely plan to do. The excerpt was very intriguing - modern day gods and goddesses living in our world, and a scrappy young heroine, a boxer that happens to be the last descendent of Perseus, It is definitely an intriguing world with snappy writing that shows a lot of promise.

Thank you to Disney_Hyperion and Netgalley for the sampler of this upcoming book!

I did not realize that this was just a chapter sampler not a full book when I put in my request. That being said, from what I did read, I am definitely intrigued to read more of this book. I love books about mythology and so I am excited to see where this story goes. Rating so far, 4 stars. That could change however based on what I think of the rest of the book.

The prologue of this novel confused me a little. I know that it is supposed to be starting from the middle of an event and will trace back through the previous events through the novel, but not a single thing in the prologue really made sense to me. But starting to read through the beginning chapters, I could easily tell that I would really enjoy Lore as a character. Having the first chapter be her kicking some sexist man-butt was really entertaining; I loved how it was intense action from the very start, and it does not lull by the time the chapter is over, it only progresses, and starts to weave more of the world-building information into the story, which I'm sure will explain the prologue down the line. I find it really interesting how Bracken combined Greek mythology and modern times, similar to the Percy Jackson series, but with a feminine protagonist. I have a feeling that the Greek mythology background will be the only thing that the Percy Jackson series and this novel will share. I'm very excited to see where Bracken will take this new and unique story once it is released!

What an intriguing excerpt! I can’t wait for the whole book...Alexandra Bracken is such a talented writer and I’m so eager to see her vision for the full book

This review is only for the sampler and not the full book but I can say that I am definitely intrigued by the world that is built into this story and want to know more. There were some things dropped early in the book that has me curious just how big the world this story is going to be. I do plan on purchasing the book when it publishes and look forward to Lore’s story growing in front of my eyes.
***
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this chapter sampler in exchange for an honest review. The rating is strictly based off the first couple chapters of the book.

This chapter sample of Lore had me begging for more. As a fan of Greek mythology, I was intrigued by the thought of an adult Percy Jackson book. I was not disappointed. This is the first I’ve read by Alexandra Bracken but i would not only read more but also buy this book on release. I cannot wait for more.

I absolutely love this premise and writing style! Nine gods live in mortal bodies, and every seven years it is possible to kill them and take their powers for one's own. Families named after ancient Greek heroes have become hunters of these gods, fighting one another to ensure the gods are reborn into one of their own people.

Lore is the last member of one such family, and she's walked away from that life...until Athena's current incarnation comes to her for help and offers to help her avenge her family's murders.

Fast-paced and beautifully written, this book is perfect for teen and adult fans of Percy Jackson.

*Review is for an excerpt of the first six chapters, provided by Netgalley.

Thank you for providing me with a sampler of Lore by Alexandra Bracken. It's a bit hard to provide a rating solely based on a brief sampler, but from what I read, I enjoyed the book and would definitely read more when the book is released early next year.

This was the sampler that I received from Netgalley, so thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this.

4.5 stars
This is a very short intro to the characters, the world, and what this book will be about, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I cannot wait for the book to dive more into Lore, the heroine, and the hero who is possible maybe Castor. I was a little bit confused at first and it definitely takes a little time to understand Lore's background and how Medusa relates to the story. This six-chapter sampler enticed me to want to read this even more.

I’ve read a few of this author’s books, and they’ve been a mixture of hits and misses for me. Being intrigued by Greek mythology since middle school, the description called out to me. This review is based on a six chapter sampler I received from NetGalley.

Don’t blink – there’s a ton of information to digest in these early chapters and loads of backstory, rules, and characters to keep straight. I had to go back and re-read some sections just to get a grasp on what was going on – it feels like an info dump at times and can be overwhelming.

With so few chapters, I don’t have a good feel yet for the characters, but Lore comes across as a strong protagonist with a tragic past, and her friendship with Miles is a plus. The Agon is kind of like a Hunger Games where descendants of the ancient bloodlines can kill gods and steal their power and immortality. If that’s what the bulk of this story focuses on, it may change my review.

With world-building that’s intricate and intriguing, but also confusing, I’m unsure if I’ll continue with this book – I’ll probably look at other reviews before making that decision.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a great retelling of Greek mythological characters. I’m hooked and I can’t wait to read the rest of story.