Thank you NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing me with an excerpt from the ARC of <i>Lore</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Gist

I have been meaning to read one of Alexandra Bracken’s books ever since I found out how creepy <i>The Darkest Minds</i> is supposed to be. My little Wednesday Addams-like heart calms at any creepy, mysterious and/or murderous story. It relaxes me. I know, I’m weird.

I even bought the hardcover edition of <i>Passenger</i>, fully intending on reading that asap. But alas, it’s been on my bookshelf since 2016, looking very pretty indeed.

So, when I found out that Bracken wrote a book inspired by Greek mythology and the paranormal, I was determined to get my hands on a copy, like yesterday.

I’m fascinated by Greek mythology and always want to learn more about it, as the Greek mythology course I’m currently auditing can vouch for, although I haven’t made much progress lately.

Not long after I requested an ARC on NetGalley I received an email from the publisher, informing me that there has been some sort of mix up and that the book was not supposed to be available for request until at least August.

As a means to compensate for the wait, the publisher provided the first six chapters. One can request the ARC in its entirety next month.

This time, I barely wasted any time reading Bracken’s work.

The Details

The story starts very strong. We are thrown into a very lively scene, getting to know the protagonist straight away. I liked that.

Lore is tough. She is hurting. And is a little sarcastic, taking no one’s BS. Excellent. I’m totally on board with this.

I felt a little apprehensive and confused during the first three to four chapters. I liked being thrown into the middle of things, but it takes some patience as the explanations trickle in slowly to make them feel organic and not overwhelming.

By the end of chapter six, I was definitely ready to tear through this story in as little time as possible. The writing promised for an enjoyable and fast-paced read.

The Verdict

Overall, I will keep an eye on NetGalley to make sure I won’t miss requesting the full ARC of this story.

It is engaging, fun and gritty. Perfect to curl up with on the couch and forget about the world outside.

Ok, I officially need the rest of this book right now! The first few chapters were amazing and I love where this story is headed. The main character seems like my favorite type of female lead: tough, intelligent, and ready to fight! I can’t wait to read the rest of this one. Thank you netgalley and Disney for sending this preview sampler in exchange for an honest review!

Okay so this is just a sampler so it's a little hard to read it but I am very excited for the actual book I'll definitely be purchasing it when it does actually come out or requesting a Arc of it when it becomes available. I'm really excited to see where the story goes I am hooked already.

While I do love the latest work from Alexandra Bracken, mythology being one of my favorite things to study, I feel disappointed that this was only a sampler and not the full book.

Very exciting and promising sampler! January cannot come soon enough. I love the mythology elements- I think that it is accessible for people not familiar but seems to include some Easter eggs for mythology nerds. I love how fast paced this was from the beginning and the world building. I look forward to reading a finished copy soon!

I anticipate this being a 5 star read for me!

I just finished a sampler of this, and I am unbelievably excited for this book! I love Alexandra Bracken's books so I was already excited for Lore, but the worldbuilding and plot of this one are so fascinating. The sampler was only 6 chapters but you could tell how much thought had been put into the world. Greek gods being hunted? A girl who is forced to take revenge on her family's killers? Hopefully I will be approved for an ARC of this because 2021 is so far away...

I cannot wait to read this book! Who do I need to bribe to get the whole thing? I'm a huge mythology geek and this reads like an older more edgy Rick Riordan book. When these Greek Gods come to Earth they do not mess around!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this sampler!
I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE! Greek mythology and Alexandra Bracken? Yes, please. I am already a big fan of Bracken, and this sample didn’t disappoint. I can’t wait to read more!

Judging from what I’ve read of the chapter sampler, I can say that I’m not really going to like the book once it comes out.
Everything was described vaguely and there was a lot of unnecessary information and I was confused throughout the whole thing.
It would’ve been nice if at the beginning the author took her time to explain things in more detail.

Gosh darnit - I didn't realize this was a sampler. My appetite definitely has been whetted - January 2021 cannot come soon enough.

Just from reading the chapter sampler I'm SUPER EXCITED for this to come out, and I seriously hope I can get my hands on an ARC so I can keep reading and shout my love to the world about how excited I am for Lore to be published!!!

Chapter Sampler was provided by NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and Disney-Hyperion in exchanged for an honest review.

This chapter sampler review is being published before the release date (January 5th, 2021)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Death, murder, graphic injuries, loss of a loved one, grief

“A new age was in reach, waiting to be seized by one strong enough to dare.”

Friends and fellow readers… Wow. This was only a six chapter teaser of this upcoming book and it stole my breath away. I lost count of how many times my breath hitched, how often I was clutching my fists in anticipation of the next page, and just really impressed that I’m now hooked. And now begins the long, long wait of waiting till 2021 to actually get a finished copy of Lore. My retelling-loving soul needs this book now! I have to know what’s going to happen next! I have no doubt that this is going to make my top books for 2021.

Thousands of years ago, nine gods—Athena, Artemis, Poseidon, Dionysus, Apollo, Hermes, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, and Ares—staged a failed revolution against Zeus. As punishment, they are doomed to face the Agon every seven years: they will walk the earth as mortals, and if they’re killed by a hunter, they forfeit their immortality.

In present day Manhattan; we follow Lore, a young woman who fights as an underground fighter to cope after the loss of Iris, a woman who was like a grandmother to her. With the past slaughter of her family and the being the last mortal living member of The House of Perseus, she carries a great deal on her shoulders. But when a ghost of a familiar face brings her a warning during one of her fights and she comes home to one of the nine gods waiting for her, Lore will be thrust back into a ruthless world she longed to escape and has no desire to return to. That is… until an offer is made that she can’t resist.

“I will kill the false Ares in you name… If you swear you will aid me… If you vow to bind your fate to mine…”

Let’s just get this out of the way. The intense screeching that took place while reading this chapter sampler. I love mythology and I love it even more when, it’s not only a retelling, but actually done well! Just from the little bit that we receive in this chapter sampler, I’m excited and head of heels. Also, when I say this is a retelling, I’m not kidding when I say this is a Medusa retelling. Yes, that’s right, Medusa retelling! Medusa is such an underrated monster of Greek mythology. She may be one of the most famous monsters from Greek mythology, but we don’t see enough of her in fantasy novels. So I’m really excited to see more authors giving her some spotlight especially with the way the author is choosing to retell Medusa’s story.

This is only a six chapter sampler and it’s such a fast paced read. You can tell that this book is going to be fast paced from all the action, the little details that can really make a scene unforgettable, and the way the mythological tidbits come into play. I’m incredibly excited to get a finished copy of this book, to read my first work by Alexandra Bracken, and to see how this Medusa retelling is spun. And before I forget, so far we have several BIPOC characters that have been introduced, one of whom is gay and of South Korean descent. Miles is Lore’s best friend, a pure cinnamon roll, has such a contrast in personality compared to Lore’s intense personality, and is probably going to play a much larger role in this story.

“You can gain immortality by becoming a god, but you can also gain it through glory. Kleos is the honor that comes from becoming a legend—someone others keep alive through stories and songs. Your body can die, but your name will live forever.”

Overall, I’m truly excited for this release and I can’t wait to explore this story further, to watch it unfold. And I’m excited to see how Miles will bloom and grow in this story, as well. As a novice to Bracken’s work, I can’t wait to experience her writing style and knowledge of Greek mythology to deliver us a captivating tale. My soul is ready for 2021 to be here to deliver this release. And if you have the opportunity to read the chapter sampler, definitely give it a chance because it hooked me from the very first page! My biggest prediction, this is going to be my top book for 2021. There, I said it and it’s out in the universe now! Now the wait begins!

The quotes above were taken from a chapter sampler and are subject to change upon publication.

A strong sample! The writing and worldbuilding looks so strong right off the bat. I'm excited to read more about it when it comes out!

After seeing that Alexandra Bracken was writing a new mythological book, I couldn’t resist requesting to read Lore! I enjoyed this sneak peak and can’t wait to read more! :)

Thank you netgalley for sending me the sampler. The chapters were really intriguing and I enjoyed every bit of it. I can't wait to read the whole book!!!

This is my first Alexandra Bracken story and the couple of chapters already intrigued me so much! I adore Greek mythology, being part of the generation that grew up with Percy Jackson, and this one explores one of my personal favorite stories. I can't wait to see what the full story will hold!

I really enjoyed this chapter sampler! The prologue was so visceral, it just grabbed me and didn't let go until I'd finished the entire sample. I'll absolutely be reading the rest of the book and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Many things drew me to this book; the gorgeous cover, the thrilling synopsis and in particular, greek mythology themes. I'm a sucker for stories having greek mythology in it, and the story is just as enchanting as I wanted to be. Call me biased, but I have a good feeling the book will knock the breath out of me. The chapter sample leave you hungry for more, with enough information and plot and set up to make you curious to follow Lore whenever she takes us.

An interesting start and just enough to whet the appetite. From the sampler, it looks to be a mash-up of Hunger Games and Percy Jackson--two things I find myself intrigued by. I look forward to reading the full book.

I really wanted to read this book, but the file formatting made the book illegible. I'll have to wait until the release. As this is no fault of the book's content, I'll rate a neutral 3 stars.