Things I loved: Lore was a strong female character. The love between Castor and Lore. The way the mythology was twisted to make sense for the plot. The fact that Athena was shown to not be a good character (too many stories do this!). That there was a long game that wasn't found out until the final pages of the book.

Dislikes: Lore felt too powerful at times. Also, while I get /why/ the ending was deus ex machina, I still wasn't the biggest fan of it.

The biggest thing I loved? That it's a standalone. Do I want more story? Yes. Do I need more story? No. This is a perfect, wrapped up in one book, story that can stand the test of time.

I did not finish this fantasy after several attempts. It may be that it just didn't appeal to me as an adult reader.

Propulsive and addictive! Would love to see this as a series on a streaming service, but of course the best way to enjoy it is by indulging in Alex Bracken's prose. Cannot wait for more books from her!

I really enjoyed this as a standalone book!
The Agon gives me Hunger Games vibes and I really liked the mythology and world building (even if I kept wondering "but what about Demeter???"). Lore is a prickly heroine and I liked her complexity, and the supporting cast of characters was strong as well. I felt Bracken did a great job of including foreshadowing but also enough clues that I was able to predict somethings, but there was at least one reveal/twist I didn't see coming that I really enjoyed.
All in all, a great mythology inspired standalone fantasy with a strong, prickly female lead.

Lore hooks your interest in from the first line- what it struggles with is keeping it. I was drawn to Lore from the moment I saw the cover, it truly is gorgeous! After reading the synopsis, I was even more excited to realize I had been approved for a short sample. The premise is unique and interesting and the main character is a bad-ass; these two elements alone should guarantee a great time. In my opinion where Lore struggles is with pacing and tension, varying between intense action scenes and then total drops. In my opinion, Lore does fall short of it's potential, however, many people will still enjoy it.

The first chapters of Lore were very interesting. I can't wait to read more and see where the story will take it.

i love Alexandra Bracken. That being said, Lore is probably my least favorite book by her. While it was well paced, and engaging, the characters lacked the depth and relatability of those from her debut novel, Brightly Woven, which remains one of my all time favorites, even ten years after first reading it. If you enjoy Greek mythology, Lore might be better for you!

Every seven years, the Agon begins and nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals. They are hunted by the descendants of ancient heroic bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their power and immortality. Seven years ago, Lore fled that brutal world, but as the Agon descends upon New York City she finds herself drawn into the hunt once again.

Believe the hype! I have seen this book all over Bookstagram for months as people read their ARCs, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. It’s fast-paced, action-packed, emotional, and filled with incredible, well-developed characters.

This book has a large cast of characters, but each one was beautifully developed and multifaceted. Lore is incredibly strong and fiercely loyal, but haunted by trauma and hungry for revenge. Miles, her completely human roommate, is funny, likeable, and devoted to his friend. I loved their friendship and support for each other, even in the midst of fear. Lore’s childhood best friend, Castor, provides a great foil for her. He’s idealistic and gentle, believing the best in people and refusing to play the game on anyone’s terms but his own. And Van, Castor’s best friend, is quick-witted and reserved, but such a compelling character. Those four characters drive most of the story, but other members of the Agon are brought into the action and fully realized. I truly am amazed that Bracken was able to build so many three-dimensional characters into this action-driven story.

The concept of the Agon is so compelling. The idea that an ancient, brutally violent game could be playing out in front of us without our knowledge is fresh and mesmerizing. And, the action is truly nonstop. This is one of those books where you say, “I’m just going to read to the end of the chapter” and then the chapter ends on a cliffhanger and you just have to keep going. Twists happen frequently and the hidden motivations of every character keeps you on your toes. On top that thrilling action, Bracken manages to weave in some really important conversations. Patriarchal power structures are dismantled, sexual assault is addressed, and the pain and lasting impact of grief is shown in an authentic and moving way.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. It’s one of the best YA fantasies I have read in some time and definitely one I’ll read again. Recommended for fans of Greek mythology, strong but flawed characters, and thrilling fight sequences.

I really enjoyed this chapter sample and I will definitely be reading the book. I have loved mythology since I was a child and can't wait to get my hands on the full book.

I received a chapter sample without realizing this was not the whole book. Even though this was disappointing, I enjoyed what I read. This book would be up my alley, as Greek Mythology is one of my favorites in a culture standpoint.

I love Greek myth retellings and so I figured this book would be right up my alley. The premise of this book was interesting and I'm glad I was given a chance to read it. The writing style was good and the inclusion of the myth elements were some strong points, but there were also some weaker points that I was not a fan of.
I would be interested in reading this book again.

Overall, I enjoyed reading it. Lore is definitely an interesting and new take on Greek mythology in the modern world. I just wish some concepts were more fleshed out and that some character relationships were more developed in the present as opposed to being set up past feelings.

This book was decent for me. It was very tropey although the writing was good. It was also a bit slow at times. I found it very hard to connect with the characters and care about the plot at some points. I’d read more from this author in the future though.

I loved reading this book! I've enjoyed all of Alexandra Bracken's books that I've read, and I was really pumped to read this book! And wow, was it a fantastic read! I loved the world, the characters, the story, everything about it was so fantastic! There were so many secrets, and so many reveals, and I had a blast going on this journey with Lore!

The whole concept of the Agon is pretty interesting, that the Greek Gods are hunted, and can be killed, and replaced by the human who killed them-though that means that they will be in the same position come the next Agon. And having various families from the various heroes be the ones that are participating is just so interesting!

Lore was a part of this world-until her family was killed. But she's pulled into this Agon, and I really enjoyed reading about her journey, and watching her deal with Athena, who is not the nicest person around. And with Castor, who was her friend, but it's a miracle that he's alive. Really enjoyed their interactions!

I loved how everything came together! There were some pretty big secrets, and some heartbreaking scenes, and just wow, that ending was pretty epic! Absolutely loved how everything worked out there, with Athena and the end of the Agon!

This was such a fantastic read, and I can't wait to read more by Alexandra Bracken!

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about this book but I'm pleasantly surprised! I've met Alex before at a book signing and have enjoyed her earlier works so I probably should have known better. An extremely interesting premise and a strong exposition have convinced me to pick this book up next time I'm at the library (on a strict book buying ban unfortunately).
The fight scenes are great and capture the reader's attention right off the bat. The plot was set up within six chapters so you know what to expect and if you would want to keep reading (which is always appreciated). I'm excited to grab this book and see how it ends!

Love the premise of this one! I think it lives up to the Hunger Games meets Greek myth. I took a risk on this one because I'm really picky about Greek myth/gods in contemporary lit., and I think my issues with this one were completely related to that and not the author's execution.

This one was, unfortunately, a DNF for me at 20%. I just wasn't gripped by the book much at all, though I love Greek mythology and was really looking forward to something a bit more contemporary and mature in tone as opposed to something like the Percy Jackson series. The concept of mortal gods and a hunt across NYC with their descendants ticked off so many of my Must Read boxes, but there was something about the prose that just made me check out. I wish I could have been into it more, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me. Maybe a mix of Pandemic Reading Block and not connecting to the story just resulted in me having to give this one up. A shame, because that cover is 100% amazing.

”I was born knowing how to do three things—how to breathe, how to dream, and how to love you”.

(2.8)

Estoy un poco decepcionada con este libro. Tenía todos los elementos para que me gustara (mitología griega, Nueva York, acción), pero al final se me hizo bastante lento y casi que me tuve que obligar a terminarlo. Creo que mi principal problema fue el ritmo porque, en el fondo, la idea de Alexandra Bracken y la trama en sí mismas eran geniales. Pero, empecemos por el principio.

Lore es un libro que nos narra la historia de un Agon, es decir, una especie de competencia que se celebra cada siete años en la que nueve de los dioses del panteón Olímpico pierden su inmortalidad y quedan vulnerables ante los cazadores de las casas descendientes de diferentes héroes griegos. El peligro del Agon para los dioses es que si alguno de los cazadores logra matarlos, van a desaparecer por completo y sus poderes se trasladarán al mortal que, a partir de ese momento, se considera un nuevo dios. El peligro del Agon y de matar a los dioses y a los nuevos dioses es que es un ciclo sin fin y los nuevos dioses serán vulnerables de ser cazados en el siguiente ciclo. El punto es que en esta ocasión todo empieza con Lore, la última descendiente de la casa de Perseo, que ha intentado salirse del mundo de dioses, cazadores, etc. Sin embargo, justo cuando está a punto de empezar el Agon, dos visitantes inesperados llegan a la vida de Lore: Castor, un gran amigo que pensó muerto, y una Atenea que está al borde de la muerte. Con esas visitas, Lore se ve envuelta nuevamente en el mundo de dioses nuevos y antiguos, de peleas a muerte, traiciones, secretos y, sobre todo, un mundo en el que tienes que pelear contra el destino mismo.

¿Verdad que todo suena absolutamente increíble? Creo que van a conocer a pocas personas en su vida que amen tanto la mitología griega y la hayan estudiado tanto como yo, pero algo sucedió con este libro y sencillamente no conecté con la historia ni con la forma en la que estaba narrada. Peor aún, más allá de Castor, ni siquiera me interesaban los personajes. Lore podría haberse muerto en las primeras páginas y a mí me hubiera dado absolutamente igual. Y creo que ese fue mi mayor problema, no puedo disfrutar un libro si no me importan los personajes. Honestamente, creo que lo acabé porque (además de que nunca dejo sin terminar un libro) quería saber cuál era la verdad detrás de todo lo que le había sucedido a Castor y cómo iba a terminar este Agon para él.

En fin, es una lástima. Aunque debo admitir que el final, literalmente la última página del libro, me pareció precioso.

Anytime there's a book that brings ancient Gods into a modern world, I AM IN. I absolutely loved the concept of this book where the Greek Gods are fighting for their survival against descendants of some of the most powerful Greek heroes.

Unfortunately the book fell flat for me - the twists and turns in the action were great and I loved the relationships between the core group, but it didn't pull me in and tug on my emotions as much as I would have liked.

Lore is, conceptually, one of the most unique books I’ve read in a long time. It’s essentially Greek mythology meets The Hunger Games. Bracken’s love for Greek history and culture seeps through the pages, the rich history of the competition these characters are subject to.

Lore’s character is an interesting one. In some ways, I could understand her. In other ways, it felt like her only personality trait was rage. This might surprise everyone here but it can be a bit difficult to properly enter a character’s head when their brain is full of nothing but violent anger. Her and Castor’s relationship was adorable, and then choo-chooed full speed ahead to Romance Land. Don’t get me wrong, the childhood friends to lovers is great! But we kind of went off the rails a bit here!

Okay. I have to admit that the twists were really good. Like, spectacularly done. I didn’t see most of them coming! My biggest problem with the plot is honestly just the pacing. Sometimes, it’s full of action and sometimes it’s just planning or flashbacks. Lore would wax poetic about New York (great), her best friend Miles would insist on something and almost everyone would argue because he’s a human (happened way too much) and oh no, now we’re infiltrating the House of Something Or Other (I really shouldn’t be bored right now…should I?)

Overall, I adored the concept of Lore. Bracken wove a tale that is wholly inspired by Greek mythology yet wholly her own. I really wish a lot of the book had just flowed together more smoothly and captured my heart.