Eeeeeeee! I love, love, loved this and can’t wait for the whole book! My only complaint was that it was just enough to whet my appetite and drive me crazy till the release date! ☺️☺️☺️

A really fun and interesting read of the first chapter. I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire time! I enjoyed every page and thought that the plot/story was very unique. Would recommend to anyone!

I was instantly drawn into the story. I love Lore, the main character. I really enjoy reading about strong leads like her. I can’t wait to learn more about her character, and the others as well.

From what I’ve read so far I really enjoyed this new world from Alexandra Bracken. I absolutely love reading anything that has to do with Greek Mythology, so I am extremely pumped to read more about the Greek Myths in this new world from Alexandra Bracken. The information we get in this sampler definitely has me intrigued and wanting more.

I very much enjoyed the characters, the world, and Alexandra’s writing in what we get in this sampler. I can’t wait to read the full novel when it releases.

I’m so excited for this book, and getting to read a chapter sampler only made me more excited! I love Alexandra Bracken’s books and Lore might be my favorite yet. I can’t wait to read the full book!

'Lore' by Alexandra Bracken is easily one of my most anticipated releases of 2021, so I was thrilled to get the sample chapters for an early glimpse.

I've long been a fan of mythology from around the world. I love the classic tales and legends and I love the more modern works that have either emerged as actual retellings or just borrowed some of the amazing characters and developed whole new worlds to experience.

'Lore' falls into that last category.

The story is about a girl named Lore and a punishment put into place and structured like a game that has existed for over a thousand years. As the book opens, those involved are on the 212th cycle.. as every seven years the Agon takes place.

Nine Greek gods, having dared to rise against Zeus.. led by Athena.. and having failed, are forced to walk the earth as mortals. For seven full days, they're hunted by the descendants of ancient hero bloodlines. Those who succeed in capturing and killing one of the nine, seize their divine power and immortality for themselves.. until the next cycle.. that is.

As Lore's roommate and best friend Miles says..

"..every seven years this ... hunt happens. And the location changes-- sort of like the Olympics, only with more murders?"

Yes.

I love Lore. She's got a vicious angry streak to be sure, but she's not a bad person. She's the last of her family line and she's actually stepped away from the ancestral oath. In hiding herself, first a childhood friend she believes is dead finds her, then a gravely wounded goddess.. Athena herself, shows up on her doorstep and drags her back in.

There's a lot on the line here. A fact the author drives home in early scenes as she unapologetically ends one of my favorite characters pretty much on sight. The game is brutal and no one is pulling any punches, least of all the new gods.

Obviously, only reading a few chapters doesn't let me get very far into the story or the character building that I expect to see, but I'm already intrigued by Castor and the chemistry between him and Lore. Though whether he's to be friend or foe in reality, is yet to be distinguished.

Even Athena is amusing. She doesn't deal all that well with human needs. She's disdainful of them at best and that's certain to be a mixture that will make me laugh here and there.

I can't wait to read more of this book, I just know it's going to be great. Imagine the destruction that lies ahead..

I only received the first six chapters of this book, but from what I read, I really want to finish the story.

This book brings the best parts of Greek Mythology and mixes it with familiar settings. It reminded me of a more mature Percy Jackson. Well written and very intriguing. Right now, I'm giving this book 5 stars until I can finish the book. Make sure you put this one on your radar, because January will be here before we know it.

This mini review will be live on my blog Book Confessions on 8-7-20.

Thank you Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing this chapter sampler for review.

Every seven years the Agon begins and nine Greek gods are sent to Earth stripped of their immortality to be hunted by the descendants of famous historical Greek families. To kill a god is to assume their power and win glory for your family along with the many benefits their power can have on the families fortune. Lore Perseous is the last of her line and has actively avoided the other families and the gods since her family was brutally murdered. That is until the Agon is held and a former friend long thought to be dead appears and a wounded Athena appears to ask for her help. Lore must now bind her fate/life to the hunted goddess in hopes of stopping the Agon forever.

I didn’t even need to read the whole sampler to know I wanted this book. I was hooked just with the prologue but I devoured this whole sampler and am now really bummed the book doesn’t come out until January 2021. Definitely a book for fans of the Percy Jackson series or just fans of mythological stories. Physical book has been preordered.

As a big fan of Alexandra Bracken I was so excited to hear about Lore and this chapter sampler did not disappoint! I have always been intrigued by Greek mythology and having that enter the modern world in this wild and twisted way has been so exciting to read and engage with and I cannot wait for the rest!!! Lore is exactly the book I’ve been looking/waiting for.

★ I received a chapter sampler from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ★

I honestly loved the first 6 chapters of this book and can't wait to get my hands on the full book once it releases. This gave me major The Mortal Instruments vibes and I am very excited!! This book has a lot going for it:

✔️ beautiful cover art
✔️ kickass female protagonist
✔️ mysterious love interest
✔️ gay best friend
✔️ family revenge
✔️ greek myth retelling

Main Characters:

Lore - Melora Perseous (The House of Perseus)

Iris - old lady Lore lived with after her family was murdered, died 6 months ago and left Lore her brownstone as inheritance.

Castor Achilleos (The House of Achilles) - tall, dark and handsome. childhood best friend returned from the dead.

Miles (South Korean descent) - gay best friend. Hipster college student from Florida who lives with Lore in Iris' old New York brownstone.

False God Ares - Aristos Kadmou, leader of The House of Kadmos - responsible for the death of Lore's family.

Athena - one of the last original nine gods remaining, betrayed by Artemis and in need of a new alliance.

New Poseidon - Tidebringer, one of Lore's ancestors who killed the original Poseidon and took his mantel, even though it is forbidden for a woman to do so. This caused her to be shunned and her family to be murdered except Lore's great-great grandfather, the other family's split The House of Perseus' empire between themselves. The leader of House Kadmos at the time took her family's heirloom: The Aegis -the shield of Zeus, given to The House of Perseus by the king of gods himself to aid them in their hunt for immortality (was once Athena's). Only a heir to The House of Perseus can wield it.

Synopsis:

Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality. Once the power is seized by another - that person is then susceptible to the same mortality every Agon after, continuing the games between the Hunter families. Originally nine families, there are only four left participating in the Agon.

During the last Agon, Lore's entire family was murdered by a rival family - The House of Kadmos, who's leader is now the new god Ares. Lore turned her back on the Agon, but now as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend believed to be long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods. The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy the False Ares, and a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore's decision to bind her fate to Athena's and rejoin the hunt 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.

That little glimpse was not enough. When you get to the last page of a sampler and keep pushing the button for the next page insistently because you need more, you know it's good. I love Alexandra Bracken's writing style and I immediately got sucked in to the story. I need to know what happens! Will Miles survive being her friend? How did Castor survive and what does he mean to Lore? Will he help her or betray her? So many questions!

I received this chapter sample in exchange of a honest review... This sampler was very intriguing! I am a huge fan of Greek mythology and how authors rework the stories of ancient gods and heroes.

I really enjoy Lore's character; she's a very convincing heroine that's trying to survive in the situation she's put in. Great characters and writing!

I have a weird thing where I usually don’t read previews of books. I prefer to gobble up what I’m interested in ASAP! But I guess the time is now to make exceptions for Alexandra Bracken’s Lore. The six chapter preview is now available to all on NetGalley.

“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.”

I was drawn to this book for many reasons, the least of which is seemingly different take on aspects of Greek mythology: what if Greek gods could become human? Fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo will not be disappointed with Bracken’s Lore.  

Thousands of years ago, nine gods - Athena, Artemis, Poseidon, Dionysus, Apollo, Hermes, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, and Ares – staged a rebellion against Zeus. As punishment, every seven years they become mortal and are hunted. If they’re killed by a hunter, they lose their immortality. The hunters are descendants from famous Greek heroes – Perseus, Kadmos, Achilles, Herakles, etc, hoping for a shot at immortality. It’s a never ending game for all involved.

Six chapters was a perfect peak into Lore. The characters and scene are quickly set. I felt immediately comfortable in this world, with the characters, and the trajectory of the plot. Lore is the last member of the House of Perseus. She’s turned her back on the game years ago and is still reeling from the death of Iris, her pseudo-grandmother only six months prior. She steps in the ring and fights to cope. Then her deceased best friend shows up wanting to play a game, and the severely injured Athena shows up on her stoop, Lore is drawn right back into the action. Lore binds herself to Athena who promises to help her kill the man-god who murdered her family.

This is my first time reading Bracken, and I found her writing style really wonderful. I loved the descriptions of New York, the underground fighting ring, and the characters. I really enjoyed all the characters thus far, and I can’t wait to see where this story goes! Will be adding to my to be read list for 2021.

Thank you NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for this chapter sampler.

This chapter sampler was very intriguing! I am a huge fan of Greek mythology and how authors rework the stories of ancient gods and heroes. The layout is well done, though it can be confusing in the beginning (though most stories are and this isn't a full version anyway). The last few chapters in the sampler do a great job of making me desire to read more!

I really enjoy Lore's character; she's a very convincing heroine that's trying to survive in the situation she's put in. Great characters and writing! Four stars so far based off what I was given.

I was given access to the first six chapters via a chapter sampler, and I already found myself starting to feel invested in the characters and the plot itself. Miles already has my whole heart and he needs to be protected at all costs. Almost immediately there is a lot of information thrown at the reader in these first six chapters, which is good because the prologue dumps you right into the middle of a god arriving for the Agon, but it's also a bit overwhelming. I could feel the plot starting to slow down in pacing by the end of the sixth chapter, which is what I think is necessary in order to allow the reader to process some of the big background points that are discussed.

I was really enjoying Bracken's writing style, especially in the prologue where there was a very gritty yet poetic atmosphere. Her writing became less flowery once the story proper began, which makes me feel as though she knows when to hold on to her purple prose until she needs it to really pack a punch.

I was already interested in this book because of the synopsis, and this sampler just deepened my intrigue even more. I want to know more about the different bloodlines and their relationships with each other as well as their influence on the outside world, and I am excited to see how deep Bracken's world building goes. I'm also looking forward to getting to know the characters more (obviously Miles owns my heart, but I'm ready to extend my love to the others as well), and I was greatly impressed by the feminist undertones that have already made an appearance, mainly in the main character, Lore. I'm a sucker for strong feminists, and I hope to see more of this theme pop up throughout the whole book.

I think it's clear that I am definitely impatiently awaiting the moment I can get my hands on a copy of the full novel!

Intriguing and captivating! This sampler gives us a peak of what the rest of Lore will be like: revolutionary.

The chapter sampler is great at laying out the beginning of a story that I just wanted so much more of!! It’s giving me some Percy Jackson vibes and I’m absolutely down for that!
I’m super excited to see where this story goes, I’m really enjoying the main character, what a badass- ugh, I need more!

Based on what I’ve read of this so far I’d give it 4 stars.
Fingers crossed I get approved for the arc when it's up, I don’t think I can wait until January to see where this story is going to go!

**Won't be giving a review on Goodreads because I only read 70 pages

This was such a beautiful chapter sampler/snippet of a sneak peak into Alexandra Bracken's new world. It's intriguing, and captures the readers attention, making me want more. I am looking forward to the full novel when it releases.

This sampler only made me even more excited for LORE. I love Alexandra Bracken and can't see what she has in store for the rest of this story!

I didn't realize that this was a chapter sampler when I requested it but I have to say that reading this has made me even MORE excited to read this book when it releases in January 2021..The cover is simply stunning.

I really enjoyed this chapter sampler! I am always a fan of Alexandra Bracken's writing and I have been following her on Instagram as she has documented her journey writing this novel. The first couple of chapters of this book that were provided in this sampler were really enjoyable. I like the introduction of Lore as a character and I think the prologue to the book was an amazing way to start! I am extremely excited to dive into the full version when I get my first chance!