DNF @ 25%

I feel terrible for not finishing this book, but I just can’t force myself. I was pretty excited about this one. I mean, I’d greatly enjoyed The Darkest Minds series, and I adore Greek mythology, so I figured that this one would be a hit.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

At 25% through this story, I find myself at a place of not caring. I feel no emotional connection to any of the characters, since their motivations thus far are flimsy at best, including Lore’s. There also is a LOT of telling and not showing, I find, especially in terms of the backstory of Lore and her former friend Castor. The book is trying to make me feel like there’s a connection between the two, but I just do not see that spark.

Beyond the characters, I found the plot hard to follow. Look, not to brag about my awesome smarts, but I am a reader who can typically follow fairly confusing plots. In this case, however, I was left scratching my head at many instances, and having to go back and reread paragraphs (to little avail). And I truly believe this is a fault of the book, and not me. Many details seemed vague, and aren’t explained very well or aren’t there at all. You’re just kind of tossed into this mess of different bloodlines and gods and this 7 year cycle with next to no explanation or preparation.

As well, though I hate to say it, because not every Greek mythology book is Percy Jackson, I couldn’t help feel like this book was hinging on the hope that readers had gained Greek mythology education from that series. The gods are explained in MINIMAL detail, and could leave readers unfamiliar with Greek myths rather confused. I don’t even know if it mentioned what some were the gods OF. It makes sense that the hope that people had read Percy Jackson before this exists, because this is YA and that series is middle grade.

Overall, I think a lot more development of the plot and motivations of characters should have been pushed to the forefront of the novel, and that perhaps we hadn’t jumped right into the action so quickly, instead taking a pause to allow for a bit more attachment to our protagonist.

Wow!! Alexandra Bracken has done it again! Lore is a phenomenal new standalone fantasy set in a world where every seven years, as punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek Gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals being brutally hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines. It is called the Agon. The story follows Lore Perseus who lost her family as a child in the Agon and fled from that world with no desire to participate in the hunt and seize a God's power and immortality. Now that the next hunt is beginning, Lore is going to be tempted to get her revenge when some very unexpected people approach her - a childhood friend she thought was dead and a very injured Athena. This story is outstanding!! It is filled to the brim with action, fantastic world-building, greek mythology, romance, and so much more. The characters are well-developed and ones you get excited rooting for. The plot is fast-paced and addictive. Bracken's writing is solid. Fans of The Hunger Games will fall in love with this fresh YA story involving Greek Gods in modern New York. Highly recommended!!

If anybody read and loved Percy Jackson, but thought 'this needs a higher body count', then this is the book for them! From an intense opening all the way to the end, this book is deliciously bloody. I am a sucker for Greek mythology so having a retelling of sorts that still summons the same themes that permeate the classic stories (passion, vengeance, betrayal, redemption) is such a comfort (and it is also nice to know that in any form Ares is still quite the *$*% is also a consisting comfort). I am a massive fan of this book!

For Libraries: Buy it! That is all.

Look out, Riordan! I actually liked this one more than Percy Jackson. I loved the action, plotting, and world-building. I really think that middle-grade readers are going to eat this one up. Heck, I’m a grown man, and I gobbled this one up in two sittings. Do yourself a favor and get this one when it releases.

Alexandra Bracken's new novel <i>Lore</i> is a fascinating new twist on the tales of the Olympic Gods. The store centers around Lore, a 17-year-old who has been trying to run for her past and her family's legacy. Her family comes from a line of clans that both worship and hunt Greek Gods. In this story, the Greek Gods were cast to earth and if a mortal kills one of the Gods, then he (yep, there' a sexist component to this story) will take on that God's powers.

Over the centuries, some of the original Gods and their respective houses have died out while others have become extremely rich and powerful. At the beginning of the story, there are five houses that still exist: Perseus, Achilles, Theseus, Kadmos, and Odysseus. Every seven years, the Agon takes place, which is when the Gods become mortal and can be killed. As you can imagine, this leads to a lot of tension and killing as clans protect their Gods while trying to take down the other houses' Gods in the process.

Lore is the last standing member of The House of Perseus after her parents and sisters were brutally murdered at the end of the last Agon. Since their murders, Lore has done her best to stay off the radar. Unfortunately, all of that changes when one of the Gods shows up on her doorstep needing her help at the beginning of the Agon. The God promises to help Lore seek vengeance for the murders of her family in exchange for helping her survive the Agon.

Over the course of the book, new romances blossom and there is plenty of murder and backstabbing to be had by all.

As for my review, I really liked this book. I originally received the first couple of chapters from the publisher to review. After falling in love with the initial chapters, I asked (and was granted) the full book for review. I found this take on the old Greek Gods very interesting and fun. I read that this version is akin to the Greek Myths meeting the Hunger Games, which I think is a really apt description of this book.

I found the writing fun and fast-paced. This book is definitely a page-turner. I would recommend for both teenagers and adults alike.

Probably my only critique is the overuse of the term "new god," to refer to those mortals who previously killed a god and took their powers. We get that their new gods, but this phrase was just a bit overused throughout the book. I'm hoping the final version of the book will have removed a good number of these because it became a bit repetitive after a while.

This book was full of action-packed details! What a great ride full of twists and unexpected alliances.

I loved this book so much and would recommend buying it to all my friends and family! This book had such a great story line and definitely took me on such a wild ride! I really enjoyed this authors writing and felt engaged the entire time. The cover is beautiful by the way and really helped me visualize the characters I felt. This was a 5 out of 5 for me and I thought was a hit out of the park.

Greek mythology set in modern day New York, a dangerous game of cat and mouse, and one girl waring between survival and vengeance. This book WAS AMAZING! When I first heard about it I knew I had to read it and oh boy did this not disappoint! It met my expectations and went far above. It was a bloody good time! The story is set in a world where Gods and Goddesses are hunted by their line, as by killing a god you receive their power. These “hunts” occur every seven years and Lore, who’s entire family was killed, has managed to disappear from the hunt until now. With the fresh arrival of her childhood friend whom she presumed had died, a dying goddess coming to her with an offer to help her achieve vengeance against her family’s murderer, Lore is thrown right back into the world she left behind. This book is gritty and brutal and I loved every second of it. Lore is a wonderful protagonist, she takes no shit and isn’t afraid to get rough and bleed for what she wants. She was strong and yet had a heart full of grief for the wrongs not only she suffered, but what had been done to her family. I adored Castor, Miles, Van, and even Iro, and oh boy don’t get me started on Athena and Hermes. This book has a strong theme of family, the lengths we go for them and to return to them, and in the end, what it means to stay strong in a world that keeps trying to push you. Lore was a kick ass protagonists who I fell in love with, and her story, this story, was a wonderful read. I couldn’t put the book done and I honestly need more books set in this world ( crossing my fingers). So yes, please go read this freaking amazing book and fall in love with the legend that is Lore.

So i was so excited to get this ARC of Lore!

let me start by saying its not a bad book, no way! But it wasn't what i was hoping it would be either.
firstly, if you are hoping for a mythology-filled greek atmosphere, its not really here.
most of the great gods are already dead, which means we just get newer versions of the gods in new forms.
Actually, i think there was only 2 original gods left by the start of the book.
This disappointed me, i didn't really want to read about "new gods" (people who killed either the god themselves for their power or the person who killed the god)
That story could have been told without including greek mythology at all.

basically, every 7 years, for one week, the Gods become mortal, meaning they can be killed. They still retain their powers and strength, so if someone were able to get close enough to kill them, the killer would obtain their godly power.
Instead of it all being a free-for-all there is order to how this is done.
4 houses that pick someone to be their leader and thats the one who kills the god and obtains the power. which doesn't make too much sense, i'd just assume for that kind of power, it would be more "every man for themselves" type deal.
Some of the houses have joined forces, and one of the houses (Lore's house) is down to the last of her line.

The book is massive, just under 600 pages but the first 50% was all world building and rule explaining... thats about 300 pages of explanations you have to get through before the story starts... I found it hard to get into.
I actually stopped at 53%, read another book, and came back to this one..

Lore was a great MC. she was tough, smart, and tool no crap from anyone. She apparently has a lot of money from a gentleman she used to take care of after his passing, but she wont touch that money claiming "Its not really hers" so she struggles for money, fights in the rings for spare cash - yet when one of the other characters dropped a pile of cash, she was trying to be sneaky about stealing a few bucks for herself... well that money "isn't hers" either so i guess i didn't understand where her moral line is drawn.

her love interest was typical YA "super hottie" that is all powerful with a more timid personality, and puts her safety above all else. lets be real tho, if your reading YA still its what you live for. so no complaints here.

Lore's best friend was the best character, he constantly had no idea what was going on, had everything to lose but he stuck by his friends no matter what. he was the true hero in my opinion.

The writing was excellent.
the story was good just not what i was hoping it would be.
i wanted more mythology i suppose. but if you are looking for a magical, action-packed YA read, you'll love this book!

4 stars because even tho it wasn't what I was hoping for, it was still a good read.

Thank you Netgalley, disneybooks and Alexandra Bracken for the free E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alexandra Bracken did it agin with this book. As an avid The Darkest Minds fan and classics student I just knew I had to read this book. And I'm so glad I did. Bracken managed to write an engaging action packed story with a great romance, and a portrayal of the Greek god that even a classics student agreed with and liked.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Lore, but I loved the cover and assumed mythology was part of the story! Every seven years as a punishment for their past deeds, nine Greek gods have to walk on the earth as mere mortals where they are being hunted down by those who know if they kill a God, they will assume all of their powers.
Lore, our leading lady, has refused to seek revenge against the man, who is now a God, who is responsible for the brutal (really brutal, warning!) death of her entire family. But now Athena, one of the original Gods, and Castor, (the leading man of this story whom Lore thought was dead) offer her an alliance against their mutual enemy.
This novel is action-packed and extremely well written. I thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this hard to put down story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for sending me an e-arc. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I got it done in 2 days and definitely plan on buying a hard copy. It’s an amazing take on Greek mythology that I have never seen done before. Definitely recommend!

Thank you #netgalley and of course Alexandra Bracken for allowing me to read this ARC titled #Lore. I truly am a sucker for all things Greek mythology. And that cover! So beautifully done! For years I have wondered why there aren't more people writing stories about Greek mythology because it's such a fascinating concept to me. Somehow extravagant and desolate at the same time. And this book does not disappoint. I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships to each other. I enjoyed the God/human dynamic. It was very well written and there was good world building, Though it definitely caught me off guard that this continuation of the story of Greek mythology was happening in essentially nowadays New York. It definitely adds a new layer. Imagining a world like today but with Greek gods roaming around is a head scratcher. 😅I do think that if you have less of a generalized understanding of Greek mythology and who is who it could be confusing to keep track of all of the Gods. But overall she did a great job. I've literally been trying to keep my eyes open for the last 20 minutes falling asleep Because I didn't want to stop reading. I wanted to finish and know what happens. ❤️ I really look forward to reading more of bracken's work. I highly recommend this book for anybody who loves fantasy, mythology, Percy Jackson, madeline miller, etc. I believe you will enjoy it as I did.

The Purge meets Clash of the Titans! What a creative and interesting concept. I must admit I did struggle a bit with following all the different characters and houses who had become which new god and the names. It took a lot of focus which was not always present for me. I do love the strong female main character though. The story is well-paced and took me on a great journey. All in all a good book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Greek mythology or books like Red Rising. Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for granting access to this book in exchange for an honest review. I will post this review tomorrow to my Bookstagram and companion Facebook page @thatreadingrealtor.

*Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.

This was an action-packed story with updated mythology, grandiose writing, and romance.

But, there was constant exposition for the dense world-building and relationships., so the momentum was a little too up and down to get completely hooked into the flow. There were some entertaining character dynamics and fun plot-lines, but not enough to keep me engaged.

Overall, this will be an exciting release that works for a lot of the YA audience, just not for me.
Pick this up for a bloody and melodramatic action plot with a focus on fate, duty, and a FTL romance.

Alexandra Bracken has done it again, continuously solidifying her position as one of the best teen and YA writers today. I could NOT put her newest book, Lore, down and loved every bit of it! Full of action, drama, lore, and suspense...I did not want it to end! Phenomenal!!

5 out of 5 stars for Lore by Alexandra Bracken.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

9781368002318


576 Pages
Publisher: Disney Publication / Hyperion
Release Date: January 5, 2021

Fiction, Mythology, Teen & Young Adult

Every seven years the Agon takes place. During this week, nine ancient gods appear on the earth as mortals. If you kill one, you receive the god’s power. Lore has been hiding since the slaughter of her family. This year however, she has been found by not one but two people from her past. Castor comes into the ring to spar with her. She was startled since she thought he was dead for these past seven years. On her way home, she and her friend Miles follow a blood trail leading to Lore’s brownstone. Leaning at the top of the stairs is the goddess Athena suffering from a severe stab wound.

To be honest, I picked up this book because of the cover. I love anything to do with Medusa and the image on the cover was intriguing. The book is written in third person point of view and the characters are very developed. The book jumps back into Lore’s past as she trains with the Achillides bloodline then back to the present. If you like Percy Jackson and other mythological stories, you will enjoy this book.

As a longtime fan of Alexandra Bracken’s, I’ve had Lore saved as an anticipated 2021 release pretty much since it was first announced. The Darkest Minds was one of my favourite book series back in the early-mid 2010s, and I’ve liked everything else that Bracken has put out, though I’ll admit nothing has quite compared to that breakout series. I’m pleased to report that while Lore didn’t wow me, it was an enjoyable read that I think will appeal to fans of the author’s work, and to anyone nostalgic for the Hunger Games era of YA literature.

Lore takes place in a world where, every seven years, nine Greek gods become mortal for a week. During that time, known as the Agon, they are hunted by the descendants of great heroes, who all know that killing a god means taking their power and becoming a new god. Our protagonist, Lore, left this world years ago. However, when a childhood friend and an ancient god both seek out her help, she finds herself pulled right back in, and right at the start of the new Agon.

This book’s greatest strength is its worldbuilding. Bracken weaves Greek mythology into a contemporary setting in a way that feels new and exciting, but still features plenty of easter eggs for people already familiar with the stories. Fans of the Percy Jackson books will love this new take on Greek mythology, and maybe learn something new along the way! It also has strong Hunger Games vibes at times, hence my earlier comparison.

In many ways, Lore feels like a throwback to the mid-2010s era of YA literature, perhaps with a slightly more diverse cast. It’s a bit trope-y, and rife with girl power feminism that isn’t exactly bad, but feels just a little bit outdated in 2020. The romance subplot is fine, if forgettable. The plot is fast-paced and easy to follow.

I almost feel bad comparing Lore to The Darkest Minds or Passenger, but I generally felt like this book was lacking both the emotional punch and the wit of Bracken’s past work. One of the weak points of this book, for me, was the characters. This surprised me, because the characters and their relationships were probably my favourite part of The Darkest Minds – and Passenger too, for that matter. I just didn’t feel like I got a good sense who any of these people were, and that made it hard for me to get into Lore. I kind of felt like it might have worked better as a series.

All in all, this was a fun read, and I would recommend it to fans of YA fantasy and especially anyone who’s into Greek mythology. It did, however, fall somewhat short of my admittedly high expectations.

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.

Lore finds herself back in the Agon after spending 7 years hiding from the world she was once a part of when a God shows up asking her for help. The story reads Greek mythology meets Hunger Games as Lore fights to survive and defeat a new God. There's action, romance, and some great character building.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Lore, the upcoming standalone fantasy from Alexandra Bracken, was one of my most anticipated 2021 books. And friends, I’m so happy to report that I felt like it lived up to my high hopes! Set in my beloved New York City, Lore centers around an event that happens every seven years called the Agon – a punishment for nine Greek gods where they are forced to walk the earth as mortals and be hunted by descendants of ancient bloodlines who want to seize their power and immortality. Melora “Lore” Perseous thought she had escaped the trauma of her family’s brutal murder at the hands of a rival bloodline years ago. But when this year’s hunt begins, she’s dragged right back into the world she thought she’d left behind by two unexpected individuals: Castor, the childhood friend she believed long dead, and Athena, one of the remaining original gods who offers an alliance in order for Lore to get her revenge before she leaves the Agon behind forever.

Honestly, I’m a sucker for stories with elements of Greek mythology woven in. That was the major reason I was drawn to Lore (outside of the fact that I happen to be a fan of everything else Bracken has penned) initially, and it delivers so well on that front. This is not your traditional retelling where the story follows a specific myth. Instead, this is a story that is inspired heavily by its source material, from the harsh brutality of the Agon (including physical violence, torture, murder, sexual violence, among many things – this review has a list of content warnings you can refer to) to the heavily patriarchal family structures to the immortal magic and divine abilities that each god or goddess is blessed with to the traditional ‘hunt’ structure and weaponry. It felt like a modern-day myth, and that really hit my sweet spot.

I didn’t actually realize that Lore takes place in New York City until I picked it up, a detail that I somehow missed when I read the summary originally. But that’s another thing that I really enjoyed! It was really fun to see the vibe that I associate with the city translated in some way on the page. The way the setting was written really captured all the contradictions of this city - the grit, the no nonsense, the classic, the luxurious, the modern, the natural, just to name a few. While it’s certainly a more polished version of the city I love, it still felt like the same place and I have to commend Bracken for capturing its spirit.

The character work is one of the most impressive things about Lore. Bracken still has a deft hand when it comes to writing an ensemble cast, and I was especially fond of the allies and friends Lore works with along the way (though I could have used a touch more time with them). But her masterpiece is really in how Lore comes alive off the page. Lore is a complex young woman, shaped by her history, her relationships and her present circumstances. She’s quick-witted (seriously, her remarks can be so sassy!), capable and is certainly in no need of anyone to take care of her when she can handle herself well in a fight. In fact, her defiance (and the anger that fuels it) was one of my favorite things about her! But I also loved seeing her broken and vulnerable, her other emotions adding a softness to those sharp corners she often leads with. Lore often has to make some tough choices, and while I don’t think she necessarily handled everything well, I was rooting for her to find her own version of peace and closure.

The other aspect of Lore that I really loved was the actual plot. Readers are given a brief idea of how the Agon began before meeting Lore on page for the first time, and things just escalate (and keep escalating) from there. It’s clear right away that there are very high stakes, and it’s equally obvious that there is more to the story as well (as indicated by the few flashbacks interspersed throughout the book). There were constant goings-on - planning sessions for the next move that needed to be made, following trails of clues, fending off opponents, revelations being dropped or arrived at– and it definitely kept me hooked. It’s definitely a lot to be jam-packed into one book! But it worked really well, in my opinion, and the structure is definitely perfect for a standalone.

If I were to nitpick at the book, I would say that I wish we’d gotten more time with the secondary cast and I felt like the ending was a little abrupt for my tastes. But really, they happen to be minor complaints in the overall scheme of things and have more to do with personal taste.

In case you hadn’t already guessed, I loved Lore a whole lot! It’s a well-written epic modern-day myth about a young woman whose fate is tied to powerful (and immortal) forces and how she takes that same fate into her own two hands. Alexandra Bracken has once again crafted an impeccable story for her readers and, in particular, it’s a tale that’s exactly my cup of tea. I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR if you haven't already!