I would like to thank Netgalley and Disney publishing for this ARC.

I was really excited to read Lore as I have always been fascinated by Greek mythology. Our main character Lore loses her whole family in last year's Agon. She does that thing a lot of characters do and associates they're deaths with something that they did. You don't find out until about 3/4ths of the way through what a bombshell that is.

You get to meet some of the Gods and learn some of the history as these lineages fight in a seven day battle ( this happens every seven years, the Gods become mortal and battle it out). Throughout the years of battles the original God's fall and are replace by new God's. One of the writing habits I didn't care for in the story was the constant labeling of one of the main characters as a "new God". I get it I don't need to be reminded still 1/2 way through the book. Readers are not that forgetful.

You go through the week long battle with Lore and get ragtag group. There's some growth in the characters which is always nice to see. You become invested and hope none of them die, also a good sign in the writing style.

Over all the story was pretty good, it has a few good twist I want ready for. If you're into Greek mythology and liked the hunger games this book is for you.

This novel was such a dark, enticing read. I loved getting to see this THG, PJATO crossover of sorts, and Bracken was very successful with the overall plot, characters, and ending. I'm truly a sucker for anything Greek mythology, so it was a delight to see these new interpretations of long known gods/ goddesses I adore. Bracken definitely gave a modern interpretation to these long beloved beings, and she DID NOT back down from the sucker punch that is Greek myth cruelty.
This was definitely Bracken's darkest book, in my opinion. I feel as if I have seen her grow and evolve through her writing over the years from TDM to now Lore, and while this book was hard at times to read due to certain themes, I still found times to smile and laugh. Bracken's humor could never be distinguished!
I think the only thing that delayed this book was the slow pace at the beginning and start to the middle. It took quite some time for the actual storyline with the other hunters to progress, and this led me to not pick up the book as frequently as I expected. Also I am in the midst of finals and college craziness, so that is something to take into consideration too.
All in all, Lore is my favorite Bracken novel. A solid 4.25/5, and I cannot wait to see what she releases next!

Lore is the most 2020 book I've read.

In a world where the Greek Gods still exist and their powers are passed to those who hunt them, Lore finds herself standing in between, but will history repeat itself?

I loved Lore's rage. I loved her constant pull back into a world she continually tells herself she's done with. But mostly I loved the relationships the characters had with each other - both romantically and platonically. Bracken skillfully brings into focus whether we have the ability to chose our own paths despite our history and live in a new world being so deeply flawed by the old.

Percy Jackson meets The Hunger Games in this novel about survival and loyalty. When Lore bumps into a boy from her past whom she thought was dead, she is thrust back into the world that she left long ago—the world that killed her family. As she is forced to face those who had destroyed everything she held dear, Lore discovers that everything she knows about the Olympians, about herself, and about the world she thought she knew, is wrong. Alongside a goddess in danger, a newly-created god, a one-armed warrior, and her human best friend, Lore must stand up to fight against the evil that killed her parents, or risk losing the world all together.

As a Greek mythology nerd, I absolutely loved this book. From the first pages, I was enveloped in Bracken's world. Perfect for fans of fantasy set in a modern setting, Lore delves into the repercussions of the familial feud plaguing the Greek Pantheon. Each aspect of this novel intrigued me—the romance, the action, and the emotional turmoil. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology!

~Lore~
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2.5/5 stars
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I’m someone who grew up reading Percy Jackson, and reading The Song of Achilles this year reawakened my love for Greek mythology. I knew when I saw this cover and read the synopsis that I would have to get my hands on it, so thank you to Netgalley for approving my request.
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Pros:
+I love love love this concept! Greek gods in current society is so fun
+The cover is also top tier!! It’s beautiful.
+Great action scenes! They get my heart pumping with adrenaline
+I love the child hood best friends get reunited trope
+Honestly the new gods choosing names like “Tidebringer” and “Heartkeeper” is so funny to me and reminds me of children naming their Webkinz haha
+The best characters are definitely Miles and Castor. I will protect both.
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Cons:
-Very confusing at first. You kind of just jump right in with no explanation and then get hit over the head with the backstory all at once.
-I would have assumed that through the decades the bloodlines would choose to abide by current societies laws like the laws of consent. There was too much mention of “bedding” young girls in this for me. Like I get that it’s supposed to show how evil they are but I would have preferred it to just not be included.
-In general it was pretty graphic which just isn’t my thing
-The plot twists were so weird imo. They were so random and took me out of the story to the point where I no longer cared what happened.
-Maybe that was because I didn’t really feel connected to any of the characters.
-I also think there might’ve been an issue with pacing for me? It felt like it dragged on even though it was only supposed to be seven days.
-Also a very anticlimactic ending
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TW: attempted rape/sexual assault, gore, murdering of children, graphic violence
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Overall I went in to this book with high hopes and left it feeling kind of... meh. It was an amazing concept but I just struggled to connect to the story. I could see a lot of people really enjoying this one but it fell flat for me. By the end I was just waiting for it to be over. Id still recommend people give it a chance if they’re interested in it because just because I didn’t love it doesn’t mean you can’t love it!

"You are no monster. You are a warrior"

This was such a great read. I'm a huge Greek Mythology fan and this was akin to Greek Mythology takes on The Hunger Games taking place in NYC in the modern world. So many great characters to love and just as many to loathe. Lots of action and twists and turns.

As punishment for past rebellion, every 7 years the Agon begins and Greek gods are forced to walk on earth as mere mortals to be hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines. When these descendants kill the gods they take on their divine power and their immortality for themselves. Lore Perseous lost her entire family in a bloody massacre during the last Agon, so she fled that lifestyle and tried to live a normal, mortal life in NYC. As the new Agon approaches two participants look to have Lore help them with their endeavors - Castor, her childhood friend and training partner and Athena the last of only a few remaining original gods. Choices she makes will send her on a dangerous, wild, bloody ride into a world she swore she'd never be apart of again.

Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An original, unique take on mythology, “Lore” keeps the reads engaged and wanting more. It contains much ancient history to satisfy the loyalist mythology students, yet meshes new ideas and stories that pique the interests of those old and new to the world of the ancients. Diverse, well-developed characters that are fallible, likable, and relatable resonate with readers. A lengthy, yet enjoyable read.

I was blown away by how much I loved this book! I’ve always loved Greek Mythology and Lore was so fast paced, I could not put it down!

This is quite the book. It takes a bit to wrap your head around what the plot and major people are. God's being killed so others can have their powers. I had to keep looking back at the chart. But once it got going I really enjoyed the story. Strong female, friends to lovers. Great plot.

Rating: 5 ⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was so freaking amazing! I’ve never been super big into Greek mythology, but then I decided to take a Classics class in Uni this year and I think that’s why I enjoyed this book so much!

This didn’t follow one but many different myths and Alexandra Bracken interlaced them so that they all fit into one full story. It felt it’s own myth.

We start the book with Lore fighting in an underground fighting ring and it’s so exhilarating that I was so excited to keep reading. We are introduced to the mythic characters right away and it was fun because Lore and Castor have a past and you can just feel the angst rolling off the page. Their band of merry imposters, humans, hunters, and gods is soon formed out of alliance to avenge Lore’s family’s murder. The friendship in the book so genuine and was built out of trust and I really liked the relationships that were formed. Especially Van and Miles! They’re just so adorable and true cinnamon rolls! Lore and Cas were so wholesome and I really liked that we saw flashbacks into their childhoods and how they grew up. It really added to the story and we got to see how they were shaped into the characters they were in the present day.

One of the aspects I really liked was that it was so modern. Intertwining mythical gods with current day characters and worlds can be a big struggle but I think Bracken did a great job. You can see how well the imposters and hunters adapted to the modern world through Van’s use of technology. While being a skilled hunter and protector of Cas, he is also very knowledgeable of technology. It made me thing of him as half hunter half computer nerd which was awesome. Another modern thing that I noticed was that the characters actually used the taxis and transportation that was provided in New York City. Some other books have worked in a storyline where the characters seem to always be able to drive around New York in their own cars without hitting any traffic which isn’t very realistic, but Bracken worked the reality of New York into the story.

The tag line where the story is compared as The Hunter Games meets Percy Jackson is spot on and I would highly recommend this book if you love either of those series!

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I actually loved this book! So looking forward to Bracken’s next novel!

This book comes out January 5, 2021

In a world where gods are mortal for 7 days, and their power can be transferred to those who kill them, 9 gods and goddesses are doomed to walk the earth while others hunt them. Lore had gotten out of that world... until 2 participants in the hunt seek her out and want her help.

Okay, this one had some reeeeally dense world building, which is appreciated but felt a bit overwhelming at first. I had to take some breaks to process all the information and go back and reread stuff to fully understand what’s happened. It’s really well done, but this is not a casual read. The details are important to the story, and there’s a lot of details.

I don’t typically enjoy books that don’t have a fairly substantial romance plot going on, but I did enjoy this one. It’s much more action based, and there’s only a very very small romance subplot, so if you’re a big romance fan, this might not be for you. I will say the romance that did happen was very well done and I enjoyed it!

The characters were really well developed and I enjoyed seeing all of the various character arcs and how they built off each other. There’s betrayal, vengeance, love and loyalty, reception, sacrifice, all the good stuff!

The action and battle scenes were REALLY well written! There was a lot of action, and it’s so easy for those to be written hastily and not well thought out. Not the case here. They were believable and realistic and I really liked them.

Holy plot twists Batman! I did not see ANY of the plot twists coming!! They were all very well done and developed so naturally. Usually plot twists are either too predictable or forced in there just for shock value. These fit the story and advanced the story without being obvious. Fantastic!!

I was definitely satisfied by the conclusion to this one. I’m not sure if it’s intended to be a series or a stand-alone, but I don’t think a sequel is needed. The character arcs were wrapped up nicely, and there weren’t really any lingering questions that didn’t get answered.

Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posed on my instagram (@the.barnacle.bookshelf), and my blog (thebarnaclebookshelf.com) on December 11th. A release day post will be made on Jan 5th with a shorter review/blurb.

Technically, Lore would be classified as Urban Fantasy, but the incredible history and world that it encompasses defies a simple lable. The book is set in modern day Manhattan, blending mythology and reality so seamlessly, it's hard to separate the place from the characters. New York City has its own heart and soul in this book, and it made me view the city in a whole new light. I confess I'm not well versed in Ancient Greek mythology, but it wasn't necessary for me to be wholly sucked into the story, breathless from the first page to the last. Alex Bracken has another hit on her hands with Lore.
4.25 stars

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley.

This was a fun twist on the Greek mythology with Lore being the last of her family house, and the fight to become God's every 7 years. It was definitely a good book, but I really loved the twists and turns that randomly showed up throughout the book. I hope there is more. I can't wait!

I really enjoyed the book although it took me a lot of time to read. There's a lot of information and I had to stop and take some notes because the beginning is a little confusing. But that is the case with every fantasy book, at least for me. It takes me a little time to get used to world described and to get the dynamics of the plot. I love Greek mythology so I was thrilled to get the ARC and it didn't disappoint. The writing is flawless. Alexandra Bracken is a master of language in my opinion and the way she describes her worlds is so appealing.
I would highly recommend it, but I think that a little bit of previous knowledge about Greek myths would enrich the reading. Go for it!

Aside from the description, I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started Lore but very soon found myself in a whirlwind of a story that I couldn't put down. The subplot of mortals killing gods for their powers mingled in with the main character, Lore, reluctantly getting pulled back into that world of old gods and new after a devasting loss years before kept me on my toes. While I read a lot of books with strong, empowered female characters, this was the first one where the strong, empowered female character kicked butt and proved not only her emotional and mental strength but her physical endurance as well. I need more stories like this, especially if they're going to involve Lore and Castor.

I was so excited to receive this arc, and it did not let me down. Usually with more fantasy - ish books they can take me a bit to read, but I really flew through this one. Have actually already recommended this to multiple people. I believe it’s in one of my book sub boxes also! Can’t wait to see the copy!

I feel like I've spent half of the last several years chasing the high of books like Divergent and The Hunger Games - the dystopian YA/Fantasy that got me so unbelievably hooked and desperate for more.

Unfortunately, this was another miss for me. I was never able to settle into the story. I was not investing in any of the characters. Having spent most of my days reading romance lately, I think I wanted a little more on that front, and a little more attention to the characters and dialogue and interactions and less on information. I spent a fair amount of time skimming before finally admitting that - whatever the misfire was, it was a miss for me. And so - my search continues!

I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology, and the Medusa on the cover made this book a must-read for me! I love the strong female characters, who, let's face it, are given short shrift in much of the mythological source material.
I love that it is a stand-alone, but I developed such great affection for the characters that I would like to see them again.

Someone I follow wrote that this was like Greek Mythology meets the Hunger Games and I honestly can't think of a better way to describe it. Alexandra Bracken outdid herself with this one! It was so good, never really a dull moment and packed full of action.

I'm always kind of a sucker for anything playing off of Greek Mythology and this one did not disappoint me. The premise was cool, the characters were interesting and a bit mysterious. It's not very often anymore I get the feeling that I am going to read "just one more chapter" at night, because let's face it sleep has become important to me, but this was one of those books. I couldn't stop reading it and had to find out what happened next.

Highly recommend.

Hey, all!

I just finished Lore, by Alexandra Bracken! It just turned midnight here but hey I'm VERY hyped on sugars from the Skittles I've been snacking on and the absolute high this book gave me. Because seriously, this was the YA urban fantasy I've been waiting for!

NOTE: I received this ARC from Netgalley. This absolutely positively superduper doesn't alter my view of the book in any way. Thank you DisneyBooks and Alexandra Bracken for entrusting little ol' me with this early copy! Lore will be out on the 5th of January everywhere so make sure to keep an eye out for it! Naturally, this review will be spoiler-free.


Okay. I just... I need to get my fangirl rambling out of the way before I can write absolutely anything consistent. This book is the perfect blend of ancient Greece and modern New York, old customs and cutting edge technology, old-fashioned issues and diversity. It covers so much in just over 450 pages, that it is clear that this is going to be a hit. It's messed up and twisted and bloody but also funny and endearing and so gosh dang cute sometimes!

I'm a 24-year-old who grew up with Percy Jackson, The Mortal Instrument and The Hunger Games. The 'golden era' of YA where almost anything published was an insta-hit. I see so, so many people compare this book to those three, but imagine this: those three books met, matured a whole lot, and had a murderous love child. And even then, it's difficult to image the complexity that was Lore.

For the sake of minimizing rambling, I'm going to talk about several distinct points that I think truly highlight why this book stood out for me so much this year.

1. Take That, Tropes!
So many authors find a certain comfort in writing tropes that they know are popular. Insta-love, love triangles, the chosen one, the 'I'm a what?!' , the gods being super chill... you know what I mean. Pick up any book and you should be able to name a trope, right? ...Right!? This book did something different. No insta-love, no triangles, no chosen one. The gods are evil, the main character always knew what she was... this was just another (violent) 'chapter' in her life. I truly appreciated being surprised on this level. Although there were some rather expected developments, Bracken truly keeps you on your toes throughout this story.

2. The Characters, Me Likey!
Anyone who's followed me for a while knows I have a weak spot for two things in books: short chapters, and likable characters. Heck, I've read most of the Shadowhunter books purely for the feels the characters bring up.
Every single character in Lore brought something new to the table. Lore herself was a flawed fighter, Castor was such a rock for everyone, Miles brought the laughs and a sense of familiarity, and Van was the careful tech genius.
And don't get me started on the GODS.
I loved seeing that break from the usual convention of gods being approachable and borderline quirky. These gods were dangerous, out for blood, revenge and victory. I loved seeing a feral Artemis and a vulnerable Athena. I loved seeing an Apollo just try his best and an Ares being more than just 'BLOOD GOOD!'. Every character had so many facets, I'm surprised a disco ball didn't just emerge from the pages.
Also: Stable. Ships. You ship em on page 1, you keep shipping em on the last page. That's all I'll say about that.




3. When will you learn, that your acTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!?
Well, Bracken must have found that meme and imprinted it in her mind, because she seemed to have made sure that everything that happened in this ancient Greek battle royale had real-world consequences too. From making sure meetings happened in abandoned buildings to explaining the repercussions of a city-wide blackout, the city of New York was as much a character in this book as Athena or Miles. It even went into little details, such as losing track of a team mate because the city didn't have cameras in a specific area. Lore draws a fantastic interplay between actions and location, such as I have rarely read.

4. Let's Talk About That
Ok, I must say, I had fun with this book from page 1, but there was a moment that I got... concerned. The story started being relatively misogyny-heavy, with a constant pressure on 'male heirs' and making sure men get what they want. This surprised me, but after a while, this becomes very clearly explained, and even more clearly a tool for character development. Bracken was not afraid to talk about things that can be seen as taboo in the YA realm: the idea of possession and attempted r*pe, yes, but she also made the characters vulnerable. Lore wasn't perfect - in fact several times she missed in fights, wasn't brave enough to go through with actions or just plainly never had the upper hand. There was a whole segment about Medusa being seen as a witch, simply because she didn't adhere to beauty standards. This book took these ideas and directly confronted them. I applaud.


Goodness it's almost 1:00 AM now, I could keep talking about this book for a while yet! I'm giving it a 4.5/5 stars! If I had to take away points it would be for the last chapter: it felt a tad rushed. Additionally, one character could have been given a more central role. However I'm also aware that this is an ARC and things may differ in the final version!