DNF'd at 21%, sadly. I've never not finished an ARC on Netgalley, in 9 years and well over 200 books, but I just could not keep going. I wanted to like it - a human bored with life, saved by a monster hunt and entangled in the mythological world, sounds great! But the execution is just... not good.

The writing is really awkward. It was full of lots of short sentences with no rhythm or flow, and incorrect sentence structure. For example: "Once it became clear she'd run out of questions. The others moved on without her." I am not a writer myself and don't claim to write my reviews with perfect structure and grammar, but there were so many instances of confusing writing that felt awkward to read.

The writing style and structure was what made it hardest to read and ultimately made me DNF, but I could not connect with the characters either. The characterisation seemed so random and inconsistent. Why was Tori so weak willed in the office and around her boss, but then suddenly confident, assertive and willing to jump in the car of a strange man after she's just witnessed a murder? I had whiplash trying to figure out who Tori was! The main male characters of Brooks, Vince and Roy I honestly couldn't tell you anything about. They are all the same; hot and incredible and I did not care for them whatsoever.

Overall, I can't recommend this book. It was not an enjoyable read and I was left with so many questions. They weren't the fun kind that keeps you wanting to read on to find out more, just the kind that comes from confusion.

La ingeniera de software Tori Jaecar lo ha logrado. Al menos, eso es lo que se dice a sí misma. Sus compañeros de trabajo apestan, odia la vida en la gran ciudad y está hambrienta de sentido en la vida desde la muerte de su hermano, pero ¿a quién le importa? La felicidad es un pequeño precio a pagar por el éxito. Cuando el jefe de Tori es asesinado frente a ella, es salvada por el cazador de monstruos a tiempo parcial, el chico malo a tiempo completo Vince Lenoir, y sus destinos se entrelazan. En su búsqueda del asesino, se embarcan en una odisea de proporciones épicas, literalmente. Villanos legendarios de la mitología griega se han mudado a América. Amenazan con enviar a la humanidad de vuelta a la era clásica. Para detenerlos, Tori y Vince deben responder a tres preguntas: ¿quiénes son, quiénes quieren ser y quién está en el corazón de todo?



Al principio la premisa me pareció interesante y la verdad es que lo disfruté mucho hasta la primera mitad, después como que fue decayendo.


Gracias NetGalley por el ARC.

The First Liar had all the elements of a story I should’ve loved—secrets, morally gray characters, and an atmosphere thick with tension. But unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat. The writing style felt a bit clunky, and I struggled to connect with either the characters or the plot.

I kept waiting for that moment when everything would click, but it never quite came. The pacing felt uneven, and the worldbuilding and emotional depth didn’t feel fully developed. I wanted to be gripped by the twists and betrayals, but instead I felt mostly detached.

That said, I can see how others might enjoy the mind games and mysterious tone—it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

I cannot stress how much I wanted to love this book. I wanted the fictional Tori to be this amazing woman, but I just kept questioning her choices. Some of the characters' movements felt lost or unremembered. It was an okay read, just wanted more really. I'm not sure more of what, but some of the story did not feel fully flushed out.

DNF'd at 8% unfortunately.

If one can see my highlights on this book it would primarily be me asking "what the heck is going on?" or pointing out how contradicting everyone is already considering that I'm only at the start of the book.

FMC literally has no sense of survival, and the men... it made me feel like I was going through the start of Twilight in a way--with Bella meeting Carlisle and the others? Yeah, that.

Like I mentioned earlier, this is purely my take on this book, and trust me, I TRIED to pick it back up every time I put it down, and love it, but I thought to myself if I would be able to sit through having a FMC like this, and unfortunately, the answer was no.

I will give it 2 stars as I loved how free-flowing the author's writing style is, which is always a win for me.

While the premise was definitely intriguing, the story itself was often confusing and left me with more questions than answers. I wasn’t sure how everything started, why certain characters were involved, or why these “monsters” were so willing to follow Zeus. Were there others not working for him? And where were the other gods—why didn’t they intervene?

The dream sequences, flashbacks, or alternate world (it wasn’t clear which) were particularly hard to follow, especially since they seemed to bleed into reality but only for specific characters. The pacing also felt uneven—several days would pass in just a few pages, with not much happening besides one character recovering. It took a while to realize the setting was a post-apocalyptic America, which only seemed to matter in Atlanta and NYC. On top of that, the frequent repetition of certain words and the constant use of characters' full names became distracting.

There’s a lot of potential in the concept, but the execution felt a bit flawed to me.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and I appreciate the time and effort put in to it.

I had to DNF at 36%. I really tried to push through but I struggled with the action scenes and the characters.

I don’t understand how Tori went from being a bit of a pushover to chasing a murderer within 10 pages, and then jumping in a car with a stranger and demanding to go with him. Arguably this may have been the adrenaline, but then she’s suddenly learning how to become a monster hunter and really ingrained in these three men’s schemes, with minimal knowledge and zero experience about what she’s up against. I can’t quite figure out Vince’s character, I thought he was mid 20s but then he acts like a teenager when he doesn’t get his own way.

I’m sure other people will love this, and I love the idea behind it, I just wish there had been more character development and world building before jumping straight into the story.

Cool concept (kinda like adult Percy Jackson) but I just found it pretty hard to follow. Not my cup of tea but that of course doesn’t mean it won’t be others!

I hate DNFing ARCs that I get for review but I suffered through the 10% of the book I managed to read.

Every single person in this story it’s absolutely gorgeous, flawless and physically attractive while the action scene was so confusing that I had to read it twice to understand what was actually happening. The FMC that was shown as indecisive and a pushover in the first pages out of nowhere decides to banter and hop in a car with an unknown man less than ten pages afterwards.

But the worst part - and this is where I realize someone made their research for a book or not - there was a guy stitching a dog bite on her arm (which we don’t because it’s an infectious wound), with no anesthetics (at least there wasn’t a description of one) and “His touch was so gentle that she barely felt the pinch of his needle. He’d done this before.”, she thought.

Girl, a needle through your skin hurts like hell, no matter how many times that boy did that before.

Unfortunately this reads like a bad harem fanfiction and I’m definitely not up for it.

I tried to read this but I had to DNF after 5 chapters cause I couldn’t get into this book. It does have a good plot but there’s something that I did not like

In *the first liar*, software engineer Tori Jaecar’s life takes a dramatic turn when she witnesses her boss’s murder and is saved by Vince Lenoir, a part-time monster hunter. Together, they embark on an epic quest to stop legendary Greek villains now threatening humanity’s future. As they face danger, Tori and Vince must confront their own identities and destinies to save the world—and each other. A thrilling blend of mythology, adventure, and self-discovery.

This book didn’t capture my interest, though I was really excited based on the description.
The book does have good elements of Greek mythology but the character development was poor and didn’t really provide a clear reason why the main character went to fight monsters.
The book had a good idea but execution could of been improved.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me at 20%.

We're first introduced to Tori while she's at work. She makes a proposal to integrate cloud platforms and her sexist boss shuts her down, only to take credit for the idea later. Tori says and does nothing. She appears to be the non-confrontational sort. But, when her boss is murdered, she runs after Orion despite just witnessing a murder. This is really where it falls apart for me. Why does someone, who can't stand up to her boss, have the confidence to chase a monster?

Then when she meets the monster hunters, she wants to join them because, I've no idea why, she is seeking some sort of justice for an asshole boss. She should've said good riddance. I've seen other reviews mention she had a brother she'd lost mysteriously. Maybe mention this earlier?

Anyway, the inconsistent characterization was jarring and made me not trust Tori. I found myself just not caring anymore.

I think it would have been more compelling if her boss was a good boss. Imagine Tori's entire workplace is kind of sexist, but her boss is her champion. He sticks up for her and pushes her towards success. When she witnesses his murder, she has lost someone important and comes out of her shell to seek justice. There'd be character development early on and we'd have more reason to root for her.

M.C. Rising’s The First Liar offers a compelling fusion of contemporary thriller and classical mythology, weaving a narrative that is both imaginative and thought-provoking. The story follows Tori Jaecar, a software engineer grappling with personal loss and disillusionment in her professional life. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she witnesses her boss’s murder and is rescued by Vince Lenoir, a part-time monster hunter. Together, they uncover a hidden world where legendary Greek villains have infiltrated modern America, threatening to revert humanity to a bygone era. 

Rising’s narrative stands out for its inventive premise, blending the mundane aspects of urban life with the grandeur of mythological conflict. The characters are well-developed, with Tori’s internal struggles and Vince’s enigmatic persona adding depth to the unfolding drama. The prose is engaging, and the pacing maintains a steady momentum, keeping readers invested in the protagonists’ quest.

While the novel excels in creativity, there are moments where the integration of mythological elements could benefit from more nuanced exploration. Additionally, certain plot developments may stretch plausibility, requiring a suspension of disbelief. However, these aspects do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. 

In conclusion, The First Liar is a noteworthy addition to the genre, offering a fresh take on mythological themes within a modern setting. It is recommended for readers seeking a thriller that combines action, introspection, and a touch of the fantastical.

This book was my first dnf in a long time, as I DNF’ed at 33%

The First Liar is about Tori, a software engineer that gets thrown into a world of monsters and monster hunters when she witnesses her boss’ death.

And while I loved the idea for this story, the writing is just tough to get into.
The story is extremely telling, to the point where it reads like a first draft almost. The characters become flat and the worldbuilding messy, because we are told everything that’s happening instead of seeing them.
I really believe there is a great world somewhere in that book, but you just can’t find it.

The main character is protected by some pretty heavy plot armor, and quite annoying imo. She fully believes she ‘has trained for monster hunting’ after training for a month, and actually gets annoyed that a person who has years of experience wins every time they spar? Like girl, get a grip on reality.
As for the other characters, I couldn’t tell you their personalities. There’s the one we’ve been told drinks, the one we’ve been told is barely there and the one we’ve been told that heals. But because we’re are not shown these interactions, it is difficult to actually feel empathy for any of these characters, the main character included.

Overall, 1/5 stars because there is great idea buried in there, the book just needed some edits to make the writing more engaging.

"Legendary beasts. Heroes returned from the afterlife. Prophecy, fate, destiny, and now gods."


The story throws together an odd collection of characters chasing after mythological beings - “Monsters”. It is kind of tongue-n-cheek Percy Jackson meets a parody of American Gods. I couldn’t decide if this was supposed to be cozy supernatural or YA fantasy.

"Tell me, how do you feel about road trips, jiu-jitsu, and ghost stories?"
- Roy's recruiting pitch


The story begins with mousy Tori, who can’t stand up for herself. She has the epitome of the misogynistic boss, James. In the first few pages he basically tells her to smile more and infers that women are better off making sandwiches instead of suggestions. So when James is murdered in a hit and run, you would think she would be relieved. But no, she chases down the culprit. Maybe not the best idea when she finds herself hanging between two streetlights and at his mercy. Luckily, a “muscle-car-hero” enters the fray, saving her life.

This near-death experience surely put things into perspective, right? Ah, that would be a no. Tori decides that if this vigilante is going after the murderer, she is calling shotgun!

Our villain, Orion, isn’t your typical hit and run driver. He’s a mythical bad guy with Hell hounds. Okay, so they are just really big mastiffs that can regenerate - but same thing right? Suddenly, Tori, who is finally being recognized at work, decides to take a sabbatical to join three men she just met to chase monsters. Now if this were Sam & Dean Winchester, I could totally get it. But it’s a young, chain-smoking-rebel-with-a-cause (Vince), a protective, parental-type senior (Brooks), and an attractive but enigmatic charmer (Roy). In order to be a part of their team, Tori offers up a clue to what Orion is after, and offers herself up as bait.

From here, our cast of characters chase after Orion while also trying to discover what he is up to and how his plans involve the President. Along the way, our ragtag heroes land themselves in life or death situations, while managing to recruit new people along the way. There doesn’t appear to be a plan and they continually fail at getting any closer to discovering Orion’s endgame. But hey, they survive. This is no easy feat given that they are confronted with a new monster and their inevitable demise seemingly in every chapter. Okay, maybe not every chapter, but enough that I'm beginning to lose track of all the monsters.

Two-thirds in, it feels a bit directionless. Chapters end abruptly and then the characters are in totally different situation in the next. Frequently, I thought I must have dosed off and missed something while reading this book. Only to thumb back through the pages and sigh, "Nope, no plausible explanation or leading events given." Even our lead character expresses her confusion...

Tori was beginning to feel like she was watching a soap opera out of order. She hated soap operas."


If you want a light-hearted frolic involving supernatural and mythological beings, then this may be the read for you. For me, it was a rudderless boat on the ocean, drifting aimlessly which prompted the question, "Are we there yet?"

This was a really interesting premise and had been on my tbr. I liked both Percy Jackson and American Gods and this seemed in line with those titles. Unfortunately, I could not finish this book. There were snippets of real insight from the main character, but the events of the book seemed to take place without any natural linkage to what had happened prior. The character development seemed ad hoc and every time it happened took me out of the story. For example, on page 113 I still did not know whether the FMC brother was older or younger, I knew he had died but not why it had impacted the FMC or what feelings it gave her when the memory was invoked. Whenever he was mentioned it just added an unknown instead of emotional complexity.
I also had a really hard time with the age of Vincent and all subsequent developments of his character once it is revealed that he is only 19. (That math comes from he started working with Roy and Brooks when he was 14 and then he tells Tori he has known them longer than anyone, going on 5 years now). The fact he is 19 gave me the ick when he and Tori are flirting (maybe?) since she has already graduated college and has been working. And definitely gave me the ick when he flirts with the TV anchor Grace and for some unknown reason their first meeting flirtation results in them running off and playing while at News Channel 4, which seems unbelievable that would happen but also, how old are news anchors? I don’t think age compatible with 19.
Overall, I had a really hard time understanding the motivations behind what the characters were doing. It seemed this got worse as the book went on and ultimately my DNF point was when Grace (who also is started to be referred to as “the Lavender Lady” for no clear reason a few pages back) and Tori are trying to escape the labyrinth and there is this several sentence aside of a fox escaping the woods that is completely non sequitor. That is where I stopped reading. I would be interested in re-reading if this gets revised. I do think the premise is cool and Greek mythology and monsters never get old. I did not write a review on Goodreads because there are currently only 3 others and my honest review of this book is 1 or 2 stars and I didn’t want to tank their average on the off-chance this gets revised.

If you like a heavy dose of monsters, gods and Greek mythology following an epic adventure then The First Liar is for you.

It follows a group of unlikely friends battling to stop villains before the world is forever changed focusing on relationships and dynamics between the characters and monsters without any real romance.

The book is jam packed with characters and tales of monsters so get ready to emerge yourself in all things gods and monsters.

#NetGallery

Attacked by a myth absolutely killed me. Definitely good comedy which I love in a book especially fantasy because it helps keep the casual fun too. Tori is definitely a girl that's had this desire to fight since forever and I love to see how well she gets into it plus I love the slightly awkward stages. If you love a slice of comedy and a slice of fantasy this is definitely the type you'd love. It's a great read, not for me in the long run but fantastic for mythology lovers like fans of percy like myself, I'd recommend it for sure so please give it a go! #NetGallery