Lore… This copy was kindle gifted to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (submitted on Instagram)

Lore is a beautifully written action packed adventure about a brief point in time where the Gods become mortal and are hunted by mortals seeking to gain their powers. Over the years the oldest gods have been whittled down, leaving few originals standing. Lore Perseous spent years training to be one of those hunting the gods, but fled the world taking a new identity after the brutal murder of her family. But with the hunt about to start once more, she is propelled into the heart of it when a gravely injured goddess lands up on her doorstep. In exchange for helping the Goddess, Lore is given a chance for revenge against the man - now God - she holds responsible for the brutal deaths of her family.

Lore is a sprawling, epic fantasy set in a contemporary world and it's difficult to fall into to begin with. Without a decent backing in Greek mythology, I found the names and roles difficult to remember. The author also holds a lot of secrets close to their chest, eking out information on a very much need to know basis. That could have been really annoying, but in reality I was so invested in the characters and the narrative that the slow spooning of information barely registered. As the Gods and their hunters run riot through New York, chaos and catastrophe follows in their wake. And throughout, the narrative thread of Lore's quest for revenge carries through.

I felt the different characters were really well portrayed throughout, each feeling individual and I was invested in how they fared in the brutal fight between mortals and gods. There were twists and turns, made easier for the author because of the amount of hidden information that you learn fairly late on. I felt the inclusion of flashbacks to when Lore was training were cleverly utilised and helped to build the characters of both Lore and Castor. It would be almost impossible to visualise this new god with the cancer stricken youngster otherwise and it made the relationship all the more powerful. I did feel that the romance angle could have been dropped entirely though as it added very little, if anything to the novel and felt unnecessary and forced.

My main complaint however must be the ending. Without giving anything away, it felt like a cop out. The author took the easy way out that didn't really account for the sacrifices made throughout the novel. It's a shame as it was a very weak ending to what was otherwise a really strong novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the free review copy of this novel.

So much detail included in the world building for this book along with a fast paced plot means this is a book you just can't put doen.

Bracken remains one of the greats of YA fiction in my eye. Equally skilled at action/plot, worldbuilding and character studies - her books never fail to capture both my attention and my heart. Never knew what I need most from her was the addition of Greek myth elements, but here we are, here is the book I never knew I wanted but have needed all along!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s quite fast paced without bombarding you with information. It’s set in New York which will always be a thumbs up in my eyes as it’s such an interesting setting. I loved the main character and her mortal and immortal friends alike. The back story as to why Gods have to fight every several years was interesting and there were some great twists!

Oh I loved this! The mix of Greek Mythology in a modern world made for a fantastic setting. The plot kept me guessing, the characters were brilliant and Lore is a fierce, bad ass lead.

I enjoyed this stand-alone YA novel but found the explanations of the mythology to be convoluted and tedious.

Lore is about a young girl actually named Lore whose family was murdered seven years ago. Her entire family is gone and this is her story of revenge. We follow her through different challenges and chaos in the world she decided to leave behind but must re enter it in order to avenger her family’s deaths over 7 years ago.
Behind this narrative, we have a world that Bracken has set up inspired by Greek Mythology. In this tale, every seven years, nine Greek gods become mortal for a week. This is known as the Agon. But during the time of the Agon, the gods who are known to be hunters in myths now become the hunted as it is said that killing a god means taking their power and becoming one themselves. With the beginning of the Agon, Lore finds herself dragged back into that world when the Goddess Athena asks for her help and in return she offers revenge on the people that ordered her family killed. Athena asks of her that she hunt down the god who was once known as Aristos Kadmou. But the thing is, there is a catch she only has eight days to do this and if she doesn’t both Lore and Athena will die.

This book is not good not bad. It’s just in the middle. I went in with the feeling that I would love it because 1. It’s Alexandra Bracken and 2. It’s Greek mythology but I came out of it feeling a bit lack luster. I truly feel that this could of worked but the execution of it was not on par with Bracken’s other works.

2 out of 5 stars.

I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for granting me access to this prior to publication.
I had to have two attempts to read this - first time round I wasn't clicking with it at all. Second time round, I found the start equally frustrating but it did improve...only to end in a bit of a whimper.
Lore was a character who both intrigued and irritated me. The relentless flashbacks helped us to gain an understanding of her past, but until we were some way in they just seemed intensely annoying. She was descended from gods, but was mortal...yet she was needed by the gods as they appeared for their regular seven day fight.
The whole book felt a bit like being at a party when everyone around you is having fun and you're not quite feeling it. Nothing was actually wrong with what I was reading, but I regularly found myself having to push through to keep reading and find out what happened.
Once we developed a little more understanding of Lore's past and started to piece together the relationship between the characters it became more engaging. There were a few dramatic moments that took me rather by surprise, but I didn't feel they were enough. Throughout, I had a sense of waiting for a big reveal and wanting to learn exactly what Lore was hiding...but the moment when it came was all a little sudden.
This, sadly, wasn't really for me.

A brilliantly inventive YA fantasy set in modern-day New York and inspired by Greek mythology. The prose and plot were engaging from the very beginning and, as a Greek mythology nerd, I loved how the author incorporated the myths and immortals into the story.

Lore was an incredible main character, thanks to her complex characterisation. She was angry, powerful, and determined, and I loved everything about her. The games take place amidst a backdrop of a patriarchal society, rife with misogyny. I appreciated how the author explored the idea of power versus powerlessness and the toxic ideals of honour and glory.

This is a long book but it's well-paced and I'd love to revisit some of the characters one day (especially Miles and Van). It's also got a childhood-friends-to-lovers trope which is definitely worth reading for alone.

I am quite disappointed with this book. I love Greek mythology, and I particularly enjoyed “The Darkest Minds” back when it was published. Moreover, the summary reminded me of one of my favorite series (“The Arcana Chronicles”, by Kresley Cole) so it’s safe to say I had high hopes. However, both the characters and the execution felt flat to me, and the development of the plot was predictable and lacked the rhythm required to be a page-turner.

“Lore” had all the markers to be a new favorite book but, sadly, it just didn’t deliver. But I can see a lot of (younger?) people enjoying it.

Every seven years, the gods become mortal for seven days as a punishment from Zeus in what is known as the agon. During that time, any mortal who kills them will gain their power and ascend to god-hood. Only a number of families, descendants of heroes, participate. Lore is the last of her line, descendant of Perseus, and has escaped from that life for years. That is, until an injured Athena shows up on her doorstep asking for help.

The author, Alexandra Bracken, has Greek heritage and this really comes through in her depiction of the families and Greek mythology. From the legends to the families to the themes explored, it is believable and well thought through. Even though it was hard to keep track of the various families, their society felt real and I found myself intrigued by the rules they lived by and how they survived over the years. I also enjoyed how feminism was explored, particularly in relation to the old myths and legends where it was the men who became heroes and favoured of the gods not women, something which fed through into the families in this book even in modern day.

I really enjoyed Lore as the book’s protagonist, particularly her desire to escape the agon at war with her desire for revenge and love of the fight. She is perfectly balanced by the group of friends that join the fight both to survive, but also to defeat the new Ares and bring an end to the agon. Miles is really the heart of the book and his loyalty and determination to help Lore despite being new to her world was just a delight to read. I do wish we got to see more of Iro, but all the other characters, even those absent ones came across strongly. Athena was my favourite though – I loved how other-worldly she felt, and how her morality, stories and goals were handled.

In terms of structure, the pacing was pretty consistent throughout, and I really enjoyed the twists we got as loyalties were tested and reveals happened. I did find it took a while to get used to the world in question, but the flashbacks helped add a lot of needed context while also fleshing out the other characters. There were some incredibly dark themes – the use of the Brazen Bull on two children (not shown in any detail) was particularly disturbing, but these were broken up by some well-placed light-hearted moments or a touch of humour.

I do love Greek mythology and so I was incredibly excited to pick this up. It lived up to expectations and I know I would love to see more of this world, or at least the characters and gods, even if this was only a standalone. Writing this review now, I am tempted it again, but I think I’ll hold off on that a bit longer.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fab read. I loved the characters, the background behind the story and the action packed chapters. There was also a happy ending, which is always good!

Lore, Greek mythology in a modern setting? Yes it's been done before,,, a lot! But not like this. Lore is a original take, one that grips you and pulls you in so quickly. Fantastic plot, strong characters it has it all and is a very enjoyable read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this twisty take on Greek Mythology, bringing it bang up to date and set in the here and now. Following Lore’s journey as she tries to escape the life, only to be dragged back in and pay the ultimate price. I loved the developing relationships, especially Miles and Van. Definitely worth a read.

The gods of ancient Greece walking the streets of Manhattan, a seven-day Hunger-Games style fight to the death, and the descendants of Greek heroes warring against each other to harness the powers of the gods – this book has all the ingredients of a gripping urban fantasy, and I couldn’t put it down.

Lore is the last survivor of the House of Perseus. She’s opted out of the fighting between rival families, and she’s trying to live a normal life in present-day New York City. But Zeus is punishing the gods, sending them into the mortal world once every seven years to kill or be killed, and Lore is about to find herself dragged back into the fighting.

For one week every seven years, the gods can be killed, and their killer takes on their powers. All the families want a god on their side, so everyone is hunting, and everyone is hunted. The author doesn’t pull her punches – this is a violent book with plenty of blood and gore. The stakes are high, for the gods and the hunters, and Lore’s involvement puts her in serious danger.

She’s a great protagonist. Strong, intelligent, and fiercely protective of the family she’s built for herself. When we first meet her, she’s fighting in an illegal underground boxing match, finding the weakness in her male opponent, pushing her advantage, and playing to the crowd who are betting on the result. Her strength is physical as well as emotional, which gives her the advantage she needs. As a teenage girl surviving alone, the other houses have discounted her from the fight, and she’s going to need all her strength to prove them wrong.

She has the support of her best friend Miles, who knows nothing about her background. Add in her childhood training with the House of Achilles, a mysterious benefactor, an injured god, and the return of someone she thought was dead, and Lore’s plans to survive the week take a dangerous turn. The story unfolds alongside flashback chapters, filling in important details as necessary.

If I have a criticism, it’s that the plot isn’t always clear. Lore and her group of supporters make plans to trap gods and trick their rivals, but the story feels repetitive as plan after plan is thrown off-course by the warring factions. It’s not always clear what they are trying to achieve, and why they make their decisions. The complexity of the setup can be off-putting at times. Trying to remember which characters are allied with which families and which gods is not always easy, and while there is a list of people and their affiliations, it’s at the end of the book, so I didn’t notice until I had finished reading!

It’s an exciting, constantly moving story. I’m a fan of urban fantasy, and this ticks all the boxes: supernatural fights in recognisable New York locations, high stakes, a reluctant hero, and real danger for the characters and the residents of the city. It’s an inventive idea and an engaging story. Definitely worth a read.

Firstly, I'd like to thank Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having read many Alexandra Bracken before, I was quite excited about how this was going to go. Whilst I've not been super hyped about every book she's published before, I've always enjoyed them and appreciated that great worlds she creates (that's true, no matter what happens). I have to say I was especially stoked because my personal nickname is Lore and that made this solidly speak to me!

It did not disappoint. It was a slow burn/longish slog, not because it was boring but because, actually, for once, a YA author manages to tell a story in one book and that does require some pages! (I'll say this and then a number 2 in the universe will turn up)

The weird thing about Lore though is I cannot really tell you what it is about because it will be spoilers. I didn't know what to expect and I tried to read reviews here and just.. just give it a try. There's a romance but it's heartwarming. There's another one and that's equally shy and retiring. There is some violence but it's essential to the running of the narrative. There's a bit of adventure. There's a problem to solve. There are Greek myths and legends. And there are some hella badass women just struttin' about.

Give it a go. If you enjoy a decent world building story, this will be worth your while!

A brilliant blend of Greek Mythology and Urban Fantasy! I was absolutely hooked from page one. Lore takes you on a brilliant adventure and there were really clever twists that you don't expect at all and then when you think about them you notice all the clues building up to them!

I snagged a copy of this one from my Hatchette Children’s auto approval on Netgalley. I enjoy Greek mythology immensely and the author is one whose works I have enjoyed before. I didn’t particularly like the last set of books I read she wrote, but I figured I’d give this one a try.
I’m so glad I did as it turned out I couldn’t put this book down. I loved it. It contains everything I love about a Greek mythology meets modern day story. Set in New York City (which is a city I love to read about) it’s packed to the brim with adventure, great characters and immersive writing. Some fantastic twists on classical characters with new ones added into the mix. A brilliant job of taking familiar themes and known characters like Artemis and Athena and making them into something completely new.
Quite violent in parts, but managed to include some pretty well done wry humour. Pleased to see as well that friendship and doing the right thing seemed to be more of the focus of the plot than the barely there romance, which was hinted at throughout but not a main thing.
A likeable heroine who wasn’t infallible, aware of her faults, made some questionable choices but dealt with consequences, smart and sassy. Basically everything I like in a modern day fantasy. Well worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I've been interested in Greek mythology since I was a kid, and this book really rewards that interest with a unique take on the legends. Bracken's writing is engaging and the characters are well-rounded and identifiable. The plot is twisty enough to be satisfying without being completely unpredictable, and Bracken's world-building is impressive. Loved it.