*I received this e-arc copy from Net Galley. All reviews are my own.*
Before I begin this review, I have to thank @stacialovestoread for mentioning this book a couple of months back. Initially, I thought about skipping out on the novel because the theme seemed heavy on Fantasy. Boy, was I wrong! Because of her persistence and excitement, I picked it up, and I'm glad I did. I was super lucky to receive the full version of this book after getting access to the publishers' sampler.
"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.
Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family's sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt's promises of eternal glory. For years she's pushed away any thought of revenge against the man--now a god--responsible for their deaths.
Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods. The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, 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."
Lore by Alexandra Bracken is a well thought out story dripping in Greek mythology history, infused with present-day America. It reminds me of a well-blended mixture of American Gods and Hunger Games. If you do not know Greek folklore's classic stories, I recommend watching the docuseries, Great Greek Myths on Amazon Prime. It highlights and breaks down in detail every anecdote the Gods have ever encountered. With that being said, OHHHHMIGODDD! This book is amazing! I've been looking for a good Greek Myth book for a while, and this one hit all expectations.
As soon as you flip to page one, we are immediately introduced to violence. Starting off the book with such high aggression sets the tone for what to expect in this new age odyssey. Gods fighting for their lives isn't something that you would expect to hear in any tale. Especially when they are fighting the very people who they desire worship from. I mean, they're Gods. How and why would a mortal have enough courage even to raise such
blasphemous thoughts of harming a divine being?
This novel's star is Melora Perseous, the rambunctious, hard-headed, hot-blooded Spartan of this generation. As a child, she craved the recognition and glory her peers refused to give her. As a pre-adult, she is all but a shell of her former memory. The internal conflict of seeking revenge for her fallen family yet staying away from the hunt altogether has left Lore feeling torn about her future after the Agon. She wants it to cease from existing, yet deep down, she craves the power of righting her family name and crushing those who discredit her bloodline's name. At times during the story, her emotions got the better of her, playing into the enemy's hands, but it's her fierce determination and will that pushed her forward.
Bracken has done a fantastic job with this story. She did her research and has a deep love for Greek Mythology. Whether it was drawing out the story plot, entering a bombshell of a plot twist, painting the modern world with a thriving hidden culture of Greek mythology, etc., I couldn't ask for a more perfect book.
Lore comes out on January 5, 2021