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. Brilliantly crafted. One of the smartest books of 2021, something that will stay on my mind for a long time to come. Broke my TVD reading slump, which, if you read my review, you know is quite the feat. I can't say much about Lore without spoiling the plot, and I want to honor that for readers who haven't picked up this gem yet. You need to go into it knowing nothing, and slowly let the Agon draw you in. That's why this review is so short--there's so much I want to scream about, but I want you all to have a pure reading experience. I honestly can't remember the last Greek mythology book I read, but I think it was part of the Riordanverse, so Lore was a throwback to my youth in that way, if a more violent version. Definitely for older readers, and there are some particularly brutal parts so consider that a content warning. You don't need prior knowledge to read, though, and I enjoyed Bracken's take on the stories. Her mythology isn't all-encompassing, which is good because the novel keeps a quick pace that does well without the minutiae. Lore is a compelling narrator with a desire to be free of her identity, the meaning of which you'll come to discover. Her perspective throughout is essential, and I can't imagine this story with any other narrator. That's the best kind of book for me, where the lead is irreplaceable and you know it throughout. I knew from the first that I'd adore Lore. She's got grit. Doesn't let anything stop her, and always tries to do the right thing (whatever she deems that may be, based on her values). Like I mentioned, "right thing" sometimes includes violence, but hey, I fully endorse fictional girls with weapons. I can't really get into the side characters except for Castor and Athena, who were mentioned in the synopsis, and even then I don't want to spoil all the incredible plot twists. How Bracken deals with godhood, powers, and immortality is truly masterful. She has these really raw interpretations that stay true to the heart of the terrifying concept of deities. Also, as a side note, I totally ship Castor and Lore. Childhood friends to lovers!! Only second behind enemies to lovers in my list of favorite romance tropes! Finally, plot. I really don't want to say anything here, so I'll talk more about Bracken's writing and what few details I can reveal. This is her best book to date in my opinion. Every inch of it is filled with clever reference and detail, and there's plenty of thrill. Lore reads like an action flick, with plenty of visuals that would be great as a high-budget TV series (hint: Disney Hyperion MAKE THIS HAPPEN!), one that I'd totally binge in a night. This is a long-ish book, but it goes by so fast! I read Lore in just under a day because I couldn't put it down. I am beyond certain you'll be equally attached as soon as you get your copy. 5/5 stars for this wonderful novel, a breakout of 2021 and absolutely deserving of its #1 spot on the NYT bestseller list. Go order it!
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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