Greek mythology meets The Hunger Games in Bracken's new YA fantasy

     If you’re a fan of young adult books, you’ve probably heard of Alexandra Bracken or any of her fabulous books like The Darkest Minds or Passenger series. However, her newest novel, Lore (released on January 5th), just might rock the YA literary world and start 2021 on a high note.
     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.
     This book made my YA-loving heart so happy! If you mixed The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson series,  you'd get an idea of what this story is like. It’s got all of the best parts of a YA fantasy book squished together and it’s amazing! The plot is action-packed and all of the characters we meet just help move the narrative along and keep readers invested in what will happen next. Between redeeming character arcs, plot twists, and a fantastical world, Bracken really pulls all the stops in this novel.
     The world building in this book is phenomenal! Any lovers of Greek mythology will automatically fall in love with the way Bracken has built and shaped this modern Greek society hidden in the middle of New York City. However, if you’re not as familiar with the Greek gods and myths, everything is laid out and explained really well to make understanding Lore’s world a bit easier.
     This book had me on the edge of my seat and I was eagerly flipping through the pages to see what would happen next. Lore is enchanting, binge-worthy, and the YA fantasy book all readers need in their lives. This book is a must-read and if you weren’t sure of Bracken’s ingenuity and creativity, then this book will prove that she is a writing genius! 

*I received an ARC from NetGalley and Disney Hyperion in exchange for my honest review.

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