Alexandra Bracken’s Lore builds on Greek mythology

LORE, by Alexandra Bracken, Disney-Hyperion, Jan. 5, 2021, Hardcover, $18.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

What if the gods of ancient Greece were still alive? What if they still visit Earth? And what if mere humans were all that was standing between death and immortality. Alexandra Bracken’s Lore follows the descendants of ancient bloodlines as they hunt down Greek gods forced to live as mortals.

Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek walk the earth as mortals, hunted by those 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. —Synopsis provided by Disney-Hyperion

Lore will appeal to a wide variety of readers, but especially to those who have an interest/knowledge in Greek mythology. While author Alexandra Bracken gives you the framework, having a foundation going into the book makes for a richer experience.

The book’s namesake is a compelling character that may not exactly be likeable but still want to root for. She has a long, complicated past that she does not want to reexamine. This framework means it takes a while to understand her motivation.

Lore is not a particularly fast read. There’s something about Bracken’s prose that forces you to slow down, even when surrounded by action. She wants you to take it all in, even when that sometimes is impossible. I finished the book with the knowledge I didn’t absorb everything. I was at times confused as to all the players, and yet, I want to read it again.

Due to the violent nature of the hunt, I recommend Lore for more mature young adults, at least 14 years and older.