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caweath's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
sara_rachelle_'s review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I would reccomend this book for a weekend or vacation. It's a stand alone novel and moves quickly. I like the Greek mythology ties. No shut. Seems more YA, but at least the characters aren't all 15.
raye_loves_reading's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't quite sure what to expect of this book having never a) heard of it or b) read anything previously by the author. I also didn't read a review before I picked it up (which is incredibly rare for me).
I am going to save this for a review on my podcast because anything that can take me a little time to read and still keep me entranced is worth reviewing properly.
I will say this, I loved the fact that the central female character, Lore, wasn't absorbed by frivolity and neither, it seems, were the people around her. She was focused on survival. She was consumed by anger but didn't let it take away from the fact that there were still people she cared about.
I am going to save this for a review on my podcast because anything that can take me a little time to read and still keep me entranced is worth reviewing properly.
I will say this, I loved the fact that the central female character, Lore, wasn't absorbed by frivolity and neither, it seems, were the people around her. She was focused on survival. She was consumed by anger but didn't let it take away from the fact that there were still people she cared about.
enchanted0rose's review
4.0
Hmmm not super sure about the ending. Felt kinda rushed and weird. And i was confused through a lot of the story. That being said, i enjoyed the ride!
sunnylovesreading's review
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thea's review
4.0
3.8 stars! alex does it again, crafting a kind, powerful female protagonist that i would pay to beat my ass, a secret society that i wouldn't last a day in, and a strongly crafted plot that had me begging for my favorite characters to come out alive. check out my book blog!
this story centers around melora perseous — the last of her line from the legendary hero, perseus — as she returns to her old world of glory and death by participating in the agon (a weeklong murderous game that occurs every seven years of hunting down gods to take their power) for the final time, seeking retribution and absolute revenge for her family. alex bracken has said, lore has the most tragic backstory out of all her characters, and as somebody who has read all her books, i wholeheartedly agree.
this book does not hold back. there's a constant thread of such raw pain and suffering woven throughout the story, depicted in such a way that grabs and squeezes the hell out of your racing, aching heart. make sure to check the trigger warnings, which include various violent scenes (it's very gruesome and isn't for shock value; the violence always means something) and descriptions/ mentions of sexual assault. if i had to describe this book, it would be a searing hot knife, glorious in its absoluteness yet painful with the promise of bloodshed.
as somebody whose foundation with greek mythology started with the percy jackson/ heroes of olympus series, it was satisfying to see the little nuggets and nods to the mythologies that weren't explicitly pointed out. but even without that previous knowledge of greek mythologies, this book is not hard to get into, sweeping you into lore's world of battle, betrayal, and pain.
the story starts with lore fighting in the basement of a chinese restaurant, beating a rich white kid's ass. from the first chapter, you get to know lore as tenacious, tough, and sensitive yet emotionally repressed (emotionally repressed people can detect other emotionally repressed people and lore is looking real familiar right now). just in the first chapter, you get little tidbits of information that pushes you to read the story, and by the end, you know you're in for a wild ride.
it was go go go from the start and this story was thrilling, shocking, and agonizing until its final pages. the emotional rollercoaster never stops. this story rings with the same chord of the epic tales of old — of greek heroes striving for glory in battle, of dying with honor, and of leaving a legacy behind, no matter the cost. this vicious, bloodthirsty world really believes in the famous phrase: the ends justify the means.
and if you're curious about the romance, then prepare yourself for one of the most excruciating yet delicious tropes: slow burn >:) and you get the first taste of it in chapter 2, so get reading!! it has friends to i-thought-you-were-dead to allies to friends to lovers so what are you waiting for?? it has the sunshine-hard ass pairing!! what more can i entice you with?? cowardice is illegal in this world of brutalities and ferocity, so get reading and get immersed in this ancient, gory world — just make sure to grab a shield and a sword on the way!
spoilers below!
i love miles so much. i was so afraid that he would die, but nope alex was just playing with our emotions, and if you've read [b:never fade|16150830|Never Fade (The Darkest Minds, #2)|Alexandra Bracken|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1368460550l/16150830._SY75_.jpg|21986942], then you know why i was scared. miles was such a delight to have in this heavy book, adding lightness and love into lore's world that she desperately needed after being alone for so long. the way lore's family was murdered was heartbreaking; i almost teared up. it was so heartbreaking. it was horrible. even thinking about it makes me feel powerless and aggressively sad. i'm so happy lore got a new family at the end, but the way she lost her old one is not an easy thing to forget.
miles and van were also really cute, and i liked the way their relationship developed! it reminded me of chubs and vida's relationship in alex's other series.
i also appreciated how alex wrote about the patriarchal society lore was raised in, discussing the blatant sexism that affected all those in this cruel secret society (and i mean, all, including the men, which i loved). this book deals with a lot of heavy shit, and lore is such a resilient character; i admire her strength so much. the main villain? yeah he can fuck off i hope that son of a bitch is rotting in the darkest, deepest depths of tartarus.
ALSO THE ATHENA BETAYAL??? holy fuck, i never saw it coming. i had a inkling of a feeling right before it was announced, but i was hoping i would be wrong. right after that, my admiration for athena quickly flipped, transforming into rage and disbelief and pain. i felt how lore felt in that moment and damn, if that isn't excellent writing.
one of the reasons why i didn't rate the book higher was the ending. i felt like it could've been resolved better, not as quickly. it felt like a quick, nice bow compared to the high-stakes atmosphere the story was mainly comprised of. don't get me wrong, i'm happy the characters got a happy ending, but from darker, more mature stories, i expect more of a bittersweet ending than anything. so the ending didn't sit right with me, even though i'm glad it was happy. the other reason was the hermes/ gil situation. i felt like the narrative barely glimpsed over it. i wanted more emotional reflections from lore about it, how it felt knowing that those last 4 years were a deception yet she still cared for gil, and in extension, hermes, even though he protected her out of guilt. i wish i got to hear more about that, the complexities of how lore must've felt.
one of the things i love most about alex's stories are the main male romance leads. they're always so sweet and compassionate. first, there was southern sweetheart liam from [b:the darkest minds|10576365|The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds, #1)|Alexandra Bracken|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1343178841l/10576365._SY75_.jpg|15483434], then respectable, honorable nicholas from [b:passenger|20983362|Passenger (Passenger, #1)|Alexandra Bracken|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446749751l/20983362._SY75_.jpg|40360384], and now moral, pun-master castor? UGH, I LOVE ALL OF THEM. all of them can do no wrong.
and is it surprising that my favorite quotes are centered around castor? nope. not at all.
i applaud alexandra bracken once again for a brilliantly written book. lore may have won by breaking the vicious cycle of the agon, but alex won by breaking our mental stability after making us go through all of that. i enjoyed this book, and i can't wait to see what else alex bracken creates.
"Do not deny your birthright," Athena said. "You are no mere mortal. I have seen you fight. You may silence her, you may suppress her glorious rage, but a warrior lives in you still."
My name will be legend.
this story centers around melora perseous — the last of her line from the legendary hero, perseus — as she returns to her old world of glory and death by participating in the agon (a weeklong murderous game that occurs every seven years of hunting down gods to take their power) for the final time, seeking retribution and absolute revenge for her family. alex bracken has said, lore has the most tragic backstory out of all her characters, and as somebody who has read all her books, i wholeheartedly agree.
Power does not transform you, he'd said. It only reveals you.
this book does not hold back. there's a constant thread of such raw pain and suffering woven throughout the story, depicted in such a way that grabs and squeezes the hell out of your racing, aching heart. make sure to check the trigger warnings, which include various violent scenes (it's very gruesome and isn't for shock value; the violence always means something) and descriptions/ mentions of sexual assault. if i had to describe this book, it would be a searing hot knife, glorious in its absoluteness yet painful with the promise of bloodshed.
as somebody whose foundation with greek mythology started with the percy jackson/ heroes of olympus series, it was satisfying to see the little nuggets and nods to the mythologies that weren't explicitly pointed out. but even without that previous knowledge of greek mythologies, this book is not hard to get into, sweeping you into lore's world of battle, betrayal, and pain.
Not for the first time, Lore realized she'd been kind of an asshole as a child.
the story starts with lore fighting in the basement of a chinese restaurant, beating a rich white kid's ass. from the first chapter, you get to know lore as tenacious, tough, and sensitive yet emotionally repressed (emotionally repressed people can detect other emotionally repressed people and lore is looking real familiar right now). just in the first chapter, you get little tidbits of information that pushes you to read the story, and by the end, you know you're in for a wild ride.
it was go go go from the start and this story was thrilling, shocking, and agonizing until its final pages. the emotional rollercoaster never stops. this story rings with the same chord of the epic tales of old — of greek heroes striving for glory in battle, of dying with honor, and of leaving a legacy behind, no matter the cost. this vicious, bloodthirsty world really believes in the famous phrase: the ends justify the means.
His gaze became intent as he ducked low and whispered in her ear. "You still fight like a Fury."
and if you're curious about the romance, then prepare yourself for one of the most excruciating yet delicious tropes: slow burn >:) and you get the first taste of it in chapter 2, so get reading!! it has friends to i-thought-you-were-dead to allies to friends to lovers so what are you waiting for?? it has the sunshine-hard ass pairing!! what more can i entice you with?? cowardice is illegal in this world of brutalities and ferocity, so get reading and get immersed in this ancient, gory world — just make sure to grab a shield and a sword on the way!
spoilers below!
Spoiler
i love miles so much. i was so afraid that he would die, but nope alex was just playing with our emotions, and if you've read [b:never fade|16150830|Never Fade (The Darkest Minds, #2)|Alexandra Bracken|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1368460550l/16150830._SY75_.jpg|21986942], then you know why i was scared. miles was such a delight to have in this heavy book, adding lightness and love into lore's world that she desperately needed after being alone for so long. the way lore's family was murdered was heartbreaking; i almost teared up. it was so heartbreaking. it was horrible. even thinking about it makes me feel powerless and aggressively sad. i'm so happy lore got a new family at the end, but the way she lost her old one is not an easy thing to forget.
miles and van were also really cute, and i liked the way their relationship developed! it reminded me of chubs and vida's relationship in alex's other series.
"I've got another ancient proverb for you," Lore said, sliding her arm out from the interior straps of the aegis. "Go fuck yourself."
i also appreciated how alex wrote about the patriarchal society lore was raised in, discussing the blatant sexism that affected all those in this cruel secret society (and i mean, all, including the men, which i loved). this book deals with a lot of heavy shit, and lore is such a resilient character; i admire her strength so much. the main villain? yeah he can fuck off i hope that son of a bitch is rotting in the darkest, deepest depths of tartarus.
ALSO THE ATHENA BETAYAL??? holy fuck, i never saw it coming. i had a inkling of a feeling right before it was announced, but i was hoping i would be wrong. right after that, my admiration for athena quickly flipped, transforming into rage and disbelief and pain. i felt how lore felt in that moment and damn, if that isn't excellent writing.
one of the reasons why i didn't rate the book higher was the ending. i felt like it could've been resolved better, not as quickly. it felt like a quick, nice bow compared to the high-stakes atmosphere the story was mainly comprised of. don't get me wrong, i'm happy the characters got a happy ending, but from darker, more mature stories, i expect more of a bittersweet ending than anything. so the ending didn't sit right with me, even though i'm glad it was happy. the other reason was the hermes/ gil situation. i felt like the narrative barely glimpsed over it. i wanted more emotional reflections from lore about it, how it felt knowing that those last 4 years were a deception yet she still cared for gil, and in extension, hermes, even though he protected her out of guilt. i wish i got to hear more about that, the complexities of how lore must've felt.
"If we're wrong about your immortality and somehow they take you," she whispered, "wait for me at the dark river. I'll bring you home."
"Hades himself would turn me back at the gates knowing you're coming," Castor told her, "and that I'd fight like hell to meet you halfway."
one of the things i love most about alex's stories are the main male romance leads. they're always so sweet and compassionate. first, there was southern sweetheart liam from [b:the darkest minds|10576365|The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds, #1)|Alexandra Bracken|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1343178841l/10576365._SY75_.jpg|15483434], then respectable, honorable nicholas from [b:passenger|20983362|Passenger (Passenger, #1)|Alexandra Bracken|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446749751l/20983362._SY75_.jpg|40360384], and now moral, pun-master castor? UGH, I LOVE ALL OF THEM. all of them can do no wrong.
and is it surprising that my favorite quotes are centered around castor? nope. not at all.
"I was born knowing how to do three things — how to breathe, how to dream, and how to love you."
"You were a safe space to hide my hopes."
His face was a book that had been written only for her.
i applaud alexandra bracken once again for a brilliantly written book. lore may have won by breaking the vicious cycle of the agon, but alex won by breaking our mental stability after making us go through all of that. i enjoyed this book, and i can't wait to see what else alex bracken creates.
dannywithaygreenlikethecolor's review
3.0
"By the gods-- Sea, fire, and women are the three evils."
"I've got another proverb for you," Lore said. "Go fuck yourself."
"The eyes of the gods are upon you."
2.5 Stars
Here is the thing. This happens in a week. Although there are CENTURIES of stories/legends/prophecies jammed into this book which makes it extremely confusing. I didn’t mind the friends to lovers. I did mind the gap years and the flashbacks. Don’t get me wrong I love her writing. I didn’t like the structure of the book. Great cover. I really loved the side characters (CASTOR, MILES, and IRO :) ) and houses more than the main character’s own house. Miles and van are endgame. Finally, I hope Iro finds her mother someday.
"I've got another proverb for you," Lore said. "Go fuck yourself."
"The eyes of the gods are upon you."
2.5 Stars
Here is the thing. This happens in a week. Although there are CENTURIES of stories/legends/prophecies jammed into this book which makes it extremely confusing. I didn’t mind the friends to lovers. I did mind the gap years and the flashbacks. Don’t get me wrong I love her writing. I didn’t like the structure of the book. Great cover. I really loved the side characters (CASTOR, MILES, and IRO :) ) and houses more than the main character’s own house. Miles and van are endgame. Finally, I hope Iro finds her mother someday.
marloureads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5