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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5/5 Stars
Really enjoyable actually! I was a bit afraid given a description of this book harkened it back to Hunger Games AND Percy Jackson because those are big shoes to fill in my books, but actually it really worked for me! I enjoyed looking at greek mythology more from the perspective of the heroes (usually I feel like it's all about the gods, gods gods gods lol) and found the new take on Medusa and Athena interesting (if you know you know). It was well paced, had interesting if not particularly fleshed out characters, and I was thoroughly surprised at the climax! The reason I can't go for a full five is the ending thought. It fell a bit flat for me, especially as I feel like I would like this to be a series so I can get to know the characters better, but that's more a me problem than a book problem. If you want to hear more of my thoughts, check out my reading vlog here https://youtu.be/bImIXvTcSao
Really enjoyable actually! I was a bit afraid given a description of this book harkened it back to Hunger Games AND Percy Jackson because those are big shoes to fill in my books, but actually it really worked for me! I enjoyed looking at greek mythology more from the perspective of the heroes (usually I feel like it's all about the gods, gods gods gods lol) and found the new take on Medusa and Athena interesting (if you know you know). It was well paced, had interesting if not particularly fleshed out characters, and I was thoroughly surprised at the climax! The reason I can't go for a full five is the ending thought. It fell a bit flat for me, especially as I feel like I would like this to be a series so I can get to know the characters better, but that's more a me problem than a book problem. If you want to hear more of my thoughts, check out my reading vlog here https://youtu.be/bImIXvTcSao
An enjoyable read for 2021 that I'm happy I finished but am not itching to reread. What drew me in initially was the unique plot - every 7 years the Gods return as mortals (a time called the Agon), and if you kill them you get their powers - but the storyline failed to live up to the hype.
There were certainly parts that had me on the edge of my seat and wanting more, but the majority of the plot points felt lazy and incomplete. The most clear illustration of this point is with regards to the main plotline. One of the major sources of tension deals with secret knowledge, which the main characters spend most of the book chasing after in the hopes it will give them in the information needed to end the Agon. For the first 3/4 of the book, this is a central focus and reader is led to believe that this knowledge is paramount for a resolution. In the end, Bracken apparently decided that this information wasn't important at all. The book wrapped up in a way that was both confusing and too simplistic, leaving me with more questions than answers.
As other reviews have noted, the main character is not particularly likable - she's pretty bland, has little character development, and is inconsistent with her choices and actions. This uninspiring character development bleeds over into the other supporting players in the book who are equally drab. While I loved meeting the Greek gods that starred in my favorite childhood stories, many of them paradoxically were not a huge part of the story (a missed opportunity).
One of the reasons this review is 3 stars instead of 2 is because of my love for the author. Bracken is a gifted writer and I've loved her work for years. Her knack for world-building and unique, intricate storylines really shines through in Lore (clever that is not only a nod to Greek mythology/folklore but also the name of the main character). A huge reason I enjoyed this book was because of her writing style and ability to create a 'realistic' fantasy world that feels tangible and attainable. Further, I'm a sucker for a unique concept. Even though the execution was shaky, it was ultimately a good read.
There were certainly parts that had me on the edge of my seat and wanting more, but the majority of the plot points felt lazy and incomplete. The most clear illustration of this point is with regards to the main plotline. One of the major sources of tension deals with secret knowledge, which the main characters spend most of the book chasing after in the hopes it will give them in the information needed to end the Agon. For the first 3/4 of the book, this is a central focus and reader is led to believe that this knowledge is paramount for a resolution. In the end, Bracken apparently decided that this information wasn't important at all. The book wrapped up in a way that was both confusing and too simplistic, leaving me with more questions than answers.
As other reviews have noted, the main character is not particularly likable - she's pretty bland, has little character development, and is inconsistent with her choices and actions. This uninspiring character development bleeds over into the other supporting players in the book who are equally drab. While I loved meeting the Greek gods that starred in my favorite childhood stories, many of them paradoxically were not a huge part of the story (a missed opportunity).
One of the reasons this review is 3 stars instead of 2 is because of my love for the author. Bracken is a gifted writer and I've loved her work for years. Her knack for world-building and unique, intricate storylines really shines through in Lore (clever that is not only a nod to Greek mythology/folklore but also the name of the main character). A huge reason I enjoyed this book was because of her writing style and ability to create a 'realistic' fantasy world that feels tangible and attainable. Further, I'm a sucker for a unique concept. Even though the execution was shaky, it was ultimately a good read.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved the lore and romance but didn’t really feel connected to the setting. The repetitive “I love NYC” thoughts took me out of the story a lot of the time — I just couldn’t relate to the way Lore kept harping on her city. I think that’s my own bias and not really understanding why people are obsessed with NYC.
adventurous
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No