YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love and redemption.

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.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken will be one of our GBRs for January 2024.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start? I recall this was a hit on social media for a bit and it's a chunky book in print. Though I'm listening this on audiobook, and even on 1.3x speed, it's 12 hours long, so it's going to be pretty long.

Has anyone read anything similar to this before? Not sure, maybe anything that has Greek gods and deadly games, so maybe like a fantasy version of The Hunger Games?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously? Nope, first time reading something from Alexander Bracken.

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[Lore herself seems interesting and from the sound of it, she used to be godlike. Quite a lot of world building early on, so I'm intrigued, but am a bit confused based on the prologue. Time will tell as we're just starting up. (hide spoiler)]

30% End of Part I: I like how this starts with a Bang!! (view spoiler)[ Wrath is on a path to kill all the other Gods and take their power. I cannot believe Lore did that! How can you bind your faith to someone that is so close to dying? I wish Castor didn't feel so sorry for himself, I am curious to know how he killed Apollo though, I mean if he is as weak as he says, how did he do it? I like Van he sounds HOT! hopefully he is good, not like that damn Phillip! Artemis is also on a rampage, I guess it's kill or be killed. I also want to know why Lore's parents and sisters were killed. I like Carion but I can't believe he is easily persuaded by Artemis, I guess I can see why. (hide spoiler)]

Janine wrote: "Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start? I recall this was a hit on social media for a bit and it's a chunky book in print. Though I'm listening this on audiobook, and even on 1.3x spe..."

Right? I like that it explains her bloodline and why she is out in the mortal world now.

Cinthia wrote: "30% End of Part I: I like how this starts with a Bang!! [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I do like there's plenty of action, but it feels like I can't get fully into it. Things are explained, but I feel slightly disconnected, like the info isn't fully clear. I am still enjoying the book, and I really like Castor honestly, he's interesting with his background and motive and want to know more. (hide spoiler)]

Janine wrote: "Cinthia wrote: "30% End of Part I: I like how this starts with a Bang!! [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Glad I'm not the only one (view spoiler)[ it just feels like too much family tree explained sometimes and it gets confusing. I don't like it when it's too many characters and family trees, I just can't really keep up and focus and I hate going back to understand it better. (hide spoiler)]

50% End of ch. 26: I am curious how it is hidden in the Aegis! (view spoiler)[ The rest of the poem! I am liking Castor and Lore. I cannot believe Aristos wants to marry Lore, that's disgusting he is so old and she was only 10 at the time. I am curious as to how her family died. I also want to know Van's story, what really happened to his hand. I don't know how to feel about Iro, but she seems to be ok and she is just trying to do the right thing. I love Miles he is funny and smart for a mortal, even Athena said so. (hide spoiler)]

64% End of Ch. 33: So now we know how Lore got that scar on her face! (view spoiler)[ Good for her, I am glad she defended herself against that man that wanted to take advantage of her. I don't know how to feel about Medusa's story from Athena's point of view. I am loving Miles and Van. Eeeep! Lore kissed Cas but he stopped it, he was right to do it though. Ugh! Lore should've killed Belen! Maybe those girls and all those people would still be alive! Where in the heck is the Aegis??? and big revelation! Gil was Hermes the whole time? I wonder why he protected Lore? was it out of Malice like Athena said or did he really owe her family? (hide spoiler)]

Finished... Perfect! (view spoiler)[ I loved that ending. I loved all the action and the fights and defeats. I even liked Athena at the end, she sacrificed herself for the people of the city, for Lore to save them. I couldn't believe Athena had played Lore the whole time. I liked that Lore and Castor had a choice in the end, to give up the power and just be mere mortals, and be happy and together and to be with their loved ones. (hide spoiler)]

Cinthia wrote: "50% End of ch. 26: I am curious how it is hidden in the Aegis! [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, that was really creepy. Though I'm probably not in love with Van as much as you might be. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 29: (view spoiler)[Well, Gill being part of this whole thing was quite the surprise. I wonder if he's gone for good. (hide spoiler)]

Pre-Reading Questions:

1. I read this book 2 years ago and it is a favorite of mine. I can't remember a dang thing that happened, just bits here and there, and am very excited to jump back into the world and be amazed again.

2. After reading this book, I went searching for others and I recommend .

3. Nope. Just this book.

Cinthia wrote: "30% End of Part I: I like how this starts with a Bang!! [spoilers removed]"

Right! That is one reason I have enjoyed this book. It is a thick book, but you are never feeling like it is dragging. SO much action from the start and the stakes just keep getting higher and more intense.

Cinthia wrote: "64% End of Ch. 33: So now we know how Lore got that scar on her face! [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes, we saw that Lore wasn't willing to just put up with bad touching. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Despite the ending being a little bit open ended, I enjoyed this one! I expected a bit of a Greek tragedy ending from it's origins, but it fits. I did think it did drag in some parts in smaller scales, but I didn't have to wait too long for a new revelation, with some interesting plot twists, and it did take me a bit to really get into it. The narrator was good as well. (hide spoiler)]

Cinthia wrote: "Finished... Perfect! [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, Athena playing all of them was quite the surprise. But in the end, seems like she just wanted to go home. And was it that they became regular humans again? But what about Castor's illness? I'm assuming that's been remedied. And the end of the Agon (sorry if it's misspelled, I listened to this one. (hide spoiler)]