This month we focused on mythology, a popular genre of reading for students! We read Lore by Alexandra Bracken, a modern interpretation of Greek mythology and how it would work in the present with a Hunger Games twist. The Goodreads summary is below…
Nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2021)
With this book, our readers sent in their reviews. The reactions were overall positive, and we recommend Lore to any and all mythology lovers and those who want an exciting, fast-paced book with real-life lore. The reviews are below…
3.75/5
Lore by Alexandra Bracken is a fascinating combination of Greek mythology and the Hunger Games that follows the “Agon”, a violent battle between gods that occurs every seven years in which nine Greek gods temporarily become mortals and fight to maintain their power and immortality. I enjoyed this book for its intriguing action scenes, its modern depiction of Greek mythology, and its many twists and turns that are unexpected and always exciting. Although this book deals with difficult topics that can be uncomfortable to read, it is ultimately an interesting and worthwhile read.
— Caitlin Biddle, ‘24
4.5/5
Lore by Alexandra Bracken deals with a modern retelling of myths in a way that feels fresh, new, and innovative. Instead of focusing on one story, Bracken mixes and matches to create a power hierarchy that feels realistic and plays out in interesting ways throughout the book. The novel is exciting and deals with important issues of love, friendship, family, and how far one will go for power. Be warned, this book does deal with graphic violence and the like, but it adds to the story in a way that doesn’t feel overextended. I found the characters to be likable, and I appreciated the subtle undertone of romance that doesn’t overshadow the bigger picture. Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5; I usually never score 5/5, so Lore is high up on my list. I definitely recommend this book to those who grew up with Percy Jackson and are ready for the more adult version, those who are interested in mythology and its modern interpretations, and those who enjoyed The Song of Achilles and Ariadne, to name a few.
— Sine Thompson, ‘24
