This was a ton of fun, and so action-packed, I felt like I got whiplash from trying to keep up.

Every seven years, the Agon brings the hunters out as the gods become mortal for seven days. They are trying to find and kill them in order to claim their powers and become immortal. Lore has fled from that world and chosen to live a normal life in her brownstone in New York, but of course, her past can't be avoided forever, and when her training mate and best friend finds her, she has to decide whether to launch herself back into the gods' world for the chance to end it all.

Because this is a plot-driven book, I did find myself perhaps not as invested as I would be with a more character-driven one. Lore is a wonderful MC, and her struggles feel real, even as she wavers in her convictions and wonders what she should be doing with the situations she finds herself in. But she is often a product of circumstance, and though I do feel like I know her fairly well, I also feel like the plot kept her at arms' reach.

But that said, I still really really loved the cast of characters in this. Miles was so sweet, so game for anything, and I loved his dynamics with Lore and then later on with Van. And Van and Castor were so much fun too, with complex motivations and backstories that made me love them more. Castor as a love interest was sweet and lovely, though I wanted more from that too - more development, more "action" (heh). The gods were another high point for the whole thing; I was very interested in Athena from the start, and she was unexpectedly comical in quite a few scenes.

As I said earlier, though, the pace of the action really did negate the opportunities for those quiet moments for the characters. This felt very Hunger Games-esque at times, where no one is safe and everything is at stake, and wow, did the carnage really start building up by the end of things. I never quite knew what was coming next, and went "huh" out loud a few times. I love it when a book can surprise me, and this one did, in spades.

I love Alexandra Bracken's writing, and this was a great addition to her already impressive catalog of books. If you like action, Greek mythology, or kickass female characters, you'll like this one.

A Must-Read YA staff pick. "Lore" kept me awake far too many nights, needing to know what would happen in this ruthless battle between hunters, impostors, and gods. A brilliant and breathless twist on classic mythology! – Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles series

The Agon lasts for one week and it only occurs once every seven years. Worlds are crashing and gods are clashing in this new novel from Alexandra Bracken. In the middle of it all is Lore -- the final descendant in the house of Perseus. Her best friend since childhood, Castor, stands at her side as the new god Apollo. The imposter standing in for Ares is determined to rule them all, but he needs the shield of Aegis to do it. Ares believes that Lore has the shield. After all, it was last possessed by her house. But does she really know where it is? Will an alliance with Athena prove to be fruitful? Can Lore keep Miles, her mortal bestie, safe? Is it possible to fully be free? As the week proceeds and the houses hunt each other, there are surprises around every corner and enough action to match an Avenger movie. High octane action plus a top notch cover = a book I really enjoyed reading. At the heart of this story is the question of sacrifice? What is it for? Is it worth it? Who really calls the shots. Christians will see glimpses of the predestination concept and the enduring truth of John 15:13 -- "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."