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bookwyrm_roo's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.5
"Power does not transform you, it only reveals you."
Synopsis
Since Ancient Greece, a handful of mortal bloodlines have participated in a game called the Agon. Every seven years, the gods and goddesses of Olympus become mortal for a week and if a mortal kills them, they will gain their power and godly status. At least until the next games. Lore was raised for this life and to compete in these games, but after her family was killed by a rival bloodline she swore to have nothing more to do with it. Now the Agon is on again and Lore is being pulled back in.
"Anger was like a disease to the soul and no aspect of it was more contagious than violence."
Tropes & Themes
- Deadly competition
- Gods & Demigods
- Greek Mythology
- Vengeance
"I was born knowing how to do three things - how to breathe, how to dream, and how to love you."
Content Warnings
- Descriptions of murder of children
- Violence
"The exceptional among mortals will always stand alone, for no one in the world was made for their task. Take confidence in that, and let it be poison to your fear."
My Thoughts
- I found this book gripping from the intrigue of what happened in Lore's past, where the aegis, what happened to Castor and who could be trusted, even as the not-knowing sometimes frustrated me.
- Some of the flashback scenes were hard to read, especially those concerning the deaths of Lore's family.
- Overall the book is quite fast-paced, but although the flashbacks provided the necessary back story and exposition, they interrupted and slowed the pace of the narrative in a way I sometimes found frustrating.
- I enjoyed Cassian & Lore's past and evolving relationship. I appreciated how it wasn't a primary focus of the narrative and it didn't feel misplaced or emphasised over the main plot, which was focused on the Agon and the bloodlines.
- Miles and Van's attraction to each other was very clearly spelt out so I'm not sure why the other characters in the book were so surprised!
"An oath was, after all, a curse you placed on yourself."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Murder
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Buddy read with Deborah from HillsOfBooks!
<b> The Details: </b>
<i> Narrated by Fryda Wolff
Unabridged </i>
Unfortunately I struggled with this one.
I found it hard to get into and at chapter 19 I switched to the audiobook. It got me through it quicker but it didn't increase my engagement and enjoyment of the story.
I didn't really care much for the setting. I've never read the Hunger Games before, but that sort of set up has never really interested me and this theme in modern day, but with the Ancient Greek pantheon just didn't blend well for me and felt jarring a lot of the time.
I wasn't keen on Lore as our main character. I just didn't mesh with her.
I thought it was helpful to have the '7 years earlier' flashback chapters to slowly peeter out the history before this Agon.
Gutted this one didn't do it for me. I think this is my first foray into this authors works, but I own a copy of The Darkest Minds, which I'm sure I will still try out at a later date.
<b> The Details: </b>
<i> Narrated by Fryda Wolff
Unabridged </i>
Unfortunately I struggled with this one.
I found it hard to get into and at chapter 19 I switched to the audiobook. It got me through it quicker but it didn't increase my engagement and enjoyment of the story.
I didn't really care much for the setting. I've never read the Hunger Games before, but that sort of set up has never really interested me and this theme in modern day, but with the Ancient Greek pantheon just didn't blend well for me and felt jarring a lot of the time.
I wasn't keen on Lore as our main character. I just didn't mesh with her.
I thought it was helpful to have the '7 years earlier' flashback chapters to slowly peeter out the history before this Agon.
Gutted this one didn't do it for me. I think this is my first foray into this authors works, but I own a copy of The Darkest Minds, which I'm sure I will still try out at a later date.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
estherrmanning's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
sunflower_tea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It’s written in a personal she narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Car accident, and Colonisation
mchelle_muses's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual assault
karly_ackley's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, and Rape
justanotherisi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
sp00324's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I really enjoyed this story - the concept is unique though inspired and featuring Greek mythology and Gods/ Goddesses
Very fast paced so not a boring moment however I didn't find myself especially connected to the main characters - I liked them sure and was rooting for them but I didn't feel emotional at certain points. The book has high stakes so I would have liked to feel that more
The book definitely has some dark moments and some of the groups that feature in the story are quite backwards/ misogynistic so these were aspects our main character had to overcome. I think the book handled trauma and grief well in general especially with found family elements.
I was left with a few questions at the end so I feel like it wrapped up maybe a little too quickly.
Overall though I do recommend this book though do check the trigger warnings if you know that you have specific issues with certain topics.
Very fast paced so not a boring moment however I didn't find myself especially connected to the main characters - I liked them sure and was rooting for them but I didn't feel emotional at certain points. The book has high stakes so I would have liked to feel that more
The book definitely has some dark moments and some of the groups that feature in the story are quite backwards/ misogynistic so these were aspects our main character had to overcome. I think the book handled trauma and grief well in general especially with found family elements.
I was left with a few questions at the end so I feel like it wrapped up maybe a little too quickly.
Overall though I do recommend this book though do check the trigger warnings if you know that you have specific issues with certain topics.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Sexism
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
ankelsocks's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Oof I really disliked this one. The writing is disjointed and clunky, the characterisation is random, the plot is uninteresting which is interesting giving how fast-paced the novel is. It just couldn't make me care at all. I like the premise, really, hunger games meets greek mythology should be my thang, but the Hunger Games aspect was needlessly brutal (so many incredibly gory deaths, almost all of them completely unable to serve the plot, BIG difference with HG) and the Greek mythology feels forced. I wanted to love this book and instead it annoyed the living daylights out of me. Doesn't help that the main character is a cardboard figure with a lot of rage (or sadness? Or confusion? God I don't know) and a really gruesomely murdered family (stop killing babies guys it's just ... No). I'm glad it's over. Meh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
50pence's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death of parent