Lore

This fantasy novel by Alexandra Bracken was categorized by the library as a YA read, which might account for the lack of anything except a few hot kisses between the protagonists, but I still found it an enjoyable read. It is a hefty 450+ page book with a cast of characters in the back and maps of New York City of the front and end papers of the cover. I love maps and referred to these often. The story is based on Greek mythology characters although it is set in contemporary times. The premise is that nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals for one week every seven years as punishment for some ancient rebellion. During this week, called the Agon, descendants of ancient Greek bloodlines (think Perseus, Odysseus, Achilles) seek out the gods and try to kill them and thereby gain their powers and become "false gods." This allows them to do extraordinary things and accumulate wealth and power in the years between the Agons, and, also, to build up armies of "Hunters" so that they might kill more gods in the next Agon and gain even more power, etc. Lore (short for Melora) has been hiding from the blooded families for the last seven years and wants to have nothing more to do with the Agon until Athena appears at her doorstep, severely wounded, and offers to help Lore kill the man she believes tortured and murdered her family, Aristo Kadmou, aka the false god Ares. Lore agrees and this brings her into conflict not just with Kamou, but with a childhood friend, Castor, saved from dying of leukemia after somehow killing and assuming the powers of Apollo.  Lore battles not only with herself about whether or not she wants to re-immerse herself in the endless violence on the Agons, but with those she thought were her allies. She is a well developed character and this is quite a complex plot with a large cast that will keep you guessing until the end. There is a lot of explicit violence in the story as well as some descriptions of sexual assault, so consider carefully before recommending.

Kirkus recommends it as "a gripping revenge story," and Publishers Weekly applauds the "ambitious worldbuilding and breakneck pacing."