I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Lore Perseous attempts to flee her past only for it to come full circle in this sorta young adult romance.
Lore was rage personified. While she had moments of clarity and insight, the majority of the novel focuses on her inability to look beyond her own volatile emotions and her misguided impulsive actions. She goes down a rabbit hole of her own making, but eventually pulls herself out of her own self-destructive cycle. I didn’t particularly like her most of the time, but I did respect Lore’s journey into the darkest part of herself and eventual redemption.
The world-building was utterly confusing. Someone with a knowledge of Greek mythology will probably not be nearly as confused by all of the houses, gods, and mythos packed into it. Violence, gore, and sexual assault all make an appearance – I’m amazed this is not being marketed as New Adult rather than Young Adult. While several romances develop over the course of the novel, the true romance is the setting. New York is written about in loving detail, whether it be the trash on the street or the indomitable spirit of the people.
It does have two positives – it’s a standalone and that book cover is on point!
tl;dr While I may not have loved the story, I did respect Lore’s journey into the darkest part of herself and eventual redemption.