New year, new books: 15 YA releases to watch out for this January

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

Alexandra Bracken is probably best known for The Darkest Minds, but she’s bringing readers something new in 2021 — and fans of Greek mythology are sure to eat this YA story up. Her newest book, Lore, tells the story of the Agon, which honestly sounds like the Greek gods meets The Hunger Games (a combination we truly never knew we needed).

The Agon is a punishment that takes place every seven years in response to a rebellion that once took place. During the Agon, the Greek gods are sent to Earth as mortals — and then they’re hunted by the descendants of powerful lineages hoping to steal their powers and immortality. The gods are typically in control, so it’ll be interesting to see how this power shift plays out in Lore. Of course, it’s not them we’ll be following, but Lore Perseous, one of the descendants who becomes wrapped up in the whole affair:

"“Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family’s sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man — now a god — responsible for their deaths. Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods.”"

It’s hard to imagine where readers could go wrong with a revenge story that brings the Olympians into play. Bracken’s latest arrives on January 5, and it’s not one YA fantasy fans will want to miss.