There is a common saying that power corrupts, and that absolute power absolutely corrupts. Lore takes this a step farther, introducing the idea that a sense of one’s own power, both internally and over others, leads to corruption. Whether god, hunter, or unblooded, a sense of having power changes a person.

Gods, especially new ones, face the greatest potential for corruption. Before ascending to become Wrath, Aristos Kadmou led the Kadmides, the most powerful house among the hunters. His position of authority coupled with his sense of privilege had already corrupted him into a man who believed he was entitled to whatever he wanted. Once he ascends, Wrath adds the literal power of corruption (war and violence) to his arsenal. In the Prologue, he describes how he spread corruption over the last seven years, and throughout the book, he rains down death and destruction upon New York City. His godly power corrupts him further, and the more authority he gains, the more corrupt he becomes. Athena, too, shows a level of godly corruption. She has been corrupted by her powers for hundreds of years. As belief in her died out, she grew desperate to hold power once again, which led her to do whatever necessary to obtain

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