Wearing the lion

Nebula Award winner Wiswell (Someone You Can Build a Nest In) puts a fresh spin on the labors of Hercules in this inventive and irreverent novel. Hera is fed up with her husband Zeus's infidelity, the latest reminder of which is his new half-mortal son, Heracles. Down in the mortal realm, however, Heracles grows up worshipping Hera, affectionately referring to her as Auntie. There comes a day when Hera just can't take "hear that little shit praying" anymore and, in a fit of rage, she accidentally causes the deaths of Heracles's children. Bereft and traumatized, Heracles begs Hera to tell him which god is responsible for the tragedy. Desperate to escape the consequences of her actions, Hera promises to reveal the culprit only after Heracles has bested a series of monsters. In no mood for more violence, however, Heracles ends up befriending the hydra, the Nemean lion, and others, amassing enough monstrous allies that, when the truth inevitably comes to light, he may have the force to take on Olympus itself. Wiswell alternates between Hera's and Heracles's perspectives, painting distinctly modern portraits of both. The result is a Greek mythology retelling that stands out from the crowd through its sheer sense of fun. (June)

Hera, queen of the Greek gods and watcher of mothers and children, is angry and tired of her husband Zeus's philandering ways. Now he has a new demigod son, Heracles, and her rage becomes focused on this one man as she tries to insert obstacles throughout his life. However, Heracles has no idea of Hera's secret machinations against him; in fact, he is a devoted follower of his "Aunt Hera." When Hera's fury goes too far, lives are shattered, and she realizes that revealing the truth will damage even more gods. So, to delay a tragic result, she sends Heracles off on the trials: 12 labors which should involve destroying monsters but instead find Heracles with a newfound family and Hera reconsidering her own past deeds. Alternating chapters from Heracles's and Hera's points of view dive into their actions, reactions, and reflections, further mirrored by living and immortal secondary characters. VERDICT Wiswell (Someone You Can Build a Nest In) offers a unique and delightful retelling of the mythology of Heracles, balancing both tragedy and emotional character arcs with humorous dialogue and interactions.--Kristi Chadwick