I have been a fan and avid promoter of this series for the past few years. I really enjoy revisiting the movies and seeing how differently they could have played out. Unfortunately, there have been a couple of books in the series that just didn’t work for me and this is one of them.

My first complaint about the novel would have to be the cover. Although it is beautiful and shows many features of the movie and book, it appears as if it is about Hades rather then Meg, who is only silhouetted on a small vase at the bottom. I would love a book about Hades, but he is only present very little in this book, yet dominates the cover.

I was very excited about a twist in the Hercules tale as I looked the movie when it came out and still today. For me, this was a whole new story instead of a twist. Most of these books come to point in the original story where the new twist takes place and then we venture along a parallel path (seeing bits and pieces of the original) until we reach the desired end. I did not like that we didn’t get to see a reimagining of the Hercules story, but instead a new hero story about Meg.

Now don’t get me wrong, it was an interesting story and I found the idea of Meg overcoming her vulnerability issues was very endearing. The path that the story took was very adventurous and thrilling at times. We did get to see some new places and faces, but I was more excited to have Phil and Pegasus along for the ride.

Meg’s character was pretty true to her Disney iteration, with the new internal insights shedding more on what really made her the tough and cold woman she had become. I did find her whiny at times and that the God’s conversations with her were often after-school special talks.

In the end, it was an ok story that will probably still excite fans of the movie and series (I still read it pretty quickly). I will always look forward to more novels in this series and just continue to hopes that they meat all my hopes and dreams a little better.

This to me is a classic good vs evil , right vs wrong, book. It shows one that in life there are many times when you have to decide between right and wrong even when others lives are in the balance. Of course it also shows that God's have to make good decisions too.

I am probably not the target audience. This is a middle grade/young YA book but I've read a few other Twisted Tales books and none annoyed me so much as this one. First of all, Meg was not admirable or charming like the film, she was downright annoying. But above all, my biggest frustration with this novel was that when a new nickname was introduced, it was used LIKE TEN THOUSAND TIMES IN ONE CHAPTER. Meg, Peg, Peg, Peg, Meg, Meg, Peg, Peg, Peg, RED, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red. Absolutely exhausting to read.

It was definitely "fast-paced" and I can see how it would be entertaining for younger audiences, but it was so terribly annoying that it was difficult to make it through a chapter without an eye-roll.

Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I LOVE the Disney Twisted Tale collection. Before Go the Distance, I have read 3 titles, one by Jen Calonita (Conceal, Don't Feel). I love her writing style.

Go the Distance, I felt, was researched very well when it comes to Greek Myths and the Ancient Greek world. I enjoyed how Calonita brought the gods personalities from the movies into her story. The portrayal of the gods was done very well in reference to the movie. However, if you did not like how Disney portrayed the gods in the movie Hercules, I would not recommend reading this book because the gods are the same. Calonita also gave personalities to the gods we did not see much of on-screen, which I loved.

When it comes to Megara herself, I loved how we get into her backstory, even if it is not the one Disney originally wanted to portray. Seeing how Meg became herself in the movie with the alternating timelines was great and very easy to follow along with.

Overall, this is one of my favourite books now and I cannot wait until I can get my hands on a finished copy in April!

I'm a big fan of the Disney "Twisted Tale" series--- and a big fan of the massively under-rated Disney movie "Hercules"- so I was incredibly excited to receive the ARC of "Go The Distance"! Jen Calonita's take on Hercules explores the question "What if Meg became a god?" This twisted tale picks up right where the film left off. We learn more about Meg's story; the Disney version of Mount Olympus; and where Meg's heart truly lies. This book is a fun, breezy read and perfect for Disney fans of all ages! Thank you to net galley and to Disney Hyperion for the ARC!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Go The Distance in exchange for an honest review.

Meg's one of my favourite (if not my absolute favourite) Disney princess so I was beyond ecstatic when I found out I'd been approved for this review copy but after reading the book and being let down, I'm starting to wonder if that made this book a bad match for me.

Taking a character developed and written by someone else and trying to copy their voice and thought processes is always going to be difficult but when pulling from fairytales or older Disney movies, authors can be really successful because the source material isn't centered around character personalities, but the idea of character attributes. If you write a selfless, polite, hardworking character, people will read that as a believable Cinderella. If you write an intelligent, ambitious yet polite character, people will buy that as Belle. Meg was (in my opinion), the 2nd Disney leading lady given an actual personality and remains to be one of the most distinctive Disney character voices so while I didn't enjoy Go The Distance, I'm not sure it's entirely Calonita's fault.

Hercules as a film has always felt like one of the most distinct Disney movies and while I likely wouldn't have enjoyed this book as much if it was focused on Hercules, I do think it would have been a lot less frustrated because he's really the only character an author would be able to project onto without the story feeling wrong. Meg, Phil, and Hercules all are too unique and established to be recreated in a way that feels like a realistic extension of the source material so while I think Calonita's plot ideas were interesting, her exploration of them consistently felt off.

A good idea but poor execution.

“Go the Distance” sets Meg off on a quest to prove herself worthy of becoming a god when Zeus refuses to allow Hercules to remain on Earth by her side but the path to paradise is not without some obstacles and a little soul searching might hold the key to surviving it all.

I have to lead with I have never read the Twisted Tales series but I own a few so I was excited to get approved for this book because of how much I loved Hercules.

That being said I was disappointed at the lack of love or at least the willingness to embrace the characters and elevate them for this continuation of their story that I felt throughout the entire book. Most of Meg’s sass, Phil’s chaotic energy and the one liners of Hades are pulled word for word from the movie which would be fine once or twice as a callback but to do it for the entire piece comes off as lazy.

I thought the idea itself to explore Meg’s history was nice but I think the plot itself was fumbled quite a lot especially the sections that brought her back to the underworld, a place she should be well familiar with but suddenly seems like she has little understanding of how it and those who reside within actually work?

I was hoping this was just a weak addition to a strong series as it has gone on for so long but looking at these reviews I’m starting to think it might be on par with what the rest have to offer which is a shame.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

I like the concept here but the execution leaves something to be desired. The flashbacks of Meg's life felt very modern times which really didn't jive with the story. It might have been better to do something like shakespeare retold where the whole thing is just retold as a modern take. The characters themselves didn't really sound or act much like their movie counterparts and there was very little to even indicate the emotions that led Hercules to sacrifice his life or Meg to risk her own.

So this is by far my favorite of the twisted tale, Disney retellings. It had the hallmarks of a great Disney and myth retelling with some fresh bits in-between. If your a Disney or Greek mythology fan I certain recommend.

Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review from @NetGalley.

I'm a huge fan of the twisted tale series and this book follows Hercules but from Meg's perspective. It's under the premise of "What if Meg had to become a god?" Meg is one of my favorite Disney characters and I love that she finally has her own book. She's still sarcastic, witty, and fierce. The Hades and Persophone storyline was a nice nod to Lore Olympus (while you're waiting for this book to come out you should definitely check out this webtoon)! If you've read Calonita's previous books and love the retellings I'd recommend adding this one to your list!

I am...disappointed. The writing left a lot to be desired. The ideas were there and absolutely fascinating, but unfortunately execution was lacking. The story had so many holes, and things that could have been phenomanol. I felt the book was rushed and could have been so much better, like Meg is a sassy, take not crap kind of girl but they really didn't let her do anything without help from the gods. I love the twisted tales series and I am big fan of Disney retellings, but this book didn't hit the mark.

What a truly incredible read. These twisted tales always amaze me and honestly are sometimes better than the actual stories we know and love and this one was no different. As a lifetime fan of Hercules getting Megs side of the story and her “what if” was amazing. I could not put this down.

Go the Distance, the latest in the Twisted Tales series, is an alternate telling of Disney's Hercules. At the end of the film, Hercules chooses to give up his newly-won godhood and stay on Earth with his love, Meg. But what if Zeus had refused to let Hercules go? What if Meg had to embark on a perilous quest to have a life with the man she'd already fought so hard to be with? Jen Calonita's newest book is based on this question, and the result is an entertaining ride through Greek mythology and a surprisingly complicated look at trust, confidence, and true love.

Meg has always been one of my favorite Disney heroines. She's sarcastic, she's clever, and she's not afraid to tell it like it is. I've always appreciated that Meg is often a damsel in distress, but she'll work to find her own way out of the situation. However, her solutions often involve her refusing to trust others and rejecting help that she's offered. It's a stark contrast to most other Disney heroines, and while the film shows this aspect of Meg's personality, it doesn't explain why Meg is this way. Go the Distance works to fill in Meg's background, sharing the story of her hardscrabble childhood, her aversion to commitment, and, of course, her relationship with her first love, Aegeus, and her subsequent deal with Hades.

I loved how Calonita subverted the relationship between Meg and Aegeus, and I really enjoyed getting the flashbacks to their time together, especially as these helped create the Meg we meet at the beginning of the film. I also loved the flashbacks to the relationship between Meg and her mother, Thea. Meg had a very rough upbringing, but she's never forgotten the lessons Thea taught her: trust only yourself and be a tough girl who can tie her own sandals and everything. Even though Thea and Meg's relationship is far from perfect, it's clear that the two cared for one another. It's also clear that Thea's parenting style made a deep impact on Meg, and not necessarily for the better. As Meg continues on her quest, she's forced to reflect upon her deep-held beliefs and question whether she's hurting her relationships, especially her relationship with Hercules, by always having to be independent. It's a relevant lesson for many young women (and older women, too) who have always relied on themselves to get things done and need to know that it's okay to ask for and accept help.

For Meg, she must learn to accept help from some favorite characters from the film, including Phil and Pegasus. I really liked the inclusion of Phil in particular because he and Meg were so at odds throughout the film, and rightly so. But both have been changed by Hercules, and it's fun to see how these "new" versions of Meg and Phil discover what they mean to one another. The inclusion of various female gods to help Meg on her quest is also fun and really amps up the girl power. Each of the goddesses values something different, but all their advice is needed in order for Meg to succeed. And Calonita even manages to sneak an extra goddess in the story and allow Meg to play a role in one of my personal favorite stories in Greek mythology (no spoilers), further showing off Meg's cleverness.

My biggest complaint about this book would be the lack of interaction between Meg and Hercules, but I understand why the two don't have more scenes together. Go the Distance is Meg's story, and constantly having Hercules around would basically lead to a film sequel rather than a twisted tale. And frankly, the general exclusion of Hercules from the narrative makes the scenes in which he and Meg are together all the more sweet.

Overall, Go the Distance is another fun addition to the Twisted Tales series. Meg's story is relevant, entertaining, and action-packed, and the background on her character will make watching the film all the more interesting. If you're a fan of Meg, Hercules, or alternate Disney retellings, Go the Distance will be right up your alley.

I received an advanced copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (thanks!)

This is not my favorite of the Twisted Tales series, but it’s also not my least favorite. It starts… stilted. The initial few chapters are very clearly the author getting their footing in this world and establishing what’s going on. Honestly, the full first half could do with an editor’s eye, and then I think it would be much stronger.

The book hits its stride in the back half, when Meg makes her way, alone, down into the Underworld. Her self-actualization is earned and her sacrifice is felt. Plus, I’m a sucked for Disney’s Hades and an even bigger sucker for anything that includes Persephone. A story that has both? Dude. Yes please.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗺𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲! 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘆!

These Disney Twisted Tales are always so much fun to read! I’ve loved all the ones written by Calonita and Lim, and this one did not disappoint!

There were a couple little things that threw me off for just a second. There was one thing that was not consistent with the movie. Obviously it’s a retelling, so it’s going to be different, but the events in this book take place after the events of the movie, so technically everything before the movies ending shouldn’t change, but one thing did slightly.

Another thing was that sometimes Meg didn’t quite seem like the Meg in the movies, but overall she did, and I loved seeing her strength and growth!

Besides these two small things, I loved the novel! Hercules and Hades felt exactly like the movie characters. I swooned whenever Hercules smiled and loved on Meg. I laughed and rolled my eyes at Hades antics.

Hades, now his story arc in this book was interesting 😂 but only because I was thinking about the Disney Hades, and not the actual Hades tale. Still, it was fun.

Another thing I loved was seeing familiar phrases from the movie. They’re in different contexts and scenes, but it just feel like a comfort seeing pieces from the movie woven into the retelling. My favorite was that special meaning was put into Meg saying she’s a tough girl and can tie her own sandals.

The ending was so perfect. Sweet as nectar and as brilliant as Hercules as a good! I was thinking that these books would make amazing graphic novels. All the familiarity of the images from the movie, and the fun and excitement from those characters living a different story. Can we make this happen Disney Hyperion? Yeah? 😉

Thank you NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for an e-arc to review!

This book is a great read. We really learn about Meg.
I don't really see it as a twisted tale it's more of a sequel to the film, but still a great story and well worth the read.

I absolutely loved every page of this book. I am a fan of the Twisted Tales series and also a fan of Hercules so when I saw that Meg’s story was going to get the Twisted Tales treatment, I was SO excited to read it! After the events of the movie, Megara is now faced with a problem. In order to be with Hercules, who is now a god, she needs to become a goddess herself. Her quest is to travel to the underworld to retrieve the soul of the woman her ex left her for. I love that Meg isn’t some wilting flower, she is a tough, strong woman who knows what she has to do and will do whatever’s necessary to get it done. She constantly questions why she’s doing this and concept of happily ever after with Hercules, which is refreshing because life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The book really showed her growth as a person. She’s really unlike any other Disney “princess” because she’s a multi-faceted woman with both good and bad sides where with most other “princesses” you only see the good. There was drama, twists and suspense that kept be quickly turning the pages to find out what happens next. This is a great addition to the Twisted Tales series and I will be getting a copy for our library to add to the rest of the Twisted Tales collection that we have.

There are some middle grade books that are written in a way where all ages are able to connect... and then there are others that are written with the one age group in mind. Go the Distance definitely falls in the second category. The story continues from the movie Hercules, but this time Meg is on a quest to become a goddess. She faces trials and tribulations, but learns about what love truly is along the way.
It’s a great story for middle schoolers, and I can appreciate that the writing will connect with them. It wasn’t personally my favorite, but I will be adding it to my classroom library when it comes out.

I watched Hercules the cartoon movie to refresh myself on Meg's character. I really enjoyed this story. It dived into who Meg was in her past and how she grew as a character. It was a great story. I would love to have a movie from it. It was good. Hades is not a nice guy. It did have nods to the story of Hades and Persephone. It was a good addition. If you liked the other twisted tales, you will enjoy this one too.

I was not sure if I was going to like this book but I was pleasantly surprised. This book was a very interesting take on Hercules. It was full of adventure and I really love the Hercules story. I will be purchasing this book for my libraries YA collection.