“Dark yet endearingly sweet” seems like a good summary of Wiswell’s works. His <i>Someone You Can Build a Nest In</i> from last year is garnering all the major award noms, and I can see that repeated next year with this rewriting of the labors of Hercules. He takes on the tale with back and forth narratives told by Heracles and Hera. Heracles is kind of a good-hearted himbo who adores his family and diligently worships Hera; meanwhile, Hera loathes Heracles because he was produced by her husband’s philandering, and her project of vengeance is so deep she almost breaks herself in the process. That creates a complex book wherein the hero and villainess both struggle to find salvation amid their grief. The book isn’t without humor, though, and it often arises from the found family that Heracles creates through his labors.

I’ll eat up any mythological retelling, and I was super excited to read Wiswell’s take of the story of the labors of Hercules, told from Hera’s and Heracles’s perspectives. I really like Wiswell’s writing style: it’s irreverent and wry and you really feel the characters.

There’s tragedy and found family and self-discovery for both parties—all great ingredients.

Four rather than five stars because the last 20% dragged on a bit for me, and there were a few things I would’ve loved to have delved further into.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW!

Thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the digital ARC.

“The self comes to us through others.”

I absolutely loved this book. This was Greek myth retelling as I’ve never read it before. Not only have I never read a retelling like this before, I’ve never read a portrayal of Heracles like this before! Normally, Heracles is characterised by his brute strength, his ego, his impulsiveness and often, his lack of intelligence. In “Wearing the Lion”, Heracles is powered by the morality, kindness and bravery of a Disney Princess. And it works. It’s so good.

“Wearing the Lion” is a quest for justice and inner peace and truly, the real peace ends up being the friends Heracles and Hera made along the way. And it’s not schmaltzy, it’s not overdone- you never get sick of Heracles. You just love him and root for him.

“I wish I’d known this version of myself who knew how to be angry.”

“Life is worth more than one fleeting moment of glory.”

Similarly, the character of “Auntie Hera”, the antihero (see what Wiswell did there!!) is so tenderly written. I found myself tearing up multiple times on her behalf as she rediscovered what it meant to her to be the Goddess of Family. I thought nobody could outdo Claire North and Jennifer Saint’s portrayals of Hera and her inner voice, but John Wiswell really wowed me.

“What does our goodness matter to our victims?”

“I made you a tool when I should have made you loved.”

I sincerely hope Wiswell will bring the world more Greek mythology retellings. I eagerly anticipate rediscovering these ancient compelling stories, not through the lens of his wonderful mind, but just as I did in “Wearing the Lion”, via his heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

A beautiful a masterfully written re-telling of the labours of Heracles.

This book is one of those rare gems that you can’t stop thinking about, even when you are not reading it and I know it will stay with me for a long time now that I have finished it.At its core this book is a story about healing, recovery and redemption after unimaginable loss told in a compelling fantasy setting.

I particularly loved:
- 🦁 Purrseus, an adorable animal sidekick will always get a high rating for me. This book benefited even more from a gang of loveable monsters.
- The role of found family in Heracles healing was written beautifully.
- Hera’s POV was incredibly enjoyable to read, even if she was incredibly cruel at times.

This gorgeous book was uplifting at times and made me cry more than once and I would highly recommend it to both fantasy fans and anyone who loves a unique and well crafted story.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is so completely different from SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN, and somehow also manages to hit the same dark cosy tone. Witchcraft, honestly.
WEARING THE LION captures the essence of Greek tragedy, while seamlessly weaving in humour and an incredible journey of emotional growth for its main characters.
I laughed. I cried. Sometimes I laughed and cried at the same time.
A dark tale with heart, humour, and a social conscience could have been jarring. But anything Wiswell touches just works.
Did I also picture the characters as their cartoon counterparts from Disney’s 1997 Hercules? Yes. Am I sorry? No.

Thanks to DAW and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early!

I enjoyed this a lot! It’s very fast paced with short chapters and big timeskips, and pretty silly at times - though not without a lot of genuine emotion too.

I definitely prefer this kind of ridiculous and weird Greek mythology narratives to dense and political or romancey Greek mythology. Admittedly it's still not entirely my vibe, but it felt a bit more unique than all the romance retellings. The dynamic of Heracles loving and worshiping Hera not knowing she hates him, and knowing he’s eventually gonna find out….oof! I’m always a fan of books that centre non-romantic relationships. and I love a male protagonist who is so empathetic and forgiving.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for Wearing the Lion by John Wiswell.

This book confused me honestly. There were elements I liked and elements I really didn't. I think the premise was really cool but just didn't quite fit cohesively for me. The pacing was a problem. It kind of read like a quirky short story but it's also just a lot of content to cover. I think he could have made it a short story and left out some labors. Or toned down some of the humorous elements and covered more details.

I did enjoy the found family element with Heracles just slowly adding to this pick of monsters and friends. I think the author was quite creative in finding loopholes within the language of the 12 labors. It definitely gave me some things to think about.

I think the author tried pretty hard to be humorous but quite often, it didn't hit home. They named the lion Purrseus... c'mon. I found myself rolling my eyes more than actually laughing at the jokes. Hera called Zeus a dipshit in like the first chapter and I laughed at that... once. But, then she said it like 4329423 more times and it got super old.

Overall, I gave this book 3 stars. It was a quick read and while it wasn't for me, I can see other people enjoying it. And I think there's a really incredible message about believing that everyone is deserving of love (even Hera and Heracles).

I thoroughly enjoyed this very imaginative take on the Hercules myth. In a world where I'm reading 8 or 9 different books at any given time, this kept me invested enough to finish within a few days.

Wearing the Lion is a fresh and heartfelt retelling of the Heracles myth. Instead of focusing solely on heroic feats, it delves into themes of grief, redemption, and found family. Heracles, grappling with immense guilt, embarks on his famed labors, but rather than slaying monsters, he often befriends them, forming deep connections that aid his healing journey. The narrative alternates between Heracles and Hera, offering a nuanced look at their intertwined fates. Wiswell's blend of humor and emotion makes this mythological tale both entertaining and profoundly moving.

actual rating: 3.5 stars

i think my main takeaway after finishing this book is - i can appreciate the message it was trying to convey, it just didn't grip me as much as i would have liked.

i really enjoyed the narration style, getting alternating chapters from heracles and from hera, and i also really enjoyed the narrative voice each POV had (especially hera - i found myself chuckling quite a lot while reading from her perspective).

this book is definitely a lot cozier than most of the mythology retellings i've either read or are on my radar, but john wiswell still discusses some heavier topics (the loss of a child, taking responsibility for your actions, for example).

I was lucky enough to be granted an arc through NetGalley for Wearing the Lion. The first line made me laugh out loud on the train on my commute just start off perfect chefs kiss.

This book is hilarious until it isn't.

This line brings it back: "That gray-eyed know-it-all is behind me again, watching like she wants to write my memoirs when this is over."

I finished part one and thought, wow! I don’t know the story of Hera and Heracles/Alcides. But I trust the author. Heracles unending devotion to someone who despises him and his ignorance of it is so compelling.

The book is hilarious until it isn’t. After that Wiswell rips our heart out of our chest and trounces on it time and again. Lines like "What does our goodness matter to our victims?" just got me. Over and over.

Hera's inability to admit what she did carries the book. This is the root of the "bad communication trope" and it is done so well because we see her unwillingness to admit the truth, even to herself. Even as she comes so close And we think, yes, she's going to make this right. She doesn't. And we see how someone makes things worse by a failure to communicate.

Heracles, meanwhile, goes through it and finds a family. The ending isn't a big joyous thing. It is small, and hopeful.

I admittedly had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started "Wearing the Lion" - but it's a Greek mythology reimagining that I'd bet no one else has encountered before.

Told in alternating perspectives between Hera, Queen of the Gods and wife of Zeus, and Heracles, the offspring of Zeus and one of his many dalliances. In his reimagining however, Wiswell infuses a level of humor, vitriol, and complexity that has yet to be written in any of these characters; Hera is a (rightfully) angry and bitter wife, fed up with her "dipshit husband" and his lack of responsibility and accountability. When Heracles is born and named in honor of her, she commits to treat him as the furthest thing from her... while he has nothing for reverence for her, frequently praying to and offering sacrifices to her, and calling her "Auntie Hera".

The comedy (and cursing) is a much-needed contrast to the well-known Labours of Heracles, when Heracles attempts to absolve his guilt. In each of the following trials, Heracles success is completely transformed - instead of killing or slaying the mythological creature, Heracles transforms them into companions and supporters of his journey - each with their own character and backstory to add to his journey. It is albeit a very generous reimagining, but one that paints our protagonist in a completely different light and addresses the deeper grief and loss he carries. Hera also has her own journey and development as she also comes to terms with her reality and the responsibility she bears.

While I thought the concept of this novel unique, I struggled to get past the first few Trials as they become quite similar and repetitive over time, and the pacing stalled in the middle of the novel. Nonetheless a unique read for those who are looking for a different kind of Greek mythology reimagining!

Thanks to Netgalley and DAW for this ARC.

Man, after reading Someone You Can Build a Nest In, I was looking forward to some more out there novels along those veins, and Wearing the Lion does not disappointed. John Wiswell has such a way of building a unique world with a twist that just keeps the reader invested. I, however, was more excited by the description of Heracles befriending all the monsters he was meant to slay in a re-imagining of Heracle's twelve labors.

Heracles has always fascinated me in some way, but I have to admit I didn't know too much about his labors before beginning. Wiswell helps the reader by laying out a list of the twelve labors before getting into the meat of the story. But the best part of Wearing the Lion isn't the labors, but rather Hera herself. Hera is such a queen of sass that I swear she's my new role model. Originally I was annoyed with some of the modern English swears being used in the text, but there's nothing more satisfying than Hera calling Zeus her dipshit husband. To sum up Wearing the Lion, this story is primarily focused on Hera being undeniably pissed at her husband and unfortunately taking it out on one of his brood.

Amazingly, Wiswell adds layers upon layers of personality to our gods and goddesses. For anyone who knows the classics, the Olympians are meant to embody humans but are greatly ruled by their flaws. In Wearing the Lion, the flaws are still there but the Olympians are fleshed out in a satisfactory way, excepting Zeus because he's missing for the majority of the story. But this isn't about Zeus, it's about Hera and the trauma she inflicts on Heracles.

I really appreciate that Wiswell goes deep into the trauma of Heracles murdering his sons. This unforgivable sin has Heracles questioning his purpose in life, as his family falls apart due to the violence. Heracles is so torn by this act that any time he faces a monster, he can only see the trauma inflicted on them, and in turn ends up creating his own family of murderous monsters that are loveable in their own way. Heracles does not forgive himself that easily, but takes it upon himself to discover the answers.

On the other hand, Hera herself starts questioning her own actions and how they have hurt the ones she loves. Although Hera has her own family, borne by blood and... whatever Zeus was doing-- she takes the time to reflect on what her actions have done to those around her. There's a lot of growth for Hera and I absolutely loved how Wiswell explored the damage infidelity has done to Hera. Hera is typically depicted as a stone-cold bitch--and she is still in Wearing the Lion-- but she is a product of what her husband has done to her. Anyone would go crazy if you were betrayed by your partner time and time again.

All in all, give Wearing the Lion a try. I don't think there's any mythological retelling that will hold a candle to what Wiswell has done. Wiswell didn't really change the narrative per se, but rather give it a depth that's often overlooked.

WEARING THE LION is such a difficult book to review! I will say, that after reading Someone You Can Build a Nest In last year, I was super excited to read more from John Wiswell and – although this book is a very different animal – it’s pretty much cemented him as an autobuy author.
On the face of it, WEARING THE LION is a retelling of the Hercules/Heracles story – driven to madness by vengeful goddess Hera, he murders his wife and children and sets out on twelve legendary ‘labours’ to restore his honour etc. In WEARING THE LION, Heracles (and to a lesser extent his wife) are undertaking the labours to instead find out who drove him to his actions.
The labours themselves are flipped on their heads. For example, instead of slaying the Nymerian lion, this Heracles befriends it. Thus, the meat of WEARING THE LION becomes more about themes than plot particularly. Remorse, grief, and healing; toxic masculinity; denial; and perception of self and by others.
Both Heracles and Hera feel like fully fleshed out characters, Hera in particular was a joy to read about: a deeply flawed and complex female character like we rarely see.
The writing itself was my one gripe, an alternating POV in an almost epistolary style (although I can see the reasoning from a writing-craft perspective) and a very modern vernacular (Zeus is Hera’s “dipshit husband” a lot) which just didn’t quite work for me.
Overall, I really bold and ambitious second novel, that just confirms that Wiswell is an author to watch for reader looking for SFF that does something different.

A fun twist on the story of Heracles and his labors! Love to see the Greek mythos through a new lens. It's also nice to have a Greek myth that isn't incredibly unfair to women!

Wearing the Lion is a re-imagining of the Twelve Labors of Hercules with some found-family focused family drama mixed in. In this, Hercules (also known as Alcides) is a cheerful, surprisingly gentle guy who considers Hera his "aunty" and prays to her and gives her offerings. Our Cinnamon Roll is completely unaware that Hera hates his guts, despite her various attempts to kill him. (He does not realize they are murder attempts--he is just utterly clueless about it. He is just a strong, sweet guy who has nothing but good thoughts for his "Papa Zeus" and "Aunty Hera.")
The situation comes to a head when Hera forces a "retired" (and full of trauma) fury to attack Hercules. This results in the tragic death of his sons. (Which manages to horrify Hera.) When he comes out of the fog of fury-inspired madness he is driven to find answers. In the course of his search for the god who sent the fury, he's manipulated to go after the Nemean Lion. Things do not go as planned. Instead, Hercules makes friends with the Lion.
The pattern of making friends with monsters, (or mentally ill dudes who think they're monsters) continues, while he continues his search for answers. Hercules travels are broken up by encounters and references to Imposter-Hercs who are all attempting to accomplish the Labors. (He manages to befriend and rescue the Hind of Cyreneia from one of them.) His path to finding out the truth is convoluted and sprinkled with misdirection and and confusion. (And no one knowing he's Hercules because he is the Tony Hawk of the sons of Zeus.)
I really enjoyed this book, though it was in places a tough read. The lead up to the revelation was agonizing, even though I knew who it was. The author does a great job of making you sympathize with both Hera and Hercules. Hera is under a lot of stress in that her husband does not respect her (or anyone really), and Hercules is just a guy who wants to defend his home and his family. (Albeit a guy with super-strength.)
John Wiswell delves a bit into the underlying dysfunctions of the Olympians as "family," to great effect. He uses a combination of humor and sympathy, from gently mocking Apollo for stealing "domains," to sympathizing with a fury with PTSD from millennia of war and destroying lives and minds at the behest of the titans and the gods. This is a warm but also tragic novel about found family and finally getting away from a toxic situation that you know won't get better.
This book review was based on a galley received from NetGalley.

I want to preface this review with the fact that I love that we're still interpreting these myths thousands of years later. Like the ancient Greeks, we take these stories and change them based on our view of the world and what we wish to relay.

That being said, this book is an interesting thought experiment, but it wasn't for me. This novel follows Heracles, a son of Zeus, who spends his life trying to do exactly what his name suggests: give glory to his "aunty" Hera. Hera, on the other hand, resents Heracles as a product of her husbands infidelity.

Like in the original myth, she pushes him to murder his children, setting off a chain of events. Rather than slaying the beasts as he is tasked with for his labors, Heracles cannot bear to do anymore harm. Instead, he befriends them.

This is definitely a story that focuses heavily on redemption and personal growth, but it just didn't do much for me. I found it kind of trivial in places (i.e. naming the nemian lion "purrrseus"). I can definitely respect the point the author makes with this novel, but it just wasn't for me.

Wearing the Lion is an imaginative and emotionally layered novel. At its core, it explores identity, transformation, and the blurry lines between the human and the surreal.

Wiswell’s prose is vivid and poetic, with a dreamlike quality that gives the story a rich, immersive texture. The worldbuilding feels unique and purposeful, and the characters—particularly the protagonist—are compelling in their vulnerability and complexity.

That said, the novel doesn’t always stick the landing. The plot can feel meandering in places, and some of the more abstract or symbolic moments slow the pacing. Readers who prefer a more grounded or linear story may find these parts a bit challenging to follow.

Overall, Wearing the Lion is a bold and thoughtful read, full of ambition and emotional resonance. It’s not a book for everyone, but for readers who enjoy layered, genre-blurring stories with heart, it’s worth the journey.

Do you think Monster Hunter is unnecessarily violent because those beautiful creatures were just trying to live their lives? 

Are you a cat person who's willing to expand the definition of cat to something large and possibly dangerous?

Do you root for Hera because her husband is just *the worst* and constantly tell people what a ho Zeus is?

Then oh boy, have I got a book for you.

In Wearing the Lion, John Wiswell combines the wholesome, fairytale-style sensibility from SYCBANI with a deep knowledge of Greek myths and, of course, monsters. This Heracles has noodly limbs and a paunch belly, because Daddy Zeus is always doing the work for him, and as he goes through the tragic story we all know and love, we see a Heracles who tries to balance empathy with avenging the harm that was done to his family.

Hera, fueled by her frustration with her "dipshit husband," is out to make Heracles' life more difficult, but don't worry, she also learns some things along the way as she sees the effects of her actions on her own family.

The plot moves quickly through the steps we know and love, but takes time to reflect on other ways that we can look at those happenings and the ways in which Heracles might have more in common with the monsters than with his human family. Wiswell takes us through an emotional journey as we see the strain of grief on a marriage and the formation of a found family that helps Heracles cope with the distance from Megara and his own grief.

In a world of Greek myth retellings that often feel too similar, reading a truly empathic story chock full of informed references to the original material was a refreshing delight. The fragmented narrative for part of a novel drawing on Greek poetry as source material was honestly perfection.

I will be eagerly awaiting John Wiswell's new release while obsessing over one of my new favorite myth retellings.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for gifting me an early copy of this book!

I ADORED someone you could build a nest in, and this one was just as amazing. two awesome POVs, some very fun plotlines, and gorgeous themes. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.