Reviewed April 2025:
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Some good things to start off with. I think that the character of Hera really had a great transformation within the book. This is one of the only books that I saw very caring side and a compassionate side to her. While she did have some anger and jealousy, rightfully so, this book showed how much love she had in her, how she took her job as a Goddess of family and birthing so seriously, and how she realized what she did was so devastatingly wrong. She was able to make a mistake and then learn from that. I appreciate it in a way that shows less Divinity and more human.

I enjoyed how Hercules was portrayed. More of a lover, a kind-hearted soul, and someone with deep reverence. I think that this is a total shift from how his story is told within mythology. And I enjoyed this retelling, it made him more relatable.

Now the use of dish!t to refer to her husband was overkill. The first few times okay I get it it was nice to see emotion but after that it was just too repetitive and it took you out of the story to only focus on that.

And I wasn't as pulled into the story as I was his first book. While this was interesting it just felt like it went longer than it should have. It did not keep my attention as much as his first novel. I enjoyed it but I had to take breaks from it because it was a lot to read it all the way through.

I kind of wish if there was more about Hera than there was about anything else. I want to see more from her character to see how much she will grow and become her own person after the events of this book are completed. So I think that I was drawn into that and I was looking for more of that even though that wasn't the focus of the book.

Overall not a bad read. And I did enjoy a lot of it!

John Wiswall feels like he’s trying to get on the writing staff of Netflix’s show, Kaos.

I feel like the cover kinda fools you.

“At the foot of the bed, down on his knees, is my son. Ares, the God of War, the scourge of battlefields, crouches between Aphrodite’s thighs, face buried in there, giving peace a chance.”

If you thought Stephen Fry was snarky or flippant in his retellings, Wiswall is like, hold my wine.

I thought I would gobble up a mythology satire, but a few things held me back from wanting to finish it.

1. Dipshit - 48 mentions. As a kick off sentence, it was hilarious. But 47 more times, it lost its luster.

2. Making Heracles an I’m-Just-Ken-like character feels funny in theory, but his story is tragic and for some reason, when those sad notes played out, the humor hit the wrong notes.

3. Pacing - I would have embraced the 12 Labors differently. Instead of 5 acts, made them clearer short stories. The internal dialogue felt repetitive because of it.

I’m sure there will be people that love this book, so if Hera or Heracles are MVP’s in your mythology worlds, I would still recommend this.

DNF

TY @netgalley for this ARC

Maybe my expectations were too high after "Someone You Can Build a Nest In", which I loved, but I was mildly disappointed by this Hercules retelling. The characters felt a little flat for me, and some of the jokes were repetitive. It did have some very funny lines, including one of the most memorable first lines I've ever read. But I was hoping for more.

Recently I read John Wiswell’s debut novel Someone You Can Build A Nest In. I really liked the atypical romance story and found myself vibing a lot with Wiswell’s humor throughout the story.

If I just “liked” his first novel, I was enraptured by his new book, Wearing the Lion, an inspired take on the ancient Greek tale of Heracles and his Twelve Labors. I was captivated by the reimagining of the classic mythology, laughing throughout at Wiswell’s humor, while at the same time being reduced to tears by the tragedy (and ultimate character redemption) that unfolds with each page.

So…strap in…in honor of Heracles 12 Labors and the 12 Olympic Gods of Greece, the rambling remainder of this review will be contained in 12 points (slight spoilers ahead for the retelling of a 2,500 year old story)….

1. OK…let’s talk Disney, or just American sensibilities. I teach history to junior high and high school students and have done more than my share of Ancient Greece and the Pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. One thing that absolutely drives me nuts (and I tell my students every year) is the American obsession with binary choices. Coke or Pepsi. Black or White. Republican or Democrat. Star Trek or Star Wars. Those binary choices have negatively impacted retellings of Greek mythology. Inevitably, we get movies like Disney’s Hercules (the Roman name of our hero, even though the story is almost completely Greek). In the Disney version, Zeus and Hera are happily married and Hercules is their son. The villain of the movie is Hades, all to set up the concept of Hercules = Good and Hades = Bad. In reality, the Greek Pantheon was a convoluted mess that isn’t easily defined by a binary protagonist/antagonist relationship. In Wiswell’s Wearing the Lion, the author really showcases the crazy dynamic of Mount Olympus, showing the machinations of more than just Zeus and Hades. In fact, Hades is barely even mentioned in the entire book. Instead we get a fantastic group of side characters…and I just fell in love with…

2. Boar. Well, I did at least. A Boar…man…or perhaps a man who believes himself to be a Boar. When we first meet Boar, his heartbreaking story and how he’s portrayed brought me to tears. His part of the story goes to show how Heracles thinks about the situations he’s put into and at times makes you wonder about…

3. Heracles the Himbo? Disney’s version puts our hero on center-stage without a ton of book smarts. In the movie Meg pokes fun at it constantly, but the heroic qualities (and Herc’s looks) seem to offset his mental limitations. In Wiswell’s version, Heracles isn’t portrayed as a “hunk,” even pointing out that his god-given strength is so immense that he can’t work off his gut paunch. And while Wiswell doesn’t make Heracles a Rhodes scholar, he definitely uses inventiveness and wiles to complete his tasks. But throughout most of the novel, he does have a gigantic blindspot when it comes to…

4. Hera. When I read about the 12 Labors in school years ago, I always felt like Hera was somewhat justified. Not that it was Heracles’ fault that Zeus cheated on Hera, but it was more than that. This baby is born…this amazing baby fathered by Zeus. And then on top of it all, they name the freakin’ kid after the jilted mother of the gods. And, especially in Wiswell’s version, that name -- HERA’S GLORY -- leads Heracles to pray to her day after day after day. Was she right in her actions? No…but you can understand it. Which makes for an interesting…

5. Framing device. Wiswell alternates chapters between Hera and Heracles throughout. It creates an interesting look at the story through multiple perspectives, often from victim to perpetrator at the same time. It makes the book fly by quicker, but it feels almost required to slow down when tragedy strikes, but Wiswell wisely plays with the standard…

6. Narrative. In fact, the ancient Greek narrative isn’t a set canon. When you look back at stories like Heracles in Greece or Gilgamesh in Mesopotamia, there are so many possible plots. Many of these tales were oral in nature and just like any story, changes were made when it was told from one group to another. With variety in his back pocket, Wiswell takes a chisel to the typical plot, letting Hera still drive Heracles to the madness that kills his sons, but leaves his wife Megara alive, but altered -- frightened -- traumatized. Meg knows it had to be a Olympian, so she is the impetus that drives Heracles on the required…

7. Twelve Labors. In the original tradition of Heracles’ labors, it seems almost like a checklist -- things that had to be done, regardless of difficulty for his crimes. But in this reimagining, Heracles works through them, not out of an obligation, but with a purpose…retribution. But in his quest for vengeance, he discovers his taste for violence is gone. It makes the Labors less of a chore and more of a quest from one Labor to the next to find answers. Speaking of answers, I’ve just realized…

8. Twelve of anything is a lot. I didn’t really think this list through before I started. Wow. And neither did Hera. Her pain from…

9. Zeus’ infidelity. His careless indifference to his own wife and family starts everything from the get-go. From there, he is a key to the story, but notably absent from most of the main storyline. In fact, Wiswell cleverly wove historical eras and the eventual displacement of Greece as the center of the modern world as the eventual explanation for Zeus’ disappearance. And it helped explain a huge plot hole in the Heracles original story - namely, why would Zeus even allow his wife to torment his favorite demigod son, not once, but on over a dozen separate occasions? Speaking again of those Labors, Heracles decision to avert violence leads to a wonderful…

10. Found family. After killing his sons, Heracles is in a bad place and isn’t looking to replace them…just to avenge them. But in his quest for truth, the Twelve Labors don’t represent subtraction, but Heracles adding to his life by working through his grief. I mentioned Boar (a wonderful character), but he also adds the Nemean Lion (Wiswell is insane for actually letting Heracles name him Purrseus), the Hydra, the Golden Hind, and the Cretan Bull to his crew. Each play a key role in getting him back to a place where he can face his demons and his tormentor. That tormentor again, we just keep coming back to…

11. Hera. Heracles is clearly the focus of this story, but there are two redemption arcs here and Hera goes on her own journey as well. In Wearing the Lion, Wiswell keeps the gods fairly consistent, which makes sense. Athena has her key attributes and keeps to those, same as Ares, Aphrodite, Apollo, etc. But that consistent characterization shows how much Hera actually change and evolves over the course of the book. A book which was…

12. Excellent. I said it at the beginning, but I can’t help saying it again. Wiswell wrote a divine book in Wearing the Lion, weaving modern sensibilities into an ancient tale in a Mediterranean setting. When Heracles returned home at the end of his journey, Megara’s embrace had me weeping and I don’t know that I’ll forget how I felt in that moment any time soon. If you enjoy retellings of Greek myths or just great books in general, I think you’ll enjoy Wearing the Lion.

Thank you to DAW for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I am a huge fan of Wiswell and I loooved the writing and characters in this, but the subject matter wasn't the best fit for me personally, so I'll very gently dnf'ed this for now. Will likely return to this in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for feedback.

I knew within a few chapters that this would be a 5-star read for me. John Wiswell has an understanding of mortality and the utter range of ridiculousness of the human experience that is not necessarily new or edgy, but refreshing in its plainness and vulnerability. I’ll admit I often avoid mythology subgenres as I have often found them predictable and uncomfortably colonial. This reimagining is neither of those things.

This novel had me laughing to the point of tears, crying until all I could do was laugh, and occasionally debating if I was brave enough to look up the source material. I'm effing terrified of horses (iykyk).

Something that stands out to me in John Wiswell’s writing is the dynamic nature of flaws and micro-redemptions that build into overall character growth. There’s something organic about all of his characters, who sometimes get a bit better, then a lot worse, then a lot better, just to really, really embrace the worst and hope for a lucky streak. The scathing commentary on the human condition from Shesheshen in “Someone You Can Build a Nest In” had me primed some beautiful articulations about the contrast between gods and mortals, but I was surprised and delighted to see that turned inward on both sides of the narrative here.

This book is incredibly well-attuned to self-reflection but also how self-reflecting in the wrong light can lead you to a path of more harm. There were times where I found myself overwhelmed with the realness of it.

Wiswell humanizes the monstrous, mythologizes the familiar, and challenges social precedence with such gentleness, compassion, and quiet kindness that it left me really stunned. One of my favourite things about this novel is the open redemption at the end and the feeling of possibility. This is hard to pull off without coming off unpolished, dispassionate, or even a copout, but he does it so flawlessly you'll wonder why others haven't figured out the recipe.

Personally, the messy, unhinged, ridiculous, and sometimes anachronistic ways the characters spoke to each other and to themselves was my favourite part of the book, besides the general emotional catharsis and deep-seeded clever wordplay that Wiswell ought to be known for.

This felt like a long book, and I wish it were longer, but only because I never wanted the book to end...this imperfect world with some bad things and happy endings, with disabled folks, queer folks, fat folks, and all the other normal folks who feel anything but…

John Wiswell’s writing isn’t for a thrill-seeking adrenaline junkie, but if you’re looking for what it means to find your way home, this is a great place to start.

This book was well-written, but I'm not sure if soft-boy Heracles is for me. I also didn't enjoy the amount of times "dipshit" was used, or cursing in general. It felt like it was just added for the sake of cursing. I'm a fan of retellings that humanize Hera and explain her actions more, but she seemed sort of foolish in this version. However, I did enjoy Heracles' labors turning into friends, even if I didn't like Logy. An interesting read for sure.

Thank you John Wiswell, DAW, and NetGalley for the ARC.

i love love LOVE Greek mythology. something about it is so interesting to me. maybe it's because i was a percy jackson kid? anyway! when i picked this up, i was excited. i was hoping that this would be good! for the most part, it was.

i liked the dual-POV element, and i liked how hera’s and heracles' stories were intertwined. i also thought this was pretty funny! this novel had a good balance of humor and heart. there were some dark moments as is true with the original myth. i also found myself tearing up from the character growth that hera goes through, especially her relationship with ares. i loved reading from hera’s perspective and seeing the relationship she had between the other gods. the dynamics were fascinating to me, and i found myself not really enjoying heracles’ chapters, which sucked. but that might have been me?

overall, a solid read and one i’ll recommend!! thank you again to netgalley & the publisher for the arc. as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. this will be out on june 17th this year!

This second novel is not quite as strong as Wiswell's first, but still worth reading. A re-telling of the myths surrounding Heracles, it's a bit of a loose and baggy monster; but with interesting things to say for those who can keep up.

Wearing the Lion was incredible. It’s a retelling of the Heracles myth in such a unique way, with a truly found family at its heart. This story broke my heart and then wrapped me in a warm hug.

John Wiswell weaves a beautiful tale. His depiction of the gods makes them feel truly divine—different from mortals yet still sharing some of humanity’s best and worst traits. The story never drags; just as mortal lives pass quickly for the gods, the pacing ensures the reader never has to wait long for a payoff.

It’s a wonderful exploration of grief and forgiveness. Honestly, I can’t find a single fault with this book. It was perfect, and I know I’ll reread it one day.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was very pleased to get an ARC of this from Netgalley as I loved John's first novel. I will admit that I am not a huge fan of Greek myth, with the exception of Xena. But I did love this. In many ways it had the same reaction to the myths that Xena did. Treating them both with comedy and also real tragedy. It was a lovely combination. The ending made me cry a LOT. It was beautifully told and a lot of fun. Definitely one I'd recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and DAW for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I don't think Wearing the Lion knows what it really wants to be. Sometimes it feels like it want to be a cozy fantasy where Heracles befriends all the monsters in his way instead of killing them. Sometimes it gives rated-r Disney's Hercules, where the gods are sorta treated as more funny and snarky then scary, but they also get to say fuck and have sex. Sometimes its trying to be a character study, balancing Heracles and his grief with Hera and her changing perspective. All of these things would be good fun on their own, but the problem comes from how poorly the novel fails to blend these into one cohesive whole.

When the book is doing just one of these things I find it too work quite well. John Wiswell is clearly skilled at moment by moment scene crafting. There are many individual chapters that were quite breathtaking. Its just when a cute chapter where Heracles names the Nemean Lion Puurseous is followed by a scene wherein he feels intense grief over his forced murder of his children I get pulled out of it.

I'll be honest I think the character work on Heracles and Hera in this novel is brilliant. Its a nice refreshing take on Heracles where he has such an empathy for everything around him, while hatred of violence that gives his quest so much depth. Hera is more than just Zeus' wife who hates that he cheats, as the novel really dives into the fact that she is the goddess of motherhood and family, and what it means for her to have so blatantly destroyed Heracles'.

Again so much of the book works, its just in the final assembly of it all that I came out saying, "Meh." I do think its worth picking up though if you like Greek myths as it is definitely doing something more than most modern retellings, which tend to feel like bland retellings in modern prose. If you can get past the whiplash that is.

I love me a fun Greek retelling!! It flips the story of Heracles/Hercules on its head and asks "what if it was the friends we made along the way?" We love a sensitive king! Wiswell's writing is at once subtle, laugh-out-loud funny, and thought-provoking. It's a perfect example of "show don't tell" and trusts the reader to come to conclusions about each character's headspace without explicitly spelling everything out.

The strongest part of this book is the character work. Each character is nuanced and more fleshed out than we're used to in Greek mythology. It skillfully handles themes of grief, guilt, and friendship. I love the dimension he's able to add to these well-known figures. Hera is not just a jealous and scorned wife, and Heracles is more than his strength. Also, it tickles me to no end that he calls Zeus "Papa Zeus" throughout the book and ends on a beautiful note. Logy 4 life.

I do feel parts of the book were weaker - the author bit off a little more than he could chew by trying to tackle all 12 of Heracles/Hercules' labors within this story. In the middle, it becomes a little monotonous as each labor ends similarly, then he had to rush to gloss over a few others. If you are in the mood for a book that's action-packed with battles, this is not the book for you! It picks back up near the end, but I struggled a bit through the middle - even with characters that I was invested in.

Overall - I really enjoyed it and would recommend it for fans of Circe/Song of Achilles.

An engaging and entertaining take on the story of Heracles, this version of the tale focuses on the relationship between the great hero and the goddess he was both named for and owes all his suffering to, creating an emotionally fraught dynamic that will keep you on your toes until the final chapter! Thank you to NetGalley and to DAW for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is so quotable. This was a great retelling of the labors of Hercules and I really enjoyed seeing from both Hercules' and Hera's point of view. Again, the gods are truly terrible but I enjoyed the great found family story. The idea of no matter how terrible things are, those who truly love you will never give up on you and never leave you.

Thoroughly enjoyed this! Although I did sort of get lost in the last third of the book and wasn't always sure of what was going on or how I was meant to be understanding the story. The alternating viewpoints of Hera and Heracles are wonderful, though, and the general premise of Heracles befriending the monsters of his Labours rather than killing them is a great one. I particularly enjoyed Purrseus and Logy. There are places, particularly in the beginning, where the book is quite funny, but it also has considerable poignancy and darkness, all handled very well.

John Wiswell's "Wearing the Lion" is a delightfully absurd and unexpectedly heartwarming twist on the classic Heracles myth. It's a book that manages to be both laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely moving, a rare feat that Wiswell pulls off with aplomb.

The premise alone is comedic gold: Heracles, the legendary hero, is Hera's biggest (and most oblivious) fan, completely unaware that his very existence is a constant, painful reminder of Zeus's infidelity. Hera, in turn, is a hilariously exasperated goddess, forced to endure Heracles' well-meaning but utterly infuriating devotion.

Wiswell's writing is sharp and witty, filled with clever dialogue and absurd situations. The interactions between Hera and Heracles are a constant source of amusement, particularly Hera's increasingly desperate attempts to sabotage her unwanted devotee. The humor, however, is never mean-spirited; it's rooted in the inherent absurdity of the situation and the characters' flawed but relatable personalities.

But "Wearing the Lion" is more than just a comedy. It's also a poignant exploration of grief, trauma, and the unexpected bonds of family. After a tragic event, Heracles' journey takes a surprising turn as he rejects violence and instead embraces compassion, forming unlikely connections with the very monsters he was sent to slay. This shift in Heracles' character is beautifully rendered, adding depth and emotional resonance to the story.

The book's reimagining of the classic myths is fresh and inventive, breathing new life into familiar tales. Wiswell's unique perspective and storytelling voice make "Wearing the Lion" a truly memorable read. The monster family that Heracles collects along his journey is both hilarious and touching.

"Wearing the Lion" is a breath of fresh air, a funny and heartfelt story that will leave you smiling. It's a testament to Wiswell's talent for blending humor and emotion into a truly unique and satisfying reading experience. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, think, and feel, this is it.

When you open the book to the first page and see Hera calling Zeus her ‘dipshit husband’ you know you’re in for an interesting retelling. When reading Greek mythology retellings, usually there’s an element of ‘oh yes I remember this myth and what happens next’ and enjoying the way in which the story has been retold. With this retelling however the story took so many twists and turns that I didn’t expect but really enjoyed! I loved the theme of found family and healing that the author wove into the story. Heracles and Hera’s relationship and how their stories entwined and evolved was fascinating and I loved the idea of a clueless Heracles worshipping Hera with no idea that she hates him and is the one responsible for his labours. Hera’s character was fascinating, and I loved how she developed – almost reluctantly- through following Heracles journey. Also loved her relationship with Ares, the god of war and her son. Some of those scenes (and one line in particular) made me tear up! The style of the book was anachronistic sometimes – i.e. Zeus the dipshit husband – but I really enjoyed that, and it certainly didn’t take anything away from the emotional punches of the story. In terms of a retelling of the Labours of Heracles I thought it was incredibly unique in how in portrayed Heracles – not as an angry brutish hero – but as man grieving for the family he lost and trying to find answers, and the goddess responsible trying to come to terms with how she has changed this man’s life and what it says about her. I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy unconventional retellings that humanize the gods and their heroes, and the found family trope. I look forward to reading more retellings and stories by this author.

Thank you Netgalley and DAW Books for the ARC!

John Wiswell's Wearing the Lion offers a refreshing and humanizing retelling of the Heracles myth, blending humor, warmth, and introspection. The narrative reimagines Heracles not as a mythic paragon of strength, but as a relatable figure grappling with guilt, grief, and the quest for redemption. Wiswell's portrayal invites readers to explore themes of family dynamics, personal responsibility, and the complexities of heroism.

The novel's charm lies in its character development. Heracles is depicted with depth, showcasing vulnerabilities that resonate with contemporary audiences. The supporting characters, including his wife Megara and the enigmatic Hera, are equally well-crafted, each contributing to the story's rich tapestry. Wiswell's talent for crafting authentic dialogue and memorable character moments shines throughout the book.

The pacing is deliberate, allowing for thoughtful exploration of the characters' emotional landscapes. While some readers may find this introspective approach less fast-paced than traditional epics, it adds a layer of depth that enriches the overall experience. The infusion of humor provides a delightful contrast to the heavier themes, balancing the narrative and enhancing its appeal.

However, the novel's modern language and colloquial expressions may not align with everyone's expectations for a mythological retelling. Some readers might prefer a more traditional or poetic tone when engaging with ancient stories. Additionally, the portrayal of certain characters, particularly Hera, deviates from classical representations, which may be jarring for purists.

In summary, Wearing the Lion is a heartfelt and imaginative reimagining of a classic myth, offering readers a nuanced perspective on familiar tales. John Wiswell's skillful characterizations and engaging prose make this novel a worthwhile read for those interested in contemporary takes on ancient stories. While it may not adhere to traditional expectations, its unique approach provides a fresh and thought-provoking experience.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my advanced copy! <3

With Wearing the Lion, John Wiswell has cemented himself as a master of the found family. After a tragic and horrific loss, Heracles sets out to seek justice against the god responsible for his family's destruction. Little does he know that the god responsible is none other than Hera, the Goddess of Families and his own namesake that he prays to every day.

When Hera, our other POV for the book, realizes what she's caused she panics and does anything to stall Heracles' mission by sending him on a fool's quest to defeat some undefeatable monsters. Instead Heracles befriends the Lion of Nemea, aids the Hydra of Lerna, and more along the way.

Heracles' story is heartbreaking and bittersweet. There is no perfect happy ending for our tragic hero, but that's how dealing with grief and loss works in real life. Loss can tear our relationships apart and fundamentally change us, but it doesn't have to define who we are.
Heracles finding love and friendship with the monsters he meets is tender and sometimes tooth-achingly sweet but it's a healing journey that we get to join him on.
Meanwhile, Hera is a spiteful, angry mess and it takes the majority of the story for her to recognize her faults. To be fair, I suppose if you're a goddess it's hard to recognize that you could be wrong about anything. But her actions against Heracles damaged her own family, and her journey to recognize her mistakes is arguably just as touching as Heracles'.

I think the middle section of the story felt a little meandering and the pace of the plot slowed down, hence the less-than-perfect star rating. And it's a personal preference but I'm not the biggest fan of Greek gods using modern language (Hera loves to use the word "weirdo" which ripped me right out of the story). There are also a couple parts where, if you're not familiar with Greek mythology, may leave you a little confused.

But at the end of the day Wearing the Lion is touching, sweet, heartbreaking, and lovely. Additionally the representation of plus-sized people, disabled folx, and queer characters is amazing. If you're looking for a read that's both tragic and cozy this is the book for you. I also recommend Someone You Can Build a Nest In, my favorite of Wiswell's two books.