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Wearing The Lion

The Story of Hercules as You've Never Read It Before, by the Nebula Award-Winning Author
By John Wiswell
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Brief Description
God. Hero. Idol. Monster. Murderer. The story of Hercules is one of the most famous ever told. But what if it's wrong? Locus and Nebula Award-winning author John Wiswell brings his gentle, human storytelling to the most infamous of stories and discovers the heart inside us... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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The world's most famous demi-god, Hercules, brought to life by the award-winning author of SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

God. Hero. Idol. Monster. Murderer. The story of Hercules is one of the most famous ever told. But what if it's wrong? Locus and Nebula Award-winning author John Wiswell brings his gentle, human storytelling to the most infamous of stories and discovers the heart inside us all.

Furious with Zeus for once again siring a child with a mortal woman, Hera finds herself redirecting all her fury at the baby himself, Heracles, an innocent named in her honour. As Heracles grows into a man—an unfathomably strong, loving man—he thanks Hera for all the blessings he feels she's seen fit to bestow upon him.

In a moment of misdirected rage, however, Hera sends a fury to kill Heracles' family. Heracles sets out on an epic quest to discover the name of the god who set their murders in motion. Desperate to keep him busy until she can come up with a solution, Hera sets Heracles a series of tests, as impossible as they are deadly: the Nemean lion, the hydra, the Stymphalian birds, the Aegean stables...

But Heracles' innate kindness, along with his determination to discover the identity of the god who cost him everything he loves, carries him through each task. As his legend grows, so does Hera's desperation.

A novel of friendship, of found family, of kindness and of legend, this is the story of Hercules as it has never been told before.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529431391

Publisher: Quercus Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 June 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Arcadia Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 460g

Pages: 384

Collections

Fantasy Fiction General Fiction John Wiswell Romance Romantasy (Fantasy Romance) Sci-Fi & Fantasy

About the Author

John Wiswell won the Nebula Award for his short story 'Open House on Haunted Hill' and won the Locus Award for his novelette 'That Story Isn't The Story'. He has also been a finalist for the Hugo Award, World Fantasy Award, British Fantasy Award, and Locus Award. His work has appeared in acclaimed publications like Uncanny Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Tor.com, Nightmare Magazine, and others, as well as numerous podcasts, including LeVar Burton Reads, NoSleep, Podcastle, and Escape Pod. He was most recently a finalist of the Hugo Award a second time in 2022 for Best Novelette.

You can find him on X @Wiswell and online at https://johnwiswell.blogspot.com.

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