A spirited look at mythology's queeroes from across the globe, Dan Jones (no not that one) combines fun analysis with a look at queer identity through a cultural lens to great effect.

Having greatly enjoyed Queer Villians of Myth and Legend, I did go into this book with high expectations, and Dan Jones delivers! He shows heroes, both well-known and in the shadows of time and fiction, through queer lenses. I also love how Jones sees through the pop culture versions of these heroes returning to their origins and puts his own spin on them with his humour, wit and tidbits of information that add to the mythos of each hero.

Overall, Dan Jones has created another fun and witty book about the queerness of history and mythology. Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend is perfect for any fans of Mythology and History.

Thank you, NetGalley and Octopus Publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Having read an enjoyed Queer Villains of Myth and Legend earlier this year, I was excited to read Jones’ earlier book about the corresponding heroes.

We’re taken on a whistle-stop tour from antiquity through to Buffy, featuring mythological figures from different cultures around the world, and looking at how their queerness has been depicted and received over the years. There are some that most of us have heard of, some you probably haven’t, and overall a really great and varied selection.

The tone is very light-hearted and sometime tongue-in-cheek, making it very accessible and the ideal book to dip in and out of. There are also a few illustrations which really enhance the book as a whole.

My biggest criticism is that there was no mention of asexuality, despite there being many opportunities too. There were multiple people – mostly women – where Jones concluded that their lack of desire was indicative that they were secretly gay, without even mentioning or considering asexuality. It would have been a great addition, not just because the asexual community are often passed over in any discussion of the LGBTQ+ community, but also that some of the characters were actually ones that many ace people identify with.

Jones is unable to resist the temptation to use modern terminology when looking at mythological figures (and some real people) from centuries ago, but given the light-hearted style of the whole book, if you can take this with a grain of salt it will be a very enjoyable and interesting read!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

I found numerous aspects of this book thoroughly enjoyable. It was a delight to read, sprinkled with humour throughout.

The author delves into not only the traditional myths and legends but also explores more contemporary cult classics, including 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Doctor Who'.

While many of the examples were familiar to me, there were a few I had not previously encountered, particularly regarding their Queer histories – which is precisely the reason you'd be compelled to read this book.

The book's structure, with its concise and impactful chapters, makes it an easy read. However, it must be noted that some sections are quite brief and occasionally lack substantial evidence. This may be because there is a lack of historical records, but it frequently left me wanting more details.

I would have appreciated a more comprehensive bibliography or a section dedicated to further reading at the book, as it would have reinforced its credibility as a piece of factual work. Nevertheless, the author does provide references throughout, which, albeit not exhaustive, is commendable.

In summary, the book is a worthwhile read.

A great read which covers queer heroes from across the eras and different media. The format means that you can dip in and out, each chapter giving you an introduction to the heroes and a starting point to go from if you want to find more. I'm looking forward to reading the queer villains follow-up.

I loved this. Dan Jones is a must read for me every time and this has cemented that. I love all the nicknames for the gods, the way their stories are told through the queer lens. The new adaptations and reinventions of looking at these well established gods from all over. The slightly more modern section towards the back, includes Good Omens and mentions the true god (non gender specific) that is Mason Alexander Park.

A stunning book

This was a nice, quick read on a huge range of queer heroes, from Greek mythology to modern popular culture.

Each chapter takes us through their histories, their impact, concisely and with a nice amount of humour too. It's an easy read and also easy to just read as as when different chapters take your fancy. There were times I would have enjoyed more detail as each chapter is pretty short, but it does provide a great overview.

Loved this from Dan Jones! A great celebration of heroes from myths and legends, some who were clearly queer and some that you've probably never considered before. Fantastic cover too.

This is a witty, informative and accessible book which I'd say is suitable from 9+

Great book that opens people's eyes to the reality that LGBTQ+ people have always existed and always will.

I enjoyed this book so much! Such a great perspective on heroes from literature and Pop Culture. I expected a bit more referencing in this exploration of Queer theory, but I loved the diversity of mythological representation.

This was a witty exploration of a wide range of different queer tales from our modern pop culture all the way back to mythology. I loved the narrative voice of this entire piece. It felt like Dan Jones and I were just gossiping and trading information about all the queer what-ifs and maybes.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the scope of sources explored, although I do wished that a more organised approach had been taken, for example keeping all the mythology in once sub-section or even organising the sources in rough timeline.

This is a great way to find a bunch of new queer inspiration and also has made me want to go back and watch both Buffy and Merlin.

A wonderfully easy book to pick up and read and rethink history through LGBTQ+ eyes. I liked how the writing was accessible to young readers too

This is the most amazing little fact file of queer heroes from mythology all the way to modern pop culture. It is witty and informative and has given me so many more characters I want to delve into.

An excellent introduction to all the queer heroes out there, 4 out of 5 stars.

Dan Jones has put together a simple, succinct, easy to follow introduction to mythology across the world, and the plethora of LGBTQ+ characters we find there (plus a few additions from more recent popular culture). I would recommend this as a great starting point for those wanting to know more but who find the idea of reading mythology, or some of the more academic texts on the subject a bit daunting. For me personally I would have preferred a more in depth discussion but that's simply due to already having a decent knowledge of mythology. That being said this is a really valuable book and I'm thrilled it's out there for those that need it. It does an excellent job of highlighting the sheer number of LGBTQ+ figures from mythology and showing that they are not limited to one region or religion. These figures have always been part of our stories and it is vital that we not only bring attention to it, but celebrate it.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC

Such a fun and wonderful book exploring all the queer legends and myths. I was surprised how many I hadn't heard of which I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at by the bias in society of covering only the heterosexual people of history. Really enjoyed it

This was a great collection of informative chapters about different characters from mythology and legend - many of whom i knew very little off before reading this. It would make a great gift, especially for the mythology lover in your life, as it provides both background information and examples where the character is portrayed or utilised.

It was super easy to read and you could, as I did, read it all at once or dip into it and explore the other depictions of characters.

A different take on looking at these mythical/ legendary figures and their queer identities. Interesting and fun to read

This was a really interesting look at the origins of many mythical characters, and how the may have been queer. From more of a queer sensibility like Loki to queer figures with more of a foothold like Sappho. I did feel that the collection got less focused when we turned to modern media like Buffy or Doctor Who. It ended up a bit confused on what exactly it's speaking too. But overall it's an enjoyable read, I'd recommend it.

This is a great quick look across different forms of myths, legends and folklore at heroes who were either on-the-page queer or implied to be such, as well as a few examples where the lines become more blurred. Jones starts the book with a look across a range of Greek mythology, touching on both well- and lesser-known examples, before opening things up and taking a slightly more scattered approach. Alongside pages of folkloric heroes, we have a look at some iconic modern pop culture, too, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Willow and Doctor Who.

Overall, I really liked the approach Jones took to this, and the casual, informal style of writing keep the tone upbeat. Nothing here is too information-heavy, either, leaving the reader with plenty of room to do research into the characters they might find particularly fascinating. There’s about 2 – 3 pages per character, but this managed to give a good overview of the character’s history and origins, and how they fit into the LGBTQIA+ umbrella.

It's not hugely in-depth, but if you want a comprehensive overview of mythological, folkloric, legendary queer characters, told in a conversational, casual manner, this ticks all those boxes, and it’s a hugely enjoyable read.

This book is about ancient myths. In particular, the author focuses on how they are played out in popular media. It is an easy read and a good introduction to the topic of queerness in ancient myth and legend.