Certainly not your usual retelling of a Greek myth, but great fun listening to the points of view and story from those who found themselves caught up in Herc’s life. Reads almost like short stories in a way, although there are threads that interweave throughout and the stories follow Herc’s life from birth to death. A bold debut.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for a review.

"Herc" by Phoenicia Rogerson offers a fresh and compelling retelling of the Hercules myth, shifting the narrative focus from the legendary hero himself to the myriad individuals whose lives he impacted. This approach provides a multifaceted perspective on Hercules, delving into the complexities of his character and the repercussions of his actions.

The novel is structured through the voices of those surrounding Hercules—his mother Alcmene, his first friend and lover Hylas, his wife Megara, and others. By presenting their stories, Rogerson paints a nuanced portrait of Hercules, revealing both his heroic feats and his darker, more flawed aspects. This narrative choice allows readers to explore the myth from angles often overlooked, offering depth to characters traditionally relegated to the background.

Rogerson's writing is infused with humor and modern sensibilities, making ancient tales accessible and engaging. The dialogue and character interactions are laced with wit, breathing new life into age-old stories. However, some readers might find the modernized language and multiple perspectives a bit disorienting, as it requires careful attention to keep track of the various narrators and timelines.
WRITINGSOFAQUEERMIND.COM

The character development is particularly noteworthy. By giving voice to those affected by Hercules' actions, the novel explores themes of love, betrayal, and the consequences of blind heroism. Characters like Megara and Hylas are portrayed with depth and empathy, allowing readers to connect with their struggles and perspectives. This focus on secondary characters enriches the narrative, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the myth.

While the novel offers a fresh take on the Hercules story, some readers may find the multitude of perspectives and the non-linear timeline challenging to navigate. Additionally, the modernized language, while adding humor and relatability, might not appeal to purists seeking a more traditional retelling.
WRITINGSOFAQUEERMIND.COM

In summary, "Herc" is a bold and inventive retelling that breathes new life into the Hercules myth. Its focus on diverse perspectives and character-driven storytelling offers readers a rich and multifaceted exploration of heroism and its repercussions. Fans of mythological retellings looking for a fresh and thought-provoking narrative will find "Herc" a rewarding read.

Unfortunately, I just didn’t vibe with this book.

The characters to be portrayed as very juvenile, despite who they were and the graphic and violent experiences being portrayed. While I appreciate that was the intent, I personally didn’t enjoy it.

I loved the premise, but it just missed the mark for me. I’m sure others may feel differently and can see it being an enjoyable read, for some.

Unfortunately I really did not enjoy this. I found the story wandering and struggled to maintain my attention. I had to DNF in the end I found I kept putting it down to do other things which isn’t like me. Really sad to have not enjoyed this

An interesting book about Hercules from all his friends and family, enemies and many others. I quite liked the layout of this book and found it an interesting read.

Greek mythology and the rewritten take of Hercules with many things I didn't know. An interesting retelling.

A big thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the opportunity to read and review this book

A must for fans of Hercules

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just finished Herc by Phoenicia Rogerson, and I’m absolutely blown away! This book is a fantastic retelling of Hercules’ story, peeling back the layers of the myth to explore his roles as a hero, husband, father, villain, and monster. Rogerson’s writing is powerful and nuanced, giving a fresh perspective on a classic tale and turning it into something completely unforgettable. If you love Greek mythology with depth, complexity, and heart, this one’s a must-read!

I love how we never get Hercules’ perspective and it’s a brilliant exploration of how different people can have such different views on a person or situation. Herc is so many things to so many different people and I learned so much about this mythological person that I never knew before. An absolute masterclass!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I hadn't read any retellings of Hercules until this and I wish there were more. Herc follows the story of Hercules, but from the perspectives of those around him such as Alcmene - his mother, Hylas - his friend, Megara - his wife, and Eurystheus - who oversaw Herc's labours. The many points of view sometimes made this a little harder to follow but it is still a very interesting read.

If you go into this thinking it is the Hercules you know from the Disney movie, think again. This Hercules is deeply flawed and has done some truly terrible things. I think this is a brilliant debut novel and i'm excited to see what comes next from Phoenicia!

A great retelling from a different perspective.
A more accurate representation of Hercules which I really enjoyed.

Herc is the story of Hercules told by the people who knew him. I really enjoyed this style of storytelling, it seemed more personal, and unlike the traditional myths, we could see how Hercules actions impacted on those around him, and those he loved.

This isn’t a story for the faint-hearted. It’s graphic both in violence (he was a violent man) and sex (who liked sex). Also, it would probably help if you knew the story of Hercules before starting this. It can dart around a bit from person to person.

Recommended for the Greek mythology fans 🙋🏼‍♀️

Yes Indeed!

Just like many other children of the 90s, I fell in love with Disney's Hercules. I grew up singing the songs, doing the dance moves (100% true), and loving the happily ever after that we see for Hercules and Meg. The funny but evil Hades loses, and everything is as it should be. Right? Wrong.

In this fierce and frank retelling of Hercules's story, we see the countless deaths he is responsible for, the people he has harmed, the damage he has done. It manages to be darkly funny at times, but it doesn't take away from the seriousness of the story. Although beautifully written, it's brutal., and when I read most of it by the pool on holiday, I did think I should have picked a different summer's read.

That said, it was brilliant, and I will be recommending it to fellow history buffs for a long time yet.

A feminist interpretation of the Hercules myths is an interesting idea, especially when told by the women of the legends, rather than the man himself.
I got a bit overwhelmed by the range of voices at times, but I did enjoy the exploration of Hercules from a more critical perspective.

This sounded like an interesting retelling of Hercules, looking at him through the eyes of those around him, good or bad. It did stay true to the tales some what but for some reason it just fell short

A very different, though faithful retelling of the legend of Hercules from his conception through to and beyond the his Labours. Told from the POV of those who either loved or hated him, or at times both, it was a bold move to make this a more contemporary offering. As far as the myths and legends, the gods and demi gods, along with all those who knew Hercules are concerned, it was a huge cast, all with an opinion or a story to tell of how flawed the legend actually was.

I would consider it a YA book with the language and attitudes, but that being said it was a refreshingly different book and I did enjoy its difference though I do prefer a more classical read.

This is a fun book which I am sure will be well received.

2.5*

Thank you NetGalley and HQ.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This isn't my usual go to genre of book but I was intrigued at the retelling of Hercules as it isn't one I have come across before. I have limited knowledge on Greek Mythology but know some of the story of Hercules so enjoyed expanding my knowledge on this topic.

One of the downsides of this story is that it is told through modern language and I felt it didn't always fit the story it was trying to tell. I can see this being a reason why people love it but for me I just wasn't 100% sold. I would still recommend to readers who have an understanding of some Greek Mythology or are interested in learning more about it.

A fresh retelling of the myths of the Greek Hero Hercules, told through various perspectives of those who knew him throughout his life. This was an interesting way to examine him and the author did a great job of making each perspective feel unique, the voices of the different characters were distinct and clear. Myths are retellings of stories through different times and perspectives, therefore, having the story of Hercules retold through the varied and bias points of view of other people felt like a smart way of writing this story. It also meant that you could examine the complex and often dark, destructive side to his character. Personally, the modern tone didn’t resonate, I don’t tend to enjoy more casual pros and therefore some of the dialogue felt so contemporary that it took me out of the story. However, for fans of Greek retellings who perhaps enjoy a more modern style, this is a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of this book.

A faithful yet revolutionary retelling of Greek myth that manages to embody a sense of individuality personality that didn’t detract from the bigger picture of the myths that it was based on. An immensely enjoyable and engaging read.

Herc was such a good read! i flew through this book in a matter of days and loved every second
during the course of this book we see the points of view of everyone who surrounds Hercules in his life, wives, lovers, friends, family and shows how they felt about and delt with his actions throughout his life. i loved how it showed Hercules as trying genuinely to do good and keep the people he loved safe and how destroyed he was when they all inevitably died at his side or by his hand.
wonderfully researched and put together and i loved how it didn't shy away from the violent side of the myth.
definitely one id recommend to those who love mythology and retellings!

I love historical retellings of mythology and have read many by other authors in recent months. As soon as I saw this I was eager to read it.

I found the premise of telling it from the viewpoint of others very interesting. For the most part I think this was successful. At times the characters felt inconsequential as they weren’t revisited, which was a shame. The constant switching did make it lose flow sometimes, but it was nice to see him portrayed by those who loved, hated, or were ambivalent towards, him.

My main issue was with the tone and language used. It was a bit too funny/jokey for me at times and I did not like the modern language used. It felt that there was a clash between the time period we were meant to be in - and it always made me lose the vision. I wish this had stayed true to the time rather than being current language.

Overall however, a decent read for the genre.

I did enjoy this, I love any Greek myth novel/retelling. The only thing is that I did struggle to keep track of all the different characters, POVs and how the came into play with Hercules. But overall a good book.

Hercules is my favourite Disney film and I couldn’t wait to get reading this!! I loved the story of Hercules and all the different perspectives. The humour was a lovely touch as well. I’m not normally one to lean towards this sort of fiction but I’m so glad I did!