Wearing the Lion

John Wiswell’s debut, Someone You Can Build a Nest In, was a lovable and ambitious fantasy romance starring an inhuman monster impossible to not fall for. In his sophomore novel, Wiswell appears to be continuing in that vein: His retelling of the Hercules myth will see the iconic hero caring for the monsters set against him, rather than defeating them. Meanwhile, Hera, the goddess responsible for Hercules’ trials and tribulations, tries to come to terms with her guilt over her actions.