Book Review: WEARING THE LION
Upon his birth, the future famed hero Heracles dedicates his deeds to Hera. He's unaware, however, that she is the goddess responsible for his suffering. Eventually, Hera's rage leads her to send Furies to drive Heracles mad, resulting in the accidental murder of his own children. Desperate for answers, Heracles and his wife set out for vengeance. But instead of slaying monsters on the quests Hera assigns to mislead him, Heracles begins healing by caring for them. As Heracles gathers followers, Hera must confront her own guilt, and the consequences of the path she set him on.
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If you read John Wiswell's debut, Someone to Build a Nest In , you'll know exactly what vibes to expect from his follow-up. Wearing the Lion is a fun, slightly over-the-top and surprisingly tender story of monsters, revenge and found family unlike any other retelling of Greek mythology you've read before. This is a story that focuses heavily on redemption and personal growth, alongside wild antics and some hilariously ridiculous dialogue.
One of Wearing the Lion 's greatest strengths is the dichotomy between the two narrators. Each chapter swaps points of view between Hera and Heracles, leading to moments both comedic and powerful. Hera is a true goddess, portrayed with fury, frustration, love and cunning. Her emotional turmoil drives her, for good or for evil. Heracles, on the other hand, starts out bright-eyed, literally worshipping Hera. He remains oblivious to her hatred for him, blinded by his love and devotion for the goddess he's named after.
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Cracks begin to surface, however, after Hera's actions result in the death of his children. He doesn't know it was her fault, and so he continues praying to her. But instead of answering Heracles' prayers, Hera sends him on '12 labors' to keep him from discovering the truth. But instead of attacking them with hatred and pain, Heracles tackles each task with love and understanding. There's an innocence to Heracles that you just don't see in other Greek mythology retellings. His main goal isn't violence. Instead, he's desperate to protect and care for those around him, even from himself.
It isn't just Heracles that gains a humanizing factor in Wearing the Lion . Hera is a goddess often portrayed on the sidelines of mythology, Zeus' wife and somewhat of a nag. Here, however, she's truly complicated. After yet another betrayal by Zeus, readers can easily comprehend her misplaced anger towards Heracles. While she's the goddess of families, she's exhausted by the role and the behavior of those around her. As a result, she has so much pain and rage that she can't consider the consequences of her actions. It's a truly unique depiction of a familiar figure in mythology.
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If you're looking for a version of Greek mythology that's both dark and violent and endearingly sweet, check out Wearing the Lion . Wiswell brings redemption and a humanizing touch to a familiar story, changing it in ways you won't expect.
Wearing the Lion is out now and available from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org.
TW: abandonment, alcohol, blood, child death, confinement, cursing, death, excrement, fatphobia, fire/fire injury, gaslighting, grief, infidelity, injury/injury detail, panic attacks/disorders, pregnancy, suicidal thoughts, torture, violence, vomit, war
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