Book Review: A Compassionate Hero

 Wearing the Lion, by John Wiswell (DAW)

I requested an ARC of Wearing the Lion, by John Wiswell from NetGalley because I loved his novel, Someone You Can Build a Nest In, a tour-de-force queer heart-story told by a murderous but ultimately sympathetic monster. Wearing the Lion is Wiswell’s retelling of the Hercules mythos, the title being a reference to the ferocious Nemean Lion, one of the “labors of Hercules.” It’s told in alternating points of view, primarily the goddess Hera and Hercules himself. The opening is awesome, every bit as captivating as Someone You Can Build a Nest In. Hera is anything but divine; she’s petty, spiteful, and thoughtless in how she uses her powers, so fuming mad at her “dipshit husband” (the ever-absent, ever-promiscuous Zeus) that she never gives a thought who might be hurt in the process of lashing out at him. Hercules is just the opposite—compassionate, sensitive, earnest, and devoted to his goddess and his family. By the time he encounters the Lion, I was thoroughly enchanted with him. What does he do, when tasked with conquering (aka, slaying) the beast? He cuddles the Lion until it purrs contentedly and falls asleep in his arms. (Yes, I know that lions can’t purr, but it’s superb storytelling.) What he does with the creatures from the subsequent tasks is equally unexpected and delightful. I love the message that heroism does not mean brutality; it can also be kindness and the ability to see into the heart and spirit of even a hideous creature.

As the story progressed, however, my sympathy for Hera plummeted as much as my admiration for Hercules increased. Her spitefulness and resentment of Hercules’s devotion lead to a horrible tragedy, one that all but breaks Hercules as all his trials could not. In a dawning moment of responsibility, Hera first tries to hide her part and then attempts to destroy Hercules before he can discover the truth. By this time, however, I disliked her so much, I did not care what happened to her and I absolutely did not want to spent another moment in her point of view. Ultimately, Wiswell weaves the two stories together into a tale of the families we create, a lofty goal. For me, however, the resolution came too little, too late. All I wanted was a time machine for Hercules to go back before his devastating losses or, failing that, for him to find true comfort, self-forgiveness, and healing.

I applaud Wiswell for tackling this story in such an ambitious and creative way, even if Hera’s part did not work for me. He’s a marvelous, wildly talented author worth reading. I look forward to his next.

Recommended, with trigger warning for violence against children