Rosie Hewlett

From the author of Herc, a Waterstones Best Book of the Year

‘A joyful exploration of one woman’s quest for home, power, identity and ultimately, freedom from fate. A genuine pleasure to read!’ Clare North, author of Ithaca

‘With sharp dialogue and dynamic scenes, it plays like a divine reality show’ Woman&home

‘This is a stunningly witty tale’ Daily Express

‘Welcome the Real Housewives of Olympus. Stunning, brilliant, witty, so delicious it could only be divine’ Reader review *****

***************************************************

‘I’m a liar, to begin with.’

I wasn’t always a goddess, you see. My only real power was my beauty – you’ll have heard. It’s legendary. But that was never going to be enough for me.

It took a web of lies to convince the gods of Olympus I was one of them. But I did. I was that good. Zeus gave me a title and riches and loved me. And all he wanted in return was for me to love him back.

But of course, Zeus was a tyrant. (Not entirely surprising when you’re ninety per cent insecurities and ten per cent raw power.) I couldn’t live at someone’s mercy. Really, I had no choice. I had to take on the mightiest Olympian of all. And this bit’s not a lie? I intended to win.

***************************************************

Authors and readers LOVE Aphrodite:

‘Expect multiple POV’s, humour (duh), strong female energy, love, action, war, all packaged in a beautifully crafted, comprehensive story’ Reader review *****

‘Sparkles with wicked humour and boundless imagination‘ Kate Heartfield, Sunday Times bestselling author

‘I can’t emphasise enough how much I adored this version of Aphrodite – wickedly funny, caustic, fierce, playful and cheeky yet with a soft centre’ Reader review *****

‘Wit and verve, contrasting laugh-out-loud humour with moments of surprising tenderness‘ Luna McNamara, author of Pysche and Eros

‘The humour, character, and revitalised plot made this one of my favourite reads this year‘ Reader review *****

‘Aphrodite gives a human voice to the inhuman goddess that you can’t help but love’ Lizzy Tiffin, author of Bad Girls of Ancient Greece

‘Aphrodite is truly a masterpiece‘ Reader review *****

‘If you’ve ever wondered what Tina Fey retelling your favorite myths would be like, Phoenicia Rogerson has the answer’ Ian Doescher, author of the William Shakespeare’s Star Wars series

‘Brilliant book’ Reader review *****

‘Will excite, anger and sadden you through its cinematic cast of characters, some of whom you want to win just as much as you want them to fail’ Akeem Balogun, author of The Storm

‘I had a smile on my face for the majority of the book, and devoured it in two reading sessions?Greek Mythology has never been so engaging, witty and clever as now!’ Reader review *****

‘Razor sharp, funny, grippingly honest’ Jenny Williamson, author of Enemy of My Dreams

Waterstones best book of the year 2023

‘A remarkable feat of storytelling’ Rosie Hewlett

This should be the story of Hercules: his twelve labours, his endless adventures?everyone’s favourite hero, right?

?Wrong.

This is the story of everyone else:

Alcmene: Herc’s mother (She has knives everywhere)

Hylas: Herc’s first friend (They were more than friends)

Megara: Herc’s wife (She’ll tell you about their marriage)

Eurystheus: Oversaw Herc’s labours (He never asked for the job)

His friends, his enemies, his wives, his children, his lovers, his rivals, his gods, his victims.

It’s time to hear their stories.

Herc gives voice to the silenced characters, in this feminist, queer (and sometimes shocking) retelling of classic Hercules myth.

Perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and Joanne M. Harris

‘It. Is. Fantastic’ NetGalley reviewer ?????

‘An absolute delight’ NetGalley reviewer ?????

This should be the story of Hercules: his twelve labours, his endless adventures?everyone’s favourite hero, right?

Well, it’s not.

This is the story of everyone else:

Alcmene: Herc’s mother (She has knives everywhere)

Hylas: Herc’s first friend (They were more than friends)

Megara: Herc’s wife (She’ll tell you about their marriage)

Eurystheus: Oversaw Herc’s labours (He never asked for the job)

His friends, his enemies, his wives, his children, his lovers, his rivals, his gods, his victims.

It’s time to hear their stories.

Told with humour and heart, Herc gives voice to the silenced characters, in this feminist, queer (and sometimes shocking) retelling of classic Hercules myth.

Perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and Joanne M. Harris