The Trials of Hercules

The Osteria Chronicles #1

by Tammie Painter

Available FREE on most retailers.

In a world where mortals contend with the gods' vengeful jealousy, one man must ask himself if he will risk his life to defend the goddess who has done everything to destroy him.

Perfect for fans of Clash of the Titans, as well as historical fantasy fiction by Madeline Miller, Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, and S.J.A. Turney, comes this page-turning series that brings the myths of Ancient Greece to life as you've never seen them before.

Convicted of three heinous murders, Herc Dion is sentenced to a series of trials that will pit him against formidable monsters, push his physical and mental endurance to the limit, and deliver him to the edge of Hades.

Throughout these ordeals, Herc endures the brutal cruelty of Hera, the goddess whose hatred of Herc has blinded her to the near ruin of her realm and to plans that will spell the end of her existence. Realizing Hera has done everything to ruin him, will Herc risk his own life to protect hers?

Vividly set in a future Pacific Northwest, this imaginative and absorbing retelling of the legend of Hercules teams with gods and heroes torn between love and jealousy, loyalty and revenge, and rivalry and honor.

If you like mythological fantasy fiction full of adventure, romance, heroism, and characters that come to life, you’ll love The Trials of Hercules.

Grab your copy of The Trials of Hercules today to lose yourself in a captivating new world.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Fiction, Ebooks, Greek Mythology, Romance, Historical Fiction

352 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

THE RAMBLING BIO AND OFFER OF FREE STUFF
Many moons ago I was a scientist in a neuroscience lab where I got to play with brains and illegal drugs. Now, I take wickedly strong tea and turn it into comic fantasy whodunits full of mythical misfits and magical mishaps that I hope give you a giggle.

My tales run the gamut from the ever-expanding  Cassie Black Trilogy with its wryly humorous paranormal mysteries to the comical fantasy whodunits in The Circus of Unusual Creatures , and from light-hearted novellas celebrating my love of books to short fiction in which I really flex my myth-loving and humor-craving muscles!

When I’m not creating worlds or killing off characters, I can be found gardening, planning my next travel adventure, concocting some sort of mess in the kitchen, or working as an unpaid servant to three cats and a guinea pig.

Want to learn more and get free stuff? Then be sure to pop by TammiePainter.com to see everything I'm up to and to grab your free copy of "Mrs. Morris Meets Death," a humorous tale of mortality, time management, cruise ships, and romance novels.



THE QUICK AS YOU CAN STORY BEHIND MY BOOKS...
My fascination for myths, history, and how they interweave inspired my two historical fantasy series, The Osteria Chronicles and my second series, Domna (you can grab your free series starters for those HERE and HERE).

But all those ancient myths and angst-ridden heroes got a bit too serious for someone with a strange sense of humor and odd way of looking at the world. 

So, while sitting at my grandmother’s funeral, my brain came up with an idea for a contemporary fantasy trilogy that’s filled with magic, mystery, snarky humor, and the dead who just won’t stay dead. That idea turned into The Cassie Black Trilogy, which has turned into a fan favorite.

Then, because writer brains are weird, a simple elephant story I had in mind somehow morphed into a "hilarious" cozy fantasy series featuring a detecting dragon. So, if you like comic fantasy whodunits that mix in laughs with murderous mayhem, mythical beasts, and a staggering variety of omelets, you’ll want to check out my Circus of Unusual Creatures mysteries!


IF ALL THAT WASN"T ENOUGH, YOU CAN...
* Sign up for my monthly newsletter to get free stuff, exclusive bargains, and insights into my writing world,
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Reviews

[Jack Leone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free ARC edition of this book for an honest review.

I always loved Greek mythology and one thing that always annoyed me was that the stories were very short and lacking any details. This book took the 12 Labors of Hercules and rehashed them into a wonderful and detailed story.

I'm against full book summaries in reviews so I will give just some generic information and thought on the book.

The story actually takes place in the future rather than the past, something has occurred in our modern world that brought humanity back to how life was around 500BC, gods and goddesses once again roam the world and modern technology is mostly all extinct. There are great allusions regarding the areas of this new world, by the names of the locations you get the sense that this story takes place on the west coast of the United States, I enjoyed trying to figure out which places Herc was traveling to too perform his labors.

The characters are all very well written and develop well throughout the book; you become very attached to them early on in the story and it is a challenge to put this book down. Even the antagonist is a man you develop negative feelings for, but his hubris and cruelness make him a very interesting character.


The story can be a slightly graphic at times with sex/violence, yet this is what makes a great story in my eyes; not being afraid to push the limits and harsh realism.

I see this being an amazing series and can't wait for the next book in the series to be released in 2015.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, retellings, mythology or just looking for a good read.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great, fun read! I honestly had no idea what to expect when I started reading this novel, but I was quickly drawn in by Ms. Painter’s easy, inviting style and the genuine, multiple first-person narratives. It’s certainly one of the most entertaining novels I’ve read in r cent memory.

As a lifelong reader of much of the world’s mythology, with a strong preference for Greek and Norse myths, I know the topic fairly well and am impressed with the apparent depth of Ms. Painter’s knowledge and the respect for the source mythology she shows in her writing.

This is not to say THE TRIALS OF HERCULES is merely a retelling of the standard tales. Ms. Painter has ingeniously set her work in a post-apocalyptic world, specifically, in this novel, the city of Portaceae, formerly Portland, Oregon, USA. She stays mostly true to the labors of Heracles, but she infuses the story with occasional mention of the pre-apocalypse and even makes use of vestiges of current technology. She also includes additional facets of the Heracles mythology into her story, including his freeing of Prometheus and his ascension to Mt. Olympus.

I don’t want to spoil the story, but I will conclude this review by mentioning that this novel is very satisfying, from beginning to end. I will be buying additional copies to give to my family as birthday gifts, and I look forward to reading the other books in the series.

[Katie Harder-schauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brings Greek Mythology to life, well at least the part about Hercules. I was totally captivated, and dreaded the inevitable interruptions of my children. I already had a basic understanding on the legend of Hercules (there is a kids movie about it after all), but after reading this, I really want to do more reading about Hercules and Greek mythology in general.

I thought the characterizations were great. Hercules was ever the strong, honorable hero, even when we weren't sure he was all that honorable. Hera's petty jealousy was abundantly clear. And Eury was just all around vile. I also really liked how it was told in alternating first person, rotating through characters. That allowed us to see things through different eyes, but it still all felt very personal. It also helped give us a little more insight into some of the characters personalities.

I am really looking forward to reading more about the world of Osteria, and would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good action packed mythical story.


Copy received in exchange for an honest review.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a digital download from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This story begins with the worst day of Hercules Dion’s life. And it won’t get better for him anytime soon.
The Trials of Hercules is a splendid take on the legendary Labors of Hercules, except this Hercules lives in a post-apocalyptic northwestern (former) United States. The gods of Olympus have returned to meddle in mortal affairs, as in the days of ancient Greece. As Hercules goes through his trials, we do see some modern surprises that would not have appeared in ancient writings, but his labors are very similar to the originals – with some fascinating twists.
Will Hercules and his friends survive the increasingly blatant attempts to end their lives? Will he ever find happiness? Ms. Painter does an excellent job of keeping the suspense going until the very end.
I found this novel to be fascinating and very engaging. I enjoyed the suspense, anxiously trying to guess how Hercules would get through each trial. I highly recommend this to fans of Greek mythology, alternate history and fantasy in general. I look forward to the second book in the Osteria Chronicles!

[Julie Drucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to author Tammie Painter for the opportunity to read and review this book. For anyone who enjoys fantasy or history this is a book for you! An outstanding book! Very well written, engaging and truly a fun and enjoyable book to read. I instantly got caught up into the story and found it hard to put down. I can't wait for the next book in this series. I can guarantee you that I will be impatiently waiting for the next book I think this book should be rated as one of the top ten books of the year. I can't emphasis enough how good this book was and how much I enjoyed reading it. If you are a lover of Greek Mythology you must read this book! If this is any indication of Tammie Painters work, you are well on your way to becoming a premier writer. Loved this book!!!! I normally do not read a book more than once but, this book was so good I would not hesitate to read it again and again.

[Dearbhla She-Her · Rating 2 out of 5]

At 75% in I'm getting more and more queasy about this book but I'll hold-off on a full review until I finish it. There's no subtlety in the characters - the hero is incredibly wooden, the villain is cartoonish in how dastardly his antics are. I'm uncomfortable about how the book upholds the patriarchy between the negative judgement of sexworkers (of course the dastardly villain married a prostitute and of course she's unfaithful and their marriage is purely transactional #sarcasm) or the narrow beauty standards (an undesirable woman is described as boyish with bad hair: the dastardly villain has a paunch; desirable women know how to present their breasts so that they're conveniently cuppable!) Realising that the book is set in the Pacific North-West (no subtlety about that either) I'm beginning to worry that the Areans (citizens of a neighbouring Polis under the protection of Ares, the God of War) will be a stand-in for Yakama Indian Reservation - please may I be wrong about this!

Update: in the end, I didn't hate it (which is what two stars usually means for me) but I can't say that I like it enough to give it a three-star rating. I got it for free from BookBub, which I presume is to entice me into purchasing the other 5 books in the series but I'm going to pass. The internalised misogyny, the casual racism, the lack of nuance in characterisation - I had my fill after one book.

[Mysgydid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a free e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review, that said, on with the review!

The Trials of Hercules is a retelling of the Labors of Hercules, with an interesting twist. They're set in the future. While reading you might think you're reading about the past, considering that the Greek Gods or "The Twelve" are not only alive and well, but meddling in the affairs of mortals, just like always, but then you read about the Solon of Portacaea wanting to televise a trial... or re-routing electricity, or taking a train. This re-telling is, for lack of a better term, a post-apocalyptic greek myth. Something happened in the time before, referred to only as a time "Pre-Disaster". The gods have settled in the Pacific Northwest of North America. If you read closely, you'll be able to interpret where they are. Bendia... Bend, Oregon... Well, you can see for yourself.

I went into this book hoping for either a modern translation of the Labors of Hercules, or some kind of interpretation, but I wasn't expecting what I got.

A very engrossing, entertaining read. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for my review. I'm a huge fan of greek mythology and this book holds mostly true to the classic story of Hercules. There is a major plot twist in this book however, and that is that it takes place hundreds of years in the future and the Gods of past have managed to take over their rule again. The author does a great job retelling and breathing new life into an old classic. I must admit when first starting the story I was upset with the liberties the author did take in remaking the legend, but the more I read the more I liked it and the harder it was to put it down. I genuinely cared about each character and at times felt like I was watching a movie in my head. To me that's a good book. I would recommend this book to those who like romance, history and mythology!

[clumsyplankton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn’t a bad retelling. It was fun and a good read.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/8/2019)! 🎁

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Herc Dion is sentenced to death after being found at the scene of a crime that he has committed, although he does not remember committing such crime. His sentence is to be buried alive, however at the last minute the ruler of the city of Portaceae Eury, who is also Herc’s cousin, gives him the chance to atone for his crimes by completing a series of trials. These trials will not be easy and during this time he will face a variety of creatures, and face death on multiple occasions. Despite the risks Herc will give it his all, while attempting to deal with the cruelty at the hands of Hera, all in order to protect his beloved city of Portaceae.

When I read the summary I knew that this book was one that I had to read, a fantasy story with Greek mythology, definitely a book to read. So when I was given the opportunity to read and review the book, I jumped at the chance. The plot revolves around Herc completing his ten (eleven) trials, which are similar to the ones Hercules had to complete during his adventures. So if you are familiar with those stories you will see some similarities with a more ‘modern’ twist to them.

In regards to the characters I found some characters that I liked while others I wanted to punch in the face. The characters I liked include: Herc (protagonist), Iolalus (Herc’s cousin), and Iole (a Herene Priestess). I found myself rooting for them from the moment they were introduced. On the opposite end of the spectrum I absolutely despised Eury, and wished he would meet his end sooner rather than later. I also did not care for Hera, not a very nice person, which is not unusual considering she is a goddess and they are not usually known for being reasonable or nice.

There was just one thing to keep in mind when reading the book, this is set in the future in a society that resembles ancient Greece. I forgot about this fact while reading the book and so I had the mindset that we were back in the past, and was really confused when they began talking about electricity and filming Herc’s trials. Also there was one sentence in the story that mentions something ‘Pre-disaster’, and then it is never mentioned again. So hopefully this ‘disaster’ will be addressed in future books.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading more from Tammie Painter in the future.

[Cassandra Scearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Trials of Hercules (The Osteria Chronicles, #1) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... is my pick for Reader’s Choice Review. Of course I am the reader of this piece of fiction. I chose The Trials of Hercules by Tammie Painter. This is a great author I came across on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show.... I finished her book shortly after reading it but life has gotten in the way of posting the review. So I owe Mrs. Painter an apology in the lateness of my review.

Tammie Painter is a true lover of history and myths. I find she has a vast knowledge of Greek Mythology. I am a fan of the Gods and Hercules. I love movies and TV shows based around this time. She is a great story teller who drew me into Hercules and 11 of his labors for the Gods. I got to experience her impression of The Nemean Lion, The Lernean Hydra, The Stag of Artemis, The Erymanthian Boar, The Augean Stables, The Stymphalian Birds, The Cretan Bull, The Mares of Diomedes, The Belt of Hippolyta, The Apples of the Hersperides, and Cerberus.

I read the book back last month. The way she told the story sucked me in. It was like watching it on TV in my head. I still remember the way she described The Nemean Lion labor. And the way Hercules left the boar. Just writing this post brings back memories of reading her version of the trials. This is a book I would recommend for superhero fans. And I’m glad it’s not the last in the series but the first. I will be adding this author to my to-read file.

The only thing that would have given this book a better score is the cover. I don’t think it’s eye catching enough. The reading certainly is inside so I believe they should match. With a stronger cover this author could draw in more readers. I am glad I got to add it to my read list.

[Jim C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author. I am so glad I did because I enjoyed this book so much. Thank you.

This novel is based on the ancient Greek hero Hercules and his trials. The setting is the Northwest of the United States and our world has changed. Ancient Greece is back with its gods, society, and fabulous creatures. Hercules has committed a heinous crime and his punishment is tasks that his cousin Eury (the ruler of his jurisdiction) doles out. Eury hates Hercules and makes his trials as hard as possible. Also, there is another plotline of forbidden love between Herc and Iole.

This book kept me interested the whole way and at times I did not want to put it down. As each trial progresses, I wanted to keep on reading to see what impossible task Herc would be given and how he would complete it. The author did her research on this subject as the trials mostly follows the myth of Hercules. She did change some details to these myths. The appearance of characters from other stories of Greek mythology added to my enjoyment. I was also invested in the love storyline as I rooted for these characters to get together. I enjoyed all the characters in this novel as I liked the heroes and despised the villains. To me, a sign I am enjoying a book.

This book has many human ideals like heroism, corruption, love, and vindictiveness. I recommend everyone to read this. I believe everyone will find something they would enjoy in this novel.

[Grant Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an advanced reader review.

Bless my soul, Herc is on a role.

Enter the world of Osteria, a world reminiscent of ancient Greece, where the Greek Gods are very real and just as petty as they were centuries ago.

Meet Hercules Dion, a man who is arrested for a crime he has no memory of committing and is sentenced to complete eleven deadly tasks, with which the penalty for failure is death.

Herc completes these tasks with the help of his cousin, Iolalus, and the beautiful priestess of Hera, Iole. Herc must journey across the entire span of Osteria completing these tasks, giving him plenty of time to think about his desire for Iole and his hatred for the man who makes him complete his tasks, Eury.

Tammie Painter has done a nice job creating a world using the culture of ancient Greece which has some elements of modernism, such as electricity. Overall it is an enjoyable read, and one I would recommend to anyone who likes Greek mythology. Though the romantic element between Herc and Iole seemed a little hasty, it was also sincere. It is interesting to get an inside look into the minds of the Gods and realize that they may be powerful, but also more human than expected. Painter has done well in thoughtfully portraying her own depiction of the original trials of Hercules. It's like Percy Jackson has grown up and is ready to rock and roll once again.

[Julio Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know the story of Hercules and the story of his trials, this book is a great way to see them brought back to life and see them written in a well thought out way. This is decidedly a reimagining with it not following the stories of Hercules detail for detail, but it is clear that work was definitely put in to looking at the trials and deciding how best to reshape that story to fit in with the new one. It was a great read that I always wanted to pick up whenever I got the time and the best part to me was that it told a complete story. One of my greatest pet peeves is when books come out and leave so many plotlines open it's just guaranteed to have a sequel and get people to read it just to finish what they couldn't get in the first book. The Trials of Hercules is nothing like that with it telling a complete story and leaving you wanting more just to see more of the world. This is book 1 of a series but it could stand entirely on its own legs if others were to never come out (which I sincerely hope is not the case). All told I would gladly recommend this to anyone interested in fantasy, Greek mythology, or just a good read in general.
EDIT: I received this book as a free PDF from the author.

[J. Else · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the author's style. She chose specific characters to reveal plot points. And I liked how she would not always choose the most obvious character. You're not always with Herc when he's on his tasks. You find out secrets through characters not directly involved with the conspirators, so the gravity of the revelations are subtle. I liked that the author let you make discoveries.

Each challenge had a unique set of problems to solve. With either task, I could not figure where the author was going to go. I liked the combination of intellect and skill the author explored for each challenge.

The author was able to spin a fresh take on an old tale by tweaking the setting. Instead of the ancient past, this story was set in a distant future after a great cataclysm destroyed much of the modern world. This added a new dimension to the trials as the author can play with camera feeds and electricity. But its not a crutch, its simply a means to streamline communication and help the plot be more succinct in its retelling.

This is a talented author. I look forward to more Osteria Chronicles. The author is good at revealing layers of the plot slowly and at just the right moment. Good characters and story flow.

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as a digital download from the author in exchange for a honest review.

I'm the type of person who doesn't like history or mythology messed with so I was kind of hesitant when I started reading this, I was expecting the author to change some of the mythical stories around to fit her needs.....but she never did (she even explains why a certain thing was left out at the end of the book)

This book was a pleasant surprise!

I was immediately pulled in within the first few pages. It was fast paced (which I always enjoy) with well developed characters. I found myself wanting to get back to it as soon as possible to know what happened next.

Thank you Tammie for the amazing and exciting story!!!

[Todd Glaeser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the author, and I was incredibly pleased as I really, really enjoyed it. I was surprised immediately by the first person narration, and without spoiling anything, I'm guessing that was by design.

A satisfying action novel and a pleasant mix of post apocalyptic science fiction and Greek mythology.

A personal aside, for a book subtitled "Book One of...," the ending was incredibly satisfying and complete. I look forward to the next, not because of any particular cliff hanger, but because I enjoyed the world-building and the writing and look forward to spending more time in Osteria.

[Jason Strawder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be asked to read the book before it is released. Being a Greek Mythology fan, of course I jumped at the offer. The story moved along very quickly. There were enough details but not too many details, that clogged the story. Very fluid. My favorite part is the way that all the chapters are seen through the eyes of the character. It really brings the reader deeper into the story, almost making them feel like the character. I have to admit, I actually found myself clenching my fists a few times when Herc did. Fun book. Stayed true to the story of Hercules. I really enjoyed it. Thank you again Tammie for the opportunity to read it before it is released!

[Orion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

This novel is a retelling of the ancient Greek story of Hercules and his trials. It's really great if you're a fan of Greek mythology.

The part in the description about it being set in the future is a bit misleading though. Realistically the setting is the same as in the original myths, there just seem to be a few technological advancements sprinkled in for story convenience like trains, television, and video cameras. Not quite what I was expecting but a good story nonetheless.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who loves Greek mythology, this is a fresh take on an old favorite. written from a more modern landscape, with the same platform of ancient Greece but with electricity and other such additions , it puts new twist on the herculean trials we are all familiar with.

[T.G.P. T.G.P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Trials of Hercules" by Tammie Painter is a captivating reimagining of the legendary trials of the mighty Hercules. Painter's masterful storytelling breathes new life into this age-old myth, delivering a modern and refreshing twist that will keep readers hooked from start to finish.

From the very first page, I was immediately drawn into the world of Hercules, a flawed and relatable protagonist grappling with both physical and internal battles. Painter effortlessly combines elements of fantasy and adventure with deep character development, making Hercules a hero we can truly connect with.

What sets this book apart is Painter's ability to seamlessly blend ancient mythology with contemporary themes. While staying true to the essence of the original stories, she skillfully infuses the narrative with thought-provoking reflections on power, morality, and the nature of heroism. This thoughtfulness elevates the story beyond a mere retelling and adds layers of depth that will resonate with readers of all ages.

The pacing of the novel is superb, with each trial Hercules faces becoming increasingly intense and thrilling. Painter's vivid descriptions and evocative prose transport readers to the heart of each challenge, immersing us in the sights, sounds, and emotions of Hercules' journey. The author's attention to detail is commendable, painting a rich tapestry of ancient Greece that feels both authentic and enchanting.

Additionally, the supporting characters in "The Trials of Hercules" are expertly crafted, each with their own unique motivations and desires. Whether it's the wise mentor figure or the cunning adversaries Hercules encounters, every character adds depth and complexity to the story, making it an even more immersive experience.

As a fan of Greek mythology, I was delighted by the numerous nods to other myths and legends throughout the book. Painter's extensive research shines through, as she weaves together various tales and seamlessly integrates them into Hercules' trials. This attention to detail will undoubtedly please mythology enthusiasts, while also captivating those new to the genre.

"The Trials of Hercules" is an absolute triumph, a book that successfully marries the ancient with the contemporary, and the mythical with the relatable. Tammie Painter's exceptional storytelling and her ability to breathe new life into a timeless tale make this a must-read for fans of mythology, adventure, and thought-provoking literature. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 rounded down. Too much graphic sensuality for my taste (mostly the scumbag running the city, but others as well), and quite a bit of pretty graphic violence. Makes sense, I guess, for the subject matter, on both counts, but I’d rather a tamer version. That said, the storytelling did captivate me, and the setting in an “after The Disaster” was unexpectedly interesting. The technology used seems to imply it’s manifested after the time we live in now, but largely society has still reverted to nearly-Ancient-Greek times. In truth I skim-read a lot of it, especially with Eury, but enough to catch the plot and asides well enough to have all the connections make sense in the end. Not mad I read it since I love some good mythology, but would not recommend.

[Peter Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both Enticing and Beautiful

I don't usually write reviews for books but this is the exception:

The trials Hercules Dion faced were thrilling, but it was the relationships the characters build and the dramatic story involving them that entices you into continuing reading.

I couldn't help but think of what the ending would pan out, and at times were gut-wrenching. Entwining the trials from mythology into the book were incredibly well done; but it was the build up for the ending that truly makes this book beautiful and a definite read.

Thank you Tammie for what was an incredible adventure of mythology, heroism and romance. Truly is a piece of art that goes under the radar!

[Si · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure how this trash has gotten 4 star average. Maybe paid reviewers?

It's just a rehash of the greek myth trials of Hercules set in the former US and Canada after an unknown disaster, I'm 80% into it and there is little to show for this post apocalyptic world. A boat, a train & a sports stadium with big screen seems to be the only link to humanities past that survived, the train is mentioned twice, but not described, the boat even less. Then we get to the poor grammar and spelling. Seriously, I'll proof read books for self publishing, straight to kindle authors, send me the book and £10 and i'll happily read drek, and fix it, but me pay for this middle-school level spelling? Nah

Do better, and get beta readers....

[Lyzz Harpster · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so disappointed in this book! I ordered it for use in my classroom as an example of modernized Greek Mythology. In reading my copy, I realized that I would have to censor a great deal of the book. There is no need for the highly sexualized language or the profane vulgarity present in this book! The best descriptor I can give this is smut! As an adult, I don't even want to read this stuff. Think twice before purchasing this...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after falling in love with Painter's Domna and was excited to return to the world of Osteria. This reimagining of the labors of Hercules did not disappoint. The characters were fully realized, the heroes wonderfully flawed, and the villains so delightful to despise. A great read for anyone who enjoys mythology.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the synopsis I expected the setting/technology to be more modern and entwined with the world building, but I felt like electricity was only there to move the plot forward. If it wasn’t there, I think everything else in the story would be unaffected. Other than that I really enjoyed the story and I will continue the series.

[Lavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greek Gods, fantasy and myths all together. I was truly enthralled with this book which is the first of the series. I was drawn into how captivating each characters story was, which made it hard to set aside the book. Very good reading..

[Road · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know the labors of Hercules, you will recognize the basic plot of this novel. Painter develops the characters and fills out the plot. The story reads quickly, and there is always a reason to turn the page.