April 1, 2023
Debuter Rogerson's Herc is a queer reenvisioning of Hercules, expanding on secondary characters in his story. Prepub Alert.
Copyright 2023 Library Journal
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
August 14, 2023
Rogerson’s underwhelming debut retells the story of Hercules, the illegitimate son of Zeus, from the perspectives of his family, friends, and rivals. Hercules’s stepfather, Amphitryon, notes that seers prophesied Hercules would be a monster-slaying hero but would also have a painful life. Hercules fulfills that prophecy as a boy, dealing a death blow to his music teacher, Linus, out of frustration during a lesson. The account of that shocking murder is followed by Linus’s brother, Orpheus, composing letters to his dead sibling, writing that he uses Linus’s lyre—a family heirloom—to “play lullabies to his son.” Hercules later seizes his own infant son by the foot and dashes the boy’s head against the wall out of jealousy (a prelude to massacring his entire family) when his mother comments on her grandson’s fast development (“He doesn’t seem so strong,” Hercules remarks after the killing). Hercules’s punishment for his murders is to carry out the labors (including slaying the Hydra, a beast that grows new heads when one is cut off) assigned to him by his cousin, King Eurystheus. Though the concept intrigues, the tragic material doesn’t fit Rogerson’s breezy approach. This disappoints.
September 1, 2023
With her debut, Rogerson manages to retell a Greek myth (perhaps one of the most well-known at that) and be heard over the noise of the swelling subgenre; her bright, pithy voice refuses to be drowned out. Herc never takes itself too seriously, and yet does not make anyone the butt of the joke, poking lighthearted fun at the heavy source material without undermining the pathos at its core. And this story isn't just Hercules' either; Rogerson takes care to give voice to nearly every significant figure in Herc's mythos, giving each person he encounters the chance to tell their own story as it touches his. Rogerson's novel is quick-paced and quick-witted, and although Herc's journey may be long, it never feels arduous for the reader. A refreshing take on an ancient tale and one that reminds us that heroes are rarely as heroic as we remember them being, Herc is an astute examination of mythology and the centuries-long game of telephone we call storytelling.
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October 13, 2023
DEBUT Rogerson's first novel is a fresh retelling of the story of Hercules, son of Zeus, told in a new way. Rather than focused upon Hercules himself, this title showcases the people who knew him throughout his life. In pieced-together narratives, Hercules's family, friends, enemies, and lovers share their part in the story of the demigod. The narrative is coherent despite being told from various contradictory perspectives. His lover Hylas remembers him as a hero, while his wife Megara recalls him in a less favorable light. By weaving together his life from the voices of those who knew him, the author breathes life into the side-characters of the Hercules myth who have been otherwise left in the shadows of the great demigod's story. Rogerson succeeds in giving each narrator a fleshed-out characterization and a distinct voice. And though readers never hear directly from Hercules himself, he becomes a more complex character through their stories. VERDICT Readers who enjoy retellings of classic mythology will be satisfied with this expanded chronicle of Hercules's life, told with careful detail and modern humor.--Angel Caranna
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.