I thoroughly enjoyed Glyn Iliffe's Odysseus series and so was expecting big things from Son of Zeus. And got more than i bargained for! The book is incredible. It tells the story of Hercules from shortly after the deaths of his children. He is a tortured character, unable to comprehend what he has done - the terrible crime he has committed - and asking and solace.
Having been ordered by the Oracle to submit himself to his detested cousin, as a slave, and to undergo 10 labours in order to achieve, this first book (yes! It's going to be a series!) concentrates on the first 3 Labour's and Hercules' attempts to find out why he killed his beloved children.
The action is impressive, you can almost feel the cuts and bruises Hercules suffers inn his labours. The author's use of language and imagery is exceptional. You can see the landscapes in your mind's eye, from mountains to swampland, and the monsters Hercules encounters are terrifying in their descriptions.
As to Hercules himself, I had an image of Kevin Sorbo in my head, from the tv series, but was soon persuaded such an image was a shadow of the real hero. Hercules himself, the character, his challenges and magnetism are what make this story the masterpiece it is. You find yourself suffering the labours shopping with him, feeling his pain and torment and understanding the sender of loss and confusion which haunted him through his labours.
This is a terrific adventure, one not to be missed by any fan of the Greek myths, or anyone wanted to enjoy a jolly good read.
Fantastic!

This is the story of Heracles, one of many illegitimate children of Zeus. It is the journey of Heracles and the 12 labors he must face.
I loved reading this story. As I read it,I felt as if I were there, watching everything with my own eyes. My heart cried for him and for everything he went through. I can’t wait for the next book. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

If you're expecting anything other than a straightforward retelling of the first three tasks of Heracles, you'll be disappointed. There is a little bit of poetic license taken, which is in keeping with these types of epic tales, but overall, it doesn't really add anything new to the legend, which leaves you questioning why bother?

Overall, it's just okay. You'll probably like it more if you're not familiar with the myth.

One of my favourite Greek adventure stories!

The story of Heracles was being told to Odysseus, one of the victors at Troy. Heracles was the most famous hero in all the Greek city-states. He was the son of the King of Olympus, Zeus, and the mortal woman, Alcmene, who made Hera (Zeus’s wife) jealous. Heracles was also the twin brother of Iphicles who became an advisor to King Eurystheus.

Hera was horrified because Zeus blessed Heracles more than Hera’s own children. She was full of hatred and sent two snakes to kill Heracles who caught and killed them with his bare hands before he was one year old! Iphicles became jealous of Heracles because their mother loved Heracles more than him.

Heracles had to become King Eurystheus’s slave because the gods told him so. Heracles killed his own sons. The king gave him ten most difficult labours.

Glyn (the author) explains that his novel is a bit different from the ancient Greek text about Heracles to spice up the adventures for the readers. I want to read Glyn’s next novel about Heracles’s remaining labours. I love this book!

Caesar 13

Breakaway Reviewer received a copy of the book to review

I regret to say my knowledge of Greek mythology isn't good, though I had heard of Hercules (Heracles) and I knew a little about the labours of Heracles, so I wondered if I was going to enjoy this book. I did. I enjoy historical fiction and the book is partially historical and partially fantasy and is very easy to read.

Fun, adventurous and well written. Son of Zeus was a very good read. It grabbed your attention and took you on a journey fit for a God

Heracles(Hercules)is the son of Almecedes and Zeus (who slept with her while pretending to be her husband Amphitryon). As a birthday present Zeus gives his son immeasurable physical strenght(he lets Hera nurse him without her knowledge so he acquired this supernatural power of the goddess herself ). Well,Zeus's good lady wife,the goddess Hera,is not best pleased with this dalliance and even less with the outcome. So Hera, who's middle name is revenge,works out a plan to get rid of this abomination. Meanwhile,Heracles has sowed some of his wild oats and is settled with his loving wife Megara and and their 3 children in Thebes when disaster strikes,in a fit of madness, he kills his 3 sons. After wandering for a while he asks the oracle of Delphi for advice. She tells him in no uncertain terms that if he wants to find out the truth about that night of madness and wants to find some redemption, he has to perform certain labours. For this reason he becomes a slave to his cousin who is king of Tiryns(also thanks to the lovely Hera ). Of course Hera does not want Heracles to find out the truth nor find any atonement so she has her hand in the choice of these famous labours.
This is historical fiction based on Greek mythology but it reads as a fantasy story(the lion of Nemea,a white hind with golden antlers and a seven headed snake)albeit with a sad and bitter undertone. One can not help but feel sorry for this giant who's life is manipulated by the whims of the gods. This is the first part of the trilogy (3 labours done,9 more to go)but it is not the classic retelling of the myth,Heracles and the other characters are so much more than individual parts of this myth. Yes,I think I will probably follow Heracles his further adventures..

Heracles is the son of Zeus who was denied his true birthright from Hera, Queen of the Gods. He won the hearts of the people of Thebes after saving them from a cruel king and married Megara who gave him two sons. One fateful night he loses his mind and his family. Filled with guilt and horror he is exiled and goes to seek help from the Oracle. She tells him he must become the slave of his cousin King Eurystheus and complete ten labours to seek absolution for his crimes and find the truth that caused him to kill his young children. The King's hatred for Heracles and led by the dreams given by Hera - Heracles is sent to complete labours that he was not expected to survive. After just three challenges, he learns that his actions were not led by the gods as he thought.

The story is really enjoyable but Heracles feelings of guilt and the actions he did are unnecessarily repeated a number of times and the book ends very abruptly. I would have preferred for him to search for the real culprit behind his crimes.

This book was great, The author really made the story come alive while providing some necessary background on who Hercules was within the myth and then really pulled you into the first several Tasks. Looking forward to the next book.

I tried to not let my love and previous knowledge of the Heracles legend get wrapped up in this book. It was hard cause Greek Mythology is one of my favorite things to read. I think I managed it though.

The author is basically re-telling the Heracles legend from Heracles point of view but at the same time putting some different twists into the story. You get the point of view from many different people in this book and to me it is a refreshing way of telling the legend. I thoroughly enjoyed this re-telling am eagerly awaiting the next book to continue in Heracles impossible labors.

If you like Greek mythology in any way, shape, or form then you will enjoy this book. Even if you don’t I do suggest trying it out. The story line is complex enough it keeps your attention yet, it is not one that you keeps you reading long after you are tired. It is engaging do not let me make you think it isn’t. I just know the labors so I knew what was coming next so it was easier for me to put down. I would add this to your to-read pile cause it is worth the read.

A wonderful retelling of the trials of Heracles. This book is the 1st in a trilogy and starts just after Heracles killed his children in a crazy frenzy. It features 3 of the 12 labors that Heracles must accomplish to understand why he committed such a heinous act and to atone for his crime. Son of Zeus is a well-researched and entertaining book that fans of Greek and Roman mythology will enjoy.