Bless my soul, Disney's on a roll. I'm really liking these Twisted Tales so far. Even though I think this is labeled as YA, it says ages 7+ and reads like it's targeting a younger audience, so I'm gonna call this middle reader. It's a pretty easy read. Things sometimes feel like they're over-explained. The story is a little watered down and doesn't have much depth; also problems are resolved pretty quickly. Some of the writing is a bit awkward, and this is definitely a kissing book. Like, if you made a word cloud out of this, "kiss" would take up a good amount of space.

Still, reading this brought back memories of watching Disney movies as a kid. (Blasting the Hercules soundtrack in the background might've helped, too.) Since Hercules never got a straight-to-home movie, he gets this instead. Instead of allowing Hercules to return to earth, Zeus forces his son to stay in Olympus. Meg's given one chance to prove she's a worthy match for Hercules.

There's a lot to like about this. Beloved characters are back (I could seriously hear James Woods' voice in my head every time Hades spoke,) and some other mythical Greeks are introduced to the cast as well. My favorite part of the story, though, was Meg's quest. There's action and monsters and geeky Greek things, but the whole jaded heroine dealing with past hurts and learning to embrace love was a pleasant surprise.

It's just such an interesting take on Megara. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for strong, independent women, but I feel like too often we forget that being independent doesn't mean you have to be alone. The whole "you can ask for help and rely on others without being weak" message is such a refreshing change of pace from all the willfully strong heroines I've been reading lately.

I know the book isn't out yet, but I'm surprised by the mixed reviews that I've seen so far. I feel like most of the people who were disappointed are hardcore Hercules fans. I wasn't obsessed with the movie growing up (the Fates were a bit too scary for little Veronica,) so that might be why I'm less critical. (After all, I had very strong feelings about the Mulan Twisted Tale.) Still, I think if you go into this with the expectation that this is middle reader level, I think it's a pretty enjoyable read.

Disney Publishers provided the eARC, but all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley & Disney Hyperion for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book, I really did. The premise? Incredible. What if, at the end of Hercules, Megara got the chance to become a goddess herself? I hadn't heard of the Twisted Tales before this and fell in love with the concept immediately. However, the quality of writing and storytelling was lacking for me, particularly for a YA book. I had originally assumed going in that this book was geared for grade & middle schoolers, but it is marketed as a YA book.

The characterization of Meg seems off compared to her movie counterpart, the dialogue sometimes feels stiff, and the plot a little rushed. Hades characterization, however, was spot on and I could nearly hear James Woods' voice through the pages. I also loved the addition of Persephone and she quickly became my favorite character and the one that seemed to be the most fleshed out, even if she only had a few pages in total.

This book is built on a really interesting premise usually only explored in kids' minds and hastily-written fanfiction, so it is exceptionally cool to see Disney green light things like Twisted Tales, and I will likely check out the rest of the series simply because of that. There are also some really good lessons and themes like trusting yourself, the virtue of asking for help when you need it, and not judging the situation until you have all of the facts. I really wanted to like this book and think that all of the pieces were there except for the actual writing itself. These aren't written nearly as well as other YA books or even middle grade mythology books like Rick Riordan's Imprint books or Percy Jackson novels.

But if you, like me, are starved of more Greek mythology, you'll find some satisfaction in the inclusion of monsters, gods, and tales not included in the Hercules movie. And hey, Meg would probably make a really amazing goddess.

I am a huge fan of fairytales and Disney, so this series is right up my alley! This Hercules retelling was a great addition to the rest of great retellings! I can’t wait to see what else is in store!

Overall the book was good, it was easy to see the author knew the movie and plotline enough to bring each of the characters to life. I think Meg is an especially challenging Disney character to build upon since she is a bit rougher around the edges than most of our Disney heroines.

Things I liked:
- plot moved at a good pace
- relevant flashbacks
- familiar characters
- appropriately placed humor
- Persephone and Hades!
- Hercules is one of my favorite movies so bonus point just for that

Things I would have liked differently:
- needed stronger connections explaining why Meg takes certain actions
- more individual lines not taken directly from the movie
- Realistic Meg character in terms of relationships (they can't all be cold/bad ones, right?)

What happens your boyfriend is a new minted god and the only way to be with him means you have to go on a quest yourself in order to become a god? Well, Megara is about to find out. The story follows the evens right after the disney movie, except now Zeus is bot allowing Meg and Herc to be in a relationship and Hera offers her a chance, go on a quest and prove herself worthy enough to become a god. Said quest involves facing the ex that she sold her soul off to and rescuing the soul of his wife. The entire story is just about getting to know Meg more, particularly her coldness and detachment from relationships.... I understand that it was scaring for her but goodness gracious it felt as if it was a one sided love story with Herc. He was supportive and sweet and Meg was... angry and distant. The book really delves into Meg’s past romantic relationship and how much she is still hurting from it. I loved Meg in the movies, she was sassy, morally gray, and a great character, but for some reason the book just didn’t capture her that well, and I found myself disliking her. The star of this book for me though was.... WE GOT PERSEPHONE AND HADES!!!! I would love an entire book on their relationship. I absolutely ADORED IT!! The tiny bits with them made me give the book an entire extra star, in fact I would love just a book about their relationship... seriously the cover of this book made me think there would be more Hades in here. Anyways, this was an interesting look into Meg, but more specific into Hades and Persephone.

*Thanks Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you Disney and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for a honest review.

From the very begging of this book I enjoyed it. When the story begins Meg and Hercules arrive in Olympus. Meg watches Hercules return to his family and turn into a god. Hera makes meg a offer to go on a quest, and if she can complete the quest she will gain immortality and become a god.

Along the way we get to enter Meg's mind and learn about her past life. Meg lost both of her parents at a young age. This made Meg learn to trust only herself which in turn gives her a hard time while trying to form relationships. In order to complete the quest Meg needs to learn to believe in her ability to trust others and her own judgement.

The flow of this book was very fast for me. I found myself not able to put this book down. I also loved the incorporation of all of the characters that were used, especially Pegasus.

Overall I really loved this book. This series is one of my favorites!

I loved this concept. I always found it interesting Megs character is the only Disney character that I can think of that talked about an ex or other life before Hercules. Was cool to dive into that deeper and reminds you how much Meg connects with us all.

I have been a fan and avid promoter of this series for the past few years. I really enjoy revisiting the movies and seeing how differently they could have played out. Unfortunately, there have been a couple of books in the series that just didn’t work for me and this is one of them.

My first complaint about the novel would have to be the cover. Although it is beautiful and shows many features of the movie and book, it appears as if it is about Hades rather then Meg, who is only silhouetted on a small vase at the bottom. I would love a book about Hades, but he is only present very little in this book, yet dominates the cover.

I was very excited about a twist in the Hercules tale as I looked the movie when it came out and still today. For me, this was a whole new story instead of a twist. Most of these books come to point in the original story where the new twist takes place and then we venture along a parallel path (seeing bits and pieces of the original) until we reach the desired end. I did not like that we didn’t get to see a reimagining of the Hercules story, but instead a new hero story about Meg.

Now don’t get me wrong, it was an interesting story and I found the idea of Meg overcoming her vulnerability issues was very endearing. The path that the story took was very adventurous and thrilling at times. We did get to see some new places and faces, but I was more excited to have Phil and Pegasus along for the ride.

Meg’s character was pretty true to her Disney iteration, with the new internal insights shedding more on what really made her the tough and cold woman she had become. I did find her whiny at times and that the God’s conversations with her were often after-school special talks.

In the end, it was an ok story that will probably still excite fans of the movie and series (I still read it pretty quickly). I will always look forward to more novels in this series and just continue to hopes that they meat all my hopes and dreams a little better.

This to me is a classic good vs evil , right vs wrong, book. It shows one that in life there are many times when you have to decide between right and wrong even when others lives are in the balance. Of course it also shows that God's have to make good decisions too.

I am probably not the target audience. This is a middle grade/young YA book but I've read a few other Twisted Tales books and none annoyed me so much as this one. First of all, Meg was not admirable or charming like the film, she was downright annoying. But above all, my biggest frustration with this novel was that when a new nickname was introduced, it was used LIKE TEN THOUSAND TIMES IN ONE CHAPTER. Meg, Peg, Peg, Peg, Meg, Meg, Peg, Peg, Peg, RED, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red. Absolutely exhausting to read.

It was definitely "fast-paced" and I can see how it would be entertaining for younger audiences, but it was so terribly annoying that it was difficult to make it through a chapter without an eye-roll.

Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I LOVE the Disney Twisted Tale collection. Before Go the Distance, I have read 3 titles, one by Jen Calonita (Conceal, Don't Feel). I love her writing style.

Go the Distance, I felt, was researched very well when it comes to Greek Myths and the Ancient Greek world. I enjoyed how Calonita brought the gods personalities from the movies into her story. The portrayal of the gods was done very well in reference to the movie. However, if you did not like how Disney portrayed the gods in the movie Hercules, I would not recommend reading this book because the gods are the same. Calonita also gave personalities to the gods we did not see much of on-screen, which I loved.

When it comes to Megara herself, I loved how we get into her backstory, even if it is not the one Disney originally wanted to portray. Seeing how Meg became herself in the movie with the alternating timelines was great and very easy to follow along with.

Overall, this is one of my favourite books now and I cannot wait until I can get my hands on a finished copy in April!

I'm a big fan of the Disney "Twisted Tale" series--- and a big fan of the massively under-rated Disney movie "Hercules"- so I was incredibly excited to receive the ARC of "Go The Distance"! Jen Calonita's take on Hercules explores the question "What if Meg became a god?" This twisted tale picks up right where the film left off. We learn more about Meg's story; the Disney version of Mount Olympus; and where Meg's heart truly lies. This book is a fun, breezy read and perfect for Disney fans of all ages! Thank you to net galley and to Disney Hyperion for the ARC!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Go The Distance in exchange for an honest review.

Meg's one of my favourite (if not my absolute favourite) Disney princess so I was beyond ecstatic when I found out I'd been approved for this review copy but after reading the book and being let down, I'm starting to wonder if that made this book a bad match for me.

Taking a character developed and written by someone else and trying to copy their voice and thought processes is always going to be difficult but when pulling from fairytales or older Disney movies, authors can be really successful because the source material isn't centered around character personalities, but the idea of character attributes. If you write a selfless, polite, hardworking character, people will read that as a believable Cinderella. If you write an intelligent, ambitious yet polite character, people will buy that as Belle. Meg was (in my opinion), the 2nd Disney leading lady given an actual personality and remains to be one of the most distinctive Disney character voices so while I didn't enjoy Go The Distance, I'm not sure it's entirely Calonita's fault.

Hercules as a film has always felt like one of the most distinct Disney movies and while I likely wouldn't have enjoyed this book as much if it was focused on Hercules, I do think it would have been a lot less frustrated because he's really the only character an author would be able to project onto without the story feeling wrong. Meg, Phil, and Hercules all are too unique and established to be recreated in a way that feels like a realistic extension of the source material so while I think Calonita's plot ideas were interesting, her exploration of them consistently felt off.

A good idea but poor execution.

“Go the Distance” sets Meg off on a quest to prove herself worthy of becoming a god when Zeus refuses to allow Hercules to remain on Earth by her side but the path to paradise is not without some obstacles and a little soul searching might hold the key to surviving it all.

I have to lead with I have never read the Twisted Tales series but I own a few so I was excited to get approved for this book because of how much I loved Hercules.

That being said I was disappointed at the lack of love or at least the willingness to embrace the characters and elevate them for this continuation of their story that I felt throughout the entire book. Most of Meg’s sass, Phil’s chaotic energy and the one liners of Hades are pulled word for word from the movie which would be fine once or twice as a callback but to do it for the entire piece comes off as lazy.

I thought the idea itself to explore Meg’s history was nice but I think the plot itself was fumbled quite a lot especially the sections that brought her back to the underworld, a place she should be well familiar with but suddenly seems like she has little understanding of how it and those who reside within actually work?

I was hoping this was just a weak addition to a strong series as it has gone on for so long but looking at these reviews I’m starting to think it might be on par with what the rest have to offer which is a shame.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

I like the concept here but the execution leaves something to be desired. The flashbacks of Meg's life felt very modern times which really didn't jive with the story. It might have been better to do something like shakespeare retold where the whole thing is just retold as a modern take. The characters themselves didn't really sound or act much like their movie counterparts and there was very little to even indicate the emotions that led Hercules to sacrifice his life or Meg to risk her own.

So this is by far my favorite of the twisted tale, Disney retellings. It had the hallmarks of a great Disney and myth retelling with some fresh bits in-between. If your a Disney or Greek mythology fan I certain recommend.

Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review from @NetGalley.

I'm a huge fan of the twisted tale series and this book follows Hercules but from Meg's perspective. It's under the premise of "What if Meg had to become a god?" Meg is one of my favorite Disney characters and I love that she finally has her own book. She's still sarcastic, witty, and fierce. The Hades and Persophone storyline was a nice nod to Lore Olympus (while you're waiting for this book to come out you should definitely check out this webtoon)! If you've read Calonita's previous books and love the retellings I'd recommend adding this one to your list!

I am...disappointed. The writing left a lot to be desired. The ideas were there and absolutely fascinating, but unfortunately execution was lacking. The story had so many holes, and things that could have been phenomanol. I felt the book was rushed and could have been so much better, like Meg is a sassy, take not crap kind of girl but they really didn't let her do anything without help from the gods. I love the twisted tales series and I am big fan of Disney retellings, but this book didn't hit the mark.

What a truly incredible read. These twisted tales always amaze me and honestly are sometimes better than the actual stories we know and love and this one was no different. As a lifetime fan of Hercules getting Megs side of the story and her “what if” was amazing. I could not put this down.

Go the Distance, the latest in the Twisted Tales series, is an alternate telling of Disney's Hercules. At the end of the film, Hercules chooses to give up his newly-won godhood and stay on Earth with his love, Meg. But what if Zeus had refused to let Hercules go? What if Meg had to embark on a perilous quest to have a life with the man she'd already fought so hard to be with? Jen Calonita's newest book is based on this question, and the result is an entertaining ride through Greek mythology and a surprisingly complicated look at trust, confidence, and true love.

Meg has always been one of my favorite Disney heroines. She's sarcastic, she's clever, and she's not afraid to tell it like it is. I've always appreciated that Meg is often a damsel in distress, but she'll work to find her own way out of the situation. However, her solutions often involve her refusing to trust others and rejecting help that she's offered. It's a stark contrast to most other Disney heroines, and while the film shows this aspect of Meg's personality, it doesn't explain why Meg is this way. Go the Distance works to fill in Meg's background, sharing the story of her hardscrabble childhood, her aversion to commitment, and, of course, her relationship with her first love, Aegeus, and her subsequent deal with Hades.

I loved how Calonita subverted the relationship between Meg and Aegeus, and I really enjoyed getting the flashbacks to their time together, especially as these helped create the Meg we meet at the beginning of the film. I also loved the flashbacks to the relationship between Meg and her mother, Thea. Meg had a very rough upbringing, but she's never forgotten the lessons Thea taught her: trust only yourself and be a tough girl who can tie her own sandals and everything. Even though Thea and Meg's relationship is far from perfect, it's clear that the two cared for one another. It's also clear that Thea's parenting style made a deep impact on Meg, and not necessarily for the better. As Meg continues on her quest, she's forced to reflect upon her deep-held beliefs and question whether she's hurting her relationships, especially her relationship with Hercules, by always having to be independent. It's a relevant lesson for many young women (and older women, too) who have always relied on themselves to get things done and need to know that it's okay to ask for and accept help.

For Meg, she must learn to accept help from some favorite characters from the film, including Phil and Pegasus. I really liked the inclusion of Phil in particular because he and Meg were so at odds throughout the film, and rightly so. But both have been changed by Hercules, and it's fun to see how these "new" versions of Meg and Phil discover what they mean to one another. The inclusion of various female gods to help Meg on her quest is also fun and really amps up the girl power. Each of the goddesses values something different, but all their advice is needed in order for Meg to succeed. And Calonita even manages to sneak an extra goddess in the story and allow Meg to play a role in one of my personal favorite stories in Greek mythology (no spoilers), further showing off Meg's cleverness.

My biggest complaint about this book would be the lack of interaction between Meg and Hercules, but I understand why the two don't have more scenes together. Go the Distance is Meg's story, and constantly having Hercules around would basically lead to a film sequel rather than a twisted tale. And frankly, the general exclusion of Hercules from the narrative makes the scenes in which he and Meg are together all the more sweet.

Overall, Go the Distance is another fun addition to the Twisted Tales series. Meg's story is relevant, entertaining, and action-packed, and the background on her character will make watching the film all the more interesting. If you're a fan of Meg, Hercules, or alternate Disney retellings, Go the Distance will be right up your alley.