Go the Distance
After Hercules proves he's a true hero and regains his godship, all seems right in the world. That is, until Zeus tells Meg that she can't be with Hercules because she's, well, mortal. Luckily, Hera has a solution, offering Meg a chance to prove herself worthy of a spot on Mt. Olympus – as a god. All Meg must do is complete a mysterious quest. The mission? Rescue her ex’s current wife from the Underworld. Can Meg put her past behind her and use her quick wit to defeat monsters and gods alike, including the nefarious Hades?
Jen Calonita’s Go the Distance was a surprisingly delightful story. I’ve read Calonita’s work in the past and have been less than impressed, but this wasn’t the case with Meg’s twisted tale. Calonita did a great job transferring Meg’s sharp tongue and quick wit from the 1997 Disney film onto the page. I especially liked Calonita’s version of Meg’s history. Abandoned by her father, orphaned at thirteen after her mother’s death, the reader sees how Meg became the tough, independent woman who met Hercules by the river several years later.
Calonita’s way of explaining Meg’s past with her ex-boyfriend was also well done. I’m glad she decided to make Hades trick Meg into believing her lover moved on after a week, since I always found it a bit hard to believe that the situation happened the way the movie said it did. By letting go of the anger she had held onto for years, Meg was able to move forward.
The movie barely scratched the surface of Meg and Hercules’ relationship, so it was nice to see Calonita dive deeper into the god and mortal’s relationship. Meg’s experience with love had made her jaded, and her mother’s lessons on independence caused Meg more harm than good on her journey. So Meg had a lot of work to do emotionally, and in the end she came out with a better understanding of what it means to love someone and to make a relationship work.
Another little tidbit I really liked was how Calonita wove Greek myths into this story, specifically the one about Hades and Persephone. Their love story became a key part of Meg’s mission and ultimately helped Meg become a goddess. I especially liked Calonita’s depiction of Persephone.
Go the Distance is the latest twisted tale that fans of Hercules will surely love.
Go the Distance Rating: ★★★★
Jen Calonita’s Go the Distance was a surprisingly delightful story. I’ve read Calonita’s work in the past and have been less than impressed, but this wasn’t the case with Meg’s twisted tale. Calonita did a great job transferring Meg’s sharp tongue and quick wit from the 1997 Disney film onto the page. I especially liked Calonita’s version of Meg’s history. Abandoned by her father, orphaned at thirteen after her mother’s death, the reader sees how Meg became the tough, independent woman who met Hercules by the river several years later.
Calonita’s way of explaining Meg’s past with her ex-boyfriend was also well done. I’m glad she decided to make Hades trick Meg into believing her lover moved on after a week, since I always found it a bit hard to believe that the situation happened the way the movie said it did. By letting go of the anger she had held onto for years, Meg was able to move forward.
The movie barely scratched the surface of Meg and Hercules’ relationship, so it was nice to see Calonita dive deeper into the god and mortal’s relationship. Meg’s experience with love had made her jaded, and her mother’s lessons on independence caused Meg more harm than good on her journey. So Meg had a lot of work to do emotionally, and in the end she came out with a better understanding of what it means to love someone and to make a relationship work.
Another little tidbit I really liked was how Calonita wove Greek myths into this story, specifically the one about Hades and Persephone. Their love story became a key part of Meg’s mission and ultimately helped Meg become a goddess. I especially liked Calonita’s depiction of Persephone.
Go the Distance is the latest twisted tale that fans of Hercules will surely love.
Go the Distance Rating: ★★★★