Go the Distance (Twisted Tale Series #11)

by Jen Calonita

Overview

The 11th installment in the New York Times best-selling A TWISTED TALE series asks: What if Meg had to become a Greek god?

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 has to do is complete a mysterious quest.

The mission? Oh, just to rescue her ex's current wife from the Underworld. The ex-boyfriend she saved by selling her soul to Hades. The ex-boyfriend who immediately moved on to someone else while she was stuck in the Underworld. Can Meg put her past behind her and use her quick-wit to defeat monsters and gods alike, including the nefarious Hades? Will she finally figure out her place and contribution to the world? Or will her fear of commitment have her running away from an eternity of godhood with Herc?

Written by the author of Mirror, Mirror and Conceal, Don't Feel, Jen Calonita's latest twist is sure to delight and surprise.

For more twisted adventures, try the other books in the A TWISTED TALE series:

• A Whole New World by Liz Braswell
• Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell
• As Old As Time by Liz Braswell
• Reflection by Elizabeth Lim
• Part of Your World by Liz Braswell
• Mirror, Mirror by Jen Calonita
• Conceal, Don't Feel by Jen Calonita
• Straight On Till Morning by Liz Braswell
• So This is Love by Elizabeth Lim
• Unbirthday by Liz Braswell
• What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368063807
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/06/2021
Series:	Twisted Tale Series
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	20,754
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 5.60(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Jen Calonita is the author of the award-winning Secrets of My Hollywood Life and Fairy Tale Reform School series. She lives in New York with her husband, two boys, and two chihuahuas named Captain Jack Sparrow and Ben Kenobi. A huge Disney fan, Jen dreams of moving the whole family into Cinderella's castle at Walt Disney World. Visit her online at: www.jencalonitaonline.com and Twitter @jencalonita.

Editorial Reviews

01/01/2021

Gr 6–8—As the 11th book in the "Twisted Tale" series, Calonita's latest novel riffs on classic Disney fairy tales by asking, "What if things had been different?" When Hercules completes his hero quest, he joins the gods on Mt. Olympus, except Zeus refuses to admit his son's one true love, Megara—a mortal with pale skin and striking red hair. Hercules and Meg are bound to be separated, but Hera offers a way for the two lovers to be together forever. Now Meg has little time to complete a quest of her own that will force her to face her darkest fears and memories while learning to trust others once again. Aficionados of Disney movies and classic fairy tales will enjoy this romp alongside familiar characters. This retelling brings Meg's story to the fore and, along with it, questions about what Meg as a formerly sidelined character really wants for her life. Although the relationship between Meg and Hercules lacks a little in nuance and complexity, this story uses the "what if" twist to center the experience of a spunky woman who grows emotionally through the course of her quest. VERDICT A satisfying retelling, recommended for fans of the "Percy Jackson" series and adventurous, modernized fairy tales.—Talea Anderson, Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA.

School Library Journal

2021-01-26
Megara becomes the heroine of this fractured tale that poses an alternate ending to Disney’s Hercules.

After Hercules becomes a god, he chooses to return to Earth with Meg. She couldn’t be happier until Zeus denies his request and says she can’t remain on Mount Olympus with Hercules because she’s mortal. Fortunately, Hera offers her the chance to become a god if she can prove her worth by completing a quest in 10 days. First, she must locate Athena’s lost flute, then she must retrieve the lost soul of her ex-love’s wife from the Underworld—the same ex-love for whom Meg sold her soul to Hades and the same man who moved on to another woman one week after Meg disappeared. With the help of Phil and Pegasus, she’ll face dangerous beasts and gods and try to escape Hades once again to complete her quest. Meg must confront her past in order to discover what she truly wants in life and in love. Chapters move between past and present, adding depth to Meg’s character and her backstory of independence, lost love, and working for Hades. This is a fun story full of action, twists, and film references, but ultimately it reads a bit like fan fiction. Following the original movie portrayal, Meg has red hair, pale skin, and violet eyes.

A fun read for Hercules fans. (Fantasy. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews