Just in time for some spring reading, the newest Disney Twisted Tale arrives! This one features Disney’s favorite hero, Hercules, and the best feisty heroine, Meg. In this story Meg is tasked with becoming a god, that is if she wants to stay with Hercules. Pretty bent on keeping the love of her life, Meg embarks on a treacherous journey to prove she can go the distance.
This book copy was gifted to us in partnership with Disney Book Group. Follow @disneybooks #TwistedTale
What is a Disney Twisted Tale?
Okay, before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the details about this Hercules Twisted Tale, let’s level-set. A Disney Twisted Tale is part of an expansive Disney Book Series that takes Disney stories we know and love and changes one thing. What becomes really interesting is that with this often one small change, the entire story changes. In Conceal, Don’t Feel Frozen Disney’s Twisted Tale, the twist is that Anna and Elsa don’t know each other. You have chills, right? That’s what each Disney Twisted Tale is all about! They take characters you know and love and mix it up a bit for a COMPLETELY new kind of story.
A Disney Twisted Tale Hercules
Book #11 in the Disney Twisted Tale Series features one of our favorite Disney heroines, Megara, otherwise known as Meg. And YES, she’s the main character in this story. Which is so great to see! We love these twisted tales for the familiar characters and story, but even more so for the new twists and turns that happen along the way. Here are all the details on this latest Disney YA novel served with a twist.
Go the Distance by Jen Calonita
The newest book to join the Disney Twisted Tale series is Go the Distance by Jan Calonita.
Go the Distance, the 11th book in the New York Times best-selling 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? 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.
Go the Distance Disney Twisted Tale Book Review
Full disclosure here, we LOVE Hercules. So, it was no surprise that we would be dying to get our hands on this book. Of course add in the fact that instead of Meg pretending like Love was no big deal, she’s now willing to fight for it and we were all in.
This book picks up where the film leaves off, so it’s less than a twist and more of a continuation. Realizing she cannot join Hercules on Olympus, Meg must figure out something in order to be with her man. While Hercules does offer to become mortal and take his place on earth instead, Zeus puts the kibosh on that right away.
Luckily Meg finds a chance to get what she wants, but she has to go to the underworld to get it. Namely, confront the woman who stole her ex! Frankly, if this doesn’t feel like a telenovela we don’t what does. With tons of drama, and sass our girl Meg is in it to win it…even if it does trigger every feeling she’s ever had about commitment. And how dare Zeus and Hera ask her to go become a god just to be with their son? See what we mean here? The DRAMA!!!
Some elements of this story were familiar from the film and from general Greek mythology. Other’s felt very out there, and a bit unfair. We liked that Meg has to learn to lean on other people and ask for help. As the independent go-getter she usually is, this was a great growth arc for her as a character. And also that life is filled with more confrontation than most people are comfortable with. So seeing a character tackle this in a story was helpful.
Consider this fun Disney Twisted Tale as your juicy read for when you want something fun. A definite must-add to the book collection.
All about Author Jen Calonita
If you haven’t read Jean Calonita’s Fairy Tale Reform School series, it’s time to catch up! Perfect for middle grade and tween readers this series can get addicting! And if you love the idea of fairy tales with a twist, be sure to check out Mirror Mirror.
Follow Jen Calonita on Twitter @jencalonita and visit her site for all the news on books, events and more! www.jencalonitaonline.com
The Twisted Tale Series by Disney Books
If you’re anything like us, when you find a series you like, you want to read them all! As such we’ve rounded up the Disney twisted tales series list. If you’re looking for the Disney Twisted Tales in Order, then look no further. Check out the whole series of fairy tales, featuring the characters you know and love in all sorts of new stories!
- 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
- Go the Distance by Jen Calonita
- What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell
- Almost There by Farrah Rochon
- When You Wish Upon a Star by Elizabeth Lim
- Set in Stone by Mari Mancusi
- Suddenly Super by Jen Calonita
- Fate Be Changed by Farrah Rochon
Follow Disney Books on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Check out all the titles: https://books.disney.com/character-series/a-twisted-tale/
Go the Distance by Jen Calonita
If you’re looking for something featuring your favorite Disney characters, that’s a little dramatic and loads of fun, we hope you give this Disney Twisted Tale a try. And if you’re looking for something good to read check out all our Disney book reviews. Of course, we’ve added even more Disney Twisted Tales to that list too. Lost down a rabbit hole? Check out our book review of Unbirthday by Liz Braswell. Or perhaps you’re up for an adventure to Neverland, and would rather settle in with Straight on till Morning! Featuring none other than Wendy herself saving the day. Or if you’re ready to climb the mountains of Arendelle, you may like Conceal, Don’t Feel instead, asking the question what if Anna and Elsa never met? If fairytales with a twist are your cup of tea, check out the complete series on the official site. We can’t wait for the next one!
Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer with an MLIS in Information Science and a B.S. in Arch and Design. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.
I got this one for review too and it’s super interesting. Love that we get a somewhat deeper look at who Meg is, I was just wondering about her and if she was a real part of Greek Mythology!
Absolutely! Meg has always been fiesty, so I was interested to see how she would step into the “first wife of Hercules” role as she does in actual Greek mythology. In the true greek myths, Megara’s story gets a little tragic- so I was glad to see that didn’t show up in a YA novel for Disney fans. It was a good book for sure, but almost more about Meg really putting herself out there and confronting her demons more than anything. It definitely requires you to be “in the mood” for it though:)