The Hydra
The Hercules Cycle Book I

Hera has been pushed to the edge. Her power, authority, and legacy have been tarnished time and again by the calloused actions of her husband Zeus, but with the birth of the demigod hero Hercules her shame has been laid bare for all to see. To reclaim her sovereignty, Hera is willing to risk her throne, and even her life, to see Hercules meet his end. To this end, she plots a coup on Olympus and embroils herself in an alliance with a monster beyond even her control. Secrets are revealed behind every turn. Rivalries and alliances are made and broken as Fate tests the resolve of mortal and immortal alike. In the aftermath, the far-flung consequences of their battle will leave the deepest wounds and blood on the hands of the denizens of Heaven and Earth.  This is Greek Mythology as it should be, seeped in love and hate, thrill and tragedy. Now performed with vivid and intense narration, this tale follows the young Hercules as he confronts his greatest challenge. The battle looms, leading to an outcome that will change his life forever. The Hydra is the first in Varan Merten’s Cycle of Hercules novels. Each book in this series features the most dynamic monsters in the journey of Greece’s greatest hero. Each of these creatures challenges the demigod in a different way and leaves a mark that he will carry for the rest of his days. Choice and Fate blur as Hercules regains his freedom from the Labors and sets out to reclaim his rightful place among the gods.