Zeus the Mighty: The Trials of Hairy-Clees

Zeus the Mighty #3

by Crispin Boyer

Zeus the hamster and his "god squad" are back to battle for the title of champion in the third title in this series that takes readers on a rollicking romp through Greek mythology.

Our story begins with a challenge: The Trials of Hairy-Clees are only for the bravest and most awesome gods of all. Who among them will become the ultimate champion?

The pets of Mount Olympus Pet Center are a true team: They conquer epic quests as easily as Ares the pug scarfs down Mutt Nuggets and they vanquish enemies who are pricklier than the spines on Poseidon the pufferfish. But when a chicken named Hermes shows up one day, things take a turn, and before the team knows it, the Oracle has spoken and the mysterious Trials of Hairy-Clees begin! Who will become top god? And can Zeus learn to share the limelight to fight alongside Hermes?

Join Zeus the overconfident hamster, Athena the wise cat, Ares the treat-loving pug, Poseidon the proud pufferfish, and Demeter the loyal cricket on another laugh-out-loud adventure through Greek mythology.

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Library Binding

Published August 3, 2021

About the author

Crispin Boyer lives in San Francisco and writes about history, wildlife, and technology. He and his wife, Ramah, are the lord and lady of a 1914 Victorian that is 700 times smaller than a typical castle but almost as drafty. Their microwave might not roast an ox like most medieval ovens, but at least their bathroom isn't a hole in the wall that empties into a stinky moat.

Reviews

[Vera Godley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a fun book for kids 8 years and up who are reading chapter books. It will give them a glimpse into Greek mythology and even provides some end pages of real information.

The story is a "take" on the Greek myths in today's vernacular and the setting is Athens, Georgia and it's a bunch of animals. The tone of the story from the snippet I read is light and fun to read.

I think it would be a lot of fun for a middle-elementary to young middle-school child to read.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading these aloud with my 2nd grader and he loves them!

(Slight spoilers ahead)

This one caused my sensitive reader some turmoil because a newly-introduced character is treated pretty badly through much of the book. It’s resolved in the end, but if you have a reader with a highly-tuned sense of justice and fairness, you might need to be prepared for some complaints until they get to the resolution.

[Jennifer (dustjacket_fullofmonsters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this from the library as my daughter is obsessed with the podcast. We read it together and it was good! I actually loved it. Very fun and light hearted

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

That ridiculous rodent! T and I have so much fun with Zeus the Mighty and his band of Olympians at the Mount Olympus Pet Center in Athens, Georgia. In The Trials of Hairy-Clees, the animals listen to a podcast about the labors of Heracles (content and back matter are appropriate to young readers). When a newly rescued hen wishes to join the Olympians, they agree that she may do so if she completes the same labors as Heracles whom Zeus refers to as "Hairy- Clees." Misadventures, laughs, and life lessons keep readers on their toes and eager to see what comes next.

You may recall that I found Zeus obnoxious in the first book and noted his personal growth in the second. He continues to develop his self-awareness, with the help of his friends, and become a better friend and leader. I particularly like how we see the change in him - he's got good and bad traits, his friends call him out when he needs it, and he has enough humility to recognize when he's wrong (even if he doesn't like to admit it).

Again, T liked recognizing the myths he knew, examining the pictures, and predicting what would happen. "Don't you love it when you're right about what is gonna happen?" -T, when his predictions transpired. He is SUPER excited for the fourth book.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poseidon takes the lead as the Olympians battle “The Hydra” a five-headed beast or in this case a fan. With their mojo in sync the Olympians would have never of guessed that a chicken named Hermes could ruin it. The new feathered rescue wanted to join up with the Olympians, but Zeus was hesitant because of her affect on Athena, the cat.

Artie turned on her podcast and Zeus settled in to listen as the Oracle told the tale of Heracles a hero with super strength. And of course, Zeus heard Hairy-Clees. The latest quest for Zeus and the Olympians was to perform tasks of labors to earn mortality.

In this third book of the series another fun adventure is what young readers will find. The characters are loveable and in between their adventures readers will learn about famous Greek mythology stories and myths. The back pages invite readers to learn about Olympian gods, myth makers and artifacts. There are also short bios featuring the Olympians. A map shares the historical region with fun facts. Parents and teachers can use this book as a tool to pique the interest of young readers who want to learn more about Greek Mythology.

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 1 out of 5]

While Zeus the Mighty: The Trials of Hairy-Clees has fashioned its main characters after ancient Greek Gods, that's one of the few things this book has going for it. The silly conversations in this book fall flat and have nothing to do with the plot. While some children may find the humor and escapades funny, we found them tiring at our house.

Read my full review here: http://agoodreid.blogspot.com/2021/11...

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable romp. We listen on audiobook (the narrator is fantastic) so there's another hilarious level of trying to figure out what the things they're describing in terms of Greek myths really are! Highly recommend the whole series!

A3.5R5K5

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The animal hi-jinks are hilarious!!

[Rachel { dazai’s version } 🐾 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hilarious. Hermes, a chicken, wants to join the Olympians. So you can imagine how that went!!

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short entertaining and great for kids!

[Ifrinna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, fun adventure even if the characters in this tale don't exactly vibe with the original myth of Heracles.