CHRISTOPHER WILD
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the FAQs for A Hero and a Curse, the first book in The Age of Heroes series by British fantasy author Christopher Wild. Here you'll find more information about the novel, its Greek mythology influences, the characters, the series, and where to start reading.
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ABOUT THE BOOK
What is A Hero and a Curse by Christopher Wild about?
A Hero and a Curse is a dark, epic fantasy novel by British author Christopher Wild that reimagines Greek mythology in a saga of divine ambition, political intrigue, betrayal, murder, and an impending curse. The first book in The Age of Heroes series, it explores a fractured Mount Olympus where Zeus's rule faces growing opposition, ancient grudges threaten the gods' fragile alliances, and the struggle for power puts the fate of the mortal world at risk.
Told through multiple character viewpoints, the novel weaves together familiar gods, heroes, and mythological traditions into an original, interconnected narrative that explores the darker side of Greek mythology.
What genre is A Hero and a Curse?
A Hero and a Curse is a mythological fantasy novel that combines elements of epic fantasy and dark fantasy. It is a reimagining of Greek mythology, with themes of ambition, loyalty, betrayal, rebellion, divine power, and the consequences of the gods' actions. Murder, political intrigue, and shifting alliances are also central to the narrative.
The novel is intended for adult fantasy readers, particularly those who enjoy dark, mythology-inspired fiction and expansive fantasy worlds.
Is A Hero and a Curse a retelling of Greek mythology or a reimagining?
A Hero and a Curse is a reimagining of Greek mythology rather than a straightforward retelling of a single ancient myth. Christopher Wild brings together familiar gods, heroes, and mythological traditions to create an original, interconnected fantasy saga. The novel explores what might happen when divine rivalries, political conspiracies, ancient grudges, and the threat of an impending curse collide in a world inspired by ancient Greece.
While some elements remain relatively close to their original mythological accounts, others deviate considerably. Characters retain familiar identities, but their motivations are explored in greater depth, timelines are reshaped, and outcomes are sometimes altered to serve the broader narrative. The result is an original interpretation of Greek mythology that draws upon its rich history while creating a new story.
What makes The Age of Heroes different from other Greek mythology books?
Rather than retelling individual myths, The Age of Heroes brings together elements of familiar Greek mythology within an original, interconnected narrative. The series explores the gods and heroes through multiple viewpoints, allowing their individual motivations, ambitions, rivalries, and relationships to develop across interwoven storylines.
One of the central challenges in creating the series was reconciling the many conflicting accounts and timelines found in ancient mythology. By drawing upon different traditions and interpretations, Christopher Wild has sought to establish a coherent chronology in which familiar characters and myths can coexist within a single, expansive narrative.
The result is a darker, character-driven fantasy saga shaped by divine politics, family feuds, curses, fate, and the battle for power.
Who should read A Hero and a Curse?
A Hero and a Curse is aimed at readers of adult fantasy who enjoy Greek mythology-inspired fiction, dark fantasy, and epic fantasy. It may particularly appeal to readers who enjoy complex gods and heroes, multiple points of view, political intrigue, shifting alliances, betrayal, ambitious world-building, and high-stakes struggles for power.
Readers do not need to be experts in Greek mythology to explore Christopher Wild's original interpretation of the ancient Greek pantheon.
Does A Hero and a Curse contain mature themes and sexual violence?
Yes. A Hero and a Curse is an adult dark fantasy novel containing mature themes and depictions of violence, including murder, physical abuse, emotional suffering, and sexual violence, including assault and rape. The narrative explores the darker aspects of power, control, betrayal, and the consequences of cruelty. These subjects form part of the novel's wider exploration of the gods, their relationships, and their treatment of others.
Do I need to know Greek mythology before reading A Hero and a Curse?
No. A Hero and a Curse is intended to draw readers into its expansive world through the power of its narrative, rather than requiring prior knowledge of Greek mythology. Readers may recognise many of the characters, as well as some of the myths incorporated into the story, but an understanding of their original histories is not essential.
Although the novel draws extensively upon ancient Greek mythology, it is a work of fiction rather than an academic account. It should appeal to readers of dark and epic fantasy, whether they are already familiar with the mythology or discovering its characters and stories for the first time.
Occasionally ancient Greek words are used within the text. These are highlighted in italics. READ MORE ABOUT THE GREEK GLOSSARY.
Which Greek gods and mythological heroes appear in the book?
Numerous gods, heroes, and mythological figures appear in A Hero and a Curse. The twelve principal viewpoint characters are Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Hades, Heracles, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Dionysus, Orion, and Perseus.
Other familiar characters and mythological beings also feature in the narrative, including Adonis, Athena, Demeter, Eileithyia, Eris, Eros, Hebe, Hephaestus, Hermes, Hestia, Iris, Kronos, Rhea, the Cyclopes, the Gorgons, Pegasus, and several inhabitants of the Underworld.
READ MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTERS.
How long is A Hero and a Curse?
A Hero and a Curse is approximately 155,000 words, making it an epic-length fantasy novel. Its expansive narrative follows multiple character viewpoints and interwoven storylines, exploring the gods, heroes, and rivalries of ancient Greek mythology.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND SERIES
Is A Hero and a Curse part of a series?
Yes. A Hero and a Curse is Book One of The Age of Heroes, a planned six-book Greek mythology fantasy series by Christopher Wild. The series reimagines the gods and heroes of ancient Greece through an interconnected narrative of divine ambition, political intrigue, betrayal, curses, and the struggle for power.
What is the correct reading order for The Age of Heroes?
The correct starting point is A Hero and a Curse, Book One of The Age of Heroes. The series is designed to be read in publication order, as the characters, events, and interwoven storylines develop across the books. Further instalments will be announced as they become available.
Who is Christopher Wild?
Christopher Wild is a British fantasy author and the creator of The Age of Heroes, a series that reimagines Greek mythology through dark, epic fantasy. His first book in the series is A Hero and a Curse. His fascination with the power and mystery of Greek storytelling began at the age of twelve and continues to shape his writing today.
When he isn't writing, Christopher enjoys running, snowboarding, and film. He lives in Cheltenham with his family of five – and Wilson, their lovable Golden Retriever.
READ MORE ABOUT CHRISTOPHER WILD.
What inspired Christopher Wild to write The Age of Heroes?
I have always been fascinated by the characters of Greek mythology, particularly the Olympians, and have long sought to understand their histories, motivations, and relationships. I wanted to explore Greek mythology in a new way, bringing together familiar gods and heroes in an original story shaped by ambition, betrayal, and the hunger for power.
While researching the mythology in greater depth, I initially considered writing a film script before realising there was simply too much detail for the story I wanted to tell. I also considered television as a potential medium, but eventually concluded that only a book series could do justice to the epic scope of the narrative.
I chose to use multiple viewpoints because this offered the opportunity to explore several characters in greater depth, developing their individual story arcs while allowing them to intertwine with one another. I was also influenced by the storytelling approach of Game of Thrones, particularly its use of multiple viewpoints to explore competing motivations, ambitions, and allegiances. I admired how the narrative allowed readers to see events unfold through the perspectives of different characters, often revealing conflicting interpretations of the same circumstances. Its willingness to explore the darker aspects of human behaviour, including betrayal, cruelty, and the pursuit of power, also resonated with the kind of fantasy I wanted to create.
Another challenge was reconciling the many conflicting accounts and timelines found in ancient mythology. I wanted to bring these different traditions together into a coherent narrative, following a single chronology while drawing inspiration from the characters and myths that have endured for centuries.
Ultimately, my aim is to bring the world I had imagined to life on the page, creating a dark and expansive fantasy epic that I would love to read myself.
ABOUT READING AND BUYING
Where can I buy A Hero and a Curse?
A Hero and a Curse is due for publication in May 2027, and will be available in paperback, hardback, and ebook formats. Further details on where to purchase the book will be provided closer to publication.
How can I get a free sample or read more from The Age of Heroes?
If you haven't yet read A Hero and a Curse, you can receive a free sample chapter by joining The Age of Heroes Club, Christopher Wild's mailing list. For readers who have already finished Book One, a sample chapter from Book Two is also available to members of the Club.
Joining the mailing list is also the best way to receive news, announcements, and updates about future releases in The Age of Heroes series.
When will Book Two of The Age of Heroes be released?
The release date for Book Two of The Age of Heroes has not yet been confirmed.
For news, announcements, and updates on the next instalment, you can join The Age of Heroes Club mailing list. Members will be among the first to hear about upcoming releases and developments in the series.
