Customer Reviews

Myth-O-Mania: Have a Hot Time, Hades! - Book #1

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Not too long ago Hades--that's His Royal Lowness, Lord of the Dead, King Hades to you--picked up a book on Greek mythology and discovered that his younger brother Zeus had tampered with the Greek myths in order to make himself look good (braggart and liar that Zeus tends to be). In order to set the record straight Hades set to work at once writing his own account of what really happened way back when. Have a Hot Time, Hades! is the first book to result from his labors, the initial installment in his Myth-o-Mania series, which is published pseudonymously, curiously enough, under the name of Kate McMullan.

Hades, as it turns out, can write pretty well. Have a Hot Time, Hades! is a charming, irreverent recasting of Greek myth as told from Hades' perspective, from his childhood spent dodging the refuse in his father's stomach (Cronus swallowed all but one of his children in their infancy) to his decision to adopt the Underworld as his realm. In the book we learn of the difficulties the Olympians (i.e., Hades and his siblings) had wresting power from the previous generation of gods. There are battles--well, very violent kickstones matches--with the Titans, some trouble with the monster Typhon, a talking-to from their grandmother Gaia. Nor are the Olympians themselves without their own petty squabbles, mostly arising from Zeus' habit of stealing credit from his siblings and begetting offspring with mortals.

Kate McMullan obviously takes liberties with her presentation of the Greek myths in Have a Hot Time, Hades!, but she does a tremendous service in introducing young readers in a highly entertaining way to the major figures in Greek mythology, their familial relationships, and their various areas of interest. (A handy family tree and glossary are included in the book.) The series is off to a great start. Next up is Phone Home, Persephone!, in which Hades will regale us with the true story of his marriage to Persephone.

Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece

I teach 7th grade, and my reading class studies Greek mythology for 9 weeks. I have all 8 books in this series in my room, and I am always reading one of them aloud to my class. The rest are NEVER available on my shelf; they're always checked out! There's usually a waiting list for them and sometimes the kids even hound each other to hurry and get them done so they can read them. These books are a hit with both girls and boys (a rarity), and even my reluctant readers will check these books out! I wish Kate McMullan would write more of them!!

I borrowed this book from my friend and I really loved it!! If you want to read a funny, interesting book, I will definately suggest this book!! I also read the all of the other books and I most definately cant wait for the next one!! My mom and sister loved this book as well so I could tell you that this book is suitable for all ages!! (Warning: If you read this book you wont be able to resist reading the next book and the next and....)

I enjoyed this book so much!! It was really funny when Hades first meets his uncle! I'm 8 3/4. I really recommend this book!:-)

King Hades is very funny in his book series. We had to do a project on the series and i thought it would be a drag but it wasnt. I enjoyed all the books but this was my favorite by far. After reading the whole series you wonder if Zues is right or if King Hades is telling the truth. I think it's just all myths though. He He He! Plus I love the part when Echidna gives Hades her triheaded puppy dog!

You ever read Greek Myths? Well this is the true story about them. True?You think. Is that supposed to mean what I've read isn't true? Precisley. Hades claims Zeus is a liar and mangled all the myths. What he claims is true is actually the same thing as Greek Myths. With a twist. Read this book and you'll agree MYTH-O-MANIA ROCKS!

These are the best books! I'm studying Greek mythology in school and when I read this book I loved it so much that I shared it with my class and got even the library to buy some copies!!! Even though they're not the real versions of the myths, they are great books and you should read them!

Have a Hot Time, Hades! is written by Kate McMullan and it is one of my favorite books. In this book, Hades, God of the underword reads The Big Fat Book of Greek Myths only to find that the book is filled with nonsense. Zeus, Ruler of the Gods has taken at the parts of the myths that he did not like and changed them. In order to correct this, Hades makes his own book with the help of some of the ghostwriters. This is the 1st book in a series and so Hades tells the "true" story of how Zeus cheated at cards in order to became the leader of the Universe. Hades also tells about the first Olymic games, how he and his siblings were freed from their father, Cronos's stomach, how Typhon was defeated, adn how volcanoes came to erupt lava. Have a Hot Time is a wonderful book. It is funny and uses modern language with terms such as HB Olympus, Lay-Z-God, and Po for Poseidon. THe stories that ate told are relayed so well that anyone having a hard time remembering who's who in Greek Mythology will go away with knowlege they will have a hard time forgetting. In the back of the book there is a list of who's who in Greek Mythology and even gives the names used by the Romans. Also included in the back of the book is a Family Tree of the Gods for easy reference of who is related to whom. As I started reading this book I found that I had a hard time putting it down. This book is a good read for people of all ages. Have a Hot Time, Hades! is written in such a way that one can relate to the Gods adn the troubles they are having. The reader gets an insight into the troubles the young Gods have when they first inherit Mount Olympus. Hades is also turned into a lovable character instead of the untouchable King of the Underworld. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

Kate McMullan has written a charming introduction to some of the earliest Greek myths, in a breezy style and with an unusual catch: the viewpoint is that of Hades, Zeus' older brother. While keeping largely to the substance of the canonical versions of the incidents recounted, she adds delightful modern touches and atrocious puns which make for hilarious reading aloud. It won't supplant the Gantz <i>Early Greek Myth</i> or <i>Lempriere's Classical Dictionary</i>, but if you're looking for a lively Greek myth book for younger readers which will keep older ones in stitches as well, this is the place to start. I look forward to reading the other seven titles (published and forthcoming) in the series.

I loved this book and I'm 12. It was easy and quick to read without having to think that much- it only took me about 30 minutes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who want's a nice, easy read