King of Defiance — Michele Amitrani

Defying the gods comes at a hefty cost. King Sisyphus is a man hated by the gods, a trickster and a rogue who outwitted the Olympians and cheated death not once, but twice. He is forever forced to pay for his defiance by pushing a boulder up a hill in the depths of Tartarus. When an unusual traveler approaches Sisyphus, the king reveals the untold story behind the myth. Sisyphus grew up appalled by his father's blind worship for the gods. He decided to create his own kingdom, one that would not pay tribute to any deity, where humans would forge their own destiny. But prophecies spoken by an ancient being said his life would always be a struggle for survival, and resilience would be his best ally. When a clever action meant to save his kingdom brought Sisyphus against the most powerful of the Olympians, the battle for his soul began. After giving up his own freedom to build a place where humans could forge their own destiny, will King Sisyphus spend eternity paying the price—or will he outwit the gods one last time?