Hope's life is tumbling down every day she sees her mother succumb to her dementia. one morning she discovers an invitation to participate in a challenge. She thinks is a joke and proceeds to worry about her mothers illness. That night she sees a guy jump into a river and with the frozen temperatures she know he will not survive long so she jumps in to try to save him. Because is this deed she is transported to mount Olympus where she is now part of a selected group of teens fighting for the chance of obtaining one gift from the gods. Hope is determine to win the competition and win the gift so she can ask the gods to cure her mother. Through out the competition, she founds love, frienship and a hate for the gods who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

I just want to state the obvious... THIS COVER OMG. Love!

I really loved the story, it was a unique take on the classic Greek Mythology retellings. I felt like there was something slightly off about the pacing of the story. I wish we got to see more of Hope before the Olympus journey started. The first chapter she receives the invitation card, but I wish that that was either the second part of the first chapter or the second chapter. Even the ending happened really quickly. Also, it was never explained how the challengers knew what to do to get into the competition. They all seemed like the chose to be there, besides Hope, so how did they all know that "doing something brave" would lead them to Olympus?

As for the characters, I wish they were developed more, especially the supporting characters. The other challengers felt so basic that I didn't really keep track of who was who, except for Heath. Gabriel was not a likable character, even though I think he was supposed to be. He was so concerned with appearances that it was almost annoying. Same with Amy, she was obsessed with "things" but that aspect of her kept coming up. I guess I wish the characters were more multifaceted. There is also a Hate to Love trope in the book, but I didn't necessarily hate it. I actually really liked Kieron as a character.

This book is definitely set up for a sequel and I will be reading it when it comes out.

When I started this book I was skeptical. I am a huge mythology enthusiast (okay, fine – NERD) and I’ve been let down too many times when it comes to YA and Greek mythology to have too high hopes, but I have to admit that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

There were some obvious clichés, like The Love Interest and the gay best friend, but I also think they were a little refreshing in their execution. My largest problems with the book were the somewhat rushed plot, the faulty facts about the myths/gods and the language. I did like the main character, Hope, who I thought was relatable.

The language didn’t flow, and often it felt as if the author tried to make up for the lack of genuine descriptions by adding unnecessarily complicated words. It felt unnatural and didn’t add anything to the story, but I think it got better as the story progressed (or I got used to it, not really sure).

What got me the most, like it practically always does with books about mythology, was the errors in the depiction of the gods and their cannon. For example, Hades was included in the twelve Olympians, and put on one of the twelve thrones. I constantly wondered who was forced to give up their seat to him. Perhaps it was Demeter, who was absent for most of the book, but I think that it was only overlooked that there were thirteen major gods to seat. I do understand that Arditi made her own interpretations of the myths and characters. I have absolutely no problem with some artistic variations, but when it’s plain wrong I turn into a little Fury.

The plot was also very fast paced, especially at the end. I am not even 100% certain that I’ve read all of the book, because the ending was very sudden. It might have been an attempt at a cliffhanger, or I’m missing the last few pages in my e-copy.

I can’t say that Olympian Challenger is in the same league as Percy Jackson, or the Hunger Games that some people compare it to, but it was far from the worst YA/mythology book that I’ve read. Arditi deals with some important subjects, like mental and physical illness, and I respect her for that, but at times it fell flat. The characters never fully fleshed out, and The Love Interest, which in theory would be perfectly swoon-worthy for me, didn’t really capture my interest. That said I would probably have jumped right into the next book if I’d had it in front of me, because I was still hooked.

It was an entertaining read, and I don’t regret reading it. Its style and character reminded me a lot of Oh. My. Gods and Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs. This is not a book to read if you want another Percy Jackson, but seriously – what are the chances of finding one of those?

I recommend this book to younger readers of YA, and to those who are looking for a quick, entertaining read with a backdrop of Greek mythology!

As a Classicist, I have a fondness for stories that incorporate elements of Greek mythology and am interested in finding books for teenage readers who enjoy ancient history and mythology. On the whole, I enjoyed Olympian Challenger, though I found the last third of the book much more engaging than the beginning, which felt a little rushed in terms of story pacing. I admit to finding the portrayals of particular characters (Gabriel) a bit too stereotypical and some features of the narrative cliché, but these elements seemed to improve towards the end of the novel. The twists and interpretations of the different stories of the gods were, to me, the most interesting parts of the story, as well as the use of the pythia as a proper character instead of the usual references to oracles that stories employing mythology often have. I look forward to the next book!

A girly remake of percy jackson, but not my favorite read.

This story is imaginative and creepy with just a dash of Hope. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson or Greek mythology. I loved that this book didn't just cover the main 12 Olympians, but talked about some additional gods and goddesses I'd never heard of. Hope, the main character, is swept off to Mount Olympus to compete for the privilege of being the gods hero, but she never asked to come. Hope is pitted against the other contestants and still finds a way to make friends. I loved that her sense of right and wrong was so strong, this is a atmosphere that would make it very easy for her to get confused about whether or not to protect her friends. I also love a bookish heroine and Hope's love of reading about the myths (and subsequently telling the reader) made for a feeling of participation while the challengers made it through the trials.

This book was beautifully written and I loved everything about this book. I couldn't put this down!

Initially my review was going to be a lot lower for this book. The first third of the book worried me; I went in excited for a fresh breath of air, a young adult contemporary that explore my love of Greek mythology in a supernatural setting. I was unhappily comparing it to novels that seemed to have inspired it, such as the Hunger Games and the Twilight Saga. The parallels were, unfortunately, still there until even the end of the book. There were moments that made me audibly groan at the protagonist, not-like-the-other-YA-girls-Hope. However, my opinions were definitely altered when the action of the book took place. I was enraptured by the attention to mythos, the implementation of Gods that lack humanity deciding the fate humanity, and these sad children holding in their broken hearts something these immortal Gods could not have as they pitted them against one another. It went from cliched, stereotypes (I was really, really annoyed at the LGBTQIA portrayal of Gabriel and the shallow stereotype he initially embodied) to heartfelt, meaningful characters that touched me. I actually ended up being angry at having to put it down to eat at some points.
Hopefully in the remaining books in the series, the character interaction is less superficial, particularly the forced relationship between Kieron and Hope. It was very predictable and I wasn't fond of the execution, though I did like the abhorred son of Hades angle. I really do have hope that this trilogy can pick up in these areas, as I feel it has great potential and it is definitely an informative and fun read.

I enjoyed reading this young adult novel and found the plot to be interesting. I was not a fan of the characters and feel like they are lacking in depth/backstories

This is the first book I've read by Astrid Arditi and let me tell you it was awesome!! The MC Hope has such amazing growth through the book. She starts off taking care of her sick mother and then gets swept away into this fantastic adventure/competition on Mount Olympus. There are epic conflicts along her journey that she must puzzle out in order to survive. It is now up to you as the reader to see if she makes t to the end. Happy reading!

This book contains new friends, romances, danger, epicness and beautiful gods/goddesses.

Enjoy!

Hope Diaz has never quite fit in. It's not that she's all that awkward or different; it's just that she has more pressing issues to deal with. Her mother, the only parent she's ever known, is slowly losing her mind, just like her grandmother did years before. It won't be long before Hope's mom isn't able to recognize her own daughter and Hope doesn't want to miss one minute with her beloved mom.

When a strange invitation arrives for her, Hope doesn't know what to make of it. What's weirder is that every single senior high student in New York City seems to have gotten the invite, but no one else around Hope seems to be able to read past "You're cordially invited". Hope sees more but she's not sure if she's really seeing it or if the dementia that affects her mother is starting early in Hope's own mind.

Through a series of events, Hope finds herself transported to Mount Olympus and discovers that she's descended from the heroes and gods of Greek Mythology. These descendants have been brought to Mount Olympus to compete for a chance to be the new Hero and complete a task for the gods.

Now Hope must compete in ten events, each inspired by a different god and hero, in order to win and get one wish. Her wish is obvious; how to win isn't.

Final thoughts: My initial reaction was 4 stars. Then I had time to think things through. I'm dropping my rating to 3 because there are some plot holes here and there. Many of the characters are one-dimensional, which makes sense because of the sheer number of them, but some needed to be fleshed out a bit more. I don't understand Heath's character at all and the chemistry between Hope and Kieron just isn't really there. The Hunger Games aspect was a little distracting, as well. The end was just a little off-kilter and the motivation for the whole event just felt unimportant. So, here I am, wishing there was more and I'm probably going to read the second book, but it's not quite enough to make me enthusiastically endorse this one.

Rating: 3/5

ARC from NetGalley

I had fun reading Olympian Challenger; it reminded me why I still love reading teen books (20+ years later!). Hope Diaz, a sweet and selfless girl, is overwhelmed with love for her mother -- a mother that is slowly sinking into dementia at an early age. Hope is given an extraordinary chance -- to compete against other teens in a heroic challenge at Mount Olympus -- under the watchful gaze of the Greek Gods. The winner receives their heart's desire -- and Hope knows she has a chance at healing her mom. She befriends two other teens and starts to piece together the stories of why these were chosen as challengers. Top that off with a young god determined to have Hope win, it's a fun, quick, and clean read.

This book is nothing short of amazing! I can hardly believe I got to read such a wonderful story. No matter how hard I tried to predict what happened,it always came as a fantastic surprise!

Everything in this book was written perfectly,from the quests to the romance. I loved all the characters in this book,even ‘Hateful Heath’

All I have to say now is that the author has to get going on the next book,because I don’t know how long I can go without knowing what’s going to happen!

This is the story of Hope Diaz. One day, Hope is invited to some mysterious party. Except, it isn't a party. Hope is actually a decent of the Greek gods and it seems that there's a challenge going on. While Hope just really wants to go back home, she stays in the competition because of the prize: the Gods promise to grant the wish of whoever wins.

Look. I'm going to be completely honest with you. I read this book because the cover is simply gorgeous. I read the summary of the book, and having an intense love of the Greek gods and the cover, figured that this book would be a great read for me. It'd be Percy Jackson but with a girl! Sweet!

Except not. The cover lied to me. So much lying.

I'm not even sure where to begin with this book. The main protagonist, Hope, is just so... indecisive. She literally changes her mind almost every page. On one page, she doesn't want any friends and on the next, all she wants is a new bff. And rinse and repeat for different problems (and sometimes the same problem just for some variety, I guess). For 360 pages. Dammit, girl, make up your mind for once and stick with it. Also, her ability to just accept anything is just... weird. I'm sorry, but if I ended up on Mount Olympus (after jumping into a river), my reaction wouldn't be "Oh, hi, Aphrodite, how are you?" I think I'd be too busy having a panic attack.

Another thing that bothered me was the use of background characters. I felt like all the character except for the main ones could have been replaced with cardboard cut-outs and nothing would have changed. Seriously. I'm pretty sure at one point the author got her background characters confused because they all have the same personality and are all the exact same. No one in this book is well-rounded character. They all just kind of exist. And then most of them die, but I didn't care because I didn't get attached to any of them.

One other pet peeve about this book was the vocabulary the author used. While I get that this book is aimed at the older side of YA lit, a lot of readers are going to struggle with the vocabulary. I'm a pretty well-read person with a decent sized vocabulary, but even I had to go and look up some of the words. I can see a lot of readers picking this up because they have fond memories of the Percy Jackson series and then not even finishing the first chapter due to the word choice of the author.

I give this book 2.75 stars
This book was a struggle to rate. On one hand I really enjoyed the premise of the plot, but the writing was so awful, that it was hard to get into.

First off, the verbiage in the book was try hard and awkward. The author tried to sophisticate her language by throwing in different adjectives and mixing up the sentence structure but it just ended up being read as awkward and poorly executed.
Here are some examples of the weird sentence structure or strange word choice:
“His keys rattled mournfully”
“I worried the skin on my thumb with my teeth”
and there are many many more.

Not only that, but the author showed us but not told us what people were feeling. The author spelled out every single emotion that the characters were feeling instead of letting us see it through their actions.

Not only that character development was non existent. The author gave each character a one-dimensional analysis of their personality and would lazily add another character if it would bode to aid the author. It was just all over the place and not well developed.

The relationship in this book reads like a bad soap opera. They went from hating each other to proclaiming their love and it was just so cringe and badly executed.

The plot itself of the book wasn’t bad and I liked how they accurately used mythology but the vigorous adjectives and verbs took away from the description of the Gods.

I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the protagonist.

I thought the premise of the plot was unique and could be interesting, but the execution was so flat, that it left me wanting for more. I hope the next book is written better, and the writing is elevated and more mature.

I received this book on NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

I felt like this was another churned out young adult book. While the synopsis was interesting and really intrigued me, the emotionless writing and typical romance just had me rolling my eyes.
It could have been better if it wasn't so...typical.

Sorry guys

UMMMMM i'm ready for book two now. Wow, this story was like a movie in my mind. See this is why i get iffy about series's because i get attached and now i'm attached. It had everything from romance,drama,and action. I really can't wait for the next one!!

Another late nighter. I was lucky enough to read this one, which I picked because I love Greek mythology. It’s a bit of a double edged sword because there are some that I’ve read which are bleh. I really liked this one, though I will warn it is part of a trilogy and does end on a cliffhanger. There’s plenty of action and a little romance to balance it all. The main characters are well written and of course have their own story. The heroine is the selfless type but I did find her whiny in the first few chapters (understandable) and by the end I was cheering her on. I found it easy to read in one sitting and definitely want to read the next one.

If you enjoy Greek mythology, heroes, action, adventure, betrayal, love, and hope, this is a novel you need to read!! Life is full of choices and one must make a choice between doing what is easy and what is right. The story is told from first person point of view.
Hope lives in NYC and deals with her mother who is suffering from a mental illness. Hope focuses on her school work, swimming, and her mother. She does not go out and party like many teenagers her age. When she sees a boy jump off a building and land in the water, she does not hesitate to dive in and try to save him. She ends up transported to Mount Olympus, where she and others will face several trials to see who will be the Gods' champion. Hope makes friends and enemies, but all she wants to go home. However, the winner of the trials will receive a wish, which tempts Hope. Hope and the others are descendants from Gods, demi-Gods, who have forgotten the Gods. Due to this, the demi-Gods suffer from mental illnesses. The demi-Gods do carry powers from their God descendants.
Hope cares for others, which shows in the trials. However, the Gods have an ulterior motive for the trials. Hope can trust no one, even the one God who makes her heart soar. Kieron, a Shadow God, has hid own plans. Hope helps him to remember what it is like to feel. He loves her, but needs to keep it a secret from his father, who would hurt Hope's mother in retaliation. As Hope goes through the trials, she must make difficult choices and sacrifices if she is to win and save her mother.

Hope’s world doesn’t have room for heroes. She barely has time for schoolwork, swim team, and taking care of her ailing mother. But when she’s invited to a mysterious tournament, the all-powerful hosts won’t take no for an answer. Transported to Mount Olympus, Hope comes face to face with her new trainers the pantheon of Greek gods. When I started reading I couldn't put it down I read the book i couldn't put it down. Astrid is magnifysent writer.I cannot wait to read more of her books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.