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.

The book was original, and fresh strep in Greek mythology. The main character wasn't some bratty, whiny girl but someone who was actually enjoyable to read about. Overall I give this book 4.5 stars and I'm excited about the next book in the series.

I have a soft spot for Greek mythology. It was my obsession growing up. So I completely loved this book. Olympian Challenger is about a group of high school seniors who suddenly find themselves on Mount Olympus competing before the ancient Greek gods. The gods have called on their descendants in the modern world to become the next Olympian hero. Hope Diaz, our main character, becomes absorbed in the extravagant world of the gods and their challenges. As she fights to stay alive and continue her quests, she learns secrets of Olympus that suggest the gods are not as benevolent as they seem.
Overall, this is a pretty typical YA book for right now. A group of teens being thrown together and fighting, questing, etc. I thought the world-building could have been fleshed out a little more and lots of scenes felt somewhat rushed to me. I felt like there wasn't a whole lot of time for climactic tension to build. However, I did think the author had some interesting ideas about the gods and demi-gods, especially relating back to mental illnesses. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

The beginning of the book was interesting and I was captivated after few pages. I liked the plot. What I was not excited about are characters and the romance, there was no chemistry.

All in all, it was not bad. 3 stars.

Greek mythology is probably one of my favorite genres of storytelling because there is so much to work with when developing a story and the premise for this book sounded like everything I was waiting for but unfortunately it ended up being a watered down almost Disney like version of the Gods meets the The Hunger Games.

The entire concept of this book is fantastic I loved the idea of descendants being summoned to Mount Olympus and vying for a sponsor to help them compete in quests that are taken right out of the greatest myths in order to become the new hero and the idea that it took a grand act of fearlessness to attract attention of a specific god was such a great addition, however once you got down to it the characters themselves fell flat. We have a large group to begin with so naturally many remain nameless until it’s time to reveal their fate while others have one stop personalities that are meant to fit whatever conflict or obstacle they’re needed to represent against our main character and cast aside when that challenge is overcome.

There was also a lot of not so subtle foreshadowing and yes I get this is a series and we have our main heroine, but there should still be some sort of tension and wonder with how it’s all going to turn out closer to the end of the book rather than all but spoken aloud 20% into it.

And finally we get to the romance section, which again this is a book with Greek gods and goddess whose love lives are pretty well known and intricate so I hoped for something a little more meaningful or at least a foundation of what was to come that spoke to that legacy but instead we’re given something that’s reminiscent of a first season high school love worthy of a CW show just before the guy you root for shows up. However I will say I’d take an entire series on Gabriel and his love interest.

I wanted to love this book I really did but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me, to be fair I’m also a huge Madeline Miller fan so I’m sure that’s a factor putting a lot of weight into how I read books on this subject but for anyone else who might want to try something of this nature, the quests themselves and the shout outs to famous myths and deities should be enough to tie you over and of course the the cover itself which is stunning.

**thank you to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Olympian Challenger took me to a new world! I absolutely loved this Sci-fi teen read. Throughout the book we see Hope enduring these challenges on Mount Olympus that are so awe inspiring. I love how the author made this character out to be a true hero, but also a hero that yes has flaws. Towards the end of the book you think Hope can do no wrong but she too is human. I love that the author didn’t make this hero out to be wholeheartedly good without facing challenges in her character as well. A true hero is one pure of heart but is also one who can overcome the obstacles that can lead to ones downfall. I sure hope in book two Hope can get the justice that is well deserved for not only her friends but for the Gods as well. 2019 can’t come soon enough!