I really enjoyed the story it was different than most of the young adult books out right now. A very strong female lead that was not a damsel in distress. I think that the ending dragged on too long and the whole 'you are the first girl in a thousand year that I love' unrealistic

First of all, that cover? WOW. I'm tired of covers with 'girls in pretty dresses look resolute' but this one is amazing.

After that, the story. It's a clever use of Greek mythology, which I do actually know a bit about. I loved Gabriel, relatively indifferent to Amy but she was cool. Hope was another of the 'I don't have any talents, oh actually I'm the best at everything' type of heroine, but it worked very well in this novel. Shades of Twilight in her relationship with Kieron. I was surprised to see Hades as such an out and out villain, but that's probably because of yummy Eric Thomson on Hercules...wait, what was I talking about?

Right, the book. Very much enjoyed, hate the cliffhanger, when's the next one coming out?

The story is a little bit boring. I’m a huge fan of Percy Jackson series. All about the gods and myths are not as exciting as i expected it to be. Wish there are more exciting scene but the story is too simple.
Thought I quite like Hope’s personality.

DNF at 30%

This book really intrigued me because of the synopsis, it sounded so good but unfortunately it was not the book for me.

I mainly picked this book up because it had greek mythology and it did not disappoint, the 30% that i had read, I absolutely loved the way the author incorporated the greek mythology but it was not enough to keep me reading this book. One of the main reasons I did not finish this book was because of the writing style, it bothered me a little, I could not really connect with the heroin no matter how hard I tried.

However, just because I did not like this book, does not mean that you won't.

“‘A true hero fights for what’s right, no matter the cost or the glory dangled at him. It isn’t about what you want, Hope. It never was. You have a duty to win tomorrow.’”

I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publisher, Astrid Arditi. I’ll thank Rick Riordan and Madeline Miller for my weakness for Greek mythology tales.

When Hope receives a mysterious invitation, she doesn’t expect it to lead her to Mount Olympus to become a challenger in the gods’ competition for a new hero. She doesn’t even believe in Greek gods; all she wants is to return home to her sick mother, who is slowly losing her mind like all the women in her family. Hope’s determination to return home slowly turns into a desire to win as she realizes that the reigning hero is granted a wish. If she wins, she may have the power to cure the most important person in her life.

Olympian Challenger is sort of Percy Jackson + romance. The mythology has a lot in common with the way Riordan writes it. For example, Hope’s mother reminded me a lot of May Castellan, and there’s a lot of focus on training heroes. It’s not as good, but let’s face it, Riordan is tough to compete with. I really enjoyed the way Arditi included famous Greek heroes in her story (I have a soft spot for Heracles and Achilles), but I wish there had been more women. (Atalanta? Medea? Her one female hero, Ariadne, spends most of her time in the library.)

I was less fond of her portrayals of some of the gods, particularly in villainizing Hades, but I guess that’s bound to happen. There’s also an overall sense of contempt toward the gods, and that’s a tired angle. Gods are not humans; they don’t behave like humans, and it’s very easy to make them out to be all bad. It’s much more complicated to try to figure out why gods do what they do, and there’s no depth to that here. I typically want more motivation from my villains.

The writing isn’t wonderful. There’s some stilted dialogue and a tendency to tell rather than show. In part, it’s a pacing problem. There are too many scenes for one book, particularly once Hope gets into her challenges (Why are there ten? I lost interest after four or five. They run the same pattern every time.) and many of them feel rushed. The novel could have been streamlined there in favor of building character and relationships.

That’s not to say I wanted to spend more time with Hope’s love interest, Kieron. He’s the typical brooding, stand-offish, and otherworldly handsome male that YA novels are overflowing with, and their instalove is all drama and no substance. I liked Hope well enough except for when she was agonizing over what Kieron thought of her; then her emotions ran to dramatic extremes, and it was tiresome. On the other hand, there’s a cute gay Cupid ship, and I think I needed that in my life. I almost wish the book had been told from Gabriel’s point of view, since his character development was a lot more significant than Hope’s.

Hope’s relationship with her mother is really strong–maybe the strongest relationship in the book, even with its small amount of page time. It’s the defining feature of Hope’s character, and while there’s some attempt to have her come into her own by the end of the novel, it’s a little saccharine. She’s a sort of cliche heroine whose goodness is beaten over our heads, but naturally, she thinks she’s a terrible person. Female characters with self-esteem are rarer than Greek gods. Her friends are fine but not wonderful, although Heath makes for an interesting villain. I wish there’d been more of his backstory throughout the novel instead of just at the end. While Olympian Challenger was fine for a one-time read, I likely won’t continue with the series.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

I haven’t read a book by this author before, but I will read her again. I’m not a big fan of YA, mostly because I have so much to read, and I have to draw the line somewhere. However, if I find a book that sounds interesting enough, I’ll pick it up. This book was one such YA. In the beginning, I admit I almost put the book down after the big Olympus scene. Not because it was terrible, but because I am not a big fan of a lot of description, and this almost was too much for me. I did keep reading, and I’m glad I did! I love Greek mythology, and this book had some great mythology. Not only that, the book was well-written and I liked the characters although they need to be fleshed out a tiny bit more; this will probably happen in the next book which I can’t wait to read. If you are a fan of YA or mythology, give this book a try! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

I LOVE Greek Mythology so I was pretty excited to read this book.. The premise of the story was something I'd normally really really enjoy.

BUT
what ruined it for me were the characters and the romance. We get one detail about each character and then everything revolves around it. I couldn't like any of them and as for the romance, well, there was zero chemistry there and it was just not believable.

Overall it was fun and I enjoyed the quests and trials and will probably read the next book.

Olympian Challenger by Astrid Arditi is a phenomenal book. It had me hooked from the first word and I fell in love with the characters instantly. Hope and Kieron are amazing together and I love the dynamic relationship between Gabe, Amy, and Hope also the occasional contenders that decide to help out. If you are like me and love anything Greek mythology then read this book.
I really want to discuss the ending with whoever has read this because I feel like it shouldn't have ended there. 100% recommend this book.

Olympian Challenger is the first novel in the Olympian Challenger series by Astrid Arditi. scheduled for release on 3rd July 2018 I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Olympian Challenger follows the story of a teenager named Hope, who accidentally gets swept up in a deadly and mysterious tournament created by the Gods of Olympus. As descendents of the gods themselves, the teenagers that have been chosen to participate are more than happy to learn of their inherited gifts and fight their way to being crowned champion of the gods. But all Hope wants to do is find a way home, to find a way back to her single mother in New York City, who is suffering from dementia. But as the challenges continue and the prize edges every closer Hope decides she will do whatever she can to win so her wish can be granted,  to see her mother cured, if she can survive. 

Now as someone who has a deep love for mythology, especially Greek mythology I was very excited to read this books. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and the premise left me with some high hopes. As someone who enjoyed the Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief series, I was excited to see what Arditi's book had to offer. 

The thing I liked about this book was that it tried to be diverse in the inclusion of supporting characters from different walks of life and how it highlight's some of the tough situations certain groups of people face. The two biggest in this book being the struggle of foster kids in the system, portrayed by a troubled and thieving Amy,  and the acceptance of LGBTQI+ people, specifically through Gabriel, a teenage boy whose wish initially is to be cured of his attraction to men so his father will accept him. Reading that part in the book was tough, but his growth in the book of self-acceptance and love is a beautiful sup plot to the main story. I really grew to love Amy and Gabriel, and their loyal friendship with Hope is such a crucial thing. 

I also liked Hope's growth throughout the book from a girl who just wants to escape home, to becoming a young woman with some guts and grit as the challenges progress and the number of surviving competitors dwindles. 

The book has some serious Hunger Games vibes, and I don't mind it. The characters themselves even reference it. A few pop culture references slip in throughout parts as a reminded that they all came from modern-day New York. 

Initially I struggled to get into the book. The opening chapters felt a little clunky and the flow of sentences felt stiff. All the sentences seemed to be the same length and didn't provide any flow or rhythm when reading. However after the initial chapters the writing smoothed out a bit and it was a lot easier to read. The book was a quick read and I finished it in less than a day. 

The main 'forbidden love' story that weaves throughout was interesting but predictable. I could love it or leave it, and I don't think the story would've changed a great deal without it. Hope is a fairly strong, sometimes a little too 'I have to save everyone' type of character but ultimately she studies and works hard towards the challenges and can get by just fine without the love interest, even if she doesn't always see it herself. 

Overall I did end up enjoying the book by the end as the challenges the competitors had to face, which followed the stories of various gods and their amazing feats, was what kept me going. A quick read the pacing of the book keeps you moving forward without leaving you too long to linger on the events unfolding. I know this is the first in a series of books, but the ending felt rather sudden and not quite what I had wanted or felt should've have happened. But nevertheless is was still a decent read. I would maybe read the second novel when it comes out next year just to know what happened after the tournament, but it's not on high on my list for books I'd recommend reading. 

3/5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Olympian Challenger definitely gave me a Percy Jackson/Hercules kind of vibe.
The plot is great, it's full of action, romance and drama combined with a coming of age story and a main character who has to use courage against the odds to triumph.

3.5 STARS

"My love doesn't destroy; it heals."


Hope Diaz lives with her mother who is slowly losing her because of dementia. One day she receives a mysterious invitation, like every teenager in NYC. This invitation will throw her into a new world and she will discover many things about her past, her present and her possible future. Hope will get into an adventure and the question is if she will make it through it or if she will lose herself because of it.

When I fell upon this stunning cover on NetGalley I was immediately drawn to this book. I read the synopsis and I thought that the premise was really fascinating. I was certain that I would fall in love with the book. At first I did, because I love greek mythology (always did and I don't know if that's because I'm greek), plus the idea of a combination between Hunger Games on Olympus, seemed intriguing. But even though I enjoyed reading the book, there were parts that felt exactly like reading Hunger Games. So many mutual elements, like the weapon of choice, some phrases that are well known, etc etc. There were even parts that reminded me of Harry Potter. Not that I mind, but it just seemed like a mash up of fictional worlds and it sort of failed to deliver.

I did enjoy the book, the friendships that were formed, the stories of the heroes and the gods, the quests and the romance of course and I'm eager to read the continuation (January 2019 seems far away!) because I'm now invested in this story and I would like to know how it's going to evolve. If you're a fan of greek mythology, Hunger Games and fanfiction ,I think you're going to like this one :)

This one is interesting the plot was a little to slow in a lot of places but gets better in the end. I would read the next one in the series just to find out what happens next but otherwise it is not the easiest read.

As many times as I tried to read this book, I just couldn’t get into it. I will try again later so I can give a better review for you guys. Have you read it, if so tell me your thoughts.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I freaking loved this book - LOVED!

I read this in one sitting and I honestly couldn't put the book down. It made my boring day at work 110% better. I loved everything about Hope and watching her grow throughout the book.

Olympian Challenger definitely gave me a Percy Jackson/Hercules kind of vibe. It's pretty much why I feel in love with it. I liked all of the quests and the mysterious invitation. I liked all of the friendships/relationship formed.

Hope, the MC, was amazing from beginning to end. I love her friendship with Lily in the beginning. Then her journey throughout Mount Olympus and her views on the gods and this stupid challenge were just amazing. I laughed and I cried. Overall, I loved the girl.

Besides Hope, I learned to love Amy and Gabriel. They were complete opposites of each other but in the end they made such a dynamic trio of friends. I cried when bad things happened to either one of them and I almost didn't want to accept the ending.. but then Hope used her wish and it was the most adorable and sweetest thing ever. I'm sad that she only got one wish but I'm hoping that she will earn or get more throughout the series.

Speaking of a possible series, I seriously need the second book STAT. I'm already sad that the book is over. THAT CLIFFHANGER is making me want the next book even more. I loved every character in this book. I shipped so many people together and I'm happy that two of my ships were sailing at the end. I just hope that they are continually sailing well into the next book. If not, I will cry.

Overall, I loved this book. I don't think I could mention how much I actually loved this book. It was just amazing and I'm so happy that I got the chance to read it.

When I started reading this book it drew me in straight away. The main character is a take no crap from anyone kind of person and I love her selflessness. The only thing I found a little repetitive was the way she would question herself. But when certain challenges came up she was all in and became a leader.

I found this book super easy to read and I am beyond excited to see where the next one goes.

I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hope Diaz's life has been anything but happy. Her mother was diagnosed with dementia (early stages?) and it is slowly robbing her of her memories. Hope has given up her entire life to take care of her mom and she hopes to one day to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a doctor (her mother was a midwife). One day Hope receives a mysterious invitation. In fact, the entire senior class has received one. Only Hope's invitation has more and she ends up on Mt. Olympus after trying to save a young man from drowning. Here she finds herself trapped and will have to play in a tournament for the Gods. But Hope has only one thing on her mind - getting back to her mother and she will do anything she can to leave Olympus.

Unfortunately for Hope, the exits are sealed and the only way for Hope to leave Olympus is play in the tournament. As the games begin, Hope finds herself in a battle to not only keep herself alive but to win the tournament with the hopes of returning to her Mom.

Okay I admit that this book kept me glued from beginning to end. I liked the premises of Greek Mythology but then again any story with it will pretty much sucker me in.

I liked Hope. I felt she had potential. She is desperate to be apart of her Mom's life while her Mom is being robbed from her by the stages of dementia and I have to sympathize with her on that. My own Mom is in the early stages of dementia and much like Hope, I don't like leave her alone because I worry of coming home one day and her memory of me is erased. So I can see how hard it is for Hope especially when she is trapped on Olympus and forced to play in a tournament she really wants to part of. As each person is eliminated, Hope finds her goal within her sight.

The only thing I have grown tired of when it comes to ya is the fact that everything seems to incorporate the Hunger Games in their storylines. Next to insta-love (this one, I have to admit, is a bit different when it comes to romance. It is a slow burn), most of the ya storylines seem to think they need to add to some element of the Hunger Games into their storyline. While this story has set itself a bit apart from the dystopian storyline and used mythology instead, it still felt like I was reading something along the lines of a fanfiction.

There were also some sentence structures within that felt a bit awkward. Some of them caused me to have to re-read the paragraph twice to understand what the author was trying to convey.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It kept me rivted from the beginning of the book to the end. Again I am a sucker when it comes to anything written with mythology weaved into their storyline. I enjoy those types of books more than anything. If this is to be a trilogy, I cannot wait to see how the series ends. Hope has a ton of potential and I am looking forward to seeing how she does in the next book.

I am in love with Greek mythology and this first book confirmed my love for these divinities. Hope is the main character, she's desperate to give her mother to dementia but she doesn't know what to do to help her. She then receives this mysterious invitation and after jumping into the water to save a boy, she finds herself at Mount Olympus, embarked in spite of herself in a fierce competition at a dark stake!

Hope is really a character we love over the pages. She is first devoted to her mother, then to her friends and finally to her love. She doesn't have a single evil thought for her competitors and is able to help them even if they are mean to her. That is what she has in her and she cannot fight against her nature. The Greek gods are frankly not nice in this novel, everything is decadence at their home and the life of humans does not matter to them as long as they serve their interests. The tests imposed on humans in order to obtain a wish is very much interwoven with mythology and requires ingenuity on the part of all the participants, but more particularly on the part of Hope. The end is rather predictable in itself, but the second volume is likely to be interesting. I hadn't seen the romance coming either, which is still light for the moment! The whole is very well pinned with the author's writing. I will not miss the second volume!

I was skeptical at first but in the end this book blew all of my expectations away. The world building, character, and story are so well written you can see yourself there. You develop connections to characters and root for them. Hope is flawed and relatable but grows so much. Her story and those of the others are relatable and heartbreaking.
The cover is gorgeous but what's inside really is the art. I cannot praise this enough.

This is a book about the ord Greek gods and the mountain Olympus. Can one girl win and be the Olympian winner, and save her mother before it’s to late.

Overall it wa a good book, it kept you interested to know more. It ends with a cliffhanger so more books will come.

LOVED this book, LOVE the cover! The first thing that caught my attention, I know they say don't judge a book by it's cover but I definitely do. SORRY! I have read so many books that were written with Greek mythology and this one takes the cake! I was pulled in from the moment I started it. The only thing I would say negative is it reminded me of another story the way the invitation was handled but other than that it was a powerful story, magical and I loved the characters. Beyond ready for book number two!