Athena's Champion

I am a huge fan of Greek Mythology and are always curious on some modern stories to these wonderful tales. I am a huge fans of Percy Jackson and Magnus Chase but I thought they would only be the new modern twist on Greek Mythology...until now!

Athena's Champion tells the story of Prince Odysseus must go on an adventure that could risk his life. Odysseus travels to the Oracle of Pythia to be anointed heir to his kingdom; only to find that Pythia reveals a terrible secret destroying all the Pillars of his life and he is bound towards death. Athena Goddess of war and wisdom offers Odysseus sanctuary and forced into a secret war between the Olympians for domination. As a soldier/warrior Odysseus must outsmart his wits in order to stay ahead of the game and alive. When Athena's scheme's gone terribly wrong and the Princess of Sparta is kidnapped, it's up to Odysseus to save her even if it means crossing through the gates of the underworld and face Hades himself. Will Odysseus triumph and save the princess?

This was edge of your seat excitement and the style it was written was very entertaining and you will all be hooked within the first chapter. This book will do very well on our shelves and we can't wait until our patrons get to read the book for themselves. That is why we give this book 5 stars!

Thank you to Canelo for the arc of this book,
If you like Greek mythology you will love this book, I found it really hard to put down,, a great take on an old legend(s)

Prince Odysseus of Ithaca, with the flaming red hair, visits the Pythia Oracle, who also happens to be his Grandmother, to be anointed as the heir to his Father’s kingdom.

BUT, an astonishing revelation is made and Odysseus is cast out, and an Assassin is sent after him. He is mortally wounded, but the Goddess Athena saves him and he becomes part of a secret war between the Gods of Olympus.

He is trained by Bria and Theseus but has to rely on his own skill and wits to survive.

This is a thrilling fresh tale, told from Odysseus’ perspective, which David Hair & Cath Mayo have written using modern language interspersed with Ancient Greek, bringing to life the classic Greek myths in an easy to read style to give explosive, exciting action alongside the sometimes complex politics of the Gods. I loved the humour in it too. I think this is going to be the next must read.

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

I love reading about Greek mythology. One recent read of mine was based on Greek mythology: Circe.

Athena's Champion is a beautifully written story of Prince Odysseus. Odysseus's life took a turn for the worse after visiting the oracle at Pytho. Note, that you will be angry at many places, reading about the vile treatment of women under the rule of gods. The book shows scenarios and dialogues that are eerily similar to today's realities.

Athena's Champion was a great historical fantasy read. I lagged in the beginning but my reading up after a few chapters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

Great book about Greek Mythology. Hair and Mayo do a great job writing together. Odysseus, the main character, is the son of the King of Ithaca. Athena picks Odysseus as one of her champions. It's an interesting story that I enjoyed.

David Hair and Cath Mayo’s Athena’s Champion should come with a disclaimer. I don’t want to put too fine a point on it, but something to like “Warning: This novel is impossible to put down, will very likely leave the reader breathless, and is not recommended for those with conditions that may be aggravated by fast-paced adventure” would be great.

One might think a story about Odysseus would be hard to breathe new life into, but Athena’s Champion is both fresh and creative. Using Theseus’ abduction of Helen as a template, Hair and Mayo craft an imaginative conflict that tangibly threatens both the Gods and those sworn to their service.

The narrative is definitely on the heavier side, but I enjoyed the time I spent with it and look forward to the next installment of the series.

Prince Odysseus of Ithaca travels with his family to Pythos to be anointed as his father's successor. It was supposed to be simple and straightforward. However, the words that leave the Pythia's mouth turn his world upside down, estrange his parents, and result in his expulsion from the family and his home. Now on the run to stay alive (as his line is destined for death), he ends up being blessed by Athena, becoming her newest champion and putting him in the middle of a brewing war between the gods and mankind. He becomes instrumental in one of Athena's schemes that goes horribly wrong and only his wits and history as a youth in Sparta spare him. But it also takes him into Hades and puts him head to head with the legendary Theseus.

As a huge fan of Greek mythology, I couldn't wait to read this one. While I love the traditional stories, I also enjoy modern takes. This book was certainly a twist on the  myths, but I can't say I enjoyed it as much as I have other twists.

Athena's Champion is basically a story about Odysseus's youth. We see him as a young man, newly come of age and heir apparent. He has streaks of naivete and signs of the great tactician he becomes during the Trojan War. He is most definitely a thoughtful character in this book, and I was often put off by how much thinking he did during the first half. I almost felt like all he did was think, think, train, and then think some more. I get it; he is wise and analytical, but I feel like he thought a little too much.

If you're looking for a story that aligns with the myths, this book doesn't always do it. I appreciated the fact that it does follow some of the stories, puts them in a chronological order, and tells the story of a youthful Odysseus, but it was definitely not fully in line with the myths, taking certain liberties that had me frowning. Now, I love a good twist, but this felt like it went a little too far, especially since it's supposed to be historical fiction. Yes, I know creative license is common and taken, but I'm too big of a fan of the originals to really appreciate it. Though I did absolutely love that the authors mentioned Heracles instead of the Roman equivalent Hercules that so many other writers use.

Since this book did put several events into a plausible order, I could forgive quite a bit. However, what was truly jarring to me was this weird modern impression I got. Some of Odysseus's thoughts felt a little to modern and I'm not sure the Ancient Greeks would agree that that's how they thought about people and the world back then. Again, historical fiction, so I do anticipate artistic license, but also expect some historical accuracy. Overall, this felt like it was a more modern Odysseus who was sent back in time, so he lived during the Ancient Greek times, but had modern day thoughts about the gods.

What I did absolutely love are that it was easy to follow, gave a great possible backstory for Odysseus and how he might have come to be the great leader he was during the Trojan War, and provided a most interesting theory for the gods. It certainly made me think and reevaluate the stories that I know, encouraging me to look at them in a different light. As a matter of fact, I feel like I should re-read The Illiad and The Odyssey right now.

What I absolutely did not love was the romance subplot. It was strong at the beginning, barely present in the middle, and weak at the end. By the time I reached the end of the book, it felt like it was there to serve as a plot device to get some action rolling and then the authors had to do something with it, so tried to reinforce it in a convincing way at the end. It just left me puzzled and disgruntled. Especially since the romantic interest was not Penelope, his eventual wife in the myths. Instead it's Kyshanda (Cassandra, the doom prophetess, though this fact is never mentioned so maybe she has yet to become the doom prophetess?). It makes me wonder when and how the authors will bring in Penelope, or if they will, in subsequent books.  

As I said, I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology and will take on just about any book I come across that uses it. I wanted to love this book, but I don't think I do. I definitely enjoyed it, but it leaves me feeling dissatisfied and disgruntled. However, it is a stunning book full of possibilities and absolutely got me thinking. Whether or not I'll pick up the subsequent books in this series, I'm not so sure, though I am curious to see how Odysseus's new story will turn out.

I waver between 3 and 4, but I think I'll go with 4 because it really is a beautiful book even though the handling of the myths was not to my complete satisfaction.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher, Canelo, for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. It is set to be released on November 8, 2018.

Post Date on Blog: 11/7/18
Blog: https://thelilycafe.wordpress.com/

Beautifully written tale that has a hero, conniving gods, and a quest. The world building is fantastic, my favorite was the level of detail in the realm of Hades and Persephone. The growth of the hero during his quest and the relationship he builds along the way have me looking forward to the rest of this series!

What a thrilling read ATHENA'S CHAMPION was. Odysseus has long been a favorite hero of mine and when I saw this book and read the blurb did I just knew that I had to read the book. The book is action filled and I love how David Hair and Cath May right from the start make Odysseus life miserable. Well, that sounds bad, but just think about his little trip home from Troy that lasted a little longer than expected. Odysseus discovery about his heritage at the beginning of the book and all the obstacles, later on, will just show that he's on a road to more obstacles in the future...

I really liked this new take on Odysseus life. How he learns more about the world and about the Gods. Not to mention all he learns about himself. I like how the myth of Prometheus is added to the story and the struggle between the Gods for power. Poor Odysseus is but a pawn in the hands of Athena, but he proves quickly that he is very cunning.

As a big fantasy fan historical fiction fan was this book a real winner for me. David Hair and Cath Mayo have written a great book that makes me eager to get the next book in the series. I was a bit worried that the book would end up with a cliffhanger, but I found the ending satisfying. This is definitely a book to read if you like Greek mythology and/or historical fiction about gods and heroes.

Athena’s Champion tells the story of Odysseus as a young man. Think of this book as a prequel to the infamous Iliad by Homer. Its obvious that the authors did their research as they told of the events and arguments amongst the Gods that lead up to the Trojan War.

This book expands on the idea in Greek mythology that the Gods and Goddesses constantly meddled in the lives of mortals, and used them as pawns, to win favor with Zeus, start wars, gain worshippers, etc.

The writing style was very direct and just focused on the action and dialogue. It did take me a chapter or two to really get into the story, but after that, I was fully engrossed and refused to put the book down. I had fun geeking out throughout the novel by looking up the characters and places found in the story.

As I read the story I felt like I was living the re-telling of an old tale; however, that tale was fresh, like I had just unearthed some long-lost scrolls with new stories that hadn't been told for ages. I had flashbacks of all the wonderful things I learned in my favorite college courses: mythology, ancient literature, humanities, world history.

The development of characters, that you'll recognize from Greek myths and legends, plus the endearing love story woven throughout the novel, made everything even more enjoyable.

I knew I was hooked when I thought to myself, “Mom would love this book. I’ll have to buy her a copy.” There were several references, such as Jason and the Argonauts and the Battle of Thermopylae between Sparta and the Persian Empire, which all reminded me of story-time with my Mom growing up. She loved to read me mythological stories and the book brought back very fond memories.

The authors brought Ancient Greece back to life and I can’t wait to read the next book in the Olympus Series.

This is the story of Odysseus. It starts when he is a young prince getting ready to go before the oracle at Pytho. He wants nothing more than to rule Ithaca one day just like his father. His life will be turned upside down after hearing the oracle. He will be marked for death. He will be hunted.

I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read any Greek mythology in a while, so this was a nice change of pace. I loved some of the characters, and absolutely hated some others. Reading about how the women were treated then never fails to piss me off! This was my first time reading anything by David Hair and I will definitely read more.

Athena's Champion is a recommended choice for readers who, like me, appreciate quality fantasy and science fiction, but who also hold a soft spot in their hearts for mythology. The book draws on classical mythology and casts these ideas in new ways for an exciting story.

This is the first book I have read by Hair and Mayo, but I do hope to check out others like this one.

Prince Odysseus of Ithaca travels to the Oracle at Pytho to be affirmed as his father’s heir. But what should have been merely a routine ritual takes a shocking turn as a closely guarded secret is revealed, resulting in Odysseus being cast out into the world alone – a world where monsters and worse are bent upon killing him merely for who he is. The goddess Athena offers him sanctuary, awakening him as a theios, or god-touched, plunging him into the world of the Olympians and their constant struggle for power and dominance.

First of all, if you’ve read anything Homer, this is not the Odysseus you will expect to see. Rather, the best part of this story is seeing him grow into the hero of legend. This Odysseus is untried, barely out of his teens, but still embodies the qualities we know him best for – intelligence, versatility, and most of all cunning. In Athena’s service, he is trained as a warrior, and is quickly caught up in one of her many schemes. Several familiar faces make an appearance in rather unexpected places – Odysseus’s old friend Menelaus of Mycenae, Theseus (Poseidon’s son and the slayer of the Minotaur), and more, but perhaps most crucial of all, Helen of Sparta. Being Zeus’ daughter, the Skyfather awakens her and her twin brother Polydeuces in a new scheme to tip the balance of power. The lines of war between the gods as seen during the Trojan war are already being drawn. The beauty contest of the goddesses and the following judgement of Paris (or Parassis in this book) plays out under very different circumstances and leads to Athena’s scheme to spirit the twins away – a scheme that goes horribly wrong, resulting in Odysseus joining the mission to retrieve the young Princess, who, due to her theia powers is currently the most prized asset in the Mediterranean.

Athena’s Champion is essentially the story before the Trojan War, the tales less talked about. There’s an interesting equation between Odysseus and Kyshanda (better known as Cassandra of Troy), and knowing what happens in the Trojan War, I’m curious to see how this is going to play out. Helen is evolving into a very fascinating, and no doubt crucial character in the sequel beyond the obvious and I’m looking forward to seeing how her character in going to be portrayed in events going forward. The story is told in first-person of course, but despite being first and foremost Odysseus’s journey, there are several other key players, all given their due importance in this fast paced and imaginative adventure that will have you hooked from page one.

Among the many mythological worlds I have delved into, Greek mythology ranks among my favourites. Athena’s Champion is definitely one more to add to that list. In some ways, Greek mythology has been turned on its head, but the strongest recognizable elements are still there, just twisted. Most of the events in the book line up with the major myths I know – it turns around and heads off in what seems to be a completely unrelated direction, but always loops back to the original tale, presenting it in an entirely new light – and somehow, it all lines up into a pretty great narrative!

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved reading this book! I may be biased because my name is Athena and I love anything related to mythology and Greece, but this was also a great story.

The description briefly states that the book is "The first in a thrilling new historical fantasy series; Odysseus must embrace his secret heritage and outwit the vengeful Gods who would control or destroy him… "

Enter a snarky version of Odysseus, Theseus, the Gods and Goddesses in the authors' unique interpretations, and a host of other characters and you have quite an interesting story. I especially loved how they portrayed Athena and Hades.

I had to suspend known mythology/history and take the story for what it was at times, but it was still terribly entertaining for me. I liked the splashes of Greek words and insults thrown into the dialogue, but wish they had kept to traditional insults vs bringing in so much modern day slang.

This book earns a solid 4/5 stars, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who likes a good history, mythology, or fantasy based read!

This review also appears on my blog at https://onenursereader.wixsite.com/onereadingnurse-1/home/athena-s-champion-by-david-hair-and-cath-mayo

I am a big fan of stories based around mythology. And I did enjoy reading. I did find a couple of times the story wasn’t gripping me, but I pushed though and I am glad I did. The last third of the book was brilliant. I really enjoyed the leaps of logic based around gods actions and those around them. What came first, the bird or the egg?

Thank you to netgalley and Canelo publishers

For some time now I have been looking to sink myself in a good Greek Mythology book  (I chanced upon Circe late but I do want to read it)and that's when I chanced upon Athena's Champion. The blurb looked interesting and when I began reading I was glad I made the right choice.

The opening sequence is dramatic and makes for a good movie screenplay. I don't know why but I always imagine scenes in a book playing out like a movie. Do you guys do that? Anyhoo back to the plot, Odysseus, prince of Ithaca discovers that his true parentage comes from Prometheus lineage who is the god punished for sharing fire with mankind. He is brandished as a bastard and exiled. But the Goddess Athena gives him refuge and turns him into Theoi as well as requires him to play a part in a mission that was propelled by the prophecy that revealed Odysseus's true lineage. 

Despite such a heavy story they make it look so effortless and even those who have no patience to read such fantasies can do it.  I was admittedly apprehensive going in wondering if I will be able to complete it as my patience is unpredictable but I truly emerged satisfied at the other end.

full review on www.bibliogyan.com

Odysseus staggers away from this rite of passage an outcast, when he was expecting it to be part of his preparation and training for ruling Ithaca, a small rocky island off the Greek mainland. So he is out of options when Athena appears and offers to provide him with sanctuary, in return for his service. I’ve always had a soft spot for poor old Odysseus, whose – like Heracles – pays a high price for serving the gods, becoming entangled in the Trojan War and then taking ten long years to return home, to the extent that his name has come to mean a long, important journey… odyssey.

This retelling, however, deals with the events that lead up to the Trojan War and explains why the Greeks were such a quarrelsome lot. Once Odysseus has sworn his allegiance to Athena, he is automatically regarded with enmity by other members of the Olympian family, given they spend much of their time plotting against each other, terrified they will lose influence and get swallowed up by competing deities with more worshippers.
In this dangerous, uncertain world, where young Odysseus no longer even has the safety of his own family, he is forced to spend far more time than he’d like with Athena’s other champion, the mighty Theseus. This depiction has the great warrior as a bullying drunken braggart, convinced he is irresistible to woman. I like the fact that the events leading up to the Trojan War are not just explained by the gods’ insecurities, but also by Troy’s growing power as a trading centre that threatens the economy of the Spartan kingdom and the surrounding states.

I am conscious that I haven’t conveyed the pace and drama of this retelling – in amongst the intriguing backstory and strong characterisation, there is a cracking action adventure, full of fights, plots, desperate schemes and dangerous situations. Odysseus, though strong and well trained, is also too short to be able to prevail against might of a gigantic warrior like Theseus in hand-to-hand combat. However, he is clever, quick-witted and able to spin a tale to get himself out of a tricky situation, which is just as well…

I loved this one. And if you have a fondness for well-told retellings of Greek gods and heroes, this comes very highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of Athena’s Champion from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for the Greek legends. I try to read everything associated with the Greek myths, and the Trojan Wars in particular. David Gemmell and Glyn Iliffe have been my go-to authors for a long time. However, with Athena’s Champion there is an excellent new series to get my teeth into. Written as a collaboration between David Hair and Cath Mayo, Athena’s Champion is the first in their Olympus Trilogy, a series which promises to bring the Greek myths to vivid life.

Athena’s Champion follows the adventures of Odysseus before he finds fame on the battlefields of Troy. It portrays the Greek hero as he learns his trade as a leader and a warrior, and as an instrument of the Gods. Several of the characters – Gods and heroes – who shape the Trojan Wars are introduced to us as the story weaves its way through ancient Greece and the depths of Hades itself.

An outcast from his home on Ithaca, Odysseus has to find his own place in the world while serving the ambitions and plans of his goddess, Athena. He is helped and guided by an immortal named Bria, who serves Athena and inhabits the bodies of mortals.

Odysseus is not the confident trickster we know for the traditional Trojan stories. He is learning his trade, though his quick intelligence and obvious courage. The enemies are not always obvious and not always tangible – Odysseus has to fight with his conscience as well as his physical opponents. The way he faces his trials head-on, and takes responsibility for his mistakes makes him a sympathetic hero and one who draws the reader to his side from the very first pages.

Ancient Greece and the realms of the gods and Hades are wonderfully recreated in all their majestic and terrifying glory. Hades, in particular, is a marvelous, wondrous world in which the reader can get lost as easily as the souls trapped within.

The book is written by co-authors David Hair and Cath Mayo and it is a testimony to their writing skills that the story is seamless – it is impossible to tell which parts were written by which author. In fact, if I hadn’t known there were two writers, I would never have guessed. They have managed to recreate ancient Greece, combining the mystical and magical with the history and legends to produce a story that is at once in the greatest tradition of Homer whilst offering a refreshing and unique vision of these timeless stories.

I can highly recommend this fascinating, engaging novel to anyone who loves the greatest traditions of the Greek myths.

This is a book I deeply enjoyed, it has a mix of Greek Mythology and Fantasy. The authors created a plausible young Odysseus, it doesn’t feel out of place or character. Its Odysseus through and through, and for me that adds a lot of value to the story.

Odysseus is a theios, “god-touched” awakened by Athena that offered him her protection. He was sceptic about the gods to later discover they were real and mankind is at their mercy. He’s also portrayed as idealistic, I would like to highlight his conversation with Bria about honor: “‘I thought Athena stood for honour.’ ‘Honour? No, she stands for logic, and logic has little place for irrational concepts like honour.”

Sometimes I felt as if the book goes in separate ways with Homer’s original story, nevertheless, the authors always manage to bring the story back to the original. It has a good ending and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Many Thanks to Canelo, David Hair, Cath Mayo and Netgalley for the opportunity.

My thanks to Canelo for an eARC of this ancient historical fantasy. Athena has long been a favourite goddess of mine in her role as Goddess of Wisdom so I was very drawn to ‘Athena’s Champion’ on title alone.

In this first in the Olympus Trilogy the young Prince Odysseus has his world torn apart when the oracle at Pytho reveals a secret that leads to his being outcast from his family. He is offered sanctuary by the Goddess Athena and is swiftly drawn into a war between the Olympians.

I was very enthusiastic when I started reading but my feathers were soon ruffled by the writers portraying Odysseus as a non-believer. While I understand that it can be difficult to write from the worldview of someone from an ancient society, this felt anachronistic.

With the entrance of Athena and her ‘god-touched’ (theioi) companions into the story Odysseus’ perspective soon shifts as he is awakened to a wider reality. Yet I continued to feel the way the gods were portrayed and the attempt to rationalise their existence and influence was handled in a way that left me feeling dissatisfied. Also, the dialogue at times seemed far too modern and was distracting.

I know these factors are not going to bother everyone (or maybe anyone aside from me) and despite having these issues I did quite enjoy the story and the incorporation of various legendary figures and events.

The journey to the Underworld and Hades’ role in the tale was very pleasing as so often in these explorations of Greek mythology he and other chthonic deities are just branded as villainous.

Overall the descriptions of characters, events and places were well executed. The cover art was stunning and I appreciated the glossary.

I have struggled a bit with the awarding of stars. It’s one of those that fell between 3 and 4 so rounded up to 4 stars as I am aware my reservations are idiosyncratic. I likely will continue with this series as I am interested in how the authors address Odysseus’ further adventures.

David Hair has created a wonderfully engaging story that provides the reader with the perfect marriage of Greek mythology and fantasy. Once you get going, you will NOT want to put this one down!

Athena’s Champion took a little bit for me to get into but once I was…amazing! I think a lot of writers tease about incorporating mythology into fantasy but it never turns out the way you expect. Hair has proven that there is a right way to get it one and I couldn’t be happier. I, personally, look forward to continuing this series and will be looking for other works by the author.

I received this copy from NetGalley and the publisher to read and provide my honest opinions.

What a wonderful book if you like Greek mythology. I loved the mix of fantasy and mythological characters.
Odisseus was well written and interesting as well as the other characters.
The plot was engagin and entertaining, keeping you hooked till the last page.
A must read for both mythology and fantasy lovers.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for this ARC

Athena’s Champion is a story based around Greek mythology, and features the early days of Odysseus. It begins when the seeress of Pytho proclaims that Odysseus is not the son of King Laertes, but the son of Sisyphus. Unfortunately for him, all descendants from Sisyphus have a death warrant on their heads. Added to this, an embarrassed and livid Laertes then disowns Odysseus, but luckily new friends help him. After barely surviving an attack from a magical boar, the Goddess Athena intervenes and awakens him so he may be one of her ‘theioi’ or demi-gods.

Given the job of serving Athena, Odysseus becomes embroiled in the selfish battles between the gods of Olympus. When a kidnapping goes wrong, he finds himself facing the perils of the underworld where he meets his true ancestors. He must use his quick thinking to make it back to the world above.

Like many tales of mythology, this story was a complicated mix of characters and plot twists. However, it was very entertaining and I enjoyed it. One of my favourite parts was the episode through Hades’ underworld, which I could picture more easily than other settings in the story. Also, I quite enjoy seeing Hades score points over other gods.