ABANDONED. Legendary hercules-like hero fights off various bad things until his girlfriend is attacked and killed by griffins while nearby villagers simply watch . The legendary hero then disappears in mourning. Spoiler ahead...

[Adriane]

This is a fantasy young adult novel. The Hercules-like legendary figure is featured in bits of song/poetry throughout the book. I vaguely remember something about fairies. Also, I seem to remember a 'race' (not literally, but they had to either beat the bad guys there or get there within a certain time frame or both) to some kind of Mt. Olympus-like mountain with a waterfall. *Spoiler Alert***********the legendary hero lives at the top of the mountain and has godly powers.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

When did you read it?

[Adriane]

I'm pretty sure it was sometime around 2005 or 2006

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Adriane, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Adriane]

Still never found it.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

How about now?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Adriane left the group. Moving to Abandoned.