Olympus Dawn: Gaia Book 4

by Zoë Routh

If Mars falls, the future falls with it.A ruthless CEO wants Mars. A battle-scarred crew stands in his way.

Earth is spiraling into political chaos as a powerful corporation sets its sights on humanity’s next frontier. Lincoln Ellison, the merciless head of Spaceward Bound, is determined to seize a breakthrough terraforming technology and claim Mars as his personal empire.

But on the Red Planet, Commander Troy Bruin and Deputy Commander Xanthe Waters are fighting to keep their crew alive. Sabotage threatens the mission, old rivalries resurface, and every step across the Martian surface exacts a price. As Xanthe grapples with the cost of leadership and Troy races to uncover the truth, the Olympus team must decide who to trust—before Ellison’s ambitions become humanity’s downfall.

Character-driven, tense, and deeply human, Olympus Dawn is a gripping sci-fi eco-thriller about survival, power, and the fight for a future worth living. Perfect for fans of Andy Weir, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Naomi Alderman.

Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2026

About the author

 Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She shows CEOs and teams how to navigate the future.

She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an outdoor adventurer. She facilitates strategy and culture for the future with audacious teams.

She is the author of five leadership books with People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, winning the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Zoë is also the author of an award-winning sci-fi technothriller series.

Zoë is the host and producer of The Future of Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing big ideas on what leadership we need now for what’s next.

Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run 6 marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.

https://www.zoerouth.com
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https://au.linkedin.com/in/zoerouth
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Reviews

[Nancy (The Avid Reader)]

Lincoln Ellison, the merciless CEO of Spaceward Bound, is determined to seize control of Mars. Troy Bruin will do everything within his power to prevent that from occurring. Both Troy and Lincoln find themselves in a competition to determine who can land on Mars first.

Troy's goal is to protect humanity, while Lincoln's ambition is to dominate his own empire. Lincoln is prepared to take any measures necessary to ensure that he and his team reach Mars ahead of Troy and his crew.

Olympus Dawn is the fourth and final installment in the Gaia series by Zoë Routh. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the Gaia series and am saddened to see it conclude.

Olympus Dawn was so gripping that I was forced to neglect everything else just to finish it. This is a masterpiece of world-building that totally consumes you. It’s a wild ride that I didn't want to end.

I would love to see the Gaia series transformed into a television show. It would be a series I could watch repeatedly. Whenever I think of Olympus Dawn, I picture the crew in their space suits seated in their chairs, sometimes even floating around the spacecraft.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Olympus Dawn today to find out who reaches Mars first, Troy or Lincoln.

[Kim Catanzarite]

A wonderful ending to a fantastic series! Olympus Dawn travels to Mars this time, with all the tension and obstacles we’ve come to expect from this series. It’s sooo good! Zoe is an amazing writer and storyteller, and this is one of the best sci-fi series I've ever read. You’re sure to be swept away. Read the books that lead up to this point in the series (if you haven’t already).

I’m going to miss these characters so much.

[Katie Meyers]

Olympus Dawn is a gripping and intelligently crafted science fiction thriller that masterfully combines high-stakes space exploration with deeply human storytelling. Zoë Routh delivers an exciting continuation of the Gaia series, blending political intrigue, corporate ambition, environmental themes, and emotional character development into a compelling narrative that keeps readers fully engaged.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its balance between large-scale conflict and personal struggle. While the battle over Mars and the future of humanity provides epic stakes, the story never loses sight of the individuals forced to make impossible decisions. Commander Troy Bruin and Deputy Commander Xanthe Waters are complex, believable leaders whose resilience, vulnerabilities, and evolving relationships give the novel genuine emotional depth.

The tension builds steadily as sabotage, political manipulation, and corporate greed threaten not only the Mars mission but humanity's future. Every obstacle feels meaningful, creating a constant sense of urgency while allowing the mystery surrounding Lincoln Ellison's ambitions to unfold naturally. The result is a suspenseful narrative that rewards readers with both action and thoughtful exploration of leadership, responsibility, and sacrifice.

Routh's world-building is immersive without becoming overwhelming. Mars feels vivid, dangerous, and believable, while the scientific concepts and terraforming technology are woven seamlessly into the narrative. The environmental and ethical questions raised throughout the novel add another layer of sophistication, encouraging readers to reflect on power, stewardship, and the future of civilization.

The writing is polished, cinematic, and emotionally resonant. Fast-paced action sequences are balanced with quieter moments of reflection that deepen the characters and strengthen the emotional impact of the story. This combination makes Olympus Dawn far more than an exciting science fiction adventure becomes a thoughtful exploration of what kind of future humanity chooses to build.

Overall, Olympus Dawn is an outstanding blend of science fiction, eco-thriller, political suspense, and character-driven drama. Zoë Routh has created a compelling novel that will resonate with readers who enjoy intelligent speculative fiction, morally complex characters, and stories where survival, leadership, and hope collide against extraordinary odds.

[Sanjanah Srinivasan]

I absolutely loved Olympus Dawn, the final book in the Gaia Series by Zoë Routh. I’ve been following this series since the beginning, and while it’s sad to see it end, it truly finishes on a high note.

The story continues the intense rivalry between Troy Bruin and Lincoln Ellison as they race to reach Mars first. Troy is driven by the goal of protecting humanity’s future, while Lincoln is determined to claim Mars for his own empire. That conflict creates constant tension and keeps the story moving at a fast pace.

What I’ve always loved about this series is how it follows the astronauts from their early training all the way through their missions—from the Moon, back to a struggling Earth, and finally toward Mars. Along the way they deal with sabotage, corporate greed, environmental collapse, and the challenges of working together under extreme pressure. It makes the journey feel huge and incredibly immersive.

This book is packed with action, suspense, and plenty of twists that kept me turning the pages. The journey to Mars was detailed and fascinating, and I really enjoyed seeing how the crew handled all the obstacles along the way. My only small wish is that the time spent on Mars had a bit more depth, because the earlier parts of the book were so richly described that I wanted even more once they arrived.

Overall, this was a fantastic and satisfying conclusion to the series. I was completely pulled into the story and didn’t want it to end. I could easily imagine the Gaia series being adapted into a television show—it has the scale, characters, and drama that would translate perfectly to the screen.

If you enjoy exciting, character-driven science fiction with high stakes and a compelling race for the future of humanity, I highly recommend giving Olympus Dawn and the entire Gaia series a try. It’s been an incredible journey from start to finish.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Russell Klyford]

I received an advanced reader copy from the author and am delighted to leave this review.

I read this book in just a few days. It's a fast-moving, engaging story with action that rarely lets up. There are twists and turns to hold the reader's attention, and the real heart of the novel lies in the dynamic between the dozen protagonists as they work together to overcome challenges on Earth, during the journey to Mars, and on the Red Planet itself. In that respect, the book is reminiscent of The Martian, so Andy Weir fans will find plenty to enjoy.

The science is largely plausible, and the depiction of the Earth–Mars transit is particularly well done. The third and final part of the book does however, lean on a familiar plot device (violent, raging, Martian dust storm), which has been noted in hard-SF circles as being unrealistic. Yet while it might not be strictly accurate, it certainly adds tension and will work well for readers who enjoy high-stakes climaxes.

I also found it curious that the villain did not face more punitive consequences and be forced to make restitution, given the severity of his actions. That said, the resolution ultimately aligns with the moral compasses of the protagonists and the tone of the story.

Overall, Olympus Dawn is an enjoyable, fast-paced sci-fi adventure, and I'm happy to recommend it.

[Liz Fully Booked]

What a great conclusion to the Gaia series by Zoë Routh. I’ve been reading this series since the beginning and have really enjoyed it, so I was really looking forward to seeing how it would all end. And I was not disappointed.

The series follows a group of astronauts from the beginning of training to go to the moon, the conflict they find there, heading back to a dying earth to more conflict, and finally heading to Mars to terraform for humanity. They fight against corporate greed, climate change, sabotage and each other as they race against a corporate billionaire who is trying to claim settler rights on Mars.

This book is full of action, twists and turns, tension, human interaction and really good sci fi writing! While the journey to Mars was well fleshed out with all the issues the crew had, I felt like once they reached Mars everything was just summarized. I would have liked to have seen a lot more detail like was written throughout the rest of the book. But regardless, the book was very good and very entertaining and a great conclusion for the series.

If you’re looking for a good sci-fi space series, I would highly recommend this one!

Many thanks to the author for the advanced copy of the book.

[Sasha]

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I did realise when I started it that I had not yet read book 3 (I had read all other books in this series through BookSirens so had just assumed I had read 3 as I knew I had read at least that many in this world), and thus went back to read it.

A solid fourth book, and worth reading.

That said, I will express disappointment as it was reading this book that I discovered that this series is, in the author's own words "A.I. Assisted". I have quite strong feelings about the use of A.I. given it's terrible for the environment, so it did impact my view of the book - especially given this series does have a big focus on climate change.

But, that's me personally.

Thank you to BookSirens for this book.

[Becky Rosas]

Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC. I read this outside of the previous books in the series. Reading the prior books is not necessary. The science was fascinating and the characters were very interesting. The quotes beginning each chapter more or less were spoilers for the outcome of the book. The race to beat an evil entrepreneur who kidnaps the one person who can save both Earth and Mars is the plot line followed with drama between the crew that sets off to beat him before he gets away with his evil plans. A good read!

[Matthew]

The final chapter in this series and the best yet. The ending is a bit surprising and quite satisfying. She has continued to expand her characters and does not disappoint! The story explores both the good and bad sides of humanity

Highly recommended!

I received an advanced copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily

[Laurie Robertson]

A brilliant finish to the series. Sci-Fi mostly but with an underlying grasp for humanity and how we might possibly overcome our self-destructive trends. Lots of dilemmas to overcome and with a realistic feel. Well recommended series.

[Sam]

This is really great! A really well written adventure in an interesting & well developed world. I do like the characters, which always add to the experience & I do strongly recommend!

[Gabrielle Dolan]

Have loved every book in this series. I really liked how the characters evolved and the fast pace of how events unfolded. Highly recommend the entire series.