If myth belongs in the modern world
For readers drawn to N.K. Jemisin’s The City We Became, Madeline Miller’s Circe, and stories where the divine collides with identity, place, and power in the modern world.
CONTEMPORARY MYTHIC FICTION
The gods are still here.
They’re not what they were.
The Olympians still exist, but the age of temples and epic poems is over. Belief has become influence, power has become systems, and the foundations of Olympus are beginning to crack.
The complete novel is available now on Amazon — or read Part One free if you want to try it first.
“One of the book’s strongest features is its voice. The gods speak and act like people who have lived far too long and know it.” — BookInform
Available now on Amazon
FOR READERS
Who is this book for?
Contemporary mythic fiction for readers who want the divine in the present tense.
Inside the story
The Olympians adjusted to a world that no longer worships them. Jaden’s grief anchors the human side. Settings span Richmond, Amsterdam, and an Olympus that runs more like an institution than a temple.
Not your usual myth book
Not an ancient-costume retelling, romantasy, or hype-driven action fantasy. The focus is character, interiority, and what happens when old gods begin to fail.
EDITORIAL PRAISE
A novel worth the time
Editorial reviews from ShareGoblin, Fans of Fiction, EditMojo, and BookInform.
“Jaden’s story gives the novel its emotional center. His grief, anger, and search for meaning feel grounded, which helps balance the larger mythological elements.”
“One look at the gods arguing over roommates, chores, and house rules tells you this is not a dusty retelling.”
“The book keeps returning to one idea: what happens when old systems start to crack and the people inside them refuse to stay in their assigned roles.”
“One of the book’s strongest features is its voice. The gods speak and act like people who have lived far too long and know it.”
Get the novel.
The complete novel is out now on Amazon.
Buy the NovelAlso on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play
Not sure yet? Read Part One free before you decide.
Read Part One FreeQUESTIONS Before you start reading
What is The Art of Killing Gods about?
The Olympians still walk the earth, but worship is over. Belief has become influence, power has become systems, and the foundations of Olympus are starting to crack. At the center is Jaden, a mortal caught between grief, anger, and a world where the gods are losing their grip.
Is this set in ancient Greece?
No. The story unfolds in the twenty-first century, among modern cities, institutions, and the ordinary friction of daily life. This is contemporary mythic fiction, not a scene-for-scene retelling of the classics.
Can I read it before I buy?
Yes. Part One is free on Mythic Matters, the author’s Substack serial. Read at your own pace, then buy the complete novel if you want the full arc.
Who wrote it?
Alvin Svitzer, author of contemporary mythic fiction and creator of Mythic Matters.
What genre is it?
Contemporary mythic fiction with literary and philosophical undertones. Greek gods in modern systems, ideas forward, not plot-first action fantasy or romantasy.
Where can I buy the full book?
On Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play. The novel released July 14, 2026.
I loved The City We Became or Circe. Would this fit?
If you want myth embedded in modern life, where divinity works like a system, identity and power matter, and the cost of godhood is personal rather than epic, this may be your kind of book. Start with the free chapters to see.