Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 336 pages
Published: May 2021

I snagged an electronic copy of Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann from my local library and read along with the Modern Mrs. Darcy book club’s study on Greek mythology themes in modern day fiction. The story is set in the fictional east Texas town of Olympus and opens with disgraced family member March returning after having been banished because of an illicit affair he had with his brother’s wife. Within days of his arrival, his half siblings are involved in the death of a local which results in a detrimental spiral of cascading events that further divide this already dysfunctional family. 

I really wanted to enjoy this story. I like being a part of the MMD book club and because this was a monthly selection, the author joined us for a chat. I also was intrigued with the story being set in Texas. And while I find Swann to be a skilled and talented writer, this plot just did not do it for me. The characters were unlikeable, and there was not much diversity. And the ending offered very little hope. I trudged through hoping to get a different perspective from my reading friends. Unfortunately, the author chat also fell flat, and none of my peers seemed to enjoy the storyline either.

Recommendation: Perhaps, if I was a smarter person who was more interested in Greek mythology, that aspect would have appealed to me, and I could have appreciated the novel more. My recommendation is a hard pass, but I wouldn’t mind trying another book by this author. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.