Circe, son of Helios – the god of the sun and a powerful Titan, is a seemingly an outcast in her family. She is not powerful like her father or viciously alluring like her mother, and because of this is seen as weak and is rejected by her siblings. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power: the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her skills, taming lions and livestock, and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, Odysseus.
But there is danger for a woman who lives alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from or with the mortals she has come to love.
If you enjoy Greek mythology you will enjoy Circe!
Circe feels like an intricately written poem and character study, and it truly feels like you are reading from the perspective of a goddess versus a mortal. The way she thinks about things, how she feels and endures; it isn’t how a mortal would think and feel but rather those of being that’s more.
The writing was truly poetic and while some parts were a little slow for me, I appreciated them by the end. From a character-study perspective, the loneliness during her time alone on the island added immensely to how we as the reader see her character as a whole.
Loved the weaving together of many Greek stories and characters into one that is totally different while also keeping the integrity of each character alive.
Circe was a bit of a different read for me but was immensely enjoyable. Miller’s writing has that classic feel mixed with something new to intrigue the reader and keep us wondering how the story will pan out.
Overall, Circe by Madeline Miller was a very enjoyable and intriguing read, and I would recommend it to others.
Worthy of a re-read.
See what other books I think are worthy of a re-read here.
