Circe - Madeline Miller

Circe

ByMadeline Miller

  • Release Date: 2018-04-10
  • Genre: Historical Fiction
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 4,719 Ratings

Description

This #1 New York Times bestseller brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey, as she discovers her own power, forges her identity, and challenges the gods who seek to control her. 

"[A] bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story." —The New York Times

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. 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 and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts 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, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands 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 the mortals she has come to love.

With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world.

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self, Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider.

Reviews

  • Loved this book

    5
    By serareads28
    After watching the Odyssey, I stumbled upon this gem. Christopher Nolan’s storyline dominated my thoughts and this book is no less a masterpiece.
  • Circe: Not the fury I ordered

    4
    By LCB-Nov
    ★★★★☆

    I just finished Circe, and while I enjoyed it, it wasn’t quite what I expected. I went in hoping for a fierce, take-no-prisoners heroine, but instead found a quieter story centered on identity, loneliness, and choosing your own path.

    The writing is beautiful, and Madeline Miller has a gift for making Greek mythology feel accessible and deeply human. I especially appreciated how the novel explores the idea that immortality doesn’t necessarily lead to wisdom or growth.

    For me, Circe herself never became the bold, fiery character I was hoping for, which kept this from being a five-star read. Still, it was thought-provoking, emotionally rich, and gave me a new appreciation for Greek mythology.
  • Modern mythology

    4
    By FISHXMARKET
    This was tough for me to rate because it took me FOREVER to get through it, but I did wind up enjoying it. It’s not something I would normally read but I’m really glad I did, because through all the confusing lore of Greek mythology, there is an extremely well told story waiting on the other side.
  • Fire

    5
    By Jennavique
    This started off a little slow, as most books, and didn’t hook me at all. So much so that I put it down for almost 2 years. Well, I randomly picked it up and could not put it down for two days until I finished it! This is definitely worth the read if you appreciate Greek mythology at all. The author writes beautifully and wove a beautiful web of characters, lore, and plot!
  • Stick with it

    5
    By sweetiemonster
    I found the start very slow, but it does get better and tells a great story
  • Beautifully written and a rolling tale.

    5
    By lakehousemike
    I started reading with some interest in Greek mythology. I finished with tears shed for a remarkably human saga. Loved it.
  • Captivating!

    5
    By KayakAlison
    What struck me most is how evocative the writing is, while at the same time being economical with words. Each chapter had at least one sentence that pierced me with how perfectly it was put, and how it would have taken other authors a paragraph to convey the same thought. The language is simple and easy to read, but the craft is impressive. She takes the old stories of the gods and gives them such simple context that you understand them in a new light. She breathes life into them. It was captivating!
  • Couldn’t finish this

    2
    By lthoma2
    Tedious
  • Another Great Work of Madeline Miller

    4
    By Jussabug
    Greek mythology has always had its variations and retellings for its characters and Miller’s version of Circe is a great one.
  • Loved it!!

    5
    By ColetteHolman
    One of the best books I’ve ever read. It was so captivating and had me on the edge of my seat. One day I read 7 hours straight!! Would highly recommend to anyone.

About "Circe"

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