Scan barcode
mairiairi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Book felt like it was slogging a bit at the beginning, wasn't interesting, everyone was a completely self-absorbed, narcissistic jerk including Circe. Then she gets a couple hundred years under her belt and becomes more self-aware, growing out of the teenager stage into the young adult stage, and it's so organic and natural that I didn't even notice it until I read over the quotes I'd posted and realized there's a huge difference between the first, second, and third of the book. I def found her growing on me and ended up rooting for her by the end of the book (which is crazy considering how weak and spineless she was at the beginning). It was really really well done.
The writing kind of reminds me of Hamnet, though probably more flowery and descriptive, but definitely not as pretentious as Wolf Hall. This was subtle enough that you had to think about it and read slower than usual, but it wasn't so subtle that you felt dumb for not understanding, and not getting anything out of the book. The writing also didn't get in the way of the story at all, imo.
Had some really good morals/lessons, and some thought-provoking takes on human nature, existence of man, etc. and I wish I'd had a physical copy so I could annotate. Or a teacher to tell me to write a paper on it. Fascinating stuff fr fr
I did get a lil bit bored until about halfway - it was a bit tedious, because she's stuck on an island, but definitely not anywhere near as bad as A Gentleman in Moscow, this actually had a storyline lol it did leave me feeling like I was reading one of those multi-generational books and there's a reason I never read those. To her credit, I think it definitely sells you on the "she's centuries old, exiled on an island" without dragging or being boring like you'd expect.
Definitely want to get a physical copy, reread, and annotate everything. Too many relatable characters, but most of them see their flaws and work on it so that by the end of the story they've changed and are far healthier than where they started. Anger management, trouble with trust and vulnerability, dealing with loss or loneliness...there is so much they either grow through OR recognize in someone else as being bad, and seeing my own problems represented in a book was so encouraging to me. I don't have to keep doing this to myself and those around me, don't keep hurting people just because you're too proud to admit you're the source of the hurt - these gods suck, but I don't have to lol
So interesting that she is drawn to humans time and again. Those are the only ones she's interested in, everyone else is a side hustle. Why? Because she's drawn to authenticity and weakness, being deemed weak and naive to the family of gods that she was born into. And so much more. But I have work tmr and it's already 3:30am so imma leave it at that and if any of this piqued your interest then just go read it already (it's subtle enough that even if you're under 13 it's fine, but you won't enjoy it so wait till you're like 15+ << only saying this bc my lil sister follows me HAHAHA sup tia)
also: there were some long quotes I liked that didn't fit in the update thing, so I'm leaving them as comments under this review lol
(also also, note that I wrote right before the book gets good:
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
cherie_may16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, and Abandonment
lavenderzinnia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual content
aksmith92's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story unfolds across centuries or millennia, mirroring the immortality of Circe and other Greek myths. We are introduced to her early life as the daughter of Helios, the sun god, and Perse, a sea nymph. Her initial sense of isolation and inadequacy among the gods and titans sets the stage for a remarkable journey of self-discovery. We witness Circe's profound transformation, from the awakening of her magical powers to her exile on the island of Aiaia. It is here that Circe truly comes into her own, refining her craft and grappling with her identity and place in the world.
What I Liked: Miller's narrative and prose were both lyrical and accessible, breathing new life into ancient myths. She skillfully weaved in encounters with iconic mythological figures, such as Prometheus, Odysseus, and Madea, adding depth to Circe's character and advancing her growth. What particularly resonated with me was the feminist perspective that Miller brought to Greek mythology, a realm often devoid of such interpretations. Miller portrayed Circe not just as a 'witch', but as a multifaceted woman who experienced love, loss, and profound loneliness. Her journey on Aiaia, especially after she experienced hardship and grief, was particularly engrossing. The novel's exploration of the themes of transformation, power, and the enduring struggle for autonomy and self-realization was also particularly effective.
The most profound aspect of this novel was Miller's imaginative storytelling and humanization of a mythological character often depicted as a villain. Don't get me wrong; Circe was not perfect by any means, but Miller added depth and layers to her life to make her resonate with the readers. I loved that aspect.
What Didn't I Like? I initially gave this 3.5 stars but decided to round it up after thinking about it more. Many readers noted that Miller's prose was beautifully crafted (Miller has a background in classical studies, which is clearly evident here). However, at times, I struggled with the prose and would seem to drift off in my thoughts mid-paragraph. It was almost like Miller was writing to win an award, which I sometimes struggle with. It doesn't mean I don't like it; it just feels like an undertone I can't shake.
Additionally, I struggle with Greek mythology. I read Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, and while I loved the love story, I couldn't have cared less about the war or other characters. I felt similarly here in Circe, except there was a bit more depth to Circe this time. Miller's pacing, which honestly was a bit slow, at least allowed for deep immersion into Circe's world and psyche, and readers were given ample time to connect with her as she transformed from a passive bystander to an assertive and independent figure. However, when all was said and done, I struggled to remember Greek characters in the myths and lost interest - maybe it was because I felt like I was in a high school classroom again.
Regardless, this imaginative storytelling was a great read, and I appreciated a strong take on a relatively diminutive figure. Madeline Miller is undoubtedly exceptionally talented, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
iluvshelby's review against another edition
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
linneak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Confinement, Incest, and War
janey_bones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Blood, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, Slavery, Murder, and Pregnancy
vvabecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
jhbandcats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Circe makes a life for herself collecting herbs and plants for witchcraft and weaving on the unusual loom that was a gift from Daedalus. She has few encounters with humans and immortals, and her reputation as a fearsome witch grows. Any who challenge her spend the rest of their days in a sty looking at fellow pigs.
The author is able to craft an interesting character study where there’s little interaction with other people. I was initially put off by the almost juvenile storytelling till I realized that, as she’d just been born, Circe was indeed quite juvenile. As she matured, so did the writing style and so did my appreciation of the talented author. I hope she continues to rewrite Greek myths. She expands on stories I learned in my youth and I want more.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Rape, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
ashfrxns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Deportation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Incest, Infidelity, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse