Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Circe by Madeline Miller

244 reviews

catesaav's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Violence

Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War

bubblebot's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

happy ending we likey

this showed a lot of interesting humanly issues even though the characters were mostly gods lmao. although we're made in the God's image, but that's only in the bible for my knowledge.
there was child neglect, relationship issues cause welp it's ancient greece(what did u expect). they may have come up with the word for logic, but these gods for sure didn't use it and are behaving like spoiled children.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

singalana's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I thought giving both the Song of Achilles and Circe five stars was impossible, but I’m glad I was proven wrong!

Madeline Miller specialises in Greek mythology retellings. She takes her time writing her books, and it shows. In Miller’s hands, what might sound like a strange and simply outlandish children’s tale turns into something organic, like the laws of nature. Now, she tells the story of Circe - most people remember her as the witch who turned Odysseus’ men into swine. But she is so much more than that, as Miller shows.

The characters are familiar from Greek mythology. Gods and mortal men all turn into something extraordinary in Miller’s hands, each with distinctive personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. Circe’s story is full of scheming, hubris, vengeance, and love. Sometimes, I had to peek at the next chapter just to find out what happened and what to expect before continuing the story. Very few books have the power to do that. 

I marvel at Miller’s writing style: every sentence is crafted beautifully. There are bits of dialogue I want to read over and over again because the words and the message behind them are so masterfully delivered. 

But what decided the rating for me was the ending. So be warned, spoilers ahead!

Spoilers!

Madeline Miller knows when to follow the source material and when to divert from it. And I’m glad she did because the book ends on a sad yet hopeful note. In the original mythos, Odysseus and Circe have many children together, and Telemachus eventually kills Circe. But Miller’s ending gives Circe the ending she deserves.

And the cover art is gorgeous. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

juliaaaaaa's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

the writing style is beautiful. Love circe's story, how she longed to be mortal and saw beauty in it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Infidelity, Rape, Blood, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, and Alcohol

everlymayreads's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexism, and Classism

Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, and War

hyuneybear's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

juulolantern's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this is the most challenging and beautiful experience ive ever had w a book. im so glad i got to be immersed in circe's world. i how character driven this was and that is the main reason i could complete it, weirdly enough bc i dont usually feel drawn to character examinations. also madeline's insane writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Incest, and Sexual content

sophie42's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Animal death and Sexual assault

Minor: Blood

arulow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

kelisabeth's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism