Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Circe by Madeline Miller

138 reviews

shiyuplsloveme's review against another edition

inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

I enjoyed this a lot more compared to song of achilles. it's an interesting story with very well fleshed out character development which I felt was lacking in Miller's previous work

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Rape, and Death of parent

Minor: Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War

phoevincent's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infidelity and Suicidal thoughts

beatriks's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative medium-paced

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

4.75

Fantastic Read. I didn’t know what to expect, this was my first novelization of a story from Greek mythology. 
The beginning was very slow, but once Circe landed on Aiaia, it was a hell of a ride and she really grew on me. 
The introspection and reflection on divinity vs mortality are fascinating and well-developed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Death of parent

aleyajo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

Miller does an excellent job at humanizing Circe and giving characters believable personalities. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Slavery, Blood, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

xvicesx's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

It wasn't horrible, but it was slow and I failed to see why everyone raves about this. Circe was, I guess, relatable to some degree, but she wasn't interesting and she really took forever to show any agency. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism

Minor: Death and Death of parent

olive_ia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

5.0

This was a wonderful book full of stories from Greek Mythology from the perspective of the minor goddess Circe. Circe is a very likeable, powerful, and incredibly well written character, this book made me want to research more about Circe's story in Mythology. The book is fast paced and made me want to keep reading more, I very highly recommend Circe! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Alcohol

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

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

kayceeisbookish's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail