Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - Circe

Beautifully written, equal parts brutal and empowering in its epic sweep of a life across a thousand years. Occasionally bogged down in dark tensions, or whisked along by a revolving door of side characters that Miller usually succeeds in making relevant. Ends on hopeful, inspiring notes as a testament to humanity, love, and mortality.

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snips17's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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blackbirdexe's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

From the same author who brought us *Song of Achilles* comes Circe, a semi-historical telling of the tale of Circe. It follows her life as she becomes the witch she is famous for. She does well in immersing us in the world as well as strikes a good balance between small details and overall story.
Overall it's a good read, Miller's writing style is well suited to historical fictionContent warning on this one though not as many as Song of Achilles. Miller never shys away from the dark reality of the times but Circe strikes a good balance between the dark oppression on reality and the hopeful light of fighting back and winning. Overall a deep and contemplative story which can wind a bit long but is very on brand. If you liked Song of Achilles you'll like this.

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hevlav's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is a re-read for me. Circe is one of my favorite books, offering a beautiful retelling of classic Greek myths from a different point of view. It is reflective without re-inventing old lore, and challenges the common narrative surrounding “heroes” of Greece.

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ankiaisreading's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing tense slow-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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eliziaeve7's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

For me, the experience of reading the book was akin to following a person around as they are living their life and developing. I couldn't put the book down honestly and finished it in a couple of days and a major contributing factor for the same was that I could see myself in her, the earlier naivete and fear that stunted her growth in her father's court, then when the exile exacerbated her loneliness and lead to her believing all mortals are good and naturally not to be wary of. To view the book to be about a god would be a mistake, because circe was one who was ashamed of her divinity, she hated the fact that at some level she was the same as her abusers- her family essentially and the entire book was about her trying her hardest to be different from them, to set herself apart from their cruelty and indifference. She did succeed in setting herself apart while growing out of her naivety and understanding human nature while living on that island.
I wouldn't necessarily call it a feminist book, which would be a highly reductive term to use, rather Circe would be a reflection of patriarchy, which essentially views women as lesser beings, how the only way for her to make something of herself was through marriage, how her exile was a blessing in disguise, given it allowed her to take her first steps into being alive and discovering freedom away from society which had held her back for so long within its limited framework. Often, as is stated in the book itself, women are depicted as black and white characters, either villains or damsel in distresses, nothing in between, how Hermes forced her to take on one of the other personality rather than allowing her to be a complex, dynamic person who doesn't necessarily has to fit a mold.
The villain aspect has never been touched upon in her ither adaptations that paint her as a cruel shrew, we can finally witness her being fleshed out, painting her bleak reality, what the world of the God's looked like, how limited she was with her lack of power and helplessness, especially with not even being able to prevent the nymphs from arriving at her home. Her turning the men into swines sort of signified her breaking those shackles, finally having power essentially to change her circumstances.
I suppose the largest sign of her growth was when she negotiated with her father, having finally learned how to get what she wanted, without being taken advantage of, given how she had been betrayed by Aeetes and Glaucus.
I could, in a way, see the end coming, as is often in stories revolving around Immortals, they often wish to be mortals, having endured for centuries without respite or being tired of an unchanging life. Her being mortal sort of consolidated her desire to be different than the gods and finally gave her the life she always wished for.

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fishoutofwater's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved the writing and the life that Madeline Miller brought to this story. She turned Circe into a woman learning who she is and growing into the person she always wanted to be.
I have always hated the book trope of the main female needing a male character to save and protect her and I am glad this book did not go that route.

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