Reviews tagging 'Incest'

Circe by Madeline Miller

223 reviews

melly_bean1313's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

i loved this retelling! the writing was beautiful but not too hard to understand, i can’t believe i’ve waited this long to read it! it was so interesting to see this side of the greek gods and titans. following circe’s life as divinity who longs for the life of mortals really made me appreciate all the little things that are usually taken for granted. i could definitely see myself rereading it later. this might make my top 3 books i’ve read this year already! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Incest

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

keira333's review

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.5

I am a big fan of greek mythology retellings and Madeline Miller is superb at what she does. Circe was a very wonderful book diving into not only her time during her exile as the witch of Aiaia, but into her childhood (or early-godhood). I loved exploring the relationships between her and the other famous children of Helios. I loved it so much that I wish we saw more of Aeëtes and Perses once Circe was sent away. I was very intrigued by what Pasiphaë was insinuating during Circe’s trip to Crete. 
I can’t talk about this book without diving into the relationships Circe forms: Daedalus, Odysseus, and Telemachus, as well as her relationship with her son Telagonus.  I loved hearing her POV and seeing her motivations behind turning men to pigs (I have always been on her side though!).

While I a little weirded out by her starting a life with Telemachus- the brother of her child and son of her former lover- unfortunately that is just greek mythology for you.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and while it may not be the top of my list of favorite books I have read this year, it is a very strong book and I highly recommend 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Incest, Rape, and Sexual assault

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

frankahilde's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious medium-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

4.5

After loving the song of Achilles I finally got around to reading Madeline millers second book. I was instantly hooked on the story and felt sucked into circes world. I also read it on vacation in southern France and the scenery made me feel so connected to Circe on her island. It is beautifully written but I did find it a bit slow towards the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Incest and War

boba_nbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-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

4.25

Spice Rating: 🫑 / 5 🌶️

Greek mythology retelling? Check. Witches? Check. Female Rage? Check.

Circe is the odd child born of Helios--a mighty Titan and god of the Sun. She doesn't seem to fit in with her siblings or anyone else in Helios' house. After Circe turns to mortals for companionship, she finds out she possesses a rare power: witchcraft. Zeus, of course, finds out about Circe's power, and since he is intimidated by it, he decides to banish her to a deserted to island for the rest of her immortal life. Circe finally feels as though she belongs in a world of her own, and she is able to hone her power even more. Though she is unable to leave the island, people can come to her, and that is how she meets the famous Odysseus. Their relationship takes Circe on a path she would've never thought possible.

This novel is undoubtedly beautiful. It's written in the sort of prose that is almost always moving. Circe in and of herself is such a powerful figure who hasn't been explored in mythology, and it was so interesting to hear her story with her at the center instead of as the side character in others' stories.

I loved the female rage in this book as well as the fact that she stood strong for herself and those she closest to her. Anyone who loves Greek mythology and female empowerment will love Circe.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Animal cruelty, Incest, and War

sarahm_strss's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

it is so beautifully written, and truly makes you feel as though you are reading from the perspective of an ancient being. circe was an amazingly strong character, and i felt so connected with her all throughout! 
unfortunately, the print for this book was very small! i would suggest a different edition.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Incest

ladyames20203's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Gore, Incest, Self harm, and Medical content

sherlene_06's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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

This book got me out of my reading slump. I had held 'The Song of Achilles' in my heart, dearly treasured and Circe only added to the stores. I loved the grappling beginning and how each page made you want to know more about what happened. I originally thought it was yet another romance, but it was so much more than that.

This literary piece had such a 'Explain-To-Me-Like-I'm-5ive' sort of energy while it told the readers of the Gods; Titans and Olympians, the mortals and the demi-gods, their histories, and futures. Very easy to follow. Miller's writing style made the book even more delicious. The prose, the way Circe recounted the events of her life so poetically, and the quotes in the book were numerous, all beautifully strung together. 

Circe's naiveté, innocence, trusting nature, anger, frustration, betrayals, disbelief, hopes, wishes, pains and realisations made her so relatable. While she endured the pangs of childbirth and the troubles of motherhood it only made me love her character more. Circe would do anything for her child Telegonus and that was such a powerful arch into her development. 

The last few chapters wove such a masterpiece of an ending, with a certainty that we as readers would have to believe in rather than know for sure. Overall, another beautiful book by Madeline Miller.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Incest, Blood, Abandonment, and War

iluvshelby's review

Very boring and slow plot.

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Content Warnings

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