A review by lauravreads
Circe, by Madeline Miller
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
This book follows the story of Circe, the daughter of Helios. She seems to be a very mundane goddess with the voice of a mortal and no redeeming qualities. Rejected by the Titans and Gods of Olympus, she finds refuge on an island. On this island, she falls for a mortal and attempts to make him a god so they can share eternity together. Soon she discovers that she has the gift of witchcraft.
I really enjoyed reading how Miller portrayed Circe as a character. She is mentioned briefly in the Odyssey, but if I'm being quite honest, I only have a basic recollection of Greek mythology so I did not recall her. I loved reading about the tales of Olympus from a different perspective than a demigod's. Circe loved such an ordinary yet extraordinary life. I loved watching her character grow mature throughout the centuries.
Earlier this year I read This Poison Heart and This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron. Which follow the descendants of Medea. I could help but correlate the two stories and I will admire I like Bayrons depictions of Medea a bit more than Miller's but it did not differ from the story. I honestly really liked the amount of detail that was put into her story. She is the kind of character that you can't help but root for.
I really enjoyed reading how Miller portrayed Circe as a character. She is mentioned briefly in the Odyssey, but if I'm being quite honest, I only have a basic recollection of Greek mythology so I did not recall her. I loved reading about the tales of Olympus from a different perspective than a demigod's. Circe loved such an ordinary yet extraordinary life. I loved watching her character grow mature throughout the centuries.
Earlier this year I read This Poison Heart and This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron. Which follow the descendants of Medea. I could help but correlate the two stories and I will admire I like Bayrons depictions of Medea a bit more than Miller's but it did not differ from the story. I honestly really liked the amount of detail that was put into her story. She is the kind of character that you can't help but root for.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War