Review: Circe by Madeline Miller

Posted April 18, 2018 by Charlotte in Reviews / 0 Comments

Circe by Madeline Miller
Review: Circe by Madeline MillerCirce by Madeline Miller
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing UK on April 19, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Retelling
Pages: 352
Format: E-Arc
Source: Netgalley
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In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe has neither the look nor the voice of divinity, and is scorned and rejected by her kin. Increasingly isolated, she turns to mortals for companionship, leading her to discover a power forbidden to the gods: witchcraft.

When love drives Circe to cast a dark spell, wrathful Zeus banishes her to the remote island of Aiaia. There she learns to harness her occult craft, drawing strength from nature. But she will not always be alone; many are destined to pass through Circe's place of exile, entwining their fates with hers. The messenger god, Hermes. The craftsman, Daedalus. A ship bearing a golden fleece. And wily Odysseus, on his epic voyage home.

There is danger for a solitary woman in this world, and Circe's independence draws the wrath of men and gods alike. To protect what she holds dear, Circe must decide whether she belongs with the deities she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

I have been waiting for this book for long that it is actually ridiculous! I fell in love with Patroclus in The Song of Achilles and I have fallen in love with Circe here.

If you are yet to read The Odyssey by Homer then I really recommend it. As a classics student it was one of the best books. I also do not feel that you can appreciate the story full without reading The Odyssey. In Circe there are so many parts missing, only so many tid-bits. This is truly Circe’s story and no one elses.

While this inspired by The Odyssey, and while the story of Odysseus does take up the majority of the story-telling there are other myths and other stories woven into the telling. I loved how the all came together. And you get the sense of immortality of Circe and how time flows differently for the gods.

I loved how Circe was used as the narrator. I feel ever story she is in she is undermined and seen only as a witch. Some one who hinders and never helps. She is looked down upon by the other gods and is mocked for her human voice. Yet she is a determined, naive and sassy person. Who works incredible hard. She also does not let her divinity or her abilities make her into a bad or demanding person. Yes she goes through a stage of turning men into pigs but everyone is allowed a bad day.

I loved and adored this book – it was a fun and fast telling of all the major Greek myths. And despite being set in a fantasy Circe somehow had a human voice and human vulnerabilities.

And whether or not you know the Greek myths I can promise that this is a fantastic read.

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