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sophiehannahh's review against another edition
5.0
gorgeous book, could’ve done without the beastiality… but i suppose it was essential to the plot…
mbenzz's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book I've ever read that had anything to do with Greek Mythology, and I LOVED it!! I recognized some of the names of course (Hermes, Helios, Poseidon, Achilles and so on), but I never understood who they really were or what they represented.
This book is so well written, and while the story is never fast-paced or action-packed, it's very difficult to put down. The flow is perfect. Circe unravels her story slowly, and with meaning. I absolutely recommend this to anyone who may be interested. You don't need ANY understanding of Greek Mythology to appreciate this book. I plan to read 'The Song of Achilles' asap!!
This book is so well written, and while the story is never fast-paced or action-packed, it's very difficult to put down. The flow is perfect. Circe unravels her story slowly, and with meaning. I absolutely recommend this to anyone who may be interested. You don't need ANY understanding of Greek Mythology to appreciate this book. I plan to read 'The Song of Achilles' asap!!
kellie_loves_coffee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
lofiultraviolet's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
This is my first Madeline Miller and I was pleasantly surprised (I think I should give more credit to booktok)! I enjoyed this unique retelling of the character of Circe and how Miller blends multiple existing myths in which Circe is not the major player to create an epic for an interesting and somewhat overlooked character in greek mythology. I found the structure of the novel jarring at first, so many various little threads opened and left three-quarters closed, but by the end I realized it was meant to be structured to some extent like a traditional epic with multiple adventures for Circe to go on, and when the threads began to fully wrap up it was very satisfying.
There was such a fascinating cycle of introducing the reader to a character, endearing us to said character through the (sometimes naively innocent and hopeful, at other times exhausted but wearily optimistic) eyes of Circe, letting us hope that perhaps this new character will serve as a friend to our lonely protagonist, only to have that hope dashed repeatedly. The loneliness of eternity is very much felt, and the burden Circe carries feels unbearable by the end of the novel.
The pacing in the final third felt a little too rushed, I think the novel would benefit from a slightly elongated final arc, particularly when it comes toCirce's sons development as well as Penelope and Telemachus and Circe's relationship to both these characters . Some conclusions felt a little unsatisfying, the general idea made sense but I wanted to see more when it came to how Circe freed herself of exile and what happened to her son after he left . But the ending chapters flew by for me anyway. Miller makes you feel so strongly for Circe and her love of mortals, divinity feels like such a curse and there is such a catharsis by the ending.
I think people have misconceptions when it comes to mythological retellings. People act as if it comes from a place of hatred, or misunderstanding the time period that these stories come from. But Miller clearly deeply cares about the source material, and this new angle only adds to Circe as she's been depicted but allows her to be a hero in her own right. The love of greek mythology is often clear to me in the retellings I enjoy, and this is definitely one of those cases.
There was such a fascinating cycle of introducing the reader to a character, endearing us to said character through the (sometimes naively innocent and hopeful, at other times exhausted but wearily optimistic) eyes of Circe, letting us hope that perhaps this new character will serve as a friend to our lonely protagonist, only to have that hope dashed repeatedly. The loneliness of eternity is very much felt, and the burden Circe carries feels unbearable by the end of the novel.
The pacing in the final third felt a little too rushed, I think the novel would benefit from a slightly elongated final arc, particularly when it comes to
I think people have misconceptions when it comes to mythological retellings. People act as if it comes from a place of hatred, or misunderstanding the time period that these stories come from. But Miller clearly deeply cares about the source material, and this new angle only adds to Circe as she's been depicted but allows her to be a hero in her own right. The love of greek mythology is often clear to me in the retellings I enjoy, and this is definitely one of those cases.
thewillowwood's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A very pensive and emotionally impactful book that reflects on Circe’s psyche deeply.
kng_writes's review against another edition
4.0
Really strong out of the gate, but I started to lose focus in the second half. It was like all of the action just hit a wall.
floralfae's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 ✧ ༉‧₊˚.
“but in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. such a constellation was he to me.”
yalena's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was fine. Read it in a couple of days because I wanted to get to the AHA moment but it just never got there. The first half of the story is very engaging as it just has character after character after event after predicament. It was interesting as I had never truly read any Greek mythology before. I loved learning about it through a lens of ‘normality’ if I may say. The main character always seemed to have something good AND bad to say about all the gods ( much like you would with any other person) I liked the expressions of things and how they were described. I DID NOT like just how some things were left open ended. At one point she is referring to one of the characters and she goes ‘ I wonder if she minded it. I’d later know the answer’ or something along those lines. Waiting the whole book for the answer she hinted at, I didn’t receive one. And liked she gained confidence as the book went along but the whole first half of the book had me going like ‘ STAND UP GIRL STAND UPPP’ she is CENTURIES old, not 16 lol.
Anyways, I can understand how people can give this 5 starts but I did not form that connection to it as others may have. I’m glad I read it but I’m glad I’m done.
Anyways, I can understand how people can give this 5 starts but I did not form that connection to it as others may have. I’m glad I read it but I’m glad I’m done.