Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Circe by Madeline Miller

229 reviews

mxpringle's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective sad 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

3.5

The first 90% of the book? Amazing. Immaculately written and enthralling. The last 10% of the book? What in the

stepmother/stepchild relationship

was that... 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Torture

Moderate: Death, Blood, and Death of parent

liemannen's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.25

Madeline Miller is very talented at painting a scene. Her vivid imagery is one of my favorite parts of her works, but if you're sensitive to any descriptions of injury be wary. 

Circe is a fantastic character-driven narrative. It tackles a lot of heavy topics, it's main focus being the treatment of women in ancient greek mythos. The back cover of the book is very misleading - it would have you believe that Circe's story revolves around Odysseus. Thankfully, it does not. He is an important, but breif moment in her immortal life. The truly important things come before and after him.

Circe manages to convey those same gut-wrenchingly tragic moments that The Song of Achillies does, though I would say some of them hit even harder. Circe is a character caught up in tragedies and petty vengences, but what is most vital to her character is her willpower. Highly recommemd giving this a read if you liked Song of Achillies.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Rape, Violence, Sexual harassment, Murder, Infidelity, War, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Body horror

mellowreading's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Confinement, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Infidelity

Minor: Incest and Body horror

lizziaha's review against another edition

relaxing

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

Madeline Miller’s writing is beautiful as ever, but I do think this book suffered in lacking major conflict. Without much conflict, there wasn’t much plot to be had. Of course, that is the nature of trying to capture immortality. I do think that the way Miller writes gods is distinct and right on the nose. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Medical content, Murder, Misogyny, Confinement, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, War, and Bullying

stvalentine's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective fast-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

a total masterwork of introspection and the importance of balancing self-reliance and community!! follows ancient greece's favourite witch-goddess as she navigates godly narcissism, isolation, love, trauma, and motherhood armed with endless spells and crackling determination. a closer examination of one of the most mysterious and under-discussed figured in mythology. so good!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Animal death, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Misogyny, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Gore, and Incest

whatifem's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Misogyny, and Rape

ha1yan's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Animal death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: War and Confinement

Minor: Pedophilia and Suicide

Two instances of graphic birth involving C-sections/surgery; description of murder by hanging; mentions of dismemberment/mutilation

mildlypretentiousreader's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

Circe gives 2000s YA books in the worst way possible.
 
Beneath all the beautiful, alluring prose, Madeline Miller covertly writes a modern-day epic steeped in misogyny and sexism. Our protagonist and narrator, Circe, has an undeniable amount of internalized misogyny that she needs to unpack. Her character arc is essentially that she is "not like other girls." In the original text, Odysseus, many of the male characters are objectively horrible people. Many of which are rapists and abusers. Miller completely erases that reality.  I understand that this is a "retelling" but completely removing essential details to fit your narrative is absurd. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Rape, Violence, War, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

kaynic22's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative relaxing 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Violence, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Medical content, and War

alexijai98's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

I cannot believe it took me so long to finally read this book. Madeline Miller has had my heart since I read The Song of Achilles years ago, and it is only Madeline Miller who can craft a story that makes me feel the way TSOA and Circe feel. Just as with TSAO, I cried reading this, but not purely out of sadness. I know the story of Circe (classics degree haver), but Miller just has a knack for bringing these tales to light in a way I’m sure bards would be jealous of. This is a story of strength and resilience, and of a woman (though immortal) finding peace with herself. I cannot stress enough how much I loved this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Violence