Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Circe by Madeline Miller

398 reviews

hammie_32's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

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

2.5

This was really disappointing. I had a lot of hopes for a dark, reflective retelling of a myth often starring a villainous evil bitch, easily defeated. And this gets 2.5 stars ONLY because for precisely the first 50% of the book, it was the dark, captivating, sorrowful tale I was promised.

And then it turned into a shitty "feminist" novel. And I know that makes me sound gross, but it's in quotes for a reason. Because why, why does every book featuring a powerful woman always have to end up about

motherhood

? I have nothing against it, and yes, sometimes that IS a powerful statement to be made. Not like this, and not this often. If someone somewhere needs permission, you have my allowance to write a feminist, feminine power, woman-dominated, whatever else story where your main female character DOESN'T

get pregnant

!! Doesn't "

find power in nurturing

." Doesn't

use a child to remedy their own traumas

!!! Successfully might I add! It's just never the feminist statement that these authors think it is, and I'm so sick of having to read it after hearing the same sentiment shouted from the rooftops for years by young women and femmes.

I wish I could have more love for this book. But I want 500 pages of an immortal's torment at the hands of humanity. I want a narrative of her suffering on finding a few kind souls, only to be torn apart by the next pack of dogs. I want a dark assemblage of our species' sins told via a recollection of an eternal life's worth of memories. I want her to be twisted and cold and cruel and I want it to be justified because that would be real. If someone wants something happy in there, throw a Sapphic romance in at the end that doesn't "fix" her. But I can't stand to read Circe talking about the cruelties of men, cruelties of gods and goddesses, cruelties of LIFE, just to turn around and

pop out a baby

because she wishes a reprieve of her solitude.

And then she

fucks her stepson

, and that just made me mad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexism

Moderate: Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, and War

mbelle97's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-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

4.0

This book was beautifully written, but brutally difficult to read. I'm glad I got through it, it was a fascinating story, but I'm left a bit emotionally exhausted 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: War

janey_bones's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

I loved this book so much 😭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Blood, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Misogyny, Rape, Slavery, Murder, and Pregnancy

kitkathw871's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring fast-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? Yes

5.0

A spellbinding book that is an Odyssey in it's own right, this is just the quintessential myth retelling. It's surprisingly how much humanity can be reflected in a story of magic and gods. This book feels like the comfort of home to me and I never tire of the epic journey Circe's life takes to the perfect ending. You can read this book over and over and still not want to put it down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: Rape

cavallonee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, and Pregnancy

almaprincess66's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Nagyjából másfél évvvel ezelőtt fejeztem be az Akhilleusz dalát, és akkor megfogadtam, hogy sohasem fogom elolvasni a Kirké-t abból kifolyólag, hogy milyen negatív kapcsolatban mutatták be az Odüsszeusszal való kapcsolatát a felszínes tapasztalataim. Természetesen ez egy hibás gondolat volt, és roppant mód örülök, hogy mégis úgy döntöttem elolvasom ezt a könyvet. 

Bár Kirké történetét kevésbé ismertem, sokkal jobban kapcsolódni tudtam vele és az isteni mivoltával csupán azért mert ezek olyan gondolatok amikre gyakrabban kerestem a választ. Ha a görög isteneket akartam volna megérteni, akkor ez a mű csodás kommentárt adott a megértésükhöz narratíván keresztül. 

A rengeteg történet amelyben Kirké részt vesz és a rengeteg mitológiai utalás mind megérintettek vagy megnevettettek. Érdekesnek találtam, hogyan kapcsolódnak össze mégis a különböző mesék és legendák. 

Kirké karakterfejlődése figyelemreméltó volt, és csodáltam, hogy mennyire megérthetőnek és megérintőnek találtam. Talán ez tetszett benne annyira, hogy milyen karakterfókuszú volt a mű. 

A mellékszereplők mind érdekesek és élvezetesek voltak. Pasziphaé gyönyörűen kegyetlen, Daidalosz mélyen érintő, Pénelpeia furfangos, Télemakhosz és Télegonosz pedig szívmelengetőek. Odüsszeusz pedig önmaga volt, mely nosztalgiát ébresztett bennem, de nem mondhatom azt, hogy nem változott meg a róla alkotott képem teljesen. 

A különböző metaforák és gondolatok amiket megjelenített igazán elgondolkodtatóak voltak és nem hiszem, hogy a közel jövőben ki fogom tudni szedni ezt a könyvet a fejemből.
 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault, and Blood

Moderate: Child abuse, Self harm, and Violence

lauramcc7's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Abandonment

lilareads5678's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

4.5

really liked the book. it’s greek mythology so you have to pay attention and focus. so it’s not just like a YA romance where you can just read the words. madeleine miller has such great talent for creating modern retellings. also the quotes in this book were so GOOD. if you like greek mythology i highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail

elanuruysal's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Rape, and Blood

felofhe's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Abandonment

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism