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maudesoul's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
A feminist tale featuring one of the lesser known characters in Greek mythology gets her own legendary hero's journey.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Rape, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexism, War, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Grief
bg_oseman_fan'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn’t think Madeline Miller could match the heights of Achilles, but she did something even better. She told a story that at once built on the themes of the work but also did it’s entirely own thing. I was impressed by the detail she weaves into the titular character’s story. i really felt the weight of immortality and how that interplay changes interpersonal dynamics, morality, etc. i enjoyed knowing some of how the story would play out, but not all of it. and of course, the mark of a great story is even as you know what’s around the corner, you are still on the edge of your seat. this book shifts the focus on a familiar tale and expands the depth of myth and how these stories are as relevant now as they were then.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Incest, Animal death, and War
kellyofcali's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A sort of slow read, though a nice one, that takes you through a number of stories of Greek Mythology from a different perspective. I've always loved the Greek gods, so I enjoyed this, though it didn't GRAB me the way some books do. Appreciate a strong female center.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Death, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
Minor: War, Animal death, Sexual content, and Blood
librarymouse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Madeline Miller exceeded my expectations with this one. Circe as both character and story is lovingly rendered, and the culmination of her constant change and constant striving for more at the end of novel is more than I could have hoped for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Body horror, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape
Minor: Genocide, Slavery, and War
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 aboutmotherhood ? 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 andpop out a baby because she wishes a reprieve of her solitude.
And then shefucks her stepson , and that just made me mad.
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
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
And then she
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Blood, Abandonment, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy
Moderate: War
yasminao's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexism, Torture, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Confinement, Infertility, Pregnancy, and War
emilymazzara's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
5.0
Who are we kidding, everything Madeline Miller touches is gold. This is exactly how the myth of Circe deserved to be handled and I cannot imagine any other outcome. 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars!! I’m too overwhelmed to make a more comprehensive review come out in words. Just…FIVE STARS
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence, Rape, Violence, War, and Torture
emberise's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
I came pretty close to crying at the end, and that doesn't happen very often.
Makes for difficult reading at times and some parts feel a little blunt, but overall a good retelling of myth that brings a humanity to the stories (even if the POV character isn't human).
Makes for difficult reading at times and some parts feel a little blunt, but overall a good retelling of myth that brings a humanity to the stories (even if the POV character isn't human).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Murder
Moderate: War, Cannibalism, and Rape
Minor: Incest and Child death
kaylaworld's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is beautifully written, and takes place over centuries.
This follows the story of Circe, and he life as a classical Greek goddess. I Loved all the ties to classical Greek mythology, without a lot info dumping, or taking me out of the story.
It wasn’t too slow, and we really get to feel Circe’s emotions/loneliness throughout the book.
Wasn’t too sure about this book to begin with, as I haven’t heard a lot about it. It was definitely a beautiful surprise, and one of my favorites of the year!
This follows the story of Circe, and he life as a classical Greek goddess. I Loved all the ties to classical Greek mythology, without a lot info dumping, or taking me out of the story.
It wasn’t too slow, and we really get to feel Circe’s emotions/loneliness throughout the book.
Wasn’t too sure about this book to begin with, as I haven’t heard a lot about it. It was definitely a beautiful surprise, and one of my favorites of the year!
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and War