Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Circe by Madeline Miller

215 reviews

wishbea's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

A love letter to Greek mythology that explores what it means to be human.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Bullying

Minor: Animal death, Incest, Self harm, and War

marissasa's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Circe's journey of finding herself and learning to live for herself after centuries growing up abused, neglected, and forgotten was touching and told beautifully. I loved the feminist reframing of this character in Greek mythology and the way she was turned into a protagonist with her own agency and reasoning behind actions that were previously only known as plot devices in the tales of male heroes like Odysseus. Circe wasn't a huge name among the gods, being a minor goddess herself as one of many children of a Titan and a nymph. This made her situation all the more interesting as she had to use her wit and develop her witch abilities to overcome obstacles, as opposed to being able to set things on fire or turn people to stone with one look as some of the major gods could. Throughout the book you really feel for her and come to root for her, wanting her to find meaningful connections and a way to be truly happy despite her trauma and eternal punishment. She is fierce, determined, kindhearted, honest, and loving, and I loved Miller's beautiful writing style and masterful skill in conveying this lovely character's story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, War, Alcohol, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Blood, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism

margaritium's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

One sentence. All men are pigs in their true form. 
Circe was led down by her own family but she made one for herself with her glory. Love the character development.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Death, Incest, Misogyny, Blood, Bullying, Classism, and Sexism

Moderate: War, Violence, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy

avornell's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Death, Abandonment, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Rape, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Incest, Sexual assault, Body shaming, and Animal death

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Death

Minor: Torture

charbookchar's review

adventurous 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Bullying, and Murder

taleofabibliophile's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Blood, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Animal death, Murder, Violence, Death, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore

Moderate: War, Torture, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, and Vomit

Minor: Suicide, Sexual content, Ableism, Self harm, and Child death

james1star's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Torture, Pregnancy, Incest, Self harm, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Bullying, Blood, Animal death, and Sexual harassment

lorriss's review against another edition

emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Xenophobia, Animal death, Body horror, War, Sexual assault, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Slavery, Physical abuse, Incest, Death, Torture, Rape, Abandonment, Alcohol, Violence, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Confinement

sas_ram's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

Review will most likely follow soon

It is beautifully written and that's what makes it stand out. First and foremost it's a greek mythology retelling of Circe. This is a rather niche story. The plotline is basically just her mythic life. Yes it's not all accurate based on greek mythology but what do you expect when you read a modern "retelling". There are other myths mixed in to fill the story and make it more interesting.
But it is actually quite interesting with how different she was treated, who she became etc. 
Some parts tend to drag on a bit especially those nothing really happens in. Those parts with a more straight forward plot tend to be cut short where as I would have loved to dive deeper into those scenes.

Now I have high hopes for The Song of Achilles knowing how beautiful her writing style is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Violence, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual assault, Incest, Sexual harassment, Torture, War, and Rape

nialiversuch's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Bullying, Death of parent, Body horror, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Gore, Grief, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Murder, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, and Violence