Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Circe by Madeline Miller

384 reviews

bannermck's review

emotional inspiring 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

4.0

The plot was not overly fascinating. I found a lot of it almost downright boring. Also, knowing mythology, I knew how it was going to end and was hoping the author would deviate from it. Which she didn’t. Which I understand… She did the best she could making the ending okay.

But The prose!!! The prose. I fell in love with the writing style. The metaphors and the similes. I’d recommend it for that alone. Here are some of my favorite quotes. No spoilers. 

“But I pressed his face into my mind, as seals are pressed in wax, so I could carry it with me.” 

“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.”

“I touched the thought like a bruise, testing its ache.”

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Animal death and Sexual violence

she did her best of letting you know Circe was raped without having to know the details. However, it still could be too much for most people.

gendergreed's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

circe you are a woman of my heart 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Body horror, Bullying, and Child abuse

blackbirdexe's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

From the same author who brought us *Song of Achilles* comes Circe, a semi-historical telling of the tale of Circe. It follows her life as she becomes the witch she is famous for. She does well in immersing us in the world as well as strikes a good balance between small details and overall story.
Overall it's a good read, Miller's writing style is well suited to historical fictionContent warning on this one though not as many as Song of Achilles. Miller never shys away from the dark reality of the times but Circe strikes a good balance between the dark oppression on reality and the hopeful light of fighting back and winning. Overall a deep and contemplative story which can wind a bit long but is very on brand. If you liked Song of Achilles you'll like this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

tadiwa_e's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

Madeline Miller's "Circe" skill-fully weaves subtle hints of feminism into the narrative, empowering the character of Circe. Her ability to find beauty in the brutal reality of human existence adds a poignant layer to the story. 

Circe's journey to discover and appreciate the hidden beauty within herself resonates as a powerful exploration of self-discovery. Miller's nuanced approach to these themes adds depth and complexity to the novel, making it a compelling read for those who appreciate a thought-provoking blend of mythology and introspection.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexism, Abandonment, and Infidelity

nikenacs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence

Minor: Gore and Blood

codapril's review

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This book was amazing!! It was slow paced, yet so intriguing and the pace of the book made it easier to understand, since the book takes place over thousands of years and spans so many different events. I loved this take on Circe, a goddess I had never thought much about before this book. This author is also so talented, the way in which she writes is so captivating and she has a way with her words in which I've never seen before. This book is so adventurous and exposes you to so many Greek myth stories, if even briefly, and it's exciting to see how they all intersect and influence each other. There is tremendous character development, in my opinion, more for some characters and less for others. But I loved how the author shaped your perception of a character and then introduces new information that can change your opinion of that character, for worse or for better. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and hope this author has more coming!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, War, Torture, Child death, Rape, Slavery, Sexual violence, Animal death, Pregnancy, and Violence

wogslandwriter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

The epic and endless life of a goddess distilled into a beautiful story that makes sense to us mortals. Miller does an amazing job communicating complex emotions and complicated topics without preaching. The first person narration lends the story an intimate feel and Miller leans heavily on the idea that Circe, herself, is telling us the story of her past to excellent effect and emotional impact. The novel feels and reads like an intimate literary novel while still being solidly founded in the fantasy and mythology of the Circe mythos. Overall, it was an excellent read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Sexism, Gore, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, War, and Slavery

Minor: Torture, Animal death, and Xenophobia

Circe is raped at one point by sailors who visit her island. It is not described in explicit detail, but it is not actively shied away from either. Immediately afterwards, she murders the man who did it and his friends.

a_libra_library's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective tense slow-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Grief, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

eliya's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.5

Loved this book. This one felt similar to Matrix by Lauren Goff just the way it followed a woman through her life, I loved that. I wasn’t expecting the book to keep growing, but it did. The last chapter was delicious and

made me hope to live again. I have been feeling idk less than thrilled to be alive, but I will swim in the words she wrote so beautifully about savoring growing old. I can’t wait to grow old with my beautiful love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: War, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Blood, and Sexism

Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, and Death of parent

abicaro17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

4.25

I really enjoyed this book! I think getting to know Circe more intimately and engaging in her story as one piece instead of the fragments created an engaging and creative 400 pages. Circe is both likable and unlikable, blunt and evasive, rude and considerate, caring and unfeeling, and selfish and selfless. She evolves from a naive doormat into a strong and wise witch. I wish I could give this 5 stars but it falls flat for me. I didn't need a battle or a death but I feel like the disconnect from other characters and how flat everyone else seemed made it hard to care about the ending. I dislike comparing books (especially when they aren't actually connected) but, after reading Millers other greek retelling, this feels like an emotional let down. Not sure if my expectations were too high or if this just didn't deliver. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Grief, War, Medical content, Murder, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Gore, and Toxic relationship