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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
This was such a good book to read while I'm clearly in my Greek myth retelling phase. Re-reading Lore Olympus in tandem with this one did wonders for my imagining all the characters as they popped up lol. *Cut to Hermes being a totally cool, hot surfer dude*
First of all, I'm glad I listened to this one so I didn't have to fumble over the correct pronunciation of names (Circe included, not me saying it like 'cirque' whenever I saw the title). I liked this because I had no preconceptions of her story as I'd not really heard of her before (thought original Circe was from game of thrones, not gunna lie)
I liked how it showed you a good time line of all the other popular Greek myths I already knew to show the vastness of the fact a goodness lives eternal. The last chapter especially had some beautiful quotes and thoughts in there. Like when she mentioned about in old age, your skin starts to sag and reach for the ground, which makes sense because that's where it'll ultimately end up.
First of all, I'm glad I listened to this one so I didn't have to fumble over the correct pronunciation of names (Circe included, not me saying it like 'cirque' whenever I saw the title). I liked this because I had no preconceptions of her story as I'd not really heard of her before (thought original Circe was from game of thrones, not gunna lie)
I liked how it showed you a good time line of all the other popular Greek myths I already knew to show the vastness of the fact a goodness lives eternal. The last chapter especially had some beautiful quotes and thoughts in there. Like when she mentioned about in old age, your skin starts to sag and reach for the ground, which makes sense because that's where it'll ultimately end up.
The evil witch who imprisoned Odysseus is given a new story, one with softer edges and a humanistic quality in this novel. Circe's name has been known for centuries, yet her story is new in these pages.
Born to the sun god Helios, Circe is a child who struggles in the halls of the gods and titans. Always just a little bit out of place, a little slow to find herself, and quick to disobey, Circe is heavily influenced by her family. Circe is not as strong as her father, as beautiful as her mother, as crafty or striking as her siblings, and yet she does not necessarily strive for much more until she discovers she does have a bit of power. With a careful hand and a bit of plant knowledge, Circe's powers as a witch grows and she unleashes it upon those she both loves and hates. Men become gods and nymphs become monsters at her hands. Threatened by her power, Zeus exiles her to a secluded island for all eternity. On her island, Circe is able to continue to grow her powers while living a life of her own, away from the shadow of her family. Yet, other creatures lurk close to her shore, many being the monsters that are called mortal men. With the power to turn men into pigs and back into men, Circe strikes an accord with one man who stumbles upon her island. Little does Circe know that in having Odysseus at her shore, her whole life will change on her little island. The blending of many myths into the Odyssey, that which Circe is known for, was interesting. With Circe being of titan blood, this story went from Prometheus, to the Minotaur, and to Medea; all before coming upon Odysseus. There was an easy blending of all these stories and having Circe inserted into them before finally coming upon the myth she is associated with. This novel also gave her a humanistic voice, one that loathed the immortal status and was closer to mortal wants than most mortals. Circe was both relatable and engaging, not a horrid witch, but a woman in love.
There was a voice here that is not found in the myths and an ending for Circe that was deserved.
Born to the sun god Helios, Circe is a child who struggles in the halls of the gods and titans. Always just a little bit out of place, a little slow to find herself, and quick to disobey, Circe is heavily influenced by her family. Circe is not as strong as her father, as beautiful as her mother, as crafty or striking as her siblings, and yet she does not necessarily strive for much more until she discovers she does have a bit of power. With a careful hand and a bit of plant knowledge, Circe's powers as a witch grows and she unleashes it upon those she both loves and hates. Men become gods and nymphs become monsters at her hands. Threatened by her power, Zeus exiles her to a secluded island for all eternity. On her island, Circe is able to continue to grow her powers while living a life of her own, away from the shadow of her family. Yet, other creatures lurk close to her shore, many being the monsters that are called mortal men. With the power to turn men into pigs and back into men, Circe strikes an accord with one man who stumbles upon her island. Little does Circe know that in having Odysseus at her shore, her whole life will change on her little island. The blending of many myths into the Odyssey, that which Circe is known for, was interesting. With Circe being of titan blood, this story went from Prometheus, to the Minotaur, and to Medea; all before coming upon Odysseus. There was an easy blending of all these stories and having Circe inserted into them before finally coming upon the myth she is associated with. This novel also gave her a humanistic voice, one that loathed the immortal status and was closer to mortal wants than most mortals. Circe was both relatable and engaging, not a horrid witch, but a woman in love.
There was a voice here that is not found in the myths and an ending for Circe that was deserved.
An easy, uncomplicated read. It was just alright - I liked the writing style and the characters, but parts could have benefitted from some subtlety instead of pushing the theme or message down my throat. It’s a pretty miserable story, and I get why, but that doesn’t make an enjoyable reading experience.
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
here’s the thing about writing a book where the protagonist is by herself for a really long time…. that drags on. it was hard for me to get through the middle of this book, but the beginning and final chapters kept me going.