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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
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
slow-paced
challenging
dark
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:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Review can be read at Katie's Books and Reviews
Circe tells the story of the witch from the classic greek Odyssey. One of the minor characters and somewhat villains this alternate novel focuses on not only on her side of the story seen in the Odyssey, but her whole life. Born to the sun titan Helios and a nymph, Circe is one his many children, but only one of four that has magic witch like powers. The least cunning and most naive, Circe is scorned at by most, but has a relatively soft heart, and lacks the cruel nature most of the Gods cherish. This heart is taken advantage of though, and when she turns to revenge and pushes the gods too far, she is banished to an island alone in exile for the rest of her days. It is there that she’s truly becomes Circe, the Witch of Aiaia.
“I thought: I cannot bear this world a moment longer. Then, child, make another.”
I found this novel, which felt like a mix of mythology and coming of age, enjoyable and quite easy to read. Drawing on more of it’s classic side, the prose is beautiful, lovely turns of phrases, stunning landscapes and intricate storytelling really set the scene. We have stories within stories, classic fables, and mythological creatures, all woven into the overarching plot of Circe’s life story.
“You threw me to the crows, but it turns out I prefer them to you.”
At the same time, on the coming of age side, we follow Circe has she grows from weak child, to a powerful and old witch, from lonely to surrounded by people and the full circle of her long life. This gives us a lot of understanding and perspective of her personality and actions, and presents another point of view some of the most known greek mythology.
“He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none.”
Although not too long of a novel, with the prose heavy style, it did take me a while to read, though it didn’t feel like it dragged on to long as it was so packed with storey telling and characters that kept me interested. I particularly loved some of the characters we get to know along the way and the personalities of these Gods that are so familiar. As a fan of mythology I enjoyed how the novel weaved in more than just Circe’s connection to the Odyssey and we see some of the other stories come to life through her perspective and opinion. We also deal with a lot of different things in this novel, morality, humanity, love and loss. What the meaning of life and death is and lots of other philosophical questions.
“In a solitary life, there are moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation he was to me.”
I am a huge fan of these retellings, as I’m sure given the books popularity many are. Having also read and really enjoyed The Song of Achilles I look forward to further novels from Miller!
Blog | Instagram
Circe tells the story of the witch from the classic greek Odyssey. One of the minor characters and somewhat villains this alternate novel focuses on not only on her side of the story seen in the Odyssey, but her whole life. Born to the sun titan Helios and a nymph, Circe is one his many children, but only one of four that has magic witch like powers. The least cunning and most naive, Circe is scorned at by most, but has a relatively soft heart, and lacks the cruel nature most of the Gods cherish. This heart is taken advantage of though, and when she turns to revenge and pushes the gods too far, she is banished to an island alone in exile for the rest of her days. It is there that she’s truly becomes Circe, the Witch of Aiaia.
“I thought: I cannot bear this world a moment longer. Then, child, make another.”
I found this novel, which felt like a mix of mythology and coming of age, enjoyable and quite easy to read. Drawing on more of it’s classic side, the prose is beautiful, lovely turns of phrases, stunning landscapes and intricate storytelling really set the scene. We have stories within stories, classic fables, and mythological creatures, all woven into the overarching plot of Circe’s life story.
“You threw me to the crows, but it turns out I prefer them to you.”
At the same time, on the coming of age side, we follow Circe has she grows from weak child, to a powerful and old witch, from lonely to surrounded by people and the full circle of her long life. This gives us a lot of understanding and perspective of her personality and actions, and presents another point of view some of the most known greek mythology.
“He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none.”
Although not too long of a novel, with the prose heavy style, it did take me a while to read, though it didn’t feel like it dragged on to long as it was so packed with storey telling and characters that kept me interested. I particularly loved some of the characters we get to know along the way and the personalities of these Gods that are so familiar. As a fan of mythology I enjoyed how the novel weaved in more than just Circe’s connection to the Odyssey and we see some of the other stories come to life through her perspective and opinion. We also deal with a lot of different things in this novel, morality, humanity, love and loss. What the meaning of life and death is and lots of other philosophical questions.
“In a solitary life, there are moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation he was to me.”
I am a huge fan of these retellings, as I’m sure given the books popularity many are. Having also read and really enjoyed The Song of Achilles I look forward to further novels from Miller!
Blog | Instagram
Glad I read it. I thought the moral of the story was women need power not youth and beauty to be successful or fulfilled. The ending sentence though made me rethink -- should we be applauding our mortality and valuing it more than we do?
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Not a novel that I love, but a novel that I appreciate and respect. Lyrical prose with a certain heightened aesthetic that fits well with its mythic setting and characters, a touching (and right now personally affecting) story following a woman's life as she strives for love, meaning, and power, and a portrayal of motherhood and its difficulties and rewards that I haven't read before in fantasy and would love to read again. There is no single narrative thread to follow, nor a villain to defeat. The novel simply follows the titular character through a life full of hardships and hard-won victories as she navigates the world of Greek mythology, which, fittingly, is chock full of monsters and plenty of asshole gods.
(as an aside, I love that Miller succeeded in portraying the Greek gods as suitably 'mythic' -inhumanly beautiful, haughty, and powerful, that were beings that I could truly believe to be immortal. They were wonderfully otherworldly in their descriptions and actions!)
It certainly isn't a light novel or a fun novel in any way. The topic material is difficult to read, full of abuse and assault and worse, but it was rewarding in that the story is about persevering through each trauma and coming out the other side. It certainly isn't light or fun, but it is very rich, and i should read it again - not when I have 3 days before it's due back to the library..
(as an aside, I love that Miller succeeded in portraying the Greek gods as suitably 'mythic' -inhumanly beautiful, haughty, and powerful, that were beings that I could truly believe to be immortal. They were wonderfully otherworldly in their descriptions and actions!)
It certainly isn't a light novel or a fun novel in any way. The topic material is difficult to read, full of abuse and assault and worse, but it was rewarding in that the story is about persevering through each trauma and coming out the other side. It certainly isn't light or fun, but it is very rich, and i should read it again - not when I have 3 days before it's due back to the library..
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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