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jazzyguy13 's review for:
Circe
by Madeline Miller
Circe is a great addition to the genre of modern myth retellings. Various mythical and fantastic settings and scenes are described with familiar, almost mundane detail, even as the figures themselves still inspire awe. Well known greek characters - Daedalus, Menelaus, Odysseus, and more - are portrayed as larger than life but also flawed, their grandeur undercut but their all too human faults. The result is almost a hyper-realistic interpretation of numerous greek myths, some seen outright and some only described by a third party, but all rendered beautiful and horrific. Instead of the classically mystical transformations most people probably associate with myths, here bodies are rent and torn and morphed. The birth of the Minotaur in particular brings to mind imagery from recent horror movies.
The story itself was incredibly engaging. I recognized where some well-known stories would come into play, where part of Circes' story would lead, but she still lives a long immortal life, and there are numerous parts where I can't tell if what unfolds is "cannon" or invented for the book. Not that it matters though, as it all follows with all the destiny of a real ages-old myth. But the results still lead to surprising places and developments, and the ending was one that felt wholly satisfying.
The story itself was incredibly engaging. I recognized where some well-known stories would come into play, where part of Circes' story would lead, but she still lives a long immortal life, and there are numerous parts where I can't tell if what unfolds is "cannon" or invented for the book. Not that it matters though, as it all follows with all the destiny of a real ages-old myth. But the results still lead to surprising places and developments, and the ending was one that felt wholly satisfying.