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peonyreading 's review for:
Circe
by Madeline Miller
adventurous
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
Circe was a beautifully written novel, yet in comparison to The Song of Achilles this novel was much less impactful for me, in parts I believe due to the expanded timeframe of the novel. After the first third of the novel the pacing became a bit slower, and ultimately the novel fell into a predictable rhythm. If you're just looking for a well-written retelling of Greek mythology then this will definitely scratch that itch; but if you are looking for a character driven drama akin to Song of Achilles then you'll probably be a little disappointed. I debated what to give Circe, but ultimately I think it's a 3.5/5 for me due to slowness and the lack of impactful moments, which is likely not a fault of the novel but rather the story being told.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Sexism, Violence, Grief, War
Minor: Child death, Incest