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A review by kelly_e
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Title: Circe
Author: Madeline Miller
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: April 10, 2018
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Detailed β’ Lyrical β’ Unique
π S Y N O P S I S
Spanning thousands of years, exploring gods, nymphs and heroes of ancient Greece, Circe is Madeline Miller's interpretation of Circe's life. Born a strange child, Circe turns to the world of mortals and soon finds her power lies in witchcraft. Threatened by her new found power, Zeus banishes her to an island where she spends time in solitude, and will cross paths with many of Greek mythology's most famous figures. Circe will be forced to choose between the gods she was born from, or the mortals she has come to love.
π T H O U G H T S
Circe is extremely hard for me to rate objectively as it covers a subject that I am unfamiliar with and to be completely honest, not really interested in. I decided to buddy read it with a friend in order to get it off my shelf, and ended up having to pick up the audiobook in order to make it through. With that said, the writing is phenomenal and weaves together so many mythological stories, all while presenting some good feminist themes. Circe's character development felt strong in the first half, but the shift half way through felt disappointing to me, and it struggled to keep my focus. My unfamiliarity with Greek mythology made it hard for me to keep track of the huge cast of characters, and it felt as though I was being bombarded with way too much information, which I couldn't keep straight. Knowing about the character list at the back may have helped me avoid some of the confusion, and I'd have appreciated this list being at the front, as I only discovered it upon finishing.
Overall, Circe is a strong novel, but it's simply a case of not being the right book for me. I definitely fall into the minority so if the topic interests you, then I highly recommend this one.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ Greek mythology enthusiasts
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"I thought I would die of such pain, which was not like the sinking numbness AeΓ«tes had left behind, but sharp and fierce as a blade through my chest. But of course I could not die. I would live on, through each scalding moment to the next. This is the grief that makes our kind choose to be stones and trees rather than flesh."
" 'What can I say?' He held out his palms. 'The world is an ugly place. We must live in it.' "
"I would say, some people are like constellations that only touch the earth for a season."
Author: Madeline Miller
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: April 10, 2018
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Detailed β’ Lyrical β’ Unique
π S Y N O P S I S
Spanning thousands of years, exploring gods, nymphs and heroes of ancient Greece, Circe is Madeline Miller's interpretation of Circe's life. Born a strange child, Circe turns to the world of mortals and soon finds her power lies in witchcraft. Threatened by her new found power, Zeus banishes her to an island where she spends time in solitude, and will cross paths with many of Greek mythology's most famous figures. Circe will be forced to choose between the gods she was born from, or the mortals she has come to love.
π T H O U G H T S
Circe is extremely hard for me to rate objectively as it covers a subject that I am unfamiliar with and to be completely honest, not really interested in. I decided to buddy read it with a friend in order to get it off my shelf, and ended up having to pick up the audiobook in order to make it through. With that said, the writing is phenomenal and weaves together so many mythological stories, all while presenting some good feminist themes. Circe's character development felt strong in the first half, but the shift half way through felt disappointing to me, and it struggled to keep my focus. My unfamiliarity with Greek mythology made it hard for me to keep track of the huge cast of characters, and it felt as though I was being bombarded with way too much information, which I couldn't keep straight. Knowing about the character list at the back may have helped me avoid some of the confusion, and I'd have appreciated this list being at the front, as I only discovered it upon finishing.
Overall, Circe is a strong novel, but it's simply a case of not being the right book for me. I definitely fall into the minority so if the topic interests you, then I highly recommend this one.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ Greek mythology enthusiasts
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"I thought I would die of such pain, which was not like the sinking numbness AeΓ«tes had left behind, but sharp and fierce as a blade through my chest. But of course I could not die. I would live on, through each scalding moment to the next. This is the grief that makes our kind choose to be stones and trees rather than flesh."
" 'What can I say?' He held out his palms. 'The world is an ugly place. We must live in it.' "
"I would say, some people are like constellations that only touch the earth for a season."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Confinement