Circe

by Madeline Miller

Hardcover, 393 pages

English language

Published April 10, 2018 by Little, Brown and Company.

ISBN:: 978-0-316-55634-7
OCLC Number:: 1029608347
Goodreads:: 35959740

(27 reviews)

The daring, dazzling, and highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller The Song Of Achilles that briliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of the Odyssey.

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--not obviously powerful like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power--the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts, and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur; Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus; the murderous Medea; and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from or with the mortals she has come to love. With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love, and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world.

7 editions

el dang reviewed Circe by Madeline Miller

Wonderful slow read that works much better for me than its source material does

5 stars

I never found this book a page turner, but I loved it from start to finish. Miller's writing is beautiful, and the character she turns Circe into is a wonderfully biting commentator on the affairs of gods and men alike. What she does with this story feels at once very true to the Homeric tradition--in that everything she adds is woven into the mesh of stories that previously existed--and a clearly intentional addressing of the most frustrating things about the old stories. She isn't kind to the macho man heroes of old, but does make them much more interesting, believable characters. In particular the "here's what happened after" she does to the Odyssey deals with everything I find frustrating about that story in a very effective way.

KnitAFett reviewed Circe by Madeline Miller

4.5 rounded down

4 stars

This was a lovely, amazing book with a story that gave me that cozy feeling. I honestly think I would have given it a full 5 stars if I had read this before Song of Achilles, but the story in that one was a little more compelling for me so it dulled this one a little in comparison. Absolutely one that I would love to read again and will be getting a physical copy to hold onto as well.

LizAndra reviewed Circe by Madeline Miller

Stunning!

5 stars

I didn't know quite what to expect when I started this book, but the narrator, Perdita Weeks, drew me into the unfolding story of a nymph who cannot find her place with her divine family. She breaks a rule, and the gods banish her to an island alone. There she must become everything for herself. The story is touching, at times violent, and ultimately heartwarming. Along the way we meet Hermes, Odysseus, Telemachus, and Penelope, as well as others.

Weeks is a masterful narrator, bringing all the vulnerability and power to create complexity and depth in Circe. This is critical as we see the story through Circe's point of view. And what a point of view! She grew up the daughter of Helios, the sun God, whom she reverenced though he barely noticed her. It is only when she is banished that she learns who she is and what she …

PanaX@bookwyrm.social reviewed Circe by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Heck yes!

Lewistrick@bookwyrm.social reviewed Circe by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

After Song of Achilles, this one disappointed me. It felt like a collection of short stories and oh my, so many characters and names to remember.

lakelady reviewed Circe by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I was looking forward to reading this as I'd seen several good reviews from bookstore staff and elsewhere and I enjoy Greek myths. I was greatly disappointed to say the least. It simply did not hold my interest and I put it down repeatedly. The writing is pedestrian and even the story isn't all that interesting. Finally about two-thirds of the way through the story it got somewhat interesting but that's not enough to recommend it. The ending was as lackluster as the beginning.

lovmelovmycats reviewed Circe by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Love this book!
FYI, it does not end the same way as The Telegony 😉

jkb reviewed Circe by Madeline Miller

Review of 'Circe' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Great book. If you enjoy greek mythology then you will enjoy this re-telling of some of the Greeks literature and myths from the point of view of a lesser goddess.