I was so excited when I saw this book — I absolutely love Greek mythology, the Odyssey is one of my favourite books of all time, and I was fascinated to read about Circe, who has only been presented as a minor character in Greek myth.
And I wasn’t disappointed.
Miller did an amazing job of bringing this goddess to life, to telling her story in an empowering way, and even to staying true to the myths. I love taking a character from myth or history and presenting them with a backstory and motivations and seeing where that all leads.
The book has the richness and history of someone who understands Greek myth–the story is peppered with details that add to this authenticity and enhance its scope. There are some lovely descriptions and writing.
But, most of all, there is Circe, the witch from the Odyssey who turns men into swine. We get to understand how she got there, her childhood and history, her point of view of events. We get to see this amazing woman grow and become formidable, all entwined with Classical Greek themes of gods and mortals, fate and choices, and being a hero versus living a long, quiet life.
If you love Greek myth or strong heroines, I highly recommend this book.

No matter what else you might think about them no one knows how to do drama like the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. And no one knows how to translate this drama for the modern mind like Madeline Miller. In her last novel, Song of Achilles, she gave the god famous as a warrior, a softer side. Now she is back with Circe, the story of the daughter of Helios (the sun god) and Perse, a water nymph whose father is Oceanos. She and her three siblings are the first, and only, of the gods who possess powers through the use of materials from the natural world-a gift called pharmaka, or, witchcraft. After Circe uses a potion against another nymph, she is banished from her father's kingdom. She spends her life alone on an island, expanding her powers until the time when a king from Ithaca lands on her shores. It's Odysseus, on his way home after fighting in Troy for ten years. What is supposed to be a brief stop to repair his ship turns into a year that, in the best Greek fashion impacts both the lives of gods and mortals for generations.


To say that there are layers upon layers upon layers to Circe is an understatement. But what makes the novel so marvelous is that Miller is the perfect guide. You don't need a background in Greek mythology. You don't need to know who Athena, Hermes, Jason, Oceanos, and Aeëtes are because she shows you, with all the skill of a seasoned storyteller. She takes everything that makes Greek mythology so difficult to wade through-the labyrinthine tangle of familial relationships, the battle between Titans and Olympians (Titans are the new kids and Olympians are the old guard), the myriad of slights, snub, hurt feelings, and pranks that clutter every god's life, and makes it not only understandable, but riveting. These are gods, and as such they do whatever they want, whenever they want. Lesser gods and humans are pawns in their games. They are immortal and so

It is only Circe, alone on her island, who is interested in mortals, who cares about them. Maybe because from the time she was an infant her parents considered her to be only a small step up from a human. It is only when her power begins to manifest itself-through work on her part, unlike the gifts of the gods which require no effort-that she is recognized. But even then, it is as a dangerous creature who must be kept apart from the world of both mortals and immortals. The few encounters she has with each are unpleasant and force her to use her potions and spells to protect herself. When Odysseus shows up, she has gained wisdom and control of her actions, but she still falls prey to the oldest of emotions: love.

Despite a captivating cast of hundreds in Circe Miller keeps the spotlight firmly on Circe. Even with Odysseus, it is her story, her perceptions that matter. She may love, but she never loses herself to a man-mortal or god. Even when she is judged from birth as being inordinately ugly, scrawny, meek, and with an unpleasant voice, she acts when she needs to. It may be with the impulsive viciousness of a teenager-as when she turns the beautiful (but kind of slutty) Scylla from a rival into a hideous sea hag with six heads sprouting from her neck and twelve legs hanging from her belly-but hundreds of years later when she is more mature, she has grown into grace and compassion. She may have been banished to a remote island, but time and again, the world comes to her, forcing her to play a part in the lives of gods and men.

Miller is not restrained or struck down by the infinite complexities of Greek mythology. They may be immortal, capable of feats that form the very crux of existence on earth, from pulling the sun across the sky to creating the tides and setting the seasons, but Circe's pull is because of the humanity Miller infuses into the novel. Circe is only a minor deity, largely ignored by her own kind until she crosses them, but she breathes with the full spectrum of mortal emotions, making the novel brilliant reading. Miller is a literary witch and with the spell of Circe she binds readers to the page, unable to look away, transformed by the tale.

“All this while, I have been a weaver without wool, a ship without the sea. Yet now look where I sail.”



I was not expecting the intensity of enjoyment I would find in this title. Completely blown away.

This novel had one of those ‘mic drop’ endings that was so beautiful and powerful that I just sat for a moment, staring into nothingness--just in total awe of this author’s skill with storytelling. This will without-a-doubt be one of my favorite reads of 2018.

Circe centers around the tale of Circe, daughter of Helios and one of the first witches in historical story telling. After some brief family drama and an incident where Circe uses her powers to do evil and harm to another, Circe is exiled to a remote island to live out eternity in solitude. On this island she discovers more about her powers than she ever thought possible, while also discovering much about her own soul and desires.

But this story isn’t just about Circe. Miller weaves in the stories of other immortals and mortals alike, as they cross paths with Circe’s destiny. Since Circe is immortal, this novel spans a timeline of hundreds of years, creating a tale of epic proportions (while including characters along the way from other historically famous epics). Circe goes through a multitude of experiences on the pages of this novel. She experiences love, betrayal, heartbreak, and loss–all while being a cast-away on her exiled prison.

“I had no right to claim him, I knew it. But in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation was he to me.”

*Swoons*

Miller’s writing is lyrical and powerful, without being flowery and exhaustive. And she has provided an empathetic and soulful connection to these well-known stories in Greek mythology that I have never seen an author create before. I already knew the outcome for many of the characters in this story, but the originals were always told with such a matter-of-fact-ness and without any touches of emotion, that I have never truly felt a connection with any of the characters. But in Circe, I felt such intense emotions for several of the characters’ stories– feelings that I never knew for those characters before Miller’s writing. This novel is an ART. Plain and simple. Retellings are a hard thing to do, and even harder to do it right–with the historical respect for the originals, but with enough grace and talent to create something entirely unique in itself.

Madeline Miller is an artist.



“Only that: we are here. This is what it means to swim in the tide, to walk the earth and feel it touch your feet. This is what it means to be alive.”

**Also–While reading this novel, there were one or two quick mentions of Achilles and his lover, Patroclus. I knew that Miller also had a previously released novel titled The Song of Achilles, so I did a little quick digging to see the synopsis and reviews for that novel and– holy cow, guys– this author has won me over. That title takes the historically speculated and debated relationship of Achilles and Patroclus and repaints it into Miller’s rendition of Achilles’ story as a person and a gay man in love– making his character the priority instead of his battles and achievements– which I am SO thrilled to read! I will be pre-ordering a hardcopy of Circe, and also ordering The Song of Achilles, because I am just so in love with her writing.



Thank you to Madeline Miller and Little, Brown, & Co. for providing me with a DRC of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Circe by Madeline Miller is verdant reading. Feminist. Enrapturing. Captivating in its weaving. Anyone familiar with Greek Mythology would know her basic story. A badass witch who turned men into pigs. In Madeline Miller's chimerical retelling, readers old and new to the myths (i.e. Odyssey, Argonauts, Medea) will find themselves introduced to a much different facade of the Titan Helios' nymph daughter.

More humanistic in spirit than goddess, Circe is burdened with features and a beingness that falls short of the divinity surrounding her. Awkward, belittled, abused and eventually exiled, Miller's Circe manages a remarkable, powerful, dirt-under-your-fingernails, sweat it out kind of growing. One that has us rooting for this relatable woman to survive, succeed, be deeply cherished and truly loved before the pages run out.

Miller's rhythmic and beautifully told narrative is expansive and richly detailed as we follow Circe's experiences in a cadence of highs and lows. Some lows more vile and atrocious than others. Though her #MeToo moment gives us pause to consider what it takes to endure and recover from the things she has had to suffer through, when at times there seemed to be no end in sight.

Note to all the survivors out there: To the brave and awe-inspiring women and men moving through their experiences with strength and grace, Circe, the goddess-nymph-witch with eternal life, took millennia. We, in time stride, endeavor to heal, find peace and take our power back- stronger for having been through what we have been through- all in under a lifetime.

Humanity's resilience is one of the things that stupefy the gods. It's probably right up there with monogamous relationships and refusing the comes-with-strings gifts offered by some flashy Olympian god or goddess. Also incomprehensible to, more specifically, Circe's kin, is the idea of "To each his own." They're a bit of a judgemental, drama-dripping, catty lot.

Circe by Madeline Miller will be, without a doubt, one of the most beautifully crafted, rewarding and satisfying reads we can ask for this year. Maybe even in this one lifetime? With so many books TBR in order to add another gem to the list though, I can't help but be lured by the idea of an age or two extension if, say, a pretty docile Hyperion with flexible motives popped around?

Lots of food for thought with this one. Lots. It's not just a pretty face...with goddess strange eyes we'd rather not look straight at and a voice we'd rather not hear. It is Circe. And Madeline Miller has given her back to us, more relatable, more approachable, more Divine in it's anti-divinity, as Circe shows us what it takes to be better at being human.

Billions of ⭐ and one of my top reads of all time.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WHEN I WAS BORN, THE NAME FOR WHAT I WAS DID NOT EXIST.
Where do I even begin? This was one of the most amazing, beautiful, intricate, captivating books I have had the pleasure of reading in my entire life. I have been a bookworm since I was barely walking, and yet this book, this gorgeous retelling, has impacted me so profoundly that I genuinely do not know if I will ever be entirely the same.

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IT IS A COMMON SAYING THAT WOMEN ARE DELICATE CREATURES—FLOWERS, EGGS, ANYTHING THAT MAY BE CRUSHED IN A MOMENT’S CARELESSNESS. IF I HAD EVER BELIEVED IT, I NO LONGER DID.
As a child, I loved Greek mythology, and though I lost some of that knowledge through recent years, when I heard that this story was releasing, I knew I just had to read it. I thought it was going to be the story from Circe’s point of view, but ultimately, I expected it to revolve around Odysseus; I had no idea that I was in for such a treat, though, as he is only a small portion of the immortal Circe’s life. This isn’t a retelling, it’s an origin story, a history, a tale of centuries’ worth of loves and losses, griefs and triumphs.

THE THOUGHT WAS THIS: THAT ALL MY LIFE HAD BEEN MURK AND DEPTHS, BUT I WAS NOT A PART OF THAT DARK WATER. I WAS A CREATURE WITHIN IT.
From the very start, we see that Circe is so vastly set apart from her fellow gods and goddesses; as a nymph with the reedy voice of a mortal, she is told she is wholly useless, but it’s evident from the beginning that she is this brilliant, clever, strong woman: a force to be reckoned with in every way. I knew I would love her, but I couldn’t have predicted how fast or hard I would find myself rooting for her to succeed.

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.
Of course, Circe’s exile on the isle of Aiaia is bound to be an unhappy story, and that’s a common thread throughout Circe: you always know something miserable or painful is on its way, but the moments in between those travesties, and the ways Circe handles the hand of cards life has dealt her, makes it so incredibly worth the ache. Perhaps the greatest thing about watching her struggle is how much relatability it lends to her character; despite being a goddess, an immortal, and a witch, Circe at her core is a spurned woman who has lived too long under the heels of spiteful, power-hungry men, and a wicked society that values beauty over strength.

BUT IN A SOLITARY LIFE, THERE ARE RARE MOMENTS WHEN ANOTHER SOUL DIPS NEAR YOURS, AS STARS ONCE A YEAR BRUSH THE EARTH. SUCH A CONSTELLATION WAS HE TO ME.
Of course, Circe’s tale is not entirely a desolate one, but her joys are often her curses, as she loves mortals and sees in them the same potential that cursed Prometheus to his rock. Throughout her life, we get to see relationships come and go, and I was enthralled by how incredibly sex-positive and sure of herself she remains. Rather than selling herself away to the highest bidder, Circe’s primary focus is to never let her pursuit of pleasures and companionship win out over her need to be her own person.

“IT IS NOT FAIR,” I SAID. “I CANNOT BEAR IT.”
“THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS,” MY GRANDMOTHER SAID.
It was so enjoyable to watch the different characters cycle in and out of her memories, whether it was Daedalus and his loom, or Hermes and his messages and antics, or—of course—Odysseus, who we saw in a much more realistic light, as Circe portrayed an image of him that was far less heroic or noble than many of the legends would have one believe. There are even mentions of Patroclus and Achilles, and what became of them, though I was pleased to find that prior knowledge of The Song of Achilles was not at all necessary to fully enjoy this book.

I WOULD LOOK AT HIM AND FEEL A LOVE SO SHARP IT SEEMED MY FLESH LAY OPEN. I MADE A LIST OF ALL THE THINGS I WOULD DO FOR HIM. SCALD OFF MY SKIN. TEAR OUT MY EYES. WALK MY FEET TO BONES, IF ONLY HE WOULD BE HAPPY AND WELL.
Of all the things Madeline’s writing had to offer me, though, the one that meant the most to me was wholly unexpected: the perfect, beautiful depiction of motherhood through Circe’s relationship with her son. As a mother to a wild little boy of my own, I related to so many of her thoughts and fears, but most of all, to the utter authenticity of the love she describes for him. It consumes her entirely—for better or for worse—and her need to protect him holds such ferocity that she worries it will destroy her at times. Many of the thoughts she held for him gave me chills or brought tears to my eye, and throughout it all, I just kept thinking that I had never felt like motherhood had been so perfectly described as it is in this book.

YOU THREW ME TO THE CROWS, BUT IT TURNS OUT I PREFER THEM TO YOU.
Truly, I could gush for days, but I’m going to cut myself off here and just ask you to please, please pick up a copy of this beautiful book. I sound like a broken record, but it meant so much to me, and has earned such a warm place in my heart that I know I will reread it over and over in the coming years. Whether you are a mother, or a lover of Greek mythology, or just a bookworm looking for a story that will capture you so wholly, you’ll never want to leave its embrace—this book is flawless, utter perfection, and I cannot possibly recommend it highly enough.

All quotes come from an unfinished ARC and may not match the finished release. Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

“When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.”

This is the pièce de résistance I’ve been searching for my entire life. Not only did I fall in love with this story, I predict that this will be the best book I’ll read all year. This book is about healing and doing what it takes to come into your own. This book is about love; the love between lovers, the love of a mother, and the love you must find in yourself. This book proves why family of choice will always be greater than family of origin. This book is about magic, and how we can find it in ourselves if we look hard enough. This is a book about becoming the witch you’ve always buried deep inside you.

“They do not care if you are good. They barely care if you are wicked. The only thing that makes them listen is power.”

Okay, maybe I should start this review off with a somewhat personal story. I was very privileged to go a very good high school where I was able to study The Iliad and The Odyssey for a class my freshman year. And fourteen-year-old Melanie fell in love. To say I was obsessed was an understatement, and more and more my heart was filled with love for Odysseus, Athena, and a certain love affair with the witch-goddess Circe.

Even upon finishing that class, I still couldn’t get enough of Homer’s words. And to this day, The Iliad and The Odyssey are the only books that I collect many editions of. All my loved ones and family correlate these epic poems with me, and always bring me new editions from their travels, and give me gifts for special events and holidays the same way they do with Harry Potter. One of the most prized possession I own is an edition of The Odyssey that was given to me by someone who meant a lot to me, at a very important time in my life. And these two tomes will always be a big part of my identity, and I will always recognize that they not only shaped me as a reader, but they shaped me as a human being, too.

So, when I found out that that Greek mythology retelling queen, Madeline Miller, was writing a book centered around Circe, I knew it was going to end up being one of my favorite books of all time. And it ended up being everything I wanted and more. I hate to throw around the word masterpiece, but if I had to pick a book to give that title to, I’d pick Circe.

“Odysseus, son of Laertes, the great traveler, prince of wiles and tricks and a thousand ways. He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none.”

And even though Odysseus plays a huge role in this story, this book is Circe’s and Circe’s alone. We get to see her growing up in Oceanus, with her Titan sun god father Helios, and loveless nymph mother Perse, and her three more ambitious siblings, Aeëtes, Pasiphaë, and Perses. We get to see her living her life of solitude, exiled on the island of Aiaia. We also get to see her make a few very important trips, that are very monumental in Greek mythos. But we get to see all of Circe, the broken parts, the healing parts, and the complete parts. We get to see her love, her loss, her discovery, her resolve, and her determination. We get to see her question what it means to be immortal, what it means to be a nymph in a world ruled by gods, and what it means to just live. Her journey is unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and probably unlike anything I will ever read again. I have no combination of words to express how much her life and her story means to me. But I promise, I’m not the same person I was before reading this book.

“…All my life had been murk and depths, but I was not a part of that dark water. I was a creature within it.”

This is ultimately a story about how different the tales will always be told for a man. And how the ballads will always be sung for heroes, not heroines, even if a woman was truly behind all the success the man greedily reaped. How the light will always fall to vilify the woman and showcase her as a witch that needs to be tamed, a sorceress that needs to be subdued, or an enchantress that needs to be defeated. Women, no matter how much agency they carve out in any male dominated world, will always be a means to an end to further the achievements of man. Always. And Circe displays that at the forefront of this story.

Circe is most well known for turning Odysseus’s men into pigs when they come to her island in The Odyssey, but Madeline Miller does such a wonderful job weaving all this Greek mythology into a fully fleshed out, brand-new tale. She has created something so unique, yet so breathtakingly good, I think so many readers will find it impossible to put this new-spin of a story down. I was completely captivated and enthralled from the very first line to the very last line. This book just feels so authentic, I felt like I was in the ocean, on the island, and traveling right beside Circe throughout. And I never wanted to leave her side.

“It was their favorite bitter joke: those who fight against prophecy only draw it more tightly around their throats.”

Overall, I understand that this is a book that is very targeted to me and my likes. Not only is this a character driven story, with a main protagonist being a character I’ve been in love with for over a decade, but the writing was lyrical perfection. I’m such a quote reader, and I swear I would have highlighted this entire book. This book is also so beautifully feminist that it makes me weep just thinking about the things Circe had to endure. And it showcases the unconditional love of found families, yet also between a mother and her child, while simultaneously abolishing the notion that blood is worth more than anything else in any world. This book heavily emphasizes that you will never be the mistakes that your parents have committed. The entire story is a love letter to love itself and reveals all the things we are willing to do in the name of it. And most importantly, this is a book about how we are truly only ever in charge of our own stories, even though our actions may change the fate for others around us. Please, pick this masterpiece up, and I hope it changes your life, too.

Thank you, Madeline Miller, I will carry your Circe in my heart for the rest of my life.

“That is one thing gods and mortals share: when we are young, we think ourselves the first to have each feeling in the world.”

Trigger/Content Warnings: Violence, gore, murder, torture, physical abuse, child abuse, thoughts of suicide, brief scene with cutting, graphic childbirth scenes, mention of bestiality, mention of incest, animal sacrifice, death of a sibling, death of a child, death of a loved one, death of an animal, rape, adultery, and war themes.

Let me preface by saying that I have a minor obsession with Greek mythology. So when I discovered this author (who previously wrote a retelling of the Trojan War), I immediately jumped on the chance to read.

If you’ve read the Odyssey, you may recognize the goddess Circe. Yes, she is the one who turned Odysseus’ men to pigs. But she has a fascinating life before Odysseus ever enters the pictures. Daughter of Helios, sister-in-law to King Minos, lover of Daedalus.

She and her siblings are blessed with a power that no other god or titan possesses – to harness plants from the earth and transform them into magical potions, salves and spells. Circe is thus banished to the island of Aeaea because the gods are jealous and petty (a pretty common theme in Greek mythology).

Circe is one of the most resilient characters I have ever read, and she has a fascinating way of looking at the world around her. Miller obviously put a lot of research and work into recreating this world, and her language is absolutely gorgeous. The pacing gets quite slow toward the middle, and I struggled for several chapters. BUT it picks up quickly once more characters are introduced after the midpoint.

This book is chock-full of the best stories and characters from Greek mythology. But you don’t have to be familiar to enjoy the story. It’s worth a read anyway, so if you love love epic storytelling, new cultures or Greek mythology, pick up this book when it’s released on April 10. Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy!

My Review:
Madeline Miller has done it again. I have, and always will be captivated by her brilliant writing and I have to say that she's definitely become my all-time favorite author.

This book is written in a way that contains some scenes in the present tense, while in others we have Circe explaining the outcome of the situations she’s been in. It was a different experience for me to read something like this, and I loved every minute of it.

The writing in this is so seamless and there’s something about it that keeps you so invested into the story and the characters. Every line and piece of dialogue are crafted so beautifully that they really hit home with their words and the impact of it stays with you throughout the book.

As for the characters themselves, Circe is one of my all time favorite protagonists. Throughout the novel we experience her struggles finding herself in a world where power is the most important thing. All her life she has to look out for herself since there is no one else she has bonded with.

It’s easy to relate to her character because of all the insecurities that she has, as well as her inability to fit in with others like her. Including all this, it was absolutely fantastic to watch her character develop and grow throughout the novel. This is one of those cases where you truly get to see the whole arc of a character from the beginning of the book to the end of the book and it was amazing.

The pacing of this book was another thing I enjoyed. I never felt that some parts were being rushed through or going by too slowly. As Circe's tale isn't the most commonly known Greek myth, I liked the thoroughness of the mythology and the way that it interweaved so well with certain aspects of the book. I definitely think there are benefits knowing her story beforehand, but there's also that element of surprise if you didn't know (as was my case).

Did I like this book better than The Song of Achilles? I think that Circe completely blew my mind, even though I was already expecting this to be a phneomenal book. Saying this, I feel like they both completely different stories in my mind.

Where The Song of Achilles had more of an emotional and story-driven plot, Circe focused more on the characters and the progression of herself as the novel went on. I have to say they hold equal ranking for me as they are both amazing novels that I CANNOT RECOMMEND THEM MORE!

Read this book when it comes out next week guys, it's definitely one of those books that will stay with you for a long time.

This book takes mythology and storytelling to a whole new level. For those of you who don't know, Madeline Miller also wrote The Song of Achilles. For those of you who do know, I have no doubt you loved that book, and this book will be no different.
the plot
The plot occurred over a long time period (like hundreds of years). It begins when Circe is born, then to her childhood, and her first love, then exile, and eventually her life alone on the island. Throughout the years, much of Circe's life passes in monotony, she is focused on perfecting her witchcraft and becoming the witch every god and goddess fears. During her exile, she comes into contact with stray sailors and voyagers, which she takes her own wrath out on. She develops an elusive affair with a renown god, an infamous icon in Greek history, and one of the biggest names in mythology. Circe isn't afraid of her sexuality, and takes every opportunity she has for herself. Her life becomes centered around her newborn son, Telegonus, and she outrages the goddess Athena in the process. Her whole life is filled with drama and excitement while also depicted as boring and repetitive. Hundreds of years pass in Circe's life before she fully begins to understand her place in the world and decide what she really wants.
the characters
Circe is the goddess many of you (including me) have probably never heard of before now, but she is the goddess and story we all deserve to hear. A true witch outcast by her family and peers, she is the epitome of the demonization women have faced throughout history. On her own, she learns to not care about others and perfects her witchcraft to use to her advantage and to use to get revenge on those who have done her wrong. Viewed as a villain, as most independent women in this time were, she's a character people can understand and relate to as all of her actions are justified. Sometimes people need to be rude and callous, women are justifiably allowed to step on others' toes when it comes to certain things. She's a goddess who fully embraces her sexuality and breaks the stigma that women can't have casual affairs. As someone who always speaks her mind, doesn't let others walk over her, and embraces herself for who she is, her story should have been told, and I'm so happy Madeline was the one to do it. Along with Circe, we are introduced to other big name people such as: Daedalus, Icarus, Odysseus and Penelope and Telemachus, Hermes, Athena, and the nymphs of Circe's family. The character development and description in this book is some of the best I've ever read.
the setting
For the most part, all events take place on Circe's island of Aiaia and her encounters with travelers. Alone on the island, much is centered around the greenery and nature aspects of Aiaia and how Circe used herbs, plants, and nectar to perfect her art. And the book contains a beautiful map in the front cover!
the romance
Early on, what Circe thought was true love turns horribly sour and sad, pushing her away from men for her entire life. A true feminist icon, Circe gives no shit what others view her affairs and relationships as (though she is exiled no one sees her often). Forming an acquaintances with benefits type relationship, she is not afraid to kick him out, tell him off, and kick him off her island. She is the woman we all wish to read about who can separate feelings from sex (because they are out there believe it or not). She develops more illicit affairs with others and eventually falls in love with an unlikely candidate who understands her and sees who she really is. Through a surprising bond formed between the two, Circe learns to love again with her whole heart, unfiltered and irrevocable. Her true love in this story is with the humans she's been taught to stay away from, for they are only mortal.
final thoughts
It's been a long time since I've loved a book like this one. It's not the fast-paced, eventful book like many other YA books. It's more slow-paced, thoughtful, and reflective telling of the story of Circe and her journey through life. It's sweet, careful, and beautifully written. I read as slow as I could because I never wanted it to end. A heartbreaking, but in a good way, type of story that everyone will appreciate and understand. I loved The Song of Achilles, but this book has to be my favorite between the two. As much as I love Achilles and Patroclus, something about this book had me hooked from the beginning. Miller's writing has improved so much from TSoA, and her writing was never even bad to begin with; it's that good. Circe also has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen (the UK version), with a map (all versions), so if that isn't enough incentive to buy it, I don't know what is. Mythology is something we ALL need more of, and there can never be enough of it in YA. For anyone who loves witchcraft, magic, and mythology, this book is for you.

I love love loved this book!

Reading <i>Circe</i> was like stepping into a dream you didn't want to end. As she did with her previous book <i>Song of Achilles</>, Miller submerges us into the mythology of ancient Greece, this time focusing on Circe; nymph, witch and daughter to the god Helios.

Circe's story is quieter, as she has been confined to an island for practicing witchcraft, though still very readable and compelling. We also meet many of the big players who pass through: Odysseus, Athena, Daedalus, Hermes and more. Though lacking a traditional plot, it kept my rapt attention throughout. Circe's world is painted in such loving detail that you can't help but be drawn into it.

If you like mythology, retelling of myths, bad-ass ladies, magic, or when jerks get their comeuppance, then you will like <i>Circe</i>!

Remember way back in 2011, a gorgeous book called Song of Achilles? I have been waiting patiently for her next book...and it is finally here on April 10. Once again, as is obvious by the title, Miller returns to her Greek mythology roots. As a retired teacher who taught the Odyssey relentlessly, year after year, Miller picked one of my favorite characters on which to focus her incredible story-telling skills. Circe, the witch who 'imprisons' Odysseus and his men for over a year, sends them to the House of the Dead, tells them how to avoid Scylla and the Sirens, this gorgeous, frightening, intriguing, complicated woman finally gets her own story and it's a doozy. We see her youth in her father Helios' palace (yep, that Helios, the Sun God), her interplay with some creepy siblings and cousins, her first foray into witchery, the banishment to her island, and her dealings with a wide variety of characters from Greek mythology; don't forget - she's immortal so time just whizzes by. While it was a bit of a slow start for me, by about page 40 I was ensnared in Circe's world. This is a gorgeously written book of a historically misunderstood woman, imperfect yet capable of growth, weak yet learns strength, unlikable at times yet wholly admirable. I highly recommend:)

BookFilter Review: OK, so "The Song Of Achilles" was no fluke. Classicist Madeline Miller made a remarkable fiction debut with a story plucked from "The Iliad" by bringing to life the passion and pain of the hero Achilles. Published as a paperback release, it was critically acclaimed and became an international bestseller. Six years later, Miller returns with a story drawn from "The Odyssey." This time she inhabits the character of Circe. An immortal banished to an island, Circe is just one of many dangers faced down by the wily Odysseus. She turns his men into swine but Odysseus has been forewarned by the god Hermes. Odysseus pressures the hag into restoring his men and then wiles away a year on her island before moving on. Some other ancient tales say Circe even bore the warrior a son (or sons) who would later accidentally kill him. While it's true the adventures of Odysseus were peripatetic in the extreme, why did he tally for a year on her island? And how did Circe end up banished to this spit of land in the first place? As with "The Song Of Achilles," Miller brings Circe fully to life, from childhood to the endless heartbreak, disappointment and frustrated ambition that is surely the lot of demigods who live for thousands of years. "Circe" is gripping from start to finish and Miller's take on everyone from Helios to Hermes to Daedalus and Circe herself threaten to overwhelm your take on these characters despite the many centuries and many authors who have brought them to life before. Circe's resistance to being pigeonholed, dismissed by her father, embrace of "feminine" pursuits looked down on by others (like weaving and witchcraft) and so much more make this a rich tale on many levels. But most of all it's a thoroughly satisfying story. The gods know what epic or ancient myth Miller might set her considerable skills to next, but whatever it is the story will surely be worth the wait. -- Michael Giltz

After I finished The Song of Achilles last month, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Madeline Miller’s follow up because of the impact her writing had on me. I immediately pre-ordered this book and then tried my luck on Netgalley because waiting two months for my copy just seemed unfathomable. To my surprise, I was approved for this arc and I’m happy to say that I enjoyed this book tremendously and the incredible character journey.

Circe is the firstborn of the Titan god, Helios, and the lower Oceanid nymph, Perse. She’s an outcast, despised by her family, and later exiled to the island of Aiaia after she turns a rival into a monster. During her exile, she becomes a student of her craft and crosses paths with Odysseus and other unexpected mythological characters like Prometheus, Daedalus and Icarus, the Minotaur, as well as Medea and Jason.

Circe didn’t have the same emotional impact The Song of Achilles had on me, but it is still a masterpiece and an incredible interpretation of the Odyssey from Circe's point-of-view. This story is rich and complicated! The plot is character driven and intricately woven with other myths and like The Song of Achilles, the prose is eloquent, mesmerizing, and poetic. Plus, the gods are meddlesome and brilliantly characterized.

What I loved most about Circe was the writing and character development. Circe is a likable character with fears, insecurities, and easy to root for. At times, I thought she was too naive and too kind, but for the most part, I liked the way Miller brought her to life. I thought Miller did a wonderful job of portraying the conflict she faced by being caught in between two worlds and that she captured the emotions of this character well. I liked Circe's progression from a quite child who desperately wants to be liked to a confident woman — both in her craft and herself. I also enjoyed how perceptive Circe was portrayed in Miller's interpretation. This was something that stood out to me while reading and I loved that she wasn't written as a weak and unintelligent character.

I also loved that the gods have a bigger role in this book. I found the side characters interesting and at times during the plot, I wondered about their fate and hoped to see more interactions with them. I liked that Miller introduced the characters she did because it made Circe's exile more interesting and allowed us to experience Circe's time on the island in a more captivating way.

I enjoyed Circe tremendously; however, there was one particular aspect that bothered me. I expected this world to be filled with misogyny, violence, and rape; however, the sexual violence scene in Circe felt unnecessary. Because I'm not too familiar with mythology surrounding this character, I'm not sure if that was the author's decision or canon material. In my opinion, sexual violence as a device to further the plot was not needed and this was the reason I couldn't give this 5 stars. I think Miller handled the traumatization of that experience well; however, I believe she could've arrived at Circe turning men into pigs without the rape.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoyed The Song of Achilles and to anyone who wants to read a beautiful fictional narrative. It doesn't have as much action and didn’t have the same emotional impact as The Song of Achilles, but it's beautifully written and Circe shines. Greek myth tends to focus on male heroes and male gods, so I appreciated this female perspective.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book

Trigger warning: Rape

I knew after reading The Song of Achilles that I would read anything Madeline Miller wrote and she didn't disappoint me. She is an excellent writer and I am a sucker for Greek Mythology so her books are a real treat for me. I wish there was more out there like this but also of the same quality as Miller's books.

CIRCE is written so beautifully and epically it almost felt metaphysical. I am so sad to not be reading it anymore. I keep having moments where I am thinking about living life fully, motherhood, and feelings that are so human they are biblical and I wonder, "why was I just thinking about that?" It is because I just finished CIRCE. It made me examine what it means to be human. This book whipped me into a world I did not want to leave. I felt like I was dreaming the most wonderful, colorful, and sometimes terrifying things. When I finished the last page I spent hours reading up on Greek mythology, wanting more of Circe and her voice. But outside of this book, it really doesn't exist. One of the best books I've read in years and years.

This story was amazing. The lyrical sense of the story, the complexity of the characters- it was enthralling. It was slow moving seeing as Circe is stuck on an island for the majority of the book; you don't get to see the action happening outside of the island unless it's told from outside sources. By the end of the story, I had a sense of satisfaction.

Circe is emotional, much like Miller's debut, but is transcends it delivering us a moving account of a powerful woman who must not only discover her own power, but her own fate as well. Even more so, Circe is a beautifully written book. There were numerous quotes that moved me, forced me to stop and highlight, and that I would frame on the wall. This is an entirely different being than her first book and if The Song of Achilles was a bright light, I think this is more like a flickering flame - twisting and turning, showing us deeper and more complex shadows on the walls.

Miller has done it again! I'm honestly short on words. I don't know how someone can write so beautifully. The visuals Miller created left me in awe. That being said, there were often times I was so frustrated with with Circe. She made a lot of decisions that annoyed me. I don't fault for the author for this, of course. I think this makes the character more realistic. There were also times where the book seemed to drag on a little longer than I would have liked, but other than that, this book is absolutely wonderful.. It may not be for some people, anyone who is not a fan of witchcraft and can't handle violence, death, or rape may want to steer clear.

I wavered back and forth between three and four stars for Madeline Miller's Circe for one reason; it's beautifully written, but at times I was plodding through it. I'm a fan of Greek mythology, but hardly well-versed in the multitude of characters at play so I spent my fair share of time on wikipedia reminding myself of the backstories. Perhaps that explains the length of time it took me to finish Circe. However, as a speed reader when I'm really enjoying a book I finish it in a few hours at the very most. Circe took me well over a week.

That shouldn't take away from the fact that Circe is a great story. Madeline Miller brought an important but often unacknowledged character and masterfully told several generations of Greek mythology from her perspective. The fact that Circe is exiled on an island alone for many of those generations should highlight Miller's talent.

I look forward to reading everything Miller writes from here forward, but I don't think Circe will be one I find myself coming back to.