Reviewed by Max
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Historical fiction writer Madeline Miller follows her New York Times bestseller The Song of Achilles with this brilliant re-imagining of The Odyssey's formidable sorceress Circe. Born the daughter of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, Circe is a strange, powerless outcast in the world of the ever-imposing gods of Olympus. Powerless, that is, until she discovers her aptitude for witchcraft, transforms her oppressors into monsters, and becomes a menace to the gods themselves. Now seen as a threat to the god's power, she is banished by Zeus to a deserted island and begins her life as an outcast in exile.
I'm generally not one for Greek mythology tales, but Circe set itself apart for me with its vivid imagery, ruminations on the true purpose of power, and subtle examinations of humanity as a state of being. Miller brilliantly reconstructs the likeness of the Greek gods in a way that is both relatable and truly evocative, and these details are carefully woven throughout the story as Circe's interactions with various mythological beings and Olympians presses on the purpose of her existence.
Circe was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller, a winner of the 2018 Goodreads Choice Award, and was named best book of the year by NPR, The Washington Post, and People Magazine. It is currently being adapted for an HBO Max television series.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Read-a-likes:
- The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller