“A bold and subversive retelling of the goddess’s story,” this #1 New York Times bestseller is “both epic and intimate in its scope, recasting the most infamous female figure from the Odyssey as a hero in her own right” (Alexandra Alter, The New York Times). 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 powerful, like … strange child — not 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 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.
#1 New York Times Bestseller — named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, the Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, the A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self, Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, the Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider.
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I listened to this one, and let me tell you, there was something magical about hearing Circe’s story told in such an inventive new way. It was like taking class in mythology, with all my favorites mentioned and explored. This is tied with THE WINTERS as my favorite novel of 2018.
This book is in my top three as the best book I’ve read in almost a decade. I cannot get over how incredible Circe was. The dialogue was amazing, the scenes well paced, and the overall story an orchestra of words creating literary music. Utterly amazing. Read this novel – you’ll be glad you did.
What do I even say about this book. I loved it so, so much. @carlyn thank YOU for recommending it to ME!
A beautiful exploration of witchcraft and nature, epic in scope…like a Michener novel set in ancient times!
Madeline Miller takes a fresh look at Circe, a minor character from the Odyssey, and tells her story from her perspective. Since Circe is immortal, this story spans thousands of years and includes many well known characters from Greek mythology – Prometheus, Odysseus, the Minotaur, Icarus, Medea, just to name a few. I knew basically nothing about Greek mythology when I started this book, but have always had a vague interest in learning more about it, so this was a really fun way to get my feet wet. I’m looking forward to reading The Song of Achilles soon!
I’m truly in awe of Miller’s ingenious alchemy of ancient myths and modern sensibilities. CIRCE’s inventive world is keenly observed by its often surprising characters, and its lush pages are filled with pleasures. Absolutely stunning.
One of the best books EVER. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was just superb. Can’t recommend this highly enough.
Madeline Miller’s previous book “Song of Achilles” was also great, especially fabulous in the audio version (different narrator from “Circe”).
Extraordinary writing and storytelling and drama… An important work.
It took me a little bit to get into this book, but once I was hooked it went by so quickly! This was very fun and makes a goddess/witch feel so relatable that I want to question my genealogy.
Yes, Circe is a figure in Greek mythology – but no, you do not have to know Greek mythology to appreciate Circe, by Madeline Miller. This story stands alone. It is rich, intriguing, and wonderful.
Circe is the witch of Aeaea, one of many daughters of Helios, the God of the sun, but she never quite fits with her father’s world. Banished from his palace and exiled to her island, she makes a fascinating life there, discovering the island and her power. The story is told through her eyes and mind.
And yes, this story is set in a mythological world that should be so old as to be irrelevant to us today. But Circe is not. Here is a story of a strong female who slowly but surely finds her power in an unwelcoming world.
This is totally modern, is it not?
The writing here is exquisite. We are in the mind of this goddess, right from the start. Ms. Miller brings to life not only Circe, but other peripheral characters, like Odysseus, Penelope, and Hermes, whose names I know.
That said, Circe is the star. Through the entire time I was reading this book, I was with her on her island, along with her family angst, her lovers, her son, and her magic.
I miss her now.
This is probably the most beautifully written book I’ve ever read. It’s mythology and could be very confusing, if the author was anyone but Miller. The prose are enchanting, the characters gripping and well-developed, and the world building is wonderful. She has a deft way of making even immortals seem human. Though the book spans thousands of generations, it’s written in a way that feels easy and quick and never falters. I’m excited to read her other novels.
My dear friend Madeline Miller deserves all accolades for this fine reimagining of the legendary Circe. This book is a magical, compassionately rendered story. I highly recommend.
This was my first read by Madeline Miler and I could not put it down. The writing is lovely and captivating, the narration spellbinding. Add this to your TBR now!
A searing, beautiful book written from the POV of the sorceress Circe, daughter of the Titan Helios. Far more than just a re-imagining of a Greek myth, this book is about what it means to be a woman in a world dominated by powerful, greedy Gods and men.
This is Circe and the gods as you’ve never seen them, and yet it all rings so true. I’ve read it twice (so far) and listened to Perdita Weeks’ deliciously droll and empathic narration in the audiobook. It’s better every time. Trust me. Read or listen to this now.
Hands down the best book I’ve read this year. All of the accolades heaped on the execution of this story are richly deserved. Masterful, touching, and enthralling. Miller writes like a god.
I’m convinced Miller is this era’s Shakespeare.
The prose is elegantly designed, but understandable, making the read smooth and page-turning. The first half was a series of scene snippets to build up to the main story, so while I enjoyed it, it felt disjointed and didn’t become a cohesive storyline until the second half. So if you’re reading and wondering where it’s all going, keep turning the page, the last portion and ending is so fulfilling.
If you love beautiful prose, mythology and lore, origin stories, and tough coming of age paths, this is a must read.
Such an exceptional, talented writing of mythology capturing point to point details and the narration focused only on Circe. In my experience of mythology books I think this author is the Mother of Mythology writer because this is the second mythology book (the other is Hades and Persephone series by Alexander Rachel) which expressed monumental and unique way of story-telling.
Circe to my experience was a sorceress very skilled in magic and necromancy. Circe’s flaws and weakness from the beginning to being ignored by everyone, her level of maturity, her loneliness emphasizes her woes perfectly. The unconditional love she gives completely differs from the parents who never never gave any.
I wouldn’t have shown interest if not for the blurb and many people reading it. So enrich in description, the combination of the work makes a reader approachable. Highly recommend this if you’re looking for good greek mythology story. This book won’t disappoint.
I finally pulled Circe off my to-be-read pile and, Wow! I loved it, even more than I did Miller’s The Song of Achilles. So much of mythology is male-centric, so it comes as a delight and a surprise that author Madeline Miller riffs on the myth of Circe and creates a modern myth of her own, told from the female point of view, that of Circe.
Circe, a minor deity (the daughter of the sun Titan, Helios, and a sea nymph, Perse) is exiled to the island of Aeaea. Tormented by her own family and with few godly powers, Circe develops her own power and becomes a “witch.” There, though she lives somewhat in isolation, she develops an inner strength and self-awareness grows through the course of the novel, eventually becoming a fierce, independent woman, a woman with a definite attitude.
As in The Song of Achilles, the prose is masterful and lyrical, its tone quite in keeping with its mythological setting and characters. Each sentence polished until it shines as brilliantly as the Helios’s light. The first half of the story includes well-known mythological characters such as Prometheus, Icarus and Daedalus, Jason and Medea. In the second half of the book, Odysseus appears, charismatic and cunning, charismatic, and driven. As a main character, Circe is complex, sympathetic, and fascinating.
This audiobook had me by the throat from the get-go. Beautiful language, just the right balance of movement and elegance. And as a lifelong fan of Greek mythology, I really lost myself in each of Circe’s successive adventures. Circe has my highest recommendation.
I honestly don’t know what to say except this was superb. I’m in awe.
And I’m exhausted.