“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 enjoyed this book and it took me back to school when you read mythology. It was an interesting story.
I read this one over the summer and still find myself thinking about it all the time. There’s something hauntingly beautiful about it.
I loved this retelling of Circe. I was captivated by this heroine and the reframing of mythology through her eyes.
Miller’s message couldn’t be more relevant to this time. Our time! She entertains while teaching. Showing an age-old truth in action: How it’s lonely to go it alone, yet how it’s never been more important to civilization that we right the wrongs in our world. Not many of us are willing to stand up to power, but those who do chart a new path for us all. Thank you for the wonderful storytelling.
Gloria Squitiro: Author of May Cause Drowsiness and Blurred Vision: The Side Effects of Bravery—YOU, Too! can OVERCOME ANXIETY and live a bigger more carefree life—Become a New and Better You!
#YayWomenWriters
So magical. Made me fall in love with Circe, and at times tore at my heart. Beautifully written, fresh take take on mythology that absolutely breathes life into the characters, especially Circe. She is relatable, brave, tragic at times, and so inspiring.
I think its super amazing
One of the best books I’ve read in 2019. Love this author. Her worlds are vivid. Her characters are three-dimensional. And, I love a story with a touch (or more) of fantasy. Wonderful read.
I love the tales from Greek mythology, and this one was right up my alley. I did not know Circe’s story before this listen. It dragged in some places (like after her son was born), but overall a good tale.
Closer to 4.5 stars. Miller’s great adaptation of Greek mythology is a poignant and hopeful novel. Miller chose her protagonist well—it’s amazing to see how many famous mythological figures crossed paths with Circe, and Circe’s perspective as an immortal woman surviving several generations of heroes is the highlight of the story. Miller’s chosen subject limits her inventiveness a bit, in that she cannot stray too far from the original myths, but the story is not lacking for dramatic tension and well-crafted characters.
A novel far outside my genre of covert operations thrillers, but CIRCE quite possibly one of the most beautifully penned novels this century. The Audiobook performance by Perdita Weeks was a masterclass. Simply brilliant. I listened twice…
Wow – different take on mythology. My heart hurt for Circe as she endured for centuries. It was interesting to witness her lengthy journey to become herself. Looking forward to the television series.
Madeline Miller’s Circe is an incredible read, filled with luscious prose and unforgettable characters. I didn’t just read this book; I gobbled it up. I’ll remember this one for a long time.
A Masterpiece
I listened to the book through audible and I absolutely loved it. It’s a beautifully told story and I love Circe as a character.
One of the best books I have read in years. It brings the Greek Gods to life in a wonderful way. Highly recommended.
OH. MY. GOSH. This book was PHENOMENAL! I loved every minute of it. The characters are so captivating, and I found myself understanding their motives and feelings. I love mythology, so I already loved the topic. If you don’t, this book will win you over!
While many people whose opinions I respect have rated this book five stars, I can’t be one of them. This is simply not one of my preferred genres.
If you are a devotee of Greek myths or a fan of fantasy — this book is for you. It’s an imaginative first-person account of Circe’s story. Circe (CIR-SEE) was a sorceress, one of the daughters of the sun god, Helios with Perse, an ocean nymph. You may be familiar with her because of her appearance in the epic story of Odysseus — who visits Circe’s island on his way back from the Trojan Wars. Or you may know something of Circe’s famous siblings — Aeëtes (keeper of the Golden Fleece), Pasiphaë (mother of the Minotaur), and Perses (eventually slain by Medea).
On the plus side, there’s a decidedly feminist bent to the way Circe takes charge of her own life — defying her parents, standing up to other gods, teaching herself potions, choosing lovers, and generally making her own rules in the world. Plus, she is skilled at getting what she wants, even in negotiations with more powerful beings.
But while I read the entire book, and even found some sections of it compelling — changing people into animals, arguing with petty gods, and fighting multi-headed monsters is not my preferred reading material.
Excellent,could not put it down
A wonderful retelling of Greek mythology from the point of view of Circe, the nymph turned witch, who defies the gods and is punished by being exiled to a remote island that becomes her home. The writing flows beautifully; the story keeps you turning the pages; and the female viewpoint makes you rethink everything you know about the heroes and villains of ancient times. A highly recommended read; I wanted to award it at least six stars.
Another of my top 10 reads in the first half of 2019 (by writers I don’t know well enough to invite to dinner): Not only is Miller able to recreate a marginalized figure, the “predatory female,” into a empathetic, complex dynamo motivated, often, by love, but she’s able to do so in a novel that covers centuries, inviting in numerous Greek myths so that the book acts not only as a thrilling coming-of-age but a primer for the stories we have heard so often but may have forgotten. Miller’s mind must be such a precious maze of information, story, and talent. Writers: an excellent book to study for world building, handling time and a large cast of characters, suspense, action scenes, and luring us into a character’s yearning and loneliness. Miller uses 1st person pov that nearly becomes 1st omniscient.