“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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This book took me on a journey that led me to read The Odessey and do research on the family tree of the greek gods. A great story and so relevent today!
This book was a gripping retell of traditional greek mythologies of Circe and Scilla. A riveting duel between the two climaxes at the end to a romantic tragic story culminating in the stories that we know and love, 5 stars all the way
Shankarah O. Lessey
non-fiction, accurate as far as i can tell
Wonderful writing!
I refreshing. Like an adult fairy tale.
I did not know a lot about Greek mythology but the author did a good job of identifying the gods and mortals involved. Plus I read it on my Kindle so I could click on unfamiliar names and obtain more information. The writing was excellent and kept me absorbed throughout.
“…Something about you Odysseus said about you once… That he had never met a god who enjoyed their divinity less.”
Circe the titan, daughter of Helios and the nymph Perse. Banished to Aiaia forever for defying her father and becoming a witch, she’s simply a scene in the story of the great Odysseus, King of Ithaca, allowing he and his men respite as they return to Ithaca, aiding them to get there with some safety.
However, Madeline Miller has given Circe life. From her childhood obsession with her father, through her acceptance of her banishment through her idyll with Odysseus and beyond, we find a true “witch”, a wise woman who uses her own knowledge and nature to shape her world and those who she touches.
When I first read reviews of this book I was intrigued. The Odyssey of Homer is my favorite book and *most* stories using it as a basis have interested me over decades. And this is no different. In fact, that Circe has been brought to life from the Greek footnote Homer gives her, reflects how women have evolved in and as a part of history and mythology. This book more than deserves the accolades it has garnered and I hope to soon read Miller’s first book:The Song of Achilles”which I actually own. Highly Recommended 5/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from my library system and chose to read and review it]
I couldn’t put this book down. Miller tells an old story with contemporary insights and luscious prose.
You don’t have to have a background in mythology to enjoy this book (never noticed the appendix till half way through.) Remember how Wicked told the story of Oz from the witch’s point of view? It’s that kind of book. Sweeps you up, carries you through different mythological happenings and – oh- what a story!
I loved this retelling of the mythological daughter of Zeus!
Gorgeous and evocative use of language gives me great pleasure.
Great book. I enjoyed the read and am inspired to read more mythology.
Circe is written in a very easy, entertaining style – not lyrical in the way that I was expecting a Greek myth update, but enjoyable nontheless. I think many readers will enjoy the main character’s development throughout the novel, and the fun weaving of many myths together from a new perspective.
Even though I enjoyed mythology in high school, that was a long time ago and I admit to being more than a bit leery about a novel based on Greek myths. Boy, was I ever wrong. I absolutely loved this book. It is creative storytelling that is fleshed out in an intelligent and very engaging way. The writing is beautiful. I highly recommend this book.
Not as good as Achilles.
This is a fantastic read! Everyone in my book club loved it and we had a deep conversation.
I was really looking forward to reading this, but felt let down by it. While the world-building, the weaving together of the various Circe myths, and the use of language is amazing, the overall story drags on. The character Circe struck me as very flat with no true motivation/desire for anything which made for a very dull tale.
I never thought I love to read Greek mythology again. A fresh idea on a timeless story. Reimagined for a feminine point of view, you don’t often see in the genre.
very entertaining and kept me interested. I think Miller is a great writer.
What a fantastic read, and one that completely crept up on me. I hadn’t heard of it until recently when I saw it recommended in a reading group I’m a part of, but as soon as I heard it described — greek mythology of witches with a feminist twist — I knew I had to read it. I blazed through this book in two days and didn’t want it to end! I can’t wait to read it again. Thank you for this incredible book, Madeline Miller!