Circe by Madeline Miller (2018)
Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars
A retelling of many famous Greek myths from the feminist perspective of a minor goddess.
Plot: Circe is born to the powerful sun god Helios, but feels out of place and seems to lack power. That is, until she discovers her talent for witchcraft. Threatened by her power, Circe is banished to an isolated island to live out her days. There, her power grows as she encounters many famous characters from mythology.
Plot: I enjoyed this retelling of many Greek myths told from the perspective of the lesser known goddess, Circe. I recognized some of the stories, while others were new to me. The narrative structure binding these stories together was helpful in connecting the many gods, goddesses, and events. However, due to Circe’s role as a more minor goddess, each event in the book feels somewhat removed and lacks detail due to her isolated perspective. This functions as a way to explore many different stories, but only on a surface level.
I liked following Circe’s journey of self discovery, with the centuries bringing her wisdom and clarity over time, but sections of the book are slow and uneventful. I did enjoy this book, but I’m not sure I would read another mythology retelling. The concept is interesting but I think it could get old after one or two books.
Comments