Circe

Circe by Madeline Miller   393 pages

I liked The Song of Achilles and cried many tears over it, so it saddens me to share that I did not enjoy Madeline Miller's Circe as much. The novel follows Circe, daughter of the sun god Helios, who possesses the power of witchcraft and a heart kinder than most who dwell with the gods. When Zeus learns of her abilities, he banishes her to a deserted island where she develops her craft in isolation. Over time, Circe learns that she must stand up and fight for what she believes in, lest she be struck down by the same gods who raised her.

Miller tries to give Circe a back story by name dropping the most famous figures in Greek mythology: Hermes, Prometheus, Daedalus, Minotaur, Odysseus. But in this retelling of well known mythology, the characterization feels static and the episodes are disconnected. For those who have already read Homer, Hesiod, Euripides, and everyone else, there’s little new information.

Additionally, I was disappointed by the pacing of Circe. The story line played out at a super slow speed. Once Circe got exiled to the island Aiaia, very few important or seminal events happened across the span of the following 300 pages, and I became unsure of her character's main motivation. I also found it confining that the majority of Circe's growth and passion came from her relationships with men and her role as a mother. I wish that more of her development happened before or in addition to the men in her life, as opposed to the men motivating a lot of her character's trajectory. Overall, a good read I would recommend to fans of Greek mythology and those who do not mind a book with a slower place. 

Posted by: Regina C.