Circe by Madeline Miller

Megan | Biotechnology High School, Grade 9

Rating: ****

Circe is the daughter of the powerful sun god Helios, and she grows up in her father’s court in Oceanus. However, amongst her more ambitious and vainglorious siblings, she cannot help but sink into the background, submissive, lonely, and unwanted. After a whirlwind of love, betrayal, and calamity, Circe is exiled to her own island called Aiaia. For the first time, she has true freedom and the ability to come to terms with her own individuality and identity. Although, as a minor god, she is lacking in terms of divine power, she learns to wield her skill at witchcraft, a formidable weapon in its own right. Over the years, Circe’s life intertwines with the stories of renowned Greek heroes and figures, including the likes of Dedalus and Odysseus. Through her struggles with loss, heartbreak, and femininity, readers watch as Circe continues to fight her way through life with her willpower keeping her afloat.

I decided to pick up this book because I thoroughly enjoyed Madeline Miller’s beautiful writing style in The Song of Achilles, and I am really glad that it did. Circe is more a story about a woman’s journey through life and her struggles to garner true respect from others in a time and society when men overpowered and overshadowed women. I love Miller’s unique way of retelling Greek tales through the perspectives of less commonly known figures and capturing what life was like outside of the direct spotlight. Circe is an imperfect and morally gray character, making her flawed actions relatable and her character development all the more satisfying and fulfilling. If you are looking to give this book a try, I would highly recommend that you listen to the audiobook, for the narrator does an incredible job of portraying the essence and atmosphere of the book.