In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. Circe is a strange child not powerful and terrible, like her father, nor gorgeous and mercenary like her mother. Scorned and rejected, Circe grows up in the shadows, at home in neither the world of gods or mortals. But Circe has a dark power of her own- witchcraft. When her gift threatens the gods, she is banished to the island of Aiaia where she hones her occult craft, casting spells, gathering strange herbs and taming wild beasts. Yet a woman who stands alone will never be left in peace for long and among her island's guests is an unexpected visitor- the mortal Odysseus, for whom Circe will risk everything.
So Circe sets forth her tale, a vivid, mesmerizing epic of family rivalry, love and loss the defiant, inextinguishable song of woman burning hot and bright through the darkness of a man's world.
Untitled
In this book we follow Circe’s melancholic tale. She is the daughter of Helios, living a life constantly belittled by those around her until she is later exiled to the island of Aiaia. Yet, despite such a harrowing tale, this book has easily become one of my favourites!
Circe is such a well written- character. From the very first page each sentence felt almost poetic, lyrical and expressive in a way that filled me with strong empathy for the main protagonist from the get-go. Circe is a complex heroine who has faced painful hardships and yet continues to be resilient. She shows compassion to others and maintains a sense of morality. This is a tale where Circe's femininity and independence are revered, and the nature of divinity is put into question.
In short, I really loved this book. I was completely immersed into Circe's world of gods, monsters, heroes and magic! It was interesting to see how each character and trial throughout the book left an impact on the woman she became. The ending of the novel was bittersweet yet warranted with Circe's story finally coming to a close. I recommend this book to everyone, particularly if you have an interest in Greek Mythology and/ or a love for a strong, yet flawed, protagonist. - Sabrina (QBD)
Guest, 21/11/2020
Untitled
Let Madeline Miller take you back into the world of Ancient Greek mythology in the way only she can. Miller brings heart and humanity to these epic stories - while her characters loom larger than life, she manages to make them relatable, even sympathetic. Circe is remembered as a vicious witch, entrapping Odysseus on her island and turning his sailors into pigs. But who was she really? Why was she there? Where did she learn her sorcery? Miller takes these questions and weaves a beautiful, compelling narrative that fleshes out Circe's story and makes her so much nmore than just the villain in someone else's tale. - Rebecca (QBD)
Guest, 03/01/2020
