A gripping retelling of Ancient Greek myths, this book delves deeper into the witch Circe. This was one of the most enjoyable books I have picked up this year and was incredibly difficult to put down.

10/10

*4.5 stars*

Fierce, magical, and utterly captivating. It was so good to get such a story for a character that we see weave in and out of the stories of other, mostly male, characters in Greek mythology.

I do feel like I love The Song of Achilles a smidge more though, so I couldn’t give it 5 stars.

I really liked the premise of "Circe", but unfortunately the writing wasn't for me.

The novel is really slow paced and the writing style definitely took some time getting used to, but my main problem with the book was that Circe is a rather passive character in her own story. She becomes slightly more proactive towards the end but, for the most part, stuff just happens around her and to her instead of because of her.

The most interesting stories don't actually happen in real time in the novel, but are instead told to her by other characters who witnessed them. It was rather frustrating.

Overall, the mythology aspect of the novel is really interesting, but the novel itself is too slow-paced to really do anything with it.

Such a rich, intriguing, gorgeous read! The story is Miller’s adaptation of Ancient Greek myths/tales, tied neatly and seamlessly together, providing plot and motivation and depth to her main character. Scylla, the Minotaur, Odysseus, Penelope, Daedalus, Hermes, Athena, Prometheus, Medea and Jason are only some of the characters that feature here. Unravelling how she has fitted this all together is a real treat. Most of the stories are recognisable to us, but Miller’s spin on it adds a breath of fresh air and a quality of shiny newness to them as they pivot around a fully fleshed out Circe. Miller’s Circe is a mild, gentle yet determined goddess that has been subject to horror and deep disappointment and remained strong and standing. Circe is Helios and Perse’s daughter, a witch, nymph and goddess who is not entirely comfortable with her divinity and propensive to passivity. Her every action is motivated by deep emotions and after a thousand years Miller’s Circe finally comes to a profound resounding understanding of herself (she is not an arrogant, self possessed goddess but one on the very mortal journey in search of herself).

The key to this novel’s success is indubitably its incredibly beautiful poetic language (wonderfully wordy!) This must be a lovely book to listen to (so many little nuggets of pure poetry, “smooth as surf-rolled shell”) All the senses are alive and vibrating in the prose (almost as if on a higher level, like you would presume a goddess to feel and think and be aware. “My grandfather Oceanos smelled deep as rich river mud, and my father like a searing blaze of just-fed fire. Prometheus’ green moss scent filled the room.”)

And yet, Circe’s magical powers are very human, earthbound, tied in with nature and the mortal world – with drudgery. Her witchery is this what makes her such an accessible goddess. “Let me say what sorcery is not: it is not divine power, which comes with a thought and a blink. It must be made and worked, planned and searched out, dug up, dried, chopped and ground, cooked, spoken over and sung. Even after all that, it can fail, as gods do not. If my herbs are not fresh enough, if my attention falters, if my will is weak, the draughts go stale and rancid in my hands.”

This is not a proud goddess, easily offended and seeking to cause trouble. Miller has created a Circe capable of selfless love, attached to the solitude and silence of her island and to her lovers, a brave and fearless mother.

Ancient of Lays, vibrantly and powerfully brought to life

Madeleine Miller’s first book, The Song of Achilles, was a standout, stunning read. So it was with a mixture of trepidation and delight that I embarked on this, her second, Circe.

Within a few sentences I settled back with a huge sigh of surrendering relief, as it was clear from the off that the very high bar Miller had set for herself with her working of the story of Achilles was going to be equalled by Circe.

I can’t say this book is better than that one, or that one than this. In truth, she has sung another magical song for Circe.

There won’t be any surprises in the narrative, not for anyone enamoured of Ancient Greece – what do we call it, mythology? history?

Here again is part of the story laid out in Homer

Circe is in sharpest relief as part of Odysseus’ task/journey. She is the daughter of Helios, one of the Titans – older, more archaic and unpredictable gods, who were overthrown by the Olympians. Circe, who transgressed in some way, end up banished to an island. Her story connects with Odysseus as she is a witch/some kind of punitive goddess, and turned Odysseus’ sailors, and other sailors, into swine. Odysseus ‘tricks’ her, or is wise enough to be alert to how her spell happens (just don’t drink wine offered by witches)

But there is a lot more to Circe’s connections with these ancient lays, Jason, Medea, Theseus, the Minotaur, Ariadne, Prometheus and more, all have stories which touch hers

Miller, who I think is shaping up – if not exceeding, the carrying of Mary Renault’s mantle, breathes vibrant, relevant life into these tales of long ago.

She is immersed, as someone who went the academic route into the study of classical Greece, in her research. But, she is a transformative, magical, inspired writer. Either she knows the spells to get the Muses to descend, or she has inherited Circe’s special magical gift of ‘transformation’ because this gripping, intense, lush story springs off the page, and I have to say this ‘real’ world felt a flatter, colour leached one, compared to the enduring power of those classical times

I really cannot recommend this highly enough. Narrative, character, thought provoking substance and a skill with the craft of writing itself, all are superb.

I have to say that those Ancient Greeks have exerted a strong pull on me since childhood – mythic, archetypical, speaking to powerful collective unconscious depths. They are so much more than ‘fantasy’ And Miller, as a writer, gets those hairs up on the back of the neck shivers in this reader, echoing what some of those ancient sites in Greece do.

I was delighted to read this as an ARC from Netgalley.

Circe, in Miller’s telling, might easily be a Sister. Even though there is ONE bit of skulduggery against a prettier nymph, but, oh she realises her fault

Born a Titan, daughter of the sun-god Helios, and immortal Circe does not share the godlike traits of her siblings. She develops a skill for spells and falls in love with a mortal man, turning him into a god for her to love. When Glaucus rejects her for another she curses her and turns her into a monster, Scylla. Banished from the world because of this Circe's punishment is to live in exile on a small island called Aiaia. Even in exile Circe is not alone, fathers sent their nymph daughters to her for punishment and her family and the Gods call on her, but it with mortals that Circe learns vengeance and also love.

Weaving together many familiar Greek myths as well as Homerian legend, Circe is a triumph of storytelling. When that is coupled with poetic and beautiful prose then the book becomes something to savour and enjoy. Miller is a wonderful writer, her words are hypnotic yet the narrative is clear. She manages to include so many stories that the reader knows, placing her heroine in the centre, yet her rendering of the Odysseus myth is bother tender and also completely modern. I liked the previous book (The Song of Achilles) and I loved this one.

Madeline Miller’s second novel has been long awaited by fans after her gripping rendition of the lovers Achilles and Patroclus against the backdrop of the Trojan war. With her first as a retelling of Homer’s Iliad, what better than her second novel as a retelling of his Odyssey?
Circe is the witch-Godess who finds Odysseus stranded on her island. While she only features briefly in the original tale Miller uses her novel to expand upon and embellish a wonderful character.
Circe immerses us more in the world of the Gods than its predecessor and this time it give us a much needed exploration of a woman’s voice and experiences – including rape, pregnancy, childbirth amongst others.
Miller’s retelling focuses heavily on the concept of a ‘witch’ – an idea which gets Circe cast out from the world of the gods and a term which is still commonly used as a slur against women. The book gives us an incredible, and nuanced female character, not to mention a wonderfully compelling story which engages mythology and fantasy to give us a whole new take on a masculine and male-dominated history. Circe also completely inverts The Odyssey – which is a constant journey, while Circe is very much confined to the island of Aiaia. However, the novel is anything but claustrophobic; Circe has a whole island to run and use as a resource to hone her skill in witchcraft.
Feminist twists on classic elements of the story feel empowering – Circe turning men to swine becomes a glorious moment. This novel could not be more perfect for this moment when women have taken up the mantle to inspire and empower. It is also a perfect example of how we don’t need to write history in order to think about it differently and reframe it. Circe achieves what the best of historical fiction should – making the past relevant to the present moment.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.

Where to start with Circe? I loved it. Miller is a gifted author, and her words practically sing from the page here, imbuing a thousand-year old story about a traditional antagonist into a rich, nuanced tale about a story woman who defies practically everybody and chooses to live life as she wants.
So, I was a fan. Circe, of course, is about Circe the witch, the woman who hosted Odysseus on his long voyage back from Troy, and who had an unfortunate habit of turning sailors into pigs. Fortunately, this is only a part of the story here: Miller reimagines Circe from the start, as a young girl who believes in love, to the powerful witch that she becomes, giving her a character arc that never once feels forced. You really believe, by the end, that she’s changed, and every action she makes feels natural for the character.
And Circe herself is a great character. I always feel that the danger with writing historical fiction (or historical fantasy, as this probably is) about famous people, or legends, is that you run the risk of being a little boring and dry with the subject material; that’s not the case here. Circe is a likeable, powerful, interesting and very human person, who makes mistakes, and speaks with a profound kind of weariness that you can believe comes with having lived for thousands of years.
Along the way, we meet the great heroes of the Greek age, viewed from a completely new way: just as Circe is humanised, we see the creation of the Minotaur (and Scylla, in possibly one of the most stomach-churning scenes from the book), the legend of the Golden Fleece unfold, and we even meet Daedalus, the creator of legend whose son, Icarus, flew too close to the sun. Again, this could feel rote, but Miller has a gift for making the old seem new again, and I was hooked on every word.
At its heart, though, this is a story about strong women, and the way that they carve out their own spaces in the predominantly patriarchal world of Ancient Greece: from Circe herself, who is banished to an island for daring to stand up to her father, to Penelope, Odysseus’s long-suffering wife, who is finally given the attention she deserves. Miller treats these characters with great care, blowing the dust off them and bringing their own stories, blinking, into the light of day. And about time too.
If you can’t tell, I’m a massive fan of Circe. It has everything: a great plot, an excellent heroine, and a way of making the old new in the same kind of way Rick Riordan did for teenagers and angsty adults (of which I am one). Without doubt, my book of the month.

This story is beautifully written and so interesting to read - it made me want to go out and buy a book about Greek Gods to learn more about the stories within in. I enjoyed reading about Circe's life and the development of her character over the course of the book. Whilst this is a story about gods and witchcraft you can still relate to the themes and storylines which makes the story engaging and real but with a magical and mythical quality to the telling.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. I really enjoyed it

Utterly enchanting. 5 stars.

I give very few books 5 stars. For me, a 4-star book is very very good, but a 5-star book has an indescribable something extra and I want to rave about it to everyone.

Back in 2016, Miller’s previous book, The Song of Achilles, was one of 3 books I gave a top rating. So you could say I was the ideal customer for this book. But I also went in with very high expectations which could easily have been disappointed. So I’m thrilled to say that Miller has done it again: Circe is sublime.

The world Miller creates is so captivating if I’d had the chance I’d have read Circe straight through without taking my eyes from the page. I suspect this is largely due to the wonderful first-person voice of Circe. Her tone is clear and direct but also contains a convincing tint of other-worldiness appropriate to a goddess, although her story is more human than you might imagine.

Inspired as it is by The Odyssey, this story picks up on many well-known myths, recasting them in the light of Circe’s experience including the origins of the monster Scylla and the Minotaur. The only thing I could honestly remember about Circe from reading The Odyssey (many, many years ago!) was that she turned Odysseus’ sailors into pigs – well that certainly gets covered in this version of events and in such a way that Circe has your sympathy!

The imagination at work in Circe is staggering: not only in how Miller incorporates elements from The Odyssey and other versions of various myths into her story, but also in her descriptions of the mortal and immortal worlds. While the island of Aiaia is technically her prison, the place is bursting with life, in stark contrast to the dark stillness of Circe father’s palace where her story begins.

As you’d expect from a book partly based on The Odyssey, the pages are teeming with interesting characters both divine – including Athena, Helios and Hermes – and mortal, including Daedalus and, of course, Odysseus himself. However, while Odysseus is a highly influential figure in this story, the man is only a small part of our heroine’s very long life, and Miller’s Circe steps beyond the wanderer’s story to deliver a full narrative of her own. One which doesn’t shy away from some of the grimmer details of the encounters of gods and men, such as the Trojan War, and the story of Medea and Jason.

Overall: more wonderful word alchemy from Madeline Miller. If you enjoyed The Song of Achilles, put Circe at the top of your to-read list.

I adored this book. I think Madeline Miller did a wonderful job of bringing Circe to life as a well rounded, complex individual who comes into her own as the book progresses. I did a dedicated review on my channel: https://youtu.be/v_7kwdGTjgo

When I read Madeleine Miller’s Song of Achilles last year I was completely enchanted by it, and expressed the hope that she would move on from the Siege of Troy and write a book about Odysseus. And she has written something even better - the story of Circe, described in Wikipedia as ‘a goddess of magic or sometimes a nymph, witch, enchantress or sorceress in Greek mythology’. So her relationship with Odysseus forms an important part of her life, but Circe’s own story, in this version, is equally fascinating: Miller gives the ever-fresh details of women’s lives in an imaginary world of gods and goddesses, and makes them real and painful and lovely and relevant to today. Her way of writing and telling the story is mesmerizing: this is a fully imagined world, and even if the reader can’t quite work out the extent of their powers and how their bodies compare with human physicality – well you can be sure Miller has.

Circe is an enchantress: she is different from her siblings and companions, she feels ignored and unhappy. She is banished to a lonely island after using her powers, and there she stays: and becomes famous for turning visiting sailors into swine. And that is where Odysseus and his crew come in.





She is a wonderful character: Grumpy and miserable at times, but slowly building her own world and her own way of living. She is intensely real – much more so than many of the women in contemporary novels. I was completely in love with her.

It is difficult to describe what makes a book magical. It is partly the way Miller writes. This is Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, describing how the goddess Athene has featured through his life:
‘I have seen her many times,’ he said. ‘She used to come to me when I was a child. Never in her own form. I would notice a … quality to certain people around me. You know. The stranger with overly detailed advice. The old family friend whose eyes shine the dark. The air would smell like buttery olives and iron. I would speak her name, and the sky would ring bright as a bell…’ An owl circled on its silent wings.
I can see these books are not for everybody, but I loved them more than almost anything I have read in the past year or two.

Another recent book with a classical theme that I very much enjoyed was Colm Toibin’s House of Names, which deals with the Oresteian Tragedy, roughly contemporary with the events in this book.

Circe from an 18th century book of costumes, from the NYPL.

Ulysses at the table of Circe by John Flaxman, also NYPL.

Circe and her swine is from an 1896 book, also NYPL.

It’s been a long wait for Madeline Miller’s second novel (her first, The Song of Achilles, was published in 2011), and now that I’ve read it I’m pleased to say that I thought it was worth waiting for. I enjoyed The Song of Achilles, though maybe not as much as other people seemed to, but I found Circe an even more interesting read with characters and storylines which I personally found much more appealing.

I will start by admitting that before beginning this novel, I knew nothing about the witch Circe other than what I remembered from her appearance in the Odyssey, when Odysseus lands on the island where she lives alone with her lions and wolves, turning men into pigs. My knowledge of Greek mythology is sadly lacking, so I was curious to find out what else her story would involve and how it would be enough to fill a whole book.

The first thing we learn is that Circe is the daughter of the sun god Helios and the Oceanid nymph Perse. She grows up in the shadow of her seemingly more talented siblings, possessing neither the beauty of her sister Pasiphaë, who goes on to marry King Minos of Crete, nor the magical powers of her brothers Perses and Aeëtes (the future king of Colchis). To make matters worse, she even has the voice of a mortal rather than a goddess. It is only when she is driven by an uncontrollable jealousy to cast a spell on a rival that she discovers she does have a talent for witchcraft after all…but this same action results in her exile to the remote island of Aiaia.

Her new home is lonely but peaceful and Circe occupies herself with taming the wild animals that share her island and learning the properties of the flowers and herbs that grow there. Gradually she becomes aware of the true extent of her abilities as a witch and finds that she is not the failure she has always believed herself to be.

Although Zeus has forbidden her to leave the island, Circe is not entirely isolated and she receives a number of visitors bringing news from the outside world. I was surprised by how many different myths Madeline Miller pulls into the story – myths even I was familiar with, such as Jason and the Golden Fleece, Daedalus and Icarus, the torture of Prometheus, and the Minotaur in the Labyrinth. I hadn’t expected to find all of these in a book about Circe (and I’m not sure how much involvement, if any, she has in other versions of these myths), but the way in which they were woven into the novel felt quite natural. The only problem is that with Circe trapped on her island, there’s a sense that most of the action is taking place elsewhere and our heroine is left to rely on information brought by Hermes and her other visitors.

It is not until halfway through the book that Odysseus comes to Aiaia and Circe’s story begins to overlap with the events of the Odyssey. This is another turning point in Circe’s life, as the time she spends with Odysseus leaves her with some important choices to make and carries the novel forward towards its conclusion.

I loved Circe; it’s a beautifully written novel and ideal for readers like myself who only have a basic knowledge of the Greek myths. I felt a stronger connection with Circe herself than I did with Patroclus in The Song of Achilles and for that reason this is my favourite of the two books, but I do think if you enjoy one of them you’ll probably enjoy the other.

"I cannot bear this world a moment longer."
"Then, child, make another."

circe is far quieter than the song of achilles, fa more of an introspection and character study than tsoa was, although the latter held elements of that as well. despite their differences, i don't think that i know which one i like the most.

at first, i wasn't sure i would like this novel. it begins very slowly, following the myth incredibly closely, and i didn't really see where things were going to go, or how miller was going to make things fresh and interesting. but i should not have doubted her.

it is very literary and fragile, and manages to be both soft and steely at the same time. it was tragedy after tragedy and could be harrowing at times, but much like tsoa, i did not feel bereft afterwards. there is a positivity and a wonder to it; even if you have lived literally a thousand centuries and all of those years have been miserable and wretched, that does not mean your future has to be as well.

and that really was a reminder i needed right now.

I cannot believe that I have not read anything about Circe before, especially as she has a part to play in so many other Greek legends!
Madeline Miller expertly tells this tale of Circe, the Witch Goddess, while the lives of mortal men are played out by the Gods. I could not put this book down and was desperate for Circe to find some happiness.
If you enjoyed "Song of Achilles", then this book is a must - in fact, it is better!

Circe tells the story of the eponymous goddess of witchcraft, nymph, witch, or enchantress, depending on your source material, daughter of the sun god Helios and the nymph Perse. Skilful with herbs and potions, Circe's magic is rooted in this knowledge, and she finds herself weaving spells to protect herself as well as to wreak revenge on those who have wronged her. Drawing on classical sources such as Virgil and Ovid, Madeline Miller deftly weaves the various interpretations of Circe's character in an effort to reclaim the goddess' story and let her tell it from her own mouth in her own words.

What I was most pleasantly surprised with was Madeline Miller's willingness to portray the vanity, selfishness, maliciousness, and downright cruelty of the gods - to allow them to be the "bad guys" and painted vividly with all their flaws intact. Although they might place themselves, and each other, on very high pedestals and considering themselves above the rules of us mere mortals, Circe worked well to expose the many, many hypocrises of the famous gods of the Greek pantheon. It allowed the gods to be both charming and cruel, even to their own kin. I was shocked and appalled by some of the disgusting behaviour of the exalted gods and heroes of Greek mythology and even though I was dimly aware of the stories, I had never quite considered them in a serious light and stopped to consider what they were saying about the arrogance with which the likes of Athena or Ares could act, especially considering the power they had over the mortals who worshipped and feared them in equal measure.

Intriguingly, the novel also focused on those figures who might not necessarily be the main characters in your typical Greek myth retelling - for example, Zeus is not the main god but rather Helios, we spend more time with Hermes, Daedalus, and Odysseus than we do with Achilles or Hercules. I had never previously had an opinion about Hermes, for example, aside from picturing him as he is the 1997 animated Disney film, a far cry from how he is portrayed in this novel - Hermes seemed charming but oh so dangerous, all too self-aware of the enchanting effect he could have on others and using it to his own advantage and for his own ulterior motives. I could completely understand how a person would be sucked in by his personable character and I hated myself for it, thereby proving how successful the author was at building his characterisation.

Perhaps one of my favourite sections of the novel was in Crete and Circe's dynamic with the inventor Daedalus as he found himself subject to, not the will of King Minos but rather that of the King's wife, Pasiphaë, Circe's sister. Forced to construct a wooden device inside which Pasiphaë might hide (and in which she is then famously impregnated by the Cretan bull, Greek mythology is wild), Daedalus is then wracked with guilt over the abomination that occurs when he is compelled to not only help deliver the minotaur child successfully (with Circe's aid) but also to construct a labyrinth in which the child may be contained. It was a story with which I was familiar but Madeline Miller's take on it helped to add a level of humanity which cut through the ridiculous level of suspension of disbelief required and brought the storyline down to emotions and concepts that were both understandable and relatable - the love, and responsibility, we feel for our children.

There was one principal thing that, unfortunately, kept me from enjoying Circe enough to give it 5 out of 5 stars - this book's pacing was extremely odd. I would feel like I'd read chapters upon chapters but when I checked I'd actually only advanced 2 or 3% - it was very jarring and off-putting and meant I felt like I was moving through this story at a glacial pace. In some ways, I wonder if this was intentional. After all, if Circe is immortal then what we, as mere mortals, would consider "a lifetime" actually only feels like a day to her, so I don't know whether this unusual pacing was purposeful on the part of Madeline Miller in order to try to replicate that sense of time passing as a lifetime's worth of events could happen to Circe and actually only represent 2% of "her story". However, intentional or not, the pacing still kept jarring me out of the story and disrupted the overall flow of the narrative, thereby preventing me from entirely investing in Circe's life.

Ultimately, however, Circe well and truly succeeded in reminding me of my fondness for all things Greek mythology - each of the references to various mythological figures and epic adventures helped to renew this once-great love, as Madeline Miller's passion for mythology, as well as her willingness to play around with its infamous characters, shines through this novel in spades. If you like your mythological retellings seemingly fantastical but exploring extremely relevant and relatable concepts then Circe is most certainly one to watch out for.

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 her father or viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft. A power that 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. But there is a 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.

This is my most anticipated book of the year. The Song of Achilles is one of my all-time favourite books and I couldn’t wait for Madeline Miller’s second book. I was a little worried that Circe wasn’t going to live up to her first book since I’m not familiar with Circe’s story as I was with Patroculs, Achilles and The Trojan War. But I am glad to be proven wrong. Miller is a gifted writer, as a reader, I feel content to sit back and let her weave the story. She has this way of bringing these myths to life and making the Gods seem relatable and human beneath their perfect looks and awesome power.

Unlike with The Song of Achilles, this story focuses on a mostly forgotten character of mythology. I had only come across Circe in The Odyssey. As most of you know, she’s the witch who turned Odysseus' men into pigs. But in reality, she’s much more than that. She doesn’t fit in with the god and is too similar to the mortals. She is exiled for her difference. Finding solace in her isolating, she takes the time to learn about her power as a way to protect her from the danger that gods and men bring to a woman alone.

I loved learning her history, of seeing why she'd ever turn men into pigs. She’s more complex than I ever would’ve guessed. I am so thankful Miller has written this story. There aren’t the many women is Greek Myth who have as much control over their own lives Circe does. It was refreshing to see Circe as a woman doing what she can survive, rather than as the evil witch.

One of the most surprising things about this story was just how connected Circe is to the other famous heroes, including the monstrous Minotaur, doomed Icarus, the hero Jason and his dangerous wife Medea and of course cunning Odysseus. I want to go back to the myths and see if Circe is mentioned.

The story feels fabled in places and reflects the lyrical prose perfectly. But it’s not to say this book isn't packed full of all dark mythic themes of pain, punishment, violent grief and revenge. There are some powerful scenes that leave you feeling wounded. In between these defining moments of Circe's life, the pace stretches back into the dreamlike state. The change doesn’t pull you from the story but rather emulates the classical storytelling of antiquity. Also, reflects Circe. As a goddess in her own right, she is immortal and doesn’t have the same sense of time as we mere mortals do. I enjoyed seeing this because maybe being able to live forever is as grand as we think it would be.

Circe is a stunning tale and I flew through it, which is saying something as I’d been in a bit of a reading slump all year. I cannot recommend this book enough. If you love Greek myth, magic, in-depth character studies and/or beautiful writing you need to pick this book up. I cannot wait to see what Miller tackles next.

Madeline Miller's long awaited sequel to "Song of Achilles" does not hit the emotional peaks of her debut novel, however, "Circe" is still an excellent and fascinating read. As I'm not an expert on Greek Mythology I constantly found myself looking up this and that reference, and in my limited knowledge decided Miller had covered a very broad spread of Greek Mythology. Perhaps too much? The reason I say this is because the leading character 'Circe' who is a daughter of Helios is a relatively minor figure in Greek mythology but in this retelling has her hand in many big stories, ranging from the birth of the Minotaur to meeting Jason (of the Argonauts fame). Perhaps she did? After Circe comes of age and is banished to an island for practicing witchcraft the rather melancholic story meanders along, probably over hundreds of thousands of years! At various times she loves mortals, clashes with other Gods, plots with others, whilst keeping her own individuality. A huge amount of research obviously went into this beautiful book, and I think it would be enjoyed even more by someone with a deeper knowledge of Greek Mythology than me. However, "The Song of Achilles" was essentially a love story that brought a tear to my eye, a hard book to follow, "Circe" failed to do that, but it was still an excellent read.

Miller's talent for storytelling remains unchallenged, as does her characteristic soothing and enchanting narrative voice. Circe is a page turner, it grips you with curiosity and it binds you with a fondness for a character you learn to love. Miller manages this by deconstructing the myths and interpretations and offering her own, a tapestry of tales retold and (what feels like) prejudices set to rights. It is empowering and uplifting. And, -spoilers-, this one has a happy ending.

A wonderful retelling of the Greek myth of Circe, by Orange Prize winning author Madeline Miller. Daughter of a sea nymph and the God Helios, Circe is neither a god, nor human. After an unhappy childhood growing up in the halls of a god, Circe is banished to an island after casting a dark spell to entice a lover, where her talent for witchcraft thrives. Throughout her exile, many pass the island, including Hermes, Daedalus, and most importantly, Odysseus. Many Greek myths are mentioned throughout the book – some in passing, some in detail, all involving Circe in on way or another. Miller always manages to make a myth many of us already know, to be even more interesting and fascinating, since they are woven into the story rather than being presented separately. I have waited a long time for another book by Madeline Miller, and I was not disappointed.