Circe

Rating: 5/5 stars
Author: Madeline Miller
Genre: Fantasy/Mythology
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Release Date: April 10th, 2018
Pages: 393

Synopsis:

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, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which 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, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is 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.

Review:

What Madeline Miller achieves in Circe is nothing short of extraordinary. I’ve always loved retellings, but this isn’t just a retelling — it’s a reclamation. Miller takes a character long painted as a footnote or a villain in The Odyssey and gives her depth, voice, and undeniable power.

This is Circe’s story, told from beginning to end. We see her “childhood” in the house of Helios, her banishment, and her centuries of solitude on Aiaia. We watch her shape her own destiny through encounters with mortals and immortals alike — from her part in the birth of the Minotaur, to her friendship with Daedalus, to her fraught relationship with Odysseus.

Miller’s prose is lyrical yet accessible, blending myth and humanity in a way that feels timeless. Her Circe is not flawless — she is lonely, proud, vulnerable, fierce, and achingly human despite her divinity. That complexity is what makes her unforgettable. By the time Odysseus arrives in her story, we no longer see her as a dangerous witch from an old myth, but as a fully realized woman whose choices and pain we understand.

This novel also resonates on a thematic level: it’s about female agency, survival, and the courage to stand alone. Circe’s power comes not just from her witchcraft, but from her resilience and her refusal to let either gods or men define her.

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Final Thoughts

Circe is one of those rare books that feels like a gift — a shimmering blend of myth and storytelling that breathes new life into an ancient tale. It’s a treasure on my shelves and one I know I’ll return to again and again.

If you love Greek mythology, feminist retellings, or simply beautifully written fantasy, this book is for you. And if you’ve ever read The Odyssey, prepare to never see Circe the same way again.

I cannot recommend it enough.