A review by moth_meg
Circe by Madeline Miller

reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Circe is an engaging retelling that pays homage to the style of the myths while effortlessly pulling in modern themes of feminism, individualism, and humanity.

This book is much more of a character study than the mythical adventure I was hoping for. While I didn’t specifically dislike this book, I found myself constantly waiting for ~something~ to happen. By the time I understood that the author’s vision for the book was simply different from my expectations, this feeling of unsatisfied anticipation had already impacted my reading experience pretty heavily.

Despite spanning a long period of time, the pacing is quite slow. This is largely due to the focus on Circe’s emotional turmoil and processing of the major events, rather than a driving plot that moves the story forward. Most of the action from the original myth happens off of the page, and we instead see Circe as she is left processing her complex emotions in the wake of these events.

Miller does a great job capturing Circe’s age- her character development over time is natural and clear. Circe's behavior and motivations change as she moves through distinct eras of her life. We see her as a timid child, a vengeful young woman, and a fiercely protective mother. While Circe is a compelling character, she isn't always likable, and her actions often left me frustrated (especially having prior knowledge of the myths and knowing how her choices would come back to haunt her).

Ultimately, Circe reconciles these different parts of herself and reconnects with her own humanity. I appreciated that Miller left some ambiguity around the ending. Whether or not Circe is successful at becoming mortal is unimportant. Rather, her perception of herself, of the life that she wants and deserves, is the central theme.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, as both of these stories center emotional journeys amidst a fantastical setting. If you are looking for a more action-packed fantasy story, this may not be the book for you.