Trigger Warnings: familiar abuse, rape

Circe is one of those books that spans a whole lifetime, and the circle closes neatly.

Classical texts and mythology often focus on power - in form of war, sex, politics, etc. - and the sheer span of some heroes' lifetimes. Circe's lifetime, while longer than most of these heroes', does not drip in glory and honor. It's ugly, it's raw, it's lonely, it's painful. She reminds us many a time that immortals do not experience pain as mortals do, but also touches on the unspoken truth: the absence of this pain does not mean that gods do not feel any pain, but instead a different one. Circe, as an incredibly human goddess, proves this to be a fact. Madeline Miller's retelling of Circe's life shines a light on the scars trauma, family, power, abuse, existence and many other aspects in the lives of mortals and immortals alike leave on those who experience them. There's catharsis, but there also isn't. Life isn't always fair and just.

The center question might as well be: what's the price of immortality?