When I was younger, I remember watching the first Percy Jackson movie and being fascinated by the stories of Greek mythology.
I then began to research and read as much as I could about the ancient tales, but as with most childhood hobbies this fascination faded.
However, in reading the book “Circe” by Madeline Miller, I was reintroduced to the captivating world of mythology.
I first stumbled upon this book when I was scrolling through the “goodreads Choice Awards 2018” and noticed that this book was awarded the best fantasy novel of the year.
It had a near perfect rating and seemed to be a good book to bring me back to the stories I loved to hear and read when I was a child.
I went into this book not expecting much, but to my surprise I was quickly captivated by the story.
“Circe” is a novel about the daughter of the titan god Helios. As Helios is the god of the sun and considered the strongest of the Titans, his first-born daughter, Circe, is expected to be just as mighty.
However, to her family’s disappointment, Circe is not what they expected. Her parents go on to have more children and Circe is the black sheep of the family.
She is picked on and often left to herself. But, one day she figures out she is able to manipulate fate, this power is what we know as witchcraft.
When Zeus finds out about her power, he becomes threatened and banishes Circe to an island all on her own.
Throughout the book, Circe meets some of the most popular figures in Greek mythology. In reading about her experiences, readers will see Circe’s journey to developing her power and figuring out who she is.
After getting an idea about the novel, I thought it would just be a story filled with adventure and mythical creatures.
I definitely did not expect myself to find the main character, Circe, so relatable. Like many people, Circe feels alone and lost in the world.
She is surrounded by people who are talented and know what they want in life, but she has a difficult time understanding her purpose.
Throughout the book, readers will see Circe’s transformation from an insecure young goddess to a powerful, wise goddess.
And, through her journey to self-discovery there are some life lessons from which everyone can benefit.
While I did love the characters in this book and how the author would give detailed insight into Circe’s inner monologue, I did find some scenes to be unnecessary.
I would find myself drifting off or skimming over parts because they moved a little too slow or did not feel essential to the novel’s plot.
Also, while I do love Circe, there were certain aspects of her personality that were irritating.
She would make emotionally driven rash decisions which would come back to haunt her.
But, while these actions were annoying at times, they are also what made Circe such a relatable person.
She is not perfect and she makes mistakes, but she is trying to do what she feels is best.
Overall, I would rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. The characters are great, Circe is a flawed, relatable, strong and independent goddess, and the author’s writing is beautiful and easy to follow.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who likes classc retellings, Greek mythology or wants to delve more into the fantasy genre.
