Circe by Madeline Miller is a rich retelling of the story a relatively minor character in Greek myth, Circe, the solitary sorceress who is best known for transforming Odysseus’ sailors into swine. The novel follows Circe’s journey from a misunderstood, and presumably feeble, daughter of the Titans to a self-empowered and formidable goddess exiled on the isolated island of Aiaia.
In this retelling, Circe is given a voice and a backstory, allowing readers to see her not only as a villain but as a complex, fully realized protagonist. Despite her exile, many well-known gods, humans, and monsters from Greek mythology enter Circe’s story, including, of course, Odysseus and Scylla, but also Prometheus, Hermes, Pasiphae, Daedalus, Minos, and his Minotaur, and a terrifying Athena. Through Circe’s eyes, we experience the trials of both ancient gods and mortals as she grapples with her growing powers, her loneliness, and her identity. The novel also explores femininity and how Circe’s power is often misunderstood or vilified solely because of her gender. Miller’s writing is gorgeous and evocative, drawing vivid pictures of the ancient world as well as Circe’s emotional life.
This is a great choice for anyone who enjoys retellings of classic myths, character-driven stories, novels featuring strong, complex female protagonists, or who just want to read a book with beautifully written prose.
