This #1 New York Times bestseller brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey, as she discovers her own power, forges her identity, and challenges the gods who seek to control her. "[A] bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story." --The New York Times 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. With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world. Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self, Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider.

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Published Apr 14, 2020

416 pages

Average rating: 7.86

3,704 RATINGS

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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Circe* by Madeline Miller captivates with poetic, vivid prose and a fresh, female-centered retelling of Greek mythology. Both mythology a...

LBiggs
LBiggs
9/10 stars
A beautiful story about how an immortal existence may be inferior to mortal life. The prose, characterisations and pacing were all on-point!
Desert rat
Desert rat
8/10 stars
I enjoyed this book very much and especially the tie in with The Odyssey movie right now. Beautifully written and I really liked the author’s interpretation.
Astacianna
Astacianna
10/10 stars
If you love mythology, you’ll pour over these pages. If you know nothing about mythology, you’ll still love this dramatic tale. There’s love and longing on many levels. There’s scenery and feelings that will stick with you.
msafiya
msafiya
7/10 stars
My first dive into Greek mythology, and I enjoyed it overall. Circe is beautifully written, with vivid descriptions that bring the world and characters to life. I especially liked how it challenges the idea of perfect gods, showing that immortality can be more of a curse than a blessing. While I appreciated the themes and atmosphere, parts of the story felt slow, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. Still, it was an immersive introduction to Greek mythology.
Mrs Mayo
Mrs Mayo
8/10 stars
I liked the story a lot. It felt stretched out at times. I enjoyed the development of multiple characters and how they weaved together. Solid ending.

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