Oyinda Loves Books

Title: Circe

Author:  Madeline Miller 

Narrator:  Perdita Weeks

Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Bookstore Link – Amazon Link 

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I absolutely love Greek mythology, and retellings based on Greek mythology. This one was very special because Circe, to me, is not as popular as the Olympian gods and goddesses as their offspring. The author did a wonderful job of creating the world of Circe and bringing the ancient Greek gods and their mortals to us.

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I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was solid. The narrator did a good job of telling the story. The only downside to her narration was the portrayal of male voices.

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The story was really great. The plot was solid and we followed Circe throughout her life, troubles, love, and loss. The addition of characters in the story were absolutely brilliant. It’s a Greek mythology retelling, so it’s expected that there’s a ton of characters – gods, nymphs, kings, lords, and mortals. The audiobook came with a pdf of the characters and a little description of who they are. I expect that the ebook and physical copy will have this as well, so it was easy to keep track.

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I loved delving into Circe’s world and back to ancient Greece. Following the story from one place to another was an awesome experience. I recommend this to everyone who loves Greek mythology and a great story.

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Blurb:

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 pause-resisting suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, and love and loss as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man’s world.