Circe is the daughter of the great sun Titan, Helios. First of a quartet of siblings born from the union between Helios and the ravishing naiad Perse, Circe should be a force to be reckoned with and others should revel in her beauty—instead she is plain, not forceful but forgotten. Her siblings pity her and call her names, the father she idolises treats her as a servant to be ordered around, and her mother wishes she never existed.
Never to be treated as an equal among her brethren and failing to acquire a suitor, Circe falls in love with a human. Believing him to be her true love, Circe uses the secrets of the Gods to change him into his truest form, only to have him betray her and love another. Full of fury, Circe performs an unforgivable act for which she is banished from the world of the Gods, condemned to live her life alone, never again to bask in their glory. From loneliness comes inner strength, as well as an unexpected gift in the form of witchcraft. Should Circe embrace her inner witch? Or repent and return to the world of the Titans?
Madeline Miller, author of 2011’s The Song of Achilles, returns in this epic retelling of the plight of Helios’ estranged daughter Circe. This novel, while centred around convoluted ancient Greek mythology, was surprisingly easy to read, imparting colour to subject matter generally monochrome in nature with the result being a tale surprisingly reminiscent of Neil Gaiman’s retellings in Norse Mythology. Remaining faithful to the stories of old, the attention of the reader is retained by cleverly breaking Circe’s monotonous existence with secondary characters whom have lived epic lives. Cameos of note include Jason on his journey home after absconding with the golden fleece and Medea; Odysseus and his men taking shelter following the Battle of Troy; and Athena bestowing Circe with her presence in all her Olympian fury.
For a novel whereby the majority of events occur in a single location, this book didn’t skimp on its worldbuilding. Scenes enacted prior to Circe’s exile are full of lush imagery, which allows for full immersion into the world of the Titans. The reader can almost feel the heat emanating from Helios, awestruck by the eternal light which follows him like a prized pet. Circe’s dive into the deep renders the reader blind to all but her adversary. Inclusion of a map on the inside of the cover provides a simple but effective reference to the layout of Circe’s makeshift prison, giving the reader a view into the sparsely populated island where she is forced to live out her eternity.
Character building seems a large focus in Miller’s prose with even minor players having fully fleshed-out descriptions; I found myself relating to secondary characters such as Daedalus and Jason, merely a blip in Circe’s existence but affecting her personality and shaping her reality nonetheless. Interactions between our protagonist and her brethren felt full of emotion, giving the impression of tension which could be cut with a proverbial knife.
Overall, Circe was a riveting read for one who is familiar with the various tales of Greek mythology, imparting life into forgotten characters and providing an alternative viewpoint for the events undergone by all involved. I am unsure however, whether this particular publication would require additional research by those not particularly versed in ancient history. The narrative felt fresh and new, rising above the masses in a year full of alternative retellings and gender bent fairytales. While Miller’s work may not appease the avid mythology enthusiast, this narrative provides just the right amount of each character’s tale to keep the story flowing and retain the interest of the reader.
Circe was published in April 2018 and it is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and all good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
From the Orange Prize-winning, internationally bestselling author of The Song of Achilles comes the powerful story of the mythological witch Circe, inspired by Homer’s Odyssey.
When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.
Circe is the daughter of Helios, the sun god, and Perse, a beautiful naiad. Yet from the moment of her birth, she is an outsider in her father’s halls, where the laughter of gossiping gods resounds. Named after a hawk for her yellow eyes and strange voice, she is mocked by her siblings – until her beloved brother Aeëtes is born.
Yet after her sister Pasiphae marries King Midas of Crete, Aeëtes is whisked away to rule his own island. More isolated than ever, Circe, who has never been divine enough for her family, becomes increasingly drawn to mortals – and when she meets Glaucus, a handsome young fisherman, she is captivated. Yet gods mingle with humans, and meddle with fate, at their peril.
In Circe, Madeline Miller breathes life once more into the ancient world, with the story of an outcast who overcomes scorn and banishment to transform herself into a formidable witch. Unfolding on Circe’s wild, abundant island of Aiaia, where the hillsides are aromatic with herbs, this is a magical, intoxicating epic of family rivalry, power struggles, love and loss – and a celebration of female strength in a man’s world.
