Fantasy Wednesday: Circe by Madeline Miller

Title: Circe
Author: Madeline Miller
Page Count: 394
Rating: B
Format Read: Hardcover
Genre: Mythology retelling
Keywords: Greece, gods, witches
Kid Appropriate: No

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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.

My Review:

This was my final Book of the Month pick for April 2018. I did truly enjoy this book. If you are at all familiar with Greek mythology (whether from school or Rick Riordan) much of the story will be old news for you, but if you are unfamiliar with it then you won't feel completely lost at sea. Miller does a good job of covering the basics in a coherent manner.

The voice of our narrator, Circe, is slow. And I do not mean necessarily that it was a boring book, though some people will certainly find it so. Rather, this story meanders along without a care to rush. It matches the immortal nature and timelessness of our main cast of characters. If you're looking for a relaxing read this is the one.

If you prefer more mystery or action in your stories then I would recommend passing on this one. I did find myself losing focus several times while reading this story and now that it has been a few months since I finished reading it, I can't remember much about it. That usually is a good sign that the book was not awful but also will not make my favorite books list for 2018

Slight warning: Do be aware that rape is present in this story.