Circe by Madeline Miller

“But in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation was he to me.”I think Greek mythology was the only test I took that I got 100% on in my entire school career. I love it and I forgot how much I enjoyed learning about all of these immortal gods with very mortal jealousy and pettiness.

When this book came out, I remembered Circe was the daughter of Helios... but I could not remember anything significant about her besides the fact that she used herbs to cast spells. Circe certainly is a lesser known god and I think, though she does play a pretty pivotal part in odysseus' journey, Madeline Miller used her lack of notoriety and took some liberties, and in my opinion, she took all the right liberties.

When Circe is born to her Nymph mother, Perses, her father prophesies that she will marry a lesser known prince. Perses, who had hoped her child would marry a powerful god that would bring fame to her family, casts Circe aside. The siblings that arrive after her despise circe. They have great beauty and great power and circe, as far as she is aware, is completely ordinary... until she isn't! In an act of jealousy Circe uses her new found power for evil and Zues WAS 👏 NOT 👏 HAVING 👏 IT. Circe is sent to a lifetime of exile on an island and though that seems like an ending, Circe uses it as a sort of remaking.

I'm not sure I have read a story that is so consistently and relentlessly strong in narrative all the way through. Exquisite writing propelled this story forward, but the story structure was impressive. The last two chapters were written so well I had non-stop goosebumps.

Not only is this the best book I have read this year, it might be moving up towards the top of one of my all time favorites. I will be recommending this for the rest of my days. I am super excited to read Madeline Miller's Song of Achilles very soon.

5/5 Stars