When I started Circe, I had no idea what the plot would include, other than a slight hint of a character going by the name of Circe. But I was pleasantly surprised by the structure of multiple shorter stories that string together to form a continuous narrative with excellent depth to the key and recurring characters.
Miller’s prose is beyond doubt brilliant. Enchanting, accessible, beautiful. Circe was so easy to read and glide from page to page. It was frankly impossible to become bored and easy to return to, with an instant immersive quality.
There is a singular PoV, present in the character of the goddess, Circe. You accompany her through childhood and watch as her naivety and ignorance is erased. You sympathise with her. You understand her. She commits heroic and tragic acts that combine to create a character of exquisite depth that as a reader I have rarely encountered.
“I thought once that gods are the opposite of death, but I see now they are more dead than anything, for they are unchanging, and can hold nothing in their hands.”
There is a reason why Circe has become a phenomenon, winning the Goodreads 2018 award and being critically acclaimed across all platforms. The prose is magnificent. The plot is a blend of humour, romance, grief and everything between. Characters are expertly crafted. What more can I say?
Any lovers of the classic Iliad and Odyssey, or any other Greek/Roman tale will most likely love this book. Whether you love or like this, I know of only very few who have disliked this read. So if you want a safe read that is almost a guaranteed pleasure, choose Circe!
4.75/5 STARS
