Circe by Madeline Miller

“You are wise,” he said.

“If it is so,” I said, “it is only because I have been fool enough for a hundred lifetimes.”

‘It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment's carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did.’

Don’t put off reading this novel if you know nothing of the Greek gods and goddesses, it is easy to follow and there are no expectations on previous understanding. But equally, even if you are well versed in the mythology you will still be captivated by Miller’s vivid and engaging portrayal of this nymph (she is not a goddess, but is immortal).

Circe is the daughter of Helios, the god of the sun and the mightiest Titan. She is portrayed as an outcast when compared to her beautiful and obedient younger twin brother and sister. One day Circe stumbles across a human man and she finds herself enchanted by the mortal world. This encounter turns her entire life upside down and so begins her remarkable feminist tale.

Circe later discovers that she possesses the power of witchcraft, particularly the ability to transform rivals into monsters and therefore mess with the order and the power balance instilled by the gods themselves. Zeus is threatened by this new power, and his anger is further exacerbated by a lack of understanding surrounding witchcraft by the gods. In response, Zeus banishes Circe to a deserted island to live out her days. Whilst meant to destroy her, the island instead becomes the making of her.

With her new found independence she dedicates her days to honing her powers, exploring her new island and discovering all varieties of plants and animals, all the while becoming ever more powerful and resourceful. Her story is interwoven with the legendary tales of other Greek gods and goddesses such as the Minotaur, Daedalus and his ill-fated son Icarus, Meda and Odysseus. Many of which are familiar tales and bring a sense of sentimental value to the novel.

It is because of her interactions with these other people that Circe progresses and develops into a strong and resourceful woman. Her childhood is brutal and relentless, with her entire family either bullying her or collectively ignoring her. Therefore, there is a sense of grim satisfaction when she learns to hone her newfound powers and carve out some vengeance for herself. In other words, karma is a strong theme throughout.

Circe is beautifully rich, easy to read but still educational. It dedicates its pages to female strength, wisdom and intelligence.

#FLODown: Madeline Miller clearly has a fondness for Greek mythology, with her other published novel titled ‘Song of Achilles’ – although the reviews do not seem to favour her debut as highly as Circe.

Words by Mollie Kate Cohen