REVIEW: Circe by Madeline Miller

 I read 'Circe' by Madeline Miller just over a year ago. I went in to it with little to no knowledge on greek mythology and no familiarity with who Circe is. I was apprehensive, afraid a lot of the references were going to go straight over my head - but Madeline Miller didn't fail me in this carefully constructed retelling. I want to firstly acknowledge the extensive research that went into this book, pulling pretty much any mention of goddess Circe from all corners of Greek mythology. After I read it, I went to dig more information on Circe, but there is very little to be found - only brief mentions and anecdotes.

The reason I write this review over a year later is because I feel this story had a profound and lasting impact on me. Madeline Miller handled this story with such a delicacy to details, and got well indulged in the shoes of Circe. I never considered this book would have a such a memorable feeling - a feeling of reward and satisfaction. 

Circe is born a misfit, a less - appealing daughter of Helios and a more introverted character amongst her sisters. But she isn't without her flaws, it's her fierce jealousy that gets her in a particularly messy predicament, leading her to then banishment to an island of isolation. 

'Circe' is a story of intentions and emotions, each theme taking centre stage throughout the entirety of the book. It's familiarity allows the story to be held in your memory, Madeline Miller truly breathed human life into a story of Gods.