Book Review: Circe by Madeline Miller

Title: Circe

Author: Madeline Miller

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Historical Fiction

Pages: 393

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Year Published: 2018

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child- neither powerful like her father nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of the 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 with the mortals she has come to love."

My Rating: 3/5

I love the idea of these books, but I find that once I'm reading them, I find them hard to get through. The stories themselves are interesting, and seeing how they relate to the original mythology is so fascinating, but the endings and stories themselves don't capture my attention the way I wished they would. I would certainly read more by the author. I enjoyed this one more than the last one I read by the author. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Title: The Song of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult Fiction, Retelling, Romance

Pages: 408

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2011

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "My father was a king and the son of kings."

"Achilles, 'the best of all the Greeks,' son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.

They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the art of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny. Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice."

My Rating: 4.25/5

I know, you see a rating like this and you think, "What does that even mean?" Let me explain. When I give a book 4.5/5 to me that means it just didn't quite feel like a 5, but it was so close. When I give a book this rating it means usually that it got so hyped to me that it was bound to have a bit of a letdown. I loved the writing, I loved the setting and the way the author retold the story, but I found portions of the story didn't capture my attention. I did start with the audiobook and I loved it (just didn't finish it before my loan was up). I would recommend obviously if you're a huge mythology fan, or if you are interested at all, but keep in mind that the hype can get to you.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny