REFINE Reviews: Circe — REFINE Magazine

By: Ariana dos Santos

She is an isolated goddess. She is a powerful witch. She is a woman just trying to find herself.

Greek mythology was a large part of the childhoods of those of us who were fans of the Percy Jackson series, and Circe by Madeline Miller is a novel that allows its readers to delve into the tales of Greek mythology in a new and imaginative way.

Circe is Miller’s second novel and was published in April 2018. The novel was a New York Times Bestseller—as was her first novel, The Song of Achilles. A TV series for Circe is currently in the works at HBO Max.

Miller’s novel follows the story of Circe, a goddess who discovers she doesn’t have normal powers like other gods and goddesses—she’s a witch. Circe gets in trouble with the Olympians for her witchcraft and is exiled to a deserted island. It is on this island that she learns how to control her abilities and become a powerful witch. This novel covers thousands of years of Circe’s story, and during those years she encounters some of the biggest characters from Greek myths. She meets gods like Hermes and mortals like the hero Odysseus, who you probably know from The Odyssey.

At times, the story lags a bit, but it picks up speed as years pass and more new characters, who all bring something different to the table for Circe to learn from in her journey, are introduced. As the story picks up, you won’t want to put it down until you’re finished.

Circe is a character with many layers. She is an immortal goddess who is unlike any of the other gods or goddesses she grew up with; she’s not overly proud nor does she look down on others or on mortals. She’s trusting and naive, but only to a certain point—she makes mistakes and she learns from them.

In these times, Circe’s story is extremely relatable. She’s isolated, lonely, and unable to leave her home. Sound familiar?

Circe may have been “social distancing” too, but there’s another part of her story that readers can relate to. She is constantly underestimated by the people she encounters. I think, once in a while, that’s happened to a few of us, but Circe never lets those people dictate her story. She proves them wrong, again and again. It’s a great lesson for all of us to learn—never let someone put you in a box because your growth or transformation into the person you’re meant to be isn’t dictated by anyone but you.

Circe is a unique retelling of a Greek myth that is filled with self-discovery and transformation—magical and mental. If you want a bit of an escape, let Miller pull you in with her story and you can lose yourself for a few hours on the island of Aeaea with Circe. Let’s be honest, books like this one might be the only way you’ll be able to travel this summer. So, why not pick this one up?