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Circe

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( 1,365,702 ratings, 136,338 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Circe by Madeline Miller reimagines the story of the lesser-known mythological figure from Greek mythology. The novel follows Circe's journey as she defies her divine lineage, finds her power in witchcraft, and confronts gods and mortals alike. As she encounters figures like Odysseus, the story weaves themes of identity, independence, and transformation into a vivid tapestry of her life.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5200
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are drawn to rich, character-driven tales that blend Greek mythology with vivid storytelling. The author breathes new life into ancient myths by giving depth and voice to the legendary sorceress, exploring themes of power, identity, and transformation. Fans of historical fiction and fantasy will likely find this enchanting retelling both powerful and immersive.

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Circe

Follows Circe, the banished witch daughter of Helios, as she hones her powers and interacts with famous mythological beings before a conflict with one of the most vengeful Olympians forces her to choose between the worlds of the gods and mortals.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
This #1 New York Times bestseller is a "bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story" that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, The New York Times).

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange childโ€”not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess powerโ€”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 the mortals she has come to love.

With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world.

#1 New York Times Bestsellerโ€”named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, the Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, the A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self, Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, the Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Circe by Madeline Miller has been widely praised for its lyrical prose and fresh take on Greek mythology. Critics appreciate how the novel provides a complex, empowering portrayal of the titular character, transforming her from a mere mythological figure into a fully fleshed-out heroine. The book has been acclaimed for its immersive storytelling and the way it balances enchanting myth with modern themes of power and identity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780316556323

Publisher: Back Bay Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 April 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Back Bay Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 137.0mm

Height: 206.0mm

Weight: 381g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Madeline Miller is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two novels: The Song of Achilles, which won the Orange Women's Prize for Fiction 2012, and Circe, which was short-listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2019. Her books have been translated into over thirty two languages. Miller holds an MA in Classics from Brown University, studied in the Dramaturgy department at Yale School of Drama, where she focused on the adaptation of classical texts to modern forms, and taught Latin, Greek, and Shakespeare to high school students for over a decade.

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