During this time, Circe and Odysseus have an affair. She invites them all to recuperate on the island where they remain for a year. After Odysseus gains Circe’s trust, she agrees to turn his crew back into men. In the Greek epic, Circe magically transforms Odysseus’ crew into a drove of squealing pigs. Prior to reading this book, I didn’t know very much about Circe beyond her role in The Odyssey. Named the goddess of pharmakeia, she taught herself how to create drugs and spells using the natural resources from her island. She wasn’t born with powers like other gods and goddesses. (Note: This review contains spoilers)Ĭirce is a nymph goddess, eternally exiled to the island of Aiaia by her father, Helios. Told from the first person point of view, Circe rectifies her muddied reputation as a witch and temptress which is heavily informed by her depiction in The Odyssey. In the first few pages, Miller sets the stage to reveal a perspective we’ve never heard before.

This hook immediately showcases the author’s masterful storytelling abilities She hints at the ancient timeline of the narrator’s origins and even suggests that Circe has contributed to our modern lexicon. Her second retelling, Circe, begins with the tantalizing first line, “When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist”. Of course, I was compelled to read more of Madeline Miller’s writing. I felt like a curious child again with my renewed obsession. I fell down a rabbit hole researching other myths such as Apollo’s lustful pursuit of Daphne and Medusa’s transformation into a snake-haired monster. If you read my previous blog post, you’ll know I absolutely loved that book. “It was their favorite bitter joke: those who fight against prophecy only draw it more tightly around their throats.” Madeline Miller, CirceĪt the end of last year, I read The Song of Achilles thus rejuvenating my love of Greek retellings.

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