Circe by Madeline Miller, narrated by Perdita Weeks
Audio Publisher by Hatchet Audio
Publication Date: April 10, 2018
ISBN: 9781549142383
Miller’s Circe is a retelling of the mythos of the goddess and sorceress of Aeaea famed for her witchery in Homer’s The Odyssey. However, Miller’s story draws from other famous myths and ancient Greek sources to retell Circe’s legendary life from her infancy to the edges of her epic myth. Miller’s book Circe invites readers to discover the goddess’ relationships and involvement with the Titans, monsters like Scylla and the Minotaur, Daedalus and his son Icarus, the famous mortal witch, Medea, and the wily Odysseus.
Circe is filled with intriguing characters that drive the storyline befitting any ancient Greek epic. Miller humanizes the mythos and allows for a connection between listeners and ancient Greek mythology through her pacing, tones, and character development. Miller’s ability to take inspiration and details from ancient epics, plays, and myths, and weave them into a well-balanced and stunning narrative for a modern day audience is tribute to her effective and powerful writing style. In turn, Weeks’ narration is appropriately lyrical, subtle, and powerful for all the characters within this epic narrative. Furthermore, Weeks’ ability to enact the appropriate tone, presence, and powerful nature to titans, gods, demigods, and mortals respectively is melodically seamless.
While Circe may be considered an adult fiction title, the book will appeal to teens who have a fascination and love for mythology, adventure, and strong female protagonists. For reader who have enjoyed Riordan’s work, The Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series, or Peter Lerangis’ Seven Wonder series; this book would be next great read. Furthermore, readers who have enjoyed books like The Mist of Avalon by Marion Bradley, Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, Mary Renault’s book series on Theseus or Alexander the Great, and ancient epics and plays like The Odyssey, The Aeneid, Oedipus Rex, Agamemnon, and other similar works would enjoy Miller’s works. For fans for TV shows and films set in Ancient Greece that include mythology: Hercules and Xena, The Odyssey, Clash of the Titans, Jason and the Argonauts, and The Immortals, Circe would be a great recommendation. Lastly, for those who enjoy video games; lovers of Hi-Rez’s Smite, the God of War series, Age of Mythology, and Hellblade:Senua’s Sacrifice, would relish in this story of the infamous goddess.
–Brittany Garcia