This was an incredibly challenging review to write, as I feel like it is going to be an unpopular opinion. I had a lot of high hopes for this book after seeing it circulate for the past few years, and was pretty excited to get into it when it came up in my book club. But after just *barely* getting it read in the 3 weeks of my library loan, the best I can say is it was an interesting book, but I found it long. 

Circe follows the life of Greek god Helio’s daughter from before the story of Prometheus to the dawn of Rome. Half god, half nymph, and unpopular amongst those in her father’s halls for her look and mortal-sounding voice, she spends much of her immortal youth wandering, passing the endless hours, but one day learns she has a power of transformation. She is exiled to the island Aiaia to live out her lives. There, she learns to hone a witchcraft, and meets many from those heroes of our stories: Odysseus, Hermes, Athena, Daedalus, among others.

Even while being about a woman coming into her power and finding her own strength, interacting with Greek legends, I found a lot of the book empty. I wouldn’t say it was boring, as I didn’t have to make myself read it, but thinking back on the story, only a handful of scenes really come to mind. Of course, part of this story is about Circe’s exile, so that much of the book is her, on her own and with her own thoughts, makes sense. It just didn’t really work for my own preferences. I think if this book appeals to you, or you like retellings, greek stories, and strong women characters, you should still give Circe a go. After all, lots of people love this book!

Miller has another novel about Achilles, and I’m tempted to try that one as his life story has a lot more action in it, but I won’t rush to track it down. Instead, I was inspired to get the audiobook of The Odyssey, recently translated for the first time by a woman. This edition has received a lot of very interesting press for the differences in language used when translated with a feminist lens. Unfortunately it was an Audible exclusive, but I knew I had been holding on to my first free audiobook for a reason.