"This is as close as you will ever come to entering the world of mythology as a participant. Stunning, touching, and unique."--Margaret George, author of The Confessions of Young Nero
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--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 power--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.
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--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 power--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.
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1
DRHPaints
(Grade: C–) I feel like I must be reading a different book than the one folks are so excited about. The passive, first person writing is tedious and I found myself checking out often and picking up better books. The stories being told have great potential to be reimagined in new and interesting ways, but unfortunately it's just the same tales told in a way that glosses over the details and functions as a cram session to familiarize a new generation with mythology. Not worth the time.
(Grade: C–) I feel like I must be reading a different book than the one folks are so excited about. The passive, first person writing is tedious and I found myself checking out often and picking up better books. The stories being told have great potential to be reimagined in new and interesting ways, but unfortunately it's just the same tales told in a way that glosses over the details and functions as a cram session to familiarize a new generation with mythology. Not worth the time.(Rated on Dec 19, 2018)
1
RemusLupin
(Grade: C) Most of this book read like a spark notes entry on Greek mythology, narrated by a protagonist I did not connect to enough to sustain the story. The plot, if you can call it that, is boring and poorly paced. If you are planning to pick this one up because you liked her previous book, just go reread The Song of Achilles instead.
(Grade: C) Most of this book read like a spark notes entry on Greek mythology, narrated by a protagonist I did not connect to enough to sustain the story. The plot, if you can call it that, is boring and poorly paced. If you are planning to pick this one up because you liked her previous book, just go reread The Song of Achilles instead.(Rated on Aug 12, 2019)
-1
Bug
(Grade: B+) A fascinating new angle on the Greek myths, that I really enjoyed. Many of the names will be familiar to the reader, but that was not an impediment to the well plotted and written story. I really enjoyed how small details came back and were relevant later on, and how characters had many different facets. Well worth a read!
(Grade: B+) A fascinating new angle on the Greek myths, that I really enjoyed. Many of the names will be familiar to the reader, but that was not an impediment to the well plotted and written story. I really enjoyed how small details came back and were relevant later on, and how characters had many different facets. Well worth a read!(Rated on Jul 15, 2018)