Madeline Miller’s Circe is a powerful and poetic reimagining of the life of the infamous witch from Homer’s Odyssey. Miller breathes new life into Greek mythology, transforming Circe from a footnote in Odysseus’ journey into a fully fleshed-out woman with agency, depth, and an evolving sense of self.

Born to the sun god Helios and the nymph Perse, Circe grows up feeling alienated and unloved. Unlike her divine kin, she lacks immediate power and allure. Her discovery of witchcraft, through the transformative properties of herbs, marks a pivotal turning point in both the novel and her character’s journey. This moment feels particularly compelling, capturing the wonder of self-discovery and the quiet, grounded magic of the natural world. Her exile to the island of Aiaia becomes a place of liberation rather than punishment, a sanctuary for self-mastery and reflection, an introvert’s paradise filled with solitude, animals, and aromatic cedar smoke.

Miller masterfully weaves in a pantheon of mythological figures, including the Minotaur, Medea, Daedalus, and Odysseus. Each encounter pushes Circe toward greater emotional maturity. The novel explores themes of identity, power, motherhood, and the balance between mortality and divinity with subtlety and care.

However, the ending may feel unsatisfying to some. The reader is never sure if Circe attains her deepest desire. Nonetheless, Circe stands out as a luminous, feminist retelling that gives voice to a historically maligned figure. Miller crafts a tale that is not only enchanting but empowering, making Circe one of the most compelling characters in Greek mythology. A must-read for lovers of myth, magic, and stories of quiet resilience.