Episode 01: Circe

Writing Style: ★★★★★

Plot: ★★★☆☆

Characters: ★★★★☆

Overall: ★★★★★

Madeline Miller’s Circe gives new life to an ignored woman from Homer’s Odyssey. The retelling follows the sorceress Circe as she navigates a world of expectations from family, gods, and men. 

From the moment she was born, Circe faced impossible standards set by her family and reinforced by society. When she did not conform perfectly to these expectations, Circe was ostracized by her community. When she finally retaliates she is banished to a deserted island with only wild animals for company. However, this punishment reveals itself to be auspicious when Circe is both forced to confront and freed to express her most candid self in her solitude. 

As Circe matures, so do her magical abilities, earning the reputation of a powerful sorceress. Throughout this journey, she interacts with and learns from countless heroes and gods, further aiding her growth into a powerful and confident woman.

Circe is an enrapturing, witty, and immersive retelling of a classic myth. It offers a rare female perspective on a classical story and presents its namesake as a strong and worthy protagonist instead of a villain scheming for revenge. In doing so, this book acknowledges the struggles women have and continue to face.