Circe by Madeline Miller
At the time of reading this book, especially in the earlier chapters, I really didn’t know if I was going to enjoy it. I found the timeline a little confusing to follow (assuming I’m remembering correctly that it is in fact non-linear – I read this almost three years ago and I’ve read literally hundreds of books since then so it can be difficult to remember).
Anyway, Greek mythology inspired stories are some of my absolute favourites. I’ve loved them since I was a teenager and read the Starcrossed series. This is very different from that though. It’s pretty dark and Circe is nothing short of a badass. Which I kind of knew already but I learnt so much more about her from this book – if it is based on the original tale. I’m going to guess it is, but this is the first and only book I’ve read from Madeline Miller despite the fact that I owned The Song of Achilles before this one. I’ll get to it at some point.
When I’m talking about older reads in these posts I usually look back at my review to jog my memory, but my review is pretty useless – classic me when it comes to five star reads. I absolutely did not make notes back then when reading and I remember reading this during a family holiday.
What I do remember is this book is insanely immersive. Madeline Miller’s writing style makes this story feel so real. The best part of my review is probably this one sentence: “This book is utterly poetic and even the most violent of moments are beautifully written.”
Synopsis: In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child–neither 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 with the mortals she has come to love.
Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe
I keep telling myself I need to continue reading this series. It’s been two years since I picked up volume two, which is crazy. I’m obsessed with these graphic novels. Not only is the art style absolutely stunning, the story is amazing. I love when Greek mythologies are told in new and inventive ways.
One thing to note with volume one is that it has some scenes that could be quite distressing so make sure you read the content warnings before you start reading. None of it is outright graphic and you don’t actually see anything, but it is heavily implied. This is an important part of Persephone’s story, so it has context within the plot and hasn’t been thrown in just for dramatic reasons.
This series, as of volume one and two, may be the sweetest depiction of Hades so far. I know he’s technically a bad guy that forces Persephone to live in the underworld with him, but in Lore Olympus he’s a bit of a loser. People definitely still fear him but when it comes to Persephone he’s a real lover boy.
Including Lore Olympus in this post has given me the push to continue the series. I really want to own the physical copies but they’re huge and pretty pricey – maybe one day.
Synopsis: Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—witness what the gods do after dark in this stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of mythology’s best-known stories from creator Rachel Smythe.
Persephone, young goddess of spring, is new to Olympus. Her mother, Demeter, has raised her in the mortal realm, but after Persephone promises to train as a sacred virgin, she’s allowed to live in the fast-moving, glamorous world of the gods. When her roommate, Artemis, takes her to a party, her entire life changes: she ends up meeting Hades and feels an immediate spark with the charming yet misunderstood ruler of the Underworld. Now Persephone must navigate the confusing politics and relationships that rule Olympus, while also figuring out her own place—and her own power.
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