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Circe

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Circe

By: Madeline Miller
Narrated by: Perdita Weeks
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This #1 New York Times bestseller is a "bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story" that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, TheNew York Times).

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.

#1 New York Times Bestseller -- named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, the Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, the A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self, Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, the Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider.

Accolades & Awards

Goodreads Choice Award
2018
Audible Essentials
Fantasy Essentials
#BookTok
#BookTok Audible Essentials Classics Fantasy Essentials Goodreads Choice Award Greek Mythology War & Military Fantasy Magic Mythology Thought-Provoking Fiction Literary Fiction Genre Fiction Ancient Historical Fiction Emotionally Gripping Witty Heartfelt Fairy Tales Feel-Good Ancient Greece

Critic reviews

Winner of the 2019 Indie Choice Award
Shortlisted for the 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction
Named one of the 'Best Books of 2018' by NPR, The Washington Post, Buzzfeed, People, Time, Amazon,Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, the A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Southern Living,and Refinery 29.
"Circe,' [is] a bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story that manages to be both epic and intimate in its scope, recasting the most infamous female figure from the Odyssey as a hero in her own right."—Alexandra Alter, New York Times
"One of the most amazing qualities of this novel [is]: We know how everything here turns out - we've known it for thousands of years - and yet in Miller's lush reimagining, the story feels harrowing and unexpected. The feminist light she shines on these events never distorts their original shape; it only illuminates details we hadn't noticed before."—Ron Charles, Washington Post
"[Miller] gives voice to Circe as a multifaceted and evolving character...'Circe' is very pleasurable to read, combining lively versions of familiar tales and snippets of other, related standards with a highly psychologized, redemptive and ultimately exculpatory account of the protagonist herself."—Claire Messud, New York Times Book Review
"The story of Circe's entanglement with Odysseus lasts far beyond the narrative of "The Odyssey," making for compelling material to revisit. But ultimately it's as a character that Circe stands apart....Through her elegant, psychologically acute prose, Miller gives us a rich female character who inhabits the spaces in between."
—Colleen Abel, Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Miller's lush, gold-lit novel - told from the perspective of the witch whose name in Greek has echoes of a hawk and a weaver's shuttle - paints another picture: of a fierce goddess who, yes, turns men into pigs, but only because they deserve it."—NPR.org
"so vivid, so layered, you could get lost in it... Whether or not you think you like Greek Mythology, this is just great storytelling. It feels cinematic."— NPR's Here & Now
"Spellbinding..Miller has created a daring feminist take on a classic narrative; although the setting is a mystical world of gods, monsters, and nymphs, the protagonist at its heart is like any of us."—O Magazine
"Miller's spell builds slowly, but by the last page you'll be in awe. In prose of dreamlike simplicity, she reimagines the myth of Circe."—People
"Miller, with her academic bona fides and born instinct for storytelling, seamlessly grafts modern concepts of selfhood and independence to her mystical reveries of smoke and silver, nectar and bones."—Entertainment Weekly

Featured Article: The top 100 fantasy listens of all time


When compiling our list of the best fantasy listening out there, we immediately came up against the age-old question: Is this fantasy or science fiction? The distinction is not as clear as you may think. Dragons, elves, and wizards are definitely fantasy, but what about wizards that also fly space ships? (Looking at you, Star Wars.) For the sake of fantasy purity, the top 100 fantasy listens include the best audio works in all manner of fantasy subgenres.

Featured Article The top 100 fantasy listens of all time

Editor's Pick

A golden god, and a golden book
"This is the best book I’ve ever listened to. It is about a goddess, Circe, but Madeline Miller’s use of perspective and rich, precise language makes each moment evocative, thrilling, and above all human. It’s about as easy to make gods seem believably human as it is to make humans seem believably god-like, but there is no sign of struggle in Miller’s technique. Her Circe is just as dynamic, with traits—doubt, skill, jealousy, honor, indulgence, nostalgia—that rival the deepest of literature’s great characters. I know that sounds bombastic, but while listening to this I honestly felt like this whole book was gold, like each moment I was taking a bite from a glowing orange. The cover is gold, so that might have contributed to the impression, but I think it was in large part thanks to Perdita Weeks’s flawless performance. The warmth of her voice, constantly challenged by the chaotic tragedies and joys of Greek mythology, imbued the book with its own fascinating and treasured mortality."
—Michael D., Audible Editor

Best of #BookTok on Audible Listen to what everyone’s raving about
Captivating Retelling • Complex Protagonist • Mesmerizing Voice • Feminist Perspective • Emotional Journey

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A brilliant weaving of Greek mythology around one woman's (goddess's) journey of discovery, survival, and self actualization. The story is compelling, well paced, and sheds new light on old tales. The narrator is playful and thoughtful, channeling raw emotion with great dynamism throughout. This has been one of the best audio experiences I've had to date, and is easily a new favorite.

Brilliant

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This book is a wonderful read / listen. It's the story of Circe, who is the archetypal witch - a woman who manifests her power through magic. It's written from her perspective, and turns classic stories that blame women for acting irrationally from the male perspective around to show how women will react to difficult situations in understandable ways when they arw are powerless. It pulls this off in an entertaining manner. I am looking forward to more from the author.

A cross between the play "Wicked" and Greek mythol

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I loved everything about this story. I’ve always been a fan of Greek Mythology, but the rich layers that Madeline Miller adds to their stories is captivating! Circe was so refreshing because she wasn’t the usual petty God. I loved her human emotions and her compassion, her fierce love and even her regrets. Perdita Weeks has the most beautiful voice. I would listen to anything she narrates and hope she does many more audible performances. Most women irritate me when trying to do a mans voice but not Perdita. Her performance was perfect. I hope these two continue to pair up!

Fantastic from start to finish

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Beautifully written in prose that is the music of the gods and Week's performance is the nectar.

Miller's Circe will cast a lyrical spell on you

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Loved this book so much. I was never interested in Greek mythology until listening to this audiobook. Now I want to learn so much more about it. Love!

Amazing book!

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