Listen free for 30 days
-
Circe
- Narrated by: Perdita Weeks
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £18.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Song of Achilles
- By: Madeline Miller
- Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
- Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son, Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfil his destiny.
-
-
Stunning, beautifully written epic
- By Amy Rice on 04-08-21
-
Ariadne
- The gripping tale of a mythic heroine seen through modern eyes
- By: Jennifer Saint
- Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
- Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As princesses of Crete and daughters of the fearsome King Minos, Ariadne and her sister, Phaedra, grow up hearing the hoofbeats and bellows of the Minotaur echo from the labyrinth beneath the palace. The Minotaur—Minos' greatest shame and Ariadne's brother—demands blood every year. When Theseus, prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. But helping Theseus kill the monster means betraying her family and country.
-
-
not very good.
- By Chris on 15-05-21
-
The Silence of the Girls
- By: Pat Barker
- Narrated by: Kristin Atherton, Michael Fox
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The great city of Troy is under siege as Greek heroes Achilles and Agamemnon wage bloody war over a stolen woman. In the Greek camp, another woman is watching and waiting: Briseis. She was a queen of this land until Achilles sacked her city and murdered her husband and sons. Now she is Achilles' concubine: a prize of battle. Briseis is just one among thousands of women backstage in this war - the slaves and prostitutes, the nurses, the women who lay out the dead - all of them voiceless in history.
-
-
Audible Please replace the male narrator 😐
- By Anne Brierley on 24-02-20
-
Where the Crawdads Sing
- By: Delia Owens
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For years, rumors of the 'Marsh Girl' have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life - until the unthinkable happens.
-
-
Oh my word...
- By Private on 09-05-20
-
The Priory of the Orange Tree
- By: Samantha Shannon
- Narrated by: Liyah Summers
- Length: 25 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction - but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.
-
-
Shame about pronunciation
- By Debbie F Carter on 24-04-19
-
Life of Pi
- By: Yann Martel
- Narrated by: Sanjeev Bhaskar
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One boy, one boat, one tiger.... British comedian, actor and broadcaster Sanjeev Bhaskar, OBE performs this brilliant edition of a work of fiction that is loved by fans around the world. After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a 16 year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orangutan - and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The scene is set for an extraordinary adventure.
-
-
Where do I begin......
- By Amelia on 21-09-20
-
The Song of Achilles
- By: Madeline Miller
- Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
- Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son, Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfil his destiny.
-
-
Stunning, beautifully written epic
- By Amy Rice on 04-08-21
-
Ariadne
- The gripping tale of a mythic heroine seen through modern eyes
- By: Jennifer Saint
- Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
- Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As princesses of Crete and daughters of the fearsome King Minos, Ariadne and her sister, Phaedra, grow up hearing the hoofbeats and bellows of the Minotaur echo from the labyrinth beneath the palace. The Minotaur—Minos' greatest shame and Ariadne's brother—demands blood every year. When Theseus, prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. But helping Theseus kill the monster means betraying her family and country.
-
-
not very good.
- By Chris on 15-05-21
-
The Silence of the Girls
- By: Pat Barker
- Narrated by: Kristin Atherton, Michael Fox
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The great city of Troy is under siege as Greek heroes Achilles and Agamemnon wage bloody war over a stolen woman. In the Greek camp, another woman is watching and waiting: Briseis. She was a queen of this land until Achilles sacked her city and murdered her husband and sons. Now she is Achilles' concubine: a prize of battle. Briseis is just one among thousands of women backstage in this war - the slaves and prostitutes, the nurses, the women who lay out the dead - all of them voiceless in history.
-
-
Audible Please replace the male narrator 😐
- By Anne Brierley on 24-02-20
-
Where the Crawdads Sing
- By: Delia Owens
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For years, rumors of the 'Marsh Girl' have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life - until the unthinkable happens.
-
-
Oh my word...
- By Private on 09-05-20
-
The Priory of the Orange Tree
- By: Samantha Shannon
- Narrated by: Liyah Summers
- Length: 25 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction - but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.
-
-
Shame about pronunciation
- By Debbie F Carter on 24-04-19
-
Life of Pi
- By: Yann Martel
- Narrated by: Sanjeev Bhaskar
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One boy, one boat, one tiger.... British comedian, actor and broadcaster Sanjeev Bhaskar, OBE performs this brilliant edition of a work of fiction that is loved by fans around the world. After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a 16 year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orangutan - and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The scene is set for an extraordinary adventure.
-
-
Where do I begin......
- By Amelia on 21-09-20
-
A Thousand Ships
- By: Natalie Haynes
- Narrated by: Natalie Haynes
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In A Thousand Ships, broadcaster and classicist Natalie Haynes retells the story of the Trojan War from an all-female perspective, for fans of Madeline Miller and Pat Barker. This was never the story of one woman, or two. It was the story of them all.... In the middle of the night, a woman wakes to find her beloved city engulfed in flames. Ten seemingly endless years of conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans are over. Troy has fallen.
-
-
Disappointing
- By Dr Ann-Maree Nobelius on 25-06-19
-
House of Earth and Blood
- The Crescent City, Book 1
- By: Sarah J. Maas
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Evans
- Length: 27 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Half-Fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan loves her life. Every night is a party and Bryce is going to savour all the pleasures Lunathion - also known as Crescent City - has to offer. But then a brutal murder shakes the very foundations of the city, and brings Bryce's world crashing down. Two years later, Bryce still haunts the city's most notorious nightclubs - but seeking only oblivion now. Then the murderer attacks again. And when an infamous Fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, is assigned to watch her every footstep, Bryce knows she can't forget any longer.
-
-
Amazingly boring, some technical isdued
- By Bob on 20-03-20
-
The Mercies
- By: Kiran Millwood Hargrave
- Narrated by: Jessie Buckley
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
1617. The sea around the remote Norwegian island of Vardø is thrown into a vicious storm. A young woman, Maren, watches as the men of the island, out fishing, perish in an instant. Eighteen months later, a sinister figure arrives. Absalom Cornet has been summoned to bring the women of the island to heel. With him travels his young wife, Ursa. In her new home, and in Maren, Ursa encounters something she has never seen before: independent women. But where Ursa finds happiness, even love, Absalom sees only a place flooded with a terrible evil, one he must root out at all costs....
-
-
Transported back 400 years to Vardo
- By Michelle on 04-04-20
-
Norse Mythology
- By: Neil Gaiman
- Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
- Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The great Norse myths are woven into the fabric of our storytelling - from Tolkien, Alan Garner and Rosemary Sutcliff to Game of Thrones and Marvel Comics. They are also an inspiration for Neil Gaiman's own award-bedecked, best-selling fiction. Now he reaches back through time to the original source stories in a thrilling and vivid rendition of the great Norse tales.
-
-
it's ok.
- By Anonymous User on 23-12-20
-
The Odyssey
- By: Homer, Emily Wilson - translator
- Narrated by: Claire Danes
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Acclaimed actress Claire Danes burnishes an epic story of heroes, gods, and monsters in a groundbreaking translation of The Odyssey, the first great adventure story in the Western literary tradition. When the wily warrior-king Odysseus sets off for home after the Trojan War, he doesn’t realize this simple undertaking will become a perilous journey of 10 years. Beset at every turn, he encounters obstacles, detours, and temptations—both supernatural and human—while his wife Penelope fends off would-be suitors desperate to take the throne.
-
-
Line by Line Translation of Homer's Odyssey
- By IM1 on 28-11-18
-
The Heart's Invisible Furies
- By: John Boyne
- Narrated by: Stephen Hogan
- Length: 21 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cyril Avery is not a real Avery, or at least that's what his adoptive parents tell him. And he never will be. But if he isn't a real Avery, then who is he? Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out from her rural Irish community and adopted by a well-to-do if eccentric Dublin couple via the intervention of a hunchbacked Redemptorist nun, Cyril is adrift in the world, anchored only tenuously by his heartfelt friendship with the infinitely more glamourous and dangerous Julian Woodbead.
-
-
Phenomenal
- By Kerri on 19-02-17
-
The Love Hypothesis
- By: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Callie Dalton
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a third-year PhD candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships, but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive on her way to a happily ever after was always going to be tough, scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting woman, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees. That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor and well-known ass.
-
-
Why did ppl let me read this????
- By Anonymous User on 09-10-21
-
The Power
- By: Naomi Alderman
- Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh, Naomi Alderman, Thomas Judd, and others
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
'She throws her head back and pushes her chest forward and lets go a huge blast right into the centre of his body. The rivulets and streams of red scarring run across his chest and up around his throat. She'd put her hand on his heart and stopped him dead.' Suddenly - tomorrow or the day after - girls find that with a flick of their fingers, they can inflict agonizing pain and even death.
-
-
Visceral, Stirring and Inspirational
- By Raine on 29-12-16
-
Scythe
- By: Neal Shusterman
- Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: Humanity has conquered all those things and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life - and they are commanded to do so in order to keep the size of the population under control. Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe - a role that neither wants. These teens must master the "art" of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
-
-
This is a seriously unpleasant and disturbing book
- By dee on 29-02-20
-
Six of Crows
- By: Leigh Bardugo
- Narrated by: Jay Snyder, Brandon Rubin, Fred Berman, and others
- Length: 15 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price - and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone.
-
-
Almost 5* if they weren't all children
- By Emelia on 19-08-19
-
The Muse
- By: Jessie Burton
- Narrated by: Cathy Tyson
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On a hot July day in 1967, Odelle Bastien climbs the stone steps of the Skelton gallery in London, knowing that her life is about to change forever. Having struggled to find her place in the city since she arrived from Trinidad five years ago, she has been offered a job as a typist under the tutelage of the glamorous and enigmatic Marjorie Quick. Although Quick takes Odelle into her confidence and unlocks a potential she didn't know she had, she remains a mystery - no more so than when a lost masterpiece with a secret history is delivered to the gallery.
-
-
This narration is so bad, the author should sue
- By barbara on 30-01-17
-
Silver Birch, Blood Moon
- By: Ellen Datlow - editor, Terri Windling - editor
- Narrated by: Jo Howarth
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The four previous volumes in Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling's anthology series of fairly-tales retold with a distinctively modern edge have been hailded by reviewers as "brilliant", "provocative", and "disturbing". In this triumphant new collection of original fiction, 21 of today's leading writers spin the cherished fables of childhood into glittering gold - offering magical tales for adults, as seductive as they are sophisticated.
Summary
Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2019
From the Orange Prize-winning, internationally best-selling author of The Song of Achilles comes the powerful story of the mythological witch Circe, inspired by Homer's Odyssey.
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe has neither the look nor the voice of divinity and is scorned and rejected by her kin. Increasingly isolated, she turns to mortals for companionship, leading her to discover a power forbidden to the gods: witchcraft.
When love drives Circe to cast a dark spell, wrathful Zeus banishes her to the remote island of Aiaia. There she learns to harness her occult craft, drawing strength from nature. But she will not always be alone; many are destined to pass through Circe's place of exile, entwining their fates with hers. The messenger god, Hermes. The craftsman, Daedalus. A ship bearing a golden fleece. And wily Odysseus, on his epic voyage home.
There is danger for a solitary woman in this world, and Circe's independence draws the wrath of men and gods alike. To protect what she holds dear, Circe must decide whether she belongs with the deities she is born from or the mortals she has come to love.
Breathing life into the ancient world, Madeline Miller weaves an intoxicating tale of gods and heroes, magic and monsters, survival and transformation.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
More from the same
What listeners say about Circe
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- madeleine davitt
- 06-05-18
Brilliant
This is the first audio book I have bought. I thought the book was one of the best books I have read and listened too in years. It’s stunningly beautiful and outstanding in terms of the theme and tread of the story. It rates for me as the best book I have read in years. I will without doubt buy her other books. It was also beautifully read the reader was captivating. I would read and listen to this book again and again to remind me of what a good author can do. Thank you
74 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mrs. S. Shayle
- 26-04-18
Outstanding
I wondered if this would be as good as Song of Achilles. In a word yes it is. It has quite a slow start where you can get lost in all the different gods and their petty vengeances. However once Circe is exiled to her island it becomes more profound and Millers descriptive powers are highly evocative. Better to listen than read.
60 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kathryn
- 03-10-18
Bingeworthy
Couldn’t stop listening! Only to sleep and even then I didn’t want to, such a beautiful book
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sofie
- 19-01-19
A unique retelling of Greek myths
Circe by Madeline Miller is an interesting, unique tale based on the Greek myths. Miller has taken a character and made their story her own. I felt that this was a very original story, but that at times I was not completely gripped. It was a solid 3* listen on Audible. Circe by Madeline Miller is out now from Hachette Audio.
The story
Circe is a Greek goddess and daughter of the Titan, Helios, who causes trouble and gets banished to live on the island of Aiaia by herself for eternity. However, humans do as they please, and when their boats start washing up on the shores of Aiaia, Circe will learn what it means to be human, to be a man and to be a woman. With other gods passing through, changing both their fates and hers, Circe will have to protect herself and the things she holds dear if she wants to live independently.
My thoughts on Circe…
Circe by Madeline Miller is essentially clever and well-written, with many anecdotes about various Greek gods and goddesses, nymphs and witches alike. I enjoyed the way Miller has woven the stories together and ensured that this novel feels like a real Greek myth, as the reader is faced with mounds of intertextuality and broken stories glued together. I particularly enjoyed the anecdote of Circe’s sister and the birth of her child/monster, which shows Miller’s strengths as an author. Unlike Stephen Fry, Miller ensures that Circe is involved in every story, whether she is hearing and commenting on things, or she travels somewhere and witnesses various extra things as she goes.
However, I will say that the story as a whole felt a bit long, as I was not completely gripped by all of the anecdotes and woven in stories as I was the main one. I got very into this audiobook when Circe would lure the men to her island, and I particularly enjoyed Miller’s sense of character that came apparent through this story line. Circe herself is an independent and fierce woman, but fell a little bit short as I felt that she came across a bit entitled at the beginning and never truly understood how to let go of the things she cares about, at least not without something new to distract her.
Overall, Circe by Madeline Miller was an enjoyable read for me. I would recommend it to people who enjoy Greek myths, but without as much graphic content as in Fry’s Mythos. This story does fall more into the young adult range, which makes it accessible for a wide range of audiences who will love it. I enjoyed listening to this book on Audible, and would encourage other fans of Greek mythology and adventure tales to read or listen to this title.
24 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Beatleclaire
- 25-09-18
Excellent
Starts well and maintains it momentum. Very well read by Perdita. I would recommend this book.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rusty
- 26-05-21
Unimaginative Retelling
I struggled to finish this book. Like Hercules with the Nemean lion it felt like an endurance battle. After completing my labour I was left feeling thoroughly disappointed, especially after seeing all the praise heaped upon it like so many pathetic offerings. I'm a big fan of Greek myths so a critically acclaimed retelling of one of the greatest of all myths, the Odyssey, seemed right up my street. I should have looked at what those critics where saying. Words like empowering, feminist and unbelievably, MeToo, crop up a lot. Oh dear, it's one of those I thought. Not a story that needed telling, but a mission statement.
The empowering feminist in question is Circe. What's that, you don't remember who she is? Well, you're part of the problem and the reason we need books like this, but I'll help you out this once. Circe is a witch and a Goddess, but not the razor using, mortal kind. She appears in Homer's Odyssey and turns Odysseus's men into pigs. Men are pigs. Feminist, you see. What a twist!
Circe's an immortal, but she's not just any immortal; she's an independent, empowering one. This empowerment doesn't really happen until we're a good 15 chapters in and when it does arrive it's heavily telegraphed, and feels wrong somehow. It also comes across as more like revenge, than justice. Then it's doubled down on and I've lost most of my sympathy for Circe. Not that I had much to begin with as like all the gods in this book, (and most of the humans), Circe is a pretty unpleasant character. She's arrogant, selfish and cruel, but unlike the other gods, the author has gifted Circe with a spark of humanity and the milk of human kindness. There's no explanation given for this unique personality, or for her cleverness and resolve. She definitely didn't get it from her parents, the God Helios and a nymph, who are neither clever nor kind.
But hey, she's the pov and so she has to do things that the other gods won't do, because that's all empowering and feminist, even if we have to tear down all the other characters. The biggest example of this is Odysseus, who comes in for some proper character assassination. He's too dead to defend himself at the point where things get really personal, so who cares, right? I've heard Miller talk about getting across Odysseus' PTSD, but I don't see it. He comes across as a vain and brutal villain in the end, not someone worthy of sympathy.
I'm rambling because I don't want to focus on the threadbare plot, which I can sum up with bullet points. Notice all the beats it has to hit to fit the myths.
- Circe turns a nymph into a monster and is banished to Aeaea for the act.
- Circe meets the Minotaur.
- A bad thing happens to Circe.
- Circe turns men into pigs.
- Circe meets Odysseus. Odysseus leaves.
- Circe's son by Odysseus grows up, leaves the island, kills Odysseus.
- Circe lifts her banishment, leaves the island and deals with the monster.
That might look like a lot, but bear in mind that Odysseus only turns up for two of the thirty odd chapters. A single chapter is spent on the Minotaur. This would still be fine if the events on Circe's island were interesting, or if her character was likeable and had some depth. Unfortunately that's not the case for either trait. We know all there is to know about Circe in the space of a couple of chapters. Other characters are just there sometimes and they don't leave much of an impression either.
Most of the book is domestic tedium and repetitive internal monologuing. Circe thinks the following things* often, for the first 15 chapters.
"Nymphs are helpless. Victims of the Gods and men"**
And..
"My father/brother/uncle/Olympian will rescue me".
These thoughts occur so regularly that when the abuse happens, you're fully expecting it. That it comes soon after Hermes makes an off colour joke and is "banished" by an angry Circe, is almost comical. Just to hammer the message home even further, during and just after, Circe inwardly and outwardly cries for help. She gets none, as usual, and so takes matters into her own hands. It's her Let it Go™ moment. That's EMPOWERING because she can do magic like real women can't and she don't need no man. That she sleeps with some and punishes others is also feminist I guess.
Speaking of Hermes, he pops by for a visit so that we can tick his appearance box and so that Circe (and we the reader) has some connection to the outside world. You see, the problem with trapping us on an island*** devoid of other people is that nothing much can happen there. The situation is summed up nicely after Hermes is sent on his smiling way, when Circe remarks that she had, in his eyes, "Committed the unpardonable sin of being dull". That right there, says it all.
Occasionally other Greek myths drop in to say hello, or Circe goes to visit them, and these are the highlights of a very boring book.
The reason this isn't rated any lower is down to the quality of the prose. It's really very nice, just about getting me through to the end of the book all on its own. Madeline Miller can certainly write beautifully, I'm just not sure she can tell a good story. There are a few moments of wonder though. I particularly liked Circe's journey to the depths of the ocean. Here the evocative writing shines and paints a picture of that inky blackness, and the vast, ancient deity lurking in the gloom. It's an example of the author doing something interesting and new with this retelling****. Unfortunately, rare moments like this highlight how little else happens in the book.
Madeline Miller has been quoted as saying that she wanted to "push back against Homer". The problem with that statement is that you're pushing back against The Iliad and The Odyssey, two cultural leviathans. They are as timeless as Achilles for a reason; the stories speak to people. They thrill, horrify and entertain to this day. You better be damn sure your story is up to scratch if you're criticising, whilst taking***** liberally from the fire of the literary gods. A character study of a less prominent figure could work, but here it doesn't. That's in large part because of the character herself, and the storytelling. A Greek epic this isn't.
Removing the odyssey from The Odyssey it turns out, is a bad idea, especially if you have nothing to replace it with. I can't recommend this to anyone, unless buzzwords are more important to you than substance. It's a poor introduction to Greek myths, there's so much better out there, including female centric stuff. Hades, I'd take a well written Wikipedia entry over this book, it's really that forgettable.
To sum up; imagine a more cynical Lord of the Rings told entirely from the perspective of Galadriel. A powerful "witch" trapped in a forest, far away from anything exciting. Then at the end make Sam gay. No one wants that. Do they?
4.5/10
Audiobook: There is a lack of variety in the narrator's voices, which can be confusing, but her voice is perfect for the role of Circe and she acts it well. The recording itself is badly edited, with the pacing being especially bad. Occasionally the audio seems like it's been sped up or cut abruptly, although some of this could be down to the voice actress.
* Another thought that often enters Circe's head is "mortals age and die". This particular point doesn't go anywhere until the very end of the novel. It's as unsatisfying and predictable as everything else.
** Maybe Madeline Miller seems to have a particular gripe with the story of Apollo and Daphne. Can't wait for the retelling entirely from Daphne's pov. 200 pages of her just being a tree.
*** The first third of the book takes place prior to the banishment, but it's only a couple of locations and we're mostly trapped in Circe's head.
**** Sadly, it's also another of those look what this woman is willing to do for her child, moments. No one else is this brave/selfless etc. Build her up some more.
***** Sorry, retelling.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Bookworm
- 31-10-18
Fantastic book
I’ve listened to this book about 8 times now its seems to be addictive. Perdita Weeks performance is amazing and I think partly why this book is so easy to listen to. I dont know anyone who would t like this book. I loved it and probably will listen to if for a 9th time
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- mickjigger
- 22-05-20
Brilliant book
Totally loved this book. Perdita Weeks reads the story absolutely brilliantly.
The rich descriptive language is amazing, the plot full of twists and turns in the world of gods and mortals. My 12 year old daughter got into it too because of narration, language and story.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ca
- 09-01-20
magical xxxx
this story is the best listen I've ever had the pleasure to find ... the authors writing ... the narrators voice ... everything (in my opinion) was perfect ... left me wanting so much more from this author ... transported me away to another time another place and I didn't want to leave x
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Richard
- 31-07-18
Lacking main story thread
Enjoyed the book from a mythology point of view, but felt the book lacked a strong story line. Circe never really did anything particularly exciting...
13 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 11-05-18
Magical yet so real!
I can not emphasize enough on how much I loved this book and I am so glad that I got to listen to it. Madeline Miller has created an exceptional retelling of the story of Circe, the witch of Ayaya and Perdita Weeks breathed life into the narrative. Every single chapter bound me to its story and the concise, exactly on the point modulation of the narration transformed my living room into that island so beautifully described.
I was most excited about Circe's meeting with Odysseus that Homer wrote about in Oddessey. Not only did I get that story, the event was retold in a way that did not define the story of the goddess, it effortlessly enhanced Circe's might and character.
Circe was powerful and though there were so many events involving all powerful gods and mortals, the story never wavers from her. She is the one who drives the narrative and at no point what so ever did I feel her character lost in the story.
This is a story of the making of a powerful woman, a goddess, and extremely engaging.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Praise
- 28-05-20
Recommended for mythology lovers
I really enjoyed some parts of this story and though the narrator did an awesome job.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Karen Rowe
- 08-11-18
Beautiful narration
An amazing book. The narration is perfectly suited to the book’s tone and I think the best that I’ve heard. Perdita Weeks did a beautiful job.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Bianka Walter
- 11-09-18
Best narration I've heard in a while
Circe is one of the many children of Helios, god of the sun. She is misunderstood and bullied for most of her life. This coming of age story lets you climb right into the life of Circe, and feel her every emotion. I absolutely loved the narration of this book. Perdita Weeks is effortless in her telling and she really made the book soar. Without her unpretentious narration, I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed this story as much as I did.
I would recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys Greek mythology as well as character-driven novels.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Marion Pereira
- 15-03-20
Absolutely recommend.
A forgotten character brought to life in the most nuanced, delicious way. A little slow during certain sections, but that helps tell a story that asks you to look at the big picture. With cameos from Hermes to Helen, there will be several moments of confusion, surprise and splendor.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 04-12-19
THE BEST AUDIO BOOK OF THE YEAR!
If there's any audiobook that is better mention it. I'll wait right here.
Oh Circe!
I strongly advise that you buy this book, it is worth it.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Joey
- 13-08-19
Excellent story + narration
This is my second Madeline Miller book and it is in every way just as brilliant as her Archilles books. A sweeping, multiple-life long story of gods and mortals and those that walk the line between. Written touchingly and powerfully and so evocative. I’m a huge fan of Madeline’s writing style and Perdita Weeks’ excellent narration. Her skills and bringing the characters to life and giving each character a unique tone and style made for a truly vivid listen.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Yvette Anderson
- 02-07-19
I WANT TO START FROM THE BEGINNING AGAIN
I loved this book, written with wisdom, insight and a easy grip on the muddled world of Greek gods
I am eager now to explore Madeline Miller's other books or start this one again. Thank you for writing books like this, it makes us mortals very happy ))
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Derrick Theophille
- 30-06-19
The story of a God who learned to live as a human
Circe is not a human or a hero but she is no less magnificent as the greatest or as vulnerable as the lowest.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Michelle
- 29-05-19
Silk for the ears and soul
I can’t tell you how much I loved listening to this book. The stories of gods and titans interwoven with a simple tale of a woman finding her way through life and love. Beautifully written ... and the reader (Perdita Weeks), her voice is like silk. I was at a loss when the story ended. Thank you Madeliene Miller for releasing this gem into our world.
1 person found this helpful