By Rishi Chousalkar 11A

Author - Madeline Miller

Genre - Mythological fiction, Fantasy fiction

Rating - 4.5/5

Circe, a daughter of Titan Helios, is highly dissimilar from all her siblings and cousins: she does not have amazing good looks, a great singing voice, and apparently no powers. After spending a long, ignorant childhood of false love and feeble bonds in her father’s halls, however, she comes to realize that she has a great skill - witchcraft. She experiments with her immature powers to find trouble and is exiled to an island forever. Away from the protective bubble she had so far resided in, she learns through experience the harsh reality of the world. Here, amid enthralling adventures and onerous trials, lies her quest for true happiness.

The book is an excellent read because of the intense characterization that is focused upon throughout the novel. From the moment Circe is born, she is constantly learning more and more about the world. Her development from a child to a woman is beautifully shown through her experiences: her joys and sorrows, victories and defeats. It also really captures the dark side of life, when it seems as though there is no good left in the world, that there is no hope for love. Nevertheless, she ploughs through these phases and learns to trust and love again. Her journey is graphed in an extraordinarily intricate manner - the young, foolish girl transforms into a strong, fierce lady in front of you.

‘Circe’ also reflects effectively the challenges faced by women in their lives; they are often not taken seriously and at times seen merely as tools. There is much pain and suffering that Circe has to endure, not only at the hands of men but other women too,  before she is deemed of any significance. It imparts a very powerful message about gender inequality and the stereotypical mindset to the readers.

I would recommend this book to everyone above 14 years of age. It may not be appropriate for a younger audience since it has some dark and disturbing themes; however, it is imperative that older children and young adults read it due to the very real issues portrayed, which may well be faced by us in life.