Daughter of a sun god, immortal, witch, Circe.
Circe – the blurb
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. Circe is a strange child – not powerful and terrible, like her father, nor gorgeous and mercenary like her mother. Scorned and rejected, Circe grows up in the shadows, at home in neither the world of gods or mortals. But Circe has a dark power of her own: witchcraft. When her gift threatens the gods, she is banished to the island of Aiaia where she hones her occult craft, casting spells, gathering strange herbs and taming wild beasts. Yet a woman who stands alone will never be left in peace for long – and among her island’s guests is an unexpected visitor: the mortal Odysseus, for whom Circe will risk everything.
So Circe sets forth her tale, a vivid, mesmerizing epic of family rivalry, love and loss – the defiant, inextinguishable song of woman burning hot and bright through the darkness of a man’s world.
Myth or legend?
Take the daughter of Titan Helios, add in the Odyssey, throw in the birth of a Minotaur and a splash of Troy and you have yourself a cracking re-telling of Circe a Greek legend. Add Miller’s most excellent turn of phrase and you’ve got yourself a corker of a book. Albeit one that had sat on my shelf for the last 3 years.
I wouldn’t say by any means I am an expert on Greek myths but I recognised more than one or two references to them. You don’t need however to have even heard of Zeus, Paris or Telegonus to enjoy the book. (Although surely you have heard of Zeus?) The story holds as a brilliant standalone whilst still entertaining those who have a genuine interest in mythology but want something a little less heavy going than Homer. I really enjoyed it and so pleased I looked to the latter end of my bookshelf for my next read. Now let me see what other gems are kicking around back there.
