Circe

A retelling of Greek mythology from the perspective of Circe, the witch goddess, transforming a minor mythological figure into a complex, compelling protagonist.

In Homer's Odyssey, Circe appears briefly as a sorceress who transforms Odysseus's men into pigs. But in Miller's hands, Circe becomes the center of her own epic story, spanning centuries and involving encounters with gods, monsters, and mortals.

Miller's Circe is not the one-dimensional villain of traditional mythology but a complex character struggling to find her place in a world dominated by more powerful gods. Born to the sun god Helios and the nymph Perse, Circe is an outsider from birth—strange-voiced and powerless among the immortals. Her discovery of her gift for witchcraft sets her on a path that will make her both feared and respected.

The novel follows Circe through her exile to the island of Aiaia, where she hones her magical abilities and encounters famous figures from Greek mythology: the Minotaur, Daedalus, Medea, and eventually Odysseus himself. Each encounter reveals different aspects of Circe's character and allows Miller to explore themes of power, transformation, and female agency.

Miller's prose is lyrical and accessible, bringing the ancient world to vivid life without sacrificing mythological grandeur. Her descriptions of magic feel both mystical and grounded, showing witchcraft as a form of deep understanding of the natural world rather than mere supernatural power.

The novel's feminist perspective transforms familiar mythological stories, giving voice to a character who was traditionally silent and showing how women's experiences were marginalized in patriarchal narratives. Circe's relationship with Odysseus is particularly well-developed, showing two complex characters finding understanding and respect across the divide between mortal and immortal.

The book's exploration of mortality and immortality is especially poignant. Circe's interactions with mortals teach her about the beauty and meaning that come from life's brevity, ultimately leading her to question whether immortality is truly a gift.

Circe became a bestseller and critical favorite, establishing Miller as a major voice in contemporary mythological fiction and inspiring renewed interest in stories told from women's perspectives.