Circe

Circe gives us a feminist slant on the Odyssey ... Miller makes these age-old texts thrum with contemporary relevance ... An airy delight, a novel to be gobbled greedily in a single sitting * Observer * In a thrilling tour de force of imagination, Miller makes her otherworldly heroine a complex, sympathetic figure for whom we cheer throughout. Circe is a truly spellbinding novel, the mesmerising shimmer of ancient magic rising from it like a heat haze * Mail on Sunday * Circe is poised to become the literary sensation of the summer, as much for the quality of its writing as its timeliness * Sunday Times Magazine * It is out of these insights that Miller achieves real narrative propulsion ... Supple, pitched in a register that bridges man and myth * Guardian * An epic that's also a page-turner * i * Fabulous ... Bold and sensuously written, it plays brilliantly with the original myth of Circe * Daily Mail * The Song of Achilles was a big hit; Circe will be, too * Sunday Times * God though she may be, here she faces life - and its love, heartbreak, loneliness and motherhood - with immensely relatable humanity. The definition of female strength in all its fractured, fragile glory * **** Stylist * Offers opportunities for feminist revision of famous characters both mortal and divine, especially the egotistical Odysseus and the irresponsible and laddish Hermes. It also leads to a suspenseful metaphysical dilemma ... Polished diction and descriptive powers * Prospect * Beautifully written throughout ... Miller has broken [Circe] free of the conventions of the masculine epic * Literary Review * A refreshingly complex and utterly compelling portrait of one of the most intriguing women in western literature ... Miller's depiction of what it feels like to work magic is extraordinarily vivid and convincing ... What elevates Circe is Miller's luminous prose, which is both enormously readable and evocative, and the way in which she depicts the gulf between gods and mortals ... Circe can be part of that cycle of cruel and pointless conflict, or she can choose to break it. In this unforgettable novel, Miller makes us care about that magical, mythical choice * Irish Times * This is a gorgeous retelling of Homer's Odyssey blended with other legends. Miller creates a magical narrative: strong relatable characters, cold-hearted gods, flawed heroes, deadly monsters, and best of all, a strong female protagonist. Overall, it is fabulously readable * Herald * In Circe, Miller gives depth and history to the title character, how it was she came to be on her island, and her struggles as an independent woman. The heroes of Greek myths - the gods, Odysseus and so on - get shoved to the side, as Miller brings to the forefront a fascinating, captivating female character. This is wonderfully detailed and well worth the more than five year wait since The Song of Achilles * Stylist, The 20 must-read books to make room for in 2018 * A mesmerising, fiercely feminist and lyrical retelling of a story from Greek mythology - as enchanting as the enchantress herself * Psychologies * Circe is the utterly captivating, exquisitely written story of an ordinary, and extraordinary, woman's life -- Eimear McBride, author of A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing An epic spanning thousands of years that's also a keep-you-up-all-night page turner -- Ann Patchett Horror, heartache and grit pour from the pages of this exquisitely written and compelling novel. An alchemist with words, Miller continues to rejuvenate the classics with her exceptional talent ... Circe is one of the best and most rewarding books of 2018 * Attitude, 'Book of the Month' * Dazzling * Woman & Home * Gives Greek mythology a modern, feminist twist * Elle * Even better than its predecessor. Written in supple, imaginative prose, it conjures up brilliantly a vivid world in which the lives of gods and mortals are intimately intertwined * BBC History Magazine * Miller weaves an intoxicating tale of gods and heroes, magic and monsters, survival and transformation * i * A life-affirming tale of astonishing beauty ... A sensuous, thrilling experience, combining exquisite prose with high drama ... The pettiness and casual brutality of the deities is sadly recognisable in modern political times, while Circe's quest for validation will ring a chord with men and women alike * Toast Book Club *