The basics: All of my reader friends insisted I read this, and they did not steer me wrong. Miller writes a delectable novel from the perspective of Circe, the often-overlooked daughter of Helios, god of the son. The book traces her journey from ignored nymph to mistress of her own island, granting a voice to a strong female character otherwise portrayed in classical mythology as either weak or an evil “witch” (hello, The Odyssey). I love books in which maligned figures are given a chance to re-tell their story, and this one feels both timely and deeply connected to the history of mislabeled women.
Read if you’re into: mythology; feminist retellings of classic stories; The Lightning Thief (yes, I know this is YA, but it’s good YA); Wicked
Avoid if: mythology doesn’t float your boat; fantasy makes your toes curl;
Favorite excerpt: “But in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips into yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation was he to me.”
If you liked this, try: The Handmaid’s Tale; Spinning Silver (not as well-written, but a fantasy that flips the tropes of fantasy on their heads); Neil Gaiman