Mythology brought to life in compelling tale

AUTHOR: Madeline Miller PUBLISHER: Bloomsbury RRP: $29.99 REVIEWER: Susan Hartland

YOU don’t only read a Madeline Miller book; her stories sink into you and take you over.

Her prose is extraordinary, her characters compelling and the settings intriguing.

The Orange Prize winner’s first novel, The Song of Achilles, is one of my favourite books.

She returns to the stories of antiquity with Circe, a novel about the daughter of Helios, god of the sun and a Titan.

Circe’s early life in her father’s halls is brilliantly portrayed. We’re drawn into this strange world where those Titans who were not destroyed in the war against newer gods are careful not to upset Zeus and his favourite daughter Athena.

Circe is not powerful like Helios, not beautiful like her mother – at least according to those who live in her father’s halls - and is considered dull compared to her siblings.

However, she begins a fascinating journey towards selfdiscovery when she learns she has witchcraft, especially the ability to transform rivals into monsters.

Her new-found power, though, threatens Zeus who banishes her to a deserted island. Here, as she tames beasts and learns how to use magic, a new Circe emerges, one ready to tackle those sailors who land upon her shores and dare threaten a woman alone.

But even greater danger is ahead for Circe when she attracts Athena’s wrath. To protect what she most holds dear, Circe must decide between remaining a goddess or becoming mortal, like those she has come to love.

Miller explores familiar stories from Greek mythology in both The Song of Achilles and

Circe, while creating a wondrous world and engaging characters who we want to see evolve and ultimately triumph.

She beautifully unfolds Circe’s story, interweaving figures of mythology including the Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus, Meda and Odysseus, on his way home from the Trojan war and the events so fabulously told in Song of Achilles.

Her writing is such that you often pause on a sentence to consider her word choices, or its structure. At the same time, you’re swept along with the story.

I loved her portrayal of the halls of Helios. Circe’s early years on her island and her

‘‘ MILLER BEAUTIFULLY UNFOLDS CIRCE’S STORY, INTERWEAVING FIGURES OF MYTHOLOGY INCLUDING THE MINOTAUR, DAEDALUS AND ICARUS, MEDA AND ODYSSEUS, ON HIS WAY HOME FROM THE TROJAN WAR AND THE EVENTS SO FABULOUSLY TOLD IN SONG OF ACHILLES.

metamorphosis were also deeply fascinating. Here, indeed, is a woman on a path to empowerment.

The chapters on the Minotaur were not quite as engaging, however.

For those looking for a strong heroine and a compelling story, for those with an interest in stories that bring mythology to glorious, colourful life, look no further than Miller’s second novel.