You don’t have to be a fan of Greek mythology to enjoy and appreciate Madeline Miller’s second novel.  Circe is a daughter of Helios, god of the sun.  Although, she is not a goddess,  she practices witchcraft and is immortal.  When she turns a rival into a monster, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island where she concocts potions and lives among lions and wolves.   Although she spends most of her years alone on Aiaia, she has some illustrious visitors-Hermes, Odysseus, Penelope and their son, Telemachus.  Throughout her life, Circe has been attracted to mortal men, even though she knows it will bring her nothing but sorrow.

Circe was a delightful read.  Miller’s prose is simple and clear yet beautifully descriptive.  The characters come alive and the settings are vividly rendered.