Anexis Matos

I believe I read this book during the pandemic for the first time. I remember it being very popular then, but I didn’t like it. I read the entire book, but it wasn’t a great experience.

I reread Circe for class this time. I had an entirely different experience. My rating even changed.

Synopsis

This is a reimagining of Circe in her point of view.

Book Information

Genre: Fantasy
Category: Adult
Explicit violence: Not much
Explicit sex: Not much
Content warnings I noticed: There’s an explicit sexual assault scene
This is a standalone.

Review

The prose is very good. Easy and accessible to read.

This story is told in Circe’s point of view and touches several points of her life. Events are loosely connected, my favorite kind of story. A book written in a similar style is American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Check my review here.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman: What Is America?

When it comes to stories with limited point of views, it sometimes doesn’t feel like other characters get an arc. That’s the case here as well. However, I’m willing to give this story an exception as it fits the classic style this type of story was told in. While this was better written, the story is similarly told to The Odyssey.

Another common aspect of the classic storytelling of stories like The Odyssey is the amount of telling. Yes, important things are shown, but there’s more telling than showing. It’s a style I enjoy reading in stories like Circe and A Dowry of Blood. I like the retrospective nature of these books. You can check out my review of A Dowry of Blood here.

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson: Dracula’s First Bride

The pacing is good. The fact that it’s slow could bother readers, but it doesn’t bother me. It’s a meandering kind of pace.

The themes are well explored. They’re given enough time on the page. The one recurring theme in the story is powerlessness. I’m being reminded of the fact that the US is taking away power from people, both on a federal and state level. Just look at the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

The characters Circe meets are okay. It’s interesting to see them through her eyes. It’s also very interesting to see her character arc.

The romance is weird. If you’ve read the book, you understand. I’m not going to explain. It would mean spoilers.

The ending is an interesting case. Depending on the reader, it can be satisfying or it may be disappointing. I find that it works and I believe it’s satisfying. It fits Circe’s character and it can be argued that it’s feminist.

Conclusion

Overall, it’s a good story. I’m glad I read it a second time. I originally rated it one star, but my rating is now three stars.