Circe
The witch of Greek mythology tells her own story, from her lonely childhood among gods to her exile on the island of Aiaia.
Where Circe keeps showing up
Six of our editors' lists feature this novel.
Also by Madeline Miller
Books in conversation with Circe
A few of the closest reads from our full list.
What you might want to know about Circe
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
Banished by her divine family to a small Greek island, the lonely witch-goddess Circe spends centuries discovering her own power. Odysseus is one visitor among many. The novel watches her grow into herself.
No. Circe and The Song of Achilles are independent Greek mythology retellings by Madeline Miller. Both are standalone novels and can be read in either order.
Yes. Circe won the Goodreads Choice Award for Fantasy in 2018, was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, and was a New York Times bestseller for over a year. It helped launch the wave of feminist mythology retellings.
Yes. HBO Max ordered a Circe series adaptation in 2022, with Madeline Miller involved. As of 2025, the project remains in development.
Circe was written by Madeline Miller, published in 2018 by AdN.
Circe is 404 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Circe takes most readers 6 to 9 hours to finish.
Circe is a standalone novel by Madeline Miller, not part of a series.
Circe is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.
