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vanilla_yogurt739's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love this book; never heard the full story of Achilles before this telling of it and this was a great way to be introduced to the story. The story of these lovers who are trapped by the fate they know is approaching left me hooked on every chapter. The last chapters were incredibly moving to me with Patroclus’s point of view.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Transphobia and Rape
sabrinau's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
stefs1974's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read! I actually read it twice because I couldn’t get enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, War, and Grief
loodle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I had been in a reading slump when I read this book and immediately got pulled in by the writing. "The Iliad" was probably my least favorite of the books I had to read for high school English class because so much of it felt like a play-by-play of a sportsball game (please don't come for me, classics majors) where characters you don't know or care about are spearing each other to death. All you get to relate to them is their lineage and which gods are rooting for them. Out of all the spear tossing, I did remember being shocked by Achilles' heinous war crimes after defeating Troy and thinking something must have seriously broken him. I read "Song of Achilles" as the story leading up to that moment, which gives a compelling interpretation of the characters and their motivations.
Patroclus and Achilles both had daddy/mommy issues but dealt with them in very different ways. Patroclus was a perpetual disappointment to his father, a mean and small man who did not protect his own. This led him to hold love above all else. Achilles was disappointingly mortal and a reminder to his mother of her darkest moment. He chose to seek the image of immortality she created for him, and only fully realizes the cost when he loses Patroclus.
I also like that the book explored different forms of love through Achilles and Patroclus, Chiron and Briseis. I'm a sucker for the gathering figs and swimming in the sun with Chiron in his rose quartz cave Pelion training sequence chapters of this book. Every time a trumpet appeared, emotional pain ensued.
Achilles' choice made me reflect quite a bit. At first blush, eating bread on an island surrounded by my loved ones seemed like the obvious choice compared to dying in battle. I wanted to shake him and tell him to be less stupid. It's how I felt when I first read about Orpheus as he's tempted to look back at Eurydice. But Miller does a good job making Achilles' choice believable, and I get why he went to war the same way I now get why Orpheus turns around. Beyond the central love story, the acceptance of your true nature and fate feel like major themes that tie this book together.
Patroclus and Achilles both had daddy/mommy issues but dealt with them in very different ways. Patroclus was a perpetual disappointment to his father, a mean and small man who did not protect his own. This led him to hold love above all else. Achilles was disappointingly mortal and a reminder to his mother of her darkest moment. He chose to seek the image of immortality she created for him
I also like that the book explored different forms of love through Achilles and Patroclus, Chiron and Briseis. I'm a sucker for the gathering figs and swimming in the sun with Chiron in his rose quartz cave Pelion training sequence chapters of this book. Every time a trumpet appeared, emotional pain ensued.
nerdthebird's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alicebme's review against another edition
4.0
The parts with Chiron were my jam, but Miller also somehow makes a long ass war interesting. Achilles is a great example of how a dude can get too big for his britches. Patroclus is a great example of how the best partners stay with you even after you’ve jumped the shark.
shadesofdivine's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
its_a_complit_way_of_life's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hannahjoyyyyy's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0