Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

333 reviews

_pauline's review against another edition

adventurous sad

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

first of all, this book is GORY af

If you like greek mythology & don’t mind the content warnings, this might be for you. (ignore my review then, though)

The combination of war & romance was weird - I don’t need to read about how beautiful someone looks while killing people; neither did I want to read about 13 year olds forced to have sex (if that’s needed to accurately describe what that time was like, it could’ve at least been less detailed); same with animal killings, though ig that too is unavoidable considering the context

I didn’t love the pacing, character development & all the talk about feet etc?? Achilles got progressively more unlikeable (this really is a story about his irrational, insufferable pride), and I cared a lot more about Briseis. She was so right when she said

'You care more for him in death than in life […] Kill me. It will not bring him back. He was worth ten of you. Ten! And you sent him to his death!' […] He fought to save you, and your darling reputation.
Because he could not bear to see you suffer! […] You have never deserved him. I do not know why he ever loved you. You care only for yourself! […] I hope that Hector kills you.'

The breath rasps in his throat. 'Do you think I do not hope the same?' he asks

The last 100 pages were kind of page-turning & heartbreaking though and it got better and better until the very last page. Can’t say I always enjoyed reading this, but I don’t think it’s a bad book.
It didn’t live up to the hype in my opinion BUT tbf I never cared - or knew much - about greek mythology, nor am I a big fan of war novels or romance, so I really am the worst possible person to review this book

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Vomit, Misogyny, Child abuse, Grief, Animal cruelty, War, Death, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual content

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Adult/minor relationship

caitlinspeachyreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I understand why there is such a hype around the genre of book but I struggled to connect with Achilles. Also the constant threat and statements of woman being SA’d really added to made the struggle to enjoy this. 

Loved seeing a LGBT+ story being so well regarded. Wish I liked it more! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexism, Animal death, Medical content, Gore, Child death, Blood, War, Pandemic/Epidemic, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic relationship

baearles's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Rape, Slavery, and Sexual content

abfreda184's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, War, and Violence

majestictrilobite's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Homophobia, Medical content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Child death, Bullying, Blood, Slavery, Death, Deportation, Animal cruelty, Gore, and Rape

zauet's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, War, Rape, Violence, Murder, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexism, Blood, Homophobia, Medical content, Child death, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Infidelity

keelymightread's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, and Abandonment

Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Rape, Grief, and Violence

Minor: Self harm, Abandonment, and Suicidal thoughts

el_wheel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective 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

Madeline Miller is nothing if not a woman who can make me sob 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Homophobia, War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Animal death, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Blood, Bullying, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Gore

Moderate: Rape, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, and Child death

neliasbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Death, Violence, Slavery, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Deadnaming, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Murder

kileyjojo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is well written, characters are lovable, and the story just kept getting better. The story in one POV and the narrator is very lovable. You fall in love with Achilles through his eyes and you see their relationship develop in such a well paced narrative. This book is not fully focused on the romance. It is a driver in the story, but it isn’t the main focus. You grow with the characters on their journeys. If you know some of the Greek Gods and Goddesses, you might be able to guess some of the plot but it doesn’t fit just as a retelling. I really recommend this book if Greek mythology and the story of Achilles interests you. I will definitely be picking up more by this author. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Violence, and War

Moderate: Sexual assault, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Rape, and Homophobia