Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

1113 reviews

olivia_piepmeier's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Miller's mythological retellings have gotten a lot of attention and it's totally my thing, so it was just a matter of time until I actually read them.

My familiarity with Achilles/Troy was surface level. I was a little distracted at first about what's going on and who's telling the tale, but quickly fell into this world Miller painted so well balancing character development and plot progression. Trying to look back and quickly summarize it, it's just a love story with some godly interventions put against a setting of war. The narrator's role is a whole other layer of enjoyment, from a narrative perspective, near the end. I will certainly read Circe based on my experience with this!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Medical content

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse

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 

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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

katie0528's review

adventurous emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

A beautiful and tragic retelling of the romance between Achilles and Patroclus, told from Patroclus' point of view, starting from Patroclus' birth through the Trojan war

until their deaths

often pondering the tug between their love and the expectations of Achilles' destiny, and whether fame and honor are truly enough to sustain us.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Slavery, Grief, Rape, and Sexual assault

main character death

themoodreader's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Blood, and War

Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Death, Sexual content, Alcohol, War, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Homophobia, and Grief

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

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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. 

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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

gin_and_panic's review against another edition

adventurous sad slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Violence, and War

Moderate: Slavery, Sexual assault, Rape, Blood, and Gore

Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Self harm

islathebooknerd's review against another edition

inspiring sad 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

4.5

I have always loved Greek Mythology, especially the tale of the Trojan War, this book is really good for someone who is looking for a new take on the classic tale, but also wants to cry for hours on the couch after finishing it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and War

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Pregnancy

jodean's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I will remember Achilles and Patroclus and their love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Self harm, Violence, Murder, War, Trafficking, Sexual content, Homophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Blood, Grief, Gore, and Alcohol

Moderate: Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, Slavery, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Animal death

hannaconda_02's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and War