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linguistic_goblin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Violence, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Slavery, War, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Sexism
Moderate: Rape and Ableism
Minor: Animal cruelty
tom_23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Oh boy. This book is amazing. can’t help but think it would be better if i’d read the iliad but that’s too long right now so here we are. everything about this book is amazing. it’s like bathing in honey which i realise would be disgusting but please respect the imagery. the characters were rich and loveable. i love patroclus.
- I don’t think enough changed during the very long timespan of the novel. it felt like every chapter started with “and then nine years later” which i think ruined it a bit. i realise that you can’t really do anything about this because of the iliad but nonetheless. despite this, the pace is kept perfectly and it flows like running water
- this is a big one for me, and i know it’s important to the plot but i still don’t like it. Deidamia keeps raping people. with Achilles it felt like it was glossed over too quickly. that’s an important event and i would have liked to see how he dealt with it. and also patroclus. they both went through that and it’s never mentioned again. talking of patroclus, his rape seen was really weird and was the books lowest low. i think being coerced into sex with your boyfriend’s rapist is a lot more traumatic than what we see.
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child death, Death, Grief, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gore, and Ableism
Minor: Homophobia
paperbagarsh's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, War, Sexual violence, Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexism, Misogyny, and Homophobia
Minor: Ableism
short_circuit's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
"have you no more memories?"
"i am made of memories."
oh. my god. where do i begin with this.
i adore this book. i adore the way it's written. i adore the characters. i adore how many quotable lines they are—i read "there are no bargains between lions and men. i will kill you and eat you raw." and i go unbelievably wild. madeline miller, you icon.
i love how the bond between patroclus and achilles, while not immediate, is something that only the gods could tear asunder. they grow up together, train together, fight together, love each other. it really feels as though they are made for each other. soulmates is a heavy word, but it suits them perfectly. achilles' reaction to patroclus' death is so raw and so real. some may think it's over the top, but i disagree. they were soulmates, your honour. sometimes draping yourself over your best friend-slash-lover's dead body and weeping for days on end is part of the grieving process.
i didn't cry over this book as a lot of other reviewers did, but that's a me thing. i'm more the type to cry over movies or tv shows, haha. that being said, i did have an emotional reaction to this story! at its core, it's a story about two boys in love, just trying to cling to each other for as long as possible. five stars!
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Death, Sexual violence, Slavery, and War
Moderate: Sexual content, Rape, and Child abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Ableism, and Abandonment
savave's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Death, Genocide, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War
merume's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Death, and War
Minor: Ableism
thegr1mreader's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death, Homophobia, Incest, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Trafficking, Blood, Ableism, Gaslighting, Gore, and War
Minor: Self harm
vknapp64's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Grief, Homophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying and Grief
darholl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Sexual content, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Animal death
Minor: Child abuse and Ableism
Most of the content warnings are in the context of ancient scorched-earth warfare and religious sacrifice. Readers familiar with the Iliad will know what to expect. Child abuse occurs in the very beginning of the book, described by the narrator who does not spend long in his abusive father's household. Narrator's mother is mentally disabled and referred to with ableist language by some characters in the beginning of the book.kathshiroma's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Child death, Self harm, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, Death, and Genocide
Moderate: Ableism and Adult/minor relationship