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ivana's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Blood, Violence, Murder, Rape, and War
Moderate: Sexual content
karlapardo'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
Oooof this book. It broke my heart into a million pieces. I did not expect this book to make me cry this much. I also was surprised with the fact that the book is written in Patroclus POV only, which I thought was beautifully thought out because readers can see Achilles the hero in a different way that we are not used to seeing. We see Achilles through Patroclus’ point of view and because of that we are able to see his flaws, and his not-so-hero struggles that make him seem human. The fact that we get to read this from the point of view of the man who loved and cherished this great hero is breathtaking.
Madeline Miller’s reading is…… breathtakingly beautiful. I don’t know how else to describe it if I am being honest. The poetry is just so well done that it’s able to paint such detailed and vivid scenes and emotions in every aspect. The good moments are shown so beautifully with the poesy of the writing and as readers we feel the joy and excitement of each scene. But the bad moments are also so heartbreaking, heart wrenching, devastatingly, painfully so well written that readers are able to feel absolutely everything. It has truly been the best written book I have read this year and I would read it again and again without a doubt. I would go through the pain of it every single time because of the incredible, beautiful, painful love story of Achilles and Patroclus.
Memorable Quotes
Madeline Miller’s reading is…… breathtakingly beautiful. I don’t know how else to describe it if I am being honest. The poetry is just so well done that it’s able to paint such detailed and vivid scenes and emotions in every aspect. The good moments are shown so beautifully with the poesy of the writing and as readers we feel the joy and excitement of each scene. But the bad moments are also so heartbreaking, heart wrenching, devastatingly, painfully so well written that readers are able to feel absolutely everything. It has truly been the best written book I have read this year and I would read it again and again without a doubt. I would go through the pain of it every single time because of the incredible, beautiful, painful love story of Achilles and Patroclus.
Memorable Quotes
- “ACHILLES, it reads. And beside it, PATROCLUS. ‘Go’ she says. ‘He waits for you.’”
- “I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”
- “He smiled, and his face was like the sun.”
Achilles’ eyes lift. They are bloodshot and dead “I wish he had let you all die.” Achilles weeps. He cradles me, and will not eat, nor speak a word other than my name.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
emilygibbs's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Death
ppp's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-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? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Trafficking, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Slavery
yourdelulureader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Slavery, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape
lunablch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Oh boy, oh boy. I loved reading this book and I do love a plot that centers someone's decent into pride or hubris or madness. But I also feel like I expected a little more character and a little less plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Rape
louisec12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
This novel is just seamless. It follows the lives of Patroclus and Achilles through Patroclus' eyes and you honestly fall in love with both main characters. I am still thinking about the characters even after finishing the novel and it is so beautifully written. I loved the exploration of honour and heroism and what makes a real hero. An emotional read with the most beautiful and emotional ending. I have immediately moved on to another of Miller's novels and I am now very interested in Greek mythology because of how much I loved this! If you haven't read it then please do ASAP because it is wonderful!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, War, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child death, and Rape
grilledsneeze's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Death, Self harm, and Gore
Minor: Slavery and Rape
hammie_32's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- 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
Tried to cheat the system to give this more than 5 stars. I have unfortunately high standards for books to enjoy, and so often my experience is ruined by an ending falling flat. I set the book down about 3 months ago, 10% away from the end, because I couldn't bear to read the rest of it knowing what was coming. My reaction was diluted coming back to it, and i still cried through the last 3 chapters. A devastatingly beautiful queer fiction that I immediately want to restart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, Sexual violence, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Transphobia
herzeloyde's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape