Reviews - The Song of Achilles

109k reviews for:

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

4.35 AVERAGE

h_imene's review against another edition

4.0

emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

knupselmaus's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bananapancakes211's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous emotional 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

emzseiler's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I went into this book blind other than “it’s about Achilles”. I am also undereducated in Greek mythology, so I had no knowing of what would come next.

The first 150 pages I was intrigued but unsure what was coming. It started to lose me for about 30 pages, and then I was obsessed and horrified and a slew of other emotions.

This was a beautiful story of love, honor, and greed. How far will you go for the people you love? What about the love for yourself and the future foretold?

I think the criticism really lies in the romantic relationship, since it felt like once they became intimate their relationship never progressed from there. To that I argue that it was kind of the whole point; he was a prince born of a goddess and had a confidence to match. Idealizing an idol seems pretty correct for someone who plans to do whatever it takes to honor his legacy and infamy.

It wasn’t about Patroclus and Achilles, it was about demonstrating the downfall of Achilles ability to feel for others. He went from experiencing horror at the death of his “bride” to ruthless murders for a war that lasted over a decade. If anything, I would argue more of the book should have been spent on that.

julesthejinxed's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous 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

elzsmells's review against another edition

5.0

Deserves more stars

megarmstrong_rsw's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

miss_berry315's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

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.

This book is so beautifully written, and so devastatingly tragic. I smiled until my cheeks hurt, and I cried as my heart broke repeatedly.

Content Warnings

c4leigh's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

If you like Greek Mythology, this is a perfect book for you.

gitabhardwaj's review against another edition

5.0

historically accurate homoerotic book?

More...