Reviews - The Song of Achilles

110k reviews for:

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

4.35 AVERAGE

antonellacaratini's review against another edition

4.0

emotional sad slow-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

c4it_lyn's review against another edition

3.5

emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Excellent writing and (as a stand-alone story) overall well done. As an adaptation, however, it's a bit lack-lustre and sacrifices the characters' original personalities in the Iliad for the sake of morality and making them likable (I'm looking at you Achilles).

Furthermore, I also found that Patroclus (despite being the MAIN character) was not as fleshed out as he should've been. Throughout the entire story, his sole focus is Achilles and nothing else. I understand this was meant to show his love and adoration for Achilles but you can show that without sacrificing Patroclus' character.

Overall, a somewhat enjoyable story but in no way is it the BEST adaptation of the Iliad.

novasecord22's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

abi_yellow's review against another edition

3.0

Torn between two stars and three so a rating of 2.5 stars.

It was okay. It kept me engaged enough to read it to the end, but I wasn't in love with this book or the main characters.

kats_and_dogs's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous tense 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

nondiet_trainer's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark 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

Heartbreakingly beautiful. If you love Greek myths and history, this retelling is a deeply human rendition of love, war, and everything it takes to have something written about you thousands of years later (and what won’t be told in your story).

bethany07_'s review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

Soooo good! Best book of my year so far, sad that I didn't read it sooner tbh. I have circe on my shelf now and can't wait to dive into it. The way she writes is so enjoyable but also elevated in a way