Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

202 reviews

birdieex's review against another edition

5.0

I was glued to this book. The second I got it, I found it hard to put down. Even though the interactions between Achilles and Patroclus weren't very graphic, I felt exactly what the author was trying to portray, proving that great writing doesn't always equal extreme details.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Abandonment

riv_erb's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Death, Grief, Child death, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, and Sexism

Minor: Rape and Abandonment

eryncaroline's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.5

I was so excited to read this book after hearing such rave reviews and that tissues are required for this one. Definitely well-written and such an interesting dive into these mythological greek characters, but the world building felt inconsistent with the way the gods play a role in the story and once the battle of troy began the number of "time jumps" really takes you out of the story waiting for the "big thing" to happen. I did really enjoy the first half of the book and I was sold on the characters and really interested in their story, but it was difficult to watch the characters change and see the fates play out. Still pondering the story and my review, but I'm glad to have read it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Violence, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Homophobia, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, and Sexual violence

savshanae's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I hate it. I’m also giving it a 5 ⭐️ review. 
Everyone was right, it will break you. But not even for the reasons I expected! I don’t want to spoil the whole thing, but I literally threw the book after reading the final paragraph. I hate it and it was also one of the best books I’ve ever read. Proceed with extreme caution.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death, Body horror, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, War, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Gore, Genocide, Murder, and Blood

Moderate: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Ableism, Religious bigotry, Racism, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Biphobia, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content

you expect Achilles to die, but Patroclus dies first because Achilles is a vain twat and then his effing son (who is a MONSTER) kills the only consistent positive female character in the whole story. Not to mention Achilles mother HATES Patroclus until the war is over and both boys are dead. We also never hear about the Trojan horse which is super disappointing.

queerloras's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Abandonment, Blood, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Rape, Violence, and War

lilo000's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

:'( all of my journal entries were deleted but overall - a more sad-toned book than I'm used to. Maybe I don't read enough sad books, but I don't know if this overall qualifies as sad. Overall a good read, good writing: I mean it's greek mythology. Did very much appreciate the themes of Greek mythology and always love the idea of a known story from a different perspective. 98% good pacing - very few spots where I wasn't happy with the plot/writing's pacing.

I guess it's sad because - yes they both die,

but I think that was to be expected and kind of fit with the way the story was flowing/going.  The main character is flawed of course (he is only human) but to a relatable degree. I thought it was really interesting that the two main characters toward the end seem so opposed on values, as fundamental as violence

Would definitely recommend, I think the only thing keeping it from a 5 star were that the character arc for our main character didn't come as grandiose as I wanted it to, but I think that made it more real (which isn't why I read fictional books haha). I was disappointed in Achilles character arc, but it was a little more understandable humanity wise. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, War, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Animal death, Blood, and Abandonment

Minor: Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

happy_dayz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, War, Murder, Sexual assault, and Gore

Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Body horror, Sexism, Slavery, Child abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Body shaming, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, and Classism

rtorrey'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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Medical content, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Child death, Blood, Cursing, Self harm, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War

laurajordensharris's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Infidelity, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, and War

laylawren's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Rape

Moderate: Classism, Death, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Violence, and War

Minor: Child abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Physical abuse, Cursing, Grief, Incest, Murder, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content