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A review by themoonwholistens
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
2.0
....well, I didn’t cry.
I am so sorry T_T I feel like I failed the greek population. I tried so much to care for the plot that I ended up finishing it. (Please don't shoot arrows or throw spears at me)
Why this book isn’t a 2.0 star or less:
- Chiron
- Patroclus when he’s doing more than just be there
- the greek mythology
- that ending. (I really wished I loved the rest of the book as much as I did the ending)
- the gayness (they are so whipped for each other lol)
— overall thoughts: 2.5 —
⇢ content warnings//
In case you didn’t know, this book is a retelling and inspired by [b:The Illiad|35266972|The Illiad (Classics Illustrated)|Homer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496147422l/35266972._SX50_.jpg|86635090] and [b:The Odyssey|1381|The Odyssey|Homer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390173285l/1381._SY75_.jpg|3356006], and focuses on the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles.
The main reason that this wasn’t a fave book was for the reason that Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship wasn’t the most investing thing to me (I’m very sorry). Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed their relationship at times and did love them at the start because it played with tropes that I normally enjoy (shared bed, slow burn, forbidden romance, etc.). But towards the middle it just started to fall flat for the lack of complexity in their relationship other than what outside forces were placing on them. The conflict aside from the war felt soooo draggy with it's linear plot and the flow of the story was so boring to me. I didn't feel like there was enough nuance and thought provoking conversations/topics that were explored that satisfied me.
To all future readers, I am telling you now that this book is a lot more character driven than I anticipated.
Even though it was slow burn, my problem was that there wasn’t enough chance for me to get to know the characters individually before I was supposed to care for the romance and their problems. I really do see why everyone loves them though and I think it's more of a personal preference in certain kind of stories. In settings like these, I just can't handle when you throw two characters at me that I feel like I've watched so many versions of and expect to just fall in love. I needed something more unique? something that makes these two versions of Patroclus and Achilles feel distinct AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
If you are the kind of reader who needs to fall in love with the characters first before the romance, like me, you might not be as sold. Achilles was just too perfect ohmygoodness and it was so frustrating because I felt like I was Patroclus suffering through that
“I am made of memories.”
I am so sorry T_T I feel like I failed the greek population. I tried so much to care for the plot that I ended up finishing it. (Please don't shoot arrows or throw spears at me)
Why this book isn’t a 2.0 star or less:
- Chiron
- Patroclus when he’s doing more than just be there
- the greek mythology
- that ending. (I really wished I loved the rest of the book as much as I did the ending)
- the gayness (they are so whipped for each other lol)
— overall thoughts: 2.5 —
⇢ content warnings//
Spoiler
Abduction, Abandonment, Blood depictions, Child abuse, Death, Human sacrificing, Human trafficking, Murder, Physical violence, Plague (mentioned, graphic), Rape (mentioned), Self-harm, Slavery, Torture, WarIn case you didn’t know, this book is a retelling and inspired by [b:The Illiad|35266972|The Illiad (Classics Illustrated)|Homer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496147422l/35266972._SX50_.jpg|86635090] and [b:The Odyssey|1381|The Odyssey|Homer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390173285l/1381._SY75_.jpg|3356006], and focuses on the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles.
The main reason that this wasn’t a fave book was for the reason that Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship wasn’t the most investing thing to me (I’m very sorry). Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed their relationship at times and did love them at the start because it played with tropes that I normally enjoy (shared bed, slow burn, forbidden romance, etc.). But towards the middle it just started to fall flat for the lack of complexity in their relationship other than what outside forces were placing on them. The conflict aside from the war felt soooo draggy with it's linear plot and the flow of the story was so boring to me. I didn't feel like there was enough nuance and thought provoking conversations/topics that were explored that satisfied me.
To all future readers, I am telling you now that this book is a lot more character driven than I anticipated.
Even though it was slow burn, my problem was that there wasn’t enough chance for me to get to know the characters individually before I was supposed to care for the romance and their problems. I really do see why everyone loves them though and I think it's more of a personal preference in certain kind of stories. In settings like these, I just can't handle when you throw two characters at me that I feel like I've watched so many versions of and expect to just fall in love. I needed something more unique? something that makes these two versions of Patroclus and Achilles feel distinct AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
If you are the kind of reader who needs to fall in love with the characters first before the romance, like me, you might not be as sold. Achilles was just too perfect ohmygoodness and it was so frustrating because I felt like I was Patroclus suffering through that