A review by kibbles15
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 This is one of those books where I am torn on how to rate the book. The writing is good and keeps you engaged for the entire book. However, I don't find the main character's relatable and I wish there was more focus on the "Plot" than the love story between Achilles and Patroclus. When comparing it to Homer's The Iliad Miller's plot flows much smoother and is less gory. I did like how the author added more background to the story. That being said, I did not like the amount of sensualities in the book. I was also disappointed in how the author interpreted the character Patroclus. In the original story, Patroclus seemed like a strong man and a good fighter with a kind heart. In this version he still had the kind heart, but I feel that the author took away some of the power that Patroclus had on his own at the expense of adding a "love Story". (He couldn't fight, was clumsy and didn't seem to be able to stand on his own without Achilles to guide him.) I can't go into details without spoilers, so I will stop there. Overall, the book was good, but I wouldn't say that it lived up to the hype around it. 
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