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A review by emmybeth
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
5.0
It’s like a 6/5 tbh. I loved this book. It’s a favourite.
“We are all there, goddess and mortal and the boy who was both”
I took my time with this one, taking in everything, and I loved it. Madelines writing style is amazing and the story moved perfectly, every scene playing into the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles. This is a love story rather than a war story. Patroclus was an amazing character, I loved him, for many reasons. Achilles was lovable too and I thought the slow change of Achilles was so powerful and well done. From a boy who wanted to be a hero and grew into an arrogant man. Achilles change contrasting Patroclus, as he was a loner as a child but becomes popular and well-liked by the soldiers during the war, this leading him to make the choice to fight for these people. It’s interesting how this novel almost makes me feel like Patroclus was more a hero than Achilles.
“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth while another is gone”
Of course, it’s based on the Iliad and lots of Greek gods and goddesses are present. This honestly gave the book a nostalgic feel, which probably came from my childhood when I loved Percy Jackson. I also just love a romance story, especially tragic ones.
“I want to shatter the cold mask of stone that has slipped down over the boy I knew”
Another thing worth mentioning is Chiron. I thought he was a great character, and I loved him. Which is funny cause he really wasn’t in it that long, yet he left such an impact on me and, of course, the personality of Achilles and Patroclus. Throughout the novel we see them in multiple stages of their life, and this just adds to the tragic ending. We see them grow up and were able to know these characters as more than just ‘heroes’.
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but eachother”
Anyway I love this book, do yourself a favour and read it.
“We are all there, goddess and mortal and the boy who was both”
I took my time with this one, taking in everything, and I loved it. Madelines writing style is amazing and the story moved perfectly, every scene playing into the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles. This is a love story rather than a war story. Patroclus was an amazing character, I loved him, for many reasons. Achilles was lovable too and I thought the slow change of Achilles was so powerful and well done. From a boy who wanted to be a hero and grew into an arrogant man. Achilles change contrasting Patroclus, as he was a loner as a child but becomes popular and well-liked by the soldiers during the war, this leading him to make the choice to fight for these people. It’s interesting how this novel almost makes me feel like Patroclus was more a hero than Achilles.
“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth while another is gone”
Of course, it’s based on the Iliad and lots of Greek gods and goddesses are present. This honestly gave the book a nostalgic feel, which probably came from my childhood when I loved Percy Jackson. I also just love a romance story, especially tragic ones.
“I want to shatter the cold mask of stone that has slipped down over the boy I knew”
Another thing worth mentioning is Chiron. I thought he was a great character, and I loved him. Which is funny cause he really wasn’t in it that long, yet he left such an impact on me and, of course, the personality of Achilles and Patroclus. Throughout the novel we see them in multiple stages of their life, and this just adds to the tragic ending. We see them grow up and were able to know these characters as more than just ‘heroes’.
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but eachother”
Anyway I love this book, do yourself a favour and read it.