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A review by luce_robinsonx
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-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
4.0
I'm a rookie to this reviewing thing and it's my first, so don't judge me ahah (slight spoilers ahead and soz for long review lmao). But where do i start this book is EMOTIONAL. Ngl i was a bit cautious, as well as keen, to read this book due to the MASSIVE hype it acquires, and also due to fact that the main message I was receiving in regards to this was, was that it was guaranteed to make me cry. Usually, when this happens , i dont end up crying, as i either build myself up to deal with the pain (lmao) or it's expectations are set so high that I end up being let down. But boi was this a tear jerker, the way Madeline Miller conveyed this the heart-wrenching ending was stunning, it was super emotive, delicate and captivating.
I did find it tricky to get into in the 1st half, as honestly i found it quite slow, but once i endured and got over that hurdle, i couldn't put the book down. The second-half was so captivating and engaging to an extent where it redeemed itself for me, hence why i rate this a 4. I did find the names fairly difficult to pronounce whilst reading, which really frustrated me. Therefore i ended up googling pronunciations a few times, which makes me wish that there was a pronunciation guide or something at the back of the book, for those like me who are complete noobs to greek mythology.
I stan Patroclus so hard, I loved his gentleness, compassion and values, and I honestly thought his character development throughout the novel was FAB. He was such a lovely character to read. Achilles, on the other hand, annoyed me a fair amount. His ego was HUGE and he came across as so vain ugh. I understand this is most probably Madeline's intent, but I feel it negatively effected my outlook on their relationship. The result of Patroclus (my pure lil bean) ending up treading on eggshells and doing everything possible just to protect his 'honour' was something i found hard to take.
Overall, the unconditional and loyal nature of Patroclus and Achilles' relationship was something that made me root for them so hard and tingly with a sense of happiness. I thought in general the plot to be unique, despite it being a greek retelling, and loved Madeline's careful and elaborate construction of imagery, making it a very enjoyable read indeed (well, definitely more so in the second half!).
I did find it tricky to get into in the 1st half, as honestly i found it quite slow, but once i endured and got over that hurdle, i couldn't put the book down. The second-half was so captivating and engaging to an extent where it redeemed itself for me, hence why i rate this a 4. I did find the names fairly difficult to pronounce whilst reading, which really frustrated me. Therefore i ended up googling pronunciations a few times, which makes me wish that there was a pronunciation guide or something at the back of the book, for those like me who are complete noobs to greek mythology.
I stan Patroclus so hard, I loved his gentleness, compassion and values, and I honestly thought his character development throughout the novel was FAB. He was such a lovely character to read. Achilles, on the other hand, annoyed me a fair amount.
Overall, the unconditional and loyal nature of Patroclus and Achilles' relationship was something that made me root for them so hard and tingly with a sense of happiness. I thought in general the plot to be unique, despite it being a greek retelling, and loved Madeline's careful and elaborate construction of imagery, making it a very enjoyable read indeed (well, definitely more so in the second half!).