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A review by lemonsandligaments
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I read Circe before this, and wow this book is different. Circe is a slow, day-to-day kind of thing. The story of Archilles and Patroclus was briefly mentioned in Circe. For some parts of this book, I was wondering what Circe was doing at that moment.
Anyway yes, I have dried tears on my face and I finished more than half the book in one setting. I care for these two more than many well known main characters and wanted the best for them. I vaguely knew how this literal Greek tragedy would end but it still hurt like a bitch.
Of course, I come from a less educated angle of this topic (that it was unanimous Archilles died from an arrow to the heel). I also love that theTrojan Horse was a mere afterthought .
It’s an incredibly sweet romance and I had many quotes noted down. However, it does have a trope which I do not like.Archilles is presented as stronger than Patroclus and “better” literally 90% of the time. Sure, it is cute but WHY does Archilles like Patroclus? Maybe it’s Patroclus’ insecurities coming through, idk. Oh yeah I typically don’t like the pregnancy stuff but it’s Greek mythology so I will not whine.
Additionally, the whole “hEcTor HaS nOt DoNe AnYtHinG tO mE” is done to the point where it can be a meme. Unfortunately, I feel like it didn’t really follow through. I wish that part of the book were written to make me absolutely devastated. However, the way it is written can be said to reflect the indifference of other people to Patroclus’ death. Never mind, I cried over other things.
This book was incredibly engaging and I felt a lot for those two characters. ALLLL the angst was nice. The fact that they did not lie to each other. The mostly HEALTHY relationship they had, astounding. The way one of them killed while the other healed, the way Thetis came around. The sacrifice, the mourning, love it. A very good romance.
Anyway yes, I have dried tears on my face and I finished more than half the book in one setting. I care for these two more than many well known main characters and wanted the best for them. I vaguely knew how this literal Greek tragedy would end but it still hurt like a bitch.
Of course, I come from a less educated angle of this topic (that it was unanimous Archilles died from an arrow to the heel). I also love that the
It’s an incredibly sweet romance and I had many quotes noted down. However, it does have a trope which I do not like.
Additionally, the whole “hEcTor HaS nOt DoNe AnYtHinG tO mE” is done to the point where it can be a meme. Unfortunately, I feel like it didn’t really follow through. I wish that part of the book were written to make me absolutely devastated. However, the way it is written can be said to reflect the indifference of other people to Patroclus’ death. Never mind, I cried over other things.
This book was incredibly engaging and I felt a lot for those two characters.
IN THE DARKNESS, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.