Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - The Song of Achilles

As a long time fan of Greek mythology, I was a bit nervous to pick this book up. Gay literature is usually hit or miss and I wasn’t quite confident this was a hit. I am glad I did. What a delightful read. And typical of Greek stories, a tragic but beautiful one. Would recommend.

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areadnes's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

don’t let the rating fool you — i enjoyed the song of achilles. sure, it didn’t really emotionally capture me as much as the majority of its audience, but i still had a lot of fun reading it regardless. if anything, i think it was my own expectations that dampened the experience and that’s just plainly on me. this is madeline miller’s first novel, after all, and despite whatever criticisms i have i think it’s still a feat to have something like this be your debut novel. achilles & patroclus’ relationship is very touching and there is no shortage of side characters to keep things interesting (love you odysseus <3). all in all, a good read and an emotional ride.

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bearbutch's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely beautiful book, down to its writing, its characterisation, its imaginings. Couldn’t recommend more.

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katiecoconut21's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles is definitely my favorite book from her. I will say that her writing felt quite a bit different than in Circe, and I believe it is because she was attempting to mimic the lyricism of The Illiad, The Odyssey, and Homer, which she did spectacularly well.

The relationships between the characters are what made me enjoy this book. The

tenderness between Patroclus and Achilles, and the somewhat-platonic love between Patroclus and Briseis

really made this book so enjoyable. Truly, Patroclus as the protagonist made this book, as

his love for Achilles never changes

, even as we see

Achilles change from the lovesick boy to the arrogant and vain hero

.

As much as this is advertised as a love story, I feel like people forget that it is also a tragedy, which is made so very clear in the book

according to all the prophecies about Achilles

. For me, though, the tragedy isn't in how Patroclus and Achilles are inevitably separated like in the old Greek epics, but how

Patroclus was slighted by Achilles time and time again (1. Achilles having sex and producing a child with Deidama, only to be upset when Patroclus suggests the same with Briseis, 2. Achilles nurturing his pride instead of helping prevent the massacre of the Greeks, even at Patroclus' begging, etc)

, and Patroclus continued to love him throughout. That's a tragedy if I've ever heard of one.

Having said that, Achilles' character development is masterfully done. You feel the tragedy of this through Patroclus' eyes and feelings, and Madeline Miller made me truly believe how her Achilles mirrored that of the Greek epics.

Very well done!

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kiwiifizz's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

It was an enjoyable read Greek mythology is cool

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littlepaw's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The book is twined in love and human err. The beauty and divinity love can create that is beyond Gods’. Yet the fragility of man to fail at the storm’s of life and choices that dissolves into the sea of stories, among the swirls of men and mortal wishes and their immortal goodness tweaked and juggled by Fates. “The Song of Achilles”, is one such book that beyond it’s magnanimity, speaks about the niche of human emotions. Patroclus and Achilles became the “best of all the Greeks” and “best of all the men” because they had each other at their best, worst and in their nothingness.

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uselesspirateraven's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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