rose_thorn2020's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Death
Moderate: Slavery and Suicidal thoughts
agirlnamedellie's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My first Greek retelling that I have read and really enjoyed it. I don't know a lot about Greek mythologies so went into this pretty blind. Fell in love with the writing style and the development of the characters from young boys made me more invested in the characters themselves. Also the book was pretty so that was a bonus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Slavery and Rape
solo_shelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
at times i wanted to swing the boys by their ears, but their story is just </3
//
can’t believe it literally took me a year to finish this lol, i just couldn’t let the year end with me not finishing the book that first got me back to reading in 2022
//
can’t believe it literally took me a year to finish this lol, i just couldn’t let the year end with me not finishing the book that first got me back to reading in 2022
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Slavery, War, Rape, and Violence
myaphrodiite's review
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
4.75
this is such a beautiful book, once you start you never want to put it down. this book shows greek mythology you’ve rarely seen and a pure love story that will definitely leave you in tears (i needed tissues before i even finished this book).
this book shows that love is pure no matter what gender you are, where you come from, your background, your looks and even your skills. love is love and this story shows this to the reader. the love between an exile and a prince, forbidden by their stereotypes but welcome by their hearts.
the amount of passion and emotion in this writing is breathtaking, it is by far one of the most beautiful books i’ve ever read, although it shattered my heart i will love it forever. i would recommend for everyone to read this book as it is a piece of art.
this book shows that love is pure no matter what gender you are, where you come from, your background, your looks and even your skills. love is love and this story shows this to the reader. the love between an exile and a prince, forbidden by their stereotypes but welcome by their hearts.
the amount of passion and emotion in this writing is breathtaking, it is by far one of the most beautiful books i’ve ever read, although it shattered my heart i will love it forever. i would recommend for everyone to read this book as it is a piece of art.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Injury/injury detail, Child abuse, Murder, Rape, Self harm, and Slavery
Minor: Kidnapping, Torture, and Animal death
maybeimali's review
adventurous
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal death, Death, Self harm, Slavery, and War
tslover's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
patroclus 🫶
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Grief, Misogyny, Blood, Rape, Slavery, Violence, and Sexism
dragon_lord's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Though I started reading this book already knowing some of Achilles’s story, and therefore some of the events that would happen, I never once felt like that detracted from my experience reading it. If anything, it added to it. I was in stitches trying to figure out how certain events would happen. I absolutely loved this book, and finished it in a single sitting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Homophobia, Sexism, Murder, Slavery, War, Violence, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Sexual content
ai_lin's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and War
Minor: Injury/injury detail, Murder, Classism, Slavery, and Torture
snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
The most beautiful, heartrending romance I’ve read in forever, The Song of Achilles is a book I never want to surface from. Every book I’ve read after this has failed to inspire an obsession akin to the one I have for this and I don’t think there’ll be another like this anytime soon. After all, how many recently published books out there have wholly committed to being a tragedy? How many recently published books out there have their darlings killed? Practically none so yeah, here’s me sobbing my heart out yet loving every bit of Miller’s retelling of Achilles and Patroclus.
Told primarily from Patroclus’ perspective, we witness the boys grow from children to adults, going through the chapters of their life where the ups are so sweet and golden like a dream while the downs range from an accidental prick to a finger to a strange static as though the world has gone grey and mute, and then, so immense pain and heartbreak. Everyone aware of Achilles and Patroclus from Greek Mythology would know how it ends because there’s no other way unless a writer decides to be kind and change their fates. However, as alluded to earlier, The Song of Achilles is a tragedy—the deaths of Achilles and Patroclus caused by none other than Achilles’ own hubris.
I’m incredibly thankful for the brief respite at the end, though. As much as I love tragedies and angst, I wouldn’t be able to wholly stand it without some sweet or hopeful moments to counter all the sadness. That said, this book is brilliantly written, despite its simplistic prose. The imagery is powerful, the emotions are intense, and the characters are so, so human. The inevitability of the tragedy just makes every moment spent with and in the characters’ shoes all the more meaningful and memorable.
The most beautiful, heartrending romance I’ve read in forever, The Song of Achilles is a book I never want to surface from. Every book I’ve read after this has failed to inspire an obsession akin to the one I have for this and I don’t think there’ll be another like this anytime soon. After all, how many recently published books out there have wholly committed to being a tragedy? How many recently published books out there have their darlings killed? Practically none so yeah, here’s me sobbing my heart out yet loving every bit of Miller’s retelling of Achilles and Patroclus.
Told primarily from Patroclus’ perspective, we witness the boys grow from children to adults, going through the chapters of their life where the ups are so sweet and golden like a dream while the downs range from an accidental prick to a finger to a strange static as though the world has gone grey and mute, and then, so immense pain and heartbreak. Everyone aware of Achilles and Patroclus from Greek Mythology would know how it ends because there’s no other way unless a writer decides to be kind and change their fates. However, as alluded to earlier, The Song of Achilles is a tragedy—the deaths of Achilles and Patroclus caused by none other than Achilles’ own hubris.
I’m incredibly thankful for the brief respite at the end, though. As much as I love tragedies and angst, I wouldn’t be able to wholly stand it without some sweet or hopeful moments to counter all the sadness. That said, this book is brilliantly written, despite its simplistic prose. The imagery is powerful, the emotions are intense, and the characters are so, so human. The inevitability of the tragedy just makes every moment spent with and in the characters’ shoes all the more meaningful and memorable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War, and Death
Minor: Slavery
annagallo's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Murder
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, Sexual harassment, and Torture