Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

641 reviews

minnow's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

As a huge fan of Greek mythology, and after hearing all of the praise for Circe, I expected this to be a 5-star read for me. I was pretty disappointed in this novel. It's just too heavy-handed with the descriptions. Every single thing is described in minute detail. I don't need to know every time the character has the tiniest feeling. I don't need a paragraph-long description of an item that has no importance to the story whatsoever. I don't need to know the hundred tiny gestures or expressions a character is making when those emotions are then repeated in the dialogue. It creates redundancy and weighs down the story. There are scenes stretching over chapters that could have been reduced to a few paragraphs, improving the pacing of the story. There's a time and place for heavy descriptions and I did not feel that discernment was exercised here.

I did, however, feel that this story did a fantastic job of portraying love in a way that was intense but not cringey.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War

Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Abandonment

epellicci's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is beautifully poetic and hopelessly tragic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Grief

Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Sexual violence

s_wandering's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Absolutely sobbing!

At first I felt indifferent at best while reading not caring at all about any one character, the pacing felt off etc.

Luckily I didn’t give up, past that 50% mark was nothing short of incredible. I should’ve known to trust Madeline after all, Circe is my favourite 

“Go” she says. “He waits for you”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Violence, and War

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Slavery and Abandonment

dahlialover's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

Brilliant book that expands upon the Greek myths that you knew as a child. Loved Miller’s twist on the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles which drove the direction of the story. The horrors of the Trojan war and the complex relationships among all the kings and princes were aptly written in such a way that you could easily envision yourself there. The character depictions of Thetis and Odysseus were also wonderful, particularly their acceptance (or not) of the main character’s relationship. Honestly couldn’t find a single fault and would greedily read any more books like this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

paigeskijones's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.0

Prose was very beautiful, but wished it was more tangible to keep the energy and pace up.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, and War

Minor: Animal death, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Medical content, Kidnapping, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

haessigetee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

hello_mags's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Not only is the plot well developed (exploring themes as glory, power play, love and humanity) but it is done on such a fine and rich literary style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Violence, and War

Moderate: Sexual violence, Slavery, and Blood

Minor: Self harm

kousseii's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.25

This book is often described as a tearjerker, however as a regular crier, it did not move me. Enjoyed the first half a lot, the second half was a bit slow. Glad I read it, but no desire to re-read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, and War

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Self harm

bethanwx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

A romantic, morally complicated adaption of the myth of Patroclus and Achilles. Miller’s version of the world of the Ancient Greeks is misogynistic and violent, with Patroclus constantly trying to make the moral choice in a brutal world. Meanwhile, his relationship with Achilles is his constant rock, a love which holds them to each other.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, Death of parent, and Colonisation

Minor: Cursing and Outing

jjzbandit's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence