Reviews

La canción de Aquiles by Madeline Miller

purechaos's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Classism, Physical abuse, Slavery, War, Cursing, Deportation, Genocide, Gore, Sexual harassment, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Grief, Xenophobia, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual content

pandabossi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

4.75

avefrater's review against another edition

4.0

I thought the first 80% of the book was “pretty good” and then spent the last 20% weeping my little eyes out.

Echoing Hadestown, it’s a sad song - and we know how it ends. But we read it again anyway. That’s just the allure of myth and legend.

darcy6's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this so much I don’t think I can sum up everything in a review. Having background knowledge on Achilles (shout out to my fellow Greek mythology nerds) adds a layer of melancholy that underpins each instance of joy or victory that enriched the experience of reading this. Glad I started my year off with this and will be recommending it to anyone who listens

ottiedottie's review against another edition

4.0

Hmm nice prose, nice relationship development BUT I would have liked to see more of depth in it. Also Patroclus narrating the events after battle didn't seem to make much sense but all in all a good lyrical read.

gladiolus17's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

If you liked Circe, you will definitely like this!

The writing, like Circe, was lush and filled with surprising, strong metaphors. It was very steeped in worldview. As well, the romance with Achilles was so tender, raw, and sensual.

I had the same issue with The Song of Achilles as I did with Circe: that the plot wasn’t very centered. I suppose this is like how it was in the Greek myth (I don’t know for sure, as I’m not familiar with it). 

Overall, I enjoyed the book, especially on audio.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War

violetwings's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

chegu's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

lea_lelew's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.5

booksandbobbins's review against another edition

3.0

I wasn't hugely blown away by this nor was I majorly dissapointed, it was pretty much as expected. I found the story to be mostly compelling, and wanted to know what was going to happen next, but when sad things happened the characters had done such terrible things that I really didn't care that much. 

I definitely don't get why it's some people's favourite book but whatever floats your goat I guess.