ahakuutti's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Rant incoming because there's really no other words to describe what a let down this book was and how overhyped it is. For a retelling this hyped and applauded I expected more nuance and depth than a self-indulgent and sad gay boy slash fanfic I ended up reading.
This book gave me nostalgia for old BL/mlm tropes where the main character has no personality so the female readers can self insert themselves to him more easily and the main love interest is still somehow really interested in the main character even though he has the personality of a dry rag and is overall really passive. I start to have problems with this set-up only when the writer also adds their internalized misogyny by making all the female characters obstacles and those who bring conflict against the main gay couple. This is what this book is.
I never understood what Patroclus saw in Achilles except blind adoration and what Achilles saw in Patroclus making their relationship seem extremely vapid and surface level. They're both flat cardboards who suddendly gain a personality when the original myths demand it to make the events happen and all the more nuanced and complicated characters are either women who get pushed to the sidelines, killed or made antagonistic or the other guys in the army against Troy who're also often untrustworthy or kill and rape (which our gay boys don't do because they're perfect gay boys).
I'm usually fine if retellings change some things but there has to be a certain purpose behind it; if the author decides to take out all the rape, grey morality and violence the main character's originally had but instead makes them perfect feminist gay boys and treats the few female characters like this I do think that theres some validity to criticize that.
The writing has some nice passages from time time and it's easily readable but overall I coasted through this book like in a haze and it got me out of reading slump so there's something good. My favorite moment was in the end
Last point and this might be more of a nitpick but I also found it weird that after the main characters grow up to be adults there's no more sex scenes between them whereas when they were teenagers the author before descriped them in quite explicit detail. Amongst all the bloodshed of the war them being intimate now as adults would have underlined more on their pure love compared to the rape and pillaging happening all around them.
This book gave me nostalgia for old BL/mlm tropes where the main character has no personality so the female readers can self insert themselves to him more easily and the main love interest is still somehow really interested in the main character even though he has the personality of a dry rag and is overall really passive. I start to have problems with this set-up only when the writer also adds their internalized misogyny by making all the female characters obstacles and those who bring conflict against the main gay couple. This is what this book is.
I never understood what Patroclus saw in Achilles except blind adoration and what Achilles saw in Patroclus making their relationship seem extremely vapid and surface level. They're both flat cardboards who suddendly gain a personality when the original myths demand it to make the events happen and all the more nuanced and complicated characters are either women who get pushed to the sidelines, killed or made antagonistic or the other guys in the army against Troy who're also often untrustworthy or kill and rape (which our gay boys don't do because they're perfect gay boys).
I'm usually fine if retellings change some things but there has to be a certain purpose behind it; if the author decides to take out all the rape, grey morality and violence the main character's originally had but instead makes them perfect feminist gay boys and treats the few female characters like this I do think that theres some validity to criticize that.
The writing has some nice passages from time time and it's easily readable but overall I coasted through this book like in a haze and it got me out of reading slump so there's something good. My favorite moment was in the end
Spoiler
where Thetis reminisced on her life and her desire for revenge against the man who had raped her, but still ending up to care for the boy which she birthed. It managed to summ up her feelings so succintly but beautifully and I immediately felt for her. The only time I cried during this book was for the injustice she had experienced but also the motherly love she still managed to feel for Achilles.Spoiler
Last point and this might be more of a nitpick but I also found it weird that after the main characters grow up to be adults there's no more sex scenes between them whereas when they were teenagers the author before descriped them in quite explicit detail. Amongst all the bloodshed of the war them being intimate now as adults would have underlined more on their pure love compared to the rape and pillaging happening all around them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Minor: Rape and Sexual violence
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Slavery, War, Violence, Death of parent, Blood, Death, Classism, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Child death, Abandonment, and Pregnancy
mirissab's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.75
I only picked this book up because I want to read Circe but I didn't want to feel like I was missing anything. I was not in the slightest disappointed by my decision. I haven't read a book in a while to where it felt like I was halfway through running a 5k and this story was my rewarded tiny two ounce paper cup of water. My heart quickened in moments of peril or suspense, and ached in sadness and love. I couldn't get the words off the page fast enough. I haven't had much engagement with Greek mythology since primary school, but my interest has been struck anew.
Spoiler
I'd been so against reading romance until this point, but I underestimated (or failed to get the hint when reading the back cover) the depth and centrality of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus when choosing this book at the library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, War, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Outing, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Slavery
pjdotcom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Grief, Torture, Gore, Blood, Sexual assault, Death, Rape, Body horror, and Pregnancy
friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Slavery, Sexual violence, Self harm, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Death, Body horror, Blood, Medical trauma, Child death, Sexual content, Medical content, Physical abuse, Grief, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
icedlemonade's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It has so much heart and Madeline Miller has written a masterpiece.
Spoiler
Towards the end it was so hard to hold back to tears but I think the quote that got me the most was ““Let it be remembered I tried.” I remember”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Gore, and Slavery
Minor: Homophobia
lillieb130's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Kidnapping, War, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
bookish_bry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I mostly enjoyed The Song of Achillies. It was a but slow at some points, but the emotional depth of our perspective character was on point. It was a bit of a tragic tale, but also was cute at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Misogyny, War, Violence, and Infidelity
Moderate: Homophobia and Rape
matildaesandell's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This book broke my heart and put it back together. Such a strong second half, I think I read the last 40% in one day, but I found a lot of the first half really dragged on. I can see how parts of it were necessary but it could definitely have been cut back a bit. The writing is beautiful, I highlighted so many quotes that I want to remember forever ❤️ also makes me want to read up a lot more on Greek Mythology
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Sexual violence
yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was so heartbreakingly beautiful. The story was so precious and I loved Achilles and Patroclus.
I liked that this story was accurate to the myths while adding this spin of romance. Achilles was so easy to love and although they had their faults, the characters were so loveable. I found myself crying, laughing, and smiling.
There’s not much to say other than this is a beautiful book with a beautiful story.
I liked that this story was accurate to the myths while adding this spin of romance. Achilles was so easy to love and although they had their faults, the characters were so loveable. I found myself crying, laughing, and smiling.
There’s not much to say other than this is a beautiful book with a beautiful story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Sexism, and Animal death