Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

285 reviews

barbarianmissy's review

adventurous emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Wow, talk about a Greek tragedy!

I really loved this book. Summing up Patroclus’ entire life into 369 pages was a worthy feat. I felt like I lived it alongside him.

The love story in this book between Patroclus and Achilles was so beautiful and tragic and unapologetic. It was so good. I also found it super interesting how they truly shaped one another’s character. Patroclus started off his exile cynic and prideful, whereas Achilles was introduced as a breath of life and beauty. They really swapped those traits during the war. 

I got SUPER FRUSTRATED near the end with Achilles and Agamemnon in how both THEIR own prides cost so many men their lives. Gah, frickin MEN! Also Achilles’ stupid idiot son can EAT A CAR TIRE AND DIE. What a lil shit and a half. Glad he didn’t last long. 

Anywho, I really loved the ending. Reading about the immense grief had me in TEARS but it was so beautifully written. It was a nice switch up that Achilles’ crazy nymph mama really just was a protective mummy who loved her kid in the end. Happy she gave her son what he truly loved and wished for in the end. They found their peace and it was just a gorgeous finale. 

I JUST LOVED THIS STORY OK!?! Felt like I was back in elementary school obsessing over Ancient Greek Mythology again. Also, Madeline Miller is such an amazing author, I may read Circe next. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail

lavenderzinnia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Body shaming, Homophobia, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Self harm, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Outing, and Classism

heycloehere's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Geez Madeline woke up and chose violence... I did slightly end up spoiling Patroclus' story for myself but nothing could've prepared me for Achilles' ending

AND OMG WHEN THETIS CARVED PATROCLUS' NAME SO HE COULD BE WITH ACHILLES LIKE OH GOD I CRIED WOMAN WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN BEFORE

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and War

Minor: Slavery and Kidnapping

erkhaly's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content and Abandonment

spatterson7's review

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, and War

Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol

coldsoup13's review against another edition

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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Islamophobia, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Animal death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy

heartsforhawkins's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

5.0

ouch. 

no further words.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

barnesbookshelf's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

I knew how this book would end since I knew the story, but the way Miller writes it just destroyed me.  This books was not what I thought it was going to be, in a good way. I thought it was mostly going to focus on the war, but I love that it shows the whole life of the characters. The novel format of this makes the story much more accessible for people. Miller paints the relationship so beautifully and boldly that I couldn't help but wish for a different end. This book absolutely lives up to the hype. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Kidnapping

mills33's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Kidnapping

davbat's review against another edition

emotional tense fast-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

Extremely tragic, even more than you'd expect going into it with knowledge of the story. Time after time, Miller shows you what could have been if not for fate/pride/war. Extremely tragic doomed romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Murder, and War

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Self harm, Slavery, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Outing

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Cannibalism, and Abandonment

Rape and murder are just as common as in the original myth but without any of the euphemism