odette_tbdk's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Me faltaron personajes femeninos que no giraran en torno a los protagonistas, pero eso ya no es culpa de la autora, simplemente no hay muchos porque así es la mitología. Cuando lea Circe tendré lo que me faltó aquí.
En general, un libro muy triste cargado de mitología y de referencias muy extensas a los ornamentos, política y costumbres de la época. Tedioso a ratos pero al final te deja con un buen sabor de boca (en parte). Buena lectura.
Graphic: Misogyny, Medical trauma, Colonisation, Grief, War, Child death, Medical content, Violence, Rape, Pandemic/Epidemic, Homophobia, Slavery, Xenophobia, Sexism, Death, Genocide, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Torture, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, and Animal death
friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
5.0
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
purechaos's review against another edition
- 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
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
yasaman's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Pregnancy, Grief, Rape, Murder, Misogyny, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, War, and Slavery
kathrynleereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Song of Achilles is one I had such high hopes for after hearing so many amazing things about it, but I just didn’t feel drawn into the story.
With every multi-year time jump, I felt as if I had whiplash. If I’m adding correctly the book spanned a total of 18 years (ages 9 to 27 for Patroclus), which was just too wide a time frame.
Because of the time jumps, Achilles’ character development felt spotty and incomplete. Patroclus, on the other hand, seemed to go through all of his character growth within the final few chapters, which was just as jarring.
Speaking of the final few chapters…
I’ll admit, I did shed quite a few tears at the end of the book, but that’s only because of the characters’ reactions to everything that unfolded.
Spoiler
I didn’t even fully follow what happened to Patroclus until Menelaus carried him back into camp, at which point I went back and reread the prior chapter.One second Patroclus was in the chariot, and the next he was at the wall of Troy, being surrounded by the Trojan army.
I understand that Miller was demonstrating the draw of power in the scene, but it was so out of character for Patroclus that it took me right out of the story.
The only aspect of this book I have no complaints about is Briseis. Her character helped demonstrate the severity of war atrocities, while also helping mark time.
Briseis’ friendship with Patroclus was the only thing that kept me reading this book.
She was so kind and understanding, even after the horrors that she had gone through (and was yet to go through) because of the war.
All in all, I think this book was just not for me. Reading other reviews for The Song of Achilles, I recognize all the aspects that are being applauded, I just think Miller’s writing style was not for me.
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Murder, Sexual violence, Blood, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Body horror, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and War
Moderate: Torture, Child death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death and Bullying
lizdon's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Xenophobia, War, and Slavery
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
Minor: Biphobia, Child abuse, Deportation, Homophobia, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Transphobia, and Rape
Once they reach war, there are mentions of how they treat female slaves that are stolen during raids, which is accurate to the time but can be hard to read. Not detailed, mostly just commented at.jennyrackel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Grief, Medical trauma, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
ewals's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Child death, Blood, War, Violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma
_bobatea_'s review
- 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
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Slavery, Classism, Child abuse, Abandonment, Grief, War, Violence, Sexism, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Outing, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Sexual assault
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Cannibalism, and Vomit
cin19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, War, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Medical trauma, Rape, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia