jayvdw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I was already very familiar with the story of Achilles, having read Heroes and Troy by Stephen Fry. But the interpretation of the original story by Madeline Miller made this story so much more than just another hero's journey. I really enjoyed that the main focus of the book wasn't on the Trojan war, as this story has been told numerous times.
Some other things that I really liked about the book were < spoiler> the change from Achilles being invulnerable, to just being a genius fighter who is still vulnerable to attacks. , the way gods were presented as selfish and unethical, and the conflicted depiction of Odysseus, as a person with his own motives and drives.
The ending of the book was perfectly executed. While reading I was wondering how Madeline Miller would pull this off, but she clearly exceeded my expectations.
For my rating: I loved the book, but I have two minus points. First, the book sometimes felt a bit too slow-paced for my liking. Secondly, the book missed a certain spark to get 5 stars. I only felt this spark in the last 4 chapters. For this reason, I gave it a 4.5.
Graphic: War, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
genevieve_eggleston's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: War, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Death, and Gore
Minor: Slavery, Rape, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
naiu_cs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Death, and Murder
turtleraces's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, War, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
eelizard's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Sexual violence, Murder, Medical content, Violence, Pregnancy, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, War, Slavery, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Grief
torilara'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
4.75
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, War, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Blood, Death, and Infidelity
Minor: Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Animal death, Cannibalism, Kidnapping, Slavery, Alcohol, Colonisation, Pedophilia, Medical content, and Sexual content
fifth_magpie's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: War, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Slavery and Rape
holly86's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Child death, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
- 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
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