chelle22's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Torture, Animal cruelty, Cultural appropriation, Child abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Sexual assault, Animal death, Death, Cursing, Grief, Incest, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Slavery, War, and Self harm
luwa963's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Vomit, Slavery, Pregnancy, Grief, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Animal death, War, Bullying, Blood, Abandonment, Medical content, Self harm, Alcohol, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation, and Death
yasaman's review against another edition
- 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
kylarenea_'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, War, Cursing, Infidelity, Child death, Death, and Violence
chaotic_corvid's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Alcohol, Grief, Medical content, and Slavery
Minor: Cursing
nilsnoether73'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: Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Violence, War, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Torture, and Rape
Minor: Homophobia
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
stellastallion'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
5.0
Graphic: War, Homophobia, Blood, Death, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Animal death
Minor: Child death and Sexual violence
redefiningrachel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Violence, Misogyny, Sexual violence, War, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy
komiification's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Medical content, Blood, Kidnapping, Death, Murder, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Child death