Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

35 reviews

magicole's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, and War

bg_oseman_fan's review

adventurous emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Even knowing the story of Patroclus and Achilles in broad strokes, i was gripped by the incredible storytelling. The role of legacy and memory in the story was done exceptionally well. the roots of the story shone in a retelling with modern sensibilities intertwined with in. This work is an incredible achievement in writing and adapting a story that for many exists only as a footnote in the large story of the trojan war. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, and Abandonment

niaoliver's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD*

SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP !!!

I think that sums up what I feel pretty well. 

This was beautifully written and I found myself almost crying a few times in the end, even though I knew what was going to happen. I think Patroclus' death affected me more than anything else.

The way their relationship is described had me giggling and kicking my feet like a teenager. All those moments they spend together in their youth have been my favorite parts to read. 

Achilles' pride on the war made me so frustrated! I wanted to get in the book and slap some sense into him! I think I started to hate him a bit.

The only downside for me was the length of the chapters but, overall, I loved this book and I'm glad I read it. I've saved a lot of quotes that had me screaming and I'm sure I'll end up getting "Because you're the reason" tattooed at some point in my life.

If you'll excuse me, I will proceed to mourn my dear Patroclus for the next 10 years.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual assault and Slavery

Minor: Mental illness and Pregnancy

a_random_fangirl's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Kidnapping and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Colonisation

ailsaod's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Well let's just say I'm glad I borrowed this from the library. I honestly don't get the hype with this one. Patroclus and Achilles' relationship really didn't do it for me - they are extremely co-dependent but somehow still quite bland and Achilles' main character trait is being self-absorbed - and if you don't like their relationship then there isn't a lot here. Also how do people find this romantic when there is literally a scene where Patroclus offers that Achilles and him can go live quietly together and not die young and Achilles response is along of the lines of 'I'd rather die, thanks'? Ah yes the romance of the century right here, everyone!

Reading this book was s o s l o w and yet very little actually happened on page A lot of the book is establishing a scene and then immediately time skipping to the next brief scene.Admittedly this book did make me cry at the end but this was not from any sort of attachment to the characters and more because it was such a bleak and upsetting situation.

The one thing I did like was how the prophecies were handled. This is funny as prophecies are one of my least favourite tropes but I enjoyed how obvious it was to the reader but not to the characters what was going to happen. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child death, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, and War

Minor: Rape and Slavery

2137oliwia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

olia_k21's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Grief

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Homophobia and Rape

olliee's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

talyara's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

I went into this book already knowing the story of the Iliad, thinking I was prepared for the ending and I'd just be reading a cute romantic retelling. I was absolutely not prepared, in the best way possible.
I absolutely fell in love with these characters and their love story, to the point where I was crying throughout the last two chapters. The writing is gorgeous, the foreshadowing hurts in the best way possible.
Overall just a beautifully executed book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism

nerdkitten's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Excrement, Vomit, and Pregnancy