Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

1671 reviews

cyberhavok's review against another edition

adventurous sad medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and War

Moderate: Sexual content and Slavery

nataliebootlah's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative 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

4.0

I rarely read Greek mythology, but when I do, they’re by Madeline Miller. 

Many moons ago, my book club read Circe and the group was absolutely torn. Some loved it, some loathed it. I enjoyed it, hence picking up her debut novel. And The Song of Achilles didn’t disappoint. 

Watching the events unfold through the eyes of a mere mortal, Patroclus, allowed the reader to see a world full of gods and the mighty Trojan war. We witness the slow burn of Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship, the sacrifices that must be made, and how one deals with pride, greed, and glory. It was an emotional, epic ride told in the lyrical prose that Miller does so well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, Violence, and War

Moderate: Slavery and Rape

purechaos's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

ppppaula's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Animal death, Rape, Sexual content, and War

dilani's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

3.5

Miller describes a beautiful relationship growing between Patroclus and Achilles. I feel like Miller could have gone more in-depth about them though. It is still a thrilling, yet heartbreaking story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence, Slavery, and Rape

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

enchante's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-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? Yes

4.5

It was good, so so good. I love Madeline Miller. Her writing is incredible and I felt like I knew Achilles and Patroclus personally by the end of the book. I wish we'd seen more of their relationship, more of their actual conversations and moments together.

Spoiler

I think I still like Circe more, but I think that's mostly because I've never had a lot of interest in the Trojan War, so the setting and themes of Circe appeal to me more. But Achilles and Patroclus 😭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, Violence, and War

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence

chelle22's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

angry_badger224's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

One of the best books I’ve ever read. It will rip your heart out and stomp on it, and you’ll thank Madeline Miller for it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Murder, Child death, Blood, Misogyny, Grief, Slavery, and War

Minor: Rape

It follows the Iliad, so pretty much the red flags of Ancient Greece all apply.

alex04's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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: Death and War