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
enchante's review against another edition
- 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
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 ðŸ˜Graphic: Gore, Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
adgovey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Blood and Gore
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
sandiec's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Rape, War, and Violence
mayvisin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved the emphasis on their love story. As a 2023 reader I feel like this would have been revolutionary in 2011.Â
Sometimes it was hard to reconcile the characters she had built with the path she had to lead them down (especially Patroclus who was supposed to have been older and a warrior himself), but then again those ancient stories are wild and seem to make zero sense half the time.
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and War
Minor: Gore, Rape, and Slavery
bibliochica'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
5.0
Moderate: War, Classism, Gore, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexism
bibim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, War, Body horror, Slavery, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, and Pedophilia
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.ÂOne second Patroclus was in the chariot, and the next he was at the wall of Troy, being surrounded by the Trojan army.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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