Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

757 reviews

pigeongreen's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

This is a beautiful story that expounds on the classic Greek mythology that most of us are somewhat familiar with. We experience the depth of joy, grief, loss, and anger with the characters, and fall in love with the lovers. Dialogue is purposefully sparse and formal, supporting the rich character development via the narrator, Patroclus. We see through his eyes and hear his thoughts and feelings, relating to other characters through him. A must read. Tragic and gorgeous. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Gore, Grief, Animal death, and Child death

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual content

booksemmahasread's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative sad medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

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

mirissab's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.75

I only picked this book up because I want to read Circe but I didn't want to feel like I was missing anything.

Spoiler

I'd been so against reading romance until this point, but I underestimated (or failed to get the hint when reading the back cover) the depth and centrality of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus when choosing this book at the library.

I was not in the slightest disappointed by my decision. I haven't read a book in a while to where it felt like I was halfway through running a 5k and this story was my rewarded tiny two ounce paper cup of water. My heart quickened in moments of peril or suspense, and ached in sadness and love. I couldn't get the words off the page fast enough. I haven't had much engagement with Greek mythology since primary school, but my interest has been struck anew. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, War, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Outing, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Slavery

pjdotcom's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Grief, Torture, Gore, Blood, Sexual assault, Death, Rape, Body horror, and Pregnancy

friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Slavery, Sexual violence, Self harm, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Death, Body horror, Blood, Medical trauma, Child death, Sexual content, Medical content, Physical abuse, Grief, and War

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

lillieb130's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Kidnapping, War, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

bookish_bry's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.25

I mostly enjoyed The Song of Achillies. It was a but slow at some points, but the emotional depth of our perspective character was on point. It was a bit of a tragic tale, but also was cute at times. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Misogyny, War, Violence, and Infidelity

Moderate: Homophobia and Rape

yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad slow-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

This book was so heartbreakingly beautiful. The story was so precious and I loved Achilles and Patroclus.

I liked that this story was accurate to the myths while adding this spin of romance. Achilles was so easy to love and although they had their faults, the characters were so loveable. I found myself crying, laughing, and smiling.

There’s not much to say other than this is a beautiful book with a beautiful story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Sexism, and Animal death

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

---

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

chelle22's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

---

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