Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

385 reviews

turtleraces's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, War, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

mels_reading_log's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-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

4.5

I don’t know why I haven’t read this book before now! It was so good! The thought of a book about the Trojan War having such a pure and genuine love story in it and it has nothing to do with Helen, makes me so happy. I just love this.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Murder, Medical content, Violence, Pregnancy, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, War, Slavery, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Grief

torilara's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Violence, War, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Blood, Death, and Infidelity

Minor: Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Animal death, Cannibalism, Kidnapping, Slavery, Alcohol, Colonisation, Pedophilia, Medical content, and Sexual content

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. 

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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

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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. 

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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

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Murder

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

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

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