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fakeppy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Rape, Blood, and Medical trauma
bethanwx's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Cursing and Outing
barbarianmissy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really loved this book. Summing up Patroclus’ entire life into 369 pages was a worthy feat. I felt like I lived it alongside him.
The love story in this book between Patroclus and Achilles was so beautiful and tragic and unapologetic. It was so good. I also found it super interesting how they truly shaped one another’s character. Patroclus started off his exile cynic and prideful, whereas Achilles was introduced as a breath of life and beauty. They really swapped those traits during the war.
I got SUPER FRUSTRATED near the end with Achilles and Agamemnon in how both THEIR own prides cost so many men their lives. Gah, frickin MEN! Also Achilles’ stupid idiot son can EAT A CAR TIRE AND DIE. What a lil shit and a half. Glad he didn’t last long.
Anywho, I really loved the ending. Reading about the immense grief had me in TEARS but it was so beautifully written. It was a nice switch up that Achilles’ crazy nymph mama really just was a protective mummy who loved her kid in the end. Happy she gave her son what he truly loved and wished for in the end. They found their peace and it was just a gorgeous finale.
I JUST LOVED THIS STORY OK!?! Felt like I was back in elementary school obsessing over Ancient Greek Mythology again. Also, Madeline Miller is such an amazing author, I may read Circe next.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
rubyd2012's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ivana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Rape, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Sexual content
born_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Cannibalism
kaz_brekkerrr'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
4.5
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Blood
mconroy9137's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
kjm19'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? It's complicated
4.5
Love the realistic portrayal of how women are perceived in this world. I love that Patroclus grows in his opinions on women and people too. Contrasted with Achilles and his views because he can only be focused on himself.
I think maybe a bit of pacing inconsistencies at the start of the war… partly felt rushed and partly felt weeded out a bit.
More character distinction would’ve been good, but I’m being really picky now.
The last chapter is amazing. Many tears fell. Amazing book and fleshed out story of a classic myth.
I feel the 1984 pull to the book now. Beautiful and I loved it. I cried a lot in my final sitting of the read.
Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and War
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Outing, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol
mitta_girl452's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
I especially love Briseis, and how she is described and talked about. Patroclus tries to save her from being raped, and succeeds, and saves other girls from the same fate. He looks after those girls, with help from Breseis, who was the first, and they all become part of the camp, and can decide to have relationships if they want, and most do. But Briseis doesn't and becomes an aunt to the camp and a close friend of Patroclus. she supports him, and respects him when he doesn't return her love. She is a gorgeous, powerful, female character, who tries her best to write her own destiny, and I love her.
I have heard some amazing things about this book, and personally for me, it didn't live up to the hype, which was VERY high. It was still a very good book! I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to others. The writing style was lovely and engaging, and I really enjoyed that it was obviously written by a woman and it wasn't over-sexualised or sexist, as books written about Ancient Greece often can be.
Overall, I really like this book and it was a fun read!
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Cursing and Suicide attempt