A review by singalana
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

hopeful reflective relaxing slow-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? Yes

5.0

This book was hyped all over BookTube, and compared to the last hyped book I read (The Priory of the Orange Tree), this actually holds up to the hype. This is a historical novel telling the story of Achilles and Patroclus. Achilles is a son of the goddess, prophesied to be a legendary warrior. Patroclus is a son of a king, but his father exiles him. This story follows their journey as they meet as young boys and develop a relationship.

The story is told from the perspective of Patroclus, as he gets to know Achilles and eventually falls in love with him. The author does a good job creating likeable but eventually flawed characters with distinct personalities and voices. The story moves slowly, taking the time it needs to build the relationships and the characters. The writing flows beautifully, painting a vivid picture.

The story is bittersweet. If you know the myth of Achilles, you have a sense of impending doom from the start, but even if you don’t the prophecies relating to Achilles are revealed rather early on. Still, the ending moved me and surprised me. 

I can’t think of much to criticize about this book except for the brutalities of War (especially regarding women), but I can’t fault the author for painting an accurate picture of the story of Achilles and the realities of war. The book isn’t unnecessarily gory, and it’s a beautiful story, and I would recommend it to everyone. 
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