A review by jenny_englishsnob
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • 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? Yes

4.25

The Song of Achilles is based on Greek mythology, but it doesn't just retell those myths; it is truly different and original. This is a tale of soul mates and selfless love that follows Achilles' epic journey through war, honor, and fate, blending moments of deep personal connection with grand mythological events. It is narrated by Patroclus, a young prince exiled by his father and taken in by Achilles' father (the king), and follows his life-changing bond with the hero. Miller's writing vividly captures this young love story, complete with longing, jealousy, ego, and questioning, in a very honest and beautiful way. There is a lot of death, sorrow, and violence, particularly toward the end—after all, we are talking about the battle for Troy, which lasted many years. This is my only criticism: how long and drawn out the war story became. The first 2/3 of the story was stronger. The fighting and revenge were exciting at first but got a little tedious toward the end.
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