A review by katiecoconut21
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles is definitely my favorite book from her. I will say that her writing felt quite a bit different than in Circe, and I believe it is because she was attempting to mimic the lyricism of The Illiad, The Odyssey, and Homer, which she did spectacularly well.

The relationships between the characters are what made me enjoy this book. The
tenderness between Patroclus and Achilles, and the somewhat-platonic love between Patroclus and Briseis
really made this book so enjoyable. Truly, Patroclus as the protagonist made this book, as
his love for Achilles never changes
, even as we see
Achilles change from the lovesick boy to the arrogant and vain hero
.

As much as this is advertised as a love story, I feel like people forget that it is also a tragedy, which is made so very clear in the book
according to all the prophecies about Achilles
. For me, though, the tragedy isn't in how Patroclus and Achilles are inevitably separated like in the old Greek epics, but how
Patroclus was slighted by Achilles time and time again (1. Achilles having sex and producing a child with Deidama, only to be upset when Patroclus suggests the same with Briseis, 2. Achilles nurturing his pride instead of helping prevent the massacre of the Greeks, even at Patroclus' begging, etc)
, and Patroclus continued to love him throughout. That's a tragedy if I've ever heard of one.

Having said that, Achilles' character development is masterfully done. You feel the tragedy of this through Patroclus' eyes and feelings, and Madeline Miller made me truly believe how her Achilles mirrored that of the Greek epics.

Very well done!
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