The Song of Achilles: Holy Perfection

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller has been super hyped for quite a long time. I mean, it was published in 2011 for goodness sake! Her second novel, Circe, was released recently, and I think it was that release that caused a resurgence of talk about The Song of Achilles. After hearing about it OVER AND OVER, I decided to read it. AND YOU GUYS THE HYPE DIDN’T LIE.

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

Why I adored The Song of Achilles: 

1. The first thing has to be the writing. THE WRITING THE WRITING THE WRITING. My goodness Miller is a beautiful writer. Every sentence was so simple, elegant, and beautiful. Her descriptions always matched the mood of the story perfectly, too. I honestly could not get enough of it.

“I found myself grinning until my cheeks hurt, my scalp prickling till I thought it might lift off my head. My tongue ran away from me, giddy with freedom. This, and this, and this, I said to him. I did not have to fear that I spoke too much. I did not have to worry that I was too slender, or too slow. This and this and this! I taught him how to skip stones, and he taught me how to carve wood. I could feel every nerve in my body, every brush of air against my skin.” 

2. I didn’t really like our two main characters. I thought Patroclus was meek and Achilles was ridiculously vain. But I think that was Miller’s intention. The fact that she made me care about two characters I didn’t like that much lends credit to her ability as an author. 

3.  I have to say that the audiobook narrator is phenomenal. He did a lovely job, and I’m sure I loved the story even more because of his excellent narration.

4. The love story was sooo well-done. This is a retelling, but there is different thoughts on the nature of the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles. Miller’s is just one of the many versions, and hers felt so authentic. MY GAH IT WAS GOOD.

5. The last line of this book. OMG THE LAST LINE. OMG. I can’t. I listened to the audiobook and when the story ended I listened to the last minute three more times, because the last line was perfection. Then I went online and ordered the book so that I could read the last line over and over and over again.

Perfection. If you want a heart-breaking love story with all the epic deliciousness of a greek myth, READ THIS.

Have you read this? Do you recommend any other greek myth retellings?

A.S. Thornton

A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.