LGBTQ / Mythology

Song of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

Average Rating:   4.25 / 5

Trigger Warnings:

Destined to become “the best of all Greeks,” Achilles was born to the otherworldly sea goddess Thetis and the fearsome King Peleus.  Growing up under the mantle of prophecy, Achilles is the quintessential golden boy: handsome, charming, and lethal. Patroclus is the opposite.  Even though he was also born a prince, he was despised by his father, destined to be weak and worthless in his homeland.  But when Patroclus is cast out and taken in by King Peleus, he has a chance to set aside his fate and ride alongside Achilles as he achieves his own destiny. 

The two young men soon forge a bond that is even stronger than Thetis’ displeasure. Both trained by the centaur, Chiron, they learn all of the skills that they will require on the road ahead. For soon the trumpets of war will sound and Achilles will be drawn from Chiron’s hearth so that he can chase his promised destiny.  Helen of Sparta has been stolen from her home and the other kingdoms are looking to the best of all the Greeks to bring them victory.  What price is Achilles willing to pay for his legacy? And is Patroclus willing to follow him?

Corinna: 4/5

This book will leave you feeling a little broken, but only in the way a great love story can. This is the story of Achilles from the view of Patroclus, Achilles’ best friend and lover. One boy exiled and never enough for his family, one boy charming, skilled and foretold to be the greatest warrior ever, a prophecy that impacts every decision, and a never ending war with endless emotions. These boys learn and grow together despite their obvious differences. My favorite part of the book was during the time the boys spent with Chiron, the centaur. It was a sheltered discovery period when they truly learned who they were as individuals and as a duo. The character building was fantastic and gave a real, personal feel to the Greek characters we learned about in school. The tragic ending to the story leaves an impact that love is what truly matters and love is so much more than the boundaries of gender, age, or even a prophecy. I really enjoyed a deeper dive into mythology; Madeline Miller really did her due diligence researching and crafting this story.

Lydia: 5/5

Song of Achilles has now become my favorite book – one that I recommend to everyone I know. I am the type of reader who looks for strong character building and I thought Miller’s description and development of the characters was very well done, from Patroclus to Achilles to Chiron, etc. 

I really enjoyed reading this from Patroclus’ perspective as this allowed us to see Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship grow with vulnerability and honesty. I thought the writing was very lyrical and beautiful and the ending had me crying. 

I have seen Mythology become a very popular option amongst authors these days – mixing it with historical fiction or fantasy, etc. I thought Miller did her research (10 years of it apparently) and that is what differentiates her from other authors and books. To write a good Mythological fiction is hard, so I really appreciate the thoroughness. I also really loved this book from a Romance perspective. I thought it was done with class and elegance. Highly recommend to those who love mythology, romance and fiction!

Megan: 4/5

I love Greek mythology, it was my favourite course at uni and I typically devour any Greek mythology retelling. When this book was chosen as one of our book club books, I was excited. I’ve heard good things about Miller’s other book, so I had high hopes for this one.

The book started out pretty good. It was interesting to have the whole story from Patroclus’ POV because he’s not a major character in the original myth. Miller does a good job in writing his history, and how he came to know Achilles without it feeling tiresome. The relationship between Patroclus and Achilles was so natural; I can’t remember how their relationship was in The Illiad, but it fit so well here. It was written with such tenderness that it made my heart happy reading about the love they had for each other. My favourite part of this story was their time with Chiron. The author used that scene to really cement who these characters were and how their relationship would be going forward. 

The beginning was good, but there was a portion in the middle that I struggled to get through. I was so bored. So if you feel the same way, stick with it, because the ending is most definitely worth it. Miller does a good job in bringing everything together and allowing for peace and reconciliation to take place between certain characters. While the book may not have quite lived up to the expectations I had for it, it was still enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone.

Sharaya: 4/5

I had heard so much about this book and I was very excited to dive into it.  I had expected the book to be more Achilles centric, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the narrator was Patroclus, who is typically a secondary character.  To be honest, most of what I know of Achilles and the Trojan war is from the movie Troy, which I haven’t seen for awhile.  At the beginning, I kept pulling up IMDB to remind me visually of which character was which.  The love story between the two young men is quite touching, and the character development that you see in Patroclus was impressive. I also liked how inhuman and otherworldly Miller made the goddess Thetis.

There were a few things that kept me from giving this book a 5 out of 5.  One, it annoyed me that Achilles didn’t seem to do anything to gain his fame, other than being the subject of a prophecy.  He didn’t have to earn his men’s loyalty, and he didn’t have to showcase his skills.  While I understand that these elements contributed to his character and flaws, it still annoyed me and wasn’t what I expected.  Secondly, from watching the movie, I was very much looking forward to the fight between Achilles and Hector, and then the final battle.  However, I found these battles to be very anticlimactic and disappointing.  I read it, I enjoyed it, and I’ll probably give Miller’s other novel a go, but I don’t feel any need to revisit this particular book. 

To access a printable list of 10 book club questions, please click here.