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Yun's Reviews > The Song of Achilles
The Song of Achilles
by
Achilles is destined to become the greatest warrior of his generation. But before that, he is just a boy growing up in Phthia with his devoted companion Patroclus by his side. The two are sent away to the mountains to be trained, but it isn't long before war comes calling when Helen of Troy is kidnapped. Achilles is forced to choose between eternal glory and mediocrity, but with greatness comes a price that Achilles and Patroclus will both have to pay.
Well, now I feel a bit silly for having waited so long to read this! If I had known how remarkable and thrilling of a tale The Song of Achilles is, I would have gobbled it up years ago.
I thought it was really interesting that this story is told from Patroclus's perspective. In Greek mythology, Patroclus is a minor character and hardly ever mentioned, but he is central to this tale. And through his eyes, we are able to see all the facets of Achilles: the making of a hero though still a boy at heart, shining and bright, easily seduced by glory, and ultimately a tragic figure.
It's not easy to take a beloved and much-revered story and make it your own, but Miller did a masterful job. This retelling feels fresh and sharp, relevant to the modern audience while still staying true to the original material. It has everything you would expect from Greek mythology: love, war, glory, sacrifice, and redemption. I was hooked from the first page to the last.
This has one of the best endings I've come across in a long time. It isn't so much what happens as the way it is written. Visceral and gut-wrenching, it builds in power and emotion until I was good and blubbering. It gave me all the feels.
It took me so long to get to this book. I think I was afraid it wouldn't live up to all the hype I'd heard over the years. But it was worth the wait. Stunning, epic, and beautifully-written, it's a coming-of-age story, but also one of war and love and sacrifice. It's truly a memorable tale.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Circe
~~~~~~~~~~~~
� Connect with me � �
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"Name one hero who was happy . . . You can't . . . I'll tell you a secret . . . I'm going to be the first."
Achilles is destined to become the greatest warrior of his generation. But before that, he is just a boy growing up in Phthia with his devoted companion Patroclus by his side. The two are sent away to the mountains to be trained, but it isn't long before war comes calling when Helen of Troy is kidnapped. Achilles is forced to choose between eternal glory and mediocrity, but with greatness comes a price that Achilles and Patroclus will both have to pay.
Well, now I feel a bit silly for having waited so long to read this! If I had known how remarkable and thrilling of a tale The Song of Achilles is, I would have gobbled it up years ago.
I thought it was really interesting that this story is told from Patroclus's perspective. In Greek mythology, Patroclus is a minor character and hardly ever mentioned, but he is central to this tale. And through his eyes, we are able to see all the facets of Achilles: the making of a hero though still a boy at heart, shining and bright, easily seduced by glory, and ultimately a tragic figure.
It's not easy to take a beloved and much-revered story and make it your own, but Miller did a masterful job. This retelling feels fresh and sharp, relevant to the modern audience while still staying true to the original material. It has everything you would expect from Greek mythology: love, war, glory, sacrifice, and redemption. I was hooked from the first page to the last.
This has one of the best endings I've come across in a long time. It isn't so much what happens as the way it is written. Visceral and gut-wrenching, it builds in power and emotion until I was good and blubbering. It gave me all the feels.
It took me so long to get to this book. I think I was afraid it wouldn't live up to all the hype I'd heard over the years. But it was worth the wait. Stunning, epic, and beautifully-written, it's a coming-of-age story, but also one of war and love and sacrifice. It's truly a memorable tale.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Circe
~~~~~~~~~~~~
� Connect with me � �
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Reading Progress
July 6, 2021
–
Started Reading
July 6, 2021
– Shelved
July 7, 2021
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 201 (201 new)
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Constantine
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rated it 5 stars
Jul 07, 2021 12:47PM
I own this one! Very eager to know your opinion. I really hope it is good and that you will enjoy it a lot. 🌺
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Constantine wrote: "I own this one! Very eager to know your opinion. I really hope it is good and that you will enjoy it a lot. 🌺"Thanks, Constantine! I loved it! I was a bit worried going in because I thought Circe was good but not great, and everyone had really hyped up this one. When you get to it, I hope you love it too! Will be super curious to see your thoughts! 🌷
Great review. Seems like it might be a companion piece to Circe - which I also have not read.
Vincent wrote: "Great review. Seems like it might be a companion piece to Circe - which I also have not read."Thanks, Vincent! The two books are set in the same Greek mythology universe, so companions is a good way to describe them. I've read both, and I enjoyed this one more than Circe, though both were good. :)
Really enjoyed this book, especially because it doesn’t expect you to know everything about Greek mythology to understand it making it so much more accessible! I actually listened to the audiobook on YouTube and I would really recommend it, the narrators great hehe :)
Gracie wrote: "Really enjoyed this book, especially because it doesn’t expect you to know everything about Greek mythology to understand it making it so much more accessible! I actually listened to the audiobook ..."Thanks, Gracie! I'm glad you enjoyed this too! I agree that it's a very accessible story for those who aren't well-versed in Greek mythology! Glad to know the audiobook was stellar! :)
Very happy to see this was a 5-star read for you, Yun! I started it when it first came out but never got around to finishing it. Sounds like I missed out on a great ending!
Regina wrote: "Very happy to see this was a 5-star read for you, Yun! I started it when it first came out but never got around to finishing it. Sounds like I missed out on a great ending!"Thanks, Regina! It really was a remarkable and memorable ending, and I definitely ended up needing tissues lol! If you ever get around to finishing this, I hope you think so too! :)
Diane wrote: "Another great review, Yun ;)"Thanks, Diane! :)
Maureen wrote: "Great review Yun!"Thanks, Maureen! :)
Beautiful review Yun :)
Glad you finally picked this one up...lovely review, Yun!
Dorie - Cats&Books :) wrote: "Beautiful review Yun :)"Thanks, Dorie! :)
MarilynW wrote: "Glad you finally picked this one up...lovely review, Yun!"Me too! No more procrastinating lol! Thanks, Marilyn! :)
Wonderful review, Yun. I need to read both this one AND Circe still. I'm such a slacker. :)
Wonderful review my friend! I’ve a feeling this is on my kindle too 🥴💖
Melissa wrote: "Wonderful review, Yun. I need to read both this one AND Circe still. I'm such a slacker. :)"Thanks, Melissa! It took me 9 years to get around to reading this book, so I have no business thinking anyone else is a slacker lol! I do hope you get a chance to read this soon, and that you love it too! :)
Ceecee wrote: "Wonderful review my friend! I’ve a feeling this is on my kindle too 🥴💖"Thanks, Ceecee! Haha it's one of those books that just sits there for a long time while we get up the nerve to read it! If you do get to it, I hope you love it too! Will be eager to see your thoughts! 🥰
amazing review, yun! i also read this one this year in march and regretted not doing so earlier, but better late than never. i’m not really a greek mythology fan, but i truly loved this one and ended up a sobbing mess in the end. glad to see you also really liked it! 💛
Glad it lived up to your high expectations! 🌞Fantastic review! I loved Circe...
Elena wrote: "amazing review, yun! i also read this one this year in march and regretted not doing so earlier, but better late than never. i’m not really a greek mythology fan, but i truly loved this one and end..."Thanks, Elena! Yes, better late than never! So happy to see that we had the same reaction to the book! Sobbing mess at the end = me too lol! 😅
Marci wrote: "fantastic review!! 💜💜💜"Thanks, Marci! 💖
Anne wrote: "Glad it lived up to your high expectations! 🌞Fantastic review! I loved Circe..."Thanks, Anne! I enjoyed Circe too, though this one beats it out by a smidge, imho! 😊
A compelling review Yun! I'm not too familiar with Greek mythology so I'd probably be lost.
Holly wrote: "A compelling review Yun! I'm not too familiar with Greek mythology so I'd probably be lost."Thanks, Holly! This one doesn't require any previous knowledge. The author does a lovely job of explaining everything you need to know right in the pages. :)
A wonderful book! One of my favourites. It also took me years, after purchasing a copy, to read. But, as I keep saying, it’s never too late. I have recommended this book to so many people but not everyone was passionate as I was.Great review!
Fantastic review, Yun. I’m happy to hear you found the story so rich and beautifully written. Certainly a book that was worth the wait. 😊❤️
Really good review Yun, I might have to check this one out! 😀
Isn't it wonderful. Loved 💕
NILTON wrote: "A wonderful book! One of my favourites. It also took me years, after purchasing a copy, to read. But, as I keep saying, it’s never too late. I have recommended this book to so many people but not e..."Thanks, Nilton! So happy to see that we both completely loved this story! Yes, it's never too late to read a fantastic book! Haha, I suspect I'll be recommending this to lots of people too. 😅
Kat (Books are Comfort Food) wrote: "Fantastic review, Yun. I’m happy to hear you found the story so rich and beautifully written. Certainly a book that was worth the wait. 😊❤️"Thanks a bunch, Kat! Yes, it was definitely worth the wait! 🥰
Kay wrote: "Really good review Yun, I might have to check this one out! 😀"Thanks, Kay! If you do, hope you love it too! :)
Nat wrote: "Isn't it wonderful. Loved 💕"Thanks, Nat! Glad you enjoyed too! 💖
I keep hearing great things about this book and you have almost convinced me to pick it up!
Glad it ended up being a 5-star read for you once you picked it up! :) Fantastic review, Yun!
I loved this one too.
Melissa (LifeFullyBooked) wrote: "I keep hearing great things about this book and you have almost convinced me to pick it up!"Thanks, Melissa! Ha, I hope you do and you love it too! :)
Michael wrote: "Glad it ended up being a 5-star read for you once you picked it up! :) Fantastic review, Yun!"Thanks, Michael! Me too! It was worth the wait and all the hype! :)
Lynne wrote: "I loved this one too."Yay so glad you loved this too! :)
great review! didn't like the book myself but loved your passion for it
Ok, now I have to get it! Fabulous review Yun. I am choosing the audio because I did that with Circe and I really enjoyed the audio❤️
Fabulous review, Yun. Glad you loved this one!
aw, Yun, I am so glad that this book turned out so well for you!! That's such a win :) & what a great review!
I've heard such good things about this one! Great review, Yun! 💖
THIS BOOK!!! ❤️ I am so glad you enjoyed this one Yun. Fantastic review!
nastya wrote: "great review! didn't like the book myself but loved your passion about it"Thanks, Nastya! I appreciate you saying that! Sorry it didn't work for you.
