Book Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Genre(s): Mythological Fantasy
Book Synopsis:
A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, Miller’s monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction’s brightest lights—and fans of Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, and Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series will delight in this unforgettable journey back to ancient Greece in the Age of Heroes.
Review:
I’m no stranger to The Iliad and the story of Achilles, but this book brought a new perspective to the tale—one I fell in love with. It’s definitely among my top reads of the year.
This version of the story is narrated by Patroclus, Achilles’ lifelong companion. He’s often overshadowed in the classic tale by all the heroes surrounding him. But in this version, the reader experiences his formative years, how he meets Achilles, and the long journey they’re on together before they ever reach the battlefields outside of Troy. In this version, Patroclus is just as much a hero as Achilles or any of the famous kings.
Even though I knew how this story was going to end, the author still managed to make the final scenes so poignant and gut-wrenching, it took me by surprise. I didn’t anticipate that part of the story would make me cry when I first started reading this book. But by the time I got to the midway point, I knew it would. And it most certainly did.
From an emotional standpoint, this story was written incredibly well, and it’s one I won’t be forgetting any time soon.
Author website: madelinemiller.com
Amazon link: The Song of Achilles
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