[BOOK REVIEW] The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

This book is about the love story of Patroclus and Achilles. If you’ve done your fair share of reading the Greek mythology, you would know what would happen more or less. However, for me, this different version of Achilles is better. WAY BETTER. Madeline Miller did a great job in bringing some meat on the bones of this story. I love it! 🙂

There was something about this book not being from a typical hero’s perspective. It was effective in building the tension between Patroclus and Achilles. What I loved in particular was the gradual evolution of their friendship. It made me impatient (e.g. screaming “JUST FUCKING KISS ALREADY” out of frustration, tossing and turning on my bed thinking this might just be a story of Patroclus’ unrequited love for Achilles) but it didn’t make me want to ditch the book which I often do.

The pacing was just right. It was slow on the parts where it should be but it was never too fast. I never got bored not even on the 10 year war where there wasn’t much fighting scenes. It made me sympathize with the soldiers and the non-soldiers alike.

Patroclus. What’s not to love about his character? He had his flaws, he overcame each of them. His hatred and insecurities melted away by the very person causing them. He wasn’t as simple-minded as Menoetius thought he was. He proved that many times in this book. He braved the battlefield without Achilles (although he died). He earned Thetis’ acceptance.

Achilles. Well… he’s very… Achilles. All muscles and charisma. Someone else had to do the thinking for him. My heart was shattered because of this piece of shit! Patroclus died because of him but his actions were thoroughly justified by his nature and it was written well.

Side note: That bitchling Pyrrhus kid was a nice touch in the end. I would’ve loved to strangle him the fuck out but he served his purpose.

My heart was ripped into shreds… but unexpectedly, Thetis stitched them back together again.