Madeline Miller

Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful— irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath. They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

A Novel

The Song of Achilles

Greece in the age of Heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia. Here he is nobody, just another unwanted boy living in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. Achilles, 'best of all the Greeks', is everything Patroclus is not - strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess - and by all rights their paths should never cross. Yet one day, Achilles takes the shamed prince under his wing and soon their tentative companionship gives way to a steadfast friendship. As they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something far deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel and deathly pale sea goddess with a hatred of mortals. Fate is never far from the heels of Achilles. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows Achilles into war, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they have learned, everything they hold dear. And that, before he is ready, he will be forced to surrender his friend to the hands of Fate. 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.

nice

Do not let what you gained this day be so easily lost.

Daizo 

“"I would not care," I said. The words scrabbled from my mouth. "Whatever you became. It would not matter to me. We would be together."”

“ I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”

“I feel like I could eat the world raw.”

“Because you're the reason. Swear it.”

“Disapproval had always burrowed deep in me.” 

“ We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.”

“I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me.”

“There was nothing in the world I wanted more than to hear what he had not said.”

“ […] his face drawn sharply by the flickering shadows. I would know it in dark or disguise, I told myself. I would know it even in madness.”

“Do not let what you gained this day be so easily lost.”

“ […] I promised myself that if I ever saw him again, I would keep my thoughts behind my eyes. I had learned, now, what it would cost me if I did not.”

“Not yet, he had said to me. But his mother had chosen differently.”

“Dear gods, I think, let him not hate me. I should have known better than to call upon the gods.”

“This morning he had leapt onto my bed and pressed his nose against mine. "Good morning," he'd said. I remembered the heat of him against my skin.”

“"Do you want to be a god?" It was easier this time. 

A tightness I had not known was there eased a little. I would not lose him yet.”

“ "No one has ever tried to take something from me."”

“For who can be ashamed to lose to such beauty? It was enough to watch him win, to see the soles of his feet flashing as they kicked up sand, or the rise and fall of his shoulders as he pulled through the salt. It was enough.”

“ I will make him look at me, I thought.”

the way he talk about himself makes me sad

“ […] he had bestowed the long-awaited honor upon the most unlikely of us, small and ungrateful and probably cursed.”

"No," I said, through the ache in my chest. I will not cry in front of him.”

“His gaze, which had been following the circling fruit, Aickered to mine. I did not have time to look away before he said, softly but distinctly, "Catch." A fig leapt from the pattern in a graceful arc towards me. It fell into the cup of my palms, soft and slightly warm. I was aware of the boys cheering.”

“No one spoke to me. I was easy to ignore. It was not so very different from home, really.”

“ […] our dead come for their vengeance regardless of witnesses.”

maia

second half was much better than first half… thanks to patroclus yearning i feel like i know achilles feet better than i know myself

kait

honestly all i wanted was more of their romance and i didn't care about anything else, i cried like 3 tears at the very end but that's it

Amna A.

The reason for me picking up this book was because I'm studying about the Iliad and Greek mythology, so I have decided that The Song of Achilles might help me with the story, as it was adapted to in modern English. But what I liked particularly about this was that it was narrated form a first person's point of view: Patroclus. It was different because the reader got to know how close they were and how dear a "friend" Achilles was to Patroclus, and how far Patroclus was willing to go in order to defend his friend's honor. For that reason, I have to say that it touched me way more than the Epic poem would have, when I read the unfortunate ending. 

 "Fame is a strange thing. Some men gain glory after they die, while others fade. What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another. We cannot say who will survive the holocaust of memory. Who knows? Perhaps one day even I will be famous. Perhaps more famous than you." -Odysseus

 It really would be awesome if the author carried on her work on to the Odyssey as she did with the Iliad, I'd be eagerly willing to read it.

Udit

'And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth, when another is gone.'

three days, it took me three days to read this book from start to finish and it broke me in so many ways i didn't think it could. prior to reading this i somewhat knew of their history and i thought i was prepared to face the inevitable but alas here we are; sobbing so hard that your mom can hear you from the drawing-room even though your door is closed. the last chapter was so hard to read because of my blurry eyes filled to seams with tears. 
the final line somewhat helped but i still feel like i lost a part and yet gained something when i finished this book.

im gonna buy its hardcover someday.

maitha mana

This book has easily become one of my all-time favorites. I don't think I've ever shed this amount of happy tears on a book before. I realized towards the end of the book how Patroclus has become more like younger Achilles, and Achilles has become more like younger Patroclus. They both have truly become one.

Absolutely adored this book, became my whole personality at one point. It's written so beautifully and you can really vision the beauty of the time period through Madeline's words, however if you've done some research on the actual characters you can see how different Achilles is perceived through the eyes of Patroclus and I feel like it's a very "blinded by love" sort of thing but that doesn't mean Achilles loved him any less, like did we read the same thing about what that man did to Hector?? I genuinely bawled my eyes out though I loved the characters just wish they made Patroclus stronger since he isn't generally meant to be as weak in combat as he's seen as, but if you also like banana fish my akimi yoshida it's also another reason I like this book, it's like both Ash and Eiji in another life except this time eiji's the one who dies. Overall amazing book, more of a rant than a review due to spoilers.

migs

Greece in the age of Heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia. Here he is nobody, just another unwanted boy living in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles.

Achilles, “best of all the Greeks,” is everything Patroclus is not—strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess—and by all rights their paths should never cross. Yet one day, Achilles takes the shamed prince under his wing and soon their tentative connection gives way to a steadfast friendship. As they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something far deeper—despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.

Fate is never far from the heels of Achilles. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows Achilles into war, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they have learned, everything they hold dear. And that, before he is ready, he will be forced to surrender his friend to the hands of Fate.

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.

Julia

And the book that made me bawl my eyes out the most goes to… 
THE SONG OF THE ACHILLES!!

The Myth Echo

I don't think words are able to describe the mosaic of feelings I felt reading this. It has been 2 months since I read this, and I am still SO fazed by it. I cried multiple times over GREEK GAYS™. I love them. I felt so incomplete from this book I STARTED TO WRITE A BOOK. Like this book changed me so much. I am altered. I will NEVER be the same. "It's going to be a cute romance" I said. "Fluffy romance abt Greeks!!". I was sorely mistaken. Love this book, and always will. I will name my first born child Patroclus if it came to it. I love this literature with every fiber of my being, I will throw myself into a black-hole to re-read this for the first time.

gülsu

What can I say, this was amazing and so heart clenching, it took me a little while to detach the characters from what i know but it was so worth it. And what helped the most was the writing style, ufff 

I had my heart in my sleeve the whole time. 

What can I say, this was amazing and so heart clenching, it took me a little while to detach the characters from what i know but it was so worth it. And what helped the most was the writing style, ufff chefs kiss

I had my heart in my sleeve the whole time. 

river

 i thought it would be too hyped because of tiktok, but the story genuinely is so beautiful. i will definitely get into more miller books for sure. her writing is simple yet delightful. i read this book so quickly aaaaa

تينارة

This book squeezes your heart in its hands until it bursts open, spilling blood until there's nothing left. That's the only way I can describe the hole it left in mine. 

One of the most touching aspects of it was that we never shifted to another perspective. It was Patroclus from start to end. Even when he was nothing but a lost soul waiting to find peace. He was there when Achilles' ghost-like figure fought on the battlefield for the last few times. He was there even when the kings went against Achilles' wish to be buried alongside Patroclus. We watched him haunt the living kings, and ask them time and time again to put him to his final rest, and be haunted by being stuck in the middle at the same time. 

Patroclus was doomed from the beginning as a prince who lost his name and reputation, and as a fighter who was not graced with a name even in death. If there was one thing that gave him a name, it was love. He was loved and his name was chanted until his lover was gone. Pat-ro-clus. Kind, giving, selfless Patroclus, the most beloved and the best of all men. 

Grief at the very center of this book, captured loss and love so beautifully and painfully. There is so much more to say, especially about Achilles and his characterization, but hopefully another time. I don't think I will be able to move on from this book for a long time..

lara

This book squeezes your heart in its hands until it bursts open, spilling blood until there's nothing left. That's the only way I can describe the hole it left in mine. 

One of the most touching aspects of it was that we never shifted to another perspective. It was Patroclus from start to end. Even when he was nothing but a lost soul waiting to find peace. He was there when Achilles' ghost-like figure fought on the battlefield for the last few times. He was there even when the kings went against Achilles' wish to be buried alongside Patroclus. We watched him haunt the living kings, and ask them time and time again to put him to his final rest, and be haunted by being stuck in the middle at the same time. 

Patroclus was doomed from the beginning as a prince who lost his name and reputation, and as a fighter who was not graced with a name even in death. If there was one thing that gave him a name, it was love. He was loved and his name was chanted until his lover was gone. Pat-ro-clus. Kind, giving, selfless Patroclus, the most beloved and the best of all men. 

Grief at the very center of this book, captured loss and love so beautifully and painfully. There is so much more to say, especially about Achilles and his characterization, but hopefully another time. I don't think I will be able to move on from this book for a long time..

Trường ca Achilles

Michaela Hudson

Isabella 

I LOVE THIS BOOK. I was in a reading slump for years, so considering this is the first book I picked up after all this time, I would say it is definitely worth it. It is so beautifully written; simple, yet so poetic. It's a book I would recommend especially if you want a good cry. However, there are parts when it was boring, but it never became a problem.

Sidney Schaffner

I went into this book knowing that it would rip my soul out. And it definitely did that. These characters made you fall in love with them, and their relationship. The gentleness of a warrior as great as Achilles, was like a salve to my soul. 
 “This and this and this”

My favorite greek mythology retelling book. As a greek mythology lover, I sometimes think that retellings are useless, considering the beauty of the original myths. But this one is so interesting, because of Patroclus vision of Achilles, it's insightful and tender, heartbreaking and compelling. 

Yenale

Ana Luiza

** spoiler alert **
           Dificil falar sobre esse livro. To focada em tantas outras coisas no momento que sinto que li essa história de uma distancia muito grande, sem conseguir me conectar com ls personagens. E, apesar disso, fiquei muito emocionada com tudo que acontece a partir de 80%. Acho que se tivesse lido essa história com mais empenho seria um 5 estrelas favoritado. Acho que me identificaria e me veria muito em Patroclo. Mas, enfim, gostei bastante da leitura apesar de tudo isso. Acho que é um bom livro e quero ler mais da autora.

Jade Dufty

** spoiler alert **
           'ACHILLES it reads. And beside it PACTROCLUS.'



basically to sum it all up, i am not okay. 'the song of achilles' repeatedly came up on my tiktok feed, practically begging me to read it. so one day when i found myself near a bookstore i impulsively purchased it. was it the best or worst purchase ive ever made? to be honest, im not entirely sure. the only thing i can say for sure is, that this will not be the last madeline miller book i read. 

from the moment i read the first page i knew i was going to enjoy this book. the way the love between achilles and pactrolus is portrayed is heartbreakingly beautiful, and the pain they each endured mourning eachother, even before anything had occured, "i think: this is what i will miss. i think: i will kill myself rather than miss this." it was as if their pain was my pain. 

honestly, the ending was unexpected. as pactrolus had assumed, i thought that he would be left to mourn achilles after he died, and was suprised when the opposite happened. thetis' mercy was also not something i could have predicted. i suppose she was able to see the love pactrolus held for her son, and despite what she thought or wished, knew what she had to do. 

in the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. their hands meet, and light spills in a flood, like a hundred golden urns pouring out the sun. 

in conclusion, i will never get over this book. thank u so much madeline for causing me so much pain. :(

Dani

I am forever changed by this story and its beautiful rendering. I don't think I can say much else without crying

reneé amelia 

I didn’t love this book but it was a nice read, especially reading it in Greece. I definitely prefer Circe much more than this!

I won't lie, I found the middle part of this book pretty slow and dry. The first half when Achilles and Patroclus were young boys, and then the second half after Iphigenia's sacrifice were very good and really heartbreaking.

Not sure if I'd read this again, just because it didn't feel like it added a whole lot of newness to this story. It's pretty much just the Illiad in modern language. Certainly felt like a lot longer than 11 hours which is how long the audiobook says it is.

But I've always loved the idea of Achilles and Patroclus being more than friends, it adds more depth to a story that is otherwise entirely about war and a lack of agency in women.

Emma Lechner

I won't lie, I found the middle part of this book pretty slow and dry. The first half when Achilles and Patroclus were young boys, and then the second half after Iphigenia's sacrifice were very good and really heartbreaking.

Not sure if I'd read this again, just because it didn't feel like it added a whole lot of newness to this story. It's pretty much just the Illiad in modern language. Certainly felt like a lot longer than 11 hours which is how long the audiobook says it is.

But I've always loved the idea of Achilles and Patroclus being more than friends, it adds more depth to a story that is otherwise entirely about war and a lack of agency in women.

chloe rae

This book just ripped my heart out.
Spectacular. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Incredibly well-written. I feel like I was there at the Trojan War fighting alongside these marvelous men. I loved them, I was rooting for them. I cried. I already can't wait to read this book again.
Is it too soon to say favorite read of the year?

faye

The Song of Achilles shows how the mighty fall to their fatal pride and it shone a new light on Achilles and his human side. We get to know him more than his title as the ‘aristos achaion’ or “best of all Greeks” through Patroclus’s eyes, who thinks of him as someone both flawed and perfect. 

I love this retelling because it gave a whole new tune to the story of the Illiad. I didn’t expect to feel mixed emotions (partly sad and partly angry lol) by the end of the book. Although I knew it was going to end tragically, Madeline Miller’s beautiful prose and writing made the ending more painful and bittersweet. 5/5 stars to The Song of Achilles + it deserves a spot on my favorites shelf!

The Song of Achilles A Novel

Reviews

Highlights