The Song of Achilles Review

The Song of Achilles is rated adult by Amazon.

The Song of Achilles is a YA novel written by Madeline Miller. Achilles, demigod son of the Nymph Thetis and King Peleus of Phthia. Patroclus, banned from his kingdom, finds a safe haven in Phthia with Achilles. In the long and seemingly everlasting Hero Era of Greece, Achilles has a large reputation to live up to.

The Song of Achilles is one of my all time favorite books. I have never experienced a writing style quite like Miller’s, and I am glad that I was introduced to it with this book. Her writing is so intricate, detailed, and most of all, emotional. Miller’s method of expressing emotions within this book makes the reader feel every sensation – even ones that you never knew existed. I felt like I was living in an ethereal dream while reading this. Diving into the adventures and hardships of Patroclus and Achilles felt like being lifted by clouds and having your worries washed away.

Although to be honest, this novel also took my heart out, ripped into a million shreds, and put it back in like nothing happened. The intensity and passion in this novel will pull you in, to the point where you can’t stop reading. I, and many of my friends who I have recommended this to, have all had so many reactions to reading this book. This is so much more than a book, to the point that I am almost sure I adapted some of it into my own life. I would give anything to read this for the first time again, so if you are: savor it! When I read the last sentence, I honestly felt like there was no purpose to doing anything other than obsessing over this novel.

There are many retellings of Greek legends and mythology, but Miller’s adaptations of that era are more beautiful and full of spirit than any other. A suggestion that I would make before reading this is to have a small background knowledge of Greek mythology, it will help you understand it better. However, I read it without any background knowledge on Greek Mythology and understood it well anyway, with the help of the several guides on characters and their stories in the back of the book.

If you are interested in reading this book, it is available on Audible, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Target.

If you are like me, and like to listen to music while you read, there are many playlists on YouTube specifically designed for reading The Song of Achilles! I didn’t get a chance to listen to them, because by the time they were out I had already read the book, but they have very high ratings!

Madeline Miller has another book based on a minor character in the legends of Greek mythology: “Circe”, which is also available on Audible, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Target. While no book could live up to The Song of Achilles, Circe comes very close.

LUCIA MAHER

Writer at The City Voice

My name is Lucia and I am a freshman at City High Middle. Some of my favorites things are soccer, reading, Clairo's music, and the movie Little Women.