Book Review: The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Title: The Song of Achilles
Author: Madeline Miller
Rating: 5/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis:
Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.
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.
Review:
Well, what's there not to love? The romance, the writing, the character development, everything was pretty much flawless from start to finish. I'd honestly hate to contribute to an "overhyped" novel, because I don't want to raise your expectations any higher than the hype already has. But honestly, this book deserves all the love and more!! I went into this book fully knowing of its tragic and heartbreaking elements, the very ones that make this book so loved in the book community, and yet, I still felt it. Felt the aching pain and attachment for the story and the characters. With that said, The Song of Achilles is a book that will definitely leave a mark on you. After reading the last page, I swear I could hear my own heart beating against my chest and feel the painful throb on my temples. However, no tears where shed. Maybe it was because I devoured the second half of the book in about three hours instead of taking my time to ease the momentum of the story a little? Perhaps that could have contributed to my painful yet numbing state that I was in by the time I finished the book (seriously, I closed the book and just stared into space for ten minutes waiting for the pain in my chest and my head to subside). Either way, this is a story that I know will stay with me for a very, very long time.
It's amazing how the author is able to integrate such strong character arcs and yet still create such a luscious narrative on the world of Greek Gods and wars. The pacing is appropriate, the story is intense, the writing is poetic, and you root for the main characters. It's a story filled with reckless decisions, and you ache for so many characters, no matter their prominence in the book. The emotions and hardships portrayed in this novel is truly palpable, and while some parts of the book are painful to digest, you just can't stop flipping those pages. It's an addictive roller coaster ride.
I don't know about you guys, but I normally do not remember the names and roles of every single character in a story, more so characters with long and unconventional names. But for some reason, that is not the case with The Song of Achilles. I remember most of the names and roles, and even got some of their family trees memorised! I was that invested in every single one of the characters and their stories. It somehow felt like I had a deep connection with all of them, no matter how ruthless or misogynistic some of the characters may be. It surely goes without saying that the writing and characters of the book are what stands out the most. The bond between the main characters is so tangible and raw. Following their beautifully written story since the beginning makes you care so much. WAY too much! Personally, this book gets a 5/5 stars from me, and perhaps you will feel the same way if you were also truly invested in the characters, just like I was. I think to really enjoy the novel, you need to immerse yourself in the book completely, because it's a feelsy story, I tell ya!
HIGHLY, highly recommend picking this book up if you haven't already thought of doing so! <3
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