“The Song of Achilles” Review

“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone,” says Patroclus in “The Song of Achilles.”

“The Song of Achilles” was written by Madeline Miller in September of 2011, however, it did not gain much popularity until 2020 when it came up on BookTok. BookTok is a category of videos of people recommending different books on the social media TikTok. TikTok has been known to boost many different influencers, music, and books. “The Song of Achilles” rose to popularity on TikTok, and rightfully so.

“The Song of Achilles” is captivating, and keeps readers on the edge of their seats throughout the book. The book goes from very dull periods to very interesting plot twists. The book follows Patroclus and Achilles as they grow up in the world. Achilles is part of the upper class, while Patroclus is known as a commoner. Madeline Miller does an exquisite job showing Patroclus’ and Achilles’ relationship grow as the book progresses. In the book, readers can see how beautifully the characters are alike, and also how different they are.

However, the book can be a little boring and repetitive at times. A major part of the book is filled with dull, uneventful moments that really do not add anything to the plot. It is known throughout the book that Patroclus is afraid to fight in the war so he stays in the tent all day. However, several chapters filled with the non-eventful days Patroclus has are not needed. When reading the thrilling moments it is exciting, not knowing what is going to happen next. But when reading those dull moments, it gets tedious. Now, it is still a great read, and the end is especially captivating. 

Overall, a great read. Madeline Miller does a great job with the characters and the plot, and anyone who is into Greek romance and fantasy books should definitely give it a try.