π·π·π·π·π· / 5
πΆοΈ / 5
Review:
I know everyone says this is an incredible read, and I procrastinated due to the hype (and fear of emotional damage), but I am SO SO SO glad I read/ listened to this! It really is a beautiful masterpiece!
I want to start by saying it was SO incredibly hard to pick a quote for this review, this whole book lives rent free in my mind and itβs quotes are now occupants who pop up and wish me extra heartbreakπalso I listened to the audio book, it was only the second audio book Iβve listened to and I loved it! I really enjoyed the whole experience and Frazer Douglas did an incredible job at narrating this beautifully sad tale!
Although I feel like I already know their hearts and souls, this book made me wish I was born in the Ancient Greek times, even though I would have no rights, opinions or a voice (as a female), as I wish I could know Achilles and Patroclus personally so I could witness and see them and their love. Donβt get me wrong I get this feeling after most Greek Mythology retellings I read, but the pinning for the time of the gods and heroβs is extra strong right now!π₯Ή
The Song of Achilles follows the original tale from Homers Iliad where Achilles and Patroclus are lovers and as a fan of Greek Mythology i both loved and hated this, mainly because the final 5 chapters absolutely ruined me and broke my heart! But I adored them as a coupleπ₯Ή I could read their story time and time again, and I have no doubt that I 1000000% will.
Madeline did an incredible job at bringing Patroclusβs story to life. We follow him through his life and watch him grow as a person; although he or his dad (I canβt remember which) call him simple; he is anything but. I think he struggles a LOT as he spends his whole life living in the shadows of other people, first his father, and later Achilles; I think Patroclusβs father also cast him the shadow of his mother, hating that Patroclus was a tie to this woman who he despised so much. It was truly heartwarming watching Patroclus grow into such a kind and caring man who looked after everyone and really grounded Achilles and bought him back when needed. A lot of people forget about Patroclus in the grand story of Achilles, but Madeline really made him loveable and he ended up being my favourite character. Also everyone was right, Chapters 30 and 31 absolutely ruined me, and it definitely hit worse because I loved him so so much.
Achilles is as bold and handsome as I was hoping for. Heβs quick witted, quietly humble (well for most of it) and so kind especially to Patroclus, I love it when a character especially a male character, is kind to their love interest even from a young age, and watching them grow up friends and then becoming more was almost as good as enemies to loversπ
I just ghdjakdj i actually canβt form anymore words my love for Achilles and Patroclus is just so much I- I donβt know what else to say to try and convince you to read itπ
Madelineβs writing was incredible the whole book is one poetic phrase after the other and I really truly canβt even begin to pick my favourite. I read Circe a couple of years ago, and whilst I really enjoyed it (4/5π) I struggled a lot with the language and it was a much more wordy I think or something else I canβt quite put a finger on it. So while I enjoyed it, it was a bit of a chore almost to read it, I didnβt find that at all with The Song of Achilles Iβm not sure if the audiobook helped with that? Iβll let you know once I read it, which I REALLY want to do right now, I finished the audiobook an hour ago and I already want to dive back in and read it again!
