Review: The Song of Achilles by 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.

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I really didn’t want to cry, and I almost didn’t. But on the very last page I broke, which I think is appropriate in its own way. I had a couple friends recommend this to me as one of their favourite books, and I think I can see why. If you enjoy mythology like I do, I think this one especially hits hard.

The Song of Achilles is a retelling of the story of Achilles, as told through the eyes of Patroclus. It is a coming-of-age story combined with the classic myths of Achilles and the Fall of Troy. If you’re a mythology buff, you will also recognize many other characters. The story goes through Patroclus’s unfortunate upbringing up to his exile and training and finally their participation in the war against Troy. Of course, the gods are always meddling and placing their own cryptic prophecies ever guiding the paths of heroes and mortals alike. Just who and what will be sacrificed as each tries to reach their dreams?

Nothing should really come as a surprise in this book, as it doesn’t deviate too far from classical mythology in terms of the plot. I am not an expert in mythology but I know that the general plots were followed. However, there was so much more packed into this book. It literally starts from the very beginning with the birth of Patroclus, and it really takes us through the journey of his childhood, teenage-hood all the way up to his adulthood. We really get to see into his thoughts and the story really builds on his whole journey and his feelings all the way through.

The characters were very well crafted. Of course there is a baseline expectation for all the different mythological characters but Miller really executed them well. Odysseus was wily, Peleus was kind, and King Priam was also his meek self. The story almost felt real, even though the myth is literally a tale as old as time. I couldn’t help but be wrapped up in the emotional story, even as I knew what was coming.

The use of foreshadowing was excellent in this book. It really played on all my expectations of the book and augmented the emotional anguish I felt for what was coming. I had to pause every couple of pages at some point just to catch my breath because of how intense the feelings come through in this book. If you’re into that kind of storytelling, where the emotions really reign supreme, this one is definitely for you. The way all the plot devices were used to enhance the story were excellent, and the way the story completely revolves around Patroclus’s perspective really adds to that. We really only understand the world as through his eyes, and there is something about the deep connection that you form with the main protagonist that really strengthens the emotional bond that you form with him from minute one.

I can’t sing enough praises about this book, though I can see how it might be a bit more convoluted if you aren’t familiar with the characters and how they might act. But to me, I had a great time watching a good myth come to life, told in such an emotional manner that I had never experienced before and had not expected from this myth. I really felt for all the extremely tough decisions that had to be made, and how the gods and other higher men were always unfairly influencing his life, and just the general inevitable (Greek) tragedy unfolding before my eyes that brought me to tears. What a great cathartic read!

Overall Recommendations

The Song of Achilles is a heartbreaking tale of the Greek myth, and follows the life of Patroclus, Achilles’ ever-present companion. As usual, the story is subject to the wiles of different divinities, and the two must navigate the ancient political agendas and all their familial expectations. The foreshadowing was excellent and the emotional rollercoaster was truly something of a marvel. The fidelity to the original myth was also excellent, and something I look for. Overall a very very excellent read.