The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller -- Restarting August 15th 2025

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting July 13th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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[Ty]

Ive just started reading this

[Stella]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[ I didn't know this book was going to be in Patroclus POV, but I'm liking it.
I'm curious to see what Achilles does to be turned into a God. I don't really know much about his story. (hide spoiler)]

[Daria]

Stella wrote: "Chapter 9
I didn't know this book was going to be in Patroclus POV, but I'm liking it.
I'm curious to see what Achilles does to be turned into a God. I don't really know much about his story."

I was also surprised to find out that the story is from Patroclus POV because I thought it would be Achilles telling the story so I'm really curious about the story.

[Daria]

Chapters 1-10
(view spoiler)[ I really like the book so far, I’m learning more things about Patroclus and Achilles. I’m curious to find out more about the characters and their relationship. (hide spoiler)]

[Stella]

Chapter 22
(view spoiler)[
I love that Petroclus is trying to save as many girls as possible from the other men. The friendship he has with Briseis is sweet. (hide spoiler)]

[Stella]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ The end of the book got a lot more interesting. I really liked Patroclus. I was really hoping he would live but I enjoyed reading his pov as a spirit or something after he died. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

I just started this too I'm in the middle of Chapter 8, I knew it was from Patroclus' POV which is partly why I was so interested in this story. I like that we get to see things from a different view point (view spoiler)[ Just getting on Chiron's back which is cool to see. It would be shocking for Patroclus to see the Centaur and how strange the merge of man and horse must be. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

I'm not blown away by it but I am enjoying it. About 40% of the way done, middle of chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ had the Deidameia plot line where she is now Achilles' wife and pregnant with his child and all that. Thetis and her scheming, hiding Achilles away from the war since it is not yet the right time.
Now Odysseus is here to ask for more men to join the army. Like that its the pink scar that made Patroclus realize who it is in his rooms (hide spoiler)]

[Daria]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I really liked the fact that Thetis helped Patroclus to get to the underworld and I didn’t like Achilles’ son at all. Maybe he was that way because he was raised by Thetis but I didn’t like how he talked about Patroclus like he was just a servant to Achilles. Also I was so pissed that he killed Briseis just because he thought he was entitled to do anything he wanted because he was the new Aristos Achaion. I enjoyed the book a lot and I’m looking forward to read another book by this author. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Finished I actually ended up really liking it!! I thought it was such a neat retelling. I knew the story pretty well (view spoiler)[ It will always be sad that Patroclus had to die that way but his death was always going to be the catalyst for Achilles to kill Hector. I actually appreciated how Achilles was portrayed as a prideful hero who could have stopped so much of the death if he had wanted to. But his fame was too important and in putting that above everything else he lost what actually mattered.

I also loved how Thetis came to the tomb and heard the real stories of her son from Patroclus and then in this story helped him join Achilles in the underworld (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Stella wrote: "Chapter 22

YES! (view spoiler)[ I loved that too. Briseis deserved so much more but I too loved their friendship (hide spoiler)]

[Stella]

Daria wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ His son was a monster! He thought he was soo superior because his father was Achilles, when he had never met the guy. I hated how people would try to tell him what Achilles was really like and he would refuse to believe the truth. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting February 1st & 24th 2022. Happy Reading ☺

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[Sydney]

hi everyone! so excited to start this read!!

[Lily]

I read through two chapters so far, should knock out some more tonight (view spoiler)[ I'm not quite sure whose perspective we're reading from though it's very possible I totally missed it. I believe that the runner that wins the race is the love interest maybe? or just someone the main character looks up to. I loved the part about Helen and the blood oath to protect her. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

I am up to chapter five (view spoiler)[ I really love the retelling of the Illiad and the Greek history surrounding Achilles from Patroclus's perspective in this. It certainly is a fresh take on the Illiad. I am loving the quality of the writing and how the story sticks so much to the greek myths and religion. I am excited to keep reading! (hide spoiler)]

[Lily]

Read through chapter eight (view spoiler)[ I'm really enjoying the lore of Achilles' mother and how she comes and speaks with him. I don't know if this is just me or others are bothered by it too, but Patroclus' thoughts about Achilles seem really weird for a twelve-thirteen year old boy. He talks on and on about the beauty of his feet and his features, seeming to be very attracted for not even having hit puberty yet. I'm kind of glad to see Achilles leave so we hopefully won't have to read more of that for a little while. (hide spoiler)]

[Sydney]

going to start this hopefully tomorrow night!! so excited lol

[Saar The Book owl]

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Date changed. Restarting July 18th 2022. Happy Reading ☺

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[Dannii]

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Date changed. Restarting September 2022. Happy Reading ☺

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[Bayan]

I was SO in the mood for this thank you Dannii, starting in a few hours

[Dannii]

Same here. I have so many BRs starting on 1st but this book was looking at me on my shelves so I think I'll read it alongside some others, over the next few days. I'm on page 33 and already really enjoying, even though it's only setting up the plot and introducing the characters.

[Bayan]

i have the audio it will be easier for me

[Dannii]

Oooh you'll have to let me know if it's a good narration :)

[EdenB15]

I legit got this last week!! I’ll maby jump in

[Bayan]

Dannii wrote: "Oooh you'll have to let me know if it's a good narration :)"

It's really good, if it is within your reach, grab it 🤍

[Bayan]

Chapter 4

I am very impressed with how creative the writing is, I'm specifically talking about the scene where the writer describes how Patroclus feels as he listens to Achilles' playing the instrument and singing, and basically every other scene but this one was really on point.

[Bayan]

Chapter 5
It's unbelievable how beautiful the words in this book are I'm gushing

[Bayan]

Chapter 12
Well this is dramatic lol
I'm so upset for both of them and the situation they're in, it's horrible how his mother did that ugh.

[Bayan]

Chapter 15
I genuinely love how Achilles didn't allow anyone's opinion affect anything between him and Patroclus

[Bayan]

Also, this is my 4 time reading, i remember still how shocked I was to realize it was actually (view spoiler)[a gay version (hide spoiler)] of the story, my first time reading i never read the synopsis, i just picked up the popular book and ate shock after shock lol.

[Bayan]

Chapter 19
The battle scenes are B E A U T I F U L L Y written aaaaaaah

[Bayan]

Chapter 25
Oh no god forbid someone not bow to frking Agamemnon ugh i hate that guy..

Ps I'm on audio so idk if I'm writing it right 😂

[Bayan]

Halfway through chapter 28
I love how realistic the character feel, it's unreal how natural Achilles' pride seems for me, and how much sense it makes for Patroclus to feel his heart broken by that.

[Bayan]

Chapter 30

I'M BAWLING 😭😭😭

[Bayan]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I think I cried more in the last chapter for the mother getting to know her son after his death, then for his actual death, this has been extremely emotional, and a heavy type of reading, but I can never stop rereading it (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

I put this down for a few days but carrying on with it now. Excited to catch up with your thoughts :)

[Dannii]

Bayan wrote: "Chapter 4

I am very impressed with how creative the writing is, I'm specifically talking about the scene where the writer describes how Patroclus feels as he listens to Achilles' playing the inst..."

The writing is mesmerising. I can really feel each scene and am loving my time with this book, so far. I only put it down for a while because I wanted to savour every word.

[Dannii]

Bayan wrote: "Also, this is my 4 time reading, i remember still how shocked I was to realize it was actually [spoilers removed] of the story, my first time reading i never read the synopsis, i just picked up the..."

Oh wow, your fourth time reading it?? I hope I love it as much as you do. This is only my first reading but I am feeling that way, so far. I knew (view spoiler)[it was a gay retelling from hearing other reviews and that is precisely what made me want to pick it up so much. I also really loved Circe by this author and heard people cry lots here too. I'm a sucker for a sad book! All of this has made my expectations so sky high I've been fearful of actually picking the book up before now. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Bayan wrote: "Chapter 19
The battle scenes are B E A U T I F U L L Y written aaaaaaah"

(view spoiler)[ Omg this whole book is a masterpiece!!

I loved the foreshadowing for future events in chapter six when Achilles says he has never had anybody try take anything from him. Their downfall began then, it seemed. Especially when his mother tells Patroclus that he would be dead soon enough.

I loved reading of their years away from the castle under Chiron's tutelage. Their love was allowed to really blossom then but it seemed likely to be torn apart upon their return and when they learned that Helen had been taken.

ACHILLES CALLED PATROCLUS HIS HUSBAND!!! These two make me so SOFT!!! Their relationship wasn't an easy one though, as Achilles had duties and Patroclus few rights.

The unnatural weather kept them to their tents for a month before battle and this lull made all that came after all the more tense to read. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Bayan wrote: "Chapter 25
Oh no god forbid someone not bow to frking Agamemnon ugh i hate that guy..

Ps I'm on audio so idk if I'm writing it right 😂"

(view spoiler)[I have read other retellings of this war and Briseis's fate is not as pleasant as in this version. She is still a slave of war but at least not one likely to be raped, beaten, or tortured with Achilles and Patroclus to protect her. Her family has all been slaughtered but this is the happiest ending for her, I fear.

Our insight to the battle had been from Achilles stories, as he returned to Patroclus after each fight, before now. Now Patroclus must fight too and our insights become more immediate and, so, more terrifying. The beauty of Achilles skill shines all the more brightly for the bloodshed and ugliness of war surrounding him. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Bayan wrote: "Halfway through chapter 28
I love how realistic the character feel, it's unreal how natural Achilles' pride seems for me, and how much sense it makes for Patroclus to feel his heart broken by that."

(view spoiler)[I know this story and the further I get into the fighting the more I fear what is to come!

The relationship between Briseis, Achilles, and Patroclus is a confusing one and I don't know how to feel about it. I love all these characters but I wanted to scream at Achilles and his stupid pride in not attempting to save Briseis! Only Patroclus worked to free her from a horrendous fate. I understand that this is war and the spoils of it weren't viewed as humans or treated as such, so perhaps she meant little to him, but I thought better of him than that. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Bayan wrote: "Chapter 30

I'M BAWLING 😭😭😭"

I couldn't sleep and have been reading this book solidly since 1am. It is now 6am and I am overtired and overly emotional and this chapter has killed me off! (view spoiler)[To see Patroclus betray everything he is to fight in the war was hard to read and yet Miller penned his movements with as much beauty as she did Achilles'. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Bayan wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

WHAT A BOOK!!! This was everything I had hoped it would be. I can totally understand your four rereads now. I haven't slept and I have to go to work but it is worth a tired day for the beauty and the pain of this book. (view spoiler)[That ending was BRUTAL. Achilles son tore the lovers apart in death and also ensured Bryseis ending a tragic one too. That her body was never recovered at least lebds some hope that she managed to gain her way to freedom, despite being injured. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting April 24th 2023. Happy Reading ☺

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[Elizabeth]

I read the first 10 chapters today - and this book has me hooked!
(view spoiler)[The slow build to Achilles and Patroclus' relationship was so sweet and bashful. They've developed a bond anyone would dream of having and I am currently shipping them SO HARD. (hide spoiler)]
The writing in this book is beautiful and I am enjoying it so much right now. I had to force myself to stop tonight so I could write this and go to sleep.

[Elizabeth]

I have finished! This was by far the most beautiful book I have read this year. The devotion between the two main characters was bewitching beyond measure. (view spoiler)[The death of Patroclus was so heart wrenching that I had to set the book down and take a break. I was so angry with Achilles and his pride, but it was hard to stay mad for long. They were so in love and devoted to each other for many years and it was hard reading about Achilles' grief. (hide spoiler)]

[Cinthia]

I want to read this but won't be able to get to it til the beginning of May... I am reading the reviews and it sounds like a lovely book...

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting October 1st 2023. Happy Reading ☺

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