The Song of Achilles

When stories that are rooted deep in the public conciousness get retold, there is two good ways to do it: deviate wildly or stay completely and utterly true to the original. Madeline Miller chose to do the latter, and I have rarely seen it done that well. Every word resonates with the epocality of the story, to the point where it scares even the characters themselves. The author chose to stay as close to the original myth as it can be reconstructed, including the morals and mannerisms of Ancient Greece. This novel only deals in absolutes: absolute love, absolute commitment, absolute inevitability, absolute tragedy. That makes it more than a gay love story, more than a myth retelling. The characters, supposed heroes and godlikes, are flawed and deeply human and so very much like us, so much so that the story feels like a mirror to our own world and our own devotions. And if there is one universal truth to take away from the book, it is this: Every victory comes at a cost - and some are worth paying for, no matter how high the price.

In this book, Madeline Miller tells the incredibly beautiful and tragic love story of Patroclus and Achilles, how it developed before and during the Trojan War. The book is definitely for anyone interested in Greek mythology and queer stories. You'd better have your tissues ready, because tears are guaranteed.

Wer sich mit griechischer Mythologie auskennt, weiß, wie diese Geschichte endet, und trotzdem schafft Madeline Miller es, sie ganz neu zu erzählen. Aus der Sicht von Patroclus erleben wir, wie er und Achilles aufwachsen, erst zu Freunden, dann zu Liebhabern werden und im Trojanischen Krieg kämpfen. Romantische Momente und ein wunderschöner Schreibstil treffen hier auf Krieg, Gewalt und die Gewissheit eines tragischen Schicksals. Tränen garantiert.

This book is perfect at drawing you in. Patroclus is a character I could really identify with. He gave me a story full of love, friendship, loss, hope, courage, fear and much more. If there's one thing Madeline Miller can do, it's capture people's emotions and make them cry.

Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles is a stunning retelling of Homer’s Iliad, told through the eyes of Patroclus. By shifting the perspective away from Achilles to his companion Patroclus, she creates a deeply human story about love, loyalty, and fate. The relationship between Patroclus and Achilles is written with such tenderness that the tragic ending feels both inevitable, heartbreaking but also incredibly healing. Madeline Miller also captures the presence of gods and destiny in a way that feels natural, highlighting the contrast between mortal love and immortal consequence. It’s a must-read for fans of mythology and beautifully heart wrenching lovestories.