The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (4.5/5)

If you’re well-versed in allusion, chances are you’ve heard the expression “Achilles’ heel” before. But what if Achilles’ true weakness as a warrior was not merely an arrow in his heel, but his blind and undying devotion to another?

In Madeline Miller’s vivid retelling of the epic Iliad, the characters of Patroclus and Achilles are imbued with new life. The former a prince banished from the domain of his own father, for whom he had been named, and the latter the son of a sea nymph and a king, their unlikely yet unbreakable bond is destined to salvage Greece’s glory and bring prosperity to its people… though as is true for all great change, sacrifice of equally great caliber must take place, and it seems that the two’s future has already been determined for them.

This story begins with Patroclus’s childhood years and sets up the main conflict of the novel, that being the Trojan War. Patroclus’ mother had already died many years before the time of the novel, and he is raised instead by his father, a king who rules over a smaller kingdom in Greece. After Patroclus accidentally kills another boy of noble lineage, his father exiles him from the kingdom and left in the care of Peleus, a benevolent king known to provide accommodations for orphaned or lost boys. Achilles, Peleus’s son and a demigod, befriends Patroclus on the basis of him being different from the other boys, and as they train together, they begin to develop feelings for one another that they must keep secret due to Patroclus’ mortality and Achilles’ supposed destiny as a great hero. Their time is unfortunately cut short when Helen of Sparta, rumored to be the most beautiful woman to have ever lived, vanishes from her kingdom, and the Greeks are thrown into an unprecedented battle for glory and wealth. Achilles feels obligated to fulfill his prophecy by leading the Mycenaean army, even if it should mean the end of his life, and Patroclus cannot imagine living on without him, creating a tragic dilemma that would, despite their ups and downs, permanently seal their fate together.

While this novel did not make me cry, the eloquent way in which it is written helped me to develop a strong attachment to the characters. I felt deeply sorrowful at the fact that Patroclus, Achilles, and the companions they made throughout had to suffer so greatly just to have the happiness they deserved to begin with, and even developed immense respect by the end of the novel for Achilles’ mother, who is initially presented as an arbitrary and distant parent who acts as an obstacle in the way of Patroclus and Achilles’ relationship.

The main criticism I have for the novel is not how the characters are written (this was actually one of the most well-executed elements, which has earned the title its positive reception), but the way their development is paced. The premise of the novel begins with Patroclus’ backstory and how he first became acquainted with Achilles, though this takes place when they are both very young, and I had some trouble visualizing their growth as the plot unfolded, both in terms of character and appearance.

About halfway through the novel, Miller begins to include timeskips without thoroughly addressing the mental or physical aging of the characters, so that some readers may continue to regard Patroclus and Achilles as teenagers rather than fully grown adults. Furthermore, while Patroclus and Achilles have the occasional refreshing dialogues in which they make astute and even comical remarks, a problem I noticed was the sheer speed at which they recovered from their predicaments and misunderstandings as a couple. The writing is meant to convey the two’s idolization of one another, which I acknowledge, but I feel that their relationship would feel more realistic and, as a result, more emotionally evocative if their internal and external processing of these issues was covered in greater detail.

Overall, the novel is highly comprehensible even for readers without formal knowledge of mythology, and also covers several lesser-known tales along the way to keep readers engaged. It accomplishes its objective of being a heartfelt and articulate retelling of a beloved tale exceptionally well, and it is for this reason that I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

NOTE: You may not need tissues for this one, as it’s not necessarily the type of sad to make you “bawl your eyes out,” but it definitely can make you tear up a little. The ending is bittersweet and beautifully written.