The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb (on back of book): Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.
Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

MY OPINION: ****

I tried reading this book a while back but never got around to finishing it. However, one of my friends bought it for me for my birthday and since I'm stuck in quarantine, I have more time to read some of the books in my house that I have yet to start or finish.

I watched a musical adaptation of this book at a Latin convention I attended earlier this school year. While it was an amateur performance, it incentivized me to read this book. I'm glad that I did because it was truly enjoyable.

It's based on the Greek mythological tale of the hero Achilles and focuses on his romantic relationship with his second-in-command, Patroclus. I found that quite interesting because I do know the story of Achilles but have never heard about the intimate relationship with Patroclus. Obviously, this is fictional but there have been many various tales of their relationship that I have never heard of before reading this novel.

I loved that this book was told entirely from Patroclus's perspective rather than the golden boy Achilles. It was refreshing to read the book from the underdog, the exiled, weak, tarnished prince. Patroclus was never loved by his father as he was born a weak, pathetic prince. Patroclus manages to get himself exiled after accidentally killing another boy. He is sent to live with King Peleus, who often takes in foster boys like himself. He is stripped of his title and arrives with nothing except for his "dumb" mother's lyre.

The book began with an anecdote about Patroclus's father forcing him to join a line of suitors for Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in Greece. This seems fairly unimportant, just another story, but it ends up playing a large role by the end of the novel. Patroclus and the other suitors are forced into signing an oath to protect Helen's chosen suitor should any danger come about. Patroclus is a straggly nine-year-old who doesn't fully understand anything that he is being forced into.

After, he is exiled and meets Achilles, the golden prince. He has seen him once before at an athletic event in which his father admired Achilles more than his own son. Patroclus doesn't really fit in with the other boys given how standoffish he is and doesn't make any friends. However, he finds himself drawn to Achilles and soon the boys become friends. Achilles makes Patroclus his "therapon" or brother-in-arms and the boy build a close relationship quickly.

I loved the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. They were slow to realize their feelings for each other, which I loved. Patroclus knows that Achilles is beautiful and often compliments the physical beauty of the boy. However, their first kiss is slow to come and it makes it all the sweeter as we have already built up so much anticipation for the boys to realize their feelings for each other. They soon build up a very intimate relationship and I loved watching them grow up with each other and slowly falling in love.

They are put under the care of the centaur Chiron, who has told all the great heroes of old. Patroclus follows Achilles and the boys are raised together. Chiron teaches them everything they need to know until one day, many years later, they are called back to the palace. When they arrive, they learn that there is a war coming, as Paris has stolen the beautiful Helen of Troy from her chosen husband.

Patroclus has sworn the oath but they try to hide it. However, in the end it is too much and they end up joining the war (of course). There is a prophecy that says that Achilles is to die sometime during the battle after he murders Hector, the brother of Paris.

Achilles says again and again that Hector has done no wrong against him and vows to not kill him for as long as possible. Another prophecy says that he will kill Hector when he kills the "best of the best".

When I tell you I cried at the end of that book! <spoiler>The moments after Patroclus's death was the most depressing moment of the novel. Achilles finding out that his lover had been murdered because of his own arrogance and pride really hurt me emotionally.</spoiler>

We studied a lot about Greek tragedies in English this year since we read Antigone. Achilles is no exception to the pattern. His hubris is his pride. If he had pushed away his pride and fought the way he should have, the things that happened wouldn't have happened as quickly. Instead, he let his fatal flaw catch up to him and it resulted in his fall.

This book is not overrated and deserves all of the hype that it got. The writing is extraordinarily beautiful and vivid, painting images of intimacy and love and the anguish after death. It was a beautiful rendition of a classic Greek myth. I would recommend this book to readers looking for a beautifully-written retelling of Greek mythology with a splash of LGBTQ+ romance thrown in.

Main Character: Patroclus, Achilles
Sidekick(s): Briesis, etc
Villain(s): Pride, arrogance, death, etc

Historical Fiction Elements: This book was a fictional retelling of the Trojan War.