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Song of Achilles
Song of Achilles | 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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DHill
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Starting 76/80 of my 2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal.

#cantstopwontstop #goodreads #readingchallenge #goals

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Jehonzy
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

Guys i don‘t know what to say … this story was s heartbreak. I loved to see more depth in Achilles‘ life. Known as a half god and as one of the best greek heros but never as the person he probably really was 🥹

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behudd
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The fact that this is Miller‘s first novel is absolutely incredible. She has this amazing talent of taking mythic characters and stories that many of us have grown up reading and studying, and turning them into, if not ordinary people, then at least relatable ones.
It‘s shocking that she can have somebody like Achilles or Odysseus as a character and they feel fresh and new when I‘m reading her work.
Definitely recommend.

behudd @TheAromaofBooks this was my August #bookspin book! 4mo
Reggie Her Circe is in my top 20 books of my life. I love that one so much. 4mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4mo
behudd @Reggie yes I love that one, too! 4mo
39 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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behudd
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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“My father was a king and the son of kings.”

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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staci.reads
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

Beautifully written. It's my 2nd from this author, amd while I didn't love it as much as Circe, it was still a great read! This was my July #Doublespin. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 5mo
56 likes1 stack add1 comment
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lil1inblue
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Eggs Well done👍🏼 5mo
32 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Kboltz
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Mehso-so

Ok so I love mythology. Was this retelling needed? Now I have read the reviews and I‘m thinking we need to bring back mythology so that we don‘t have to reread stories in a way that are kind of ridiculous? Anyone else feel this way…I did like the story as a whole but the “added” aspects?!

The_Book_Ninja I personally avoid books sold as “a retelling of…”. Give me something original not a remix of someone more creative‘s work 6mo
Kboltz @The_Book_Ninja thanks! I feel better now!:) 6mo
TheLudicReader It felt like fanfiction to me. 🤷 6mo
16 likes4 comments
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Leigh_611
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
Mehso-so

3/5 stars
The first half had me thinking this would be a 4.5 star read, unfortunately the second half was really boring and disappointing. The ending picked it up a lot and had me tearing up, but on the whole was quite slow and not what I expected

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MrsMalaprop
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

I chose Circe for Bookclub a couple of years ago, and am now glad to have read this, Miller‘s first novel.
Whilst a ‘pick‘ I did not love it. The characters felt a bit flat and I was not particularly emotionally invested. An interesting take the relationship between Patroclus & Achilles.

TheLudicReader A student read this in one of my classes and gasped and cried the whole way through, so I moved it up my tbr. I was meh about it. It read like fanfiction to me. 🤣 6mo
Rissreads I actually listened to this and cried my eyes out at the end! 6mo
MrsMalaprop @TheLudicReader Yes, fanfiction is a good description. I know many others felt very moved by it, but not me 🤷🏻‍♀️. I liked Circe better. 6mo
MrsMalaprop @Rissreads You and many others it seems. One of those rare times when you and I are not aligned on a book. 😁 6mo
40 likes4 comments
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MrsMalaprop
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Finally getting into this. It‘s been on my radar since I joined Litsy many years ago, when it seemed that everyone on Litsy was reading it. I found this well-read copy in my Little Street Library. Bonus 🙌. #currentlyreading

CarolynM It‘s good. Enjoy! 6mo
dabbe Oh, did I love this one! Her CIRCE is excellent, too! 🤩🤗😀 6mo
BarbaraBB Echoing @dabbe 6mo
MrsMalaprop @dabbe Yes, I‘ve read Circe 🙌 6mo
30 likes4 comments
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birdie_gw
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Took this photo to show my coworker my giant mint plant and book for scale. Loving this so far!

StaceGhost I loved this book and Circe!! 7mo
birdie_gw @StaceGhost me too, will be sad to finish it! Love the author‘s style. 7mo
pdxannie Omg such a good read 7mo
9 likes1 stack add3 comments
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forestandcrow
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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I am half way. But this book is so slow and borning in my opinion. Does is get better? Is it like those books that you get to the last 100 pages and thats when its exciting?

5feet.of.fury I really liked this book, but I would not describe it a exciting… a lot of other emotions though. 7mo
Chrissyreadit checking to see if you received your staycationintime match? 7mo
forestandcrow @Chrissyreadit yes! I emailed back. I think lol but i am hunting down the things for it 😊 7mo
14 likes3 comments
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Pedrocamacho
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

This was another reread for my book club. I loved it as much as the first time. I also found some more to the story than before. Such an amazing book

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forestandcrow
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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This has sat on my shelf long enough. 😂

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aimee23
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

A fresh take on Achilles and Patroclus. Now, I‘m definitely watching Troy again!

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KillerOfNazis2117
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
Bailedbailed

This book is not worthy of the hype. I hated it. Hercules was supposed to be a hero, but he jokes of killing his wife. Achilles and Agamemnon had not safe word with civilians. Achilles lets the king kill a girl that I wanted Achilles to save. I abandoned this book when Patroclus joked about dogs fighting. I regret buying it.

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Mslefinger
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
Pickpick

The hype is so well deserved. A gorgeous, unforgettable love story with excitement, warmth, and thoughtful character evolution. Can't wait to read it again.

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LiteraryHoarderPenny
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Requested a cleanse from reading Little Cruelties and this was recommended.

lil1inblue I wish I could read this for the first time again! So good. 8mo
LiteraryHoarderPenny @lil1inblue ❤️ that‘s what I keep hearing!! 8mo
20 likes2 comments
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peanutnine
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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#SpringSkies Days 21 & 22 #AwardWinner #Tragedy
I missed yesterday but this one works for both prompts. So good. So sad 😭
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Eggs Nice double play👏🏻👏🏻 8mo
32 likes1 comment
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emmasm08
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

Made all the better by the fact I‘m currently in Pelion Greece I loved this book - It‘s an adaptation of a classic Greek legend of the fate of Achilles - full of passion , war , Greek gods and drama ! . A very good read !

Cathythoughts That‘s great Emma. Perfect setting ♥️♥️♥️ 8mo
13 likes1 comment
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aimee23
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller

“Do not let what you gained today be so easily lost.” -Chiron

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allenac87
Pickpick

An excellent retelling of the illyad from the perspective of potroclus

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BookBabe2018
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

Magic, heartbreak, and love ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Allthebookclubs
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

The tale of Achilles, as told by Patroclus. This book explores the relationship that may have been more than just leader and henchman, as suggested in Iliad. While some scholars claim their relationship was not romantic, this book explores the possibility that it may have been and it feels like MM may have drawn some of her ideas from the Shakespeare portrayal about them being nothing but sexual. Book #25 in 2024

Allthebookclubs The rest of my review: An interesting read, but full of boring characters with no real dialogue or reason for living other than, he is a god and I am a prince and so on… (edited) 9mo
17 likes1 comment
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TheIntrovertedDodoBird
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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TheIntrovertedDodoBird
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

Plato expressed belief through the mouth of Phaedrus in his Symposium that Achilles & Patroclus were "undeniable lovers," though historians & scholars alike have discouraged such ancient musings with prejudice & bias. As a Classicist, Miller grew frustrated with a subject that has been up for debate for a millennia, & so tsoa was born, a vivid reimagining of The Iliad penned in immersive prose, breathing fresh life into Homer's famous characters.

nonbinaryandbitter Thank you for reminding me of this read, put on hold!!! 9mo
TheIntrovertedDodoBird @nonbinaryandbitter It's such a beautiful book. I cried my eyes out the first time I read it. Happy reading. I'll look out for your thoughts on it x 9mo
59 likes1 stack add2 comments
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TheIntrovertedDodoBird
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TheIntrovertedDodoBird
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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TheIntrovertedDodoBird
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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TheIntrovertedDodoBird
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Tkimsal Loved this book. 9mo
JuniperWilde I really enjoyed this book. She‘s an excellent writer. 9mo
TheIntrovertedDodoBird @Tkimsal It's absolutely amazing. This is my second time around, and it honestly feels like the first! 9mo
TheIntrovertedDodoBird @JuniperWilde She's incredible. I love her so much! 9mo
38 likes4 comments
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TheIntrovertedDodoBird
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TheIntrovertedDodoBird
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Gawd! I just saw this shared by fans and am more certain than EVER that these two were born to play Achilles and Patroclus! 🫒 Couldn't resist resharing my fancast with photographic evidence!

bookandbedandtea They would be perfect! I loved them in RWRB. 10mo
TheIntrovertedDodoBird @bookandbedandtea Right?! Me too. They were perfect as Alex and Henry! 10mo
5feet.of.fury Love it 10mo
37 likes3 comments
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kilogolf
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
Pickpick

4/5 stars

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TheIntrovertedDodoBird
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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I would literally sell a kidney for this fancasting to be made a reality! Cannot stop thinking about these two playing Achilles and Patroclus in Madeline Miller's adaptation of the book after seeing them cast by fans recently 🥰. As a huge RWRB fan... I'm manifesting to the universe to make this happen! 🫒 Not to mention, Nicholas Galitzine has expressed an interest in playing a character set in Ancient Greece!

Susanita Oh my. You could cut yourself on that jawline. 10mo
TheIntrovertedDodoBird @Susanita Ha! I love it! You totally could! They're so perfect for these roles in my eyes! 10mo
38 likes2 comments
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traa
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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10 likes1 stack add
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RememberEmmitTill
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
Bailedbailed

This book literally starts with a child killing another child from a fight over a pair of dice. It gets worse. Achilles in greek mythology was supposed to be a hero. He refused to protect someone that he should of and does nsfw things, so I bailed on this book.

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Bigfoot
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I feel like this is just one of those books that you love the more you read it. This is the second time I‘ve read this book, and I loved it even more the second time. Definitely a comfort book.

13 likes1 stack add
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Honeybeebooks
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

Another great novel by Miller. Achilles the half-God hero of the Greeks during the Trojan War, was celebrated as an almost unbeatable warrior in mythology. The Song of Achilles tells us of the gentle musician that will do almost anything for his childhood friend Patroclus. I liked that so many characters from Greek myth were a part of our heroes‘ story. The end was unexpected, but I appreciated it. Achilles is a pick with 4 of 5 ⭐️.

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Milena
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

Such a beautiful and bittersweet story that lingers. It might just rank higher than Circe for me. Love, war, hubris, defiance, acceptance, what a roller coaster ride. Here is the ending that I can't let go of: "In the darkness, two shadows reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet and light spills out in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun."

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Serenity_Within86
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Pickpick

Just amazing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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BekaReid
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Taking advantage of today's rainy weather to reread a favorite

dabbe Hello there, gorgeous kitty! 🖤🐾🖤 And I love that book, too! 🤩 1y
24 likes1 comment
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Serenity_Within86
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Had to put down my current read to start this amazing book

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CoveredInRust
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️

I wasn't supposed to tear up so early. Oh, thats so heartbreaking.

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CoveredInRust
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Time to have my heart ripped out if others are to be trusted!

dabbe No time like the present. I LOVED this book! 🧡💜🧡 1y
CoveredInRust @dabbe I'm only on chapter 3 but the writing is gorgeous 😭 1y
53 likes2 comments
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TheLudicReader
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Mehso-so

I know people love this book, but for me it was only so-so. I just don‘t think I like this type of book…while the writing was fine, it felt like I was being told the story, rather than living it…and there were so many names, I just stopped trying to keep track. A student in one of my classes was moved to tears reading it in the spring, but I honestly felt nothing. Am I heartless?

dabbe I can see why you felt that with this book. TBH, most myths do that for me, esp. E. Hamilton's book. I appreciated this one for the backstory it gave me to be able to teach THE ILIAD in a more profound way, especially regarding the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. Have you read Circe? I enjoyed that much more as a 1st-person POV so Circe is telling her own story. And it's a good one!
You? Heartless? #noway 💙🖤🩵
1y
TheLudicReader I do own Circe, @dabbe, but I am not in any hurry to read it after finishing this one. I will put both in my classroom library. 1y
See All 7 Comments
Prairiegirl_reading I know so many people love this but I can not get into it! I‘ve tried twice and I haven‘t been able to make past the first chapter. I don‘t know what it is. 1y
TheLudicReader @Prairiegirl_reading maybe it's the hype? I found it seriously I underwhelming. 1y
rwmg The first half was rather sweet and I enjoyed it but in the second half I just found Patroclus unbelievable. On past form I should have been in floods of tears at the end, but I just felt, “oh, ok“. As others have said “Circe“ is much better. 1y
TheLudicReader @rwmg I have no trouble blubbering over the fate of characters, but I had the same reaction as you. It was just underwhelming. Not sure I will read Circe, even though I own it, but never say never, I guess. 1y
32 likes7 comments
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RedCurly
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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Pickpick

After I read Circe I bought the author's other book which was published in my country. I liked Circe a bit better. It was quite a bitter sweet story and I was so sorry for them.

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McGonagall
Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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My jury duty companion today

8 likes1 stack add
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Tkimsal
The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller
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30 Book Recommendations in 30 Days — Day 9 “The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller

dabbe LOVED this and Circe! I wish she'd write faster! 🤣🤣🤣 2y
Tkimsal @dabbe She did just have a short story published but I haven‘t read it. Someone in my book club said it was good but a very quick read that left her wanting another book! 2y
dabbe @Tkimsal I'll have to find that one. Thanks! 😊 2y
12 likes3 comments