The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

The Song of Achilles

By Madeline Miller

  • Release Date: 2012-03-06
  • Genre: LGBTQIA+ Romance
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 5,863 Ratings

Description

“At once a scholar’s homage to The Iliad and startlingly original work of art by an incredibly talented new novelist….A book I could not put down.”
—Ann Patchett

“Mary Renault lives again!” declares Emma Donoghue, author of Room, referring to The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller’s thrilling, profoundly moving, and utterly unique retelling of the legend of Achilles and the Trojan War. 

A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, Miller’s monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction’s brightest lights—and fans of Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, and Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series will delight in this unforgettable journey back to ancient Greece in the Age of Heroes.

Reviews

  • my greek empire

    5
    By The Suki Bear
    this book is my everything now. i cried so much and i love it, i will continue to read it again and again, it has its inaccuracies and mischaracterization but i can move past that since its a retelling
  • Wow

    5
    By Ryth3Gr8
    This is so well written I will remember this book for the rest of my life
  • Beautiful and Engrossing

    5
    By stevie8
    I barely remember my mythology but this novel brought it back to life and engaged me in a way other novels have not. Beautifully-written with not one false note. Well-worth your time.
  • A triumph

    5
    By lillinares
    An absolute tour de force. Incredible to think this is Miller’s debut novel.
  • Reread

    5
    By theghostofstanley
    Cried AGAIN ugh I love this book
  • DNF

    1
    By Jsjdkskdn
    I enjoyed reading how well the author wrote the first 80 something pages of this book. But was it really necessary to write a graphic scene of two children? Like was that not something that could be glossed over or hinted at. I was js uncomfortable. Ruined the book for me.
  • Gays Greeks

    5
    By Dyavl_o
    Greek bl 😭😭
  • Breaking Myths and Reclaiming Love

    5
    By jjkeevy
    I absolutely loved The Song of Achilles. One of the most compelling aspects of the novel was how the author explored sexuality and gender, offering a fresh and deeply human perspective on a well-known myth. It was incredible to see a protagonist and epic hero who is homosexual, something rarely depicted in classical retellings. Madeline Miller’s writing beautifully captures the depth of love between Achilles and Patroclus, portraying their relationship with tenderness, strength, and authenticity. This novel challenges outdated narratives that paint homosexuality as weak or secondary, instead presenting a love story that is just as powerful and profound as any legendary romance. I hope books like this continue to gain recognition, helping to break down toxic societal views and foster greater acceptance. The Song of Achilles is not just a retelling; it is a reclamation of love, identity, and heroism.
  • Masterpiece.

    5
    By Cessof
    BEST BOOK I’VE EVER READ IN MY WHOLE LIFE. This book literally had everything I needed in my life. I laughed, cried, blushed, and had many more feeling I don’t think I can name. The way the story was told was just almost too good to be real (and the best part it was real). Loved it with all my heart. If I could pay one million dollars to read this book again as it was the first time, I would be so grateful and happy to be in debt for the rest of my life.
  • The song of Achilles…

    5
    By Byrdhous3
    I couldn’t recommend this book enough. I never became bored. As I completed daily tasks I found myself lost in my head wondering what was going to happen next. This book is full emotion and poetically written in a way that me tearing up at the end. Was sad to finish this book.