Madeline Miller’s bestseller “The Song of Achilles” encompasses themes of love, passion, and pride as she revisits a classic story—the legend of Achilles and the Trojan War. Although Homer’s Iliad characterizes the greatest of all Greek warriors as ruthless and vengeful, Miller’s interpretation uncovers a beautiful, loving side to the hero.

Miller writes through the eyes of Patroclus, a young and awkward Greek prince who was exiled to the kingdom of Phthia after expressing regret over murder, an act of weakness that brought shame to his father. Despite feeling ostracized by the other boys in Phthia, he soon obtains the attention of the great myth himself, Achilles. In contrast to Patroclus, Achilles is effortlessly graceful and swift, his beauty “like a flame, vital and bright.” Against all odds, their relationship blossoms into love as they transition into adulthood, much to the hatred of Achilles’ distrustful mother and goddess of the sea, Thetis.

The real action begins when the men of Greece are called to fight in the Trojan War, an effort to retrieve Helen, the stolen princess of Sparta. However, it is prophesied that if Achilles goes to war, he will face a certain death. Torn between living a long life of obscurity and weakness or a short one of fame and prowess, Achilles is forced to make a decision, and Patroclus follows along.

As a fan of the “Percy Jackson” series in the past, I thought this book would be a nice way to revisit the intricate world of Greek mythology. I was not disappointed. From the very first page, I was transported back to the Greek Heroic Age, an era full of kings and queens, nymphs and gods, centaurs and heroes. Miller’s vivid and lyrical imagery made it easy to envision all the colors, scents, and sounds in my head, and I felt as if I was personally growing up alongside the two protagonists.

Besides the wonderful setting, my favorite part of “The Song of Achilles” is Miller’s emphasis on character development. As the audience, we exclusively view the story from the sidekick’s perspective, which humanizes the hero. While Achilles is typically portrayed as solely courageous and mighty, Patroclus’ unique retelling sheds light on the weaknesses of Achilles—his ego, selfishness, and desire for glory among others. Miller also does a fantastic job of giving each minor character their own fleshed-out personality. Throughout the story, we instantly respect the wise Chiron, resent the snotty Deidameia, and pity the brave Briseis. Miller manages to spark emotional responses within the readers and add her own spin on Greek mythology while also remaining truthful to the events in the Iliad; it is clear she has done plenty of research!

The only flaw I can recall is that the beginning of the book is somewhat drawn out and slow. However, this shouldn’t discourage readers, as the story eventually picks up pace and the most intense, thrilling sequences occur towards the end. Overall, I highly recommend “The Song of Achilles” to all readers, as I believe its themes regarding love, selfhood, and honor are truly universal.

Check out Song of Achilles from NBPL!