Review-The song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Title: The song of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

Publishing house: Bloomsbury Publishing

Pages: 352

Raiting: 5⭐/5⭐

"Will you come with me?" he asked.
The never-ending ache of love and sorrow. Perhaps in some
other life I could have refused, could have torn my hair and
screamed, and made him face his choice alone. But not in this
one. He would sail to Troy and I would follow, even into death.
"Yes", I whispered. "Yes.''

When we think of the Greek mythology, a few names comes to our mind, but Patroclus is rarely one of them. Apollo, Zeus, Aphrodyte, Ares are some of them, but sometimes we forget the legends are about many others. And The song of Achilles is about a forgotten story from The Iliad, which I love so much. When I started this book I instantly remembered that famous scene from The Iliad about Achilles and Patroclus, but as long as we read fiction, let me introduce you to this beautiful story related to the real one, but so different at the same time.

Their story started a long time ago, in the age of heroes, in Greece. After a huge mistake, the prince Patroclus has been exiled to the court of King Peleus. This exile was supposed to be a punishment, but it turned out to be the chance of Patroclus's life. Back then he was just a child, brought to a strange court, between unknown people. He was lonely and miserable for his mistake, sad and culpable. No one would have wanted him in their lives, no one but prince Achilles.

Son of King Peleus and of the sea goddess Thetis, he was the one to become the greater Greek hero. He was a prince and a son of gods, after all, why had he started to show interest in a simple boy like Patroclus? It would take some time before they'll admit what was that strong feeling between them, that unbearable feeling, so close to the one the boys showed for the serving girls. Only much deeper than that.

As they grow into men, their relationship becomes their reason to be happy and grateful. Achilles had Patroclus and Patroclus had Achilles, what else could they desire? As the years go by, Thetis, Achilles mother, doesn't stop repeating her thoughts about the prophecy that will come with the Trojan War. The prophecy may seem wrong, but the prophecies are never wrong. Despite the fact that Achilles was the best warrior that will ever be, something stronger than them was yet to come.

Maybe, once upon a time, long before anything ever existed, this story was true, maybe two boys loved each other with a madness that is hard to describe. Maybe The Iliad was just a little piece from an old, beautiful reality. In fact, they were heroes, they were gods, anything seemed possible.

But anything could have happened to them, and as long as a prophecy existed, Achilles and Patroclus were in danger. Back in the age of heroes, when Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must fulfil his destiny. He must go to war in Troy and he must do the thing he was born to, he must fight, even if the Trojan war will last forever.

But nothing lasts forever, not even love, not even promises, not even destinies. All that matters is that his friend and his lover, Patroclus, goes with him, swearing that he will live as long as Achilles will live. Knowing the legends, we can't help but wonder: does the end of the story between the lovers Patroclus and Achilles differ from the reality? Is there any hope for our Greek heroes?

I've seen this book anywhere, on Booktok, on Bookstagram, on Booktube, even on Facebook and I was already sure it will break my heart. But I didn't expect this story, maybe because I never read the Synopsys, maybe because I didn't even know this story was related to the Greek Mythology. All I knew was that The song of Achilles will break my heart.

As I read this book I felt that familiar emotion, similar to the one I had when I read The Iliad, The Legends of Olympus, Percy Jackson and I felt that love and that obsession I had while I watched Merlin, one of my favorite TV series ever. So, I thought this would be a masterpiece and it was, but I had other expectations, not in a bad way, though.

It was a lot of description but I liked it and I loved all these stories about gods and heroes. But what I loved the most was the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. Even if I loved Achilles so much, Patroclus was the most noble man in this story. He was the one who loved with all his heart and Achilles was the one who didn't know how to appreciate and value his unconditional love.

I somehow anticipated the ending, knowing the legends, but I didn't expect the last two pages to hurt me so much. I already knew that many people cried while reading The song of Achilles and I was a little bit disappointed because I didn't cry. Until the last two or three pages. But the last page was the one that shattered my heart into pieces.

I loved Chiron and Briseis, I loved even the atmosphere of the war because I've read so many books about the Greek mythology but I loved Patroclus more. And, controversially, I think the ending was a happy one, even though it broke my heart. I felt a lot of things and now I remembered how much I love the gods and their legends. I won't be able to look at the stories from The Iliad the same way again, Achilles and Patroclus have completely changed in my mind and who says this wasn't the real story?

I will end this review with my favorite quote and I hope you'll love Patroclus and Achilles as much as I did. This was a tragedy, but a beautiful one!

His eyes opened. "Name one hero who was happy."

I considered. Heracles went mad and killed his family, Theseus lost his bride and father; Jason's children and new wife were murdered by his old; Bellerophon killed the Chimera but was crippled by the fall from Pegasus' back.

"You can't." He was sitting up now, leaning forward.

"I can't."

"I know. They never let you be famous and happy." He lifted an eyebrow. "I tell you a secret."

"Tell me." I loved it when he was like this.

"I'm going to be the first." He took my palm and held it to his. "Swear it."

"Why me?"

"Because you're the reason. Swear it."

What I listened while reading this amazing book:

The regrets of not loving more (Dark Academia Playlist)

Our last dance

Achilles Come Down