The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Goodreads Summary– 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.
Of course I have heard the story of Achilles and the Trojan War, but it was never a topic that I found myself interested in. Even after hearing so many amazing reviews for A Song of Achilles, I still want hesitant to pick it up! I am so happy that I caved in to the hype and decided to give Madeline Miller a chance. This book is beyond FANTASTIC!!
It was interesting to see Achilles through the eyes of his lover, Patroclus. Even though Patroclus adores and is in love with Achilles, we still get to see his flaws and the fact that at the end of the day he is human. There is a side of Achilles that only Patroclus gets to see and I thought this was a perfect way to tell the story. Miller managed to bring these mythical characters to life. Even though I knew how this story ends, I was still devastated!
The writing was stunning and lyrical in a way that added to the story. I want to share one of my favourite quotes so you get an idea of just how captivating and moving her writing is.
I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me.
If I had had words to speak such a thing, I would have. But there were none that seemed big enough for it, to hold that swelling truth.
As if he had heard me, he reached for my hand. I did not need to look; his fingers were etched into my memory, slender and petal-veined, strong and quick and never wrong.
“Patroclus,” he said. He was always better with words than I.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Goodreads Summary– In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child–not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power–the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.
Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.
But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.
Circe quickly became one of my favourite characters. There is something that drew me to her and had me invested in her story. Even though Circe is immortal, she possesses so many human qualities. She shows that she is capable of guilt, vengeance, loneliness, etc. This is a story that spans generations and as a result we get to see all the characters that come in and out of her life, and a lot of other mythical tales play out within this story. Much like in A Song of Achilles, the writing in Circe is brilliant and so quotable, so I am going to share a few of my favourites.
“But in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation was he to me.”
“It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment’s carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did.”
“I thought once that gods are the opposite of death, but I see now they are more dead than anything, for they are unchanging, and can hold nothing in their hands.”
There are so many amazing reviews for these two books out there that I wanted to keep mine very brief and just say that I LOVED these books, and they deserve all the hype. I can not wait to see what Madeline Miller writes next, and I will be forever grateful to her for making me fall in love with Greek Mythology!
Thank you for keeping it short haha I have The Song Of Achilles in my TBR for this year! I am so reading it! I want Circe so bad! I love your reviews and I think I will love the books as well! The whole idea of the lover telling Achilles story :3 I am melting already!! :3
Ahh you are going to love both of these!! I would definitely start with Song of Achilles. I like them both equally but I think that one is a bit more fast paced and more of a love story!
Love story! and just for what is left of Pride month! haha I’m considering to read it after I finish the Sky is Everywhere XD I am planning to get Circe next month hoho so I can’t start with that one yet XD
Circe has been on my TBR list since I heard about it, but I had no idea Madeleine Miller had written any other Greek mythology based books so thanks for posting this as now I know… my TBR list just got one book longer!
Yay! I really think you will love both of these books!
I haven’t read these books yet, but I’m glad to see you liked them! ❤️
They were even better than I was expecting!
Great Review!
I can’t wait to read Circe! It’s been sitting on my shelf for a few months now but haven’t read it yet. I just finished Song of Achilles on audible a few days ago and absolutely loved it.
I haven’t read these but I have read a lot of great things! Great review, I’ll have to get to these soon!
Thank you! I definitely recommend them!
Circe is my favorite book so far this year, I’m so happy you loved it too! And I can’t wait to see what Madeline Miller publishes next as well. ☺️💗
It’s so fantastic!! Whatever it is I know I will be reading it!
I also loved The Song of Achilles more than I was expecting to. I’m dying to read Circe now, and am already looking forward to whatever Madeline Miller writes next!
She’s so amazing! Definitely becoming one of my favourite authors!
Ahhhh yes, great review! I loved Circe! I have the Song of Achilles on my kindle and can’t wait to start it!
Thank you! I think you’re going to love it!
Great reviews, I adore both of these books. Madeline Miller is an amazing writer and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next 🙂
She really is amazing! I wonder when we will find out what she is writing? I can’t wait!
Maybe I’ll have to try Circe. Based on your mini-review it sounds like most of the things that bugged me about The Song of Achilles won’t be in that book..
They are very different. Circe is in no way a romance and very feminist! I do think it is worth giving a try!
Great review! I’ve heard nothing but good things about both of them.
Thank you! They deserve all the hype!
I just finished Circe and can’t wait to read The Song of Achilles next. I loved Circe, especially the ending and need more Greek myths and well as that beautiful writing in my life.
Great reviews. 😊💕
Thank you! Madeline Miller is brilliant. I can’t wait to hear what you think of The Song of Achilles!
I love love love love The Song of Achilles, I’m so glad you loved it too! I didn’t like Circe quite as much as everyone else has, but I’m so glad Miller has awakened a love of mythology for you <3 If you need any recs, hit me up!
I am always up for recommendations! It is definitely not a genre I am well versed in!
If you want a different take on the same characters in TSOA: Ransom by David Malouf, An Arrow’s Flight by Mark Merlis (this is a VERY strange book – it’s a retelling of the Trojan War where Pyrrhus is a gogo dancer… I don’t even know, but it was super compelling for me), An Iliad by Lisa Peterson & Denis O’Hare (if you’re into reading play scripts).
Other equally amazing Greek mythology retellings that have nothing to do with Achilles: Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie, Medea by Christa Wolf, Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis, Bright Air Black by David Vann, Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson, Lavinia by Ursula LeGuin. I’d recommend reading Sophocles’ Antigone before reading Home Fire, and Euripides’ Medea before the Christa Wolf Medea and/or Bright Air Black, but most of these can stand alone!
Thank you so much for this!! You’re amazing! I am going to look in to all of these! 😁
YAY no problem – I hope you find some you like!! 🙂
Circe really was a brilliant book with brilliant characters. I love how Miller makes these gods and legendary heroes so flawed and real. I read this as a buddy read and one member of the group didn’t get on with it at all. They thought Circe was far too passive, something I don’t really agree with. What did you think?
I think she might have started off a little passive but there was a lot of character development! One of my favourite things about the book was seeing Circe discover just how strong she is and defending herself!
Omg I’m honestly obsessed with Madeline Miller’s writing style and books. I need new releases from her ASAP!!
I know!!! I hope they announce what she is writing soon!
I loved song of Achilles and so looking forward to circe- great reviews!!
Thank you!!
You’re welcome!!
Both of these sound so good!!
They really are!