I honestly wasn't sure about this, not because I thought it wasn't good, but because it definitely isn't my usual read. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm pretty much exclusively a modern day romance reader, so a romance set in B.C. Greece with heavy mythology influences was not even remotely on my radar. However, after hearing so many good things about this book, I thought, why not?

Boy, am I glad I read it!!! It is every bit as amazing as people said it would be. While a little tough to get into, it really picked up after the first few chapters and it was the most epic heartbreaking, beautiful love story I have ever read. The love between Achilles and Patroclus was poetic, literally. Patroclus even says "he is half of my soul, as the poets say" and man, if that isn't so true. There are just so many good lines and it is so well written that I cannot believe this is the author's debut novel.

Yes, it is a gay love story. However, men having male lovers back in this time was certainly not uncommon, so keep that in mind. Regardless of your feelings about gay love stories, that part, at least, is historically accurate. Now, it's debatable whether or not Achilles and Patroclus were actually lovers/in love (some say they were, some say they were just comrades or best friends) but men sleeping with men and women was a common occurrence during this time. I loved reading about all of the historically accurate characters (Helen, Athena, Achilles, etc.) and Greek mythology as a whole. You can tell the author is well educated and informed, despite this largely being fiction.

I sobbed at the end (if you know, you know) and I'm so in love with this book. I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to read it. It's definitely worth the hype!