This is a hard book for me to rate because everyone on the internet is absolutely obsessed, and also it’s a rare day that I read mythology/historical fiction. So going in I had relatively high hopes but also knew this was not my genre of choice, so take my review with a grain of salt.

Let’s start my saying this: Madeline Miller has gorgeous prose. No doubt about it. So many phrases literally had me pausing to say “nice.” For instance, the one that particular struck me was: “I shift, an infinitesimal movement, towards him. It is like the leap from a waterfall. I do not know, until then, what I am going to do. I lean forward and our lips land clumsily on each other. They are like the fat bodies of bees, soft and round and giddy with pollen. I can taste his mouth, hot and sweet with honey, and dessert.”

However, the lyrical prose is most of the positives I can say about The Song of Achilles. Perhaps had it not been so hyped I would not be let down, waiting to be absolutely devastated as everyone promised me. I shed no tears. I felt no devastation.

The first 60% of the plot took so long to get through because literally nothing happened. A lot of elaborate, prettily written descriptions of a rich Greek elite’s day. Lots of ripened juicy figs, lots of mentions of Achilles’ golden hair in the sunlight.

Things picked up during the start of the war, but really it was only the last 20% of the book that contained the bulk of the plot. This is a Greek tragedy so the last 20% unravels exactly like that Tik Tok audio “oh no. oh no. oh no no no no no.”

Also, my feelings would absolutely change for my partner if he ultimately refused to put aside his pride in the way Achilles chose. Achilles was deemed the greatest warrior of his generation who could turn the entire tide of the war that had been ongoing for 10 years, but his pride/reputation was more important than the lives of countless men that he had personally befriended/championed???

I understand these two were in a difficult catch-22 situation. There was no right decision. Either way they would’ve ended in tragedy. But I’m with Briseis at the end, who told Achilles that he knew what would happen when he agreed to Patroclus’ terms. How could he not? It was so obvious. We all knew. We all knew and yet Achilles felt that was a risk worth taking. And he was surprised at the result?? How.

I know the story of the Trojan War is separate from SOA/Madeline Miller but I was also extremely annoyed at how many people had to die for Menelaus’ pride. There was a 10+ year war AND FOR WHAT!! Why are men like this. Not much has changed today, unfortunately.

Anywho, that’s why I’m rating SOA 3 stars and will not be reading Circe. I read this because I wanted queer mythology and I got that. It’s always a nice reminder that queer people have existed as far back as human history goes, and have not only been a part of history but also have made it.