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THIS IS A REREAD REVIEW
“Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time.”
Stars (Out of 10): 9/10
Overall Thoughts: This book was just as good as I remember!! I thought that I would like it less a second time, but besides the missing shock factor of the events, I loved it just as much! There were tons of twists and turns, and the plot always remained interesting, even if I already knew some of it!
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Good: The characters were very interesting, even a second time around. There were also lots of twists and turns, and almost every piece of background information was explained and used to the fullest extent, making the book seem really well thought out.
The Bad: We didn't see a lot of build up between June and Day, it kind of just happened. It wasn't insta-love, but it also didn't seem the most natural.
The Characters: I really liked the characters in this book. They were well-rounded, and all very different from each other! We have the cold and ruthless Thomas and Commander Jameson, the analytical and tactical June, the kind-hearted yet badass Day, and sweet as sunshine Tessa! Overall, it seemed really balanced, and I enjoyed that!
The Plot: Since this is a reread, I often remembered the twists as they were about to show, so the shock factor was gone, but the plot was still really good. It caught me completely at every turn, and had me rooting for the rise of some and downfall of others!!
The World Building: This was definitely impeccable. No information was unnecessary, as each and every piece was used to the fullest extent. From Day's necklace habits (used to catch him for who he was), to Metias's actions and words being linked back together, it seemed like the world was a puzzle that perfectly fit together!
The Favorite Character: June for her analytical ness, and Day just for his personality!
Buy it, Borrow it, or Bin it: Buy it!
“Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time.”
Stars (Out of 10): 9/10
Overall Thoughts: This book was just as good as I remember!! I thought that I would like it less a second time, but besides the missing shock factor of the events, I loved it just as much! There were tons of twists and turns, and the plot always remained interesting, even if I already knew some of it!
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Good: The characters were very interesting, even a second time around. There were also lots of twists and turns, and almost every piece of background information was explained and used to the fullest extent, making the book seem really well thought out.
The Bad: We didn't see a lot of build up between June and Day, it kind of just happened. It wasn't insta-love, but it also didn't seem the most natural.
The Characters: I really liked the characters in this book. They were well-rounded, and all very different from each other! We have the cold and ruthless Thomas and Commander Jameson, the analytical and tactical June, the kind-hearted yet badass Day, and sweet as sunshine Tessa! Overall, it seemed really balanced, and I enjoyed that!
The Plot: Since this is a reread, I often remembered the twists as they were about to show, so the shock factor was gone, but the plot was still really good. It caught me completely at every turn, and had me rooting for the rise of some and downfall of others!!
The World Building: This was definitely impeccable. No information was unnecessary, as each and every piece was used to the fullest extent. From Day's necklace habits (used to catch him for who he was), to Metias's actions and words being linked back together, it seemed like the world was a puzzle that perfectly fit together!
The Favorite Character: June for her analytical ness, and Day just for his personality!
Buy it, Borrow it, or Bin it: Buy it!
“A girl meets a boy, Ed, and everything changes, or so she says.”
Stars (Out of 10): 9
Overall Thoughts: This was an emotional rollercoaster, and I am so glad I stuck around for the ride. I feel like I went through this break up right along with Min. Originally I started this book and got about 30 pages in before putting it away again, as the writing style really threw me off, but as I continued it again, it clicked perfectly with the idea of the story. This girl has just broken up with her ex-love, and now she's returning his stuff. What we're reading is her letter to him of her thoughts, and "why they broke up", so of course it's going to run on and be messy, because that's Min's emotional state at that time. It takes some getting used to, but it's perfect.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Good: The writing style clicked perfectly with the story idea, and I loved the underlying sense of "doom", knowing everything was going to go all wrong, just unsure of when. The mixture of story telling and "philosophical and romantic anecdotes" was also perfect as Min listed her reasons why, and made me look for my own meanings in her stories. I also loved the final two or three pages (before the note about the book and walnuts) where Min talks about how she isn't different. The emotion captured in those pages was just so much, almost as if Min is battling herself and people's perception of her, trying to say "I'm not different, that's no excuse for leaving me and you're wrong for doing so." It just left a huge impact on me.
The Bad: Min loved her obscure movies, but I don't know all these movies and their references. Sure, they're not too important, but it makes those run-on sentences with the references in them harder to read and put together, because they make absolutely no sense to me. There were also moments when those run-on sentences became a bit too run-on, even for the style, but this didn't happen all too often.
The Characters: I liked how the characters were created. No one was perfect, everyone had flaws, and the author also managed to trick us into thinking Ed was different than other jocks, and made us see him how Min saw him, so we felt all that being ripped away from us like she did too, and made the emotions I felt from this book that much stronger.
The Plot: While this book wasn't set up like books normally are, I loved the events and how it seemed like a tome of separate stories almost, and made it much more enjoyable to read! I was hanging on to every word mentioned about the break up, trying to piece together what happened, until I was hit with it all at the end. Damn you Annette!!
The Stereotypical Tropes: Jock is bad cheating boyfriend, the "different" girl
The Favorite Character: Min(erva)
Buy it, Borrow it, or Bin it: If you're in for a sad journey and a good cry, buy it!
Stars (Out of 10): 9
Overall Thoughts: This was an emotional rollercoaster, and I am so glad I stuck around for the ride. I feel like I went through this break up right along with Min. Originally I started this book and got about 30 pages in before putting it away again, as the writing style really threw me off, but as I continued it again, it clicked perfectly with the idea of the story. This girl has just broken up with her ex-love, and now she's returning his stuff. What we're reading is her letter to him of her thoughts, and "why they broke up", so of course it's going to run on and be messy, because that's Min's emotional state at that time. It takes some getting used to, but it's perfect.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Good: The writing style clicked perfectly with the story idea, and I loved the underlying sense of "doom", knowing everything was going to go all wrong, just unsure of when. The mixture of story telling and "philosophical and romantic anecdotes" was also perfect as Min listed her reasons why, and made me look for my own meanings in her stories. I also loved the final two or three pages (before the note about the book and walnuts) where Min talks about how she isn't different. The emotion captured in those pages was just so much, almost as if Min is battling herself and people's perception of her, trying to say "I'm not different, that's no excuse for leaving me and you're wrong for doing so." It just left a huge impact on me.
The Bad: Min loved her obscure movies, but I don't know all these movies and their references. Sure, they're not too important, but it makes those run-on sentences with the references in them harder to read and put together, because they make absolutely no sense to me. There were also moments when those run-on sentences became a bit too run-on, even for the style, but this didn't happen all too often.
The Characters: I liked how the characters were created. No one was perfect, everyone had flaws, and the author also managed to trick us into thinking Ed was different than other jocks, and made us see him how Min saw him, so we felt all that being ripped away from us like she did too, and made the emotions I felt from this book that much stronger.
The Plot: While this book wasn't set up like books normally are, I loved the events and how it seemed like a tome of separate stories almost, and made it much more enjoyable to read! I was hanging on to every word mentioned about the break up, trying to piece together what happened, until I was hit with it all at the end. Damn you Annette!!
The Stereotypical Tropes: Jock is bad cheating boyfriend, the "different" girl
The Favorite Character: Min(erva)
Buy it, Borrow it, or Bin it: If you're in for a sad journey and a good cry, buy it!
“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.”
Stars (Out of 10): 9/10
Overall Thoughts: There are some books that are purely entertainment, there to please your mind for a few hours, linger a little after, but fade in importance in your mind after time. This book was not one of those books. The Song of Achilles was an experience, with beautiful writing and lessons to learn. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from the character growth seen in Patroclus to the relationship between him and Achilles. My only issue with the book was just how slow it moved, but it does fit the writing style and story. If you're looking for a book to move you, and make you feel and experience reading differently, I would say to definitely pick up this book.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Good: Where do I even begin? The writing flowed beautifully, and the sentences endings holding on to the beginnings of the next. The plot was also fantastic, and the characters and their growth was amazing. I also loved how "Greek" it felt, and rather it feeling like a simple retelling of a Greek Myth, it could simply be the myth itself, with a new life breathed into it.
The Bad: This category would be empty if it wasn't for the slow pace. I didn't expect that going into the book, so I originally picked it up as a stand-alone book that was more simple while I took a break from the Falling Kingdoms series. The slow pace worked perfectly with the book, but unfortunately it did cause me to put the book down for breaks between chapters occasionally.
The Characters: I absolutely loved Patroclus, and Achilles in the beginning. I loved the growth we see in Patroclus, from the shy, withdrawn, and pushed aside boy, to the grown man who fights to save his lover's honor in the end, dying in doing so. Achilles had more of a love/hate relationship with me though, as I loved him with Patroclus and how Patroclus spoke of him, but I hated how he was in the end, as he became selfish and obsessed with his honor.
The Plot: While yes the plot wasn't "original" since it was an adaptation, I still really loved it. I loved the romantic spin given to Achilles and Patroclus, and how even though it was important to them, it wasn't the entire point of the book, which I tend to see a lot these days.
The World Building: I loved how "Ancient Greek" this felt, as if it could fit in with the myths themselves. It portrayed the Gods and Ancient Greek culture in a way series like Percy Jackson never could, and made it seem much more real and historical.
The Stereotypical Tropes: The Chosen One
Favorite Character: Patroclus!
Buy it, Borrow it, Or Bin it: Buy it!
This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress.com/
Stars (Out of 10): 9/10
Overall Thoughts: There are some books that are purely entertainment, there to please your mind for a few hours, linger a little after, but fade in importance in your mind after time. This book was not one of those books. The Song of Achilles was an experience, with beautiful writing and lessons to learn. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from the character growth seen in Patroclus to the relationship between him and Achilles. My only issue with the book was just how slow it moved, but it does fit the writing style and story. If you're looking for a book to move you, and make you feel and experience reading differently, I would say to definitely pick up this book.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Good: Where do I even begin? The writing flowed beautifully, and the sentences endings holding on to the beginnings of the next. The plot was also fantastic, and the characters and their growth was amazing. I also loved how "Greek" it felt, and rather it feeling like a simple retelling of a Greek Myth, it could simply be the myth itself, with a new life breathed into it.
The Bad: This category would be empty if it wasn't for the slow pace. I didn't expect that going into the book, so I originally picked it up as a stand-alone book that was more simple while I took a break from the Falling Kingdoms series. The slow pace worked perfectly with the book, but unfortunately it did cause me to put the book down for breaks between chapters occasionally.
The Characters: I absolutely loved Patroclus, and Achilles in the beginning. I loved the growth we see in Patroclus, from the shy, withdrawn, and pushed aside boy, to the grown man who fights to save his lover's honor in the end, dying in doing so. Achilles had more of a love/hate relationship with me though, as I loved him with Patroclus and how Patroclus spoke of him, but I hated how he was in the end, as he became selfish and obsessed with his honor.
The Plot: While yes the plot wasn't "original" since it was an adaptation, I still really loved it. I loved the romantic spin given to Achilles and Patroclus, and how even though it was important to them, it wasn't the entire point of the book, which I tend to see a lot these days.
The World Building: I loved how "Ancient Greek" this felt, as if it could fit in with the myths themselves. It portrayed the Gods and Ancient Greek culture in a way series like Percy Jackson never could, and made it seem much more real and historical.
The Stereotypical Tropes: The Chosen One
Favorite Character: Patroclus!
Buy it, Borrow it, Or Bin it: Buy it!
This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress.com/
“And those with dark pasts didn't always yearn for dark futures.”
Stars (Out of 10): 10/10!
Overall Thoughts: Oh my wow this book was amazing. I absolutely devoured it. It was rich in betrayals, revealings of secrets, plot twists, and romantic and sexual tension. Everything that the last books did wrong were fixed in this book, and this was definitely my favorite of the series so far.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Good: Everything!!! The cover was beautiful, the writing style clicked with the impeccable plot, and I found the sexual tension I craved between these characters in this book. The deaths also were almost all meaningful, which was truly my only problems with the books before!
The Bad: I know that no book is perfect, but thinking back, there's not much I would change in this book if given the choice!
The Characters: I didn't think it was possible, but everyone got better in this book. Magnus had the possibility of being redeemed, new villains were introduced, the weak were able to prove themselves (you go Nic!), and Cleo was shown being the strong (and manipulative) queen she could be! Yet somehow, they all kept their realisticness and humanity. Sure, I wanted Cleo to just get over Theon and move on to Magnus (I'm so terrible), but I loved how she still reacts to how Magnus murdered him, because no, in reality, that pain and that hatred is never going to go away.
The Plot: I loved this plot to bits. I loved all the twists, one after another, and how almost every event was deemed important.
The World Building: This book continued to amaze me in this area. We don't get too much information to overwhelm us, but enough for us to understand what's going on. I also love how the author chose to make it a much grander affair, involving the surrounding countries and not just Mytica.
The Stereotypical Tropes: There is somewhat of a weak love triangle between Magnus, Cleo, and Jonas, but I think it's fading away, and was never truly strong to begin with.
The Favorite Character: Cleo!!! (And Magnus <3)
Buy it, Borrow it, Or Bin it: Buy it!
Stars (Out of 10): 10/10!
Overall Thoughts: Oh my wow this book was amazing. I absolutely devoured it. It was rich in betrayals, revealings of secrets, plot twists, and romantic and sexual tension. Everything that the last books did wrong were fixed in this book, and this was definitely my favorite of the series so far.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Good: Everything!!! The cover was beautiful, the writing style clicked with the impeccable plot, and I found the sexual tension I craved between these characters in this book. The deaths also were almost all meaningful, which was truly my only problems with the books before!
The Bad: I know that no book is perfect, but thinking back, there's not much I would change in this book if given the choice!
The Characters: I didn't think it was possible, but everyone got better in this book. Magnus had the possibility of being redeemed, new villains were introduced, the weak were able to prove themselves (you go Nic!), and Cleo was shown being the strong (and manipulative) queen she could be! Yet somehow, they all kept their realisticness and humanity. Sure, I wanted Cleo to just get over Theon and move on to Magnus (I'm so terrible), but I loved how she still reacts to how Magnus murdered him, because no, in reality, that pain and that hatred is never going to go away.
The Plot: I loved this plot to bits. I loved all the twists, one after another, and how almost every event was deemed important.
The World Building: This book continued to amaze me in this area. We don't get too much information to overwhelm us, but enough for us to understand what's going on. I also love how the author chose to make it a much grander affair, involving the surrounding countries and not just Mytica.
The Stereotypical Tropes: There is somewhat of a weak love triangle between Magnus, Cleo, and Jonas, but I think it's fading away, and was never truly strong to begin with.
The Favorite Character: Cleo!!! (And Magnus <3)
Buy it, Borrow it, Or Bin it: Buy it!