October 18, 2024
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Achilles, hero of Troy, was the son of King Pelleus and the goddess Thetis. At his birth, there was a prophecy that he would be the greatest of the Greek warriors, the best of the Greeks. As a boy, he meets Patroclus, an exiled prince who comes to live at Achilles' father's court. They grow up together and are educated together by the centaur Chiron. When war with Troy breaks out, they travel together to Troy, where Achilles fulfills the prophecy that he is the greatest Greek warrior, but comes to realize that Patroclus is the best of the Greeks.
A retelling of Homer's Iliad, the story of Achilles and the Trojan War, told from the viewpoint of Achilles' companion Patroclus. It's unknown if they were lovers or just besties, but Miller portrays them as both. I really enjoyed the author's previous book Circe, but I think I loved this one more. If you enjoy retellings of mythology or fairy tales, try Costanza Casati's novel Clytemnestra or A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes - the "heroes" don't come off so well in those versions as they did in the Iliad. Recommended for readers who enjoy Greek mythology or fantasy fiction.
Patroclus and Achilles in bronze
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