Mitch

3.5 Stars - I think the biggest problem I have with this book was that I read it after Circe. I couldn't help comparing them as I flipped through the pages. Overall I enjoyed it, it's endlessly quotable and beautifully written but I felt like this book spent too much time apologizing for these stories and characters. This happens all the time in adaptations of these myths and most of the time I don't mind as much... but Circe managed that balance so well, that I expected more from Song of Achilles and ultimately ended up a little disappointed. Patroclus felt too contemporary, and I had a hard time with his P.O.V. as a result. Also, I'm not sure how I felt about getting to know “the real Achilles” here. “Look at how he will be remembered now. Killing Hector, killing Troilus. For things he did cruelly in his grief... Perhaps such things pass for virtue among the gods...” it felt weird to have a negative opinion of these deeds within the story itself. Despite these beefs it's still very good. I would just say, the less you know of the original story the better and don't expect Circe!

I really liked this. I wished it was weirder but loved the characters, story, creatures, and descriptions on display here. The language is so rich and pitch perfect for the grim fairy tale/folklore feel of this book. It's like reading something written a hundred years ago in the best possible way. It has a blend of ordinary life and extraordinary elements, that make the world and the magic feel a little more real. It's also really moving in parts, with these brilliantly drawn human stories.

“There are men who are wolves inside, and want to eat up other people to fill their bellies. That is what was in your house with you, all your life. But here you are with your brothers, and you are not eaten up, and there is not a wolf inside you. You have fed each other, and you kept the wolf away.”

Definitely worth a read and pick up Uprooted while you're at it!

This was a surprise favourite for me... mostly because if this book wasn't shoved into my hands I never would've picked it up. When I finally decided to crack it open, I was rewarded with elegant and immersive prose that drew me into a vividly realized universe filled with memorable characters and relevant thought-provoking themes. E.g. The idea of imperialism that's conquering through a culture that's so persuasive that you'll trade your own away to be a part of it... the pull, and guilt, and lie of assimilation. Despite the weighty subject matter, it's a also a pretty thrilling page turner with stakes that start relatively small and work their way up to the fate of humanity. There's a bit of romance here as well, but despite loving both characters involved it felt a little tacked on. Maybe I was just missing the signs? Don't let that stop you from picking this up though!
4.5 Stars!

This was one of those books I remembered fondly while hardly remembering anything at all. After reading Piranesi I got an itch at the back of my brain that led me back to this particular story after decades away. Andrew Ketterly? Why does that sound so familiar... Anyway, It was a very Narnia-esque experience, jumping back into a world I thought I'd left behind and a warm reminder of why these books are so loved by so many people.

By the time I finished this book, I loved it... but by around page 300 I was starting to think this was just not my jam. I very nearly just switched gears and put this back on the shelf for another ten years. If you like me are struggling through the first two thirds of this, there is still hope that you too can get some joy out of this much beloved series! Hoping that book 2 gets rolling a bit quicker though haha.