The Song of Achilles book review

Stories and tales such as the ones of Achilles and Patroclus have as most stories and historic events, suffered the same treatment of being straightwashed into non existence. It's not uncommon and a quick little google search will tell you that some do believe that Patroclus and Achilles were actually lovers and the relationship they shared between each other was deep and full of love. Much unlike the way they were most famously portrayed as in the film Troy, which I like but don't feel they are given that much nuance when it comes down to it.

But this is not what this post is about anyway so let's move on from it.

This is the first book I have read that is a reimagination of myth and the first book I have read in ages that isn't set in contemporary times. I wouldn't say that I have a type of book that I read but most books that do make it to my reading list are rarely set earlier than the 1930s. So this was very different to what I'm used to actually and I must admit that I was always more of an Ancient Rome gal than an Ancient Greek gal, so I have forgotten a lot of that I learned in school. Maybe because of that it did take me some time to really get into the book because I found that I actually struggled to buy into the setting at times, but more importantly the characters. I wanted to love this book because it is so loved and it made me feel a little bad that I didn't.

To me it felt a little slow at times, particularly the beginning dragged in a lot of places for me. It also felt very YA to me, and while this is not a criticism of YA novels for me it made it hard to relate to the characters because they feel quite shallow and underdeveloped throughout the first half of the book. 

But as soon as they get to Troy it really starts to pick up and it upsets me a little that it took so long for the book to actually get good. I feel that in this part of the book both Patroclus and Achilles grow into themselves more, particularly Patroclus who gets to step out of Achilles shadow and grow into his own shoes. They both have some character development and start to become people in their own right. This section also tests them, tries to pull them apart and throws in some actual believable conflict between them. I really liked the shift in balance that happens between them here and how Patroclus becomes someone Achilles doesn't feel worthy of.

The stakes around them feel much higher too when they get to Troy. Politics, rape, war and heartbreak are a constant here and choices are made that will define people for the future to come. The end therefore, is bittersweet and beautiful and a little sad too and even though I'm happy I read this book it is not my favourite book of 2020.