(Disclaimer:  This will contain spoilers!)


'The Song of Achilles' is a take on 'The Iliad', through the perspective of an exiled prince who grew up as the companion of one of the most famous Greek heroes we have ever known.

Patroclus is a weak prince who is detested by his cruel father.  He accidentally kills another child and is therefore exiled by his father to the Palace of Phthia, under the rule of King Peleus.  Peleus has a prince, who, in Patroclus' opinion embodies every quality that a prince should possess, Achilles.  Achilles comes across as an eerily perfect child with an almost inhumane disposition, which we can attribute to his mother, a sea goddess named Thetis.

Achilles treats everyone equally but for some reason likes Patroclus better than the rest.  He made Patroclus his companion and they both grow up together.

In their teenage years, they (Achilles namely, but Patroclus snuck off to join him) are sent to learn from Chiron, a wise centaur who have tutored Heracles and many other famous Greek figures.  There, romance blooms.  It has been brewing for a while, and its everything that I anticipated and more. Such a beautiful relationship.

Then, the great turn of events.  Helen of Sparta eloped with Paris and became Helen of Troy and a war is waged.  Agamemnon sends Odysseus to recruit Achilles, who by then is already famous for his battle skills.  Achilles says yes because he wants that glory (because fading into obscurity is the biggest punishment for these folks) and Patroclus gets dragged along.  And that is the beginning of the Trojan war.

Miller's writing is wistful and poignant, and I keep rereading some of the lines many times over just because I cannot get over how beautiful they are.  I did a little digging after the book and marvels over how Miller managed to take the famous Achilles and portrayed him so differently and yet still manages to retain the qualities that he is known for.  I believe that although the nature of Achilles’ relationship with Patroclus has been debated over for a long time, Miller's ingenuity has made them mainstream.

I watched the movie once, and I liked Achilles and Briseis together, but after this book, man…..  Briseis who?  Though, to be honest, the Briseis in the book is very likeable as well.  Such a tragic figure, but then again, so is everyone else.

The ending may or may not have made me tear up.  The fact that it is the cruel and disapproving Thetis who gives Patroclus his final peace is so beautiful.

I have a lot of books and will probably never run out of books to read in this lifetime, but will I spare some more time to reread this book?  Definitely, many times over.

Verdict: 5/5 (Hall of Famer, a poignant masterpiece.)