Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
“At once a scholar’s homage to The Iliad and startlingly original work of art by an incredibly talented new novelist….A book I could not put down.” —Ann Patchett “Mary Renault lives again!” declares Emma Donoghue, author of Room , referring to The Song of Achilles , Madeline Miller’s thrilling, profoundly moving, and utterly unique retelling of the legend of Achilles and the Trojan War. A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad . An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, Miller’s monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction’s brightest lights—and fans of Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, and Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series will delight in this unforgettable journey back to ancient Greece in the Age of Heroes.
Tags
Is The Song of Achilles: A Novel appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This literary retelling of the Iliad features strong war violence and battle scenes, a central gay romance with some sensuality, and themes of death, fate, and sacrifice. The writing is sophisticated and emotionally intense.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, moderate sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death, death of partner, mass death, and grief (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will be captivated by this passionate reimagining of Achilles and Patroclus's legendary bond set against the epic backdrop of the Trojan War.