Tale of Patroclus and Achilles

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Told from the eyes of Patriclus , Achiiles best friend and lover. This tale is a retelling of the Iliad and the Odyssey. At the outset of the tale Patroclus, is the only son of a king whose wife died In childbirth. He is also not highly loved either because the wife was a ditz. Pateoclus kill another nobles son after that son takes something that belongs to Patroclus. Off to exile In Pithia.

In Pithia buddies up with Achilles, the crown prince of Pithia. Achilles trains for war separate from the others. Only Patroclus is allowed to go with him. Eventually the time comes for Achilles to train with Chiron, the Centaur. Patroclus follows after him. Thetis is Achilles sea nymph mother. His father is a king. Thetis does not approve of Patroclus. She despises mortals.

When they go off to war after Paris steal Helen of Troy. They have mishaps along the way. Delays at Aulis. When they land before Troy's walls. The Greeks make their way by raiding surrounding farmland. Surrounding cities are sacked and destroyed. Fighting does not really happen until the end.

We all know the fate of Patroclus ,Achilles and Hector. The ending is different from other versions . The book is good and entertaining. Her second book is better. Still the book is entertaining.

View all my reviews