**If you know the myth it's a spoiler-free review**
Continuing my love for Greek Myths re-telling, today's post we'll talk about a book that was published a while ago, but thanks to TikTok and Instagram, had a second jump to fame. A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart.
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.”
Madeline Miller
What Is It About?
Achilles, destined to become the "best of all the Greeks and new Hero" is everything Patroclus is not —strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess. And although Achilles could have anyone as his companion and friend, he still chose Patroclus.
Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights, their paths should never have crossed. But Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond becomes much intimate.
Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame, and the human heart.
My opinion
Fate and destiny work in strange ways. That is something books have taught me. That's something Patroclus and Achilles learned too.
Madeline Miller's way to re-tell Greek Myths makes you feel it's the myth itself. Maybe that's why I love these types of books so much.
She gives us a complete overview of the myth, and, at the same time, we experience it from a different point of view. It allows us to have a small taste test of the type of feelings that perhaps these Greek heroes had.
Imaginably, you can say that Greek myths don't tend to focus and influence emotions, but why shouldn't they? They are telling a story about people. Yes, people who live in a world full of monsters and gods, but they went through heartbreak, betrayal, and happiness, just like you and me.
So, to have books that can give us a little deeper glimpse into everyday struggles makes me really happy.
I think TSOA is my first LGBTQ book, and I really, really liked it. The story of Patroclus and Achilles is filled with love, memories, experiences, and heartbreak.
I didn't know the story was written through Patroclus' POV, which caught me by surprise, but it was a nice one nonetheless.
The story of Patroclus and Achilles did not move me as much as that of Circe. Do not misunderstand. I loved how it was written, but I felt a deeper connection to Circe's story.
Patroclus didn't have an easy life. He was cast out by his father and arrived at a new kingdom where he knew no one. I think I can say that nobody has had an easy life, and it's a relief to read books where not everything is perfect.
Patroclus suffered until Achilles met him, and even then, he suffered a bit more. But that's life. It's having highs and lows. What really matters is how your attitude is transformed into actions.
It took them a while to form their friendship, to be inseparable, and from there, to love each other. Their love was deep and caring. And as often happens, when you have much more power, fame straightforwardly goes to your head. This is why my heart broke a bit. Achilles began to pay more attention to his prophecy: becoming the best warrior of his generation, rather than listening to Patroclus and be with him.
Achilles and Patroclus were passionately in love, which, sadly, resulted in their respective destructions.
This story does not try to compete with Homer's. But rather represents a story about love and friendship. It delves into a story that is within one of the most famous myths.
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