The Song of Achilles

For the reader who wants the book that started the current wave.

Why Consider This One

The Song of Achilles is Miller’s debut and the novel most people name when they say a myth retelling made them cry. It recasts the Iliad as the love story between the warrior Achilles and his companion Patroclus, following them from boyhood to the beaches of Troy. Where Circe spans centuries, this book narrows to two people and one war, and that focus is exactly why some readers prefer it.

Consider starting here instead of Circe if you already know the shape of the Trojan War, or if you simply want the more emotional of the two. It is a tragedy and it tells you so early, yet the pull comes from watching tenderness survive inside a story you know ends in slaughter. It also pairs naturally with Circe, since both share Miller’s voice and her habit of finding the human being inside the legend.

What to Expect

A propulsive, deeply felt novel that reads quickly despite its subject. The first half is warm and intimate, almost a coming of age story; the second half moves to Troy and turns relentless. Expect a good deal of Homer’s cast, a light touch with the source material, and a final act designed to break your heart. Keep tissues nearby.