A Love Too Human for the Gods: A Mythological Retelling of Patroclus and Achilles in The Song of Achilles
Image from Amazon
I have long avoided the tale of The Song of Achilles. Not only did I hardly know anything about Greek mythology, but I associated the story with a person I had cut ties with, stifling my curiosity altogether.
However, during my penultimate semester in undergrad, my former supervisor highly recommended the novel to me since she knew I often wrote and read queer literature — which, at the time, I didn’t know the story even had queer themes.
I decided to brush away my past association and open the doors to my supervisor’s copy of the book. And as I did so, something I once dreaded and refused to read quickly became one of my all-time favorite novels. It’s a lively yet aching tale that held me on edge and forbade me from dropping it until I had read its last breath.
What Fate Awaits When a Mortal Meets a Legend?
In September 2011, Madison Miller gifted to readers The Song of Achilles. This novel retells the myth of Achilles through the eyes of Patroclus, and traces the bond between those two from childhood, exile, and up to the battlefield of Troy — also known as the Trojan War. It also loosely reimagines the depiction of their relationship as found in Homer’s The Iliad.
By blending historical Greek mythology with intimate emotional depth, Miller transforms a well-known epic into a character-driven, personal story of a love that both intertwines and interferes with destiny and the cost for glory.
As Achilles rises toward his prophesied greatness, Patroclus becomes both a witness and an anchor to Achilles — until the war demands a price that neither can escape.
How Does Miller Weave Myth Into Something Mortal?
Miller’s prose moves in lyrical fashion, without becoming overwrought. She echoes the cadence of ancient epics and grounds the story in raw, human emotion. Her choice to narrate through Patroclus’s eyes reframes the myth of Achilles: Instead of a tale filled with his rage and legendary heroism, she has shaped his story into a lamentation filled with utmost devotion.
The Song of Achilles uses the quiet moments and the vulnerability of their relationship to describe in greater depth how Achilles became the legendary hero we see in the original tales.
This reimagination gives the story a sensation of full life on every page. Miller balances prophecy and inevitability with character-driven nuance, making a centuries-old myth feel breathtakingly intimate.
What Lingers After A Love Doomed by Prophecy?
The Song of Achilles filled me with such a strong, raw intensity of emotion that it left me struggling for words to describe my thoughts. From the moment I started reading, it bewitched me to continue, and every little interaction between Patroclus and Achilles only added to the growing momentum.
The tragedy hits harder because the love comes slowly — tender, gentle, and deeply felt. Miller’s depiction of their budding relationship had me rooting for their happy ending, blissfully unaware of how their story truly ends in Greek mythology. Their love softens the brutality of the war, yet makes the consequences unbearable.
The Song of Achilles leaves you hollow and full simultaneously, almost as if you’ve consumed something sacred. It’s a tale that I will forever recommend.
Who Should Live Through The Eyes of Patroclus?
If you’re a fan of Greek mythology, queer literature, tragic romances, or character-driven stories, The Song of Achilles is for you. You can order your copy through Bookshop.org or find it at your local bookstore. And if you’re intrigued but still not sold, you can request it through your local library.
I can guarantee one thing though: The Song of Achilles will break your heart and expand your perspective at the same time.
Need more good reads? Read these reviews and stories next!
- Love of a Lifetime – A romance fiction played out across time.
- Go Hex Yourself – A review of a romantasy fiction novel.
- A Day of Four Suns – Mythological fiction.
- The Boy in the Rain – A review of a book detailing “forbidden” love.
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Lucas Aranda
Lucas Aranda is based in Dallas, Texas, and earned a bachelor's degree in English Creative Writing with a Spanish minor from the University of North Texas. From a young age, he has enjoyed all things fiction, mainly fantasy, science fiction, speculative, and queer literature. He is currently working on his first draft for a novella which blends western sci-fi, dystopian, and romance themes. When Lucas is not reading or writing, he puts his undivided attention to his Tamagotchis or practices digital art.
Enjoy a digital copy of one of his published works.
