The novel follows a first-person account of Patroclus, an exiled prince of Greece. The Trojan War rages, and the relationship between Patroclus and the new, heroic, demi-god Achilles blossoms into an unbreakable bond that even war can’t tear apart. The two grow up together, experiencing life from the small milestones of childhood to the horrific experiences of war. With Achilles’ godly mother Thetis, hateful prophecies, blood-thirsty foes and more, the two conquer tragedies as they follow the storyline of the Iliad, but with a stunning narrative.

I absolutely adored this book! The writing is gorgeous, and you can feel the growth and love the two characters share. As a Greek mythology buff, I thought the story was accurate in accordance with the Iliad, and it was more spectacular because of the writing style and diverse characters. Madeline Miller is exceptional in that I can love some characters with a passion and hate others with the same vigour. The plot is that of the Iliad, with the historical events exactly the same, but with a new and personal twist. The ending shall not be given away, but if you know the story of the Trojan War, you can guess it. I will only add that there is a particularly heart-wrenching finale that made me cry in satisfaction when I finished it, begging for more pages. The following night I read the last few chapters and cried again. Patroclus and Achilles are both amazing people that you feel personally drawn to in the story. I strongly recommend this book, both to those familiar with the Iliad, and who are thinking what the heck is that Latin mumble-jumble?

A note of caution: the book does contain some sexuality. There is vivid description of content sexual in nature, though it is not uncalled for, and it adds to the story. For those who would be offended by this, I might take a note of caution, though I’m sure you can tell where the story is headed when it is about to happen.