The Song of Achilles is an ingenious novel that retells the story of Ancient Greek hero Achilles and his companion Patroclus as they fight in the Trojan War. The narration is reminiscent of classical literature writing styles long lost to the simplicity of contemporary novels, which made the story feel as if it was written thousands of years ago when the war would have taken place.

   What makes this book so excellent is that Miller told a story with a fixed ending that readers would likely know and still made it have a lasting impact. Even if one has never heard the tragic story of Achilles, readers are already prepared for the ending, as he is prophesied to die early in the novel. Even so, it is still tear-jerking and proves a timeless tale.

   Anyone familiar with Achilles would likely think of the Trojan War when they hear his name, as did I when I picked up this book. It did not seem like a long shot to expect a novel full of exhilarating battle scenes and gruesome deaths. While this story did not lack such events, there was also beautifully written love and drama woven between the overarching political conflict of the ancient civilizations.

   Despite the title, the main character is actually Achilles’s companion and suspected lover, Patroclus. The two become lovers in Miller’s story, however, acting on the assumption that they were once real people, historians suspect they may have been true lovers. Nonetheless, they were best friends, and Patroclus was like Achilles’s moral compass. He made Achilles a better man. However, this did not fair out once the war began. Achilles was essentially a murder machine, driven by his thirst for fame.

   The story does not start with the Trojan War, however, it foreshadows it in the very beginning, so even if the reader does not know the historical context behind the war, they see it this way. Patroclus is nine years old, attending a gathering of kings and princes from every kingdom, hoping to have the most beautiful woman-in-the-world’s hand in marriage. Helen, the aforementioned woman, chooses one of the men on the condition that every rejected man will fight on behalf of her and her husband should anyone betray their honor.

   So, about seven years in the future, when Helen is stolen from her husband’s kingdom, Patroclus has a moral obligation to fight to bring her back home. However, he has since been exiled from his own home kingdom, so technically he is not bound by the oath anymore. Achilles, on the other hand, is fated to join the war and bring victory to the Greeks. Despite efforts from his goddess mother to keep him from the battlefield, which includes dressing him up as a girl and hiding him in another kingdom, he sails from Greece to Troy, his loyal companion at his side.

   However, Achilles has fallen victim to a prophecy that offers him two paths: join the war, win and die; or do not join the war, live and never be the famous hero he has trained his entire life to be. Patroclus, obviously, opted for the second option, but Achilles would rather be famous in death than be unknown in life.

   Throughout the novel, the reader essentially grows up with Achilles and Patroclus. We watch as they grow up, from twelve-year-old opposites, one being exiled from his kingdom, the other fated to be the best warrior in all of Greece. They train with Chiron, where Patroclus learns to be a sort of doctor, a skill he utilizes during the gruesome wartime. We watch their innocent love prevail through every obstacle, but strain, when they spend years and years at a war Achilles, is destined to die in.

   However, what is not seen coming, is the death of Patroclus. He never fought in the war; he is a subpar warrior, holding a candle to the skill of his lover. However, he dresses in Achilles’ armor one day to scare away the encroaching Trojans, as Achilles refuses to fight himself to defend his honor after he is offended by the Greek commander.

   When Patroclus is killed by Hector, prince of Troy, the man who the Fates have said will die before Achilles, he finally joins the battle once again, but only to avenge Patroclus. Achilles knows he will die once Hector dies; it’s the only reason he had avoided combat with Troy’s prince. However, Miller has shown time and time again that the common denominator, the driving force, is always the love Achilles and Patroclus share.

   It is an eloquently written story, but besides that, my favorite thing about this novel is the existence of a homosexual relationship that is not defined by their identity. Too often the only representation homosexual relationships get is their struggles with things such as homophobia and oppression, and while those are very real aspects of people’s lives, it is refreshing to see a story about two men just loving each other.

   The Song of Achilles is easily a ten out of ten. I would recommend this to anyone, young-adult and classic literature readers alike.