Challenge Corner discussion

Greece in the age of heroes. 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 cross, 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 blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

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.

30%: (view spoiler)[bow chicka chicka wow wow - and no one said they regretted it?? (hide spoiler)]

Need this!!!!! Ill be joining you hopefully by tomorrow!

Rae wrote: "Need this!!!!! Ill be joining you hopefully by tomorrow!"

omg yay!

60%: (view spoiler)[So much is happening right now!! This war shit is getting a little intense. (hide spoiler)]

90%: (view spoiler)[OMG OMG OMG OMG HE DIED. (hide spoiler)]

100%: (view spoiler)[oh lord, this book. it was so good and interesting but damn - that ending. so much death. (hide spoiler)]

I just finished this book... OMG OMG OMG

Ch. 10 (view spoiler)[ Oh wow I wasn't expecting this to be narrated by Patroclus. But I'm loving it so far! Not sure how I feel about Thetis's portrayal. It seems accurate but in other stories she seemed more caring and kind? And Patroclus is totally gay for Achilles, I ship the shit out of it. I wonder when Achilles will bathe in the River styx? Also I love Chiron!!! (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "30%: [spoilers removed]"

Yasssssssss sexy times ;)

Ch. 18 (view spoiler)[ I'm so glad that Achilles and Patroclus have mutual affection for each other! I love them together, they're so adorable. I was not a fan of that other girl coercing Patroclus into having sex with her. I also don't like Thetis, she's being such a bitch. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 26 (view spoiler)[ Fucking Achilles don't let this happen to Brises. I love Briseis. I'm glad Patroclus stopped Agamemnon from hurting her. And that prophecy about the best of the Myrmidons is definitely Patroclus. I'm not crying you're crying! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I really fucking hated Achilles's son--I wanted to hit him or murder him. He was such a goddamn dick. I'm glad Thetis stopped being such a bitch and finally allowed Patroclus and Achilles to be united in the Underworld. This was sooooo good, but so sad (even though I knew they would die) (hide spoiler)]

Andrea wrote: "Ch. 18 [spoilers removed]

Ch. 26 [spoilers removed]

Finished [spoilers removed]"

Comment - (view spoiler)[I felt exactly the same, but I was a bit disappointed that nothing was mentioned about Achilles's heel and his ''immortality''. (hide spoiler)]

*****************RESTARTING JULY 12th, 2020**********

Ch 1-11 (view spoiler)[It’s nice that we were able to see these two grow up together. It’s unfortunate the circumstances that brought the hero to live in the palace with Achilles, but for now it seems that was best for both of them. But now if Achilles goes off to war, I don’t think he’ll be going alone... Worried there’s gonna be some tragic end (hide spoiler)]
Ch. 12-16 (view spoiler)[ Seems like things are taking more turns than I expected. I like that Achilles stands up for Patroclus  and is not ashamed of him or their relationship. I was shocked when his mother stole him away and even more surprised when Patroclus finds him, he's married and with a baby on the way. What an all around awkward situation particularly with Achilles mother. I should have known eventually fate would still bring Achilles to Troy even if it means his death. I'm not ready for that! (hide spoiler)]
Ch. 17-26 (view spoiler)[Wow I am insanely proud of Patroclus going after Agamemnon to get back his friend. It's crazy that a woman is behind almost all the squabbles these people are having. And now Patroclus has gone to Agamemnon essentially betraying Achilles. Ugh the drama, but I can see both sides and it's hard really to say who's in the wrong. It's unfortunate they're even there at Troy for years now with nothing to show for it.  (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[Well holy shit, I never saw this end coming. My God Achilles son is absolutely disgusting and pure evil. I don't understand how suddenly he was able to take down Troy and destroy them all after all these years out of nowhere, when they had the help and support of Apollo who was protecting them and helped kill Achilles. To think all this is because of one man's pride. Over ten years men warred and died over Menelaus's wife who chose to leave him. Shocked that literally everyone died, more tragic than I expected, I thought I was ready for all this death but I was NOT. Really though if they didn't put Achilles and Patroclus ashes together I was going to be livid, at least they can be together in death :( Surprised beyond belief that Achilles mother is the only one who would grant his lasrt wish. (hide spoiler)]

Ugh, I'll never catch up to my buddy reads. I hope you liked it and I'll try to get to it by Friday

It was such a change from what I'm used to reading it was a nice break. I really did enjoy it. It was a great story, tragic but amazing!!
You'll get to it eventually, if you can I highly recommend listening to the audio ;)

I'm definitely planning on the audio.
I heard it was sad, but the story of Achilles is sad so at least I'm a little bit prepared!

Lmao I thought the same thing but the end still took me by complete surprise. Brace yourself 😎

ch 11 (view spoiler)[ I feel bad for Patroclus that an accident got him banished, plus he never had loving parents. But he has Achilles and I like that their friendship has grown to be more (hide spoiler)]
ch 16 (view spoiler)[ I was not happy that Achilles married that girl and got her pregnant. Then Patroclus slept with her too, so weird!!

Now we have a prophecy and I'm just waiting for Achilles to die, whah! :'( (hide spoiler)]
ch 26 (view spoiler)[ I'm glad Patroclus saved his friend, even if it meant going again Achilles. Achilles is losing himself when he goes to see his mom, she's twisting him.
I can't believe they've been fighting for like 10 years! At a certain point they should have abandoned it. Just because a lady left her husband!!

I'm so dreading what's coming, I know Achilles will die and I can't take it (hide spoiler)]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

I cried at the ending! (view spoiler)[ I wasn't thinking about Patroclus dying! And yes, Achilles' son turned out horrible and I'm glad he was killed at the end.
If their ashes weren't reunited, this would have gotten 1 star for ruining my life lol (hide spoiler)]

finished (view spoiler)[ I knew Achilles would die, but seeing him broken because Patroclus died was awful. And then Patroclus wasn't at rest. I'm really surprised that Achilles' mom is the one to unite their ashes, but I'm so happy she did. (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING MAY 15TH, 2021

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Really? Awesome. I've owned this a long time and HAVE to read it! --Jen from Quebec :0)

I'll be joining for this one if you guys don't mind!

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ Up until now, the story is great and the narrator is breath-taking!
But I'm not sure yet what I think of the way Miller decided to portray the relationship... I feel like their relationship is more of a platonic one in The Iliad instead of the romantic one portrayed here. Nonetheless, both are incredibly entertaining. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 23 (view spoiler)[ I really like Patroclus' portrayal... asking Achilles to demand the girls as war prices and thus saving them from an abusive futur was beyond human and compassionate... I also quite enjoy the relationship between the two. It's sweet and slow. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[ Briseis really did not deserve this... I understand why Achilles cannot go against the king but I would have wished for him to do it. He is a demi-god after all, is that not worth anything? (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I'm really happy that Achilles' mother redeemed herself and put them to peace side by side.... I wished Brises could have met the same or a similar faith. She was such a great companion as well. (hide spoiler)]

I am listening to the audiobook. It's brilliant. I haven't read 'The Iliad', only know the outline of the story. Have you all read that? There must be quite a lot of differences between the two.
Around chapter 10: (view spoiler)[ I always imagined Achilles to be a grown-up man during the Trojan war, but by the looks of it here, he is going to war at the age of sixteen. Was it the same in the original? (hide spoiler)]

Ushashi wrote: "I am listening to the audiobook. It's brilliant. I haven't read 'The Iliad', only know the outline of the story. Have yo all read that? There must be quite a lot of differences between the two.
Aro..."

I haven't read it either, but understood everything in the story.
The audiobooks was great!

Isabel wrote: "I haven't read it either, but understood everything in the story.
The audiobooks was great!..."

I agree. It's not hard to follow at all. And the writing is so beautiful. I'm not much of a mythology genre reader. But this one is already making me look for more books based on the Iliad.

Chapter 24: (view spoiler)[Initially Patroclus's admiration of Achilles was seeming like an infatuated boy who could see no wrong in his beloved. But as the story progressed and the characters get older, their relationship matured into something really beautiful.
The chapter where Patroclus first goes to war is beautifully written. It captured the true horror of the scene, and I felt it did so because it was seen from the POV of someone not interested in the glory of the war. I really like Patroclus's character. Achilles seems comparatively one-dimensional. (hide spoiler)]

Finished. (view spoiler)[Things don't often make me feel sadness and anger at the same time. These last few chapters did. Achilles's rage was heartbreaking and yet how he dealt with it was cruel. Losing Patroclus turned him into a person that even Patroclus would not have liked. The story never said if he felt any guilt over his death. I think he should have. His ego was partly responsible for it, besides all the prophecy.

And I can't even start with Neoptolemus.

I felt the best message in the story was that Patroclus, the only man not after glory or honor in the war, is arguably the best person. Miller actually showed the power of kindness in a war and glory story. (hide spoiler)]

Ushashi wrote: "Finished. Things don't often make me feel sadness and anger at the same time. These last few chapters did. Achilles's rage was heartbreaking and yet how he dealt with it was cruel. Losing Patroclus..."

(view spoiler)[ I think Achilles' son was even worse than him regarding the glory part. (hide spoiler)]

Isabel wrote: "(spoiler removed)."

(view spoiler)[ Absolutely. Being brought up by Thestis amplified all the bad traits in him. And I felt Patroclus and his love was an anchor for Achilles that kept him humane. His son had nobody like that. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ They were such a cute couple (hide spoiler)]

i'm starting this tomorrow :)

j/k i found the audiobook so i'll actually be starting it tomorrow

Kim wrote: "j/k i found the audiobook so i'll actually be starting it tomorrow

"

i listened to it as well and the audiobook experience was great!

24% (view spoiler)[ I didn’t know what to expect with this book and I’m liking it’s from Patroclus POV. He’s not a character I’m familiar with (I’m barely familiar with Achilles’ story). But I do love learning new things. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

41% (view spoiler)[ I didn’t know Achilles was hidden from the battle of Troy. It’s an interesting tale thus far. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

70% (view spoiler)[ I like hearing about the battle for Helen in a more detailed way. It is dragging a bit (as I’m sure the battle would have felt). Interesting tie in for these other characters. We’ll see where this goes. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[ well it took a minute to finish this but i'm glad i did. i wish it had been a multi POV book because i think it would've added a lot to the story. overall i liked it but i don't think i had the same emotional run that others have had. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]