I get why Madeline Miller is so popular... I really do. Her prose is undoubtedly beautiful, and I thoroughly enjoyed this specific telling of Patroclus and Achilles's story. That said, I'm starting to realize her writing style just might not be for me. Both Circe and this book share that same, deliberate pace: beautiful, but slow. It was a very good read, but not one I feel compelled to go nuts over.
Still, even with my reservations, the power of that ending is undeniable. You see the tragedy coming from a mile away, you've known how it ends for centuries... but man, it still hits like a ton of bricks when it arrives. It's a testament to the emotional core she builds. For me, it's a solid three-star experience—respectful, even admiring, but ultimately not a perfect match.