READING: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Publication date: August 28 2012
Published by: Bloomsbury
Genre: New Adult, MM, Romance, Historical 
Rating: 

Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.

They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice. 

Screw Romeo and Juliet. 

THIS the most epic love story of all time!

How can you review a book that is absolute perfection? How much can you gush over something you love? I feel like Chiron when, after seeing Achilles unique prowess, told him “I have nothing to teach you.” I seriously have nothing to say about the Song of Achilles that would do it justice, it’s that good.

I knew Miller is an exceptional writer (Circe is another masterpiece of hers I read last year) so I knew going in that I was at least going to like the Song of Achilles. What I didn’t expect was a deeply emotional and sensitive page turner of a book about the life journey of two boys in Ancient Greece.
Having the story and world building practically already mapped out, Miller has plenty of time to explore her characters and does so beautifully. I love that there is such a linear progression to her characters growth, we see them from a very young age growing and developing through the pages, steadily, almost respectfully, like every detail of their lives matters in how their personalities are eventually shaped. Nothing is left to chance and nothing seems out of place. Miller doesn’t choose the easy way out, there are no repeats of done-to-death tropes and that’s what makes her writing so unique and extraordinary.

Yes, the Song of Achilles was a great love story between Achilles and Patroclus, but for me it goes beyond that. What those two had was way more than simple love for each other. The level of devotion and the pure idolisation Patroclus had for Achilles was unreal. I do not doubt for a second that Achilles felt the same for Patroclus (he was the one who initially approached him after all) but in a slightly different way, which to some might not be quite enough, and maybe it wasn’t. Because Patroclus love for Achilles was so intense, any show of affection from Achilles could not possibly compare. Patroclus dreamed of kids and another life but he would happily put all his wants aside for Achilles, just to be with him and die with him. Achilles wouldn’t, at least not that easily, and Patroclus knew that very well. And he still loved him all the same.

The Song of Achilles is a tale of two boys with an unbreakable bond. It is a tale of war, death and destruction, but also of friendship, love, loyalty and forgiveness. 
In an nutshell, an absolute must-read.

The next day...
I can't stop thinking about this book you guys, and that very rarely happens to me. The effect it had on me is remarkable and it will always have a special place in my heart. 💖

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Because I have seen some crazy shit in some reviews, I feel the need to address some of it:

Mythology comes from the Greek words "mythos" which means legend and "logia" which means words, coming from the verb "legw" which means speak.
So, mythology is just that: stories, fables, fiction, basically a total fib. You can twist it any way you like and give it the shape you want. You cannot be "disrespectful" to mythology even if you tried, such thing is a paradox, it doesn't exist.
I am Greek and I studied Ancient Greek and Latin for 4 years in high school and I am telling you now I wouldn’t give a fuck and certainly wouldn’t be offended if Miller wanted to make Achilles a flamboyant drag queen from San Francisco or a surfer dude from the Gold Coast, who cares? She writes fiction, she is not a scholar. Stop picking everything apart and try enjoying books more would be my suggestion. Or read non-fiction, that could be a choice. 

And one more thing: if you don't like MM romance, don't read MM romance! It is really that simple.

READING: The Tea Rose (The Tea Rose #1) by Jennifer Donnelly

Publication date: May 02 2006
Published by: Harper Collins
Genre: Adult, Romance, Historical, Mystery, Suspense, Chick Lit
Rating: 

East London, 1888 - a city apart. A place of shadow and light where thieves, whores, and dreamers mingle, where children play in the cobbled streets by day and a killer stalks at night, where bright hopes meet the darkest truths. Here, by the whispering waters of the Thames, Fiona Finnegan, a worker in a tea factory, hopes to own a shop one day, together with her lifelong love, Joe Bristow, a costermonger's son. With nothing but their faith in each other to spur them on, Fiona and Joe struggle, save, and sacrifice to achieve their dreams.

But Fiona's life is shattered when the actions of a dark and brutal man take from her nearly everything-and everyone-she holds dear. Fearing her own death, she is forced to flee London for New York. There, her indomitable spirit propels her rise from a modest West Side shop-front to the top of Manhattan's tea trade. But Fiona's old ghosts do not rest quietly, and to silence them, she must venture back to the London of her childhood, where a deadly confrontation with her past becomes the key to her future.

I really struggled with this review because, quite honestly, I did not know where to start! It's like meeting someone after years of losing touch and they ask you "What's been going on?" and you really don't know what to answer, simply because life has been going on but you don't know how to explain it.

After years of failed plans to read Tea Rose, I finally did it! 🏆 Did I like it? I loved it, buuut there were still a few things that I thought were unnecessary.

What I liked: 
-The writing. 735 pages could make for a very dull book, but this one had me on edge the whole time and I was seriously sleep deprived by the end of it. Even things I am not interested in I found exciting, like tea. Yeah, I'm not a tea drinker :/
-Nick-❤️ He was the most genuine and lovable character in the whole book. Brave, smart and altruistic. His story was a real tear jerker.
-Fiona-her insistence of not letting men push her around or tell her what to do. I also liked how her relationship with other people in her life was portrayed, not just Joe, and how fiercely loyal and devoted to them she was.
-Contrary to the majority of readers, I liked the first 3d of the book better, when Fiona was still poor in Whitechapel. I liked it fine after, but the first part is what really drew me in. I didn't find it as challenging for her character when she became rich.
-The romance-an epic, heart breaking historical romance. Is there anything better than that?

What I didn't like: 
-Jack the Ripper - completely unnecessary. He could have just as easily been a fictional murderer, or we could have done with no murderer at all, if I'm being honest. Too much was going on already, anyway. I particularly didn't like when 

Jack killed Fiona's mother. Such an undeserved death.

 

-How often Fiona was adored and admired by mere strangers. I felt it was unfair for her character, who was not at all vain or showed any signs of caring about her appearance.
-Joe-Regardless of her character, I didn't like how he treated Millie at all. Takes two to tango, bud.
-The endless misunderstandings that kept Fiona and Joe apart. I wanted more of those two together in the end and I didn't get it.
-The level of both Fiona and Joe's success was far fetched, to say the least.

Overall, Tea Rose was an over the top, super melodramatic and sappy historical romance novel that I enjoyed immensely! I am so disappointed Winter Rose is not about Fiona and Joe! Because I foolishly thought it was 🤓 
If you are a sucker for a good romantic saga book, that would maybe make you shed a tear or two, then The Tea Rose is definitely for you. Better read in a cold winter's night, curled up in bed!

Recommended to readers who liked Paradise and The Bronze Horseman

READING: Middle of Knight (Jack & Jill #2) by Jewel E. Ann

Publication date: October 10 2015
Published by: Jewel E. Ann
Genre: Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Mystery
Rating: 

Armed with a sinful past and an equally sinful body, Jackson Knight absolves his vow of celibacy to pursue Sergeant Monaghan’s unsuspecting—older—housekeeper.

Ryn Middleton, on the cusp of turning forty with a snarky daughter, a killer dog, and an abusive ex-husband, finds Jackson’s advances humorous and unbelievable. After intense negotiations including Vera Wang, Ed Sheeran, and sex four times a day, Ryn accepts Jackson’s marriage proposal on their first date.
What could possibly go wrong?

While struggling to lay claim to the woman of the dreams he never had, Jackson is forced to deal with a grief-stricken Jillian trying to hold on to her past without letting go of her future—the doctor who took her heart and the Sergeant who gave her a new one.

Beyond the hope for light, lies the middle of darkness, the illusion of truth, and a haunting past. 

I was ready to hate so much on this book, but that ending? My God, I was reading on the train on my way to work and I wanted to bawl my eyes out! I mean, so heartbreaking and sad and beautiful. Jillian's relationship with AJ in this book is so wonderfully described, you want it to last forever, even though you know it won't. But you still dare to hope, until there's no hope and everything turns black. But even in the darkest moment, that short note on the napkin, is just everything; all the hope, all the love; all the life. Ah, I don't know what to say to do Jillian and AJ's story justice, it's just magnificent. 

Ahem. On the other hand, Jackson and Rhyn's was not. To say the least. I am not one for strong words but I just hated everything that had to do with these two. From his misogynistic, chauvinistic ass, to her childlike ignorance and naivete. And sure, I understand the total lack of self respect from her side. She was an abuse victim for years. What's his excuse? Oh yes, sorry. He's "damaged". Nah, not good enough, plus I'm not buying it. Jessica was damaged, Jillian is damaged and she does not treat people with so much disrespect, to put it lightly. Granted, he kinda realised it at the very end, but it was way too late. Rhyn should have kicked the shit out of him for the way he was treating her! But because of her trauma and the detrimental impact it had on her self esteem, she thought that she should not only not do that, but also be grateful that such a hot guy chose her.
Ugh, just no. 

READING: The Education of Caroline by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Publication date: February 7 2013
Published by: Harvey Berrick Publishing
Genre: Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Military
Rating: 

Ten years after their broken affair, Sebastian and Caroline meet again: this time in very different circumstances, against the background of the war in Afghanistan.

Now a successful journalist, Caroline meets Chief Sebastian Hunter, US Marine. Will this chance encounter rekindle the erotic madness of her passionate affair with a younger man? 

Where do I even start with this...

I adored The Education of Sebastian. Sebastian and Caroline's love story is just one for the ages. I love how sweet and gentle Sebastian was in TEoS and even his pig headedness I contributed to his young age and inexperience. Caroline was a very strong female character, who despite her insecurities, sadness and misery, took the terrifying step towards changing her life, consequences be dammed, and simply started living again. 

Fast forward 10 years, and we're at the beginning of TEoC. I will admit that I didn't care much for the 1st half. I was expecting the reunion to be quite different and way more emotional than it actually was. Long gone was Sebastian's sweetness and innocence, replaced by arrogance, and general assholeish behaviour. Additionally, Caroline who finally stood on her own two feet, not relying on any man to take care of her and having a kick ass job, was being bossed around by Sebastian. It's just something that didn't sit well with me. Granted, these 10 years and being a Marine hardened him but not that much as to justify his behaviour and victimise Caroline all over again, who bent over backwards to satisfy his every whim and fancy. So instead of feeling the romance and the love, Sebastian exuded anger and aggressiveness and Caroline fear and sadness, which was prominent on their multiple sex scenes as well. I must confess however that their journey through Geneva France and Italy was described masterfully. 
Going into the 2nd half of the book I was feeling defeated and ready to accept the fact that it wasn't going to be as good as TEoS. 
I was wrong. 

Part 2 takes place in Afghanistan where all the emotion and anguish and immense love finally comes out. Sebastian left his ego aside and finally showed his vulnerable side, opening up to Caroline who was always there to take care of him. Even through the tearful ending, her selfless love for him is the book's primary focus, making her the ultimate romance heroine. And she damn well deserves it. 

I honestly feel so empty and sad now that Sebastian and Caroline's story has come to an end, having being completely immersed in their world for the last couple of weeks. 
I will always cherish and remember these books and all the beautiful emotions they evoked.
Read them!