I love The Iliad, and this version is well done.

I wasn't sure I was even going to like it. I picked it up solely because I committed myself to reading more, and I have a particular attachment to the fantasy genre, and every book on the history of fantasy always circles back to Gilgamesh, The Iliad, and The Odyssey. I read all three this year, and loved two out of three, so that's pretty darn good. (It's The Odyssey I wasn't thrilled with, and I'm 100% over it.)

The shortest summary I could give is "kill everyone, and women ruin everything." It was through this story that I learned why epics are indeed epic, and have a greater appreciation for modern writers (modern in the longest possible sense of the word) when they sit down to practice their craft. They've got some big shoes to fill.

The detail here is exceptional, from the backstories that provide the connection and humanity to the characters, which in turns allows you to mourn each death with the survivors. Pro tip: don't get too attached to any one character. The battle sequences are wildly detailed and action-packed, and it's easy to forget how short a time period this work represents.

The themes are still relevant today. Love triangles, angry gods, the power of the few affecting the many in the most horrible ways, the stupidity of war, the failings of humanity, misogyny, heroes, saviours, love, hate, free will, destiny, compassion, competition, mortality - I mean, it's all here.

The psychological complexity of the fundamentally flawed human combined with the timeless intrigue of sex and violence, creates a compelling read that feels as modern as any book I've read recently (differences in the use language aside). The fundamentally flawed gods are both horrible and hysterical - the in-fighting is something else, as is the vindictiveness. It's these traits that make the gods so relatable - they are very human.

I'm very glad I finally stopped avoiding this work. It was completely worth the read, and I would hands-down read it again.

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Created Dec 01, 2019 at 2:26pm • Submit your own review...