“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.”
The Song of Achilles is a powerful tale of love, fate, and Greek mythology that continues to captivate readers through its lyrical prose and the fabled tragic romance between Patroclus and Achilles. Whether you’re a reader drawn to mythological retellings, stories steeped in ancient history, or beautifully crafted LGBTQ+ love stories, there are plenty of similar books just waiting to be unearthed. Today at What We Reading, we’re curating our favourite books like The Song of Achilles – each one offering its own takes on myth, love, and heroic destiny. From queer Greek mythology retellings to emotionally rich historical fiction with richly drawn characters, these novels are sure to quench your thirst for poignant, powerful storytelling. If you’re wondering what to read after The Song of Achilles, or on the hunt for books with the same emotional depth and poetic style, this is the list for you!
The Song Of Achilles Summary
The Song of Achilles is a haunting and beautifully penned retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Achilles, told from the perspective of Patroclus – his companion, confidant, and ultimately, his lover. From their first encounter as boys in exile to the bond forged in the halls of Mount Pelion under the tutelage of the centaur Chiron, the novel charts their deepening relationship against the backdrop of the looming Trojan War.
As Achilles’ destiny as a hero of unmatched skill unfolds, Patroclus is pulled further and further into a world of gods, glory, and sacrifice. But, as prophecy casts a shadow over Achilles’ fate, the story becomes a poignant meditation on love, loss, and the costs of immortality. Delivered with her trademark lyrical prose and emotional intensity, Madeline Miller reimagines a timeless epic as a profoundly personal and human love story. The end result is a novel that is both epic and intimate, tragic and utterly captivating.
The Song Of Everlasting Sorrow: A Novel Of Shanghai – Wang Anyi
Kicking off our list of the best books like The Song of Achilles is The Song of Everlasting Sorry by Wang Anyi. Infatuated with the glitz and glamour of 1940s Hollywood, Wang Qiyao seeks fame in the Miss Shanghai beauty pageant, and this fleeting moment of stardom will form the bedrock of her life over the next four decades. She indulged in the decadent pleasures of pre-liberation Shanghai, secretly played Mahjong during the antirightist Movement, and exchanged lovers on the eve of the Cultural Revolution.
Having survived some of the most turbulent and tumultuous moments in Chinese history, Wang Qiyao greets the 1980s as a purveyor of ‘Old Shanghai’ – only to then find herself ensnared in a tragedy that echoes the pulpy Hollywood noirs from her youth.
Daughters Of Sparta – Claire Heywood
As princesses of Sparta, Helen and Klytemnestra have only ever known luxury and decadence. With their high birth and unrivalled beauty, they are the envy of all of Greece. Yet such privilege comes with a price. While still only girls, the sisters are separated and shipped to foreign kings – the powerful Agamemnon and his brother, Menelaos. Even as Queens, each of them is expected to do two things: birth an heir, and embody the meek, demure nature that is expected of women.
But when the weight of the husbands’ neglect, cruelty, and ambition becomes too much to bear, Helen and Klytemnestra must push back against the constraints of society and carve out a new life for themselves. In doing so, they will make waves that will ripple for over three thousand years. One of the best ancient Greek books like The Song of Achilles, Claire Heywood’s debut, Daughters of Sparta, is a vivid reimagining of the Siege of Troy, told through the voices of two women who have been ignored for far too long.
The Prophets – Robert Jones Jr.
Isaiah was Samuel’s. And Samuel was Isiah’s. That was the way it had been since the beginning. In the barn, they tended to the animals, but also to each other, transforming the hollowed-out shed into a refuge for them to share their intimacy and hope in a world ruled by vicious masters. But when an older man – a fellow slave – looks to gain favour by preaching the gospel on their plantation, the enslaved begin to turn on their own. Isiah and Samuel’s love, which was once so simple, is seen as sinful and a danger to the plantation’s harmony.
With haunting, beautifully delivered lyricism, The Prophets is a devastating queer love story similar to The Song of Achilles. As tensions build and the weight of centuries culminate in a climactic reckoning, Robert Jones Jr. deftly reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance, but also shines a light on hope, beauty and truth, capturing the enormous, heroic power of love.
The Silence Of The Girls – Pat Barker
The Silence of the Girls is a powerful retelling of the Trojan War, told from the POV of Briseis, the queen-turned-slave who was taken by Achilles as his war prize. Stripped of her name, her freedom, and her status, Briseis is thrust into the heart of the Greek camp, where she witnesses the brutality, arrogance, and raw power of the warrior history so often deifies.
As Achilles and Agamemnon clash over her fate, Briseis is forced into silence, forced to navigate a world that refuses to acknowledge her voice. Yet, through her eyes, the familiar tale of heroism is upended, unveiling the pain, fear, and endurance of the women behind the legends. If you’re looking for another profoundly human depiction of Greek mythology after you’ve read The Song of Achilles, Pat Barker weaves a fresh, feminist take on ancient history in The Silence of the Girls.
Circe – Madeline Miller
No list of books like The Song of Achilles would be complete without mentioning another one of Madeline Miller’s best books, Circe. The novel reimagines the myth of Circe, the powerful sorceress from Homer’s Odyssey, chronicling her transformation from a misunderstood nymph to a formidable and independent woman. Exiled to the island of Aiaia, Circe discovers her powers and begins to refine her craft with magic, all while wrestling with her identity as both god and mortal.
The daughter of Helios is given the spotlight and encounters iconic figures from across Greek mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus, Hermes and, naturally, Odysseus. One of the all-time bestselling Greek mythology books, Circe once again features Miller’s spellbinding prose and stands as a fresh and empowering retelling of an enchanting feminine hero.
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Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe – Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Aristotle Mendoza is angry, guarded, and struggling to understand his place in the world. Dante Quintana is expressive, open-hearted, and fascinated by poetry and art. When the two meet each other by chance at a swimming pool, an unexpected friendship forms – one that slowly begins to unravel the emotional walls they’ve both constructed for themselves.
As the boys grapple with identity, family, and their own inner battles, their bond only intensifies further into something neither of them fully understands to begin with. With lyrical prose and raw, unflinching emotional insight, Benjamin Alire Sáenz weaves together a story about self-discovery, vulnerability, and love in all of its quiet forms. For fans of The Song of Achilles, this novel offers a similarly slow-burning and deeply affectionate depiction of love between two young people attempting to find truth in themselves and in each other.
A Thousand Ships – Natalie Haynes
Another one of the best books like The Song of Achilles set against the backdrop of the Trojan War, Natalie Haynes’ A Thousand Ships is a retelling of the fabled conflict from a long-overlooked perspective: the women. From queens and goddesses to slaves and survivors, this novel gives voice to the many female figures who lived through – and shaped – the legendary war. The story opens in the aftermath of Troy’s fall, as the Muse Calliope prepares to tell a tale not of heroes, but of the women forced to endure the conflict’s harrowing consequences.
Through a series of interwoven narratives, readers hear from Penelope as she pens sardonic letters to Odysseus, from Hecabe mourning her city’s loss, from Cassandra, Andromache, and others whose suffering has long taken a back seat to the male-driven epic. With wit, passion, and modern relevance, Haynes reframes the myth, showing how the Trojan War belonged just as much to women as it did to the warriors.
Phaedra – Laura Shepperson
Phaedra has been cast to the side her entire life. Young, idealistic and now unwilling bride-to-be to the much older, power-obsessed Thesus, she has consigned herself to existing under the weight of her husband’s control, and the constant watchful eye of her handsome stepson, Hippolytus. However, when the supposedly pious Hippolytus assaults her, Phaedra refuses to remain silenced any longer, igniting an overdue reckoning in the process.
The men of Athens convene to determine the truth. Elsewhere, the women of the city, who have no vote, gather in the shadows. The women know the truth is a slippery thing in the hands of men. There are two sides to every story, and theirs have gone unheard. Until now. In her debut novel, Laura Shepperson gives voice to one of the most overlooked figures of mythology, offering a stunning story about how truth bends under the weight of patriarchy. Bringing ancient myth into sharp, urgent focus, this is one of the best books if you loved The Song of Achilles and its exploration of courage, consequence, and reclaiming one’s voice.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
