A captivating retelling of the Iliad and events leading up to it through the point of view of Patroclus: it's a hard book to put down, and any classicist will be enthralled by her characterisation of the goddess Thetis, which carries the true savagery and chill of antiquity

Donna Tartt

At once a scholar's homage to the Iliad and startlingly original work of art by an incredibly talented new novelist ... A book I could not put down

Ann Patchett

This is a deeply affecting version of the Achilles story: a fully three-dimensional man – a son, a father, husband and lover – now exists where a superhero previously stood and fought

Observer

Extraordinary ... Beautifully descriptive and heart-achingly lyrical, this is a love story as sensitive and intuitive as any you will find

Daily Mail

A remarkably fresh take on one of the most familiar narratives in western literature

The Times

Original, clever, and in a class of its own ... an incredibly compelling and seductive read

Independent on Sunday