Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Song of Achilles

So, I can't find a good description, but this book is basically about Achilles and his boyfriend Patroclus being all Greek and stuff. 

This is one of those books that right from the start you think to yourself, "This is going to hurt me." and it does. It does hurt you. Not as badly as I had expected, but it was still there.
Written from Patroclus' point of view, it starts off with how much his father hates him and what a disappointment he is, which normally I would mind but later in the story it's all nice because Achilles (who is basically perfect) loves him even though he is an exiled prince. Anyway, he's sent to live with Achilles' dad at a young age. They grow up together, learn from Chiron together, and go to Troy together.
Yeah, that's where it hurts you.
Based off the Iliad, It's not written from a historical perspective, but from a mythological one (Achilles' mother is literally a goddess, they hang out with the centaur Chiron, etc). However, it skips the cheese and delves straight into the story, stark yet graceful, just as the Greeks would believe themselves to be.

All this being said, the Greeks are still dicks, and Miller does nothing to glorify them, only makes it clear that the Greeks glorify themselves. 

Poison by Bridget Zinn

Poison
Bridget Zinn

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction-which means she's the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom's future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend. -Amazon

Is this book a sequel?? For all of it's merit, there's too much world, and not enough world building. The only descriptions are centred around the three main characters who are described again and again and again. Everything in Kyra's past and all other exposition is thrown in haphazardly with sparsity that would make even Hemingway balk. The plot has potential, but is crammed in, under-simplified, and under-foreshadowed. For instance, there is nothing to suggest certain familial relations until they are revealed; it's not a plot twist, it's just annoying. 

I'm sorry, Ms Zinn. I really wanted to like your book, and to some extend I really did! I thought the concept was great! Every element needed for a great story was there, but it just felt like a first draft when you haven't gotten everything quite developed yet. 

Also Hal??? I need more explaining there?? And how does a fifteen year old girl in a society with "traditional" values end up in business/living with two adult men??? What??? 

TL;DR: too much world, not enough world building. 

PS: Now that I am reading the end, if I have to read one more person thanking the main character for saving the kingdom, I'll vomit.