I went into 'The Song of Achilles' thinking it was just a cool mythological romance, but parts of it really blindsided me. The depiction of war is graphic in a quiet, psychological way that stuck with me longer than any blockbuster battle scene. It's not just gore—it's the constant dread, the cruelty, and the emotional devastation. And the central relationship, while beautiful, is intensely physical and emotionally raw in a way that might feel overwhelming for younger teens.
I'd say 16+ is a safer bet, not because it's inappropriate, but because the weight of its themes—love, loss, glory, and mortality—demands a certain emotional maturity to appreciate without just feeling depressed by it. A 14-year-old who's a mature reader could handle it, but they'd get so much more out of it in a couple of years. It's one of those books I wish I'd read later, to be honest.