Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu

51 reviews

talonsontypewriters's review

1.5

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Sexual content, Grief

Minor: Infidelity, Suicide

rebekah_fritz's review against another edition

4.75

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Sexual content

Minor: Abandonment

spiralcourse's review against another edition

3.0

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death of parent, Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Suicide attempt, Abandonment

Minor: Toxic relationship, Medical content, Gaslighting

temperamentalprotagonist's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Murder

Moderate: Sexual content

ofliterarynature's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 44%

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

tifftastic87's review against another edition

3.0

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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 A retelling of Hamlet set in the future. Hayden finds his father dead in their lab where a major breakthrough in the study of extending life has just been made. The lab goes into lockdown, everyone suspects Hayden and his Uncle Charles, both accusing one another. The story is told through excerpts of memoirs, transcripts, camera footage, and letters all compiled and put together by a researcher. 

Honestly, I was bored through most of it. If the story had stayed being through Felicia's PoV I think I would have enjoyed it more. But Hayden's perspective was convoluted and confusing. I also was not the biggest fan of Horatio being an incorporial AI who is in love with Hayden. But that could just be me. The writing was lovely though and kept me from DNFing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder

lilradridinghood's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 44%

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eloquent prose but boring characters

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

cryptofauna's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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it was pretty strong! idk if it lived up to my expectations because the concept is incredibly cool, but i generally still enjoyed reading it. as usual, obsessed with a sentient ai and also gay people so a win for me. i thought i knew the plot of hamlet better than i did, so i feel like i for sure missed some references and allusions, but it was still strong without me knowing the hamlet lore. honestly i just don’t really have very strong feelings on this one in any direction
this is a dumb criticism because it’s literally a retelling but the plot felt a little boring and predictable? i also had problems keeping the characters straight even though there’s like five total

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness

cassie7e's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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One of my best reads for 2024 so far! The plot is not at all straightforward and consisntely kept the tension. The main characters felt complex and believeable and I loved the AI getting POVs. I also loved the format of the story being told through snippets of interviews, articles, and playbacks of the system recordings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent

findingthefantasticstory's review against another edition

3.0

challenging slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The Death I Gave Him is a futuristic retelling of Shakespeare's Mabeth. Now I have to admit I have never read Macbeth but I do know the main plot. I do think I would have appreciated this story more if I knew the whole Macbeth plot.

I listened to the audiobook but now I think reading my be the best option for this book. The book uses different formats such as Interview's, diary entries and text messages and I think these would translate better on the page.

I also have to say that I felt no connection to any of the characters, I'm not sure why but I just didn't care for any of them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm