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azrah786's review against another edition
3.25
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, gore, body horror, self-harm, death, murder, death of parent, medical content, suicidal ideation, confinement, mild sexual content
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The Death I Gave Him is a sci-fied retelling of Hamlet with queer rep and an accompanying locked-room type mystery thriller storyline.
I’m going to straight up admit that this book wasn’t exactly my cup of tea but I did somewhat enjoy it. I know there will be a lot of people who will love it though, especially if you’re someone who loves anything with dark academia vibes.
It is told in an unconventional format – a compilation of interview excerpts, security footage transcripts and recordings and multi POV accounts (including that of an AI) to make up a non-fiction, thesis type recount of the events that transpired which I though was an interesting approach and one that easily keeps you engaged with the story.
However, there was then an aspect of predictability to it all which took the edge off of the mystery/thriller vibe you would expect from something penned as a locked-room narrative. Albeit this is a retelling so some predictability is expected, but as someone who hasn’t read Hamlet and knows only a handful of details from the play, I also felt like I was not able to fully appreciate all the nuances to the original and I think that added to why I didn’t fully enjoy it.
That being said I did really like the sci-fi elements as the science and technology that has been created in this world was pretty interesting and what Liu did fantastically was give us complex and messy characters that fit perfectly to that Shakespearean melodrama you’d expect.
The characters and their dynamics in a way made me think of those from Schwab’s Villains series and in that sense give the story a dark academia aura which is why I’d recommend this books to anyone who is a fan of that particular sub-genre.
Final Rating – 3.25/5 Stars
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, gore, body horror, self-harm, death, murder, death of parent, medical content, suicidal ideation, confinement, mild sexual content
--
The Death I Gave Him is a sci-fied retelling of Hamlet with queer rep and an accompanying locked-room type mystery thriller storyline.
I’m going to straight up admit that this book wasn’t exactly my cup of tea but I did somewhat enjoy it. I know there will be a lot of people who will love it though, especially if you’re someone who loves anything with dark academia vibes.
It is told in an unconventional format – a compilation of interview excerpts, security footage transcripts and recordings and multi POV accounts (including that of an AI) to make up a non-fiction, thesis type recount of the events that transpired which I though was an interesting approach and one that easily keeps you engaged with the story.
However, there was then an aspect of predictability to it all which took the edge off of the mystery/thriller vibe you would expect from something penned as a locked-room narrative. Albeit this is a retelling so some predictability is expected, but as someone who hasn’t read Hamlet and knows only a handful of details from the play, I also felt like I was not able to fully appreciate all the nuances to the original and I think that added to why I didn’t fully enjoy it.
That being said I did really like the sci-fi elements as the science and technology that has been created in this world was pretty interesting and what Liu did fantastically was give us complex and messy characters that fit perfectly to that Shakespearean melodrama you’d expect.
The characters and their dynamics in a way made me think of those from Schwab’s Villains series and in that sense give the story a dark academia aura which is why I’d recommend this books to anyone who is a fan of that particular sub-genre.
Final Rating – 3.25/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Medical content, Violence, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Confinement
Minor: Sexual content
charleshasalibrary's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to the publisher for the DRC!
The Death I Gave Him hooked me from the very start. The tension in this Hamlet retelling is exquisitely written, using the sci-fi thriller genre to play with the familiar story in a uniquely captivating way. I loved the multiple perspectives and the original way that Liu told the story through the lens of an unnamed, anonymous narrarator from a future world that I was equally as curious about. There is something to be said about the fact that even as Hayden and Felicia's stories ended, I was left desperate for a sequel to tell me how the world went from what it was in 2046 to what it was in the narrarator's time. But by far what captured me the most was the queer reimagining of Hamlet and Horatio's relationship.The impossibility of the love between Hayden and Horatio in this story was poignant. As a queer person myself, I felt their longing viscerally, the ache of distance between them such a perfect representation of the queer experience. They were what made this story most memorable for me. My deep desire for their story to continue will keep Liu's novel rolling around in my mind for a very long time.
The Death I Gave Him hooked me from the very start. The tension in this Hamlet retelling is exquisitely written, using the sci-fi thriller genre to play with the familiar story in a uniquely captivating way. I loved the multiple perspectives and the original way that Liu told the story through the lens of an unnamed, anonymous narrarator from a future world that I was equally as curious about. There is something to be said about the fact that even as Hayden and Felicia's stories ended, I was left desperate for a sequel to tell me how the world went from what it was in 2046 to what it was in the narrarator's time. But by far what captured me the most was the queer reimagining of Hamlet and Horatio's relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, and Self harm
marleens's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
5.0
I received an eARC of The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu through Netgalley, thanks Solaris! This scifi thriller comes out on September 12.
The story starts when main character Hayden finds his father murdered in the laboratory they both work at. The lab goes in lockdown while the people inside try to figure out what happened. Tensions rise, and Hayden’s only ally is the lab’s sentient AI, Horatio.
The main reason I requested this ARC is that it is a Hamlet retelling, with Hayden being a modern version of Hamlet, and this piqued my interest. Now, you definitely don’t need to read Hamlet or know that story to enjoy this book, but I am glad I did read Hamlet first so I could spot all the references. If you know the original story, you might be able to predict some plot twists in the retelling, but rest assured, there will still be plenty of surprises, and don’t expect all characters to behave or end up exactly as their counterparts in the original did…
The overall atmosphere was very tense, with a small cast of characters being locked in the lab, and nobody trusting each other. Mixed into this were some intriguing science fiction elements around what they were actually doing in this lab. A pleasant surprise for me were the mixed media elements in the book, like texting logs, letters, and video descriptions. I thought these were a great addition. The writing of the regular prose chapters was often beautiful and painful and I highlighted many impactful quotes.
What I love most about the original play, is the character of Hamlet and his emotions. Hayden definitely brought this same emotional depth. His emotions, his doubts and despair, and his connection with the AI, were what pulled me into the story and kept me hooked.
Lastly I want to give a content warning for self harm and suicidal ideation, both very present throughout the story. For the most intense event there is a trigger warning written into the novel itself, right before it happens which I appreciate a lot.
I definitely recommend this one if you like scifi thrillers, AI stories, or Shakespeare retellings. 5 stars from me, looking forward to reading more by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Gore, Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Self harm
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement
Minor: Suicide and Abandonment
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