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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The most creative and daring adaptation of Hamlet I've encountered. Liu's style reminded me a little of some of Jeanette Winterson's books (The Stone Gods.) I really loved Felicia. The story becomes somewhat less loyal to the original play in the second half, which I had mixed feelings about. Although I didn't miss Laertes/Art, I would've like the Gertrude character to be more involved.
The "I'm going to live forever", mortality, etc throughline felt like it wasn't fully articulated.
The "I'm going to live forever", mortality, etc throughline felt like it wasn't fully articulated.
It's been a while since I read Hamlet, but I was still really excited when I heard about this book. Everything about it sounded intriguing, so I was all too happy when I got the chance to read this arc.
And damn, that excitement was warranted. "The Death I gave Him" is an amazing sci-fi retelling of Shakespeare's play and some parts of it really hit hard.
Liu is clearly a very skilled writer, and their prose is just delicious (though not really lyrical as such, as the synopsis wants us to believe). To the point, straightforward, but with love for all the intricate details of their story they introduce us to Hayden Lichfield, our new Hamlet, on the very day he finds the dead body of his father in the Elsinore labs they both work at. Who killed his father? Well, only a few people have been at the lab at the time of his death, so suspects are sparse and Hayden goes on his quest to solve his father's murder and also, maybe save his chances of immortality. He's helped by his most trusted friend, the lab AI Horatio. Their relationship is one of the most intriguing concepts added to this retelling. Then there's our Ophelia, Felicia, who is just incredibly well written and complex and much more important to the plot.
Now, obviously most of the readers of this book already know who did it, and for those who don't it gets revealed rather early on. This is not a whodunnit, but more of a character study of broken people in broken circumstances. It's told in a mixed media kind of way, with snippets from interviews, chats logs, transcripts of video footage adding multiple perspectives to what is happening. It's cleverly done and I really enjoyed it.
You should be aware that while this is marketed as a queer, Gay Shapespeare kind of retelling, this might raise expectations that aren't met. There is a queer relationship (between bisexual Hayden and the genderless AI Horatio), and there are queer characters, but you might expect something else. It's great the way it is, though. They made me cry ugly, ugly tears, and both of their journeys are very emotional and deep.
All in all, this is a fantastic and unique retelling that will stay with me for a long time. 4,5 stars (because I felt there were little instances of dragging that could have been avoided by editing down some of the chapters, especially in the middle), easily rounding up to 5.
Many thanks to Rebellion and Netgalley for the arc!
And damn, that excitement was warranted. "The Death I gave Him" is an amazing sci-fi retelling of Shakespeare's play and some parts of it really hit hard.
Liu is clearly a very skilled writer, and their prose is just delicious (though not really lyrical as such, as the synopsis wants us to believe). To the point, straightforward, but with love for all the intricate details of their story they introduce us to Hayden Lichfield, our new Hamlet, on the very day he finds the dead body of his father in the Elsinore labs they both work at. Who killed his father? Well, only a few people have been at the lab at the time of his death, so suspects are sparse and Hayden goes on his quest to solve his father's murder and also, maybe save his chances of immortality. He's helped by his most trusted friend, the lab AI Horatio. Their relationship is one of the most intriguing concepts added to this retelling. Then there's our Ophelia, Felicia, who is just incredibly well written and complex and much more important to the plot.
Now, obviously most of the readers of this book already know who did it, and for those who don't it gets revealed rather early on. This is not a whodunnit, but more of a character study of broken people in broken circumstances. It's told in a mixed media kind of way, with snippets from interviews, chats logs, transcripts of video footage adding multiple perspectives to what is happening. It's cleverly done and I really enjoyed it.
You should be aware that while this is marketed as a queer, Gay Shapespeare kind of retelling, this might raise expectations that aren't met. There is a queer relationship (between bisexual Hayden and the genderless AI Horatio), and there are queer characters, but you might expect something else. It's great the way it is, though. They made me cry ugly, ugly tears, and both of their journeys are very emotional and deep.
All in all, this is a fantastic and unique retelling that will stay with me for a long time. 4,5 stars (because I felt there were little instances of dragging that could have been avoided by editing down some of the chapters, especially in the middle), easily rounding up to 5.
Many thanks to Rebellion and Netgalley for the arc!
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It took me five days to read this one and I wanted to bail throughout. This is what reading it was like:
I want to bail.
But it's a Hamlet retelling.
No, it is loosely inspired by Hamlet.
I want to bail.
But it's queer.
This is the queer content? I want to bail.
I want to bail.
I did not bail and I regretted not bailing. Had this book not been billed as a Hamlet retelling I may have ranked it higher, but I came here for a Hamlet retelling and that is not what I got.
But it's a Hamlet retelling.
No, it is loosely inspired by Hamlet.
But it's queer.
I did not bail and I regretted not bailing. Had this book not been billed as a Hamlet retelling I may have ranked it higher, but I came here for a Hamlet retelling and that is not what I got.
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
dark
mysterious
medium-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
I was looking for something moody and brooding and angsty, and this fit that need perfectly. I have always been a fan of how angsty Hamlet is, and Liu's interpretation was spot on. I loved the way they played up his obsession with death. At first, I was not at all into the footnotes and the premise that this story is being compiled by a researcher in some distant future. But it eventually really grew on me. The footnotes eerily hinted at an incredibly sinister future, but in such a nonchalant, clinical way. Placing this family drama within the broader context of scientific advancements related to immortality and AI was very cool. And the fact that this was set only 20-ish years in the future actually felt believable. I feel like we are not far off from neuromapping, and inserting AI right into our brains. ALSO the AI sex scenes were incredible. The idea that AI inside your brain is using its control of your brain to make you feel certain things, or controlling the environment around you to get an embodied response. SO COOL AND INTERESTING.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
I always love when authors bring their previous experience/niche interests into the plot of a book, and it's clear that Liu's biochemistry expertise married perfectly with this intriguing and highly original retelling of "Hamlet."
Frankly, I am also a big fan of Shakespeare retellings because there's so many different directions to take the story. Many of the world building elements in "The Death I Gave Him" worked really well, especially the way chapters were framed as different elements from interviews or security camera footage or parts of court deposition. The footnotes were also a nice touch!
As many many other people have said, the prose and writing itself of this book was very descriptive and beautiful, so if you're someone who loves a prose-heavy experience this will definitely hold your attention. The pacing moves quickly and I think that benefits the urgency of the story itself. Not to mention, for me at least, a key marker of whether a retelling is actually a good retelling is whether it could stand on its own (ie if you had no idea of "Hamlet") which I believe "The Death I Gave Him" definitely could.
The characterization was also really great because I feel like when it comes to the character of Ophelia, her primary motivations and perspective are rarely considered or fleshed out. The interpretation of Ophelia through Felicia Xia as mad (with rage) was a cool twist and a nice parallel to Hayden, our Hamlet.
TL;DR really unique take on "Hamlet" with gorgeous writing and fully capable of standing on its own.
Frankly, I am also a big fan of Shakespeare retellings because there's so many different directions to take the story. Many of the world building elements in "The Death I Gave Him" worked really well, especially the way chapters were framed as different elements from interviews or security camera footage or parts of court deposition. The footnotes were also a nice touch!
As many many other people have said, the prose and writing itself of this book was very descriptive and beautiful, so if you're someone who loves a prose-heavy experience this will definitely hold your attention. The pacing moves quickly and I think that benefits the urgency of the story itself. Not to mention, for me at least, a key marker of whether a retelling is actually a good retelling is whether it could stand on its own (ie if you had no idea of "Hamlet") which I believe "The Death I Gave Him" definitely could.
The characterization was also really great because I feel like when it comes to the character of Ophelia, her primary motivations and perspective are rarely considered or fleshed out. The interpretation of Ophelia through Felicia Xia as mad (with rage) was a cool twist and a nice parallel to Hayden, our Hamlet.
TL;DR really unique take on "Hamlet" with gorgeous writing and fully capable of standing on its own.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes