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cryptofauna's review
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
3.5
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence and Mental illness
ellis7e3ad's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Mental illness, Death of parent, Violence, and Murder
samisreading's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Murder, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content
lbelow's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
5.0
Such a masterpiece of a book! The way it's written, cobbled together from "primary" sources and alternating from one to another to give a linear timeline, had me glued to my seat. The pacing is on point, the emotion is gut-wrenching, the relationships are convoluted, and the main character (Hayden) is so deeply, beautifully flawed and hurting. This book felt visceral in a way I'm sure I won't forget anytime soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, Confinement, Gore, Grief, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and Gun violence
anntharai's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Jfc I don't even know where to start. All I can say is that I'll be thinking about this book - against my will - for probably years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Gore, and Suicidal thoughts
aileron's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence and Suicide
natashaleighton_'s review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Intricately detailed and thoroughly immersive, Em. X. Liu’s STEM-based (and queer) retelling of Hamlet masterfully explores the themes of grief, love, death and the ethics of technology with a locked door mystery that would keep even Agatha Christie hooked until the very last page.
I have to admit I’m still pretty new to Sci-Fi, but the premise of this (a retelling of Hamlet, set in a lab working on a formula to reverse death) sounded too good not to pick up.
And though the killer was fairly easy to guess (especially for anyone familiar with Shakespeare’s original), Liu has incorporated enough new elements (like making Horatio an AI) to keep us all on the edge of our seats.
I was really impressed with the narrative structure (written in the style of a scientific research paper) and felt it definitely grounded the scientific aspects of the plot, bringing a sense of realism to a concept that wouldn’t be out of place in a Black Mirror episode.
Hayden, our futuristic Hamlet plays his role to perfection. His unhinged cynicism and obsessive drive to perfect the Sisyphus formula (which he hopes will one day reverse death) is achingly heart rending to witness especially after the loss of his father which leads to the deterioration of his mental health.
Felicia in contrast, seems to be the complete opposite of her traditional counterpart and I absolutely loved that. Where Ophelia was naive,childlike and controlled by the men in her life, Felicia is far more self aware and willing to do anything to grasp her own slice of power. Even willing to sacrifice her relationship with Hamlet if it means her dream can come true.
The emotions Liu conveys through both Hayden and Felicia was incredible—their turmoil, grief, anger and guilt was explored in a surprisingly relatable manner that really captured the essence of human nature; it’s unpredictability and the abstract purpose we all attempt to glean from it.
But, I admit it was Horatio and his deep understanding of (and relationship with) Hayden that fascinated me the most. Their budding relationship and protectiveness they have for one another was both moving and rather intriguing (especially in terms of logistics as Horatio, in being an AI doesn’t technically have his own body.)
Overall, a cleverly constructed and original take on both Shakespeare and locked door mysteries that I genuinely couldn’t put down.
Also, a huge thank you to Jess Gofton and Solaris Books for the proof.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
charleshasalibrary's review
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
thebookgaydar's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Self harm
Moderate: Gore, Mental illness, and Violence
haljonesy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I want to say that this is a book that has fundamentally changed me as a person.
I’ve always liked Hamlet. It’s a classic, it’s funny, it’s dark as hell. So when I read about this book I was immediately intrigued.
I was not prepared for how hard it would hit.
Liu’s writing is unique and poignant and sharp as a knife. They took a story that has been told for centuries and gave it new life and so much more depth. I highlighted so many parts of this book: lines that struck me deeply, moments of connection, things that I want to remember. I teared up repeatedly while reading, and ultimately read the last 15% while half sobbing. This book is a work of art, and I cherish it.
PS: eternally grateful for content warnings, especially the way they appeared in this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Self harm
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