Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu

3 reviews

hazel_oat's review

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

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

Minor: Medical content, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

nithya_natalya's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Murder, Body horror, Death, Medical content, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual content

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. 

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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