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lilacs_book_bower's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is really interesting, and I definitely recommend it, but I don't want to read it ever again. This is the weirdest locked room mystery, queer Hamlet re-telling that will ever exist. Hayden's (Hamlet) father has been murdered and now the lab that the main characters are in has been locked down while Hamlet tries to avenge his father. There are a lot of clever bits and allusions, and I definitely like that the Ophelia character has more of a personality, but she still feels lacking and her story still revolves around Hayden/Hamlet. I am not sure how I feel about the Horatio character. He is AI now and really in Hayden's head. I don't want to say more due to spoilers, but I like the idea of Horatio and what happens, but I am not sure I buy into the execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Self harm, Grief, Medical content, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, and Gore
bibliomania_express's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death of parent, Violence, Confinement, Murder, Self harm, Medical trauma, Medical content, Grief, and Body horror
theknitpick's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
This book made me mad. It's too long, it's boring, and I think it's a poor treatment of suicide/depression. Additionally, I think it's a total mis-read/interpretation of Hamlet in its reinterpretation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicide attempt, and 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
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
--
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
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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