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rafritz1's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Death, Murder, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual content, Gun violence, and Confinement
Minor: Abandonment
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
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
marleens's review
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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