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A review by ristretto
The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
The death I Gave Him is a futuristic queer reimagining of Hamlet told as a locked room mystery, and we are here for it.
There is a murder at Elsinore Labs and we look at the events of that night told through a narrator who is putting together the story through mixed media including audio recordings, court records, memoirs, interviews, and chat logs. The setting and futuristic elements and exploration of the themes of life, death, grief, and obsession being expressed through that lens were super interesting and compelling.
There is a murder at Elsinore Labs and we look at the events of that night told through a narrator who is putting together the story through mixed media including audio recordings, court records, memoirs, interviews, and chat logs. The setting and futuristic elements and exploration of the themes of life, death, grief, and obsession being expressed through that lens were super interesting and compelling.
This is a Hamlet retelling that will keep both those familiar and unfamiliar with the story guessing. The atmosphere is tense and claustrophobic and the reimagining of the characters in this setting was kind of brilliant and felt fresh. The connection between Hayden and the AI companion Horatio was really intriguing and a the reinvention of Ophelia through the character of Felicia was something I really enjoyed. This was definitely one of my favorite reads this year.
If you are looking for an interesting and unique take on Hamlet or just love a good locked room mystery this is a fantastic read.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.