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benmonito 's review for:

The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu
4.0

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a review

I'm neither a huge fan of thrillers nor a Hamlet lover, but this book completely blew me away in every possible way.

Until now, I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of reading a book that made me feel as tense as this one did. That's saying something because, for me, when a book evokes such deep emotions, it's a true mark of how good it is.

To be fair and honest, I went into this book blindly. However, both the cover and the fact that it was marketed as a "locked room thriller" caught my interest, and I couldn't resist the temptation of requesting it when it showed up on NetGalley.

"The Death I Gave Him" does indeed have echoes of Hamlet, but it takes those elements and transforms them into a more captivating and absorbing story. The prose was exquisite, and I found myself constantly on the edge, anticipating my imminent descent into an abyss of pain and utter despair. Additionally, Horatio, the sentient AI, quickly became a favorite character.

Overall, if you're searching for a read that draws from the classics but offers a fresh, innovative twist with some tech touches, high levels of tension, elements of body horror, and enchanting prose, then look no further.