I went into this book not entirely sure if it was going to be for me, seeing as I’m not really a fan of tragedies, and this is a retelling of one of the perhaps most well known tragedies ever written.
My worries however turned out to be entirely unfounded and I ended up powering through this book in a couple of hours and I loved my entire experience... and yet as I’m trying to write this review I have a hard time putting into words exactly why this was both one of the most haunting and the most trippy reads I’ve had in a long time. Perhaps I won’t entirely succeed in explaining this well but there is something wonderfully tactile about this story, it feels like a mystery to be solved, not in the sense that the plot of the story itself needs to be solved but in the sense that the reader has to piece together what the meaning of it all to them is in the end.
The idea to reinstall the annotations and stage directions of an old play into this narrative by telling the plot primarily as a written thesis with citations and all, is truly and utterly genius and makes this book come together in a way that makes it stand on its own despite being a retelling.

A fascinating read, a solid sci-fi thriller elevated by its medium of storytelling, all in all an upcoming release to look out for!

Hamlet retelling but make it a locked room murder mystery scifi thriller where Hamlet is a bit too close to his AI. Yep!!! The Death I Gave Him was a whirlwind.

Ok so the concept of this book is insanely cool. Part of me wishes I didn't know it was a Hamlet retelling before reading it, but the book has enough shocks and twists to make it still feel original and interesting. Having Hamlet turn into a scifi locked room murder mystery was SO FUN!! The Death I Gave Him has something for everyone: there's gore, there's romance, there's science, there's thriller, there's murder mystery, there's familial drama, AND there's a retelling of a classic.

For me, I did not care much for any of the characters involved and so it was a bit hard for me to stay engaged. I want to say this book deserves a higher rating for the plot alone, but since I didn't care for the characters at all (besides the lovesick AI Horatio) I'm making my rating a 3/5. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced eArc!

I have been more into dystopianesque books recently - which is no surprise with how the world is. I really enjoyed this, it was well-written with a compelling storyline and well-developed characters. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

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.

The first and last part of this book were really strong, beautiful writing, engaging with just a touch of the strange, absolutely stunning, I wanted to stay with them forever.

The middle section is where things didn't quite do it for me. The writing was still pretty solid though it didn't feel quite on the level with the start of the book. Liu really managed to give most characters a voice of their own but I struggled to stay invested in most of them.

The Death I Gave Him is a queer, sci-fi retelling of Hamlet that explores themes of obsession and mortality. The book is presented as though it was written in the distant future about an event that occurred in the year 2047, a time in which the science of immortality was just reaching a breakthrough. One fateful night, scientist Hayden Lichfield discovers his father's corpse amidst their quest to scientifically manufacture immortality. When the building goes on lockdown, Hayden is trapped with his uncle, his ex, and everyone else thwas in the building as they try to uncover the culprit.

I really enjoyed the fictional nonfiction style. Throughout the book, different chapters are told from different perspectives in a way that makes the events of that night seem shrouded in mystery. For example, we have the recovered logs of Horatio (the autonomous security system), the first-person account of someone present that night, and transcripts of audio recordings, among others.

In addition, I loved the writing style throughout. The writing is lyrical and imaginative, and despite the other-worldly aspects of the story, I could vividly picture everything that was happening. In addition, there was strong characterization, despite the faux-nonfiction writing style. The characters felt very real and morally gray, and it was at times difficult to decide whether or not you really agreed with the characters' decisions.

This book may not be for everyone, though. It can be particularly gory in some sections, and it does not hold back in its depiction of mental health. While the author does include an in-text trigger warning for self-harm, there are still other depictions of things like dissociation that do not have trigger warnings. This is not necessarily a negative, it is just something to keep in mind as you read.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, tragedy, and morally-grey characters. I would also recommend it for anyone who is alright with some gore and grit

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

My rating is 3.5 and my thoughts: The pacing of this book was fast and I enjoyed the different style Em provided for each chapter, which I think kept things moving along. The book is written as though its a dissertation, and they are using transcripts, cctv, messages, and the characters' own writing to retell the story.

Initially, it took me some time to get into, but I'm sure hardcore sci-fi fans would have had an easier time than me.

I did not truly connect with any of the characters except for Hayden and Horatio, but when I think about it, I felt the same way about Hamlet and its characters. They are not likeable characters. I need to do special shout Horatio for his and haydens relationship and for the oddest love scene I've ever read but won't forget anytime soon!

Overall I enjoyed and I am sure sci-fi fans will thoroughly enjoy this retelling of Hamlet.

The premise of this was really intriguing to me but the book never fully caught my attention and I had to give up trying to read it. I think people who really love Hamlet will have fun looking for little ways that this story lines up with the original, and it will also appeal to people who enjoy a little bit strange but lyrical writing.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

I absolutely loved this unique take on Hamlet. Not just a retelling, a reimagining of the concept of guilt and familiar revenge.

Liu is a talented and very descriptive writer! I didn’t get overly attached to the characters, and felt like what they say and what they do is often at odds with the tone of the story- but they were caught up in quite a tangled mess so what do I know? You don’t need to be familiar with Hamlet to enjoy this book but I suspect it helps. Overall ‘The Death I Gave Him’ is intelligent and poetic- 3 stars for me because I thought it was put together and written well, but a bit tough to stay engaged with.

BOY did I love this book. As a fan of thrillers, AI, robot romance, and Shakespeare, this book hit everything I wanted it to be. I've never loved anything more than I love Hayden and Horatio, and Felicia is also a new all time favorite character. This book was absolutely spectacular and I will recommend it to everyone ever. I will be preordering so I can reread a physical copy.

The Death I Gave Him is a genuinely unique, inventive novel. A really fresh take on Shakespeare packaged up in a genre that's really pretty undefinable. I admired and enjoyed this one

[4.5 stars out of 5, rounded up to 5!]

"Do you want to live because you want to live, or because you're afraid to die?"

The Death I Gave Him by Em X Liu has a super intriguing framework for the well known story of Hamlet to be told: I got pulled into the novel right from the start with the format that includes footnotes and quotations of legal documents. I'm a big fan of a fiction novel with footnotes, and I think Liu makes great use of them in this novel.

As a story, the characters are constantly grappling with the idea of death and dying, but not so much focused on the idea of living, nor on finding things to live for.

We've all seen what theater directors can do with Shakespeare—they bring us genderswapped Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing as a spaghetti western, steampunk Romeo and Juliet, and just about anything else that can be conceived of. This is Hamlet as you've never known him before: Hayden, his story told through the lens of a well researched text by an academic who was clearly passionate about the events of Elsinore Laboratories.

I found myself tempted to return to summaries of Hamlet and character breakdowns while I was reading, but resisted the urge to check in with what I remembered and instead let The Death I Gave Him re-shape the knowledge I have of this Shakespeare classic.

Horatio, in particular, was the character I found the most interesting, especially with the new dynamic of being neuromapped within Hayden's mind, but also existing outside of him as the laboratory's Artificial Intelligence. This novel spends just enough time on the science and engineering details but not too much that it's a barrier to reading as someone who has very little understanding of what the words they use mean.

As a heads up, there are some pretty gruesome descriptions of death and body horror in this book. If you can handle it, I definitely recommend giving this a read!

Thank you to Rebellion Publishing and Netgalley for access to an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Title: A Heartfelt Appreciation for an Advanced Reader Copy

Review:

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the talented author for granting me the opportunity to read and experience their captivating work through an advanced reader copy. From the moment I delved into the pages of this remarkable book, I was transported to a world of wonder, imagination, and thought-provoking storytelling.

The author's storytelling prowess shines brilliantly throughout the narrative, weaving together a tapestry of emotions and intricate plotlines. Each turn of the page brought with it a delightful surprise, leaving me eager to uncover the next twist or revelation. The characters, so beautifully crafted, leapt off the page, drawing me into their lives and making me care deeply for their triumphs and struggles.

The prose, elegant and evocative, painted vivid images in my mind, effortlessly immersing me in the rich tapestry of the story's settings. Whether it was a bustling cityscape, a lush countryside, or an enchanting otherworldly realm, the author's descriptive prowess transported me to these places with unparalleled ease.

Moreover, I must commend the author for their ability to tackle complex themes and explore the depths of the human condition. Their deft touch in addressing matters of love, loss, resilience, and self-discovery resonated deeply with me, leaving an indelible impact long after I closed the final chapter.

Receiving an advanced reader copy of this book has been a true privilege. Not only was I able to savor the narrative ahead of its release, but I also had the opportunity to witness the author's talent firsthand, their dedication to their craft shining through every word.

To the author, I extend my heartfelt thanks for sharing their incredible work with me. It is a testament to their skill, creativity, and passion for storytelling. This book has left an indelible mark on my literary journey, and I eagerly await the chance for others to experience its magic.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fellow readers who seek a captivating, thought-provoking, and emotionally resonant tale. The author's ability to transport readers to extraordinary worlds, to explore the depths of human experiences, and to ignite the imagination is truly commendable. Thank you for this remarkable journey, and I eagerly await future literary treasures from this talented author.

Hamlet isn't one of my favourite Shakespeare works. But when I heard of The Death I Gave Him , I was definitely intrigued by the premise. A queer Hamlet retelling set in the future, involving a locked room mystery? Count me in. One of the things that struck me the most about this book was the writing style. I'd describe it as sharp, dark and great at building up the tense atmosphere that this book is filled with. There is a lot of similarity with Hamlet's themes, in that, this also talks about death and immortality, humans trying to live forever, murderous ambition and more. What I especially admired was how the relationship between Hayden and Horatio was portrayed. It felt like Shakespeare's Hamlet, but with Em X. Liu's unique touch.

Conceptually, I think this is one of the most unique books that I have read in a while. The Death I Gave Him is a Hamlet retelling that puts a distinctive touch to a story that is familiar and places it in a setting that will have you hooked in an instant. If you're a fan of Shakespeare retellings or locked room mysteries, then this book is for you!

This book was marketed as a queer, sci fi re-imagining of the classic Shakespeare play, Hamlet. I am a massive Shakespeare fan and so I was intrigued by the premise and this sounded like something I would enjoy.
The story is presented as a "locked room" murder mystery.
Those who are familiar with the story of Hamlet, you may think you already know the gist of where this story is going. Going into it, I certainly thought that the story would include many of the same elements of the original, and I was intrigued as to whether it would therefore be obvious, or if it would include some plot twists.
My first impression of this was that it was a very captivating writing style. The prologue gripped me right from the start.
The sci-fi elements reminded me of some movies such as "I, Robot" and "2001: A Space Odyssey." The sentient AI that controls everything is a trope that is, in my opinion, asking for trouble. It was giving "open the pod bay doors, Hal" vibes that had my alarm bells ringing.
I am not usually a sci-fi book fan, but I was intrigued by this version of the classic story.
I really liked the way it was written, and the premise that it was told as a series of recollections, computer recorded evidence and transcripts. The multiple POVs gave the story some extra depth, and I like that each perspective was written in a completely different style, to differentiate between the voices. I felt it gave the story another dimension and helped to create some tension.
I also that each chapter had a bit of a cliffhanger. Helped me as a reader to stay engaged with the story.
There was a twist to the story which was good but I did feel that it was almost secondary to the main plot and wasn't explored as thoroughly. It left me with a lot of questions.
Although this was marketed as having a queer element to it, when it because obvious I was quite surprised at how that was interpreted in this story. And it was interesting to look at things such as emotions like lust and arousal being broken down into the core scientific reactions the the body has during these moments. I thought that was quite cleverly done in such a way that it was very anatomical and referencing chemical and electrical reactions in the brain whilst also being quite engaging and captivating.

Overall I really enjoyed this book but I have rated it 3/5 stars. But this is mainly because I am very familiar with the Shakespeare version of the story and also some of the sci-fi elements went over my head a little bit. But I still enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. I think if you aren't familiar with the story of Hamlet you may enjoy it a but more because some of the plot points would be more of a surprise?

This book better be massive because it’s got it all - action, drama, intrigue, secret labs, ~themes~, just the right amount of Shakespeare and no more, a kickass complex female character who is taking control of her own narrative, and to top it all off, the Hamlet character is so hot and damaged he’s even got an AI out here thinking about “the hollows of his throat, his sinews and tendons a straight line down to the barest edge of clavicle” even when there’s a killer on the loose! A story that has everything it needs, honestly.

I set this book down for almost a month when I was a third of the way in because I knew I wanted to wait for the right mood to read it, and not only did I not forget a single plot or character detail in that entire time, but I was constantly thinking about what might happen next, what could happen next. That’s catchy writing!

This book is also excellent sci-fi - not just because of the futuristic setting but also because it really *engages* with the tech. There’s a particular instance where near-instantaneous communication technology (sometimes referred to as… texting lol) is used to introduce a tragic misunderstanding into the narrative - in other words, using technology to create problems, not just to solve them. So basic and yet so clever! Not to mention the way Hamlet’s dad’s ghost is summoned - or Horatio himself, my personal favorite character!

What I didn’t like - look, I found the female characters to be a bit girlboss-y for my taste (although tbf never in a way that’s inconsistent with the source material). For me, Felicia was not as interesting as I think she was to the author (and I’m sure will be to most readers) - but then I also faintly remember being bored by Ophelia when I read Hamlet back in ye olde Honors Brit Lit - even then I was much more hyped about Hamlet and Horatio, plus ça change etc. - so I think it’s probably a me thing rather than a book thing. I also kept waiting for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to show up and they never did… although I was waiting with a kind of “when is this author going to kill the mood by throwing in two dudes who take up a bunch of time and do nothing” vibe so I’m glad that I waited in vain haha.

All of this to say, I think people will LOVE this book - given the found footage format it’s also the kind of book that screams out for a film adaption fwiw - and I looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!

I was thrilled to get an advance review copy of this book (thanks #netgalley) after hearing good things about it.
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Oh, it was brilliant. I was bereft when I finished it. Basically it’s a Hamlet re-telling, set in ‘Elsinore Labs’ where research is being conducted into immortality. People are being killed for access to the research and the lab has been locked down. It’s completely gripping. Also terrifying, and claustrophobic, even though you know from the start that it’s not going to end as badly as it might.
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The Ophelia character, Felicia (spoiler alert) has agency, isn’t a victim, doesn’t drown. Which is refreshing. The Horatio character is an AI who loves and looks after the Hamlet character. We get a lot of blood and guts and other bodily mess (it is a murder mystery) but also close detail of heart rate, temperature etc as Horatio pays careful attention.
Loved it.
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I heard "lyrical, queer sci-fi retelling of Hamlet" and I got here so fast. I'm so excited for any speculative fiction take on a classic with more diverse representation. This one didn't disappoint, with the characters and the tension, and I know some people who will be excited to read it as well. Thank you for the advance copy.