Full Disclosure: This book was read as an e-ARC (Advance Reader Copy) obtained via Netgalley from the publisher in advance of the book's release on September 12, 2023 in exchange for a potential review. I give my word that this did not affect my review in any way - if I felt conflicted in any way, I would simply have declined to review the book.

The Death I Gave Him is a Science Fiction adaptation/retelling of Hamlet, with a bit of a Queer twist. It's not a long novel and it's also one that is, while updating the setting and details, kind of faithful in many ways to the original play: certain acts Hayden (our version of Hamlet) does and certain tricks he tries to pull as he seeks to discover the truth behind his father's death and to get revenge come kind of right out of the play. At the same time, the novel combines certain characters and its change of setting - from historical revenge drama to a drama over future biotechnology that could lead to breakthroughs in both healing and perhaps in reversing death itself - work really really well, especially as told from several points of view through pseudo archival materials.

And the result is pretty damn interesting honestly, even as its most prominent character Hayden is probably the least changed in tone. But the story's atmosphere and writing is excellent and its secondary POV characters Felicia (this book's version of Ophelia, who has bits of Ophelia's brother Laertes mixed in) and Horatio (who keeps his name from the play but is now an AI who gets hooked into Hayden's being) are fascinating in their actions, emotions, and changes. All in all, an adaptation well worthy of your time.


Plot Summary:
Hayden Lichfield enters his father's lab one day to find a shocking sight: his father murdered and the camera logs erased. Hayden believes there's only one likely reason for his father's murder: Hayden and his father's research on the Sisyphus Formula, which can regenerate human flesh so well it might even be able to reverse death itself. And so he steals the research, hooks up the lab's Artificial Intelligence Horatio (the only person Hayden trusts) to his very body, such that his thoughts and feelings can be shared between them, and begins a plan to unravel who could've killed his father.

But it soon becomes apparent that the only possible killers are those still locked in the lab with them: his Uncle Charles, lab tech Gabriel, research intern Felicia (Hayden's ex), and Felicia's father Paul (the lab's security chief)...and evidence suggests his Uncle was responsible. And so Hayden embarks on a desperate plan to prove his uncle's complicity and to revenge his father...a plan that could easily go awry, and could kill and destroy what little Hayden still cares about in life....

The Death I Gave Him is told as if it is a research project from a researcher in the far future, who has cobbled together the story from various sources. The result of this is that the story is told from multiple perspectives as if it is made up of different texts (with a few segments the fictional narrator claims he or she made up), so you have Hayden and Horatio's segments based off of the records of their shared link and Hayden's eventual testimony at trial, and you have Felicia's large segments coming in part from an interview she gave after the fact and in part from a book she wrote about the events of the story. This presentation sort of keeps the work kind of in the frame you see it read today by people from our time reading an ancient play - one step removed and needing context from footnotes to understand some of what's going on and the language used.

And this works in allowing Liu to tell a really excellently written story with some excellent characters, even as she doesn't change much other than the context from some of the events of the play. First and foremost is Hayden, who is kind of the least interesting - like his inspiration Hamlet, he's an utter mess, spiraling into more and more bad decisions and finding little left to live for by the end other than his revenge...or so he thinks. But this Hayden is a lab researcher who was trying to prove himself so desperately with the formula and who was so grateful to his dad for the chance that he has basically left himself with little else to his core, so the killing of his dad throwing him off feels very natural in how it throws him so dangerously off balance.

More prominently interesting are Felicia and Horatio. Felicia's inspiration in the play (Ophelia) is generally considered a character without much agency - she loves Hamlet, sees the result of his machinations result in the death of her father, and then goes mad and dies. Here, Felicia may have once loved Hayden, and certainly still cares for him, but she broke it off with him when he was too devoted to his work to find anything else and she got into the lab because she wanted to prove her OWN self. And so, even as Felicia sees similar tragedies befall her as her inspiration, she responds in a much more active way to try to take matters into her own hands and to make sure she comes out as okay as feasibly possible. Hayden may be a mess she wants to help with, but she will not let him - or his uncle - take her out with him. Horatio meanwhile may be an AI, but Liu writes the AI as someone who has admired Hayden from afar, and now connected to his nerves essentially falls in love with Hayden (and vice versa) in a kind of queer human/AI relationship (complete with a simulacrum of sex). It's a fascinating relationship that gives both characters more to them as it gives them both something to lose they didn't in the original play.

And so, even as The Death I Gave Him keeps some of the plot beats from Hamlet, recontextualized to its sci-fi setting, it manages to breath new life into the characters and combine it with excellent prose. And so it results in a new work well worth reading.

SUCH an interesting premise, and I felt like it paid off, for the most part! Parts of the book dragged, but the central mystery was good enough to keep me going.

Thank you publisher for the advance copy!

Quite interesting. Though I am not familiar with Shakespeare's Hamlet, it is a good take and twisting it into a queer story.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher/author for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a unique take on the retelling of Hamlet—and I haven’t read many but I would definitely count it as my favourite.

The tension build and the exploration of the relationships between characters is so interesting. I was constantly wondering what would happen next and, for a good chunk of the book, I was on the edge of my seat.

It was atmospheric, which I loved, and I really liked the cast of characters. If you’re a fan of Shakespeare retellings or even just interesting queer sci fi I think this will be right up your street.

This book was so damn cool. I love the concept (a Hamlet sci-fi retelling!!!), I love how the author structured the book, compiling camera logs, pieces of Felicia Xia's memoir, with footnotes, their own fictionalized version of events. The story is not exactly a mystery – it's more about how things got to that point. I really enjoyed it. Also can't believe an AI made me cry.

Unfortunately I have decided to DNF this book after two attempts. The premise sounded so intriguing to me, but I think it just didn't end up being what I expected or wanted it to be. At times I find the language to be a little too technical, and I felt like I was thrown into the deep end a bit with how the book first begins and I struggled to find my bearings in terms of the set up. I really enjoyed the addition of footnotes and I loved Horace as a character. I think it was just wrong book at the wrong time for me, which is more a me-thing and not the book's fault. I don't have any legitimate issues with the book itself, I just really struggled to get into it and I didn't find myself wanting to pick it up again. I do think if the premise sounds intriguing to you, definitely pick it up! The locked room mystery aspect was super interesting and if you're a fan of Hamlet, definitely give it a go!

I loved this book way more than I was expecting which was a wonderful surprise. The structure was so engaging and kept me on the edge on my seat. I’m so excited to read more from the author in the future.

Dnf. I just wasn’t connecting to the story and I think I’m finding out that Shakespeare retellings aren’t for me. I did enjoy the writing style though and the beginning of the book was very gripping!

I'm afraid I found this book incredibly hard to finish. The world-building was not convincing, the prose indifferent, the premise (human-AI sex isn't really queer?) seemingly inserted because that's topical right now, and the characters either insipid or just plain irritating. But, mostly, it was just the style that rankled. I read M. Darsham Whem's version, Hamlet, Prince of Robots last year, and whilst the prose there was rather simplistic, it was a far better read, and a much better modernisation of the story. I don't think Shakespeare would have been impressed with this version. Not for me, anyway, but going by reviews, it's quite polarising, so others may be entranced.
My thanks to Netgalley for the DRC of this book, all opinions are my own.

A queer sci-fi hamlet retelling!

This book had such an interesting premise, though it wasn't exactly what I was expecting overall I still really enjoyed it

*The death I gave him*

4.5 Stars - Queer Sci-Fi retelling of Hamlet, and it works!

When I read the synopsis for "The death I gave him" by Em X. Liu I was intrigued right away! I mean "queer retelling of Hamlet as a Science Fiction locked room mystery" from a debut author is rather something, isn't it? Combined with the many rave reviews I could not wait to get my hands on this and was very happy to receive an E-ARC from Solaris.

So, if you know Hamlet's story at least in rough strokes your will be fine. Actually, even if you don't you will be just fine, you'll just miss the additional thrill of getting references or knowing what is going to happen. All of the key scenes in Hamlet are indeed there, some of them solved in a rather ingenious way. Like - how do you make Hamlet talk to his father, who is already a ghost?

Of course, also all of the key characters are there, as well as the tragic events that lead to some of the deaths in the story. As in the original Hamlet's mental health is in a tenuous state, but as a pleasant update from the original play, Ophelia's alter ego has significantly more agency in this version.

Em X. Liu employs a pretty great twist by making Horatio an AI-based security system in the lab this is set in, broadening the storytelling scope very effectively. The story is told from a future perspective using changing narrations like oral reports but also security tapes, protocols etc. This is handled deftly and works very well in keeping the tension up and the reader at the edge of their seat.

And the writing really needs a special mention: it is just SO good and sharp! Wow, I was really impressed but how Liu wields words so effortlessly - and this is a debut we are speaking of. It also does mean that you have to work a bit harder for the experience. This is not one of those books that practically reads itself, but the payoff is well worth it.

The only thing I struggled a bit with was connecting with the characters. There was an emotional detachment that might have been deliberate, but it made immersion in the story more difficult. Hayden in particular, who is a fidgeting, barely functional mess was a character I stayed really detached from.

Other than that this one comes highly recommended!

I have received an advance review copy via NetGalley from Solaris and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you very much!

I did not finish this book because as good as the premise sounds, I did not sink into the story at all. I didn't think it was worth pushing through, as it likely would have left me in a position where I did not want to read any more books.

Book has an interesting structure. Otherwise, it was not quite what I hoped based on the description.

This was such a unique perspective on the sci-fi / murder mystery genre. I didn't always like the different formats such as interviews, security reports, etc. but it went well with the overall theme of the story. As I always complain about, this had little to no science despite taking place entirely in a biotech facility.
If you think of this as a murder mystery first and sci-fi as a distant secondary genre, you'll be happier with your choice. The auto-erotica bits were very hot but actually pretty tame.
If you like this book, I think you'd also enjoy A Quantum Love Story.

The Death I Gave Him was ambitious and very unique version of Hamlet retelling. The story mix together loose reinterpreted classic theme with medical sci fi and queer characters. I found my self intriguing also little bit overwhelmed with the content.

The writing is really good, brimming with tension and full of surprises. The POV gave us unique voices from lyrical prose into various transcripts. The plot built from many different formats and make reader must sharp enough to traces tracks to reveals amazing hidden story.
The theme not really easy to follow, at least for me and maybe other reader with zero Shakespeare's lit experiences. Be patience and take slowly because the journey will worth all time we spent with this book.

Great new experience for tried this impressive debut. I would love to try another from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Solaris Publisher for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting Publication : 12 Sept 2023

You know I'm down for a sci-fi retelling of Hamlet set in a locked down tech / pharmaceutical company. As Hayden tries to get revenge after he finds his father's murdered body, and we hear what happened from different perspectives, his quest grows increasingly complicated. I really loved Horatia being portrayed as an AI system in love with Hayden. I do wish Hayden had put on a show of madness a bit more because the question of what is real and what isn't is one of my favorite aspects of the original play. Still, a very fun and effective reimagining told in a compelling voice I just couldn't get enough of.

Hamlet as a locked-room thriller? Absolutely up my street!

Even as someone who has a specialty in Shakespeare from University, I absolutely loved this. Please write other Shakespeare retellings like this!

- General thoughts
Unfortunately this book was a disappointment. I was really excited to read it, for one because it's a Hamlet retelling and also because the premise and setting sounded interesting. The main thing that really bogged down the book for me were the characters, they fell really flat for me and I just couldn't bring myself to care for them.
- Positives
The concept is really interesting.
The setting is cool.
Hamlet retelling.
Mixed media format. The book is presented from the point of view of a grad student who has put together the events of the night but is interspersed with documents and evidence they found. There are also footnotes.
- Negatives
Although the book is only 350 pages it really drags and feels a lot longer.
The characters feel really flat and underdeveloped.
This book is marketed as a 'locked room mystery' but it's not. To be fair, it's probably hard to write Hamlet as a mystery but the answer is literally given to us at the beginning of the book. Calling this a mystery seems disingenuous to me.
I was very confused about why this book is labeled as queer. I assume it's supposed to refer to the relationship between the main character Hayden and the artificial intelligence Horatio. I found this to be disappointing since this is the only 'queer' relationship in the book and one of the parties is a sentient building. Also like all the characters, their relationship was incredibly undeveloped. Calling this book queer feels very strange to me especially since Hayden spent most of the book running around and making out with his ex girlfriend...

I initially requested this ARC because I was working for a Shakespeare company and wanted more options for merch/book clubs.Now that I no longer work there, I'm pleased to say I till found this a phenomenal read. This futuristic, queer sci-fi thriller - with shades of Hamlet - is one of the most inventive and fascinating books I've read in a long time. I found it incredibly impressive as a debut novel. The structure was well engineered, the characters fleshed and realized, the emotions raw and visceral. This one is going to settle in my noggin for a good long while as I anxiously await more from Liu.

The Death I Gave Him is a weird book. A SciFi, locked-room mystery reimagining of Hamlet, the story is bizarre, tense, and incredibly intriguing. Though I enjoyed the story I am not sure that it lived up to its potential (or honestly its marketing).

The Death I Gave Him is told retrospectively through a series of transcripts, data logs, interviews, and testimonies. Footnotes from a graduate student are interspersed throughout the book giving the reader a peek into the future impact of the events at Elsinore Labs. This unique structure compliments the bizarre and chaotic nature of the plot.

Though there is a murder mystery plot it contributes little to the overall tension of the story because the killer is obvious from very early on. Instead, the plot is driven almost entirely by the frantic actions of its characters as they scramble to protect the key to immortality and react to a murder. These characters all cracked long before the doors to Elsinore Labs sealed shut and, in this paranoid isolation of the lockdown, they are moments away from shattering. Both afraid for and afraid of these characters, I could not look away from the story.

Hayden (Hamlet) is a depressed, paranoid, PATHETIC man who is petrified by the thought of his death. Set on an impossible mission of revenge by his murdered father, Hayden rapidly spirals toward madness. Though he is the main character he is portrayed less as a character and more as an object of obsession. I have mixed feelings on this approach. I wanted more of his perspective but it was interesting to explore how other characters perceive him. He is infuriating and irrational but also passionate and brilliant. He is truly a fascinating character to read about.

Felicia (Ophelia) is a powerful contrast to Hayden’s indecisiveness. Her perspective is overwhelmed by the icy rage that she feels towards everyone in the story, including herself. She is decisive and quick to action though she doesn't always know how to control or direct her feelings. The retrospective format of her chapters highlights the conflicting feelings of love and hate that she has for Hayden.

This book’s weakness is also the reason I picked it up. And that is Horatio. If you are going to have a sentient AI major character then commit to it. There are moments between Horatio and Hayden that I was intrigued by but they feel completely disconnected from the story because Horatio is not a fully developed concept. He doesn't do anything other than pine after Hayden. He is a fully sentient AI that has almost total control of a state-of-the-art lab that is attempting to cure death. And this book did NOTHING with that. His relationship with Hayden is also basically fully developed before the start of the book so the reader doesn't get any sense of the connection between them. This leaves some of the more emotional moments, especially the ending, feeling hollow. It is especially disappointing that I was underwhelmed by this aspect of the book because I feel like it was a major part of the marketing. Yes, this book is weird, but it needed to be weirder.

The Death I Gave Him is a stressful, spiral of a book with fascinating characters. Unfortunately, it didn’t do enough with some of its most intriguing concepts. If it had gone just a bit further this honestly could have been one of my favorite books of all time.