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.

THE DEATH I GAVE HIM is a locked room retelling of Hamlet; and more, with changes to character that come into their own with echoes of the play, while always asserting a wholly new voice, and setting the reader up for thrilling story apart from its inspiration. Felicia is active, and doesn't hold back. The tension and chemistry between Horatio and Hayden is just a joy to read. Hopefully without giving anything away, some of their encounters reminded me of the elegance of RED SCHOLAR'S WAKE. I especially loved that the Sisyphus formula is itself a metaphor for the grief and death that haunts this work. How do we regenerate, make ourselves whole again from what we have left? Such a great read on so many counts.

In Em X. Liu’s Hamlet retelling, The Death I Gave Him, there is little surprise in plot but a lot of atmosphere to keep readers invested. I quite enjoyed the story, especially the ways in which the classic plot points were modernized (futurized?) to fit the new setting. The scene reflecting Hamlet’s father’s plea for revenge was particularly cool and eerie. The narration style took a moment to get used to, but in the end, I liked how it was pieced together. It feels almost academic, as intended, but written for someone like me who finds academic writing dry.

This is a great book for people who like Hamlet or anyone up for a wild murder/revenge story set in the near future.

Actual Rating: 3.5

The thing that immediately grasped my attention upon reading the blurb was the sci-fi contemporary setting — like a realistic dystopian — and that’s exactly what I got.

The Death I Gave Him is marketed as a “locked-room thriller;” it takes place entirely inside a science lab where Hayden Lichfield’s life revolves around one main goal: to live forever. In their lab, he works with his father to perfect a secret chemical called the Sisyphus Formula. When Hayden suddenly stumbles upon the dead body of his father and the camera logs erased one day, his entire life is upended and he now has a new goal: to find and avenge the murderer. With the help of a trusty AI named Horatio, Hayden sends the lab into lockdown and starts investigating the only four other people who are in the lab with him: his uncle Charles, lab technician Gabriel Rasmussen, research intern Felicia Xia, and their head of security, Felicia’s father Paul.

I really liked the world that this story took place in, simultaneously wanting to learn more and also being satisfied with how it was both dystopian and almost realistic.

I think this book kind of bounces between being a whodunnit at the start and a suspenseful story of revenge. I think it probably should’ve leaned towards the latter sooner; maybe it’s the fact that this was marketed as a retelling of Hamlet or just the nature of the writing, but the killer was pretty clear and I was more intrigued in the main character’s development and newfound vengeance.

Other than the main character, I don’t think I clicked that much with any of the other characters; even though there’s a small ensemble, I think this is one of those books that focuses very much on a singular perspective as opposed to how books like One Of Us Is Lying were told from one perspective but still gave each character backstory.

The writing style was also really great overall, though I definitely still had my preferences between Hayden’s perspective and the after-the-fact recounting of it by another character.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this but wish I clicked with it and the characters a little more. I think this is probably a good read for anyone who likes sci-fi mystery.

An electrifying reimagining of the classic Shakespeares Hamlet — with all the nuance, blood and betrayal as the original but with a joyously queer, futuristic and with a wickedly devilish streak.

Structured like a locked-room murder mystery but in a world of chrome and neon, this is a fast-paced thriller that carefully created an aura of fear and distrust, leaving even those familiar with Hamlet eyeing everyone with suspicion and discomfort. It quickly becomes chaotic, blurry and feverish, with explosive scenes juxtaposed against dark and silent slow stretches that keep a very interesting, if not erratic pace.

I absolutely loved the poetic flow of the narration — modern and almost formal at times, but with moments of lyrical language that nods towards the source material in a brilliant homage.

The world building was vibrant and intense — a world of scientific advancement and futuristic society but full of dark secrets to create something that feels almost familiar but almost unrecognisable at the same time.

Reimagining a classic like this is never an easy feat — so I’ll leave you with a word from the bard that sums up this novel “though this be madness, there is method in’t”

After taking some time to fully process this incredible book, I am ready to share my thoughts. As someone who considers Hamlet one of my favorite written works, I was instantly drawn to this locked room, queer, sci-fi retelling. And let me tell you, it exceeded my expectations and then some.

In my opinion, a good retelling stays true to the themes and story beats of the original while offering a unique and refreshing take. This book accomplishes exactly that. Despite my familiarity with Hamlet, I couldn't predict how events would unfold in this retelling. The story kept me on edge throughout, aided by the locked room setting and the narration style. The book is written in the future by a researcher documenting past events, creating an outsider perspective. The narrator pieces together the truth from a single written account, scraps of video footage, and leftover data, resulting in an intriguing storytelling method that leaves certain information uncertain and incomplete.

The depth given to the characters is one of the highlights of this retelling. Felicia (Ophelia) stood out to me, as she was given agency and nuance beyond her original counterpart. I have always believed that her character deserved more complexity than being simply Hamlet's girlfriend who meets a tragic end, so seeing her make a significant impact in this story was refreshing. The relationships between the characters were also written with complexity and nuance. I was particularly struck by Hayden's relationship with his parents, which showcased levels of family dysfunction despite the clear love between them.

However, I must express some disappointment regarding the romance aspect. As a book that promotes itself as a "queer" retelling, I wished for more depth in that area. The romance felt somewhat out of place and abrupt. Flashbacks or further exploration of Hayden's queerness could have added much-needed development to the relationship and helped it feel more organic.

Overall, this creative retelling of Hamlet honors the source material while offering something entirely new and unique. I highly recommend it to both Hamlet fans and those who are unfamiliar with the original. If you enjoy a good sci-fi thriller, this book is definitely worth a read.

The central plot of _The Death I Gave Him_ by Em X. Liu starts with a murder mystery. This occurs in the near future in a large laboratory complex that is immediately locked down. This has the advantage of narrowing down the suspects. What follows are notes and transcripts, some liberally converted into prose, from records of some of the people involved. Here and there are footnotes from the person transcribing these passages in their relative comfort of some hundred or so years hence.

The book touches on the nature of sentience, the nature of immortality, and the nature of obsession. These get inextricably intertwined in some of the characters. There are relationships between family, between former lovers, and between artificial intelligence. Some of it gets to be a little intense and somewhat reminiscent of sado-masochistic relations. That really isn't my thing, so it brought my review down a peg.

Unfortunately, I felt the culprit was a little too easy to identify for the reader. There just weren't enough people with any real motive from the outset. Even though we don't get a real confession until the end of the book, it's still pretty obvious from early on.

The main character seems like a whiney little child in a man's body. It doesn't say exactly how old they are, but they behave younger than I would have expected. Perhaps that's part of the point, but it was a detraction for me.

All in all, I didn't dislike the book, per se, but it certainly wasn't something that I'd read again or necessarily recommend to most people.

NOW THIS. THIS IS HOW YOU DO A RETELLING.

Not only is the writing and characterization absolutely superb, but the construction of the plot and the way the narrative is set up as a post-event research project is just so completely up my alley of ‘favorite thing to be in a book’ I am just speechless. This book is so impressive, it grabs hold of you and refuses to let go until the very last page.

The Death I Gave Him, by Em X. Liu, delivers a compelling fusion of Hamlet and Joaquin Phoenix's film Her. Liu masterfully weaves a complex narrative, skillfully utilizing different points of view and time periods to immerse readers in a thought-provoking and intelligently crafted story. With its blend of forced proximity and closed-door narratives, this sci-fi tale takes on an eerie and haunting atmosphere, reminiscent of a horror narrative.

The novel revolves around three central characters: Hayden, Felicia, and Charles. These individuals, portrayed as highly intelligent, are plagued by their own personal flaws and ambitions. Liu's exploration of their inner lives creates a sense of ambiguity, making it difficult to fully like or root for any of the human characters. However, it is the artificial intelligence character, Horatio, who emerges as the most relatable and understandable figure, adding an intriguing dynamic to the story.

From the very beginning, The Death I Gave Him captivates readers and keeps them engaged throughout the narrative. Liu's writing style is phenomenal, displaying a command over language and an ability to evoke emotions in the reader. The author's choice to incorporate elements of horror within the sci-fi genre adds depth and tension to the plot, making it an even more gripping read.

However, where the book falls slightly short is in its ending. While the story maintains its strong momentum and the writing remains impeccable, the conclusion feels incomplete. It leaves the reader with lingering questions and a desire for a more definitive resolution. This aspect may leave some readers feeling unsatisfied and craving a more conclusive ending to tie up loose ends.

In summary, The Death I Gave Him is a remarkable book that skillfully merges elements of Shakespearean tragedy and futuristic science fiction. Em X. Liu's intelligent storytelling and unique narrative structure make for an enthralling read from start to finish.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

I took some time to think about the book before writing this because I just needed time to fully process this incredible book. Anyone who knows me is aware that Hamlet is one of my favorite written works so the moment I heard there was a locked room, queer, sci-fi retelling I had to get my hands on it. It met my expectations and then some.
It did what every good retelling (in my opinion) does and stayed true thematically and in story beats to the original while also expanding it in a unique way into a refreshing new work. Even knowing Hamlet as well as I do it was impossible to fully predict how events would play out. The entire story keeps you on edge and was further aided by the locked room setting and the narration. Written in the future by a researcher who is documenting the past events of this tragedy (though their past is still in the future for the current reader) our narrator is an outsider to these events. They have attempted to piece together what happened but their knowledge is incomplete as they put together the truth from a single written first hand account, scraps of video footage, and leftover data from that one night. I found this to be a particularly unique and interesting story telling method. Even though we have a complete book there is still information that is left uncertain and incomplete.
As for the characters, I loved the depth they were given. Particularly Felicia (Ophelia) and how she was given so much more agency compared to her original counterpart. She has always been the character in Hamlet that I believed deserved more nuance than just Hamlet’s girlfriend who kills herself so it was refreshing to see her making such an impact in this story. The various relationships were also written with an interesting complexity and nuance. I was struck in particular with Hayden’s relationship with his parents and how it’s obvious he loves them it’s also clear that there are also levels of family dysfunction.
Though I will say that I was largely disappointed by the romance. For a book that one of its selling points is being a ‘queer’ retelling I do wish that here had been more depth to it. It felt kind of out of place and abrupt. Perhaps some type of flashbacks could have aided in developing the relationship further to show how they got to this point. Maybe some more exploration into Hayden’s queerness overall could also have helped.
Overall this is a truly creative Hamlet retelling that does an excellent job of honoring the source material while also creating something entire new and unique. I would recommend it to both Hamlet fans and those who aren’t alike if you are interested in a good sci-fi thriller.

A closed circle queer retelling of Hamlet, a tense thriller. It's a fast paced and gripping novel, good storytelling and a solid plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This retelling of Hamlet was very enjoyable.

Horatio was my favorite character here, and I like that he gives Hayden motivation to be present in the story world. Their relationship took me by surprise in a delightful way.

The subversion of the Ophelia character, Felicia, was well done. She became more authentic and I honestly connected with her more emotionally than the others.

Thats probably my only complaint. I didn't get enough time in Hayden's head to really feel all of his emotion the way I wanted to.

Still, it was artfully done and a great version of the story. Would recommend.