Book Review: The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
This cover is the Barnes and Noble Special Edition which I own!
The First to Die at the End
Series: Death-Cast prequel
Author: Adam Silvera
Published: October 4, 2022
550 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: January 2-16, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
In this prequel to #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon They Both Die at the End, two new strangers spend a life-changing day together after Death-Cast first makes their fateful calls.
It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict when someone will die, or is it just an elaborate hoax?
Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he’s going to die. He has a serious heart condition, and he signed up for Death-Cast so he could know what’s coming.
Valentino Prince is restarting his life in New York. He has a long and promising future ahead and he only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident.
Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first round of End Day calls goes out, their lives are changed forever—one of them receives a call, and the other doesn’t. Though neither boy is certain how the day will end, they know they want to spend it together…even if that means their goodbye will be heartbreaking.
Jessica’s Review:
Is it wrong to say I love this Death-Cast world that Adam Silvera has created??? It is more of the story that he gives the reader with these couples and the lesson to just live your life with the time that you have. I just adored They Both Die at the End, and when I found out a prequel was coming out that shows the first night of Death-Cast, I was ready to go for another heartbreaking ride: This time with Valentino and Orion! This time one boy receives THE call and the other does not. I did have all the feelings I was supposed to have while reading They Both Die, but did not cry reading it, but Silvera got me with The First to Die! Oh man!
First is a long novel over 500 pages, and I never lost interest. You know where it is going to go, but these novels are about the journey the characters go on. We have many POVs throughout this novel which includes the creator of Death-Cast, Joaquin Rosa. Through him we get to see what that first night at Death-Cast is like with its ups and downs. We get to see inside Death-Cast with some hints as to how it actually works. We see how Death-Cast already affects everyone, even if they are not subscribed to the app. It is a different world with Death-Cast live.
We also get cameos and more of young Rufus and Mateo which I really enjoyed. You see it in a different way knowing what their ultimate ending will become in just a few years. Silvera did a great job taking us back into the past of 2010. For a city as huge as New York City is, to see how all the pov’s are connected show how small this world can be. The romance between Orion and Valentino is lovely and also heartbreaking. I can’t go into the ending because of spoilers, but it really pulled at the heartstrings of this reader.
Though The First to Die at the End is the prequel to They Both Die at the End, you should read They Both Die first. It gives you a different perspective reading The First to Die with several characters knowing where they end up.
Silvera plans to write more stories in this world, and I will be along for the ride. I don’t know if we will ever find out how Death-Cast works and can tell you who is going to die. I read somewhere that there are only two people other than Silvera that know the secret to Death-Cast, so I think it will always be a mystery to the reader.
If you haven’t read these books, you need to!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble Special Edition
Short Story Sunday: The Father Does Not Die at the End by Adam Silvera
The Father Does Not Die at the End
Series: Death-Cast
Author: Adam Silvera
Published: November 1, 2022
42 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: January 2, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Jessica’s Review:
The Father Does Not Die at the End is the short story fans of They Both Die have been waiting for! It was recently published with the special Collector’s Edition of They Both Die at the End and continues the story with Mateo’s father coming out of his coma and finding out what happened to his son.
I was conflicted with reading it as I have been anticipating this short story, but knew it would become emotional as it deals with a father finding out his son has passed away (and how) while being in a coma. And it was emotional. Silvera masterfully captured Maeto “Teo” Torrez’s emotions and feelings while continuing the story. Though sad, the ending was still optimistic. I had read that Silvera wants to continue in the world of Death-Cast and he has this reader (among many others) that will definitely be reading those!
Purchase Links for the Collector’s Edition:
Amazon US
Barnes and Noble
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A Re-Read of They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
They Both Die at the End
Series: Death-Cast #1
Author: Adam Silvera
Narrators:
Michael Crouch
Robbie Daymond
Bahni Turpin
Published: September 5, 2017
Audiobook
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: September 19-22, 2022
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
Adam Silvera reminds us that there’s no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.
On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today.
Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.
Jessica’s Review:
This was a re-read with the prequel coming out that I have been highly anticipating! I ordered the Barnes & Noble Special Edition months ago when I found out about it and was very happy when it arrived! I can say I loved They Both Die just as much the second time around. No crying again, but it does leave you thinking about the book and these characters long after you have put the book down.
I can’t say much more than what I said with my first review, which is here as a double review with Kim. I do want to add this time around that we ‘see’ other people that Mateo and Rufus come into some sort of contact with during their last day. We see these people before and after the contact, so we see how their day goes, whether it is their last day as well or not. This also shows how connected we are as people and even a little contact can have after affects.
This one will be a re-read every few years and I cannot wait to read The First to Die at the End! I have a few books to get to first, but it WILL be read by the end of the year! I wanted Rufus and Matteo’s story fresh in my head going in for the prequel as it is said that their younger versions make an appearance!
This is a novel I feel that everyone should read.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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