It’s 2010 and Death Cast is just about to be launched. Valentino just moved to New York City to start his life as a model with his twin sister Scarlet supposed to follow in just a few hours. Stoked for his first modelling gig, he couldn’t be more excited to be in the Big Apple and doesn’t really care about the new program that calls people on the day they die so they can live their last hours to the fullest. All that changes when he meets Orion, who’s already living dangerously close to death. With a genetic heart condition that has caused him many trips to the hospital in his life, Death Cast feels like a relief to him—no more second-guessing and instead knowing when he will die is a load off his back. When these two boys meet by chance only for one of them to end up getting one of the very first phone calls, time becomes a gift and a curse as they’re running against the clock to get the most out of their last day together.
Truth be told, I don’t quite know how to feel about The First to Die at the End. While some of the elements of the novel felt quite repetitive to me, I think that hardcore fans of They Both Die at the End will love all the nods to the source material, the many cameos and the inclusion of key moments the characters in They Both Die at the End also went through.
While I did enjoy that aspect (we love a good cameo, after all), there were times where this story felt too similar to They Both Die at the End and I would have loved a bit more diversity in the setting or at the very least in the characters’ progression of their one-day romance. Depending on which book of the two you read first, you might not enjoy the other one as much because they’re basically the same. Some moments also just felt a bit cringey, like Orion basically disregarding his best friend because of a guy he only met five minutes ago or the profusions of love and devotion that were on every other page. This again comes down to repetition—this story could have worked a bit better if the whole “carpe diem, live life to the fullest” cycle didn’t happen in every single chapter and that way would have had more of a punch. But this is coming from a person who isn’t the biggest fan of instalove or repetition, not to mention that I did compare this way too often with the first novel, so take this with a grain of salt.
All that being said though, Silvera is an excellent writer and knows how to pull on your heartstrings and this book showed this just as much as his other novels. There are full-circle moments that feel like a reward and sweet musings that make you question your own goals in life. There’s also a plethora of uplifting quotes for young readers that remind you to live life to the fullest and not let chances pass you by because you might not get another one. As we learn more about Valentino and Orion’s background, we also get to see more of what makes them tick and pursue the things they are working toward in their lives and that makes you really feel for the characters’ dilemma.
The highlight of The First to Die at the End are the insights we get into Death Cast from other POVs. While we still don’t get real answers as to how Death Cast works (I guess there will be future books where this is explored and actually more of a topic), we at the very least get a glimpse behind the curtain of Death Cast’s first outing in the world, the ups and downs of launching a new program like it and who’s affected by it whether they signed up to learn on which day they die or work for the company that makes life predictable. We also meet the creator of Death Cast and, hate him or love him, we see just how important this venture is to him. I really hope that future installments will dive more into how Death Cast works because that part is so fascinating!
A bittersweet love story infused with Silvera’s trademark talent to pull on your heartstrings, The First to Die at the End is perfect for anyone who’s wanted to get a closer look at Death Cast’s inner workings ever since reading They Both Die at the End or anyone who wants to celebrate the lasting impact people can have on your life.
The First to Die at the End is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of October 4th 2022.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
Told with acclaimed author Adam Silvera’s signature bittersweet touch, this story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest.
