The First To Die At The End

The First to Die at the End was a great prequel to They Both Die at the End. You most definitely need tissues several times throughout the read, so be warned if you're planning on reading in public like I did!

I really enjoyed getting a look at Death-Cast's beginning and the Deckers. Silvera keeps up the sci-fi mystery from the first book but giving you almost zero details on how they know who is going to die. A mystery that still drives me a bit crazy!

The "embrace your life" plot is a rehashing from They Both Die at the End, but I feel like it is more gut-wrenching this time around, for very spolier-ish reasons.
I enjoy seeing the story from different characters perspective, but I felt like this was a bit much. Not only were there several different characters views, but they were also in different POVs (first, third, etc.) and it just got a bit grating.

I loved seeing how all the characters from these two books are connected, it was absolutely beautiful seeing the effect all theses strangers had on one another spanning decades.
The romance was beautiful, as was the found family aspect. Each MC had tragic backstory, giving the story that extra push to evoke emotion from the reader.

What worked: Bittersweet and heartbreaking at times story of firsts that also is filled with hope. This is an amazing prequel to THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END. I couldn't put this story down! Silvera starts at the very beginning of Death-cast and how the first 'Decker's life is intertwined with others.

So much to love in this gripping, fast-paced paranormal. Valentino Prince comes to NYC excited to start his life as a model. Orion lost his parents on 9-11 and is pretty sure he'll get the death call as his heart is failing. He just happens to be at the same place Valentino is when a shooting occurs. Then that first Death-cast call comes to the person no one expects.

There's others that Orion and Valentino run into on the 'final' day. There are multiple points of view that all link back to each other. The landlord of Valentino's NYC apartment; Joaquin Rosa, the owner of Death-Cast and who makes that first call; Gloria Dario, the mother of Pazito, the young actor and son of the landlord; Rolando, one of the first Death-cast callers and best friend of Gloria; and a cast of others. Usually, multiple points of view have a tendency to pull me out of a story, but in this case, it works. It's like a puzzle and all the pieces come together in a satisfying conclusion.

What I really love is how Valentino and Orion both decide to make the day one of the firsts, including their first kiss. So sweet, yet bittersweet too. Readers see two boys who decide to find some happiness even when the odds are stacked against them. Seriously, what would you do if you got a call saying you are expected to die within 24 hours? Would you just wait for the final moments or make peace with what time you have left?

Beautifully written and gut-wrenching at the end. I was teary-eyed when I got to the last page, but the message isn't one of despair but hope and celebrating your life.

Poignant and bittersweet with a message of living life to its fullest. Loved this story even more than the first novel. Highly recommend.