The First to Die at the End

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It's too long, and we could have done without some of the extraneous POVs because they didn't really add anything meaningful to the story. This book is a hymn to love, which is stronger than death. Despite the tragedy of events, the optimism and beauty of this book are that people can rise above circumstances and, in the end, be unbroken and happy in the highest sense of this word. It's the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there's one question on everyone's mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict death, or is it an elaborate hoax? Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he's going to die, given his serious heart condition. Valentino Prince has a long and promising future ahead of him and only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident. No me malentiendan, los primeros capítulos me fascinaron porque estábamos conociendo el origen de “Death Cast”, ya que esto se desarrolla en el 2010, en el lanzamiento de la empresa. Pero está parte de la narrativa se quedó muy corta y no profundizó lo suficiente. I wasn't sure any other content was necessary. How could it possibly live up to the story told in TBDATE?

In this prequel to the NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING phenomenon of TIKTOK fame, They Both Die at the End, two new strangers spend a life-changing day together after Death-Cast make their first fateful calls. In this story, our main characters are Valentino and Orion. The stage is set on the eve of the launch of Death Cast. Valentino, with dreams of becoming a professional model, has just, as in this very day, moved to New York City. I love that the romance aspect was introduced closer to the beginning of the book, because the emotional payoff that came from Valentino and Orion actually falling in love over the course of their day made the overall story and ending even more impactful. The things that they made time to do: the secret train station, the 9/11 memorial, the bridge… every single moment was a beautiful use of their short time together, which was so heartwarming. This is the story of people doing what they do normally, but with the twist of limited foreknowledge of their End of Life Day with the actual end being sometime in the 24 hours and time zone where they lived. Possibly adjusted for distance traveling.Sweet prequel to They Both Die at the End. Although I liked it, it felt kind of like a rehash of the first book. I knew what to expect and the "embrace your life" theme that resonated so much with me in the first book just didn't feel as fresh and meaningful here. It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict death, or is it an elaborate hoax? Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he’s going to die, given his serious heart condition. Valentino Prince has a long and promising future ahead of him and only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident.

I understand perfectly what must have been happening in his heart, what emotions raged in him every day, every hour, every minute when he was working on his new novel, if, after passing through the filters of words and consciousness, a storm of emotions flares up in your heart. No me termina de gustar el estilo del autor, pero el concepto del universo sigue siendo atractivo y entretenido de leer. Me la pasé muy bien leyéndolo aún con los fallos que menciono. Although the two main characters for this initial launching only knew each other for less than 24 hours, the interconnections and chance events in many associated or casual people from the community of families, friends, businesses, events, past histories, jobs, schools, and daily life wove a tapestry of life and death with sometimes just a single thread tying parts of the picture together. Just as in daily life, plans and events do not happen as expected everytime or are life's desires always met with success.Each chapter of the novel, each of its episodes, is like the windows of a New York high-rise building glowing in the evening. At first, it seems that all these windows are similar to each other. They all seem to "glow with the same light". But in fact, every window has its own life, not like the others. Behind each window, there are different destinies, different hopes, different joys, and sorrows. However, in some strange and mysterious way, these destinies are intertwined, imperceptibly connected. And it becomes gradually clearer and clearer that we, people, are connected - without even realizing it - with each other by hundreds of threads. Once again, I am left wanting to know more about the source of these prophecies, which obviously would take away some of the magic of the series, but not knowing really for sure at the end of this second novel hit a little harder this time.

I love reading about LGTBQ & Queer Books, this one tops the list very easily. This one as well as the previous books, both were heartwarming throughout the journey of the plot as well as bittersweet towards the end. We also get Mateo & Rufus reference once in this book and it stole my heart. It's like all the tiny connections that we may never realize or understand, but we are all connected in one way or another. I think Silvera showed that beautifully.And that’s what Adam so perfectly shows us. To live our life to the fullest. To do everything we want to do and to love wholeheartedly. Even when people around us are dying or have died. Even when we might die ourselves. The story reminded me in many ways of One Republic’s I Lived. but I won’t be in a rush to recommend this to anyone either. I very much enjoyed They Both Die at the End, and I did tell folks about that book, since I thought it was an interesting concept. I was really excited for this prequel mostly to hear more about the inception of Death Cast. When you find the sequel ‘alright’ and the prequel suddenly shatters your heart in a million pieces.

Now, it’s been quite a few years since I read ‘They Both Die at the End’ and I gave that one 4.5 stars. But, if I reread it now, that might be different.Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first End Day calls go out, their lives are changed for ever – one of them receives a call . . . the other doesn’t. As I said, it all felt too similar, too much the same as TBDATE, I mean why do we want to watch her try to figure out what app to develop when we already know what the app is? In the last book we had Mateo & Rufus, the duo I officially fell in love with and this one has Orion & Valentino. I fell instantly in love with both these couples the moment I started reading the book. I think in this book we dive deep into the Death-Cast and it's significance. I hate death, and I’m afraid to die. I don’t want to think about it and feel time slipping away as I get older. And when I think that family or friends might die, my chest tightens, and a voice in my head screams NO. But I also know that while grieving, my life will go on.