In this prequel to #1 New York Times bestselling TikTok phenomenon They Both Die at the End, two new strangers spend a life-changing day together after Death-Cast – a company that can accurately predict when you’re going to die – 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 Adam Silvera’s signature charm, this story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other, proving that life is always worth living to the fullest.
If you’ve read Silvera’s previous book They Both Die at the End, you’ll know you’re in for a thought-provoking, impactful read. Even with such a chilling premise, Silvera captured the heart and compassion of forming relationships and loving someone in the most hopeless of situations. Now with its prequel, The First to Die at the End, Silvera takes us back to the launch of Death-Cast and the ill-destined relationship between Orion and Valentino.
Just like with Mateo and Rufus from the previous novel, Orion and Valentino are two characters that warm and break the heart. Their relationship is utterly touching yet tinged with the knowledge that, as the title suggests, one of them won’t make it to the end.
Death-Cast has always been somewhat of a mystery in Silvera’s novels as he chooses to focus on the more intimate and personal stories. With this novel, however, he gives us a more in depth view of how Death-Cast came to be while still keeping some of the mystery alive. Silvera perfectly balances the mystery that always manages to draw you in, making you want to learn more about this world and the incredible characters we meet along the way. This novel can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but we recommend reading it after The Both Die at the End.
The First to Die at the End is an exceptional prequel to They Both Die at the End with its heartbreaking yet hopeful look at grief and love. Perfect for YA readers and children aged 14+.
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