On July 1, 2010 Death-Cast launches and the world awaits to determine whether its predictions are accurate. Founder Joaquin Rosa promises Death-Cast is the next evolution of society as it will make everyone a captain of their own ship, able to live out their final day with joy and dignity. Valentino Prince isn’t convinced, but given his recent move to New York City, he heads to Times Square to take in the sights. What he finds is a party that looks a lot like New Year’s Eve and even includes a countdown clock to when Death-Cast goes live. There he bumps into Orion Pagan. Orion has been living with a heart condition all his life. He sees Death-Cast as a game changer because it will allow him to know when he will die. When Valentino’s and Orion’s paths cross, it is bound to be a crucial moment at the dawning of a new day.

Fans of They Both Die at the End will appreciate Adam Silvera’s The First to Die at the End. This well-crafted prequel also has the same optimistic angle while providing the main characters the ability to chart their own course. Orion has been expecting his death for so long that his viewpoint provides perspective for other characters. Valentino came out to his parents but they found their religious, Latino upbringing at odds with their unwavering acceptance of their son. Seeking a new start, he offers the reader an outsider’s view of New York City. This is appreciated given that New York City is a common location in novels, but there’s a certain kind of magic that Valentino brings as he explores the city with Orion.

This allows New York City to be its own character. Like most novels that feature New York City as the setting, it pulls on iconic landmarks, like Times Square, the subway, and the World Trade Center or Ground Zero. There were also less well-known spots that locals may be unaware of, such as the abandoned City Hall subway stop and High Line Park and its history. The cast is rounded out by several other characters: Joaquin Rosa, Nya Rosa, Rolando Rubio, Frankie Dario, Gloria Dario, Paz Dario, Scarlett Prince, Dalma Young, Andrea Donahue, Captain Harry E. Pearson, Férnan Emeterio, Rufus Emeterio, Clint Suarez, William Wilde, and Mateo Torrez Jr. Each of these characters has an impact on Orion and Valentino or the two boys influence the side character on their tromp through New York City. Some of these moments are more obvious than others given the action in the novel. These interlude chapters are often very short but provide context for the action occurring in the scene.

For readers who hoped to learn the secret behind Death-Cast, look elsewhere. Joaquin Rosa’s and Nya Rosa’s viewpoints make it clear that the secret will never be revealed. According to both of these characters, the secret was shared with the U.S. government under the assumption that it would never be revealed to anyone outside of this select group. This point is mentioned several times throughout the novel, making it clear that the science or secret behind Death-Cast will remain unknown.

Overall, I would recommend The First to Die at the End. Though the pacing at times is interrupted by some of the different viewpoints and the middle of the novel is a bit slow, readers won’t be able to stop themselves from falling in love with Orion and Valentino and the journey they take. They’ll also continue hoping until the very end that Death-Cast’s predictions are wrong.

I didn’t really like the first book in this series. I was hoping this one would add more so i would be excited about the story, it was just missing something.

I was slightly disappointed by this book. I was a fan of the first book because of the emotional attachment I formed with the characters, which didn't happen with this book. I found myself not caring about Orion and Valentino, even thought I wanted to. It is possible the book's pacing is what caused my issue. The beginning of the book felt slow, with the story only picking up halfway through. "They Both Die at the End" has become a TikTok phenomenon, but I think fans of the first book will be disappointed by this one.

It was intresting finding about how everything started. Also seeing how people react to Death Cast. When you know you are dieing soon people want to know when. It did not captuare me as much as first book. I felt it was too much autobiographical from author, but looking forward for future view on Death Cast after They bothdie at the end.

The title gives away what is going to happen but it is still absolutely heartbreaking. There is a lot of tie ins to the companion book but not so that you would have to have read They Both Die at the End.

This book is beautifully written. I wanted no one to die at the end and the roller coaster of emotions that Orion, Valentino and Scarlett went through had me on the edge. I cried and rejoiced with them. Adam Silvera has a way to making you care and be invested in these characters. I felt a void when I was done with this book.

Have you ever enjoyed a book so much that you pick up its sequel or prequel without even reading the synopsis? This was me with Adam Silvera's Death-Cast series. After reading Silvera's smash hit They Both Die at the End, I was surprised to learn that a prequel was in the works. The First to Die at the End, a 24 hour story which takes us into the very first day of Death-Cast's predictions, is just as heartbreaking as the first novel in this series, but perhaps even more terrifying as the world is just learning the impact that Death-Cast will have on everyone's lives.

In case you aren't already familiar with They Both Die at the End, it follows two teenage boys around New York City during their last day on Earth. How do they know that this is their "end day?" Because a nascent technology, Death-Cast, can now predict if a person is destined to meet their demise. "Deckers," the name given to those who will soon be dying, receive a phone call the morning of their end day, letting them know that some time in the next 24 hours, they will meet an untimely death.

The First to Die at the End follows a similar premise, however this novel takes us into the first day of Death-Cast's existence and introduces us to two teenage boys - Orion and Valentino - one of which will receive an end day call and the other will not. As the boys learn their fate, they plan out an epic day in New York City, filling it with all of the things they've always wanted to do before time runs out. How will one of these teens meet their end? No one knows. Just one thing is for certain - one of them will die today.

The thought-provoking Death-Cast series induces readers to consider their own mortality, positing the question, "What would you do if you learned that today was your last day on Earth?" As is any novel dealing with death, The First to Die at the End is tragic and sentimental, but at the same time, cerebral and controversial. Just how would our world change if such a technology was possible? How would knowing your fate at the start of each day affect how you live and die?

The First to Die at the End is essentially a re-hash of They Both Die at the End, following a similar storyline to fundamentally the same end - someone is going to die today. If you loved They Both Die at the End and couldn't get enough, then you will be equally as excited by The First to Die at the End. On the other hand, if you were looking for something different or answers to all of the questions you were bound to have after reading They Both Die at the End, unfortunately you may leave disappointed.

As much as I enjoy pondering the morality and impact of a service such as Death-Cast through this series, I feel that The First to Die at the End missed the mark in several places. The novel involves numerous vignettes, pulling us into the lives of periphery characters and taking us away from the main event - Orion and Valentino's day in New York City. I didn't care for the characters featured in these side plots and felt that these snippets took away from Orion and Valentino's story. Additionally, I didn't care for the way that Silvera propagandized his novel in quite a few spots in an obvious attempt to push his personal agenda.

What a phenomenal prequel. It’s weird to say I was excited to be transported back to Deathcast New York, but I was, and this story did not disappoint!

To read Silvera is to get a little piece of him. Every book. Every time. Orion and Valentino are beautiful. There story is heartbreaking and heart saving. Even though we know how it ends, it’s still a beautiful journey. This is what I choose to takeaway: sometimes knowing how it ends removes the fear. Allows us to live in the moment. You know you’re going to cry because it ended. But there are still so many surprises to uncover on your way to the end.

This book is devastating in the best way, like most of Silvera's books. I enjoyed seeing how Death-Cast came into existence and the cameos of characters from They Both Die at the End. Valentino and Orion's story was beautiful and gut-wrenching. You know from the start there isn't going to be a happy ending and yet somehow you find yourself rooting for one anyway. Despite all the devastation the book ends on a somewhat hopeful note. I feel that this prequel really added to the Death-Cast Universe by giving us insight into the launch of the program and the inspiration for the Last Friend App.

The First to Die at the End straddles genre boundaries. It feels very much has a futuristic feel to the world with Death Cast while also feeling grounded in our world and NYC in particular. If you were interested in the history of Death Cast, this should be an automatic read. This multiple POV feels masterful in the amount of planning that had to go into it. Because while one might say that we know the end - I mean look at the title - Silvera has us obsessed with how it comes out.

The First to Die at the End is a lesson in the importance of the journey. Grounded in NYC, it feels like a love letter to the city and to the possibility of dreams in the face of the end. In general, I am continuously intrigued in the concept of Death Cast. Of wondering what the true purpose of Death Cast is. If it's about the chance to say goodbye, but all the ways it changes meaning for each person. Especially at the beginning of Death Cast, it's impossible not to wonder if it can be real. If one really can't change our fate.

I loved reading this prequel to "They Both Die at the End". Characters that are briefly mentioned in TBDATE are brought back and we learn a lot more about them. The reader also finds out how Death Cast was started and we learn a bit about it's creator. More importantly though the reader is introduced to the first person Decker and his story.

The love story between two strangers meeting in NYC is as old as time, however Silvera gives it a new twist. Meet Valentino and Orion. Two teenagers who meet for the first time when Valentino gets the first call from Death Cast. From there an epic day for both of them begins.

Similar to TBDATE, The First to Die is an emotional rollercoaster that kept me turning the pages. What I love is that you know Valentino is going to die, but there is a lot that is very unpredictable. He and Orion are two characters that are easy to fall in love with.

I am not sure if the author is planning on writing another book in this series, but if he does I am already dying to read it.

Another winner from Adam Silvera! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and can’t wait to pick up a physical copy

A big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Did I cry? Yes. Did I cry with the first one? Also yes. Did I love this one as much as They Both Die at the End? Surprisingly no.

The First to De at the End by Adam Silvera is a very lengthy prequel sequel of They Both Die at the End. Following the not so humble beginnings of the dreaded death-cast, the story follows the unfortunate souls of Orion and Valentino, two boys who signed up for Death Cast and wish to be told when they're going to die. Only problem is, Orion is the only one to get the call. Cue the dramatic and much wordy edition of Carpe Diem.

Honesty, I felt like this book went on for too long. Considering it's predecessor was a petite 389 pages and this one was 560. I feel like Silvera tried to world build this one a lot, but to no real avail. As it wasn't that necessary considered how down to the Earth the first one felt.

Regardless, I still think you should read this and get your heart ripped out like I did. Sorry not sorry.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. I’ve always enjoyed Adam Silvera’s books and this was another good one.
I like how this series ties in and how the characters are intertwined throughout the book along with tying into the 2nd Death Cast book. Obviously there’s definitely some sad parts but this book makes you realize that family doesn’t have to be by blood.Family are people that love you and care about you no matter what. Live life to the fullest!

This book does the tough job of working equally well as a companion to TBDAT //and// its own individual thing that can be read (and thoroughly enjoyed) regardless of whether or not you've read Silvera's previous Deathcast novel. For the new reader, this is an emotional story of first loves, last chances and living a whole life in the span of a day; it is also a novel about a world changing, about fear and lashing out, about trying to adjust to life like you've never encountered it before. To those who enjoyed TBDATE, this is an additional layer to a world they'd glimpse before, with unexpected and wholesome cameos from our other heroes.
Such an addicting, clever read, told in Silvera's characteristic engaging and easily accessible voice.

Orion Pagan has been waiting to just keel over and die for years now. He just wants to know when he will. So when Dead-Cast goes live, he doesn't hesitate for a second. He will register so that he can find out when he will die and enjoy all the days before that as much as he can.
Valentino Prince is at the beginning of the rest of his life. He is finally out of Phoenix and in New-York, far from his parents and into the city where all his dreams will come true, right? Right?!

Readers, I cried.
And not like a little bit, I think I started crying at like 10% and teared up even before that.
Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeew
Anyway, besides my emotional state which is less than stellar, this was great. I loved the short chapters and the dynamics of the book. I loved that we had so many points of view and I loved the plot. I was into it from beginning to end and could not stop reading.
The pacing was great, the characters, layered and so captivating. I even believed in the romance despite being a love cynic.
I just loved this so much. It also made me want to reread They Both Die at the End and I hope we get even more books in this universe.
I loved how present NYC is in the story, especially since I was there just 10 days before starting this book.
I also loved the world building and how we got to learn more about Death-Cast.
Basically, I loved everything. This was great.
Okay, bye.

The First to Die at the End is a must read for fans of They Both Die at the End. The story follows Orion and Valentino on their journey as the first calls from Death-Cast are sent out. Told from the perspectives of multiple characters including the founder of Death-Cast, the violent landlord, the best friend and a Death-Cast phone line operator, readers will become invested in the web of connections between the characters and how their lives will play out or possibly end.
I would recommend this for grades 8 and above, due to the crass language used and sexual content.

As soon as I heard about THE FIRST TO DIE AT THE END, I knew I had to read it. My daughter and I STILL talk about THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END, so I couldn’t wait to tell her about the prequel.

When I started thinking about the idea of a prequel to Rufus and Mateo’s story, I couldn’t figure out how that would work. Like, how do you elevate a story that happens first? We had all these iconic moments with Rufus and Mateo and all these interesting intersections of characters because of the Death-Cast system. How would a story breathe new life into those things so they’re not repetitive?

Well. Let me say that one of the things I think this book does the best is to breathe fresh life into the idea of a Death-Cast world, and to create new twists and connections. It broke my heart all over again, and I loved every minute of it.

Two tiny notes: I’m not usually a fan of stories with lots of points of view. It gets easy to lose track of characters and their connections to each other. Though there’s a big cast, I kept track of everyone pretty easily. I loved the way that the different viewpoints added depth to the story.

Also, I loved the cameos from little Rufus and little Mateo! I was totally not expecting that, and it was fantastic.

Of the two books, I have to admit this one is my favorite, though. I remember feeling sad at the end of THEY BOTH DIE, but I fought back sobs at the end of this one. If you read and enjoyed Mateo and Rufus’s story, you do not want to miss THE FIRST TO DIE AT THE END.

The country is preparing for the launch of Death-Cast, which promises that it can predict when someone will die and give them a warning that it is their "End Day." People have gathered in Times Square on the eve of Death-Cast's launch. Two of the attendees are Orion and Valentino. Orion has a heart condition and has signed up for Death-Cast to he get a warning if his heart is about to give out. Valentino has just moved to New York, eager to start a new life. He registers for Death-Cast only after his twin sister was in a serious car accident. She survived but it shook Valentino deeply. Out of a huge crowd, Orion and Valentino somehow meet each other and, right away, feel an instant connection. Then one of them receives one of the first Death-Cast calls and learns that it is their End Day. The two decide they want to spend this day together, even if they sense a painful end may be inevitable.

This is a poignant story about first love, grief, and family. Well-written and highly engaging, you will have trouble putting this down once you start.

Highly recommended!

The First to Die at the End is a (bitter)sweet prequel to They Both Die at the End. Adam Silvera writes his LGTBQ characters with care and heart. While not all the family’s in the book are like this, it’s nice to see characters that do have loving and caring family systems, something that reminds me of the families in Benjamin Alire Saenz’s books.

!!!!!Spoiler alert!!!!!
Everything you liked (or disliked) about the first book is here. He dies. It says it in the title. There’s no trick. I did spend awhile wondering if the author was going to change things up and keep our main character alive (since the Death Cast system is brand new and no one knows if it is going to work correctly).

The chapters constantly switch point of view which I liked and also didn’t like. It mainly switched between the two main characters, but it also included some secondary characters and some minor characters. It was too much jumping around. I think it would have been more effective to have these mini chapters at the beginning of each section. Ah, I just refreshed my memory and realized that two of these side characters are the main characters in The First to Die at the End. (It’s been a while since I read it!)

Overall, an enjoyable book, not a sequel I was clamoring for but was a fun jumó back into the Death Cast world. And no, they stilldon’t explain how it works :-)