Scan barcode
royr__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse
felishacb's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Gun violence
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia
earth_to_mars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved it. And frankly, consider it stronger than the first book. Silvera has made a very compelling alternate world in which capitalism has taken over your life — and subsequently your death by subscribing (for a hefty price too) to Death-Cast, in which they will call when you have twenty-four hours left to live, and you will die before the day is done. How? The Decker (person called) doesn't know. You can only hope it's a painless and quick one.
So, to start off, this is a hefty book, 550 pages. And all of it takes place in less than twenty-four hours. Which makes it sound like a drag, but honestly it wasn't. With charming characters and various different POVs, it's actually a very compelling read and the world feels full and lived in. Each POV is uniquely different. From Valentino and Orion, the main protagonists, to Scarlett and Dalma, friends and siblings to the main boys, to Gloria — a mother who wants the best for her child, to Rolando, a former herald of Death-Cast, to Joaquin, the Death-Cast CEO, to even Mateo and Rufus from They Both Die at the End. We get various different POVs and while it can be distracting to some, I think this style works really well for the books.
Each character has such a unique voice and you find yourself caring for them, even if you spend a brief moment of time with them. The dialogue is — while cringy at times (which makes sense, they're teenagers) — is well done and realistic. I teared up when I saw Rufus and Mateo again, only as small children, knowing what would happen to them seven years after the book takes place.
I also really love that Orion isn't just his tragedies. While yes, Silvera does focus on his viral cardiomyopathy or that his parents died on 9/11, he is first and foremost, an eighteen/nineteen year old, an aspiring writer and a hopeless romantic begging to come out of his shell. Valentino is the opposite, a healthy boy, on his way to becoming a model, extroverted and put together, with a twin sister he loves and cares for. My heart shattered when
Both boys learn to live in different ways through spending the day with each other, and despite the Instalove, it feels gradual and well done.
There is so much heart (pun intended, for Orion) in this book, and it will definitely pull at the heartstrings (another one!). I cried at the end of this book as
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Violence, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
kiwichill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Outing
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Sexual content, and Medical content
chelseaabu1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
alexx_08's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
forestfloor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I really loved the way The First to Die at the End works with your expectations from the original to work in some tension and subversion - I won't say any of it it quite a plot twist because it's all built up in a fairly linear way but it made a good use of tension.
Similarly I enjoy the questions around the implications Death-Cast has for society. Is an End Day call causal? How does knowing you have less than 24hrs to live affect how you spend your time? How you fall in love?
I also found the characters voices were very distinct and they were all very separate people, which is nice. I do think that this is very much furthered by each character having one or two distinct traits - Valentino is a model who has just moved to NYC to start his life, Orion has heart problems, 9/11 trauma and swears too much, Dalma is a programming whizz who is very protective of Orion etc. It does make them feel a little less complex but overall I think the benefit of having unique personalities wins out. Any simplicity in that characterisation fits well with the YA tone of the book.
Finally, I really liked that this book has a bit more exploration of grief, since that's such an important part of death.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence and Infidelity
Minor: Homophobia
skye_parker1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence
karina19_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
glund_01's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Blood, and Car accident