Reviews with content warning for Medical trauma - The First to Die at the End

I loved this book so much more then They both die at the end. I loved tbdate too, it was my favourite all time book, but this book is full of surprises. And I love how all characters are connected, even with the first book.

I was so hyped when they met Rufus' mom in the hospital and then his dad and Rufus himself in the pawn shop. Even though Rufus died in tbdate I was so happy to see him again! And then they bought the bike for him! His bike!! The same bike as in tbdate, I assume! Ahh, I'm crying.

"One's final hours should be spent with family. He can't even imagine Rufus spending his End Day with a stranger." I'm crying! :( :(

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. It was so much different then the first book. In tbdate we knew kind of what we could expect. Rufus and Mateo were both dying. We knew that from the beginning but it was different with this book. Death-Cast had some glitches so we weren't sure who was going to die and who lived. At first I thought maybe either Orion or Scarlet would die as well, Together with Valentino but then I got hopes that maybe Valentino would live in the end and Orion as well and they would live happily ever after, but this is the Death-cast universe so ofcourse that is not going to happen! (Why Adam? WHY?!) That's why I think this book is better then tbdate, because I didn't know what to expect: Everyone could die now.

I really hope Adam would consider another book in this universe, or maybe 2 or 3? (😇) I'd love to know how Orion is doing in a few years. But I also love to know how Paz will be doing when he is around 18/19. Will he be okay? And of course Scarlet. Would love to know more about her!

Overall, I loved this book and I have fallen in love with all those new characters in such a short time. (I finished it in 2 days)
I don't know if I can say goodbye to all these characters yet 😭

Content Warnings

kmart_ceo's review against another edition

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emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Content Warnings

chapterchaser_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I LOVE They Both Die at the End. But this one.

I love this one much more. The pain, the heartache, love all of it and more. This book ripped me to pieces to put me back together to rip me into pieces again.

The emotion poured into every word is incredible. This is one that I'll take with me everywhere.

Content Warnings

robin_reads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

This one didn’t get to me quite as much as “They Both Die at the End”. It was still a gorgeous story that made me cry a lot. It fills in some blanks and questions you might have had while reading the other one.

I’m glad Adam didn’t try to find a way to explain how Death Cast works. That would’ve taken away from it.
Also adding Rufus and Mateo was unnecessary imo. I know and understand why he did that but the book could’ve done without that.

Like in the other book there’s an important sub-plot.

All in all, it was predictable and relied heavily on shock value and the heartache that came from that, whereas the other was more about the journey in itself and finding out who Rufus and Mateo were as people.

If you are trying to decide which one is worth your time, I’d say go with the first one.

Additional CW/TW: repeated and detailed mention of 9/11

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