The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera - HIGH

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera, 550 pages. Quill Tree (Harper), 2022. $20. 9780063240803 

Language: R (100+ swears, 50+ ‘f’); Mature Content: R (brief, descriptive sex scene, condoms, dick); Violence: PG (shootings mentioned) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Tonight at midnight Death Cast goes online. Orion and his best friend have signed up and will attend the celebration in Times Square. Valentino has just arrived in NYC – finally escaping the emotional abuse of his parents; his sister will join him in the morning. A chance encounter has Valentino also signing up for Death Cast. At Death Cast itself, the callers seem to be ready for their first announcements – but the first call is made by Joaquin, the creator, to - - - Valentino. And mistakes have been made – a few calls were not placed. Valentino and Orion band together for that first last day – and someone doesn’t yet know that they also will die today. 

Silvera weaves together another masterpiece of 24 hours. Just like book #1, you don’t want the main character to die, even though the title already tells the truth. While I appreciate how important Orion and Valentino become to each other – I did not enjoy the sex scene. If I want to read descriptive sex I can find it in any dedicated romance book. 

 Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS