Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn’t wait for this book, after reading the other two in the series. And now I’ll be counting the hours until book 4 is released.
It was oddly refreshing to have a novel in this genre which doesn’t use “being queer” as the reasoning for suicide. Instead, it’s everything else in the world crashing down on these boys that has them begging for End Days.
I appreciate how the idea of fate was intertwined in this story without having a religious or supernatural feel. I also enjoyed the boys taking their time to get to know each other, communicate, and learn what helps each other grow.
This likely would’ve been 5 stars if it didn’t end on a cliffhanger.
It was oddly refreshing to have a novel in this genre which doesn’t use “being queer” as the reasoning for suicide. Instead, it’s everything else in the world crashing down on these boys that has them begging for End Days.
I appreciate how the idea of fate was intertwined in this story without having a religious or supernatural feel. I also enjoyed the boys taking their time to get to know each other, communicate, and learn what helps each other grow.
This likely would’ve been 5 stars if it didn’t end on a cliffhanger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first book in this series made me fall in love with the premise, the second book made me more curious - this one unfortunately did not quite hit the spot. The two main characters of the book are obviously mentally ill, but I would not recommend reading this book to any young adult who may be experiencing depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm, or any diagnosis in the DSM-5. The thing is suicide is talked about in highly graphic detail and is basically "solved" by an external factor such as romance. This perhaps the number one thing that people should not do - especially putting another human being as the only reason they should live. Let alone a co-dependent relationship that has only existed for less than 48 hours.
The other complaint I have about this book is that it was simply too long and did seem to repeat itself a lot. There were some scenes that went into far too much detail and a lot of exposition that was not warranted- have faith in the audience we do understand. In the first book I found the parallels with Harry Potter to be cute and quirky - but by this book it became a little bit repetitive and drawn out - and starting to extend to other series such as Twilight. I also found myself not as engaged in the highly detailed paragraphs about other fictional stories within the universe - but that that could have been just me. This book probably could've been 200 pages shorter and got the message across.
Alana's mental breakdown at the end just did not make sense to me. Yes, I can see why he was frustrated but his reaction just seemed way too intense. He also came across as a little too Mary Sue-like for me - conventionally attractive, different coloured eyes, super smart - it was like someone describing a character in a fan fiction I wrote when I was 13. Having him be so composed all throughout the book and react that way at the end - it just kind of came out of nowhere with no hints.
Another thing in my rant is - the star crossed lovers story has already been done in every single book in this series. It's becoming a one trick pony, there's so many other amazing things that can be done in this universe, let's try something
Finally, the next book seems to continue the Alano + Paz love story. For me, I allude it to the first Purge movie where this super cool concept is being described but we only get what happens in one single house. I want to learn more about how the world is reacting to Death Cast. All throughout the book I was waiting for someone to get the call.
I am hoping for great things in the last book.
The other complaint I have about this book is that it was simply too long and did seem to repeat itself a lot. There were some scenes that went into far too much detail and a lot of exposition that was not warranted- have faith in the audience we do understand. In the first book I found the parallels with Harry Potter to be cute and quirky - but by this book it became a little bit repetitive and drawn out - and starting to extend to other series such as Twilight. I also found myself not as engaged in the highly detailed paragraphs about other fictional stories within the universe - but that that could have been just me. This book probably could've been 200 pages shorter and got the message across.
Alana's mental breakdown at the end just did not make sense to me. Yes, I can see why he was frustrated but his reaction just seemed way too intense. He also came across as a little too Mary Sue-like for me - conventionally attractive, different coloured eyes, super smart - it was like someone describing a character in a fan fiction I wrote when I was 13. Having him be so composed all throughout the book and react that way at the end - it just kind of came out of nowhere with no hints.
Another thing in my rant is - the star crossed lovers story has already been done in every single book in this series. It's becoming a one trick pony, there's so many other amazing things that can be done in this universe, let's try something
Finally, the next book seems to continue the Alano + Paz love story. For me, I allude it to the first Purge movie where this super cool concept is being described but we only get what happens in one single house. I want to learn more about how the world is reacting to Death Cast. All throughout the book I was waiting for someone to get the call.
I am hoping for great things in the last book.
dark
sad
tense
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As the third book in this series, The Survivor Wants to Die at the End had big shoes to fill — and it absolutely delivered. I loved the first two books, and this one met all my expectations and then some.
Adam Silvera continues to do what he does best: create deeply human characters you can’t help but fall in love with. As a gay reader, it’s incredibly validating to see queer characters front and center in a story like this, not just surviving, but loving, grieving, and navigating impossible circumstances.
This book is heavy. It deals heavily with suicide and suicidal ideation, and it doesn’t shy away from the emotional weight of those topics. The concept of Death-Cast is fascinating and terrifying, especially when viewed through the lens of someone struggling with mental health. It really made me think, what does it mean to live when death might already feel like a looming presence?
I felt extremely connected to this book. It’s raw, emotional, and for me, very relatable. Silvera writes with such empathy that even the darkest moments feel honest rather than gratuitous.
If you’ve read the previous books, this is a must. And if you haven’t please start from the beginning. It’s a series that stays with you!
Adam Silvera continues to do what he does best: create deeply human characters you can’t help but fall in love with. As a gay reader, it’s incredibly validating to see queer characters front and center in a story like this, not just surviving, but loving, grieving, and navigating impossible circumstances.
This book is heavy. It deals heavily with suicide and suicidal ideation, and it doesn’t shy away from the emotional weight of those topics. The concept of Death-Cast is fascinating and terrifying, especially when viewed through the lens of someone struggling with mental health. It really made me think, what does it mean to live when death might already feel like a looming presence?
I felt extremely connected to this book. It’s raw, emotional, and for me, very relatable. Silvera writes with such empathy that even the darkest moments feel honest rather than gratuitous.
If you’ve read the previous books, this is a must. And if you haven’t please start from the beginning. It’s a series that stays with you!
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Clocking in at 700 pages, it felt like a marathon rather than a page-turner🥵 While the world-building is rich and immersive, it often crosses the line into excessive detail. Descriptions of places and events are so drawn out that it slows the pace to a crawl, making the reading experience feel more like a chore than an adventure.
The writing sometimes underestimates the reader’s ability to connect the dots, over-explaining instead of allowing space for imagination and inference. Cutting 300–400 pages would have made the story tighter and more impactful.
That said, the core of the story is undeniably intriguing. Joaquín Rosa continues to be a compelling character, and the mystery of Death-Cast remains as captivating as ever 💀 There’s a lot to appreciate here—if you have the patience for it.
This book could’ve been a five-star read with a sharper edit. Still, for fans of the Death-Cast universe, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into. Until next book.
The writing sometimes underestimates the reader’s ability to connect the dots, over-explaining instead of allowing space for imagination and inference. Cutting 300–400 pages would have made the story tighter and more impactful.
That said, the core of the story is undeniably intriguing. Joaquín Rosa continues to be a compelling character, and the mystery of Death-Cast remains as captivating as ever 💀 There’s a lot to appreciate here—if you have the patience for it.
This book could’ve been a five-star read with a sharper edit. Still, for fans of the Death-Cast universe, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into. Until next book.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide