The Survivor Wants to Die at the End

April 15, 2025
When Death-Cast doesn't call, fate intertwines the lives of two boys, both haunted by their pasts and with futures they can't escape. In this third installment of the series that opened with 2017'sThey Both Die at the End, Paz Dario waits every night for Death-Cast to call--as it should have for his father nearly 10 years ago, when Paz shot him to save his mother's life. But the call never comes. Death-Cast killed Paz's dreams of an acting career: No one will hire him now because the world sees him as a villain. When Paz tries (not for the first time) to put an end to his suffering, an unexpected encounter with Alano Rosa, the heir of Death-Cast, stops him. Both in a place of desperation, Alano and Paz sign a contract to live for Begin Days instead of waiting for their End Days. As suspenseful and emotionally wrenching as the previous titles in the series, this new installment explores heavy themes of abuse, mental health, self-harm, and suicide. Paz grapples with a recent diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Silvera surrounds Alano and Paz with a web of complex relationships. Although the protagonists fall fast for one another and form a deep connection over Alano's desire to support Paz, Silvera emphasizes the importance of professional help. Both Alano and Paz have Puerto Rican heritage. The cliffhanger ending promises more to come. Raw, delicate, and deeply caring. (content warning, resources)(Speculative fiction. 14-18)

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Starred review from May 1, 2025
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* One week. That's how long Paz Dario and Alano Rosa have to confront their pasts, live their present, and rescue their future together. But seven days feels like an eternity for Paz, whose traumatic childhood has him hoping for a call from Death-Cast. But for Alano, the heir to the Death-Cast empire, it's just not enough time, especially since he's recovering from an assassination attempt, dealing with an unexpected betrayal, and trying to keep Paz from following through on his own self-destructive goal. His father's death overshadows Paz at every turn, haunting him and driving him to sabotage his relationships with his family--and now Alano. At the same time, the future of Death-Cast hangs in the balance, with an election on the horizon; Alano's part in the company is also in question as his father's hopes start to feel more demanding and oppressive. Paz and Alano's relationship is rendered with great care and sensitivity, but readers should still be prepared for frank discussions of self-harm and suicidal ideation throughout, as well as revelations of physical and psychological abuse. A visceral, heartbreaking-yet-hopeful emotional roller coaster, The Survivor Wants to Die at the End delivers an unforgettable narrative that is as beautiful as it is audacious. Silvera's latest novel is a remarkable achievement that begs to be embraced and savored. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: They Both Die at the End (2017) and The First to Die at the End (2022) were both highly acclaimed best-sellers, so expect readers to turn out in droves for a new addition to this universe.

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