In this third book of the USA Today and #1 New York Times mega-bestselling They Both Die at the End series, two strangers—each with their own complicated relationship to Death-Cast—help each other learn to live.

Paz Dario stays up every night, waiting for the Death-Cast call that would mean he doesn’t have to keep faking his way through this lonely life. After a devastating day, Paz decides he’s done waiting around for Death-Cast. If they say he’s not dying, he’ll just have to prove them wrong. But right before Paz can die, a boy saves his life.

Alano Rosa is heir to the Death-Cast empire that encourages everyone to live their best lives, but he doesn’t feel in control of his own existence thanks to his father. And with a violent organization called the Death Guard threatening Alano, his End Day might be closer than he thinks. It’s time to live.

Fate brings Paz and Alano together, but it’s now up to the boys to survive the tragic trials ahead so no one dies at the end.

I first started reading the “Death-Cast” series a couple of years ago and absolutely fell in love with it. The concept is great, the characters are amazing, and the first two books absolutely gutted me. Of course I preordered the next installment as soon as I could. And while I really liked it, it’s not my favorite of the three.

One thing that I liked was the way the author took a different approach this time around. Instead of centering the story on characters who received the fateful Death-Cast call alerting them of their death day, he chose to focus on someone who desperately wants the call but never gets it. That concept alone hooked me from the start. It’s such a raw, honest angle to explore—especially in a world where knowing your last day is a kind of tragic privilege. It also felt like the right move to shake things up after two books that were deeply rooted in the “live like you’re dying” mentality. This time, the story flips that on its head and instead asks: What do you do when you don’t want to go on, but the universe forces you to?

The story follows Paz Dario, who lived through something pretty traumatic in book two when he was just a kid. He’s exhausted, isolated, and—most heartbreakingly—waiting for the Death-Cast call that never comes. His struggle is portrayed with raw honesty. Silvera doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of Paz’s mental health journey, and while it’s tough to read at times, I really appreciated how sincere and grounded it felt. We often talk about living life to the fullest when we know it’s about to end, but what about those who don’t know how to keep going? Paz’s arc is all about finding hope when it seems impossible, and it’s a powerful message—albeit a heavy one.

On the flip side, we have Alano Rosa, heir to the Death-Cast empire, who is grappling with his own sense of purpose. (We also met Alano in the last book.) Alano’s life is controlled, calculated, and at times, suffocating. I liked that Alano’s story intertwined with Paz’s because it added a layer of complexity. They’re both dealing with their own versions of feeling trapped—Paz by his despair and Alano by his legacy. It’s a dynamic that works well, especially when their paths cross in a moment that changes everything. It’s like they stumble into each other’s lives and cling on because they’re both drowning. They are both beautifully flawed, and that makes their bond feel authentic. I loved how they came into each other’s lives right when they most needed it.

Where the book fell a bit flat for me was the pacing. At around 700 pages, it felt unnecessarily long. There were moments where I wanted the story to pick up or for certain scenes to be a bit more concise. I can’t help but think that trimming it up a bit would have made the core story shine even more. By the time I reached the end, I was both emotionally drained and slightly frustrated because it ended on a cliffhanger. I couldn’t help but think, “Wait, I read all that and I still don’t have a resolution?”

That said, I do think fans of the series will still find plenty to love here. Silvera continues to write with heart and precision, and his characters are as messy, real, and lovable as ever. The themes are heavier this time around, focusing on mental health, personality disorders, suicidal ideation, and the desperate search for purpose. If you’re not in the right headspace for that, it might not be the book for you, but it’s undeniably impactful.

Ultimately, while it wasn’t my favorite in the series, I still appreciate that Silvera took a risk with this one. It’s not easy to tackle themes of hopelessness while still weaving in a message about finding the will to survive. I can see how this book will resonate deeply with readers who’ve struggled with similar feelings.

Will I be picking up the next book? Absolutely. Even if this one didn’t hit quite as hard as the first two for me. So, if you loved the first two books and are ready to dive back into the Death-Cast world, give this one a go. Just be prepared for a more contemplative, slower-paced story that challenges you to think about what it really means to survive when life doesn’t feel worth living.