Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe)

You'd think that by now I'd be getting pretty used to writing five-star, gushing reviews for Neal Shusterman's books, but I'm definitely not. Full Tilt is in my top three books ever. The Unwind Dystology is genius. Scythe blew me away last year. Not to mention ALL of his other amazing books. And somehow, somehow Thunderhead managed to top them all.

...except for Full Tilt because I'm sentimental like that...

This book was incredible. The characters introduced in Scythe were all back with a vengeance, only this time they were more fleshed out, more intricate and heartfelt. Citra- ahem, I mean Scythe Anastasia- is probably my favorite. I absolutely loved her story in Thunderhead. But then there's Rowan too, who is so complex and wonderful and I just want to protect him forever. Or have Citra protect him, either way. A few other characters got side stories this time, which really reminded me of why I loved the Unwind books so much. Those smaller stories never felt boring or out of place, and they way Shusterman brought everything together at the end was absolutely brilliant.

Speaking of the end. Oh. My. Goodness.

I think that was the best cliffhanger I've ever read. Don't get me wrong, it's awful, horrible, excruciating and I have no idea how I'll make it waiting for book three, but WOW. As I said before, everything just tied together so well at the end. I didn't see any of it coming- yay for surprises!- and was literally rocking in my seat as I read the last few pages. Then I had one of those moments where I read the last page, dropped the book, and had a bit of a crisis because I've never read something so beautifully cruel before.

Neal Shusterman is one of the best authors out there. I recommend every single one of his books. But if you're looking for one to start with, I'd definitely say Scythe, quickly followed by THUNDERHEAD. Then you can join me sobbing in the corner waiting for book three.

We're going to pretend this is a review and not 500 words of mindless fangirl babble as my brain dissolves, okay?

Glad we got that out of the way. Thunderhead is book two in the Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman. This will probably have spoilers for book one because, well, that's sort of how series work.

I really liked Scythe, but I LOVED Thunderhead. It was everything the first book was and soooo much more. I sort of went in expecting something just as good as the first book, but this blew my mind. Once I started, I couldn't put it down.

Thoughts:

- Oh my Thunderhead, Scythe Lucifer is probably the greatest thing ever, and I'm okay with that. I mean, okay, sure, his tactics are a bit questionable, and he resides in a very morally gray area, but grey characters are the best! Rowan is doing what he thinks is best, and he's actually trying to SAVE the Scythedom. By killing parts of it, but you know, sometimes that's how it works. I loved the double meaning between Lucifer, as obviously the Biblical meaning but also the fact that it means light-bringer, and he's trying to illuminate the way into a better future.

- The Thunderhead itself was a freaking fantastic character and is probably my favorite part of the whole book. Despite it not being human, Thunderhead was made by humans, and there is something distinctly human in the struggles that it faces. Somehow, Shusterman manages to squeeze a whole character arc in for this nearly omniscient AI. And it was glorious.

- I went in expecting a roller coaster ride, like the first one, and I wasn't disappointed ... but it was sort of more than I expected? There was very little about the plot that was unpredictable, and even when I thought I knew what was about to happen, I second-guessed everything. Each time I thought I had gotten over a shock to my feels, another one popped up and tore the wound open again.

- WHAT EVEN IS THAT ENDING? THERE ARE NO WORDS. NO SPOILERS, I KNOW. But trust me, you want to read it just for the ending. It will destroy you. In the best ways. That's all I'll say.

- I have nothing really bad to say about this. It was too perfect and everything I wanted in a dystopian book and how dare it? I mean, I suppose I can fake moral outrage at that. How dare so much perfect reside between two covers?

This review will be different from my others, because Thunderhead is the second book of a trilogy. For those of you who have not read the first book, Scythe (waddaya waiting for, btw?), I will tread more broadly than usual so there will be no spoilers. To refresh: In the future there is no hunger, poverty, war, or climate issue. All disease has been eradicated, so people live forever. As a result, the world is overpopulated. Scythes are individuals chosen and trained to "glean" (kill) people randomly in order to control overpopulation. To maintain order over the entire world, there is an artificial intelligence (AI) "overseer" called The Thunderhead. In Thunderhead, it is one year after the end of the first book, where Rowan and Citra - two teenage Scythe apprentices - discovered whether or not they had been chosen as Scythes. The Thunderhead sees and knows all - it is a kind and just overseer who works for the good of mankind. It cannot, however, interfere with what Scythes do, and it is unhappy with what it sees. Trust between Scythes is deteriorating. Scythes are gleaning inhumanely, turning against each other - and killing one another. Who is killing who? Why? What are Citra and Rowan doing during all of this? The Thunderhead cannot interfere but is there ANYTHING it can do?

Neal Schusterman has once again written an unsettling and deeply satisfying YA dystopian story about the most basic issues facing mankind - love, hate, and trust. Thunderhead has characters that you will love and never forget, an ending that will blow your mind, and I now patiently wait for the final book of this trilogy. I really hope you read Scythe, then read Thunderhead, then wait with me.

It's just a few months after the events of the first book as this opens. Scythe Anastasia is making waves for her unconventional method of giving her gleaning choices a month to prepare before their death and the choice of the method of their death. Scythe Curie is still by her side, and loving the waves that her protege is making. Neither of them has any clue that someone has decided they both need to be taken out of the equation, but the Thunderhead does. The rules prevent him from directly interfering, but he has other ways to influence the world when he really wants to. So he puts a young man, Greyson, whom he's raised on the path to figure out that these two scythes are in danger and must be warned. Of course, Greyson has absolutely no idea how much his life is about to change as he follows the hints of his guardian. Meanwhile, Scythe Lucifer has been carefully meting out justice to scythes that deserve it. He's been careful, but he knows Scythe Constantine and others are on his trail and it is probably just a matter of time before someone catches him. But he really would never have guessed who. And on the other side of the world Faraday is following a nursery rhyme to look for something the founding scythes left to help make things right if the scythedom ever failed. Which is good. Because things are not looking good at all for the scythedom or the world. And only a few realize just how bad things are, and one of them, the Thunderhead can't take any direct action to fix it.

Why must we wait an entire year for the next book? That was a horrible place to stop. I didn't want it to end. This was utterly fantastic. And unbelievably even better than the first book (which is hard to fathom because the first book was also fantastic). Shusterman has created such an interesting world and cast of characters. The Thunderhead's little notes in between chapters were full of poignant observations about human nature! So very much good stuff in here to get readers thinking about real issues in the world and what is or is not being done. But you don't feel like you're being preached to or lectured; it is seamlessly woven into a very engaging story. It may sound odd, but this book wasn't anywhere near as bloody as the first one. Yes, there still are a few gleanings and deadish moments, but the gleaning business takes a back seat to the world politics and power plays going on. And boy, is there a complicated mess of political positioning going on! But figuring it all out is half the fun, as well as watching Citra/Anastasia and Curie and Rowan and Faraday's genius countermoves (and the Thunderhead's), and all that keeps you turning those pages. So, so good. If you're looking for a series that will provide lots to talk about in a book club, snatch this one up and the first book in the series.

Notes on content: About two swear words. No sex scenes. It is hinted some side characters sleep together, and one woman propositions a man, but nothing on page and nothing sexually explicit discussed. There are some gleanings, most are very humane, but there are still ruthless scythes out there more nasty and a few scenes show them, there's also the attempts on Anastasia and Curie that end badly for others, Rowan is in several "training sessions" that are a bit brutal, and there's also a catastrophe at the end that results in numerous deaths some bloody and some self gleanings.

I have no idea how to begin to write this review. I don't know how to describe how incredibly fantastic Thunderhead is!!! The Arc of a Scythe series has become a new recent favorite and I cannot stop talking and fangirling about it. It's because it is soooo GOOD!

Thunderhead is the second book of the series, in here, as a reader we explore the Scythedome system and experience how faulty it could be. Rowan and Citra (the two main characters), try in their own separate ways to help abolish the corruption and like the Thunderhead says it, keep administrating "the quietus of death with a noble, morale, and humane hand". The situation is getting out of hand, but the goodness of the humans inside the Scythedome are working hard to control the "new order", but at what cost? This quote from the book narrows it down:
"We have just entered the worst of all possible worlds."--Sythe Asimov
In this book, new characters appear that add up so well to the story and we get to know the older ones in a deeper level. I love how even though the Thunderhead is a "machine", it is written as a character and even shows an astonishing degree of human emotions. The Thunderhead and Scythe Curie are my very favorite in this book. They both show the highest character strength and personality in my opinion and they left me with a strong impression. This book ended with both of them being as amazingly as any character can possibly get, they are that cool!

I also want to mention how the Thunderhead communicated and formed part of this story without having a body. The Thunderhead is the technological advance that humanity created to take care of themselves and earth. It is all seeing, with cameras almost everywhere and handles pretty much every technology in the world. With that said, the Thunderhead notices almost everything. EVERYTHING. So, after every chapter as a reader, one can know what the Thunderhead thinks of the situation. Those bits of after thoughts are pure genius! Also, it can communicate to all human beings (except with the Scythes because they are out of its jurisdiction or "unsavories" which are as close to criminals as humans can get) and talk to them as a parent or best friend that makes it a favorite among people.

Another thing that I want to mention is how surprising the story development is. It started with the same pace as the first book, but it quickly reshaped into something else. Consequences from the decisions made in Scythe started to alter Thunderhead and I was constantly startled with each chapter that I read. GOSH, THE ENDING!!! I cried, I was furious, I was heartbroken, I was a mess of emotions throughout this book. I cannot wait for the next book!

Final Verdict:

I am obsessed with the Arc of a Scythe series and Thunderhead came and impossibly cemented even more my feelings for it. It is an intriguing, fascinating, action packed, heartbreaking story that I will follow until the end of it. Now excuse me while I go drown my feelings with cake until the next book comes out.

“The work of scythes is not to completely curb population growth, but to smooth its edges. That is why, at current quotas, one’s chance of being gleaned is only 10 percent over the next thousand years. Just enough to make gleaning the furthest thing from most people’s minds.

I do foresee a time, however, when population growth will need to reach an equilibrium. Zero growth, one person dying for every person born.”
~The Thunderhead

This series is officially my very favorite dystopian series. The idea is seriously so fascinating and it addresses issues in a way that creates interesting conversations about things I had never even thought about for the future. The idea is that humans can truly live forever because of the development of technology, and all knowledge is stored in a “cloud” called the Thunderhead. The Thunderhead being all knowing is also what is used to govern all people on the earth, with the exception of one group, the scythes. Scythes are used to curb population overgrowth, and are sent to kill or “glean” people under a specific set of guidelines and with a certain quota to meet.

In this second book we learn even more about this world and just how deep the Thunderhead’s knowledge and control goes. Some truly shocking things occur in this book, and when it was over I found myself just staring at the last page, a bit in shock at all that had happened. I cannot recommend this series enough. This book is a definite five star read for me.

Ahoy there me mateys! If ye haven’t read the first book in this series,Scythe (Arc of a Scythe), then ye might want to skip this post and go read the first book. Worth the read. If ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .

I am absolutely glad I read this novel. I loved it! This book is set one year after the events of book one. Citra is a junior scythe and is trying to settle into that new role. At the same time, her approach to death is unusual and is causing political waves. Rowan has chosen to become an vengeful angel of death known as “Lucifer” and attempts to fight the corruption of scythes from the outside. Much to the chagrin of the organization. The clash between the new wave scythes and the older guard continues to cause havoc.

I thought this book be way better than the first novel in terms of plot and pacing. The Thunderhead viewpoints were fun and I adored the addition of Greyson. In fact he became me favourite character in the book. And I loved the ending all around. I won’t give any other details because no spoilers. But I am eagerly awaiting book three and think that all of me crew should give this series a chance. Arrrr!

Review Thunderhead is the thrilling sequel to Scythe, an intriguing science fiction series written by Neal Shusterman. After the events of the first book, I was very interested to see where the story would lead and I was not disappointed.

Both the world and the characters developed beautifully over the course of the novel. I felt that the main characters were provided with additional depth and nuanced motives. It allowed them to be more realized and unique individuals. They struggled with their places in the world and had to come to terms with a changing Scythedom. Even some of the supporting characters were more fleshed out.

It was fascinating to see the story progression and how the Scythedom was coping with all of the upheaval from the first book. Despite the fact that it is the second book in a larger series, I didn’t feel like it succumbed to the usual second book slump. Although the action wasn’t fast paced at all times, I felt that the pacing was smooth and I never felt bored by the plot.

I would highly recommend this series and cannot wait to see what happens in the third book.

Thunderhead is the second book in the Arc of a Scythe series. I was really looking forward to this book because I loved the first one, but was somewhat disappointed in it because of the slow pace. I expected to understand the Thunderhead better, but unfortunately, I am just as confused about it as I was in the first book. This book follows the separate lives of Rowan and Citra (Scythe Anastasia). This book also has a big surprise that I did not like at all! This book has lots of action near the end, including a very interesting concave and ends on a cliff hanger, of course.

This book gets better as it goes along but I really did not like the ending or the big surprise. I still like Scythe Anastasia and Rowan in this book and kept hoping that somehow Scythe Faraday would be able to fix everything but that didn’t happen. Scythe Curie is very cool in this book too, I liked Greyson Tolliver as well, and hope that somehow he’ll become a scythe in the next book. His relationship with the Thunderhead was confusing to me, but hopefully it will all clear up in the next book. The Thunderhead seems to be kind of an artificial god with some limits. I am ready to see what happens in the next book of this series!

Wow. This book blew me away. I was eagerly awaiting this book and I tore through it in a few days. One of Shusterman' s strengths is definitely world building and background in his novels and this book was no exception. I loved the little glimpses we get into the Thunderhead's mind between every chapter and I really felt like they added a lot more into understanding why it "acts" the way it does.

Citra and Rowan have come a long way since the first book and they've both developed as characters; they go from being scythe's apprentices to Scythe Anastasia and the ever dangerous Scythe Lucifer. It was nice to see Rowan toughen up a bit, but I think that he could have been present more often in some chapters and the new character, Greyson, less.

However, Scythe Curie is the shining star of Thunderhead. I still can't believe what Shusterman did to her at the end..!

The last hundred pages were just...amazing. The action is fast paced and I'm still in shock over that ending!
I'm still thinking about this book even after a few days, it's that good.

I eagerly await the next one!

I listened to both Scythe and Thunderhead on audio and love the narration.

Thunderhead picks up where Scythe left off and it just keeps the story going. All your favorite scythes as well as hated scythes are back for the continuation and a few more characters become important to the story as Thunderhead continues. There will be a third book in the series (possibly being released next year) titled The Toll and I cannot wait to read it! This is a series where you finish the first book then you MUST have the next book. These books are that addicting. Shusterman has created a fabulous future with the Scythe series that really causes you to ponder and debate.

There are several jaw dropping events that happening and I won’t even begin to go into the climax of the novel other than to say this: I wish I had The Toll to read now! Shusterman really knows how to keep you hanging and needing more!

Thunderhead is very highly recommended.

Reading this book was a physical experience. Not only is this book a massive tome that weighed on my day bag (at least by my standards, 500 pages is a long book for me), but I also had to put this book down several times with a heavy sigh.

It’s also one of the first books I’ve read with clear echoes of the 2016 election. I’ve met thinly veiled and parodied versions of Donald Trump in other 2017 titles this year, but this is the first book I’ve read post-2016 that attempts to examine how a state of politics reflects a state of the soul.

I’m going to skip an attempt at a plot summary for now, but I’ll just add that reading book 1 (Scythe) is vital for book 2, and my long-term hope is that this book series becomes a high school book club favorite alongside classics like Brave New World and Blade Runner. I feel like this book hits a terrific medium point between philosophy and plot-driven sci-fi novel. Readers who want to ponder more deeply into technology’s role in our daily lives and the intersections between technology and politics will, and readers who just want a good story will be satisfied at that.

Right from the very first page, I knew I was going to love THUNDERHEAD as much as I loved SCYTHE. It opens so strongly with the thoughts from the Thunderhead, the godlike "cloud" that protects and watches over the now immortal human race. From there on, I was treated to a solid, beautifully composed story full of shocks, twists, and betrayals that I never saw coming, and an ending that has me begging for more. While this isn't an action-heavy story, it is nonetheless engaging in its world building, which offers new aspects and perspectives as well as old traditions, and its characters, mainly my beloved Rowan and Citra. Each character has a special place in my heart, but I have to give most of the credit to Citra who completely owned some major scenes and changed the game for the scythedom. And that ending... gah, that ending! I don't know what to expect from the third book, but I know it will both break my heart and take my breath away. I cannot recommend these books highly enough. An amazing journey from start to finish, and an utterly unique idea that you will never forget!

It is rare for a sequel to surpass the opening of a series, but I believe that Thunderhead does it. I was completely caught off-guard a few times and am pretty sure that I made an audible gasp and possibly a tiny shriek once. And while I knew something momentous was coming in the book’s conclusion and had suspicions as to what it would be, I only grasped a part of it. This future world, with its scythes killing in order to keep the population at sustainable levels, its medical advances to allow people to defeat aging and death, and a benevolent Thunderhead of knowledge is scary. Mr. Shusterman weaves this fast-paced thriller in such a way that while so much is completely implausible, his allusions to today’s trends make the reader wonder if we might be headed that way. It is my hope that fans will do as much questioning of themselves as The Thunderhead does. I will definitely be an the lookout for ARC opportunities because a 2019 release date for The Toll seems very far away.

Neal Shusterman is genius! It's like he watched all of the same TedTalks I have about "Do you trust your computer" and the consequences that follow the development of AI and created a believable fiction wrapped around it. I love the twist from the "cloud" to the "Thunderhead" because the imagery foreshadows the tone AI will have to come to in order to "save Earth". I love how he breaks the 4th wall having the Thunderhead talk directly to the reader, and how it alone seems just and humble " I know nothing", yet is humanity's best chance for survival. I love the Sythedom and Unsavory creation and the development of characters who are purported to be above humans, certainly more ethical than their mortal ancestors, yet they too are so believably frail and succumb to temptations like those they judge. I love the truly diabolical gleaning of the brightest minds who could thwart the renaissance of human creativity beyond the Thunderhead - in space and otherwise, and by a duo who use the author's name of the epic novel, "Atlas Shrugged" where the brightest minds are also removed from the Earth. Shusterman's hint on page415 to his earlier Unwind Dystopian series was fantastic. I fan-girled all over the place when I read it. Neal, I bow to your supernatural gift for story-telling!

The good:
I'm still wrapping my mind around this because I've only just finished and I have All The Feels. Neal Shusterman's work, from Everlost to Unwind to Scythe (and I'm sure the rest are no different), is a master class in using multiple points of view, having an eye for detail (and early details subsequently becoming extremely relevant later in the story), world-building, character development, and sweet-Jesus-hold-me cliffhangers.

The bad:
As with SCYTHE, my main gripe about this book was the lack of editing. You honestly need a second or third set of eyes to read things because spellcheck doesn't catch everything. See: homonyms. "Roll" when it should've been "role"; that was the one that made me wince the hardest. And missing quotation marks at the end of dialogue. This is second-grade stuff. Where are the editors?

The ugly:
Goddard's utterly reprehensible self. I can't wait for book three to see how this all goes down, because seeing him get what he deserves will be the sweetest thing on the planet.

The audiobook Scythe is an amazing novel. I finished it over four days. I couldn't put it down. I kept listening all the time. The characters were compelling, the storyline engaging and the ideas presented stayed with me long after I finished the novel. The novel is set well into the future long after the 'time of mortality'. People live as long as they choose to live. Unless they are gleaned by a Scythe. Two teenagers are chosen to learn the trade of being a Scythe, competing with the other to see who would earn the honor. The world created by Neal Shusterman is compelling. The ideas about mortality and morality stayed with me long after the novel was finished.

I found myself loving this book. I was a tad hesitant going in because I thought its predecessor, Scythe, was just okay and I gave it 3 stars. I am very careful with my 5 star ratings, but this definitely made the cut. I felt Thunderhead was a HUGE step up from the first one. I didn't find it slow at all and I loved the direction of the characters in this installment. My favorite thing about this was how much more into the politics and origin of this world we went. It was more about how the characters maneuvered each other, the new order scythes, and the darkness unraveling in the Scythedom. It felt like everything was expanded and it made the world more believable in my eyes. Another favorite part for me was the thoughts of the Thunderhead before every chapter. These paragraphs really gave an insight to how the new world was run and how much of it the Thunderhead actually controls. Overall, everything was expanded in this installment and THAT ENDING!!!!! I have no idea how the next novel is going to start off. I cannot wait to find out.

Audible review:

Book 1 had me hooked on this world/story and I had to immediately grab this book to continue the story. The same can be said for this book but, unfortunately, there is no book 3 for me to go out and purchase!

If you enjoyed book 1 I highly recommend you pick up this book (unless you want to wait for book 3 to come out and then binge them). I thought the story here was just as enjoyable as the first and have no complaints beyond it not being long enough and leaving loose ends for book 3.

Narration by Greg Tremblay was, again, superb and I would be greatly disappointed if he does not narrate the third.

I couldn't put the book down. After the start of the book, once it really gets going, its impossible to stop. So many twists and turns and gasping aloud moments. But it makes sense, a consequence of action, and not a deus ex machina. I love what the book has to say, observations through a sci-fi lens, about ambition, and faith, and God, and purpose. And how even in a perfect world, the best of us will rise with the very worst humanity has to offer. The story and the characters experience hope even in the deepest and darkest despair. Leaving you, dear reader, frantically wishing you could turn the page even though you have reached the end.

Read this book. After Scythe, of course. I cannot recommend it enough.

Last year, I finished Scythe feeling somewhat underwhelmed. While Shusterman's world-building drew me in and kept me engrossed, several of his key characters and general plot points were lacking. Since the series was originally billed as a duology, though, I found enough to enjoy in the first entry to justify picking up the sequel. Unfortunately much of what I didn't like in Scythe seemed to compound itself in Thunderhead; in addition I had some personal issues with his expanded world, which I'll detail at the very end of my review.

My favorite portions of Thunderhead, by far, were the glimpses into the consciousness of the eponymous artificial intelligence program. Shusterman captures an elaborate piece of programming on the verge of true sentience and independence, while simultaneously introducing a subtle commentary on whether there is such a thing as "benevolent" dictatorship. As much as I struggled with the rest of the novel, these interludes never failed to engage. Were the entire novel written from the Thunderhead' point of view, I doubtless would have devoured it happily.

Also improved were the characters of Rowan and Citra. Removed from the Hunger Games-esque 'only one may live' trope, they both find room to flourish. Their actions highlight the differences in approach, and subsequent results, when attempting to change a corrupt system from within or through more anarchic methods. In a welcome imbalance, Citra has much more influence over that change than Rowan, who spends much of the story reacting to circumstances rather than engineering them. Separating them for much of Thunderhead also rendered the romance awkwardly shoehorned into Scythe largely moot. While avid shippers might despair, I enjoyed not having to muddle through another unnecessary relationship.

What failed to improve for me was the overall plotting in Thunderhead. Several new concepts and places are introduced which become crucial to the story, yet despite their importance in this new world order, they never merited a mention during the extensive training detailed in the first book. This expansion comes across less as world-building and more like ret-conning, a cheat instead of growth. Then there are two twists so outlandish I laughed out loud when I read them. Well-developed characters and engaging prose are great assets to every story, but their power diminishes when the reader doesn't buy into the narrative path those tools trace.

Now onto the topic of my personal and, perhaps, not widely applicable complaint: Shusterman introduced the concept of Charter Regions, areas of the world whose administration in some way differs from the status quo. One of these regions is Texas, my home state. His characterization of (fictional) Texas and its inhabitants fails to rise above an off-putting mosaic of stereotypes. As one character reflects: "He'd once known a kid who had moved from Texas. He wore big boots and a big hat, and a belt buckle that could stop a mortar shell." Later on a child speaks in the distinct dialect of the region: "'My uncle's the Honorable Sath [Scythe] Howard Hughes,' he announced. 'So we got immunity! He's here givin' a symphonium on how to properly glean with a bowie naff [knife].'" It's a series of choices I struggled not to take personally, but I nearly quit reading Thunderhead because of them. Seeing your home turned into the butt of a joke is no fun, and that unquestionably colored my already unfavorable opinion.

Without the "Texas problem" I would still struggle to rate Thunderhead at an average three stars. Improvements in writing and character development don't adequately make up for an unengaging, and at times unbelievable, plot. It's clear to me now that this series and I simply don't get along, so I doubt I'll be following it through to the conclusion.

Title: Thunderhead

Author: Neal Shusterman

Age Group: Teen/Young Adult

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Arc of a Scythe, book two

Star Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

I borrowed this book from my local library and reviewed it.

Scythe was one of my favorite books of 2017; it was thought-provoking, fast-paced, and original, a whole new take on the futuristic science fiction genre. I was so excited when the sequel was finally announced, and I put it on hold at my library as soon as I had an opening in my number. (One of my primary goals for the year was to stop trying to bring the entire library home with me, lol.) Thunderhead sat in my library stack for a while, and I couldn’t renew it, as there were holds on it.

As soon as I finished Given to the Earth, I began it, and was immediately drawn into Shusterman’s dangerous, deceptively perfect world, where death and disease have been all but eradicated. As it was a sequel, it took me a bit to remember what was going on, but the book grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go until the last pages; I was breathless throughout the book, but the ending was a total killer—I’m absolutely dying for the next book, and I only finished it yesterday! This series is one of my favorites from Shusterman, and I can’t wait to see what comes next! Because this is a sequel, I don’t want to say much about the plot; I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t read it yet.

Thunderhead picks up where Scythe left off, continuing the events from the previous book and going at high speed. Even though it took me a while for my memory of the last book to come back, the pace was so breakneck that I was immediately sucked in, following both Rowan and Citra on their journeys until the fateful moment when their paths diverge. The writing was gorgeous, captivating, even in its brutality. This being a sequel, I was really hoping that my anxiety would be relieved, and my questions answered, and they were—but I have so many more, especially after the killer ending! Characters from the last book return and are introduced, and new characters are brought in. I especially liked the way the worldbuilding was elaborated on, especially the people that don’t fit into the social norms of this beatific, mostly peaceful society; well, as peaceful a society can be where death is sanctioned by its people and government. The Thunderhead, too, was one of the reasons I loved this book; I loved the way Shusterman gave us a glimpse into the mind of the powerful technology that cares for the human race in this future. And that ending—I’m still reeling from the gravity of it, a day later. I’m in complete shock, and all I can say is that I can’t wait for the last book in the trilogy! Absolutely amazing! The bottom line: A satisfying, thought-provoking sequel that moves at light speed, I loved Thunderhead, and I can’t wait for what comes next—one of the best books of 2018 for me, hands down! Next on deck: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu!

You'd think that by now I'd be getting pretty used to writing five-star, gushing reviews for Neal Shusterman's books, but I'm definitely not. Full Tilt is in my top three books ever. The Unwind Dystology is genius. Scythe blew me away last year. Not to mention ALL of his other amazing books. And somehow, somehow Thunderhead managed to top them all.

...except for Full Tilt because I'm sentimental like that...

This book was incredible. The characters introduced in Scythe were all back with a vengeance, only this time they were more fleshed out, more intricate and heartfelt. Citra- ahem, I mean Scythe Anastasia- is probably my favorite. I absolutely loved her story in Thunderhead. But then there's Rowan too, who is so complex and wonderful and I just want to protect him forever. Or have Citra protect him, either way. A few other characters got side stories this time, which really reminded me of why I loved the Unwind books so much. Those smaller stories never felt boring or out of place, and they way Shusterman brought everything together at the end was absolutely brilliant.

Speaking of the end. Oh. My. Goodness.

I think that was the best cliffhanger I've ever read. Don't get me wrong, it's awful, horrible, excruciating and I have no idea how I'll make it waiting for book three, but WOW. As I said before, everything just tied together so well at the end. I didn't see any of it coming- yay for surprises!- and was literally rocking in my seat as I read the last few pages. Then I had one of those moments where I read the last page, dropped the book, and had a bit of a crisis because I've never read something so beautifully cruel before.

Neal Shusterman is one of the best authors out there. I recommend every single one of his books. But if you're looking for one to start with, I'd definitely say Scythe, quickly followed by THUNDERHEAD. Then you can join me sobbing in the corner waiting for book three.

No spoilers in this rapid review of Thunderhead. (There will, however, be minor spoilers for the first book in the series.) I loved it and give it 4.5 stars. Part of the appeal of this series is it’s just so different. Good different. After the extreme popularity of The Hunger Games series, dystopian was THE genre for a time. Now I’ve gone a while without reading much dystopian, and this series made me realize I’ve missed it. Shusterman’s idea is unique and thought-provoking, and his characters are interesting and likable. It’s a win-win-win (or something similar). ?

Citra and Rowan have been on two very different paths since the scythe ceremony. Citra has found the most compassionate way to glean possible, and Rowan is acting as a rogue scythe even though he wasn’t granted a ring. The human world they left behind goes on much as before, just without them, but there are rumbles in the scythe world. Both Citra and Rowan have shaken things up, and their lives might be in danger because of it.

Even though Goddard is dead and gone, his disciples still push for the ideals he promoted. And the old order scythes are scrambling to maintain the tried and true ways. Even though it’s forbidden, the Thunderhead begins to look for a subtle way to get involved in the mayhem. Old order versus new age…What is the future of the scythdome? And will the losing faction survive?

The whole book was good, but Shusterman really hit his stride in the second half of Thunderhead. The reveals came fast and furiously, and there were a couple of jaw-dropping moments, for sure. All of the main characters had great storylines, but I enjoyed Faraday’s most of all. I’m interested to see what his discovery means and why it bothers a certain entity so much.

Another element of this sequel I enjoyed was learning a little more about the unusual religious group mentioned in Scythe. Oh, those Tonists! I was a little confused about the Great Resonance they’ve been waiting for and its significance to the overall plot. I’m glad Shusterman explored area this a little more.

And then that ending…what a shake-up! Where do we go from here, Mr. Shusterman? When and where will book three pick up? I can’t wait to find out! If you haven’t read this series or you haven’t read Thunderhead yet, pick up a copy now! You won’t be disappointed.

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We're going to pretend this is a review and not 500 words of mindless fangirl babble as my brain dissolves, okay?

Glad we got that out of the way. Thunderhead is book two in the Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman. This will probably have spoilers for book one because, well, that's sort of how series work.

I really liked Scythe, but I LOVED Thunderhead. It was everything the first book was and soooo much more. I sort of went in expecting something just as good as the first book, but this blew my mind. Once I started, I couldn't put it down.

Thoughts:

- Oh my Thunderhead, Scythe Lucifer is probably the greatest thing ever, and I'm okay with that. I mean, okay, sure, his tactics are a bit questionable, and he resides in a very morally gray area, but grey characters are the best! Rowan is doing what he thinks is best, and he's actually trying to SAVE the Scythedom. By killing parts of it, but you know, sometimes that's how it works. I loved the double meaning between Lucifer, as obviously the Biblical meaning but also the fact that it means light-bringer, and he's trying to illuminate the way into a better future.

- The Thunderhead itself was a freaking fantastic character and is probably my favorite part of the whole book. Despite it not being human, Thunderhead was made by humans, and there is something distinctly human in the struggles that it faces. Somehow, Shusterman manages to squeeze a whole character arc in for this nearly omniscient AI. And it was glorious.

- I went in expecting a roller coaster ride, like the first one, and I wasn't disappointed ... but it was sort of more than I expected? There was very little about the plot that was unpredictable, and even when I thought I knew what was about to happen, I second-guessed everything. Each time I thought I had gotten over a shock to my feels, another one popped up and tore the wound open again.

- WHAT EVEN IS THAT ENDING? THERE ARE NO WORDS. NO SPOILERS, I KNOW. But trust me, you want to read it just for the ending. It will destroy you. In the best ways. That's all I'll say.

- I have nothing really bad to say about this. It was too perfect and everything I wanted in a dystopian book and how dare it? I mean, I suppose I can fake moral outrage at that. How dare so much perfect reside between two covers?

This review will be different from my others, because Thunderhead is the second book of a trilogy. For those of you who have not read the first book, Scythe (waddaya waiting for, btw?), I will tread more broadly than usual so there will be no spoilers. To refresh: In the future there is no hunger, poverty, war, or climate issue. All disease has been eradicated, so people live forever. As a result, the world is overpopulated. Scythes are individuals chosen and trained to "glean" (kill) people randomly in order to control overpopulation. To maintain order over the entire world, there is an artificial intelligence (AI) "overseer" called The Thunderhead. In Thunderhead, it is one year after the end of the first book, where Rowan and Citra - two teenage Scythe apprentices - discovered whether or not they had been chosen as Scythes. The Thunderhead sees and knows all - it is a kind and just overseer who works for the good of mankind. It cannot, however, interfere with what Scythes do, and it is unhappy with what it sees. Trust between Scythes is deteriorating. Scythes are gleaning inhumanely, turning against each other - and killing one another. Who is killing who? Why? What are Citra and Rowan doing during all of this? The Thunderhead cannot interfere but is there ANYTHING it can do?

Neal Schusterman has once again written an unsettling and deeply satisfying YA dystopian story about the most basic issues facing mankind - love, hate, and trust. Thunderhead has characters that you will love and never forget, an ending that will blow your mind, and I now patiently wait for the final book of this trilogy. I really hope you read Scythe, then read Thunderhead, then wait with me.

It's just a few months after the events of the first book as this opens. Scythe Anastasia is making waves for her unconventional method of giving her gleaning choices a month to prepare before their death and the choice of the method of their death. Scythe Curie is still by her side, and loving the waves that her protege is making. Neither of them has any clue that someone has decided they both need to be taken out of the equation, but the Thunderhead does. The rules prevent him from directly interfering, but he has other ways to influence the world when he really wants to. So he puts a young man, Greyson, whom he's raised on the path to figure out that these two scythes are in danger and must be warned. Of course, Greyson has absolutely no idea how much his life is about to change as he follows the hints of his guardian. Meanwhile, Scythe Lucifer has been carefully meting out justice to scythes that deserve it. He's been careful, but he knows Scythe Constantine and others are on his trail and it is probably just a matter of time before someone catches him. But he really would never have guessed who. And on the other side of the world Faraday is following a nursery rhyme to look for something the founding scythes left to help make things right if the scythedom ever failed. Which is good. Because things are not looking good at all for the scythedom or the world. And only a few realize just how bad things are, and one of them, the Thunderhead can't take any direct action to fix it.

Why must we wait an entire year for the next book? That was a horrible place to stop. I didn't want it to end. This was utterly fantastic. And unbelievably even better than the first book (which is hard to fathom because the first book was also fantastic). Shusterman has created such an interesting world and cast of characters. The Thunderhead's little notes in between chapters were full of poignant observations about human nature! So very much good stuff in here to get readers thinking about real issues in the world and what is or is not being done. But you don't feel like you're being preached to or lectured; it is seamlessly woven into a very engaging story. It may sound odd, but this book wasn't anywhere near as bloody as the first one. Yes, there still are a few gleanings and deadish moments, but the gleaning business takes a back seat to the world politics and power plays going on. And boy, is there a complicated mess of political positioning going on! But figuring it all out is half the fun, as well as watching Citra/Anastasia and Curie and Rowan and Faraday's genius countermoves (and the Thunderhead's), and all that keeps you turning those pages. So, so good. If you're looking for a series that will provide lots to talk about in a book club, snatch this one up and the first book in the series.

Notes on content: About two swear words. No sex scenes. It is hinted some side characters sleep together, and one woman propositions a man, but nothing on page and nothing sexually explicit discussed. There are some gleanings, most are very humane, but there are still ruthless scythes out there more nasty and a few scenes show them, there's also the attempts on Anastasia and Curie that end badly for others, Rowan is in several "training sessions" that are a bit brutal, and there's also a catastrophe at the end that results in numerous deaths some bloody and some self gleanings.

“I have coddled humanity for too long. And although the human race is a parent to me, I see it more and more as an infant I hold close to me. An infant cannot walk if it is forever in loving arms. And a species cannot grow if it never faces the consequences of its own actions. To deny humanity the lesson of consequences would be a mistake. And I do not make mistakes.”

--

Well god damn. Neal Shusterman has done it again. I really don’t understand how this man can write the most perfect of books every single time.

It’s not common for the second book in a series to blow me out of the water. Statistically, it just doesn’t happen very often. Sequels usually feel like a filler, or better yet, a bridge from the first book to the last. They feel like something that gets you from point A to point B, but nothing of real importance really happens until the end to set you up for that third and final book. While the ending of Thunderhead contains a pivotal moment that greatly sets up the premise for book three, there was so much greatness throughout the rest of the book that I almost forgot it was a sequel.

We see the return of our two main characters, Citra and Rowan, and we continue to see the story through both of their perspectives. Not only do we get to see the story being told from their points of view, but we also get to see it being told from many other perspectives as well. From various Scythes to a new character by the name of Greyson Tolliver, we get to see this story from many different vantage points.

Within Scythe, between each chapter, we got to read journal entries from various Scythes, while in Thunderhead we are treated to the thoughts of the Thunderhead in between chapters. Can I just quickly say how unique and eerily plausible this story is. We all know what The Cloud is. We all know how it works, just a convenient piece of technology right? But imagine this piece of technology becomes sentient. It now has thoughts and feelings. It has evolved and taken over the world, but not in the horrible way that most media depicts a technology takeover. Instead, it uses its smarts to cure the world of everything that makes it rotten, or almost everything. It does all it can to perfect humanity and planet earth, yet once something happens outside of its control…once it feels betrayed, it decides to play god and take matters into its own hands. Brilliant. Neal Shusterman is brilliant.

There were little things that Shusterman did here and there that made this story feel absolutely believable. For example, when a few characters are looking for a lost land, one asks “like Atlantis? Or Disneyland or Las Vegas?” This really makes the story feel realistic, the fact that there were places mentioned that are real for us, but no longer are for them. Another example would be something as small as these characters not understanding what a wheel chair is because the Thunderhead has cured all disabilities. Or another, that even though technology has clearly advanced, something such as inhabiting other planets or the moon is still an impossibility whereas any other novel would have that as the immediate answer to the overpopulation caused by humanity no longer dying. It’s little things like this that make a novel truly memorable.

I absolutely loved this book, and yes, even though parts of it were definitely bridges to something bigger for the third book, Thunderhead completely blew me away. It was definitely on par, if not even better than Scythe! Can I get book three now please?!

I have no idea how to begin to write this review. I don't know how to describe how incredibly fantastic Thunderhead is!!! The Arc of a Scythe series has become a new recent favorite and I cannot stop talking and fangirling about it. It's because it is soooo GOOD!

Thunderhead is the second book of the series, in here, as a reader we explore the Scythedome system and experience how faulty it could be. Rowan and Citra (the two main characters), try in their own separate ways to help abolish the corruption and like the Thunderhead says it, keep administrating "the quietus of death with a noble, morale, and humane hand". The situation is getting out of hand, but the goodness of the humans inside the Scythedome are working hard to control the "new order", but at what cost? This quote from the book narrows it down:
"We have just entered the worst of all possible worlds."--Sythe Asimov
In this book, new characters appear that add up so well to the story and we get to know the older ones in a deeper level. I love how even though the Thunderhead is a "machine", it is written as a character and even shows an astonishing degree of human emotions. The Thunderhead and Scythe Curie are my very favorite in this book. They both show the highest character strength and personality in my opinion and they left me with a strong impression. This book ended with both of them being as amazingly as any character can possibly get, they are that cool!

I also want to mention how the Thunderhead communicated and formed part of this story without having a body. The Thunderhead is the technological advance that humanity created to take care of themselves and earth. It is all seeing, with cameras almost everywhere and handles pretty much every technology in the world. With that said, the Thunderhead notices almost everything. EVERYTHING. So, after every chapter as a reader, one can know what the Thunderhead thinks of the situation. Those bits of after thoughts are pure genius! Also, it can communicate to all human beings (except with the Scythes because they are out of its jurisdiction or "unsavories" which are as close to criminals as humans can get) and talk to them as a parent or best friend that makes it a favorite among people.

Another thing that I want to mention is how surprising the story development is. It started with the same pace as the first book, but it quickly reshaped into something else. Consequences from the decisions made in Scythe started to alter Thunderhead and I was constantly startled with each chapter that I read. GOSH, THE ENDING!!! I cried, I was furious, I was heartbroken, I was a mess of emotions throughout this book. I cannot wait for the next book!

Final Verdict:

I am obsessed with the Arc of a Scythe series and Thunderhead came and impossibly cemented even more my feelings for it. It is an intriguing, fascinating, action packed, heartbreaking story that I will follow until the end of it. Now excuse me while I go drown my feelings with cake until the next book comes out.

“The work of scythes is not to completely curb population growth, but to smooth its edges. That is why, at current quotas, one’s chance of being gleaned is only 10 percent over the next thousand years. Just enough to make gleaning the furthest thing from most people’s minds.

I do foresee a time, however, when population growth will need to reach an equilibrium. Zero growth, one person dying for every person born.”
~The Thunderhead

This series is officially my very favorite dystopian series. The idea is seriously so fascinating and it addresses issues in a way that creates interesting conversations about things I had never even thought about for the future. The idea is that humans can truly live forever because of the development of technology, and all knowledge is stored in a “cloud” called the Thunderhead. The Thunderhead being all knowing is also what is used to govern all people on the earth, with the exception of one group, the scythes. Scythes are used to curb population overgrowth, and are sent to kill or “glean” people under a specific set of guidelines and with a certain quota to meet.

In this second book we learn even more about this world and just how deep the Thunderhead’s knowledge and control goes. Some truly shocking things occur in this book, and when it was over I found myself just staring at the last page, a bit in shock at all that had happened. I cannot recommend this series enough. This book is a definite five star read for me.

Ahoy there me mateys! If ye haven’t read the first book in this series,Scythe (Arc of a Scythe), then ye might want to skip this post and go read the first book. Worth the read. If ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .

I am absolutely glad I read this novel. I loved it! This book is set one year after the events of book one. Citra is a junior scythe and is trying to settle into that new role. At the same time, her approach to death is unusual and is causing political waves. Rowan has chosen to become an vengeful angel of death known as “Lucifer” and attempts to fight the corruption of scythes from the outside. Much to the chagrin of the organization. The clash between the new wave scythes and the older guard continues to cause havoc.

I thought this book be way better than the first novel in terms of plot and pacing. The Thunderhead viewpoints were fun and I adored the addition of Greyson. In fact he became me favourite character in the book. And I loved the ending all around. I won’t give any other details because no spoilers. But I am eagerly awaiting book three and think that all of me crew should give this series a chance. Arrrr!

Review Thunderhead is the thrilling sequel to Scythe, an intriguing science fiction series written by Neal Shusterman. After the events of the first book, I was very interested to see where the story would lead and I was not disappointed.

Both the world and the characters developed beautifully over the course of the novel. I felt that the main characters were provided with additional depth and nuanced motives. It allowed them to be more realized and unique individuals. They struggled with their places in the world and had to come to terms with a changing Scythedom. Even some of the supporting characters were more fleshed out.

It was fascinating to see the story progression and how the Scythedom was coping with all of the upheaval from the first book. Despite the fact that it is the second book in a larger series, I didn’t feel like it succumbed to the usual second book slump. Although the action wasn’t fast paced at all times, I felt that the pacing was smooth and I never felt bored by the plot.

I would highly recommend this series and cannot wait to see what happens in the third book.

Thunderhead is the second book in the Arc of a Scythe series. I was really looking forward to this book because I loved the first one, but was somewhat disappointed in it because of the slow pace. I expected to understand the Thunderhead better, but unfortunately, I am just as confused about it as I was in the first book. This book follows the separate lives of Rowan and Citra (Scythe Anastasia). This book also has a big surprise that I did not like at all! This book has lots of action near the end, including a very interesting concave and ends on a cliff hanger, of course.

This book gets better as it goes along but I really did not like the ending or the big surprise. I still like Scythe Anastasia and Rowan in this book and kept hoping that somehow Scythe Faraday would be able to fix everything but that didn’t happen. Scythe Curie is very cool in this book too, I liked Greyson Tolliver as well, and hope that somehow he’ll become a scythe in the next book. His relationship with the Thunderhead was confusing to me, but hopefully it will all clear up in the next book. The Thunderhead seems to be kind of an artificial god with some limits. I am ready to see what happens in the next book of this series!

Wow. This book blew me away. I was eagerly awaiting this book and I tore through it in a few days. One of Shusterman' s strengths is definitely world building and background in his novels and this book was no exception. I loved the little glimpses we get into the Thunderhead's mind between every chapter and I really felt like they added a lot more into understanding why it "acts" the way it does.

Citra and Rowan have come a long way since the first book and they've both developed as characters; they go from being scythe's apprentices to Scythe Anastasia and the ever dangerous Scythe Lucifer. It was nice to see Rowan toughen up a bit, but I think that he could have been present more often in some chapters and the new character, Greyson, less.

However, Scythe Curie is the shining star of Thunderhead. I still can't believe what Shusterman did to her at the end..!

The last hundred pages were just...amazing. The action is fast paced and I'm still in shock over that ending!
I'm still thinking about this book even after a few days, it's that good.

I eagerly await the next one!

I listened to both Scythe and Thunderhead on audio and love the narration.

Thunderhead picks up where Scythe left off and it just keeps the story going. All your favorite scythes as well as hated scythes are back for the continuation and a few more characters become important to the story as Thunderhead continues. There will be a third book in the series (possibly being released next year) titled The Toll and I cannot wait to read it! This is a series where you finish the first book then you MUST have the next book. These books are that addicting. Shusterman has created a fabulous future with the Scythe series that really causes you to ponder and debate.

There are several jaw dropping events that happening and I won’t even begin to go into the climax of the novel other than to say this: I wish I had The Toll to read now! Shusterman really knows how to keep you hanging and needing more!

Thunderhead is very highly recommended.

Reading this book was a physical experience. Not only is this book a massive tome that weighed on my day bag (at least by my standards, 500 pages is a long book for me), but I also had to put this book down several times with a heavy sigh.

It’s also one of the first books I’ve read with clear echoes of the 2016 election. I’ve met thinly veiled and parodied versions of Donald Trump in other 2017 titles this year, but this is the first book I’ve read post-2016 that attempts to examine how a state of politics reflects a state of the soul.

I’m going to skip an attempt at a plot summary for now, but I’ll just add that reading book 1 (Scythe) is vital for book 2, and my long-term hope is that this book series becomes a high school book club favorite alongside classics like Brave New World and Blade Runner. I feel like this book hits a terrific medium point between philosophy and plot-driven sci-fi novel. Readers who want to ponder more deeply into technology’s role in our daily lives and the intersections between technology and politics will, and readers who just want a good story will be satisfied at that.

Right from the very first page, I knew I was going to love THUNDERHEAD as much as I loved SCYTHE. It opens so strongly with the thoughts from the Thunderhead, the godlike "cloud" that protects and watches over the now immortal human race. From there on, I was treated to a solid, beautifully composed story full of shocks, twists, and betrayals that I never saw coming, and an ending that has me begging for more. While this isn't an action-heavy story, it is nonetheless engaging in its world building, which offers new aspects and perspectives as well as old traditions, and its characters, mainly my beloved Rowan and Citra. Each character has a special place in my heart, but I have to give most of the credit to Citra who completely owned some major scenes and changed the game for the scythedom. And that ending... gah, that ending! I don't know what to expect from the third book, but I know it will both break my heart and take my breath away. I cannot recommend these books highly enough. An amazing journey from start to finish, and an utterly unique idea that you will never forget!

Thunderhead is the second book in Arc of a Scythe trilogy.
The Schythodedom is corrupt, there are unworthy Scythes walking the continent. The Thunderhead is still bound by laws so it cannot get involved.

Since the age of mortality, there are now only a couple of ways to permanently kill a human, since humans can now be revived from most deaths. Rowan has taken it upon himself to make sure that he uses a method that is sure to permanently kill to remove those corrupted scythes, to prevent them from causing more harm to humanity. Citra is stuck on the other side, and as a young scythe she too is fearing for her own life and is also on the run.

Both the Schythodedom and the Thunderhead will soon meet their greatest challenge and scariest fears.

I loved this book. It was entertaining, interesting, full of plot twits and the ending was incredibly amazing, unexpected and unpredictable! This book was just as enjoyable as book 1, if not even more so. I was worried in the beginning that there were new characters being introduced but I soon realized that was Ok, as I quickly grew to love them, and did not mind that they were brought into the story at such a deep level. The new characters just added a new dimension to an already fascinating story line.

My one and only small issue with this book is that I felt that one of the main Character from book 1 had a lesser role to play in this book, and I really liked that characters so I was hoping for more storytelling there. But overall it exceeded all my other expectations. I really need the next book in the trilogy now!

It is rare for a sequel to surpass the opening of a series, but I believe that Thunderhead does it. I was completely caught off-guard a few times and am pretty sure that I made an audible gasp and possibly a tiny shriek once. And while I knew something momentous was coming in the book’s conclusion and had suspicions as to what it would be, I only grasped a part of it. This future world, with its scythes killing in order to keep the population at sustainable levels, its medical advances to allow people to defeat aging and death, and a benevolent Thunderhead of knowledge is scary. Mr. Shusterman weaves this fast-paced thriller in such a way that while so much is completely implausible, his allusions to today’s trends make the reader wonder if we might be headed that way. It is my hope that fans will do as much questioning of themselves as The Thunderhead does. I will definitely be an the lookout for ARC opportunities because a 2019 release date for The Toll seems very far away.

Neal Shusterman is genius! It's like he watched all of the same TedTalks I have about "Do you trust your computer" and the consequences that follow the development of AI and created a believable fiction wrapped around it. I love the twist from the "cloud" to the "Thunderhead" because the imagery foreshadows the tone AI will have to come to in order to "save Earth". I love how he breaks the 4th wall having the Thunderhead talk directly to the reader, and how it alone seems just and humble " I know nothing", yet is humanity's best chance for survival. I love the Sythedom and Unsavory creation and the development of characters who are purported to be above humans, certainly more ethical than their mortal ancestors, yet they too are so believably frail and succumb to temptations like those they judge. I love the truly diabolical gleaning of the brightest minds who could thwart the renaissance of human creativity beyond the Thunderhead - in space and otherwise, and by a duo who use the author's name of the epic novel, "Atlas Shrugged" where the brightest minds are also removed from the Earth. Shusterman's hint on page415 to his earlier Unwind Dystopian series was fantastic. I fan-girled all over the place when I read it. Neal, I bow to your supernatural gift for story-telling!

The quality of Thunderhead is just as superb as its sequel. The plot thickens and twists in a few ways that I wasn't expecting.

And Mr. Shusterman, I am so frustrated that you're leaving us with this gigantic cliffhanger. I can't wait until the next book in the series.

I've been eagerly awaiting the release of Thunderhead since completing Scythe. I devoured the book! It was absolutely phenomenal! There were twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to finish the book to see what happened next and didn't want to finish it because I didn't want it to end. A thought provoking and delicious read.

This is a great sequel to the scythe series!!! This reading takes you through many twists and turns. I had a few jaw dropping moments while reading it. I highly recommend reading this book. It’s great!!

Sadly, there is talk of making these books into films. Films in which murderers are elevated to a special of society and treated like celebrities. As if we don’t have enough entertainment in the form of books, film, and video games that make killing seem romantic, Mr. Schusterman has concocted a plot in which the killers are above the law and lead incredibly luxurious lives. To boot, there are also characters who get a kick out of killing themselves.

I hope the author doesn’t sleep well at night when he considers that his books, and possibly films, are promoting and romanticizing violence.

A year has passed since I read Scythe for the first time. I counted down the days until Thunderhead would be released. I jumped up and down when I opened the box and there it sat in all its gorgeous glory. I opened it and descended into the world of Scythes gleaning and the Thunderhead guiding and the human population living. Scythe Lucifer spends his time trying to save Scythedom from corruption and murder. Citra tries to embrace Scythe Anastasia and grow into her own method of gleaning. Scythe Curie carefully guides and teaches her former apprentice, turned junior Scythe while trying to keep up with her own gleaning. And in this book, the Thunderhead is revealed. Its thinking, and strangely, its feeling comes out in great detail! It cares for the world and humans and it works constantly to care for them and protect them, all while trying to preserve privacy and freedom. I was fascinated by the way Shusterman compares Thunderhead to God, yet focuses on the differences between the two. And then, at page 450, when I realized that there weren’t enough pages to resolve the story, my stomach started to clench. And no, the story didn’t resolve, this isn’t a duology, there’s another book in the series . . . and it doesn’t come out until 2019!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to throw the book across the room and curse the name of Neal Shusterman with every evil thing and swear word I could possibly think of!!!!!!!! I’m never going to make it, I’m gonna die of anticipation, that’s it. I would talk about all the philosophy and logic and ethics and deep thinking that were in Thunderhead, but I’m just too mad. I would highly suggest waiting to read this series until the next book comes out . . . oh gosh, what if that’s not the last book in the series???? GRRRRRRRRRRR!! That’s it, no more reading!!! I can’t take the stress!!! Ok, let’s get back to a professional review. I would absolutely recommend this series to anybody. I would save this for more mature teens, not because of objectionable elements, but because more mature thinking is required. An excellent book and series . . . so excellent that it draws you in and envelops you just to keep you hanging off a dang cliffhanger!

I purchased this book from the store after reading Scythe with @halflostbutterflyreadalong. All opinions are my own. ????? Thunderhead by Neal Schusterman. After reading Scythe I had to know what happened to Citra and Rowan after the conclave that suggested their futures. And I was not disappointed. These two and their tough breaks will keep you wanting to know more. Only now their are other characters I must know more about on top of needing to know more about them. Even though this book was long there was no lull which impressed me, however.........Schusterman is torturing us until 2019 when book 3 will be released. Because of course the end of this one can not be the end. ?

I thought Scythe was an intriguing novel. It was good enough for me to want to read the sequel. But I wasn't expecting the series to grow exponentially better and more satisfying. The novel asks a lot of questions and poses a number of ethical issues. What makes it even more fascinating is that one of the main characters is an A.I.(artificial intelligence). It's a remarkable achievement to make a fully formed non-human character so relatable. I doubt this novel will get the true crtical recognition it deserves but it was a real joy to read. And now I am utterly bitter to think I have to wait Lord knows how long to read the next installment. What a killer ending!

Wow. Just... wow. The author spins a gripping tale with several powerful, deep characters, a nail-biting plot, and a theme that goes right to the heart. He excellently weaves the small, personal stakes of the characters with worldwide consequences in a way that resonates with our modern-day sensibilities. There's intrigue, betrayal, love, and death... something for everyone honestly. I literally gasped on the last page and cannot wait for book three.

So, I felt that this book was a little slow in some parts, which is the only reason I gave it four stars. I have so many feelings about the events that transpired in this book though, oh my gosh. This book gave me hope that some characters would be okay THEN CRUSHED IT. I am in shock.

I have never written a book review, but this is the best book I've read since Scythe. Just when you think you have it figured out, it changes in a way you weren't predicting. This book has action, admiration for some characters, and horror for others. It is very cleverly written and makes you think long after you have set it down. I can hardly wait until the next book.

The quality of Thunderhead is just as superb as its sequel. The plot thickens and twists in a few ways that I wasn't expecting.

And Mr. Shusterman, I am so frustrated that you're leaving us with this gigantic cliffhanger. I can't wait until the next book in the series.

I've been eagerly awaiting the release of Thunderhead since completing Scythe. I devoured the book! It was absolutely phenomenal! There were twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to finish the book to see what happened next and didn't want to finish it because I didn't want it to end. A thought provoking and delicious read.

although I do not have the digital copy, I finished the hard copy today and, man was it a twist! Before I read the book, I went to a festival where Neal said his fans problably want to kill him for the ending, and now that I read it, I could not see their perspective more clearly!

This is a great sequel to the scythe series!!! This reading takes you through many twists and turns. I had a few jaw dropping moments while reading it. I highly recommend reading this book. It’s great!!

although I do not have the digital copy, I finished the hard copy today and, man was it a twist! Before I read the book, I went to a festival where Neal said his fans problably want to kill him for the ending, and now that I read it, I could not see their perspective more clearly!

Taking me a bit longer to read this book then the first book. Scythe was a very interesting book getting to know the characters and what motivated them made it interesting. The second book just seems a little slow going

Scythe was a shock to the system. It was so surprisingly fresh, original, and well written that I told everyone I knew to read it and was over joyed to know the second book was already out and waiting for me. Thunderhead was fine but not near as straight no and coherent as Scythe. Though things happen in the book, the plot is much more diluted and the pace relatively slow. Rowan, though he starts strong, is essentially irrelevant to the story. As for Citra, we get to see how she evolves as a Scythe but the central plot revolving around her and Marie curie also rather dribbles out to nothing. The last few chapters of the book are stronger, much closer to the first. Interesting bin this story is we get to see the thunderhead evolve as a character. I am not sure the author made the right call I doing this. I think keeping the TH a mystery would have been better for the story. We also are introduced to a new character, Tolliver Grayson. I liked him but his story definitely took away from Rowan and Citra’s. Still, I recommend the book but not with near the enthusiasm I had for the first on.

It’s not a utopia, not a dystopia. But it is the future and it is recognizable. Enjoy this second installment of the Arc of the Scythe story where you follow the story arc of your favorite young people. Who’s good? Who’s not? When does the Thunderhead intervene? Get a good look inside perfection.

The development and rise of Scythe Anastasia is a lovely story in itself. But evil and greed are never very far away, and the events surrounding her are unpredictable to the very end of this book. Sometimes the people the Thunderhead shuns are critical to the future of humanity and the scythedom. Can't wait for number three.

No spoilers in this rapid review of Thunderhead. (There will, however, be minor spoilers for the first book in the series.) I loved it and give it 4.5 stars. Part of the appeal of this series is it’s just so different. Good different. After the extreme popularity of The Hunger Games series, dystopian was THE genre for a time. Now I’ve gone a while without reading much dystopian, and this series made me realize I’ve missed it. Shusterman’s idea is unique and thought-provoking, and his characters are interesting and likable. It’s a win-win-win (or something similar). ?

Citra and Rowan have been on two very different paths since the scythe ceremony. Citra has found the most compassionate way to glean possible, and Rowan is acting as a rogue scythe even though he wasn’t granted a ring. The human world they left behind goes on much as before, just without them, but there are rumbles in the scythe world. Both Citra and Rowan have shaken things up, and their lives might be in danger because of it.

Even though Goddard is dead and gone, his disciples still push for the ideals he promoted. And the old order scythes are scrambling to maintain the tried and true ways. Even though it’s forbidden, the Thunderhead begins to look for a subtle way to get involved in the mayhem. Old order versus new age…What is the future of the scythdome? And will the losing faction survive?

The whole book was good, but Shusterman really hit his stride in the second half of Thunderhead. The reveals came fast and furiously, and there were a couple of jaw-dropping moments, for sure. All of the main characters had great storylines, but I enjoyed Faraday’s most of all. I’m interested to see what his discovery means and why it bothers a certain entity so much.

Another element of this sequel I enjoyed was learning a little more about the unusual religious group mentioned in Scythe. Oh, those Tonists! I was a little confused about the Great Resonance they’ve been waiting for and its significance to the overall plot. I’m glad Shusterman explored area this a little more.

And then that ending…what a shake-up! Where do we go from here, Mr. Shusterman? When and where will book three pick up? I can’t wait to find out! If you haven’t read this series or you haven’t read Thunderhead yet, pick up a copy now! You won’t be disappointed.

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