Scythe (Arc of a Scythe Book 1)

I checked this book out of my public library to review for suggesting as a read to my middle school students. I did suggest this book as a "must read". The love of this book spread like wildfire. This book is very well written. In fact, it is a Printz Honor–winning book. This book has several plot twists that I never saw coming. They also surprised and thrilled my students. Schusterman does an excellent job with his character development. It is unique how the author exposes the characters to the reader making them fearless and vulnerable at the same time. I had my favorite characters and ones I wish I could glean. The Scythe was my favorite character. He is wonderfully written and a character that impacts the reader long after the last page is read. His actions, words, and feelings clash with each other, but make him the unique character that he is. I found myself really involved with the characters. This book is very violent and has lots of death. Some of the gleaning scenes are very graphic. If you do not like violence and its details, do not read this book.

This is the first book in the Arc of the Scythes series. Book two, Thunderhead, will be out November 21, 2017, by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. I will definitely be waiting for book two’s release. Several of my students have written this date on their calendars so they don't miss it!

A resounding FIVE STARS to this one!!

I think that if it were a standalone novel, it would be my favorite read this year, at least so far. The story had me glued. I loved the ideas, the kind and caring AI, the need to introduce death somehow into a society where people no longer suffer from illness and disease. But ah, we can never heal us of being human, can we?

Such an intriguing concept. And expertly handled by Shusterman.

I’m already about halfway through the sequel. I was unable to wait to begin reading it, not even an hour! Jumped in immediately. I think that speaks volumes.

I urge anyone who has not yet experienced this story to dive right in. It’s just one of those books that has something for just about everyone.

Happy reading!

I highlighted like a pro with this book BUT, as a whole, it wasn't as amazing as its quotes (if that makes sense). The plot was peppered with sporadic action/horrific violence while the rest seemed like it was trying to be deep and introspective....a recipe for disaster?? NOPE, it worked! Kind of...was it on the boring side?? Yes! Was the burgeoning love unnatural and painful to witness? Yes! BUT it was ok...not my new favorite but it was a semi interesting read.

I've read two of Shusterman's series (Unwind Dystology and the Skinjacker trilogy) before and greatly enjoyed both, so I had a hunch that I would feel the same about "Scythe"... and I was right. I finished it in four days. The book certainly gives you a lot to think about in terms of the pros and cons of "living forever" and the kind of future depicted in this book that follows the "Age of Mortality". What would our lives be like if we -could- live for many decades longer than what we can do now?

I very much look forward to the next book(s?) following "Scythe" and seeing what happens with the Scythedom and the main characters.

I would also like to say that the cover art is very unique and I love it. Props to the artist!

(I had borrowed this book from my library, but I will buy it to own as soon as I can!)

If there is a Team Faraday please let me know because OMG I just love him and I love love this book. In this futuristic world, there is No hunger. No disease. No accidents. The only way to die is to be chosen to die by a Scythe, which are trained to keep the population under control. This follows two characters Citra and Rowan and they are chosen to apprentice by Scythe Faraday for a chance to become a Scythe themselves. Only problem is there is only one spot open and there are two of them. So much more goes on in this book but I find it better to go in with no more info than to know it is an amazing story. I would recommend this to everyone and this book made it to my 2018 Favorites List.

In a long line of bloodig, dark, apocalyptic murder-driving dystopies we got a real utopia here — ... bloodig, dark... men optimistic! I love all books by Neal Shusterman, but this is a special for me, and not only because it's dedicated to me by author. I read everything he wrote, but (the same I can tell about Challenger Deep) this book is a step to higher level. It's not a book for only teens, it's a book for grown-ups as well. Shusterman takes highest philosophical questions here, like: If you, from powers to be, have the power to kill people as a necessary public deed, how would you do it? Would you be a ruthless killer or a compassionate scythe?
This book gave me a lot of space for thoughts. It's really page-turner, and you will never guess the ending. Shusterman's writing style is perfect, the characters are all the time in progression, the plot doesn't stays on one place a minute. Enjoy this book, like I enjoyed it!

This is not my typical genre of reading. However, it was an interesting concept. A time where no one dies so in order to keep population down, the Scythes must "glean" (kill) a certain number of individuals during a given time frame. Scythe Faraday takes on two apprentices, which is not against the rules but not exactly the normal way of training. The book is mainly about the two apprentices and their thoughts about becoming trained killers. It is often brutal as there are rogue Scythes who enjoy their jobs far too much. Nonetheless, overall, it is a decent read for a YA book. Two more books in the series.

This one is a fun sci-fi adventure that would be perfect on an episode of “Amazing Stories,” the anthology that was like “Twilight Zone,” but more funny, less terrifying.

This one is not scary or bleak, but it’s all about death.

In this world, nobody dies naturally. Death is handled by Grim Reapers in fancy robes who visit people and whack them. They aren’t supernatural creatures, just people doing their jobs. The story’s heroes get recruited into the Scythe service and naturally, hijinks ensue.

The story asks a neat SF question, and answers it in a thrilling, clever way. Neal Shusterman has created a complex world to explore this one idea, and I must deliver virtual high-fives for that. (reviewed by Joe Crowe, on Twitter at RevolutionSF.)

Scythe is about Citra and Rowan who are taken as scythe apprentices by the Honorable Scythe Faraday. They live in a utopia type world where death and disease have all but disappeared. People still age but they have the ability to 'turn the corner' and go back to an age they wish and then age again. The only death is left up to the scythes to keep human population under control. Each scythe is given a quota of how many need to be killed so there are not too many or too few deaths. He teaches them about the art of killing and also makes sure they understand that it is not to be taken lightly. After a gleaning ( what they call Killing) he will then visit the persons family as well as the persons funeral. He bases all of his gleanings off of death statistics from the mortal age and chooses the person as randomly as possible. Even though he has killed many, each death takes its toll on him. This is how they Scythedom is supposed to work, but of course there are a few who make it in who live for the bloodshed.

Citra and Rowan are such wonderful characters, I think they grow quite a bit by the end of the book. The politics that were discussed in the story are intricate and well thought out. I was never bored while reading and the book kept up a good pace. It makes you ponder death, what it would be like to live in a place that it hardly existed anymore.

This review is also posted on my goodreads account.

I picked up this book because the premise sounded intriguing (a society that has essentially conquered death + the chosen few who go about killing people for the sake of curbing the population), and I have to say that this book exceeded my expectations on all levels! It was thought-provoking with a well fleshed-out world and society, and the plot was suspenseful and clever. The characters all had fascinating motivations as well. I liked how each of the two main characters had very different motivations for wanting to become a Scythe apprentice, but both of them were relatable in their own right. And like I said before, the plot keeps you guessing until the very end. Definitely one of my favorite YA reads of the year, and I can't wait for the next book!

I picked this book up at my local public library and decided, based on the cover, that this would be an interesting book to read. I, of course, knew about Neal Shusterman, as I had seen many of his books, but I never read them. So this is my very first book by Neal Shusterman, and I have to say that I am very impressed.

While the first three hundred or so pages are very slow-paced, everything that Shusterman puts into those pages and especially the pages after is very interesting. The book is set in a world that is hundreds of years into the future where mortality is literally a thing of the past. People don't necessarily live forever, but once they turn a certain elderly age, they can set their ages back to twenty-one. They can also withstand injuries that were deathly in the "Age of Mortality" and walk away without even a scratch, after being resurrected at a hospital, of course. The only way people can actually die is gleaning by the hands of a Scythe.

The book mainly follows the exploits of Citra and Rowan, two teenagers who have been chosen by Scythe Faraday, named after scientist Michael Faraday, to be trained in the Scythedom. Citra and Rowan do not want to become a Scythe, but that's usually how Scythes are chosen. Once they get into their training, they find that they actually might want to become Scythes and that they are attracted to each other. Of course, only one of them can become a Scythe and this brings another Scythe, whose name escapes me at the moment but is aptly named, to make the suggestion that whoever wins the Scythedom has to kill the loser. This brings disagreement from every Scythe but ultimately becomes the goal at the end of the year. This causes Scythe Faraday to commit suicide so Citra and Rowan do not have to kill the other, but the objective stays the same despite the fact that they now have different mentors.

This book is very well-written but very slow-paced. There was one point where I decided that I wasn't going to finish it because of how slow-paced it was. That could have been me, however. That might be different for other readers. One aspect of the book I liked was how the Scythes are named. They are named after historical figures, such as Michael Faraday, Marie Curie, Noam Chomsky, Robert Goddard, Xenocrates, and much more. I definitely recommend this book to those who like science fiction, dystopia/utopia, and teen fiction. The twist near the end really makes the reader want to read the next book. Can't wait for it.

It was a slow start, but still held my attention. The characters were being explored and the world built. Then second half took off running. I loved and hated the main characters with zest. The writing was superb. I found myself jumping emotions with each page, hopeful, hopeless, excited, sad, mad, outraged and horrified. It ended with a soft cliffhanger, so be ready with book 2. I went into this book blind based on a friends recommendation, my favorite way to explore new to me authors.

It was refreshing to read about a future society which has significant troubles but is not an apocalyptic wasteland. The world-building, such as is necessary for book like this, was well-done, although predictably shallow. The premise had never occurred to me. Citra, our unfortunately-fruit-theme-named heroine, is neither an idiot nor a hypercompetent savant. The lack of romance between her and the male lead Rowan is refreshing. This may be the work of emo-nanites, but if so, I hope that the sequel(s) do not introduce such well-worn pablum. Serious ethical questions abound, as one would expect from a death-themed work. There are more than can be answered in this volume. Scythedom has extremely messy methodology. The Tone Cults are not the principal focus, but seem a wan replacement for religion. Even if the primary motivator of religion is fear of death, it is not the only one; but I do understand how in a book called "Scythe", it would be the one chosen. Perhaps somewhere out there a book about future society exists in the realm between atheist and evangelical. The conclusion sets up the conflict nicely without wholly endorsing or condemning either side.

Ok this book blew me away! I originally got it because I thought the concept sounded interesting. I thought that this would just be a filler book until I could find a different book. But boy was I wrong! This book kept me interested and intrigued the entire time! The writing is amazing! But most importantly the world that the book takes place(the future) is so interesting and kind of believable. The author does such a good job making the world come to life! The detail is crazy! The characters in the book are so love able! You are cheering for them, crying for them, screaming at them, just feeling all the feels! This is not a fluf book! If you have any doubts about this book, let me help you make the decision. GET THE BOOK!!! You won’t regret it......and the second book is good too!

Let us start with: this is a great book. The characters were well thought out and Citra and Rowan were characters never to be forgotten.
I won't give away the book, but I will give you the gist of it. Rowan and Citra are selected to be scythes. Scythes glean or control thr population. By killing people. You may think ulgh (say that out loud, and you know what I mean). This is more than that. It is their physical and mental journey to scythedom. This book shows their inner thoughts and feelings for all scythes should not enjoy taking life, some though, are bad.
I hoped this review was helpful. I highly suggest that you read this book. It is quite well written. Also this book is not just for boys because it has violence in it. I think girls will get a lot out of this book as well as boys.
Review by a person in 7th grade.

I bought this for my 7th grade classroom library and my very first reader did a Book Talk on it yesterday! He made the book sound so exciting and the class was riveted as he read a excerpt which takes place on a plane. In this dystopia novel, Neal Shusterman masterfully creates an interesting world where people can be resurrected, but in order to control the population, certain young people are trained as Scythes. They are able to mete out death without the possibility of resurrection. It is a difficult responsibility to carry, and as we are all human, some deal with it better than most. We follow two candidates, a boy and a girl, through their extremely difficult training (both physically and mentally) and tension rises as only one of them will become a Scythe and the other will be reaped! A great read for YA and adults alike. Really hoping for a sequel!

Words cannot describe how unbelievable this book was. I could not read fast enough to see where the story was headed and when I thought I had figured everything out, the story took a different turn. In a world where disease and death are a thing in the past, its up to individuals chosen as scythes to keep the population under control. Scythe is truly a unique and original story staged in a captivating world with interesting and relatable characters. I would highly recommend this book to teen and adult readers alike.

The first half and last third of the book were the most enjoyable. I liked the main couple and the "good" scythe. I hated those diamond studded ones. One thing that bothered me about the world was the way population control was handled. Why didn't they limit the number of children people could have like China's old One-Child policy instead of just using scythes to glean? Although this is an interesting world, I'm not sure I'll continue with the series.

I’ll keep my opinions brief. Although the premise inherently has plausibility and plot flaws, the novel is a very entertaining and intriguing and subtly delves into the philosophy of “What it really means to be alive” and explores themes of cheating death. The pacing is one of the best of any novel I have read. My expectations for Thunderhead are quite high. Overall, Scythe's "execution" was...."breathtaking". (+2 for puns)

The author of the Unwind series brings us another convincing dystopia. Several hundred years in the future "The Cloud" has become The Thunderhead, an artificially intelligent being that has collected and made accessible all human knowledge, ended the need for politics and government, brought an end to crime, and mastered the "revival" of human beings, making them virtually immortal. However, The Thunderhead leaves population control to the jurisdiction of scythes, where politics, power, fear-mongering and blood-thirst battle against compassion and justice. The mature, thought-provoking style makes this a must-have addition to a teen dystopian collection.

Interesting futuristic plot that mimics religious cults ("ordained" scythes playing God) and the National Security Agency or New World Order (Thunderhead). Is this predictive programming for our young adults so they more readily accept mass depopulation and more aggressive government control? The importance of compassion and morality kept me interested and hopeful while finishing the book.

I couldn't put this book down. Each night I looked forward to bedtime because it meant that I got to read Scythe. I'm surprised Scythe hasn't seen heights of popularity like the Hunger Games because it's that good or perhaps even better. Shusterman keeps you wondering, "How are they going to get out of this one?" And just when things start to settle down, there's another plot twist and another wrinkle. I also like that, even though this book is part of a series, Scythe stands on its own. As I neared the end of the book I begged, "Please don't leave me hanging until the second book." This book leaves you with the satisfaction of resolution, but the excitement for the continuation of the story. I am excited to read Thunderhead.

I will start with the only problem I have with this new series: its premise. I find it implausible, partly because an alternative is very casually treated as impractical. This dismissive assessment may, however, turn out to be a purposely disseminated misconception, which would make matters more interesting.

The premise, the plot, the characters are all beautifully developed, which should be no surprise to those familiar with Shusterman's work. I gobbled the book down rapidly and am now left impatiently waiting for the next installment.

I really liked the concept but the execution felt flat and boring. There was no true substance to the characters or the story and my mind kept wandering. I don't get all of the 5 star ratings - it's well written but lacking in richness and complexity. Even the relationships feel forced. I doubt I will read the next book in the series because this was a total chore.

So as the headline says, this is my first time reading this author and I truly enjoyed it. I stay glued to it from front to back and never felt it lagging. (Could be cause I read very large chunks at a time ;)The premise of the book is very interesting. There are enough "I'm a amature reviewers" type reviews already so I won't go into detail about the story. It's seems a lot more violent than a normal teen level book but not Stephen King level violent. Keep that in mind when suggesting this to younger audiences.

I didn't get the appeal when I first heard about this one and I still don't. The tone is incredibly dry which I think is probably intentional but unappealing. The references used for a future setting felt off. And while a lot of people are buying into the utopian setting I'm not. A true utopia shouldn't breed corruptions and chaos which is really the only way you can classify some of the scythes.

A new dystopian series that has everything I love. Star-crossed (almost) lovers pitted against one another in a battle to the death. Throw in some truly evil characters, a few noble mentors, a handful of mystery, and a very cool computer system (The Thunderhead) and you have the recipe for a great series. This is book 1 and book 2 is already on my to be read list.

I was drawn to this book because of the concept and I read some before I bought it. I personally enjoy books that make me think afterwards, whether it's about the good aspects of the book or what could have been better.
The more I think it through there are faults to this furturistic world but that doesn't kill the story for me. The pace is a little slow and I found myself skipping some paragraphs. I found the characters to be intriguing, though the main characters could have had deeper thoughts like the scythe's journal entries. There were bits of predictability but some surprises for me as well but overall I really enjoyed the concept and story line.

The one major part that I hated about this book is:
SOMEWHAT OF A SPOILER BELOW
If you aren't assuming this from the description, the two main characters "fall in love" but I found that there was a total lack of build up in their relationship for them to be in love at the end. I don't really like books that are too relationship heavy that there isn't a good plot but this one needed a little bit more because it just seemed they were pushed together at the end. So if you like relationship heavy stories this is not going to be a good one for you.

I read this book because a friend recommended it to me. I wasn't sure what to think when I first picked up this book, but I was surprised at how good it was. The author has really done a great job on building this world and the characters to make them feel real. There was a lot of thought put into the benefits and consequences of this society, even some of the more funnier aspects of it.

Wow. Just wow. How without death humanity loses its inspiration, loses love for life. A story of corruption. Of how even when humanity strives to be pure and just, the monstrous side of us will rear its ugly head. A story of politics and of love. About how it takes becoming a monster to stop one. And remaining pure might be impossible when faced with choices concerning life and death. Go Scythe Lucifer...go be the monster we need. Loved this book!

I really enjoyed this book. It is a great interpretation of our future world. It has a great story line and a wonderful climax. I do feel that at the end of the book, last thirty to forty pages, was a bit rushed. I guess that I was just looking for more of the same and it turned into a block and chop style writing which I didn't care for. That is the only reason I am giving it four stars and not five. I would give it 4.5 if I could. It really is a great read and my little quab about the last few pages does not take a way from this great story.

This book is addictive and captivating. I can't wait to use it with my 12th grade English class! The characters and well constructed, the storyline is gripping and the utopian world presented makes for excellent moral, ethical and societal questions.

This is the first of Neal Shusterman's novels that I have read. And I can say that it did not disappoint! This book focuses on two characters & their journey to become a scythe. In a world that no longer has death on today's scale, scythes are the bringers of death via gleaning people.

One such scythe, HS Faraday choices two young people as his apprentices. This novel follows the apprenticeship year for the two of them.

The book Scythe by Neal Shusterman is a modern classic in my opinion. It talks about corruption and emotions and while set in the future, cannot be more close to home. There is never a dull moment, from Tyger’s “splatting” to Scythe Curie’s death dinners. My favorite character is probably Scythe Volta because even though he is part of Scythe Goddard’s gang, he is still truly human and is what a true scythe should be. My first impression of this book was that it was just another generic futuristic utopia novel, but I soon changed my mind. My least favorite character is High Blade Xenocrates mostly because he was being played as a pawn by Scythe Goddard the whole time. In conclusion, read this book. It’s great, trust me.

I love this book. I haven’t read a plethora of books that I love becuse it is using hard for me to keep reading. There is a different issue with this one though because I just spent the last 4 hours trying to finish it so it’s currently 1:17 and I still homework and I still have to go to school tomorrow. This book is amazing and I wish more people were taking about it, I using anticipate Something because they are obvious But the twistes that are in this book are not obvious and it invokes so many emotions at once that it’s at the point of hysteria. Though it is complete with it for this amazing book.

So I purchased this book with a gift card I received for my birthday. And I wasn't sure what to expect as there was not a sample available at the time... well boy oh boy! This book truly blew me away! I loved the whole idea of earth essentially being a utopian society that had conquered death! What do teens do when they know they can't die?! Well they "splat"- jump off buildings! Ha!
Anywho, so I had tried to guess the ending of this book. I really did. I thought so and so was going to let so and so win, and guesses like that. But I was wrong! And even better, one of them ended up being a complete badass known as Scythe Lucifer. Legit AF

Anyways that's all for my mostly useless review. I don't wanna spoil it, but basically it was good.

Days later and I'm still thinking about this book. It's so well written. The story is an original twist on an old legend, and the world building here is phenomenal. It managed to surprise me and I'm always impressed when a book can take me by surprise. I also loved that it made me think. I'm genuinely looking forward to getting back into this universe and reading the second one.

I really liked this one! It was super interesting and complex; I loved the characters the premise of it all and how Shusterman wrote it. Really a fascinating read, and I'm super excited to continue with the series.

I didn't want this to end! Now I have to wait months for the next book! Just when you think you know what is going to happen Stusterman pulls the rug out from under you and you have to start from square one again. Trust no one and don't assume you know a character until they show their true colors. Buckle up and expect the ride of your life with this one!

I really enjoyed the first book in the series. I finished this book in four days. Which is good for a huge book. I loved the whole story. This story had a lot twists in it. I loved the ending. I can't wait to read the next book.

Neal Shusterman is by far my favorite YA author. His Unwind and Everlost series I could not get enough of. Although I did enjoy this book (and so did most of my students), I didn't have the NEED to finish it in like I did the rest of his books. I just didn't feel like there was enough detail to connect with the characters.

This YA book is great for adults too. I’m 66 and enjoyed the audio version very much. Greg Tremblay does a superb job making all the characters come alive. Neil Shusterman writes a tale that’s hard to put down. The next book is ready for Audible in Jan 2018. Yay! The joy of audio is I can enjoy more books while cleaning, cooking, knitting, traveling etc!

I read this book with my schools book club this fall. The students and my fellow teachers ate it up. It was a story that has many twists and explores a world that is seemingly perfect. It does follow the typical dystopian storyline- rebellion against a system that had good intentions but has become flawed over time. However, it adds a unique perspective in that the main characters are the bringers of death!

A simple, yet refreshingly innovative concept on death. Be compelled by the honest characters in an unforgiving, yet hopeful plot. Be mortified, be intrigued--and repulsed by your intrigue. Muse over its philosophies and Scythe politics; the consequences of a world without death, without motivation, without inspiration, without appreciation, without thrive. I know it's becoming a movie but attempting to fit all of his world-building details into a single movie will not do it justice unless it becomes a series...The moment I finished reading it, I started re-reading it again.

This was my favorite read of 2017. Such an interesting take on dystopia. The genre has become predictable, but Shusterman breaks the mold with dynamic worldbuilding and a fascinating storyline. I've already read the second book and am impatiently awaiting the third.

Really enjoyed it. My favorite kind of book: intelligent, fast-paced, and full of surprises. Swallowed it in one weekend.

Complex characters and a tight, fast-moving plot set against a backdrop of master-class world-building. Brimming with ideas: Scythedom, gleaning, Thunderhead, nanites, turning the corner.

The narrative structure is very interesting too, with entries from different scythes' gleaning journals separating the chapters (sorry, I'm a writer, so I love this stuff).

I loved this book! I teach JH language arts and I always try to lead kids to the Everlost series, the Unwind series, Downsiders, Shadow Club, etc. I couldn't wait to get Scythe in my hands and it did not disapoint! Great sci fi story, great characters, and great pace. I see that after the title it says (Arc of the Scythe) so I am eagerly awaiting the sequels!

My son loved it, and I found it pretty provocative as well - stimulated some good conversations about the nature of good and evil, and what one can do when it seems one is faced with a choice of two evils, and whether loyalty is always a virtue, or moral.

The book reads fast and the characters are likeable. It's a bit formulaic and reminiscent of several other stories -- like The Giver by Lowry meets The Lottery by Jackson. But it's fun. And has some interesting discussions of morality, even if black and white. It's 3.5 stars

Pretty good novel. Reflects what life could be post utopia, and of course its anything but a utopia. The story towards the end fell a bit short for me, kind of predictable so knocking off a star for that, otherwise a great story.

Truly amazing. Neal Shusterman has crafted a wonderful story, with a well-devloped setting, dynamic characters, and awesome plot. The writing is amazing and all the events that happen make you think deeply and it's just so cool and great! Highly recommend.

I bought my copy at Bradley's books on Friday and finished it this morning.it has very original take on what death means in a society where everything even death has been couqered and only exists to control population growth.

Interesting concept and a bit unnerving. A utopian society that has learned to defeat death so are now immortal needs Scythes to keep population numbers under control. Trying to remain compassionate and sane while doing so. Neal Shusterman nails it again with a great read. He's a bit creepy, but in a good way. I can't wait to read the rest.

Great idea. Unfortunately way too many holes in the story. Established author is cranking out way too many books. S&S publishes them on past reputation. IF he had taken the time to plug the holes in this tale it could have been a classic. (submitted by Bill,. Jennifer's husband)

This is an interesting outlook on the utopian genre. What would happen if there was no disease or mortality Rate? What makes humans...well human? Shusterman does a great job answering these questions.

I'm not surprised that I loved this book, because I love much of what Shusterman writes. I was surprised at the twists and turns the plot takes! The characters are genuine, and the sci-fi world of the scythe is believable! I'm anxious for the sequel already! I couldn't put it down!

This book blew my socks off. The twists and turns it made, the stakes on the line, everything was perfect and executed stunningly. The concept was really fascinating and the story with it did not disappoint. The only problem I had was the romance; it was pretty dull. But you don't need it to love this book, it's just a small part.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and then devoured its sequel. I am an adult who reads YA and this book blew me away. In a world of books that sound like every other book, this one was unique and kept me intrigued.

I cant begin to describe how much I loved this book. This author is amazing in his writing about the human condition, morality and what it means to be dead or alive. I have no complaints about anything. The story was so well written I just loved it and cant find a way to say it better than that.

There is really only one issue with reading this author's stories... It's the waiting for the next installment. It's going to drive me crazy!!! What an amazing story and how easily you can connect with the characters. (Good and bad) READ THIS BOOK. And if you haven't read the unwind series... Get going! Happy Reading!!?

Definitely a great book! I am astounished and so impressed by how the author depicts a future world without any flaw (at least I didn't see any), and the meaning behind the tuning fork cult, the scythdom meetings, the gleaning always digs deep.

This book is ok, but some things just don't make sense. Like, why did they eradicate diseases to make people immortal when they're having problems with overpopulation in the first place? And why use scythes to control the population, rather than just letting nature take its course? By the time it takes to train a scythe, millions of people could've just died naturally.

Neal Shusterman has done it again! This book is amazing and well worth the read. I was captured by page one and could not put the book down. If you are a fan of a dystopian novels, you will like this.

The concept of this book is very interesting. I was hooked from the beginning to see how this book handled the conflict. I really was pleasantly surprised by the ending because I didn’t see it coming.

HIS BOOK. After finishing this book I just had to sit with it for a while - and that last line is one to remember. Stellar world-building, complex subject matter, exemplary writing - just everything.

Rarely am I surprised about plot twists or surprises, but this one got me - I mean jaw-dropping, can't believe that really happened shock. On the page prior to this shocking turn of events, I'd been thinking how utterly amazing it would be if something like happened, but it went against the 'rules' of plot development. And then I ran into another one of these moments at the end of the book. More writers should toss the rules out the window.

Scythe deals with some dark themes (as did the Unwind series), but it's done masterfully. The character development is outstanding, especially with one of the MCs. The journal entries between the chapters offer a glimpse not only into the history of scythes and their deepest thoughts, but also of what's to come in the future.

I can't recommend this book enough to fans of Shusterman and YA fantasy - but it's easily a YA crossover and will appeal to adults as well.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

This book is set in the future where humanity has conquered disease, aging, and death. The Thunderhead is the AI progeny of the internet and provides for the current population. Scythes are the only way people can permanently die and are necessary for population control.
What a gripping sci-fi story that also makes you think! Some very good points are brought up about what makes life worth living and how we should show compassion for the lives of others. This is a clean book with very little romance (one kiss) and no cuss words.

This book was such an enjoyable read! It has a good pace, new ideas, and characters that you like. Interesting concepts involved. I think it would make a good motion picture one day with the right direction.

Best book series I’ve ever read, can’t wait for the next book (at the time of writing this I’m waiting on the third supposedly coming out late 2019) would definitely recommend to all who love books

This book was beautiful. It didn't end on a cliffhanger like so many YA fantasy these days. I was pleasantly surprised to learn this was a series. I hope all the books are like this one, I couldn't put it down!

Neal Shusterman has done it again! This book is amazing and well worth the read. I was captured by page one and could not put the book down. If you are a fan of a dystopian novels, you will like this.

The concept of this book is very interesting. I was hooked from the beginning to see how this book handled the conflict. I really was pleasantly surprised by the ending because I didn’t see it coming.

HIS BOOK. After finishing this book I just had to sit with it for a while - and that last line is one to remember. Stellar world-building, complex subject matter, exemplary writing - just everything.

Rarely am I surprised about plot twists or surprises, but this one got me - I mean jaw-dropping, can't believe that really happened shock. On the page prior to this shocking turn of events, I'd been thinking how utterly amazing it would be if something like happened, but it went against the 'rules' of plot development. And then I ran into another one of these moments at the end of the book. More writers should toss the rules out the window.

Scythe deals with some dark themes (as did the Unwind series), but it's done masterfully. The character development is outstanding, especially with one of the MCs. The journal entries between the chapters offer a glimpse not only into the history of scythes and their deepest thoughts, but also of what's to come in the future.

I can't recommend this book enough to fans of Shusterman and YA fantasy - but it's easily a YA crossover and will appeal to adults as well.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

This book is set in the future where humanity has conquered disease, aging, and death. The Thunderhead is the AI progeny of the internet and provides for the current population. Scythes are the only way people can permanently die and are necessary for population control.
What a gripping sci-fi story that also makes you think! Some very good points are brought up about what makes life worth living and how we should show compassion for the lives of others. This is a clean book with very little romance (one kiss) and no cuss words.

This book was such an enjoyable read! It has a good pace, new ideas, and characters that you like. Interesting concepts involved. I think it would make a good motion picture one day with the right direction.

Best book series I’ve ever read, can’t wait for the next book (at the time of writing this I’m waiting on the third supposedly coming out late 2019) would definitely recommend to all who love books

I purchased this book to read with @halflostbutterflyreadalong. All opinions are my own. ?Scythe by Neal Schusterman. ????? In a Utopian Earth where natural death is no longer a threat to humanity there must be a way to control the population. This is the job of the Scythe. But everyone fears them so how are they selected? Rowan and Citra are selected to become apprentice Scythes only to run a gauntlet of tests before actually having to take the final test. Their conscious will be tested, the lives shaken, and their feelings hurt in much more than a training course. As soon as this one ended I wanted more. ?????

I am not sure how I came across this book but decided to buy the Kindle version and really enjoyed the story of apprentice Scythe's that learn to "glean", which is population control. The Scythe's choose their individual victims with careful consideration, so Scythe's by mass gleaning. It's right, it's wrong, it's a fun and enjoyable storyline. This was a book that I could not stop until I got to the end as I had to know what would happen next and also glad to find out the second book will be out soon. I love reading more than writing, so reviewing books is not my forte, so I suggest reading the publishers editorial review to see if you would like this genre of books. I think mature teens to adults is the targeted audience and not for younger teens and children but this would be a parental decision.

I just finished this book and ordered the second. I don't normally devour books in one day...this one is an exception. The writing is so concise...no extra words in explanation...no extra descriptions beyond what is necessary to get the feel of the space and time. I have not read any of his other books, but I truly will. Thanks!!

This is the first book I have read of Shusterman, and I have to admit, that I was initially drawn in by the cover of the book, and then by the blurb. This is a YA book, there is no doubting that, but one that is probably for an older YA audience rather than a younger one given the violent content.
It is a difficult book to judge overall as there are a lot of very intriguing aspects to this story, but there are also some flaws to the story, some elements could have been done better.
The story itself is about a futuristic world in which humanity has moved to the point of medical technology so that there is no death anymore, everything can be cured, and so all humans are immortal basically. There are also no governments anymore, everything, and I mean literally everything, food (growing, distribution calculation of requirements for population), transport, (from the cars to the trains to the planes), everything, is looked after by this AI called the Thunderhead. It is also responsible for reviving people if they have an accident, and for when people have reached that point in life where they ‘turn the corner’, it can revitalise them, making them young again.
This was where one of the flaws in the story came up, when we come across one of families in the story, and they live in this big luxurious mansion, better than most families do, because he is very well off, (in a world with no needs or wants, and no economy as such), he is filthy rich, as he is the one working on the technology to make revival technology to make you able to revive younger. But why in a world where basically everyone has EVERYTHING, would there be someone who lives like a billionaire now? It didn’t fit in with the rest of the story.
Returning to the main story, to try and have a semblance of normalcy in this society, it was decreed at some point that there would be Scythe’s, human’s, completely separate to the Thunderhead, who would ‘Glean’ a quota of the population every year. Two teenagers are selected by a Scythe to act as his apprentices, Citra and Rowan, and the main story follows what happens to them.
Without giving too much away, there are Good and Bad Scythe’s, those that ‘Glean’ in a kind and humane manner, and those that are psychopathic killers who have found their calling in life, and the only thing they are upset about is that there is a quota set upon them.
Our two apprentices start with Scythe Faraday, but due to various events, are split up, one with Scythe Curie and the other with Scythe Goddard. Curie and Faraday are of course on the good side (couldn’t have Madam Curie’s namesake as a psychopath), but Goddard of course is pure evil. Scythe’s take the name of someone famous in history, and I guess the relevance of Goddard’s name is that he was never celebrated for his work in rocket engineering, and Goddard believes that he must change the face of Scythdom to fit his image of what a Scythe should be.
How the story all comes about is very black and white, there is unfortunately very little mystery to be uncovered, and the resolution of between Scythe Goddard and his apprentice is somewhat weak and could have been done a whole lot differently, giving the story and the characters some actual depth.
The other apprentice has a little more depth, but there story is just as transparent, whilst at the same time, full of holes. The apprentice shooting the person they were looking for at the house that Curie sent them to, with Curie knowing who was at the house being one of the biggest holes – why would Curie not tell the apprentice who was there? I'm trying not to give too much away – once you read it, you will understand and understand the error.
The ineptitude of the other Scythes was astounding, given their alleged ages and skills/training, that apprentices could either outsmart them, or kill them in some instances.
As was the sheer stupidity and lack of skill of the alleged ‘Blade Guard’, those who were there to look after those whose main job in life is to ‘Glean’ others. Why do they need guards? And if they have them, why are they able to be so easily outdone?
The only characters with any depth beyond a wading pool were Curie and Faraday themselves, and we saw little enough of them, or their relationship.
Having said all of this, this did (and with the sequel to be published), still does, have the potential to be a really fascinating story, it just needs some serious work on the characters to give them some actual depth, and to fix the glaring holes in some of the storylines. Curie’s readings at the start of each Chapter are some of the best bits of the entire book, and show that her character actually is real. This is a really clever concept, but it has not been executed overly well unfortunately, hopefully the sequel is better.

Excellent, so, so excellent, there are enough stars for all the excellence. Right from the get-go, readers are immersed in a spectacular, unique world with fantastic and memorable characters and a compelling story that was as unexpected as it was exciting. I was completely hooked, and I'm dying for the next book. The world is unlike any I've ever read before, with the rules and politics engaging and things I wanted to learn about. The characters are fantastic. Citra is a headstrong, powerful young woman who I absolutely loved. Rowan is equally as interesting. My heart broke during his story, and I have to say that while I was always supporting him, he spooked me! The ending was nail-biting right until the very last page, and I can only imagine where it's going to go from here. Like I said, I couldn't get enough of it. Such an engaging, remarkable story about trials and choices and endurance. If you haven't checked it out yet, be sure to do so as soon as possible––you'll love it!

I thought this premise was a really good idea. I was a little worried to read it because the other series he has kind of bothers me, but this one was good. I need to read the second one. I liked the book overall, with some minor complaints about world-building and set up.

What I liked:
I liked that Citra was smart and clever. I like how she was able to figure things out
I liked the gleaning journal sections. They were interesting to read.
I liked the juxtaposition of the two different types of training. While kind of sad to think about, it was interesting to read.

What I didn't like:
The idea the Thunderhead couldn't interfere with the Scythedom. When they had obviously become very corrupt and a mess, it could do nothing, or at least very little. It bothered me they hadn't produced any safeguards.
This is just a world-building complaint, but I thought it was odd they had no means of gleaning for people that did not want to survive. When you live forever, I don't see why they wouldn't have a system for people who are tired of living so long, who want to move on, or who are comfortable with how their life went.
I question the gleaning of children. I realize it was based on death stats from before, but it seems like, when able to make it so they don't die, taking them before they can live there lives is unfair, when others could live hundreds of years

Scythe is an amazing book that portrays both creativity and moral lessons throughout the story. The future, where everyone is immortal due to humanity conquering every factor of human life, there are scythes who manually end lives of people. Scythes are immortal and they have the power to glean others. Citizens will do anything to get immorality from scythes which is only limited to one year. Thus, scythes can do almost whatever they want.
These scythes can take apprentices who are people getting trained to become scythes, and only one apprentice can become a scythe after the training is over. The main characters, Citra and Rowan are scythe apprentices who are training under Scythe Faraday. They are only teenagers who are still in the process of growing maturely, and they both did not want to become scythes. They face many conflicts and creative journeys throughout the book and having to learn the art of killing in order to survive in the scythes’ world is not easy for them. This book is perfect for ethical morals and deep thinking.
As an 8th grader, I enjoyed the plot and characters a lot. Each character has an outstanding characteristic which was described in an interesting manner. I enjoyed reading the development of the two characters, Citra and Rowan, and how they grew mature over time. There were also many plot twists that kept surprising me, but it all concluded to a great ending. This book, a novel written by Neal Shusterman is a great piece of literacy and is very recommended to everyone, especially to students.

This book may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed it myself. It leads your emotions and feelings to many different areas. It is a story of Love, Moral aptitude, decisions, looks to things that are sometimes misleading and finds out to be different. Lets you know how people can be lead into different directions even if they don't even know or understand what they are following. It is awesome and I wanted to see how it turned out, but when it was over really didn't want to leave like many books I have read. If this is your type of book, I believe you will enjoy it very much. So good Reading. :)

There has been a lot of hype around this book and I thought I would try a chapter and ditch the book if it was boring or if I couldn't connect it. 5 Chapters in I knew that this was going to be a great book. The world building was easy to follow, the characters were complex but relatable. The book is fast paced and I found it to be a quick reader.

"Thou shalt kill" grabbed my attention and while I was hesitant at first, I am SO glad I followed through reading this book. I loved the sprinkling of Roman/Latin references throughout, the naming conventions of the Scythes, and overall the story had some great twists. Since this is the first book I've read of Neal Shusterman's, it's made me want to go look up his other stuff. Definitely a good read; it brings up excellent questions about morality, ethics, life and death, emotions and compassion, revenge and justice. I would recommend to anyone who wants something a little different than your typical dystopian stories, because it was fresh and turned typical dystopian stories on their head. (Finally! A dystopian without a cheesy love triangle!)

One of the best books I've ever read. I checked this book out from my local library too scared to buy it because I've never heard of the author before. Now I'm buying it and its sequel "Thunderhead" because it's truly the best book series I've ever read, even surpassing Harry Potter and TLOTR and Hobbit series. I 100% recommend this book to anyone interested.

Scythe is a must-read! Shusterman is at the top of his game with this book. Spend 15 minutes in Scythe and you simply won't be able to put it down! Actually, do yourself a favor and order Thunderhead (book 2) as well. After Scythe, you'll be hungry for more and not even Prime will be fast enough!

Usually not a big fan of YA but i really liked this one. it was well written and the twists and turns of the plot were quite good! The relationships are good and not over dramatic, the world building is great and the things I initially assumed were overly convenient or plot holes later came back with a sobering twist. I quite enjoyed the contrasts between the macabre jobs and the many gentle scythes that carry out the gleanings. The story continues with the same level of quality in the second book and i would highly recommend them both.

Oh my god, where do i start? Hmmmm with the journal entire s at the start o f each chapter?or with the unbelievable plot? Or with the fact that the book addresses the question i always craved to find an answer for, "what do we do with immortality"

Something like a B+. Generally explores this pretty thoroughly - living forever, taking on a 'God' role of deciding who dies, inevitability of corruption - still found it somewhat...well, reminiscent of high school literature. Would have found it more compelling and enjoyed the characters more if they were more real and complex. Found it irritating when the initiates were acting such the ingenue and the 'grow-ups' so wooden and 1-dimensioinal.

I was absolutely enthralled by Scythe! I've seen it on the shelves at Barnes & Noble for the past several years but have bypassed it every time. I finally picked it up and wow. I instantly fell into the story and the characters. If you love dystopian or adventure or fantasy of any kind, read this!

This is a book that everyone has been talking about, but I was really hesitant to pick it up. If you follow me, you know that I rarely grab for Fantasy or Science Fiction. I went into this with low expectations and thinking I would DNF. I was wrong.

If you want to read a story that will make you think, will make you angry, and keep your interest then I recommend giving this a try. There is a love story and a mystery also intertwined into the story which just added to why I enjoyed this so much. Even if you are not a fan of fantasy and science fiction, I recommend picking this up. I was intrigued from the beginning and the next thing I knew I was almost 200 pages in. There were times I was mad, times my jaw was dropping, and times my heart was hurting. I even shed a some tears. It really makes you think about death and what would happen in a world where death is nonexistence.

I feel everything was summed up really well, so I am interested in the story book two will follow. Let me know if I should continue on with the series?

Rating: 5 stars!

I knew I was going to love Scythe before having finished the first chapter. I honestly don’t have anything bad to say about this book. It’s definitely my favorite book of the year and probably of all time. A MUST READ!

This book is based in a futuristic world where humanity has discovered all knowledge and conquered every difficulty: poverty, disease, hunger, even death. People are able to live forever and for the most part they do. They can even do this procedure called “turning the corner” whenever they want, which basically just means that they physically age themselves down from lets say 65 to 30. To control population growth since nobody dies, the world has the Scythedom. Scythes are the ones tasked with “gleaning” people, or taking their lives. When Scythe Faraday encounters Citra and Rowan on two of his gleanings he sees something in each of them and decides to take them both on as apprentices to learn the art of gleaning.

Speaking of Citra and Rowan, Neal Shusterman knows exactly how to create unique, versatile characters. Citra is bold and strong willed while Rowan is caring and brave. Even though the two apprentices are going through extremely similar situations, they grow in such different ways. And when they part ways, the two grow even more in ways the reader doesn’t expect. The other character, although considered minor aren’t treated as such. They are just as complex and were obviously given much thought by Shusterman.

In most books, the narration limits the readers’ understanding of all the characters, but Scythe is a mix of limited third person point of view, meaning the story is told in the third person but it focuses on different people’s perspectives in different parts of the story. So, the characters we see vary from the apprentices to the Scythes and even those being gleaned. Also, before each chapter we see a journal entry from one of the Scythes or the apprentices. It allows the reader a look into the Scythes’ minds, to see what it feels like to glean and be something most wouldn’t admit out loud. It’s the most interesting method of narration I think I’ve encountered. It also allows for great dynamics between the characters. It’s really funny half the time actually, which you would think is out of character for those that have to kill people, even morally so, but it just shows that Scythes are human too.

Which is only furthered by the way Shusterman writes. The speed of the novel went from slow to fast paced. I wouldn’t say the slower parts are boring, but rather have a sense of calm before the storm. *Spoiler: Also, there is romance which suddenly pops up between Citra and Rowan which we don’t see build, but keep in mind that months pass which aren’t unnecessarily described to us and the characters aren’t so open about their feelings.* And the dialogue is so real, so meaningful, I often found myself saying the dialogue out loud as if I was partaking in the conversation somehow.

Overall, every aspect of this story is pretty realistic, but not boring in the least. It’s a constant reminder that this Scythe world may not be so far off from our own, especially considering the fact that it supposedly all started in 2042. So, if Neal Shusterman is correct then in about 24 years things are going to change around here. The world building is unbelievable and the way that Scythes interact with each other and those around them is really explored throughout the story. The action sequences were so vivid and interesting, I was so invested and could see it happening in my mind. I felt so connected to the characters and their journey. Plus, the ending is a rollercoaster of emotions, full of action and surprise, not that the rest of the story wasn’t too. I actually cried not gonna lie.

As a YA dystopian novel, Scythe exceeds all expectations. Usually dystopians follow the same general foundation, but Shusterman presents a refreshing take on a futuristic earth. Love this book and will be reading the next book in the series, Thunderhead, next!

Happy Reading!
Jewels

For a while I passed by this book at the store not wanting to read it. Many people suggested it, but I, for some reason I can't remember now, kept passing it up. Now after finally getting to this book I wished picked it up sooner! If Neal Shusterman's books are all written like this he will be on my favorite authors list! I listened to this book through Audible and absolutely loved it. It was such an interesting world with well developed characters and an awesome story development. I found this new world that Neal created very interesting and sometimes disturbing in some ways hahahaha and that's not a bad thing! I love it when a book holds you on your seat until the very end and leaves you frantically seeking the next book so you can continue the journey. That is where I am now hahaha. Then add the wonderful voice and storytelling talents of Greg Tremblay and the story just won't let you forget about it. Greg's voice is wonderful, soft, holds your attention, and creates so many individual personalities to the characters of the story! I highly recommend this!