Two teens must learn the “art of killing” in this Printz Honor-winning book, the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology. A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life–and they are commanded to do so, … are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe–a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
Scythe is the first novel of a thrilling new series by National Book Award-winning author Neal Shusterman in which Citra and Rowan learn that a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.more
Scythe is my first book by Neal Shusterman and it won’t be my last! In a world where disease, war and natural deaths are a thing of the past, the Scythes help keep the population down to a manageable size in an otherwise immortal world. The novel’s main characters, Citra and Rowan, are scythes in training and face a harrowing road as they learn to become sanctioned killers, as the best candidates for Scythedom are those who take the least enjoyment from the job. Citra and Rowan quickly learn that not all Scythes are created equal as a fissure in the organization threatens the very fabric of their narrowly balanced society. With a plot that will keep you on your toes, engaging characters and loads of philosophical questions about mortality to engage your mind, Scythe is a seriously fun and fast read.
Verdict: An elegant sci-fi tale perfect for those who want to ponder the bigger life questions while still having a rip-roaring good time.
I’ve been having trouble finding a book that hooks me. From the first chapter this book had its claws in me and wouldn’t let go. I don’t typically have emotional responses to books but this book was different. It was nice to read something that affected me on such a deep level.
After reading this tale of the here-and-quite-a-bit-later I paused for quite a while pondering “dead-ish” vs truly “gleaned”, and I will cast a side-eye every time I post something “to the cloud”. Yow!, look out future! Great read!
This is my new favorite YA series. Wow. This made me THINK. It made me wonder what life would be like if we never died unless someone randomly took our life. I found the whole society of Scythes to be fascinating and thought-provoking. I was really rooting for Citra and Rowan, and I had issues with these New Order Scythes… Oh yes, I take issue with them. Lol. I really got into this book and the audiobook was so well-narrated, that I went right to the second book!
A creepy dystopian tale! If you enjoyed Neal’s Unwind series, then this is for you!
What an interesting premise. I liked the action and the politics of this book. It had a bit of a lull mid way through the book but soon picked back up. Loved this story so much.
One of the best trilogy of the decade!
Wow! Just wow! I had no idea that this book would be as good as it is. Citra and Rowan have been offered positions that anyone would be crazy not to accept in their immortal world. The status of being a scythe, or an honorable reaper of life, to prevent overcrowding. Little do they realize that as much as they don’t want to accept the apprenticeships, their roles have become a necessity. The twists and turns that accompany their journeys keep you turning pages well into the night and the next day. I read this book in two days. It’s impossible to put down. So good.
Scythe is a dystopian series for all dystopian lovers- regardless of age. I had a blast “read in this as a family with my kids. I think I enjoyed it even more than them.
Citra and Rowan are everyday kids in an extraordinary situation. Life and its complexities are minimal in their world. But through luck, lack of wisdom, and chance…pick your version they wind up in the most complex of situations.
I found myself cheering, crying, and panicking for them. Young as they are their entire world is now different. The challenges the apprenticeship has brought them, the life they can’t return to without being changed, it will all be different. Irrevocably changed. And all we can do is watch…like the Thunderhead.
Scythe was such a great book! Although I have read and enjoyed many other dystopia/utopia books, this still managed to have a lot of originality to it. The characters were all well developed and I loved getting to see more than one perspective in the story. I definitely plan to read Thunderhead next and The Toll when it comes out. I recommend this book to people who have enjoyed books like: The Hunger Games, The Giver, Divergent, and other dystopia/utopia books. Scythe adds to the list of the possible outcomes of our future world. Neal Shusterman’s Scythe is a fascinating book for any reader.
I almost stopped reading Scythe toward the beginning because the concept is so grim, but I’m so glad I stuck with it! Here’s the concept: in a post-mortality world, everyone has every need provided for. There is no crime, and no disease: any predisposition to disease is handled by nanites, which I assume are nanobots. The Thunderhead is the superintelligence which apparently manifests in this book as a benevolent, all-knowing and all-seeing god. Even when people die by accidents, they can still be revived. In fact, they’re called “dead-ish,” and then carted off to revival centers. People can reset their ages to any age they choose, and often do. But there’s one small problem: population control. Because of this, the Scythedom was formed: a group of humans lawfully authorized to take life. But they are to do so with solemn dignity, and are chosen because they hate what they do. Anyone who enjoys killing could easily become a murderer, the likes of which have not been seen since the mortal age.
But this is exactly what does happen. One scythe, who calls himself Scythe Faraday, takes on two apprentices at once, which is unheard of: Rowan, and Citra. But he has only one ring (the symbol of the scythe) to bestow upon the “winner.” The problem is, rather than competing, Rowan and Citra begin to care too much for one another. The Scythedom picks up on this, and decides that the best way to take care of this problem is to pit them against one another: the first act of the one to win the ring will be to “glean” the other.
In order to prevent this awful future (slight spoiler): Scythe Faraday apparently gleans himself, attempting to free them from their apprenticeship. But the Scythedom will not allow this. Instead, Citra and Rowan are reassigned to two different Scythes, and the challenge between them stands. Citra is apprenticed to one of the Old Guard, who believes that gleaning is to be a sacred rite; but Rowan is apprenticed to Scythe Goddard, who is basically a mass murderer and trains his apprentices to be every bit the monster he is himself.
It’s a totally unique concept — and while it starts out pretty depressing (as Rowan and Citra follow Scythe Faraday as he gleans people and then they have to comfort the bereaved), once the main conflict is introduced, I was hooked. Will definitely be reading book 2!
Great dystonia tale!
One of the best books i have ever read!
I’m not one who goes for futuristic fiction but this was fantastic, and had me already ordering the sequel once I read the last page. Full of thrills, reflection, twists, and oh-my-god moments, this is a series for Harry Potter and GOT fans alike!
Death no longer exists. Well, permanent death anyway. Revival centers have sprung up across the world, guaranteeing people a ticket back to life. And they can even turn back the clock, relive their early adult life, over and over again. Given the rampant undeath, there must be some form of population control. Scythes were enlisted to weed out the population. When a Scythe gleans it is permanent death. Scythes must be diverse in their gleaning, making sure to keep a balance between races and never stray over their intended quota. And a Scythe must never like gleaning. But what happens when a Scythe starts to enjoy the power over death?
Scythe took a while to catch my attention, but Neal Shusterman’s smooth writing style and subtle humor are not to be missed. The reader will switch back and forth between Citra and Rowan’s point of view as the two teens begin to learn what it means to be a Scythe. The two create a great contrast to one another as the story develops and their paths split in radically different directions. You will see a prime example of how teaching techniques can change a person, for better or for worse.
In between chapters, there were also journal entries from various Scythes that interacted with the two main characters. It was fascinating to see their different opinions on death and being a Scythe. Everyone seems to carry their own philosophy on how gleaning should be done, and the drastic differences in technique reflect their personalities.
And the world-building was well done. The overall state of the world and how the population has taken to never dying is written in gradually so as not to overload the reader. There are some political aspects in this book as you delve deeper into the world of the Scythes and how they function, but the humor that is woven in between the lines helps to soften them. The same can be said about the different Scythe’s philosophies on life and death.
This isn’t a book for those looking for immediate resolution, or fast paced action. I recommend this book to those who are willing to invest their time in a story that promises to grow with each addition. The issues that surface in book one are far from over. This is also a simpler writing style since it is young adult. I’m looking forward to book two!
This dystopian book kind of had a Hunger Games feel to it for me. The story is set in the future and humankind has eradicated hunger, disease, and even death from life. A all-seeing and knowing computer system called the Thunderhead makes sure all humans live peacefully without having to deal with politics and cultural infighting. Life is good. But with no death, the planet would be overrun, so the Scythedom is born, a group of immortals in charge of “gleaning” a certain quote of people each year in an unbiased way, Citra and Rowan are chosen to be apprentices to Scythe Faraday. They have no desire to “glean,” but their families urge them into apprenticeship since it grants them immunity to death. But soon, the two are pitted against each other in a game of death. So many plot twists, intriguing characters, and rising stakes to keep you turning the pages fast. This was a fascinating concept with themes of moral issues being brought up and explored, and I seriously could not put it down. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Intriguing story posing myriad ethical issues. An easy and engaging read.
After reading Shusterman’s Unwind Series and LOVING every second of his work. I knew I would read everything this author writes.
In fact, Shusterman has kicked Atwood off of my demi-god author throne.
I love Atwood, but Shusterman’s writing gleans my wanton horror author soul.
Scythe is so damn clever in story crafting. The story takes part in an awful world built out of very pretty pieces. Scythe is book one in the Arc of Scythe series.
If you love clever and dignified horror read Shusterman.
p.s. I’m almost done with Thunderhead book 2 and have already purchased The Toll book 3 in the Arc of Scythe series.
I’d heard that this book was good, but it was so much better than I’d imagined. In a time when no one dies naturally, they’ve come up with men and women whose job it is to cull the population. Some do it based on statistics from when people were mortal, other make their own rules. You become a scythe by doing a year’s apprentice under a standing scythe. Citra and Rowen are both recruited by Scythe Faraday while they are still in high school. They leave school to study under him, to accompany him and observe his gleanings.
Citra and Rowen are separated when Scythe Faraday disappears. Citra is sent to study under Scythe Currie, Rowen under Scythe Goddard. From that point of separation, their education changes dramatically. They’re also forced into a competition. Whichever one wins becomes a scythe whose first duty will be to glean the other.
While it sounds like this might be a horrible scenario, in truth it’s all about ethics and morals. About how you glean with compassion and kindness. About what you do if you are in an untenable situation with few options. It allows the reader to watch Citra and Rowen deal with these things and how their lives will progress in the future.
I enjoyed this book very much. It was a quick and easy read about a different kind of world than the one in which we now live. It definitely provides fodder for though. It’s a great read for young adults and adults alike.
This is the first book in a series. It stands well on it’s own, with all threads tied up enough to leave you content. I will seek out the other books in the series at some point.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Glose. I thank them for their generosity; however, it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
Holy crap, this was an amazing read. It made me angry, it made me cry, and it gave me hope. Shusterman’s vision of the “perfect” future is terrifying in many ways. There is no such thing as perfect and humans have a tendency to justify all kinds of barbarities with self-righteousness. That’s exactly what this story tells. It’s such a heart wrenching human story and the characters are so well developed in their doubts, fears, and flawed personalities. Can’t wait to read the next one. In fact I just got it in the mail today. One word for the voice actor in the audio book (I normally listen and read): excellent job, you drew me in and kept me riveted for most of the book. Thank you.