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, 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. They learn living in a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.
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, 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. They learn living in a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.
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, 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. They learn living in a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.
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, 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. They learn living in a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.
Last updated at 06/23/2026 11:01:03
Scythe: The global smash-hit YA speculative-thriller series that’s ‘A true successor to The Hunger Games’
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originally posted on influenster.com
Scythe is a dark and complex novel that tackles ideas of morality and corruptness in a society so advanced that death has no place in it. In the future, society has come to the point that the only way to curb population growth is by employing Scythes that have the moral obligation to chose who is going to die and then enact their demise. The rules surrounding their organization are many, with checks and balances to keep the Scythes from bias, laziness, and corruption. Shusterman weaves a complex new world of the future with ease and ingenuity.I found that many novels that try to do multiple perspectives tend to drag or appear more one-sided in the narrative, but I found that each character’s perspective brought new information and insight into both the main and ... MoreScythe is a dark and complex novel that tackles ideas of morality and corruptness in a society so advanced that death has no place in it. In the future, society has come to the point that the only way to curb population growth is by employing Scythes that have the moral obligation to chose who is going to die and then enact their demise. The rules surrounding their organization are many, with checks and balances to keep the Scythes from bias, laziness, and corruption. Shusterman weaves a complex new world of the future with ease and ingenuity.I found that many novels that try to do multiple perspectives tend to drag or appear more one-sided in the narrative, but I found that each character’s perspective brought new information and insight into both the main and secondary characters. The good characters are proven to have their own moral complexities and failings, just as the villainous characters are not all truly heartless. The novel brings up many questions about how laws and justice should be upheld. In the end, Scythe leaves readers wondering: does anyone have a right to say who should live or die?I recieved this ARC via Edelweiss for review.
originally posted on influenster.com
The world has evolved to a place where there’s no more sickness, little crime and humans are now immortal. There are no more governments, no war and if you do become “deadish” you are whisked to a revival centre and return as good as new. There are nanites in the blood to stop pain and when you grow older you can ‘turn the corner’ and continue life at a younger age. Basically, it’s a perfect world, which is under the watchful and constant gaze of the Thunderhead – essentially a ‘cloud’ that developed AI and now keeps the world in check.The only issue with this new world is overpopulation, and so the Thunderhead has developed the Scythedom – the only aspect over which it has no control. Scythes are the only people with permission to take a life – to glean. They are ... MoreThe world has evolved to a place where there’s no more sickness, little crime and humans are now immortal. There are no more governments, no war and if you do become “deadish” you are whisked to a revival centre and return as good as new. There are nanites in the blood to stop pain and when you grow older you can ‘turn the corner’ and continue life at a younger age. Basically, it’s a perfect world, which is under the watchful and constant gaze of the Thunderhead – essentially a ‘cloud’ that developed AI and now keeps the world in check.The only issue with this new world is overpopulation, and so the Thunderhead has developed the Scythedom – the only aspect over which it has no control. Scythes are the only people with permission to take a life – to glean. They are responsible for meeting their quotas and gleaning in a non-prejudiced way that reflects the mortality of the old world. They are simultaneously feared and revered, for as well as being able to take a life they can also grant immunity.This is such a fascinating concept, one that captured my imagination and I found quite thought-provoking.We follow two main characters, Cintra and Rowan, who both find themselves with an opportunity to become scythes and thus secure their family’s immunity from gleaning. Taken on as apprentices, they must prove themselves in order to attain the position of Junior Scythe. As they become involved in the Scythedom they realise that there’s more to being a Scythe than meets the eye, with unrest within the Scythedom itself.I really loved this book – every aspect, from the world building and characters to the storytelling itself had me enraptured. I’m absolutely desperate to get my hands on book 2, Thunderhead.This post first appeared on my blog.
originally posted on influenster.com
This is a book I didn’t really know how to rate because I feel like the first half of the book could have one rating, like 2.75 stars, and the second half of the book could have a higher rating, like 4, so I’m going with 3.5 lol. Like most books out there, it doesn’t really get into the action until about halfway, and that is when the stakes truly raise and you can’t put the book down.The plot itself is very interesting with the way humans have advanced so that death is nearly nonexistent, and the Scythedom is very intricate and well thought out. It isn’t until the middle that I really was hooked though. Up until something actually big happened about three-quarters in did I decide that this book needed more stars. It was slow, yes, but I also just felt like why ... MoreThis is a book I didn’t really know how to rate because I feel like the first half of the book could have one rating, like 2.75 stars, and the second half of the book could have a higher rating, like 4, so I’m going with 3.5 lol. Like most books out there, it doesn’t really get into the action until about halfway, and that is when the stakes truly raise and you can’t put the book down.The plot itself is very interesting with the way humans have advanced so that death is nearly nonexistent, and the Scythedom is very intricate and well thought out. It isn’t until the middle that I really was hooked though. Up until something actually big happened about three-quarters in did I decide that this book needed more stars. It was slow, yes, but I also just felt like why should I care? It was hard to see a real direction that the story was going to take, which is great for most books, but didn’t suit this one too well at first. But when the book picked up, it was amazing with so many twists! It was dangerous and risky and unpredictable.As for the characters, they also felt pretty dull and two-dimensional until that three-quarter point as well. I can tell the next book will be better since it is more established now, and I really look forward to what the characters have to offer in Thunderhead. I actually didn’t like Citra at first, I found her selfish and a little narrow minded, but goes through well-needed character development. Rowan goes through this, also, and the difference between both characters in the beginning and the end is enormous. You can barely see them as the same people.Rowan was, by far, my favorite character of the book because he was the most complicated and conflicted, and he was probably the most human. His choices may be slightly unfavorable, especially when it comes to Citra, but it’s leads to an amazing story.Citra’s family also makes it into the book, and they were actually loving parents! That is so rare in a book to have both living parents and loving parents! We need more of this in YA because not every family is broken and resentful. Her parents were still selfish, which may be where Citra got it, but they were reasonably selfish – as in it is understandable why they were how they were.Romance is nearly never involved in the book, and when it is, it is very limited. It suits this book and the circumstances, but you all know me, I’m looking for the romance lol.In all, it was an entertaining book that makes you think about the world and where it’s heading. I don’t really have too much to say, so this isn’t a very good review, but I do hope it helped in some way! Despite it’s shortcomings, I would still recommend this book if only for the philosophical meaning.
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Scythe: The global smash-hit YA speculative-thriller series that’s ‘A true successor to The Hunger Games’
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Unit - Scythe (Arc of a Scythe) Part 5
Free delivery between Wed – Mon
Unit - Scythe (Arc of a Scythe) Part 1
Free delivery between Wed – Mon
Scythe by Neal Shusterman - Paperback Novel 448 Pages | Arc of a Scythe Book 1
Delivery between 30 June – 3 July $10
Scythe Paperback
Delivery between 30 June – 3 July $10
Scythe is a dark and complex novel that tackles ideas of morality and corruptness in a society so advanced that death has no place in it. In the future, society has come to the point that the only way to curb population growth is by employing Scythes that have the moral obligation to chose who is going to die and then enact their demise. The rules surrounding their organization are many, with checks and balances to keep the Scythes from bias, laziness, and corruption. Shusterman weaves a complex new world of the future with ease and ingenuity.I found that many novels that try to do multiple perspectives tend to drag or appear more one-sided in the narrative, but I found that each character’s perspective brought new information and insight into both the main and ... MoreScythe is a dark and complex novel that tackles ideas of morality and corruptness in a society so advanced that death has no place in it. In the future, society has come to the point that the only way to curb population growth is by employing Scythes that have the moral obligation to chose who is going to die and then enact their demise. The rules surrounding their organization are many, with checks and balances to keep the Scythes from bias, laziness, and corruption. Shusterman weaves a complex new world of the future with ease and ingenuity.I found that many novels that try to do multiple perspectives tend to drag or appear more one-sided in the narrative, but I found that each character’s perspective brought new information and insight into both the main and secondary characters. The good characters are proven to have their own moral complexities and failings, just as the villainous characters are not all truly heartless. The novel brings up many questions about how laws and justice should be upheld. In the end, Scythe leaves readers wondering: does anyone have a right to say who should live or die?I recieved this ARC via Edelweiss for review.
The world has evolved to a place where there’s no more sickness, little crime and humans are now immortal. There are no more governments, no war and if you do become “deadish” you are whisked to a revival centre and return as good as new. There are nanites in the blood to stop pain and when you grow older you can ‘turn the corner’ and continue life at a younger age. Basically, it’s a perfect world, which is under the watchful and constant gaze of the Thunderhead – essentially a ‘cloud’ that developed AI and now keeps the world in check.The only issue with this new world is overpopulation, and so the Thunderhead has developed the Scythedom – the only aspect over which it has no control. Scythes are the only people with permission to take a life – to glean. They are ... MoreThe world has evolved to a place where there’s no more sickness, little crime and humans are now immortal. There are no more governments, no war and if you do become “deadish” you are whisked to a revival centre and return as good as new. There are nanites in the blood to stop pain and when you grow older you can ‘turn the corner’ and continue life at a younger age. Basically, it’s a perfect world, which is under the watchful and constant gaze of the Thunderhead – essentially a ‘cloud’ that developed AI and now keeps the world in check.The only issue with this new world is overpopulation, and so the Thunderhead has developed the Scythedom – the only aspect over which it has no control. Scythes are the only people with permission to take a life – to glean. They are responsible for meeting their quotas and gleaning in a non-prejudiced way that reflects the mortality of the old world. They are simultaneously feared and revered, for as well as being able to take a life they can also grant immunity.This is such a fascinating concept, one that captured my imagination and I found quite thought-provoking.We follow two main characters, Cintra and Rowan, who both find themselves with an opportunity to become scythes and thus secure their family’s immunity from gleaning. Taken on as apprentices, they must prove themselves in order to attain the position of Junior Scythe. As they become involved in the Scythedom they realise that there’s more to being a Scythe than meets the eye, with unrest within the Scythedom itself.I really loved this book – every aspect, from the world building and characters to the storytelling itself had me enraptured. I’m absolutely desperate to get my hands on book 2, Thunderhead.This post first appeared on my blog.
This is a book I didn’t really know how to rate because I feel like the first half of the book could have one rating, like 2.75 stars, and the second half of the book could have a higher rating, like 4, so I’m going with 3.5 lol. Like most books out there, it doesn’t really get into the action until about halfway, and that is when the stakes truly raise and you can’t put the book down.The plot itself is very interesting with the way humans have advanced so that death is nearly nonexistent, and the Scythedom is very intricate and well thought out. It isn’t until the middle that I really was hooked though. Up until something actually big happened about three-quarters in did I decide that this book needed more stars. It was slow, yes, but I also just felt like why ... MoreThis is a book I didn’t really know how to rate because I feel like the first half of the book could have one rating, like 2.75 stars, and the second half of the book could have a higher rating, like 4, so I’m going with 3.5 lol. Like most books out there, it doesn’t really get into the action until about halfway, and that is when the stakes truly raise and you can’t put the book down.The plot itself is very interesting with the way humans have advanced so that death is nearly nonexistent, and the Scythedom is very intricate and well thought out. It isn’t until the middle that I really was hooked though. Up until something actually big happened about three-quarters in did I decide that this book needed more stars. It was slow, yes, but I also just felt like why should I care? It was hard to see a real direction that the story was going to take, which is great for most books, but didn’t suit this one too well at first. But when the book picked up, it was amazing with so many twists! It was dangerous and risky and unpredictable.As for the characters, they also felt pretty dull and two-dimensional until that three-quarter point as well. I can tell the next book will be better since it is more established now, and I really look forward to what the characters have to offer in Thunderhead. I actually didn’t like Citra at first, I found her selfish and a little narrow minded, but goes through well-needed character development. Rowan goes through this, also, and the difference between both characters in the beginning and the end is enormous. You can barely see them as the same people.Rowan was, by far, my favorite character of the book because he was the most complicated and conflicted, and he was probably the most human. His choices may be slightly unfavorable, especially when it comes to Citra, but it’s leads to an amazing story.Citra’s family also makes it into the book, and they were actually loving parents! That is so rare in a book to have both living parents and loving parents! We need more of this in YA because not every family is broken and resentful. Her parents were still selfish, which may be where Citra got it, but they were reasonably selfish – as in it is understandable why they were how they were.Romance is nearly never involved in the book, and when it is, it is very limited. It suits this book and the circumstances, but you all know me, I’m looking for the romance lol.In all, it was an entertaining book that makes you think about the world and where it’s heading. I don’t really have too much to say, so this isn’t a very good review, but I do hope it helped in some way! Despite it’s shortcomings, I would still recommend this book if only for the philosophical meaning.
Has an interesting story line that navigates the effects on morality power can have while also being a thrilling read. I would recommend this book to any one looking for a dystopian world to dive into and new characters to fall in love with. I hope that others looking into this book find it as enjoying as I have.
Shusterman does a fantastic job at characterisation, world - building, and pacing. It is a perfect introduction to the perfectly imperfect Scythe universe as it meticulously discusses the moral quandaries regarding life within a world that has conquered death. Shusterman realistically considers minute details in this world of science - fiction, drawing inspiration from past and present society to manufacture a seemingly perfect, yet stagnant future. Thus, resulting in somewhat dark, but most importantly, thought provoking journey of change which will have you binge-reading the rest of the trilogy and writing a review before you even know it!
Both my husband and I love this book series. We had never heard of the author before and weren't sure about it. Promoted as a teen book, it really is excellent for teens and adults (my restriction is that younger children might find it too disturbing). Extremely well written and compelling. Quite a different story and I think, very thought provoking. This particular copy, I am giving to a friend to enjoy. We have bought the full series. The 3rd and possibly the final book on just came out. It is about death in a world where natural death no longer occurs and how that is made to happen. If that intrigues you, I think you may very well enjoy this book--which is stand alone or you can buy the series. We enjoyed it so much that we have now purchaced more books from this ... MoreBoth my husband and I love this book series. We had never heard of the author before and weren't sure about it. Promoted as a teen book, it really is excellent for teens and adults (my restriction is that younger children might find it too disturbing). Extremely well written and compelling. Quite a different story and I think, very thought provoking. This particular copy, I am giving to a friend to enjoy. We have bought the full series. The 3rd and possibly the final book on just came out. It is about death in a world where natural death no longer occurs and how that is made to happen. If that intrigues you, I think you may very well enjoy this book--which is stand alone or you can buy the series. We enjoyed it so much that we have now purchaced more books from this author to read at a later time.
My 7th grader is currently enjoying this. Sounds like a unique and interesting plot. He has requested the other titles from this author for future reading.
I completely and wholeheartedly enjoyed this book, the writing is beautiful, the characters are well developed. You could relate to the characters in one way or multiple ways, the author himself is a excellent writer and I will definitely be buying more from him in the future.
"Hope in the shadow of fear is the world's most powerful motivator."This book became one of my favourite reads of all time when I met Citra and Rowan five years ago. Since then I've wanted to visit them again but, like all of the books I've fallen in love with as an adult, I've procrastinated my reread. I wanted to hold onto the love at first read that I experienced. I was concerned that the shine wouldn't be there the second time around.I needn't have worried. I didn't think it possible but the reread shone even brighter for me. The characters I knew and loved, and those I loved to hate, came to me fully formed; I didn't need to reacquaint myself with them, even after all of this time.Citra and Rowan have been selected to undertake an apprenticeship. They ... More"Hope in the shadow of fear is the world's most powerful motivator."This book became one of my favourite reads of all time when I met Citra and Rowan five years ago. Since then I've wanted to visit them again but, like all of the books I've fallen in love with as an adult, I've procrastinated my reread. I wanted to hold onto the love at first read that I experienced. I was concerned that the shine wouldn't be there the second time around.I needn't have worried. I didn't think it possible but the reread shone even brighter for me. The characters I knew and loved, and those I loved to hate, came to me fully formed; I didn't need to reacquaint myself with them, even after all of this time.Citra and Rowan have been selected to undertake an apprenticeship. They will be spending the next year competing against one another for a job neither of them want. Ironically, this makes them the perfect candidates. Although they are both going to be trained by Scythe Faraday, their apprenticeships will be vastly different.Theirs is a world of splats and revival centres, where nanites can dull your pain but also limit the spectrum of your emotions. It's also a world where serial killers are not only sanctioned but revered. Here they're called scythes and their kills aren't murder; they're gleanings.Scythes have a quota of 260 gleanings per year. While this sounds like death is around every corner, your odds of being gleaned in the next 100 years are only 1 in 100.On the one hand, I have trouble imagining living in a world where we know everything there is to know and have conquered disease and mortality itself. On the other hand, I was fully immersed in Citra and Rowan's world. I believed.I imagined the joy of having time to learn everything I wanted to learn, read all of the books on my TBR list and experience everything I've ever dreamed of. But because time's no longer finite, the urgency of our world doesn't exist in Citra and Rowan's. There's nothing left to strive towards, nothing new to discover."With nothing to really aspire to, life has become about maintenance. Eternal maintenance."I adored Scythe Faraday, with his thoughtful, compassionate approach. I loved the excerpts from scythes' journals that caused me to think more deeply about their world as well as our own. I'm still chewing on the philosophical and moral issues raised in this book.Favourite no context quote: "Well, she could learn self-control tomorrow. Today she wanted pizza."This remains one of my favourite books of all time. I can't wait to binge the rest of the series.
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| Format | Paperback |
