Scythe (1) (Arc of a Scythe)

A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021)

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, 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.

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464 pages

Average rating: 8.48

339 RATINGS

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21 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Anonymous
Dec 18, 2024
8/10 stars
This book was a lot of fun to read, and the plot was very unique! It had a good beginning, and got me hooked right from the start. It was fast paced and interesting. No sluggish sections for me.

Humanity has perfected, well, everything. There is nothing left to learn, and death no longer exists. Well, outside of gleaning by Scythe or death by fire anyway. Humans can live forever. Getting old? Turn the corner and reset your age to anything beyond 20. Hit by a truck, fell off a 100 story building? Someone will whisk you away to the nearest revival center. Sick? Nope, no such thing anymore.

But in this state of, um, perfection, humans are bored. When you have an eternity, decades zoom by in the blink of an eye. Passion and drive seem to have vanished right along with all diseases and death. Why should people pour their heart into something when they have an eternity to accomplish it?

When two teenagers are selected to be Scythe's apprentices, they become part of a world they had never before imagined being a part of. Training to become the bringers of death will change them drastically, and also highlight who they were inside all along. This isn't a life Citra and Rowen ever imagined for themselves, but there is no going back now.

I can't give this book 5 stars however. The reason are this: The plot bothered me. Humans have taken control of death. The protagonists are training to be Scythes, whose sole purpose is to kill people. There is no getting around that for me. No matter how human they are, no matter how compassionate they are, they are still training to kill, and that was something that made me uncomfortable.
The other reason is the narration of Citra (I read this book on Audible.) Greg Tremblay did a wonderful job, but her voice was just a little bit too breathy for me. She constantly sounded timid and afraid. And that's just not Citra.

I'll most likely read the second book, because despite my misgivings, I was hooked. I enjoyed reading it, and liked the pacing.
SKALDSWE
Nov 21, 2024
Liked this book
Anonymous
Nov 19, 2024
10/10 stars
Couldn't put it down! Read 300 pages in one setting. Definitely reccomend 10 out of 10!
Jbam07
Sep 15, 2024
9/10 stars
I loved this book! It was a lot of fun, fast paced, and I never expected what was coming. I can't wait to read the next book!
brunette_rapunzel
Aug 09, 2024
10/10 stars
What a wonderful book! I've never read one like it! So good!

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