So Scythe is basically about murder and death and deathly murder. Exciting!
I feel like everyone and their dog and their aunt and their friend’s semi-literate fish has been begging me to read this…and look I finally did! It’s definitely worth all the rave reviews (although I confess to loving the author’s Challenger Deep and Unwind more).
And look, I keep whingeing on about how “I’m just not into dystopians anymore” but for two weeks in a row I’ve enjoyed them. So there we go! The world is full of murder and surprises.
+ In this dystopian universe, it’s a perfect world with no death. So people become scythes to keep the balance.
If you think that sounds like a terrifically flawed idea. WELL DONE! YOU ARE RIGHT! Humans are so good at mucking everything up. I do so love this world (it reminded me of The Giver) and amongst the perfectness, the scythes still h ave the ability to be cruel and warped. Although I confess even giving the scythes an opportunity to be violently cruel (with guns and flamethrowers and knives etc.)…kiiiind of lost me. Why even give them the option?! shouldn’t everyone get pacifist deaths?! Like a murder-pill or something??? If humanity is supposedly “perfect”???
+ But hello look at the cover. The scythes had freaking awesome robes and I want one.
No no, I don’t want to be a scythe. Just the robe. I NEED ONE. I mean I MIGHT JOIN THE SCYTHEDOM FOR ONE. I DON’T KNOW. GIVE ME THE OPTION AND WE’LL SEE.
+ It’s dual narrated by Citra and Rowan.
The story is split between them (plus little journal excerpts from other scythes between their chapters). Both have been basically forced into apprenticeships to Scythe Faraday and at the end, one has to glean the other. I enjoyed both their perspectives! Citra is a bit of a Slytherin go-getter and Rowan is a self confessed “lettuce” (aka: unimportant and forgettable). And if you put a Slytherin and a Hufflepuff together…I just ship it. I do. However, I did feel their narration was distant (which is weird as I generally adore 3rd person the best) but I was super keen to see how their story would unfold. Their relationship was also marvellous. SO CUTE. But if you don’t like romance, this actually has very very little.
ALSO THE BOOK IS VERY MEAN TO ROWAN AND MY POOR HEART.❤💔
+ It is kind of long though.
I felt it was a teeny tiny bit rambly, and it took me a while to get invested because there wasn’t much plot besides Citra and Rowan training to be scythes. However it was still enjoyable to read. I just…am not so big on the “now we FIGHT AND TRAIN” narratives that are everywhere.
+ AND THEN THE TWISTS CAME.
Like hit me in the face with a brick, why don’t you. One of the twists had me kind of going “OH. OH. I DIDN’T WANT THAT” which is a masterfully great feeling. Who needs happiness?! Not bookworms!
+ And I really appreciated the detail of the world building.
It’s a “perfect” society and everyone can reset their ages and live in comfort (although they still had to work/strive). The whole world just felt so CHILL. Apart from, you know, rogue scythes doing mass murders due to corruption. But what can we say. These things happen. The details of the world just really made it so easy to get lost in.
I was late to the Scythedom highway-to-hell but I’m HAPPY I’M HERE NOW. It wasn’t a “perfect” read for me as I wasn’t emotionally invested, but it was full of questions and things to make you think. There is death, corruption, feels and knives. Yes please and thank you.
THANK YOU WALKER BOOKS FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. Scythe by Neal Shusterman was published February 2018.
★★★★☆
Thou shalt kill.
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.
I actually DNF’ed this one because I was bored, it was slow and I couldn’t get into it at all. ahaha… Sorry! But I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Ohh no! But I am glad I enjoyed it anyway still.😂
I’ve been wanting to read this book since soooo long but I never get to it haha. Buzzfeed Books legit said THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU and I’m like oh okay let’s see if it survives the TBR 😂
YOU SHOULD GET TO IT!! Although honestly it took me forever to read too😂 not even sure why?! It’s so good!
You have in fact convinced me that this is the book I need to read. Congratulations! XD
EXCELLENT. My work here is done. 😂😂
I’ve put this book off for FOREVER. Partly because it’s dystopian and I’m just not in the mood? Also, because other books keep showing up? And maybe because of the cover, haha. It just looks dark and “I WILL KILL YOU”
So, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll read it eventually?
Yesss read it eventually! If you’re in a stabby mood maybe? I’m generally anti-dystopian too but this was GOOD and felt really different to the usual bunch of cliches!
I have never read anything by this author, but I really love the concept of this book and I can’t wait to read it! I’m done with dystopia in general, but hey, it’s grim reaper dystopia so I’m willing to give it a try 😀
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I totally understand about feeling done with dystopian ahah. Me too usually?! But strangely this one was really different and just GREAT. I know it’s being called “a great successor to the Hunger Games” but it’s like 0% similar.😂
I liked Unwind more, too, but I still loved Scythe so much! My friend just gave me a copy of Thunderhead. I seriously considered dropping out of my March reading challenge so I could read it. Then I decided to be good and finish the challenge. It’ll be the first book I read in April, though.
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Ooh you are very controlled! I’m trying to figure out if I should break and read Thunderhead but buy the US copy or wait for the Aussie paperback next year.😂
I’ve been wanting to read this book for an age and a half because THAT COVER <3 <3 <3. Plus the premise is INCREDIBLE and I love dystopian, so xD. I'm glad to see that you liked it! It is absolutely getting bumped up on my TBR (*squints at the Towering Pile of Doom and wonders if I can pull out this ooooone book from the middle and SURVIVE* My chances are very slim xD) .
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The cover is EVERYTHING GOOD IN THIS WORLD. Mostly because I want that cape.😂 But also just the colours are so great?! And yesss bump it up the TBR, it’s not like you have anything else to read, obviously. :’) 😂😂
OMG, I can SO see you running around in a Scythe robe, Cait, and I have to say, if I saw you coming for me, I’d run, lol.
Though if Terry Pratchett’s Death comes for me one day, I will happily hop right on Binky. (Not sure what this says about me, and not sure I care??…)
I would be a VERY disorganised Scythe though, let’s be real. BUT THE ROBE. I would be flawless. *changes future career plans for the uniform*
(Also I need to read more Terry Pratchett ahhh.)
Wait, didn’t this come out February 2017? Not 18? You might have put the date wrong. I haven’t read anything by Neal Shusterman yet but I’m going to! I have Unwind on my tbr and consider it a priority.
Haha no this is the Australian release date, so I’m right. Didn’t you know I was Australian?!😂 (Also Unwind is SO good but also traumatised me … I read it like 5 years ago but still. I want to reread and then finish the series.)
This is not my usual genre but I love the idea. Sounds fascinating and horrible at the same time. I really might have to try this one. Fab review!
Ahh! I hope you do! It really is a fantastic concept and different from one’s typical dystopian which is exciting.
SOMEBODY keeps telling me to read the Raven Cycle… 😉
I DON’T KNOW WHO. WOULDN’T BE ME. *pretends to look innocent*
I had the same issue with the writing feeling distant.
BUT HOLY HECK I LOVE THIS CONCEPT. A+
YAS WE ARE LIKE BRAIN TWINS. (Shh why are you running away?? It’s not scary. COME BAAAACK. *runs after you*)
Ooooooh I am very happy that you read this because I’ve heard it being floated about and was keen to see more bloggerish responses. It looks fun but I’m not sure I want to read it if it’s hard to be emotionally invested?? IDK??? I need feels. And of COURSE they are mean to the Hufflepuff. First Cedric, now Rowan we are ALWAYS MISTREATED.
WHY DO THE HUFFLEPUFFS GET SUCH A HARD TIME. #RightsForHufflepuffs (And I still think it’s thoroughly worth the read even if I wasn’t super connected to the characters!)
Ooooo! I’m glad you enjoyed this one! Neal Shusterman has always been one of my favorite authors so I picked this up as soon as it was released (but I’m still waiting to read book 2… I bought it but still haven’t picked it up yet opps…) Do you think you’ll be picking up book 2? (Your TBR is probably crazy long but you seem to get through books in half a day so 😂) And if you haven’t read Unwind (also by Neal Shusterman) than you totally should. (Although depending on how you felt about his writing style in Scythe, might impact your enjoyment of Unwind. Shusterman’s writing is fairly consistent which is great if you’re like me and LOVE his writing, but if you don’t then it’s not as good)
Yes yes of course I want to read book 2!! It won’t come out in Australia until next year though…and I mean I could by the US hardcover, but then my set won’t match.😂 So I’ll probably wait haha. And YES I love Unwind! I listed it as one of my favourite Shusterman books at the beginning. 😉 Although I need to actually finish reading the series…omg I’m terrible.
Oh I didn’t realize book 2 wasn’t out in Australia yet! Do y’all normally get books much later than in the US? (I guess it depends when a publisher buys the rights to publish a book in Australia VS in America <-is that how that works? Lol I should really find out considering I'd like to work in publishing one day 😂) Ah gosh sorry, can't believe I missed you mentioning Unwind as one of your favs! I found the rest of the series to still be pretty great! (Which surprised me a bit because I think I was a little worried the series would go downhill, but Shusterman has still yet to disappoint me)
Actually not usually THIS late?! It’s like a full year’s delay so what’s up with that. And yes it is a rights thing and when things sell to different countries! Usually it’s just like a few months, unless it’s a particularly obscure book but this is like famous!? Anyway. 😂 (omg Shusterman definitely doesn’t disappoint and I hope to reread Unwind and then finish the series this year! HOPE anyway.😂)
Book people keep telling me to read the Shadowhunter books (Including you!) and the first was just…. meh. I found it too similar to another series that I enjoyed exponentially more so I just wasn’t motivated to continue.
I LOVED SCYTHE AND THE PLOT TWIST AHHH I LOVED IT I ACTUALLY JUST FINISHED THE SECOND BOOK AND I AM M A D BECAUSE I AM H U R T BECAUSE PRECIOUS CHILD R O W A N IS NOT LONGER PRECIOUS AND CITRA IS DOING SO WELL BUT A H H H H
You should definitely read it. “Thunderhead”. Came out in January.
Nooooo I’m so so sad you don’t like Shadowhunters. *cries piteously in the corner* But I AM glad we agree on Scythe! The 2nd book doesn’t come out in Australia until next year though…like how mean is that?!😂 I could just buy the hardcover from America bUT YET. I like matching books.
Oof that’s the problem of being someone who always has to have that #aesthetic
I’ll be reading this and Thunderhead this year, and I’M SO EXCITED. I love their premises so much, and I’ve heard so many good things. Like always, I’m stuck somewhere in limbo waiting for my turn to come up with the copy of it. xD DOESN’T THAT FIGURE? Ugh. But I’m always up for death and corruption, of course.
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I’M EXCITED THAT YOU’RE EXCITED AHH! I want to read Thunderhead so bad but it’s not out for a year in Australia.😂 I mean I could just buy the US hardcover I guess…but matching… *cries*
WAIT THAT’S A SCYTHE WITH A ROBE ON THE COVER??! I thought that was one of the female character. I am so intelligent.
But the book is so twisted and I love me a twisted book.
Haha it’s such a cool robe though! I LOVE IT.
A Slytherin and a Hufflepuff?!?!?!?! I’M IN. It’s too sad there isn’t too much plot, though. But… Slytherin x Hufflepuff !!!! And I don’t know why, but I just love the name Rowan, I’ve been obsessed with it a long time and I don’t really know what’s wrong with me. A lot of people have told me to read Six of Crows, and I will! Although, I didn’t like Shadow and Bone, everybody says Six of Crows is way better, so I’m looking up to read it soon!
By the way, yesterday I heard an album named ‘Dreamer’ by Anthony Graninger. Have you heard it? if you haven’t, I highly recommend you to do so. It inspired me for one of my story ideas and I just feel so happy when I listen to it. I remembered you when I listened the first song bc in your book Beck plays piano (seems like I memorized the synopsis😂)
I know right?! Slytherin x Hufflepuff is the best mix and no one can persuade me otherwise.😂 AWw Six of Crows IS way better than the first trilogy! (Although I admit I do love Shadow and Bone…because Nikolai.)
Oh I shall go look up this Dreamer! I’m always on the look out for new music haha. (And yessss, there is much music in my debut! Although mostly Chopin.😂)
Well I mean, you know I love this book hahha. I push people to read THIS, basically, so I am glad you liked it! I loved how many timely messages were woven in- especially in Thunderhead, actually. I am trying to think of which books people have pushed me to read lately… hmm. There are some that I really WANT to read like Children of Blood and Bone and Pacifica but I don’t happen to own them. But that’s different. Well I cannot think of one now, but I bet you one will come to me at like, 3am!
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AHhhh I’m so glad I loved it! (Honestly I was considering moving to Mars if I didn’t like it because how ever could I face you.) And omg I want to read Thunderhead so bad but I feel I should wait for the paperback so my set matches??? BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS. *cries*
Pacifica is so good!! *shoos you towards it*
Since I love dystopians, I have to read this book now! The fact it has just little romance doesn’t bother me, actually. About the robe, yeah, you do have my sympathy.
YAS READ IT!! I really hope you enjoy it, Cri!
Thank you, Cait!
I haven’t read Scythe yet, but I bought the book over my spring break. I’m hoping to get to it this summer when I have more time. I’ve only heard good things about this book, so I’m excited! Thanks for the review.
I hope you like it!! I just heard that Australia is releasing book 2 in June AND I AM HAPPY.