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Scythe (Arc of a Scythe, #1)

Neal Shusterman

Start date: March 1, 2024

Finish date: March 31, 2024

Discussion: Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Jul 17, 2023 🩶 April • A.M. Flynn • 🩶 rated it really liked it

I kinda had to drag myself to read the last 7 chapters.

19 likes · Like · see review

Jul 24, 2018 Charley Girl rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-read

I don't normally read YA books unless they are book of the month for a goodreads group. This is how this one came to me.

This book takes place when humans have conquered death. We are now immortal, but to limit the number of people we now have scythes that glean (kill) to keep the population down. The scythe community is wrapped in contradictions. To be a scythe you cannot want to be a scythe or want to kill. You must be compassionate and empathetic. All of the characteristics that would drive a ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Feb 04, 2018 Klancy Hoover-Davis rated it it was amazing

First, I should say that I had my doubts starting this book because so many people had recommended it to me. And for some reason when multiple people tell me how great a book is, I'm more reluctant to read it. Second, I'm so glad that I ended up reading this book because it was just as great as everyone said it would be!

(view spoiler) ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 31, 2017 Cindee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: january-2018-tbr, january-2018-out-with-the-old-i

I really loved this book best book I have read out of the three I have read this year it was so well written I loved everything about it. I loved all of the characters but I loved Citra and Rowan the most they were so very well developed from beginning of the story to the end of it. I loved the story the plot flowed so well I loved the concept of Sycthes and interesting bits in-between the story where you see journal bits from other characters so you have some insight of more of the characters t ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 05, 2018 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, dystopia, gcac2018

Still not sure what I think of this one. The plot twist was good.

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 07, 2018 Ashleigh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, buddy-read, series-books, bipoc-author

New fave alert!

Scythe is set in a world where disease and natural death have been wiped out, and with the use of technology, humans are immortal and can 'reset' their bodies and essentially reverse their ageing. Due to population control issues, the Earth still needs death, and we have Scythes, people who take on the role of 'gleaning' people and each Scythe is allotted a target number of people to glean in order to keep the population down.

Our heroes, Citra and Rowan, are taken on as appre New fave alert!

Scythe is set in a world where disease and natural death have been wiped out, and with the use of technology, humans are immortal and can 'reset' their bodies and essentially reverse their ageing. Due to population control issues, the Earth still needs death, and we have Scythes, people who take on the role of 'gleaning' people and each Scythe is allotted a target number of people to glean in order to keep the population down.

Our heroes, Citra and Rowan, are taken on as apprentices to Scythe Faraday after both have run-ins with the Scythe and he is impressed with their attitude towards the system. Both are not particular fond of the current system and are a little disgusted with killing people as a job. But Scythe Faraday believes the only people who should become Scythes are those who are not comfortable with it. People who can retain their humanity and not get used to the feeling of killing people. Citra and Rowan find themselves in a competition against each other to become an ordained Scythe, and the first take the winner will have is to glean the loser..

Not a huge Sci-Fi fan, but my goodness. This book was amazing! I loved the setting and felt the world and backstory were very well-fleshed out. I had reservations about Citra and Rowan based on the first interactions with them, and was really hoping they wouldn't turn out to be stereotypical YA protagonists who are super moody and are determined to take a system down. But they weren't that bad, actually.

My favourite characters in this book were definitely Scythe Faraday and Scythe Curie. They were wise and fair, and you could tell they really understood the weight of their actions. They were both great teachers to Citra and I loved their little backstory. (view spoiler).

Overall, this might be one of my new favourite books. Can't wait to get started on Thunderhead!! ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 01, 2018 Mandiann rated it it was amazing

This book was very enjoyable but nothing beyond amazing until the very end. Wow. I love the world, the surprises and twists and the characters. I am very anxiously awaiting the next book.

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Apr 08, 2018 Jamie Lott rated it it was amazing

Such an interesting story line and so well put together from start to finish. My teenage son read this book in his English class and had it in his backpack over break so I decided to read it. We never got to read current books like this when I was in school, so I was intrigued. This book really makes you think about life, death, mortality, immortality. I can’t wait to read the second book.

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