Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1) by Neal Shusterman -- Restarting November 15th 2025

[Twila]

Ok great, that makes me feel a little better :)

I've only read the acknowledgements so far and this is apparently already being developed into a movie? What about Unwind?!
I want the Unwind movie already! XD

[C.P.]

Unwind would be such a creepy movie. Good, but creepy.

[C.P.]

Just read the first four chapters. This is fascinating so far. I shouldn't be surprised (I always enjoy Shusterman's stories, afer all) but I kind of am. I hope it keeps up. A very interesting concept and society.

[Twila]

I've read the first 2 and I have to agree. He's always very creative, and this is no different. I'm not sure where the plot is going to go, but I'm excited to find out.

[cors]

Starting this one :)

[Alley]

Finished chapter 3 last night. I am really enjoying it so far. (view spoiler)[It's really crazy, some of the things that are considered normal in this world. I love how Shusterman manages to create a whole new society so perfectly. The whole idea of the Scythes is just so cool! I really like Rowan's character. He seems extremely selfless which is amazing considering his home life. (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

On Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[So, really odd question, but does Citra's mother have two years of immunity now? Also, there's obviously something wrong with the Scythes on the plane. I found it odd that they all had stones on their robes. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Alley wrote: "Finished chapter 3 last night. I am really enjoying it so far. [spoilers removed]"

I agree, Shusterman has real skill in creating these worlds. (view spoiler)[The Scythes are such an interesting concept. And I'm really interested in learning more about them. Also, Rowan seems pretty amazing. (hide spoiler)]

Hopefully I can read more tonight.

[Twila]

Alley wrote: "Finished chapter 3 last night. I am really enjoying it so far. [spoilers removed]"

I really like Rowan too, though I haven't warmed to Citra.
Starting chapter 8 (view spoiler)[The Scythe's 10 commandments were pretty disturbing, don't you think? And I also don't see why keeping a journal is one of them. Why is that so important?
Plus, what happened on the plane is really interesting. (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

Starting Chapter 19
(view spoiler)[I LOVE Scythe Curie. She's so bad*ass while still being extremely kind.

That being said, I also loved Faraday. I'm still trying to decide if he actually gleaned himself or if Scythe Goddard was involved in his death.

I honestly saw the whole situation coming up where the one who didn't receive the ring in the end would die, but I didn't see it being presented like that, and I'm glad they seemed to clear it up fairly quickly. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Just finished chapter 11. (view spoiler)[Who are these crazy Scythes with jeweled robes? They don't sound good... (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

Starting Chapter 25
(view spoiler)[Okay. So the gleaning thing between Citra and Rowan hasn't been fixed yet. :I I feel like my favor is shifting towards Citra rather than Rowen farther in. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Through chapter 15. (view spoiler)[Goddard and his followers are messed up. This is all a sport to them. How horrible. And of course they want to make it a game.

Faraday is wonderful though. I'm pretty sure he's my favorite character. (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Alley wrote: "Starting Chapter 19
[spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[I really like Curie too. But it took me a while to connect that she's the one whose journals we've been reading, haha.
I also wonder about the gleaning. It seems so risky to me, I don't know if he would do something like that. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Through chapter 17. (view spoiler)[I don't want Rowan to train with Goddard! And I also don't believe that Faraday is actually dead. (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Starting chapter 22
(view spoiler)[Citra seems to have gotten the much better end of the deal! And I hope Rowan doesn't just give up like he says he will. But I have a feeling that he will die in the end. (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

C.P. wrote: "Through chapter 17. [spoilers removed]"

Ooooh, (view spoiler)[it never came to my mind that he might not be dead. I like this idea, but what could they possibly be doing with him? Or maybe he faked his death! I wonder if that's possible? (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Twila wrote: "C.P. wrote: "Through chapter 17. [spoilers removed]"

Ooooh, [spoilers removed]"

I'm thinking (view spoiler)[he faked his death. Remember his friend who works for the morgue (or whatever it was)? I was thinking that maybe he had her bring him back. He needed it to be real so that there would be witnesses, but she could rejuvinate him without suspicion since she works in the system. Just a thought... (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Courtney, if this happens, you're a genius!

[C.P.]

Haha, I really hope it does!

[C.P.]

Through chapter 24. (view spoiler)[What is the deal with Esme? And are they going to ruin Rowan? I hate what they are doing to him. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Twila wrote: "Starting chapter 22
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I know! And I don't want him to give up, but I don't want him to give into what Goddard and his weirdo Scythes want either. (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

I'm done (view spoiler)[First of all Courtney, you're a genius.
Next, I liked Citra's solution. It was simple, but brilliant. Poor Rowan has to be a fugitive now though :(
This book could have been a standalone, IMO. I can't see where the story goes from here. I'm hoping the Thunderhead goes evil or something :P

Overall, I enjoyed it. I just really couldn't connect to the story nor the characters for whatever reason. Dunno why. So I'll have to think about my rating for a bit, hmm. (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

C.P. wrote: "Twila wrote: "Starting chapter 22
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Goddard is something else, isn't he? The way he justifies things is retarded.

[C.P.]

Just finished chapter 28. (view spoiler)[That makes so much sense that Esme is the High Blade's daughter! No wonder Goddard wants to keep her around. He can do whatever hr wants with that kind of leverage.

I'm liking Volta fairly well. He just needs to stop following Goddard!

And I'm feeling really bad for Rowan. He's such a good person and Goddard is trying to ruin him. (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

C.P. wrote: "Just finished chapter 28.
[spoilers removed]

(view spoiler)[How do you think Citra would have done under Goddard? I think she may have been a little more defiant. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Twila wrote: "C.P. wrote: "Just finished chapter 28.
[spoilers removed]

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[You know, I'm really not sure. At first I thought she would have given in more easily, lost her resolve faster, but I'm not sure that she would have. It's not that Rowan has lost who he is, just that he realizes he could--and is on his way to doing so, if he follows his current path for too long.

So I'm not sure. In a lot of ways I think that Rowan is more self aware than Citra, which makes him stronger in some ways. But she is very determined and used to excelling when he isn't. So I think her time under Faraday made her want to fight for that ideal. (hide spoiler)]

I'm not even sure any of that made any sense. XD

[Twila]

(view spoiler)[I definitely agree about Rowan realizing he can lose himself. I don't know about him being more self-aware though. He enjoys certain things about being with Goddard, such as making all those people deadish. And then he hates that he enjoys it. So... which is it? He seems unsure.

I just think that Citra doesn't let consequences stop her from doing what she wants. Like when she saw Scythe Curie glean that person suddenly and she was all like, "What are you doing?!"
She yelled at the Grand Dame of Death. That was bold. There's more too, but I don't think you're there yet :) (hide spoiler)]
But I guess all we can do is speculate.

[C.P.]

Yeah, I definitely get what you're saying there. Now I need to read more! And then wait for the second book.....

[C.P.]

Through chapter 30. (view spoiler)[I can't believe she jumped off a 119 floor building! Or that Goddard (because who else could it be, really?) is trying to have her imprisoned and killed for "murdering" Faraday.

And that was his real name, right? That the Thunderhead told her? So he did set it all up! Well, I'm assuming... (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Just you wait for it xD

[C.P.]

Ahhh! Now I want to just skip work and read. But alas, that can't happen. Maybe I can finish tonight though.

[C.P.]

Through chapter 36. (view spoiler)[Faraday is alive! I was right! He was so out of the loop though.

And oh goodness, all of that with Rowan! The Volta death was hard. And what Rowan did to Goddard, Rand, and Chomsky...I can't say I wasn't glad. They deserved it. I just feel so bad for him, all the torture he's had to endure. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Just finished. And I really enjoyed this. (view spoiler)[I kind of felt a bit detached from the characters for a lot of the book, but I still really enjoyed them. Rowan was great in the beginning and then in the end. It took me a long time to warm to Citra, but I think I did eventually.

And I'm so glad Faraday was alive!

This world was really vivid in my mind, so I found it fascinating. That id usually how I feel about Shusterman books though.

I wonder what Rowan will do. I think you're right, Twila; this could have easily been a standalone. But I think he can make a sequel work. And I want more Rowan. And more Faraday. Maybe a little of the others. (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Yep, you were right.
*bows down in your presence*

(view spoiler)[That detachment you mention is exactly what I felt. I just wasn't engaged enough. I think it might have been a matter of bad timing for me. I was reading this as I was also reading one of my favourite books of all time. That was a bad idea. I would have enjoyed this book more otherwise.

I've heard the title of the next book is Thunderhead. That's a little exciting! I'll definitely be reading that one.
I think this is it for Faraday though, with him retiring and all. But maybe not. (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

It was just a lucky guess! Usually I'm wrong when I think things like that, haha.

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I know what you mean. I've done that before too. Still, hopefully you like the second one more. And I hope I do as well.

Faraday is mentioned in the blurb for book two, so I don't know if we're done with him or not. I get the impression that he might be helping Citra and Curie in some way. Guess we'll see! (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Oh. I just read the blurb. Sounds good. Until November then!

[C.P.]

Yes! November is going to be a busy month. With this and OATHBRINGER!

[Wolf (Alpha)]

1/4: (view spoiler)[ I think that it is funny how Tyger jumps off building for fun. I seriously wonder what Rowan's friends would think of his position. (hide spoiler)]

[Wolf (Alpha)]

2/4: (view spoiler)[ I hope that Rowan stays a good scythe and doesn't go bad and betray his fellow scythes. I hope that Rowan is safe from the other bad scythes. (hide spoiler)]

[Wolf (Alpha)]

3/4: (view spoiler)[ I don't like Goddard. I hop that Rowan doesn't listen to him. I feel bad for Citra and hope she doesn't get her butt kicked too bad. (hide spoiler)]

[Wolf (Alpha)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ I really enjoyed this book a bunch. I like how they did a great job and how they are not to be killed. I hate how they only choice is kill or be killed. (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

So I FINALLY finished!

(view spoiler)[I LOVED that ending. Citra's choice of name was amazing! The Romanovs always interested me. And Rowan's character shocked me to no end. I'm really glad that Voltra was able to go out on his own terms. I feel like of all the characters, I feel the worst for him. So freaking glad that Goddard is dead and Faraday is not. Curie's character was phenomenal! (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Alley wrote: "So I FINALLY finished!

[spoilers removed]"

Yay Alley you did it!
(view spoiler)[I know little about the Romanovs, so her name went over my head. But yes, Goddard is dead, woohoo!
Glad you liked it :) (hide spoiler)]

[C.P.]

Alley wrote: "So I FINALLY finished!

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[So glad you enjoyed it! I felt terrible for Volta, it was so sad. :( But I'm glad that Goddard is gone! He was horrible. (hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 5th of January 2018

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[Ariel]

Sorry to have such a jumbled post, but the thread wasn’t up yet. So here is parts 1 & 2:

(view spoiler)[

I can’t help but be drawn more to Citra. She has such fire and she’s very earnest. All her mistakes and successes are genuine, rather than calculated. I can’t help but be sad at the end of part 2. I really wanted to see more from Faraday because he was such an interesting character. When they said he had gleaned himself, I really did think it was a set up and someone had actually killed him! I love the mixture of journals, the difference between Curie and Goddard is apparent. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

End of chapter 19
(view spoiler)[

Aghhhhhhhh, it could have been murder!!!! Exactly. Wow. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

End of chapter 25
(view spoiler)[
I wonder if them attacking the “space” research was strategic because then people would be out of range from the Scythes. Goddard is clearly a lunatic with a God complex, so his name is fitting. I can feel Rowan being pulled to the dark side. (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

i'll start today 😀