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

[Ari]

Part four (view spoiler)[Ohhhh so it was Curie!! I loved their love story! And wow Gerald is Faraday, I didn’t see that coming. Loving the book so far! (hide spoiler)]

[Ari]

Finished (view spoiler)[Nice ending!! I thoroughly enjoyed this. I can’t wait for Thunderhead. I wonder what the plot will be about. Will Citra and Rowan meet again?? (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I had a cinch that it was (view spoiler)[Faraday (hide spoiler)]XD

[Rachael]

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Reading from the 6th of August 2018

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[Rachael]

Starting a couple days early but super excited to read!

5% in and I'm hooked!

[Rachael]

15%
So far this is kind of reminding me of for some reason

[Rachael]

18%
(view spoiler)[
Interesting how some Scythes are brutal and cruel but Scythe Faraday seem more compassionate. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

30%
(view spoiler)[ Uh ohhhhhh they better not fall in love! (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

34%
(view spoiler)[ Hmmm so the rule IS to "err on the side of compassion" why then are some of the other schythes so nasty and mean (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

36%
(view spoiler)[ I'm kind of confused about The Thunderhead.. Is it a "being" or just like a master computer? Is it the "god" of this world? (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

41%
(view spoiler)[ Oh my gosh!! I'm so sad about Scythe Faraday! And worried for Citra & Rowan... (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I haven't read The Giver.

[Maddie]

Rachael wrote: "36%
[spoilers removed]"

It kind of really reminds me of AIDAN from Illuminae XD Like an AI.

[Rachael]

48%
(view spoiler)[ Ughhh I do not like Scythe Goddard... he's definitely a scythe abusing his power (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

Maddison wrote: "Rachael wrote: "36%
[spoilers removed]"

It kind of really reminds me of AIDAN from Illuminae XD Like an AI."

Hmm I haven't read that one yet but yes as I read on I'm getting a better picture of "The Thunderhead"

[Rachael]

57%
(view spoiler)[ I'm curious about Esme and her role in all this. Why did Scythe Goddard save her at the mall? Why is she living on his estate with no purpose that we know of (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah she was an odd ball XD

[Rachael]

All done!!! I enjoyed that so very much; I devoured it. The world building was so good and right up my alley. I can't wait to read the next one and see what happens!

[Maddie]

Awesome!

[✨Skye✨]

Part 1 of Scythe
(view spoiler)[ This is so interesting! It's very thought provoking. The idea of the Thunderhead kind of has logic-people will always act in their own self interests, and that's how wars and inequality occur. I guess an AI really is unbiased. The Scythes themselves are really creepy, but again morbidly intriguing. (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

Part 2 of Scythe
(view spoiler)[ I don't believe Scythe Faraday gleaned himself for a second! This is obviously down to Scythe Goddard-he is such a horrible, horrible man. Threatening gleaning for an estate? How sick must you be? (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Finally started today!

[Maddie]

I love the little snippets I get back into this book, thanks Skye! XD Keeps my memory regreshed for Thunderhead next month!

Awesome Abby

[✨Skye✨]

Maddison wrote: "I love the little snippets I get back into this book, thanks Skye! XD Keeps my memory regreshed for Thunderhead next month!

Awesome Abby"

It's so interesting xD I have no idea how it will set up for Thunderhead.

[Maddie]

Neither, but I can't wait XD

[✨Skye✨]

Part 3 of Scythe
(view spoiler)[ Goddard is even sicker than I thought! Xenocrates might even be good under all the blackmail. Citra has to be able to get out of this. The only reason they'd go to this much effort to sabotage her would be because Goddard did kill Faraday. (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[I can't imagine having to do so many gleanings. Surely that'll play with emotions. (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

End of Part 2: (view spoiler)[At first I was relieved that they wouldn't have to kill one another because Scythe Faraday gleaned himself. But now I'm groaning because Rowan is an apprentice to Scythe Goddard. This can't be good. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I agree Abby i was like uuuuuuuugh XD

[✨Skye✨]

Part 4 of Scythe (view spoiler)[ FARADAY IS ALIVE? OMG! I was so happy but also kind of sad-why can't he just have a peaceful retirement like he wanted? I ship Curie and Faraday. Rowan is also kind of a cruel badass, walking out of the flames like in an action film XD (hide spoiler)]

Part 5 of Scythe (view spoiler)[ Citra is a mad genius. I'm so happy to see them both alive by the end! And the diary entry on the last page-is Rowan Scythe Lucifer? It sounds like such a cool premise for book 2. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Part 4 (view spoiler)[Isn't it weird how I see Faraday as an adult (like 30-40) but Curie as more like in her 20s? (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Chapter 27: (view spoiler)[Dang, that was brutal of Rowan to break Citra's neck like that! (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Interesting that someone would be given immunity by accidentally kissing the ring. Was there no way around that? Anyway, I'm glad Rowan escaped with Faraday. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

The ending was so good right XD

Planning Thunderhead for the start of next month I think.

[Sanah]

Up to Part 1 (view spoiler)[ Lol I'm late, but this world is really interesting with the idea of people basically being selfish and acting on their own interests. Scythes are really interesting, but also kind of freaky when you think about it (hide spoiler)]

[Sanah]

Up to Part 2 (view spoiler)[ I can't believe Scythe Faraday gleaned himself. He made the ultimate sacrifice for his apprentices after the Conclave decided to make Citra and Rowan compete and have the loser be killed. I'm mad that they weren't freed after Faraday died and I know Goddard is bad news...Like I can already tell he is probably going to betray the Scythedom and try to take control of the Thunderhead/ all Scythes in general. I'm excited for Citra to work with Curie because she seems like a very unique, but well-respected Scythe and her journals have so much knowledge about the philosophy/psychology that goes into gleaning souls. (hide spoiler)]

[Sierra]

25% (view spoiler)[ Yeah i dont know why anyone would want to be a teenager again. I cant believe rowans grandma is having another baby and she is now younger than her daughter, that is so just weird. That would piss me off.
(hide spoiler)]
50%(view spoiler)[ I think id be more like citra. I wouldnt want to glean. Id want to go to college and get married ect ect… oh wow she accepted it. It must feel weird walking around getting food with a scythe. Omg scythes done have to pay! What!? (hide spoiler)]
75% (view spoiler)[ How did she(esme) live? Why was the scythe looking for her? I really like scythe faraday. That was very kind of hi to not glean that mans wife and 2 children. Even though he could get in trouble.
(hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[
So thats why they didnt kill esme, because shes the future. Oh wow i cant believe he made rowan feel all of the pain and beat him almost to death. When citra went to tell the brother that his last family member has passed and that he gets everything and now has a year of immunity and he told her he didnt want it i would have just turned and walked away. (hide spoiler)]

[Sanah]

Up to Part 4 (view spoiler)[ I'm shook. Can't believe Citra was charged with Faraday's murder and that Xenocrates had an illegitimate daughter. I really need Goddard to hop of a cliff and just leave because he is stressing everyone out with his blackmail. I wonder how Rowan is doing with all this and if he cares/is he going to help Citra (hide spoiler)]

[Sanah]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I love that Citra became a Scythe and she is now Scythe Anastasia. I was kind of hoping Rowan would also become a Scythe, but instead Citra made him immune instead of gleaning him, which was incredibly smart. I was a little confused where the romance started from because it seemed like it just happened, but really enjoyed this (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Part 1: (view spoiler)[ One chapter in and I was hooked. The concept behind no mortal death and it just being controlled by Scythes is interesting and kinda scary. I really like both Citra and Rowan and their aversion to becoming a Scythe. But since there can only be one and they are forbidden from any romantic relationship, I'm very interested in how this will turn out. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ Hmm it's weird to be younger than your daughter. But his grandfather is apparently just flirting with other people? Is that how life is in this world? Since everyone's almost immortal, do they have different lovers? (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ Common decency? Isn't a bit ironic and even rude to attend a funeral of the person you gleaned? (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ Well Faraday's an interesting Scythe. He didn't glean the rest of the family and lied about what the husband's resistance. Yet, he plays games like all the other crazy scythes. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ Noooooo! No. No. No! Omg noo! Faraday! No!!! And omg Noooooo they're gonna be enemies now! (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Chapter 28 (view spoiler)[ I admire Rowan for taking everything Goddard's throwing at him. He's smart and perceptive. I hope he doesn't loose himself in the process. Is Faraday really dead? (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ Oh wow that was amazing! This book had some of the best plot twists I've read this year! I loved that both main characters were smart and sneaky in their own way. That ending was incredible! So sneaky and cunniving! I think it's fitting that Rowan became "scythe Lucifer". It kinda provides balance for the crazy scythes. I'm curious of Faraday's role in the next book. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Sanah wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"
I don't think it was romantic between them. I think there's potential there but I think they have a stronger friendship bond. (view spoiler)[ When he said "I love you" in the end, I think he meant it as thankful and in admiration to her plan. (hide spoiler)] At least that's what it seemed like to me.

[Sanah]

Nicole's Book Diaries wrote: "Sanah wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"
I don't think it was romantic between them. I think there's potential there but I think they have a stronger friendship bond. [spoilers removed] At least ..."

I can see that too. The author seems to be going for a more small friendship, lots of action/drama story rather than half drama/action half relationships

[Jenn]

Part 2: (view spoiler)[ OH SHIT! I did not see that coming! But Goddard needs to be stopped!! And poor Faraday :( This is going to get even more crazier! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Part 3: (view spoiler)[ Oh man, how is this ever going to be set right? Citra is now being framed for Faraday's murder and the High Blade is being blackmailed by Goddard - what a wimp and a disgust of a man. This isn't going to end well I can just tell. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Part 4: (view spoiler)[ Oh man Rowan, what did you do?? He's in so deep now and having killed all of those scythe's - even though they deserved it. And Faraday is alive!!! I can't even imagine where this is going to go now. (hide spoiler)]