Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1) by Neal Shusterman - Restarting May 1st 2023

[Krystal]

Third time reading this book and I’m just now realizing it’s called Arc of the Scythe and not just Scythe, lol.

[Krystal]

Up to chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ these poor people gleaned from the rogues. That airplane scene was hard because their deaths were violent. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Krystal wrote: "Third time reading this book and I’m just now realizing it’s called Arc of the Scythe and not just Scythe, lol."

Haha we got there in the end

[Krystal]

25% (view spoiler)[ You know, always having to wonder whether you will be gleaned that day must be hard. Not a life I would want. (hide spoiler)]

[Krystal]

Also, (view spoiler)[ That was incredibly kind of Scythe Faraday to spare that family (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

I'm going to pick this up at the library tomorrow... i'll try to start it then...

[Maddie]

@cinthia: I have no idea when I'll be able to start this, I have so much on my tbr and these aren't priority as I own the audiobooks rather than loaning them

[Maddie]

I'll be doing it soon!

[Maddie]

Starting it now!

[Maddie]

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[Oh wow this is so interesting! It's a re-read for me but I've forgotten almost everything. I love Shusterman's writing style and the way he explains things in such common sense ways. It seems so close to home. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[So a scythe's family will never die, they'll be immortal... for as long as the scythe in the family is alive. Does that mean a scythe be gleaned? That after that point the scythe's family is available for gleaning again?

The information articles are so interesting! I also really like how the scythes glean people who would often have been killed in today's time, such as Kohl for drink driving because he 1) just bought a new car and 2) is known for excessive drinking. And also how they have to glean within a certain limit: no racist/biased gleaning. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Krystal wrote: "Up to chapter 7 [spoilers removed]"

Yes that mass gleaning was terrible! :o At least we have some variety to the characters though.

[Erin]

because although there are some good Scythes alot of them abuse their power...

[Krystal]

Maddie wrote: "Krystal wrote: "Up to chapter 7 [spoilers removed]"

Yes that mass gleaning was terrible! :o At least we have some variety to the characters though."

That's very true!

[Krystal]

Erin wrote: "because although there are some good Scythes alot of them abuse their power..."

Very true. Definitely a good idea to have some that do.

[Krystal]

Maddie wrote: "Chapter 3 So a scythe's family will never die, they'll be immortal... for as long as the scythe in the family is alive. Does that mean a scythe be gleaned? That after that point the scythe's family..."

(view spoiler)[ I thought the no bias part was pretty interesting. It seems the Scythes really have a lot of work they have to do to make sure they don't show bias and racism and such. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

So I finished! :o

Review: I loved the dual POV, it was totally amazing, and the lack of romance really lent itself to the story. I feel like even the second book there won't be too much of it, what with (view spoiler)[them both being in different locations, (hide spoiler)] but the hints of it will still be there. I can't wait to see what'll come of it.
I loved all of the Scythes in this book. I love the way Curie and Faraday dealt with the gleanings, it really made me appreciate them. And the whole statistics behind the way the gleanings take place really interested me. The way that they took into account the percentage of deaths back in the mortal era and how they came about, and try to stick to that kind of thing. It really interested me. And the journal entries at the start of each chapter, they were really enlightening.

[Maddie]

Krystal wrote: "25% [spoilers removed]"

Hence why most people just ignore them and then get totally shocked

[Maddie]

When do we want to read Thunderhead and Toll?

[Maddie]

I'd like to get to it asap <3

[Krystal]

I definitely won't be ready for it any time soon. Not even half way through this one. If you wanted to start the next one, I can join when I finish this one.

[Maddie]

I can wait a while :) Got plenty of others to read

[Krystal]

Awesome, I'm definitely going to try and finish it up by the end of Monday.

[Maddie]

Okay cool no worries! I've heard the second's the best

[Maddie]

Did you get it finished?

[Krystal]

Maddie wrote: "Did you get it finished?"

Sorry, no - and my hold ends today. You can go ahead and start the next one and I will still jump in. I think I remember enough to start reading the second one.

[Krystal]

41% (view spoiler)[ Something is definitely up with their Scythe jumping in front of a train. I too, don't buy it. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I'm not quite ready yet to read Thunderhead, I was just checking in :)

[Krystal]

Maddie wrote: "I'm not quite ready yet to read Thunderhead, I was just checking in :)"

Perfect! Sounds like we could push it out until October?

[Maddie]

Krystal wrote: "Maddie wrote: "I'm not quite ready yet to read Thunderhead, I was just checking in :)"

Perfect! Sounds like we could push it out until October?"

Yeah sure could!

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting May 1st 2023. Happy Reading ☺

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[Joris]

First time reading a book from this author. I love Shusterman's writing style, it just reads real naturally.

I'm at chapter 8 and have sooo many questions!!! :O

(view spoiler)[
Why did the Mars programme fail?
Why not an age limit or birth limit?
What to do with the not so good Scythes?
.... And a lot more! (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

I’ve basically just started, but my updates are already really long 🤣 Sorry in advance lmao

[Joris]

haha give it your best shot!

[Danique]

Ch 4
(view spoiler)[Okay I’m already loving it! The idea of scythes just showing up and taking people’s life, damn. Love that they can all chose their robes too, thought they’d all be red (because of the cover) :p

Citra's family's fear of the scythe & him telling them he was actually there for their neighbor was damn funny lmao. So there’s no natural death, only the scythes who kill people. And her mother is now immortal for a while! They can actually go back to certain ages, that’s so darn cool.

Both Rowan and Citra met the same scythe didn’t they? Aaah yes!! They have to compete for the position, that’s so cool :’) can’t wait. I have way too many thoughts lmao my updates are going to be looong. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Ch 13
(view spoiler)[They can’t be romantically involved hehe ofc that’s going to happen. I wonder whether the story will massively slow down now, or whether it’ll stay interesting.

Holy shit the scene on the plane was insane. I kinda feel like those scythes weren’t real scythes; the emeralds on their gowns were too odd & they took too much pleasure. The businessman was badass tho. Rowan having to choose someone to glean was terrible, but he did it so well.

Those scythes are clearly evil omg, with their mass killings! Their world doesn’t sound so great, those journal entries of HS Curie (secretly guessing that’s Faraday) imply that everyone’s bored. Really liking it so far. Wish we’d get a bit more worldbuilding, like an explanation about these conclaves and what exactly turning the corner is bc I’m still a bit confused. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Joris wrote: "First time reading a book from this author. I love Shusterman's writing style, it just reads real naturally.

I'm at chapter 8 and have sooo many questions!!! :O


Why did the Mars programme fail?..."

Aaah same here! I love the writing so far.
(view spoiler)[The Mars thing actually gets explained! I don't remember in which chapter, but it's coming :P

I wonder the same thing about the birth/age limit, now that you mention it. It seems like people just get bored anyway, so it might be better to just 'reinvent' death again, and have like a maximum of 5/10 times or something before someone has to truly die. (hide spoiler)]

[Joris]

Up to chapter 21

(view spoiler)[
Ohnooo, Rowan and Citra need to compete for the position and the winner have to glean the other..
Just now Citra learned from Faraday that you don't have to obey the Scythe rules.. just bend them a bit. Love it!

Scythe Goddard is a cruel monster. And in the meantime plotting everything for his new world. Really despise him! And propably the killer of Faraday, I think.
Glad that Citra is better of with Scythe Curie. Curie has so much empathy and almost acts like a familymember.

Still this way of gleaning/balancing the population sounds so damn weird. Is there nobody who just want to live normal and grow old?
Okey, I guess when I have a choice I don't want the inconveniences of being old. So just live your live as a young god until you have enough of it. (hide spoiler)]

[Joris]

Danique wrote: "Ch 13
They can’t be romantically involved hehe ofc that’s going to happen. I wonder whether the story will massively slow down now, or whether it’ll stay interesting.

Holy shit the scene on the p..."

They're like killers instead of the Scythes in that chapter.. :O

Yeah, a bit more worldbuilding would be nice. Glad there are journals after each chapter, they're helpfull :)


Danique wrote: "[The Mars thing actually gets explained! I don't remember in which chapter, but it's coming :P"
O wauw, nice!

[Danique]

Okay I actually finished it, but didn't have time to update! So here are my updates :)

Part 3
(view spoiler)[Never mind, we get info now 🤣 Damn so Goddard (the diamonds/masskilling dude) is an actual scythe! He’s so evil. I wonder what happened to Esme? Faraday is great though, I have a feeling he’s going to die at some point lol. Scythe Curie is the one from the journal entries then, not Faraday oop. Really thought it’d be him🤣

Omg what is the worst Citra has done?? I need to know. And Rowan failed with her omg. The winner has to glean the loser??? Fuuuuck. Even in this world there are petty politics argh, poor Faraday, Citra and Rowan. They kissed woohoo omg!! I kinda love how it keeps switching to the POV of someone who’s about to be killed lol. That Goddard dude is so fucked up??? Can’t wait for him and his people to die wtf. Still waiting to see what happened to Esme as well.

FARADAY IS DEAD?!? There’s no way, absolutely NO WAY, I don’t believe it. He isn’t dead until we see a body. He's either killed or not dead at all, it’s no way suicide. Awww it’s a way out for them though, yay! I hate Xenocrates bye, he’s clearly so weak. Curie is great, but Goddard??? Omg I’m scared, Rowan better not go evil 😭😭😭 (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Ch 24
(view spoiler)[Okay never mind Curie doesn’t seem so great lmao, but apparently she just screamed at Citra for her reputation?

She's great again hahaha, love how moral she is, offering the gleaned family a chance to kill her as well. She’s also definitely going to fight against the corrupt scythes with Citra (and hopefully Rowan), since she saved her from Goddard and used to take down corrupt scythes. Omg she’s making Citra do the same to that girl she pushed in front of a truck, I’m LOVING this!! Oh so the journal entries are from a forefather of Curie, since it’s a guy? Still confused haha

Goddard scares the shit out of me, what is his plan with Rowan? Rowan is already entering a wrong path shiiit. And what’s up with Esme???? Maybe she’s Goddard’s real daughter or something? Omg I hate Goddard so much, beating Rowan up and shutting off his healing mechanisms. How is that even possible?? These people are crazy dangerous.

I can’t help but wonder why the thunderhead can’t talk to scythes, it’s really odd? There has to be something more to it. Love Curie so much, she better not die as well. Love how Citra is trying to figure out what happened too :’) Still don't believe Faraday is dead tho. I’m loving this way too much, can’t believe it took me so long to finally read this. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Part 4
(view spoiler)[I'm so scared for Rowan, I hope he won’t actually turn evil… it’s not looking good though. I love that Rowan is helping some of them escape, but still, damn those people! Volta, seems sort of alright though?

Love that we’re getting different journal entries too now! Volta doesn’t like the mass gleanings at all, I knew it. Glad Rowan was immediately honest with Citra & told her he misses her :’) none of that posturing, love them. Ahaha they’re both trying to throw the match I’m laughing too hard.

Nooooo he killed Citra!!!! Dammit now she’ll be mad, hopefully she’ll understand 😭😭😭 Tyger is here, can’t say I care about the dude bc he dropped Rowan the second the school thought he was evil, but I think something bad is going to happen to him. So Esme isn’t Goddard’s daughter, but Xenocrates' then?? I’m kinda sure of it. And his threat about Citra omg what are they going to do to her?? Curie will definitely not allow it.

She is his daughter yes!! Don’t care about her tho oop. I’m loving Curie so much, she better not die. THEY'RE CHARGING CITRA WITH THE MURDER OMG!!! Holy crap. The journal entry what the fuck??? Its clearly not about her, he never mentions her name, it’s someone else - maybe in his head? This is CHAOS!!! Omg the thunderhead is working with her isn’t it?? The voice she heard was definitely his as well omg omg omg. (hide spoiler)]

Part 5
(view spoiler)[The thunderhead indeed helps her omg!! Thought it be evil ngl. She and Rowan are definitely the future of the scythedom hihi. I’m LOVING THIS SO MUCH!!! And the dude who killed Faraday according to the thunderhead? Gerald Van der Gans? That sounds Dutch doesn’t it 🤣

aaaaah the journal entry was about Curie!! And she was in love with Faraday when she was his intern lmao. I love that Curie is helping her :’) She might be my favorite character. and Citra’s running now aaaah, towards Gerald! Can’t wait to see her actions towards him. Loved her trip lmao, and the dude who helped her 🤣 She was so lucky omg. I feel like there’s more to the tonists though, like they’re important or something? Idk.

I TOLD YOU HE ISN'T DEAD!! Gerald is faraday omg didn’t expect that lol.

Omg Shawn/Volta killed himself no!! He was a good guy :( HE KILLED GODDARD AND THE OTHERS AAAAH Yes!!!! Rowan is still good :’) (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Joris wrote: "Up to chapter 21
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Them competing for the position had me screaming, that's intense!! Goddard is truly the worst, he and his team suck! Curie is great though, she might be my favorite character :)

I agree, especially because it doesn't really get explained how people can turn a corner. I mean, can they just think 'hey I want to be young again'? I wish that would be explained a bit more (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

I really enjoyed this!

Finished
(view spoiler)[The high blade knows and is stopping the investigation + got a moment with Esme because of Rowan. I. Love. It!!! It’s all going so well, I’m scared 🤣 So glad Goddard is dead though omg, but who will be the next enemy?

Holy shizzles she had to kill Ben??? That was intense. I’m so scared of how this’ll end, Rowan better not die. I don’t think they’ll accept him, since he killed so quickly, as though he enjoyed it - and they'll see it that way too right?

Omg they love each other so much, wanting to risk everything for each other awww. Kinda odd, but also aww. So he had to kill his mother, yeah he didn’t really care about her anyway oop.

They indeed chose Citra omg, and I love her choice of Anastasia (although I hate the name), her logic brought tears to my eyes.
HE ESCAPED WITH FARADAY AND HAS IMMUNITY I'M SCREAMING GO CITRA!!! And he’s killing corrupt scythes as Lucifer holy shit this is perfect??? The only thing missing is them being together lmao, but it would’ve been a perfect end otherwise. Shit, I loved this so much! It kind of feels like the story could end here - although I know it doesn't. (hide spoiler)]

[Joris]

I enjoyed reading your updates Danique!
I read your latest updates on the phone just after you posted it, but the spoilers weren't hidden :O I think it's something the app doesn't hide.

[Joris]

Finished the book a few days ago, but didn't have the time to write updates. Altough I'm already half way through the next book and it's so good, it's almost impossible to lay down.

It was easy to understand the story/world from the beginning due the worldbuilding and limited caracters introduced. The writing style and the different point of view chapters were welcomming.

Next time I'm going to write down all my thoughts somewhere after each chapter so it's easier to write the updates here haha

[Danique]

Joris wrote: "I enjoyed reading your updates Danique!
I read your latest updates on the phone just after you posted it, but the spoilers weren't hidden :O I think it's something the app doesn't hide."

Omg no!! I'm so sorry :(

[Danique]

Joris wrote: "Finished the book a few days ago, but didn't have the time to write updates. Altough I'm already half way through the next book and it's so good, it's almost impossible to lay down.

It was easy to..."

Glad you enjoyed it! I was wondering whether you'd want to read the next book(s) together too, but I'm guessing you've already finished by now? :s

Yeah that seems to be the best tactic! It's what I do too, although it might make updates a bit long :P

[Joris]

oh, sorry! that's unintentionally a bit rude of me. Yeah, I've finished the second book. The plottwists that await you.. awesome :D
Do you want to read the third book together?

[Danique]

Joris wrote: "oh, sorry! that's unintentionally a bit rude of me. Yeah, I've finished the second book. The plottwists that await you.. awesome :D
Do you want to read the third book together?"

It's fine haha! Sure, but I'm not sure when I'll get to reading the second though... Do you mind waiting with reading the next one? Or would you rather read the third already?