Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1) by Neal Shusterman - GBR - Starting April 1st 2020

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

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.

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1) by Neal Shusterman will be our 4th GBR for April 2020.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

[Reagan]

I just ordered this two days ago I’m so excited

[Catsliteraturesandmore]

It sounds great. I'm in. Let's go for it.

[WhitleyySue]

I've been wanting to read this book for a while now. I've heard great things. I'm so in!

[Susan]

Chapters 1-10

I've wanted to read this book for a long time. My daughter loaned it to me before she moved almost 2 years ago and I decided I've heard enough praise that I want to read it myself. I'm so glad I did. This book is amazing.

(view spoiler)[
The book starts with Citra and her family and Scythe Faraday coming to their house. If I lived where there were scythes and they came to my house I would freak out knowing what I now know about this book. I was so worried that Citra was going to get gleaned because she was so outspoken. Scythes being able to come to your house to request food or anything they want is crazy. Rowan is the next young one that I thought was going to get gleaned for sure but sitting with that young guy while he was gleaned showed great bravery to me. I would have been so mad at the school for turning on me the way his friends did. I would have tried harder to tell everyone what I had gone through in that office with the Scythe and Kohl.

Scythe Faraday having both teens attend an Opera and letting them know that he wants them to become apprentices had to feel like a great honor and would also make me sick. There's no way I could glean people. I just don't think I would have it in me.

By the end of chapter 10 I ended up really liking Scythe Faraday and I think his way of gleaning is by far better then the mass gleaning that Scythe Goddard did in that plane and in the food court at the mall. He's a very power hungry Scythe and you can read the evil this author wanted you to feel. I don't know his character very much but I know I dislike him A LOT.
(hide spoiler)]

I got a little long because 10 chapters covered so much in this book. I touched on the things I felt the most towards. I may end up shortening the chapters but we'll see. Great book so far. If you are on the fence about picking it up, do it you won't be sorry. I'm just sorry it took me this long to read it :)

[Susan]

Chapters 11-20

WOW, this book is so good. I said I wasn't going to overhype this book if i liked it but staying quiet about it doesn't do it justice. I love the characters and I truly hate the characters we are supposed to hate. This author is so good. This is the first book from Neal Shusterman I have ever read and it's amazing

(view spoiler)[
Scyther Faraday has fast become my favorite character. He is fair and in Chapter 11 he showed compassion. If a person resists a gleaning or tries to run then his whole family has to be gleaned. We start the next section seeing just how fair and compassionate Scythe Faraday is with the family he should have gleaned but made up a story to spare their lives when the man of the house attacked Scythe Faraday. His wife and 2 kids should have been gleaned by law but Scythe Faraday didn't do it. He was a good man.

Scythe's were supposed to live very frugally. No large houses, no cars that were expensive or flashy. Scythe Faraday took the public bus and he lived in a modest apartment and didn't have elaborate foods to eat. Unlike Scythe Goddard who took mansions from people (because he could and people had to give what was asked of them) He walked into a mansion and told the owner that he was taking over the estate and that he would now be the new owner of the estate. Scythe Goddard makes me so made. I hate this character so much.

I couldn't believe how the Scythedom bowed down to Scythe Goddard on everything. They let him get away with the worst behavior ever. I think that Scythe Goddard has something on them but what I don't know. There isn't anything that shows he has something to bribe them with. It's just a gut feeling. He made it to where when they announce the Scythes that made it, the one who is ordained a Scythe between (Citra and Rowan) has to glean the one who didn't make it. they let it pass like he has more power then the board and he also said it at the last second because once the bell rang there was no further business so there was no discussion on the matter and it was passed through. Goddard is pure evil.

Scythe Faraday also gleaned himself or so they say. He stepped in front of a train and was killed. Citra thinks he was pushed cannot revive a Scythe when they glean themselves. This caused Citra and Rowan to be broken up. I had hoped it would stop this competition but it didn't and they still have to kill the other that doesn't get to be a Scythe. I wonder if he is truly dead or if someone just kidnapped him? There is so much going on and I want to see what is going on so bad.

Rowan went to Scythe Goddard and he is making him into a killing machine and Citra went to Scythe Curie who is mild and so much like Scythe Goddard.
(hide spoiler)]

I know I have gone on in that set of chapters too but there is so much I haven't covered.

What is anyone's thought on this book? Do you all have a thought or theory as to what they think is happening so far. I would love to know what you think might be happening in this book.

[Susan]

Chapters 21-29

I can't stop thinking about this book. It is so good and there is so much that happens

(view spoiler)[

I can't believe that Scythe Faraday gleaned himself to set Citra and Rowan free so that one wouldn't have to die at the close of winter conclave. Of course the jerk Scythe Goddard wanted to take Rowan and teach him to be a killing machine. I'm angry about it are you?

At least Citra got to be with another compassionate scythe and taught her decent way to glean.

Do you think Rowan will end up gleaning the way Scythe Goddard does?

There are times he shows compassion and other times he feels like he could be a killing machine. I wonder which way the author will turn him out to be in the end. He showed great compassion at the office building.

Citra was able to visit her family and they met Scythe Curie and were in awe. Ben is such a sweet kid. My gut says something is going to happen to one of them.

The Harvest conclave is coming up and I wondered if Citra and Rowan will be pitted against each other and they were. Rowan snapped her neck with the hope she will hate him. I knew he still had feelings for her. He needs her to hate him so she will glean him in the end. Do you think she will glean him when the time comes? Do you think Scythe Goddard will change him enough that he will glean her if she wins?

Near the end of the chapters I was so ticked off when the highblade Xenocrates brought up charges against Citra. Stating she killed Scythe Faraday. They have a paper or journal entry to prove he thought she wanted to kill him.

I think that they made him write that out before they killed him. I never thought he self gleaned himself ever. I think Scythe Goddard wanted Rowan and did away with Scythe Faraday so he could train Rowan in the end. My gut feeling.

Do you have a hunch as to what really happened to Scythe Faraday? He left them in a bind no matter what happened and that's why I think he was killed. He wouldn't have left them high and dry like that.
(hide spoiler)]

Such a great book. Still smacking my head as to why it took me this long to read it :)

[Susan]

Chapters 30-40

OMGosh, the end of this book is crazy but so SO good.

(view spoiler)[
Citra is a major badass girl. Rather then go with Xenocrates quietly she went out swinging then jumped off a cliff. She splatted and was deadish (that's what they call it) Xenocrates was getting ready to take her to his revival and the Thunderhead took over.

Did you see that coming? I didn't.

They have this inner monolog happening while she's dead and the only to talk to them is if she is deadish.

Who do you think Gerald Van Der Gans is?
My theory is it's really the guy who killed Scythe Faraday and he'll be able to help Citra or it's actually Scythe Faraday and that's his real name. Those are my two guesses.

I felt so bad for Scythe Volta. He had so much remorse for the gleaning that happened. It wasn't just the Tonists praying it was a classroom full of their children. Scythe Goddard is pure evil and feels no remorse.

I was so proud of Rowan and what he did to put a stop to these senseless mass gleanings. There was no compassion in the gleanings just mass murder. Scythe Goddard got what was coming to him.

Winter Conclave was so hard emotionally. The last test I just don't think I would have had it in me to do. I love how Citra handled the whole thing. She should be made a Scythe just for she handled that last emotionally tough test. Rowan took his weapon and shot. Completely opposite from Citra and her approach.

I won't talk about the end because it was by far the best part. I LOVED it so much and I hope you will too (hide spoiler)]

[Sthéfani]

Chapters 1 - 17:
This book is amazing and a page-turner! I started it at 1 a.m. and just couldn't stop so I kept reading until 4 a.m.. It goes so much beyond just a Ya fantasy and really brings an incridible reflection about the human life, mortality and morality. It's complex, well-developed and has so many good quotes too!
(view spoiler)[ I loved Citra and especially Rowan since the beggining because of their strong personality and morality! Although I was a little shocked with Scythe Faraday it took me only a few chapter to admire him. I want to know more about him and his past. I'm so sad he died at the end of chapter 17 but knowing how he sacrificed himself for Citra and Rowan just makes me adore him even more.
I hate Scythe Goddard, his mass killing process, his superiority and everyone that flatters him! Why Rowan is going to him for god's sake? Why can't the 2 of them go to the amazing Curie?
I'm extremely scared of whats going to happen in the next chapters! (hide spoiler)]

[Sthéfani]

Chapters 18 - 40

Oh my God! These chapters were even better. What a perfect book! I'm just not sure if I liked the ending...

(view spoiler)[
Scythe Goddard was pure evil and I'm really glad that he and his crew are gone! My only wish is that Scythe Volta could have had a different ending because he deserved better, I just feel so bad for him. Before the Tonists I was afraid Rowan could switch to evil side but thanks God that didn't happen!
As for Citra story I can say really enjoyed too! Very interesting but maybe the book should have been longer by showing more of her moments after she finds Faraday. The thunderhead talking to her was also very intriguing and I'm looking forward to know more about it in the second book.
Now the ending is something I find complicated to say if I liked or not. Because of the world that the author built and the rules that he established it sounds naive to assume Rowan could scape that easily and perhaps a more tragic ending with him dying would serve the story better. But it's what we got so I will learn to leave with it.
I'm not sure about Rowan becoming Scythe Lucifer. Let's pray the author will make a good thing of this in the second book.
I'm really interested in the others Scythe around the world. I think there's a lot of space for the author to write some good spin offs.

P.S. I want a prequel about Faraday and Curie's romance!!!
(hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

17.0% (view spoiler)[ Who is this leader? And how can they glean a whole airplane full of people? I'm so proud of that businessman. That flamethrower scythe got shot down quick!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

23.0% (view spoiler)[ Why is esme important? And what is the deal with him killing in masses? He is getting on my last nerve. I liked that citrate and Rowan are getting along. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

46.0% (view spoiler)[ I am curious if faraday was murdered or if he really took his life. And I feel so bad for Rowan having to be Goddards apprentice. That really sucks. But on the plus he could become really good. I also liked that currie is now Citra's sponsor. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

78.0% (view spoiler)[ He did what? Omg Rowen I cant believe he snapped her neck like that. And who is this Gerald van dergans?? I'm glad the thunderhead is finally talking to someone. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished... (view spoiler)[ I knew it would be citra. She is so smart. And punching him for snapping her neck!! Pure genius. I love Rowan and once he was granted immunity there was no way they were gonna hold him down. I'm so happy Rowan got to see the ghost jk he is not a ghost. And what adventures await now that he is free in the world!? Will he defy the scythdom? Is he Lucifer? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Susan wrote: "Chapters 1-10

I've wanted to read this book for a long time. My daughter loaned it to me before she moved almost 2 years ago and I decided I've heard enough praise that I want to read it myself. I..."

I have to agree on his way.. yes I think I would be scared too if he came to my house I think (view spoiler)[ Citra handled it so well... telling him if he is there to glean them to get it over with instead of making them sweat it out... it's funny how the opera place owner gave him the tickets in hopes she wouldn't get gleaned... ah... people... I would do the same though lol (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Susan wrote: "Chapters 11-20

WOW, this book is so good. I said I wasn't going to overhype this book if i liked it but staying quiet about it doesn't do it justice. I love the characters and I truly hate the cha..."

Yes I don't like him either... but he found loopholes... I hated that he made the previous (view spoiler)[ owner become his pool boy... why couldn't he just let me go away with his family? no that would be nice and apparently he can't be nice... I also thought Faraday's choice to not glean the family of that man that resisted gleaning and broke his jaw was very compassionate... (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Sthéfani wrote: "Chapters 1 - 17:
This book is amazing and a page-turner! I started it at 1 a.m. and just couldn't stop so I kept reading until 4 a.m.. It goes so much beyond just a Ya fantasy and really brings an ..."

I know... I wished (view spoiler)[ rowan would have also gone to currie but I guess it can be good if he goes to Goddard... maybe learn what he needs and help people... (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Sthéfani wrote: "Chapters 18 - 40

Oh my God! These chapters were even better. What a perfect book! I'm just not sure if I liked the ending...


Scythe Goddard was pure evil and I'm really glad that he and his cr..."

Sthéfani wrote: "Chapters 1 - 17:
This book is amazing and a page-turner! I started it at 1 a.m. and just couldn't stop so I kept reading until 4 a.m.. It goes so much beyond just a Ya fantasy and really brings an ..."

I know... I wished (view spoiler)[ rowan would have also gone to currie but I guess it can be good if he goes to Goddard... maybe learn what he needs and help people... (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Sthéfani wrote: "Chapters 18 - 40

Oh my God! These chapters were even better. What a perfect book! I'm just not sure if I liked the ending...


Scythe Goddard was pure evil and I'm really glad that he and his cr..."

Yes I would sooooo read that prequel... Currie (view spoiler)[ told us she was his apprentice and she was obsessed with him and he was scared that she was trying to kill him... when in reality she was just enamored with him... I think now that they are both older it could be a great story!!! (hide spoiler)]

[WhitleyySue]

Sthéfani wrote: "Chapters 1 - 17:
This book is amazing and a page-turner! I started it at 1 a.m. and just couldn't stop so I kept reading until 4 a.m.. It goes so much beyond just a Ya fantasy and really brings an ..."

Very true! I am loving this book!

[ I also love Faraday and can't wait to learn more and really hope that Goddard gets what he deserves! I hate that Rowan went to Goddard too! Faraday did what he did to try to save his two apprentices and this is what happens?! ]

[WhitleyySue]

Chapters 18 - 40

This book was so good! I could not stop reading it!
[ I was so excited when we found out Scythe Faraday was alive! And when Rowan became "the monster of monsters...The butcher of lions. The executioner of eagles." I was so proud of him. And that ending when Citra punched him, I knew what she was doing. Rowan telling Citra he loved her *groans with all the feels*. ]

I can not wait to read Thunderhead!!

[WhitleyySue]

What name would you choose if you were becoming a Scythe?
Who would you be know as?

I think I would choose to be known as
Rosa Parks <3 Scythe Parks