Scythe
Neal Shusterman

Scythe
Neal Shusterman
Review
by Alistair Mathieson Lynn
In Neal Shusterman’s latest dark, dystopian epic, Scythe, the age of mortality is over. All inhabitants of earth are now immune from disease, old age and even suicide in their stable, AI-governed utopia which ensures that famine and war will never occur again. The world’s population now lives in total harmony; all knowledge has been acquired and there is nothing left to learn. However, in order to combat the ever-growing population within this utopia, appointed Scythes must carry out random ‘gleanings’ – true deaths from which one cannot be revived.
The novel follows Rowan Damisch and Citra Terranova, two normal 16-year-olds who by chance witness a gleaning performed by the Honourable Scythe Faraday. Impressed by both Rowan and Citra’s compassion and strength during their chance encounter, Scythe Faraday offers them both an apprenticeship, after which one of them will become a Scythe. After they both begrudgingly accept the offer, they are thrown into the mysterious world of Scythedom where they must learn the deadly art of Killcraft and witness numerous gleanings.
Over the course of their apprenticeship, both Rowan and Citra begin to learn that not all Scythes are alike and that Scythedom may not be as noble as they have been lead to believe. So, when a new order of Scythes emerges that takes pleasure in some of the most brutal gleanings imaginable, they are both left to question where their place will lie within Scythedom. If, that is, they survive their apprenticeship. Scythe is an incredibly original book. The world that Shusterman has created is not like anything I’ve read in a YA novel before; it’s dark, philosophical and sometimes incredibly funny. Given the violent content – the body count is astronomic – it’s perhaps best for sci-fi fanatics aged 14 and up.
Alistair Mathieson Lynn works as a bookseller at Readings Malvern.
This item is in-stock and will ship in 2-3 business days
We are currently experiencing delays in processing and delivering online orders. Click here for more information.
Please note, our stock data is updated overnight, and availability may change throughout the day. Prices are subject to change without notice.Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.

Aurora Burning (The Aurora Cycle 2)
$19.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Vanishing Deep
$19.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Burn
$24.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Four Dead Queens
$19.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London
$24.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Kingdom of Back
$18.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea
$18.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker
$18.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Scythe
In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed ('gleaned') by professional reapers ('scythes'). Two teens must compete with each other to become a scythe--a position neither of them...
$16.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Thunderhead
Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in this chilling sequel to the Printz Honor Book Scythe from the New York Times -bestselling author of the Unwind dystology.
$16.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Toll
Citra and Rowan have disappeared. Endura is gone. It seems like nothing stands between Scythe Goddard and absolute dominion over the world scythedom. With the silence of the Thunderhead and the reverberations of the Great...
$16.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Hive
$16.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

A Thousand Perfect Notes
$17.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Amelia Westlake
$19.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Whisper
$19.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

After the Lights Go Out
$19.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Poet X
$19.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air)
$16.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Belles: The NYT bestseller by the author of TINY PRETTY THINGS
$17.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...