This was the most unique book that I have read in a very long time; it was so beautifully different and fantastic.
So I've been in a HUGE reading slump these past few months: like the biggest reading slump ever in my entire life. Then I decided to read Scythe. And let's just say that this book did the job of getting me out of that slump.
Just... wow.
While I wasn't sure about this book at first (not only because of the fact that it's basically a book about a time period where murder is justified), I am proud to say that this is exactly what I needed and not at all what I expected and I mean that in the best way.
Whatever your thoughts on murder are (hopefully they're negative thoughts as in you don't agree with murder *), you will definitely enjoy this book!
*If you agree with murder, I am officially scared.
‣ The world-building was fantastically well-structured.
A lot of time was clearly spent structuring the Scythedom and the new world that the readers were meant to experience. While it didn't necessarily focus on the physical geography of the world, a very good job was done focusing on developing the world in way of culture and government.
Readers were made very clear of the laws of the Scyvhedom and what everyone was expected to follow. There was also a type of sport called Splatting in the novel that I thought was a great addition as it did a fantastic job of showing how life was in that world and what differences it had on people's values and habits.
‣ The Thunderhead was weird yet really interesting at the same time.
I can't say that I completely understand what the Thunderhead even was * as it was some sort of all-knowing conscience available to everyone and also a government at the same time?? But I really enjoyed the idea of it and it was very interesting to read.
“You have three hundred sixty-five days of immunity." And then, looking him in the eye, said, "And I'll be seeing you on day three hundred sixty-six.”
‣ There were lots of plot twists and tension.
The tension in this book ONLY. KEPT. BUILDING. Like, no joke, it never stopped. I think it was because there were two main points-of-view (Citra and Rowan), but then there were a couple of other points-of-view that snuck up on me and left me wondering for a agonizingly long time. **
‣ Also, have I mentioned that the cover is so aesthetically pleasing??
I totally didn't pick this book for it's cover, though. ***
‣ Wow to the character development.
The development and change that I saw in Citra and Rowan throughout the story was significantly more than I expected and it was amazing. The two grew up a lot in the span of the novel and it was very interesting to see how their views and behaviors changed with their various experiences with scythe hood.
‣ Honorable Scythe Curie was literally my favorite character of this entire book.
She's so real and down-to-earth, but also clearly untouchable. She doesn't take crap from others but still manages to be a completely understandable person. Her personality is so different and..?!? I just love it.
* Sorcery, probably.
** Like, seriously! How rude is that?!
*** Oh, who am I kidding? I totally did. You know that saying, "Never judge a book by its cover"? No? That's because it doesn't exist. Everyone judges books by their covers, so why would they even make that a saying?? Cuz I don't know.
“My greatest wish for humanity is not for peace or comfort or joy. It is that we all still die a little inside every time we witness the death of another. For only the pain of empathy will keep us human. There’s no version of God that can help us if we ever lose that.”
‣ Where did the time go?? Three months just went "Poof"!
This whole book was about Citra and Rowan training for a year to be Scythes. A year. Why did I only get like three weeks of time? It all worked out fine in the end * but I still would've liked to see some of the training detailed. ** The lack of detail about Citra and Rowan's time in training together leads me to my next bullet ***
‣ Where did Citra and Rowan's romance come from?!
Their romance was hinted in the synopsis, but in the story? I really don't know. **** Like, if time is going to be skimmed over, can there at least be a few scenes included in the story that show how the romance got started instead of throwing it at the readers and expecting them not to flail? Otherwise, I'll be left wondering if this is just another bad case of insta-love.
“Without the threat of suffering, we can’t experience true joy.”
‣ Poor predictable plot twists. Gotta love to hate them.
I'm not saying all of the plot twists were predictable because some of them snuck up on me when I was least expecting them. Buuuuutttt some were. Not enough to make me dislike the entire story, but enough to make me okay with setting the book down and taking a bathroom break. *****
‣ What is a story climax? Where art thou climax?
HUUUUGEEEE build up. So huge I was expecting the book to combust at any moment. So I was expecting a pretty explosion and what I got was a squealing firework. While the squealing firework DID shock me a bit and caught me off guard, I was not torn to itty bitty bits like I was expecting to be. I know it's weird to be disappointed about that, but what can I say? I was.
* I'm pretty sure that it would have been boring to read through a whole year of repetitive training anyway.
** At least the learning how to fight portion. But I'm not violent, I swear. I just read books about gleaning and especially like fighting scenes. HAHAH... sorry. I'm not evil, I promise.
*** No pun intended.
**** Probably some other mythical realm, as it got lost on its way to this book. ***** Cuz you better believe that if the book is magificent, I'm going to take it with me EVERYWHERE.
Overall, I enjoyed this book because it really was unique and compelling and that's something that YA definitely needs more of nowadays.
Though I had a few minor dislikes, I would definitely visit this book for a re-read in the future and will go on to read the second book, Thunderhead.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
435 Pages / Hardcover
Published November 22, 2016
Publisher / Simon & Schuster
Rate / ★★★☆☆
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.
