Skip to main content

Book Review: Scythe

SCYTHE by Neil Shusterman 

4 stars

Verdict: I had an existential crisis, but loved it in the end.


Based on a world where death is cured, Scythes are ordained in order to choose which people should be gleaned in order to maintain the population levels. Citra and Rowan are chosen to be Scythes. Neither want the honour, and only one will be chosen. 

I went on quite the journey with this one. I started out with the paperback and loved the quirky, dark tone...but didn't feel that 'pull' which I need to keep going. So I didn't. I switched to the audiobook and found it much easier to get through. 

The book is world led, not character led, and I think this was my problem. The main leads, Citra and Rowan aren't really too interesting to start out with. Once I worked out why I wasn't completely connecting with it, I actually started to like it a lot more.

I loved the quirky tone and dark humour. The snippets of journal entries from past scythes was also a interesting way to layer on that world building, and the way the two apprentices changed as their paths differed also had me more intrigued the more it went on. 

I had to pause at one point though, because - shock, horror - it made me think a lot about death. I know it's about scythes, but I wasn't quite expecting to feel this way. There's a touch of philosophy, ethics, and corruption within the scythe world that makes the dystopian world quite thought provoking. More so that the average YA read. 

By the end, I really loved it. The leading characters become very interesting in a way that makes me super excited for book two. I'll definitely continue with this series. 

Source: Borrowed from a friend. 

Affiliate link: Buy Scythe (Arc of a Scythe Book 1) on Amazon.

Video Review: https://youtu.be/5Oq0lcUfERc

Labels:

Comments

  1. Megan | Bookstacks and Golden Moms2 January 2021 at 17:14

    So glad you enjoyed this :) I have had the book sitting on my TBR shelf for the longest time but haven't picked it up yet. I'm a little nervous because so many people have enjoyed it. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Scookie2 January 2021 at 18:17

    I felt the same way. Two of my friends enjoyed it that little bit more than me, but I still liked it a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nadene @Ttly Addicted 2 Reading2 January 2021 at 18:34

    Some boks seem to fare out better on audio. Great review.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kate @ Bitch Bookshelf2 January 2021 at 21:40

    One of those books I keep meaning to read!

    ReplyDelete
  5. DJ Sakata3 January 2021 at 17:10

    Oh no - an existential crisis - oh my. I avoid those like the plague ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lady In Read5 January 2021 at 01:15

    definitely a new to me author and book; sounds interesting ..

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review: Threads That Bind

THREADS THAT BIND by Kika Hatzopolou Disclaimer time: As always, the following is just my opinion. Other opinions are available.  THREADS THAT BIND is an epic fantasy with an urban feel. It has a fascinating magic system inspired by Greek mythology, and a story that explores the bonds of sibling relationships. Overall, it's a fast-paced book about fate, choices, and forgiving yourself, so prepare for morally grey moments and difficult sibling relationships.  Io and her sisters are descendants of the Fates, which means they're able to see and manipulate the threads that connect people to the things they love. Io is the third sister, and therefore she is able to cut threads. The story kicks off when Io is hired by the 'mobqueen' to investigate murders linked to vengeful wraiths. To top it off, she has to work with the very person she's been avoiding for years, a boy she's fated to love - except he already has a girlfriend. If you think that the above sounds like t
Post a Comment
Read more

I took my book for a walk

I know what you're thinking...or actually, I don't.  It's easy to picture that anyone who reads your work will only see the negatives. They have every right to, after all, and I'm a big critic myself. I find things to improve in most books, even when I give them five star reviews. This is why solidifying one of my novels into print was a big step for me, and because of Sod's Law, it coincided with one of the hardest times of my life to date. When my book published, I struggled to market it. Besides being crippled with morning sickness, followed by a decent into depression and anxiety (coupled with friends not really liking my book - only softened slightly by the fact they don't like YA/reading), I didn't have the energy - emotionally or physically - to give my book the launch it deserved.  It deserved better.  Because no matter what, I put a lot of work into The Clearing. Over several years and iterations, too. I'm proud of the twists, and I enjoy hearin
Post a Comment
Read more

Indie Book Review: The City of Snow and Stars

THE CITY OF SNOW AND STARS by S.D. Howard 4 Stars Verdict: A dark fantasy with a wholesome cast.  Trigger warning for rape/abuse.  'I'm not wanted for me, only what I can give, and there is nothing left.' I don't usually quote books, but this is a very quotable story! The dialogue was powerful in places, and the way the characters bonded together was the strength of this Christian fantasy adventure.   It's written in third person with a narrative that I personally found a little distant at times. That said, the characters are easy to root for. Runaways Trinia and Jayden team up with a wizard to take down Trinia's abusive father before he can take over the kingdom. They're joined by a talking wolf and a shapeshifter called Batanny, who in many ways seems like an older version of Trinia. Threads of pain run through this book and pull the characters together in a way that makes this dark read still feel wholesome at times.  It soon became an easy to enjoy fant
Post a Comment
Read more