A review by jess_xoxo
Scythe by Neal Shusterman

adventurous dark informative inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

WOW. This book was nothing like I've ever read before and I loved it.
 

 "Hope in the shadow of fear is the world's most powerful motivator"

 
To me, reading Scythe felt like being engaged in philosophical discussions on morality, immortality, life and death. I don't think it's a perfect read and you definitely need to be in the mood to read this book. Still, I think it absolutely deserves to be rated 5 whole stars because of the topics about humanity it explores and also because I know I will think about this book for a long long time...

While reading, you find yourself thinking “What if this was real life and this was our reality?”

Living in an advanced world where the only way your life can end is by being suddenly gleaned (kill) by a Scythe. You could be coming home from work on a day like any other but the difference is that, on this particular day, a Scythe waits for you by your front door because he has come to glean (kill) you. 

The ending of human life used to be in the hands of nature. But we stole it.

People used to die naturally. Old age used to be a terminal affliction, not a temporary state. There was invisible killers called "diseases" that broke the body down. Aging couldn't be reversed, and there were accidents from which there was no return. Planes fell from the sky. Cars actually crashed. There was pain, misery, despair. It's hard for most of us to imagine a world so unsafe, with dangers lurking in every unseen, unplanned corner. All of that is behind us now, and yet a simple truth remains : People have to die.

If you had been chosen to be a Scythe and dedicate your immortal life to glean (kill) people, then what kind of person does that make you?

We are instructed to write down not just our deeds but our feelings, because it must be known that we do have feelings. Remorse. Regret. Sorrow too great to bear. Because if we didn't feel those things, what monsters would we be?

And if there is some eternal world after this one, what fate awaits a taker of lives?

There was many unexpected twists and turns (especially in the second half of the book which I DEVOURED). I'm not a fan of book series but I will definitely get to the second book Thunderhead soon.

Here's another one of my favorite quotes :

"I love the way it rains here," he told her. "It reminds me that some forces of nature can never be entirely subdued. They are eternal, which is a far better thing to be than immortal."

If you've read this far you definitely know that I recommend this book. :-)