LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
A box set of the explosive Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman, including paperback editions of Scythe, Thunderhead and The Toll presented in a stylish slipcase.
A Review for the first in the series, Scythe;
Wow! This was a gripping, thought-provoking read. Totally compelling, Scythe is a dark, original take on the ultimate power – the power over life and death.
Death and disease have been eradicated and life can continue quietly without fear of death or illness. Revival centres are on hand if you suffer an accident and even a fall from a thirty-nine-storey building will simply require a few days speed-healing. Unless you are chosen to be gleaned by a Scythe. These elite humans are given the task of choosing their victims in an effort to maintain the population. Citra and Rowen are strangers until they are both chosen to be apprentice scythes. Thrown together in an isolated and strange world they soon strike a bond. As they undertake the arduous and difficult training they begin to discover that not all is as it seems and even a 'perfect' society suffers as corruption infiltrates those of power and a new generation of Scythes begin to breakout.
With a cruel turn of events Citra and Rowen discover that only one of them can become fully ordained as a Scythe and then must glean the other. As their feelings grow stronger they each search for a way to save not only themselves but also the reputation and sanctity of the Scythedom.
The subject matter is handled sensitively and although at times can be brutal there is no gratuitous violence. As I began reading I was fascinated by the idea behind the story and was soon pulled in, unable to stop until I found out what would become of Citra and Rowan.
LoveReading4Kids
Find This Book In
| Suitable For: |
|
| Other Genres: |
|
About
Arc of a Scythe Boxed Set Synopsis
All three titles in the internationally bestselling Arc of a Scythe series:
Scythe
A dark, gripping and witty thriller in which the only thing humanity has control over is death. In a world where disease, war and crime have been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed (gleaned) by professional scythes. Citra and Rowan are teenagers who have been selected to be scythes' apprentices, and despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation, they must learn the art of killing and understand the necessity of what they do.Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe's apprentice and as Citra and Rowan come up against a terrifyingly corrupt Scythedom, it becomes clear that the winning apprentice's first task will be to glean the loser.
Thunderhead
The dark and thrilling sequel to Scythe. The stakes are high in this chilling sci-fi thriller, in which professional scythes control who dies. Everything else is out of human control, managed by the Thunderhead. It's a perfect system - until it isn't. It's been a year since Rowan went off-grid. Hunted by the Scythedom, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. Citra, meanwhile, is forging her path as Scythe Anastasia, gleaning with compassion. However, conflict within the Scythedom is growing by the day, and when Citra's life is threatened, it becomes clear that there is a truly terrifying plot afoot. The Thunderhead observes everything, and it does not like what it sees. Will it intervene? Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel?
The Toll
The explosive conclusion to the Arc of a Scythe series. It's been three years since Rowan and Citra disappeared; since Scythe Goddard came into power; since the Thunderhead closed itself off to everyone but Grayson Tolliver. In this pulse-pounding finale to Neal Shusterman's internationally bestselling trilogy, constitutions are tested and old friends are brought back from the dead.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781406393644 |
| Publication date: |
7th November 2019 |
| Author: |
Neal Shusterman |
| Publisher: |
Walker Books Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Suitable For: |
|
| Other Genres: |
|
Author
About Neal Shusterman
Award-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Follow him on Instagram @nealshusterman
More About Neal Shusterman
More
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Lovereading4kids Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review Scythe. You can read their full reviews by clicking here.
- Clíona McKeown-Bittles, age 19 - 'Neal Shusterman's writing is both brilliant and fascinating as he explores the intricate world of the Scythes. I can't wait for the next instalment!'
- Sophia - 'Amazing story, loved reading it and couldn’t put the book down. Hope to see more from this author.'
- Natalie Hunter, age 16 - 'Scythe was an amazing book, giving us a look at what a world without death would be like and the idea of the Scythes was incredibly well thought out and left the reader always wanting to learn more.'
- Megan Chambers, age 16 - 'This book was amazing! The world it is set in was fabulous and I’d definitely recommend this book to everyone! I can’t wait for the rest of the series!'
- Izzy Read, age 17 - 'A science fiction novel with an almost fantasy twist, exchanging natural death with Grim reaper figures in society.'
- Edel Waugh - 'This was an amazing book with terrific world building that was very believable...So Good !!! I recommend to all , especially if you are a dystopian fan.'
- Jennifer Bridgeman, age 12 - 'It is totally enthralling and I was excited to see this is the first in the series as I want to see what happened after the book ended. I wanted more!'
- Abbie Bavister, age 15 - 'Fantastic book, gripping from start to finish with a really interesting concept where there is no longer any illness, disease or even death unless you are visited by a Scythe.'
