1/22/2025 - Scythe Continued

 Yesterday I started to write about Scythe by Neal Shusterman but ran out of time. This is the continuation.

 So the two main characters, Rowan and Citra, were teens, as is common in YA books, and though there obviously had to be some romantic tension, there was only little, which is a trait I like in dystopian books. I also really liked Scythe Faraday's character. He serves as the perfect example for what a scythe was intended to be, wise and compassionate to the ones he gleaned. After the mess with Faraday, when Rowan had to study under Goddard, he began actually enjoying his work, going against what Scythe Faraday had stood for. However, we cannot be fully sure. I personally felt like there was too little information on what Rowan felt as he slowly became a lethal weapon. Perhaps that's how the author wanted it. Scythe Goddard was also a very interesting character. He held vey different beliefs than of scythes he called part of the "old guard." One thing that he said was that scythes should enjoy their gleaning, because in a perfect world, shouldn't everyone get a perfect job? He does make a point, yet he represents the new ideals threatening to break apart the Scythedom. All in all, the characters were really well made and their development across the story made it intriguing.

Moving on, I really enjoy Neal Shusterman's writing style. He writes from several perspectives, but not too many that it is overwhelming for the reader. But the main thing that sets him apart is that every chapter, not only in this series, he writes something like a journal from one of the scythes, or in book two, as I saw when I checked a sample of it, the Thunderhead's thoughts. They add to the story and often hold significance that you do not know yet, but will be revealed later in the story. The fact that the journals were from several scythes allows us to understand each one's perspectives better.

And now for the final rating. I give this book a 7.75 out of ten. The characters are well made, and the story, though it slowly plays out at the beginning, is interesting. The whole book is very thought provoking, especially how people think of the mortal ages when death and tragedy was sill commonplace, and the absence of those and what it leads to. There is minimal romance (my favorite) and the tension between Rowan and Citra makes sense for the story. However, I found the story to be a little cliché in some parts. But overall, Scythe is a series I'd recommend. 

After I finished the book yesterday, naturally I began searching for book two. However, on not a single one of the e-libraries I looked through was there a copy. I scoured the internet this morning for ways to obtain the book, and even checked to see if I could get library cards, to no avail. Looking through the library catalog, I did find a copy, but had no time to go to the library. Tomorrow I'll go.

In the meantime, I went through Goodreads to seek new books to be read in the meantime, because I as a person must have a book on hand. A book on my list for a while, Incarceron, was available. I read the first chapter or so, however, and found that it was a bit dissapointing, but that's just me. Perhaps I'll look through the book a second time and discover that it is my favorite.

I did start a new book, though. It's called The Program, and the storyline is pretty serious. Although the book seems to have more romance than I'd prefer, I checked out the audiobook, the real one was unavailable, and began listening. It's getting to be a pretty interesting read.

See you tomorrow, where hopefully I'll have at least started Thunderhead. 

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night/3 AM,

Uncle Wally