#almost 5 stars

[aroaceoutinspace]

Book Review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️(4.5)

Overview

If you like:

Moral challenged characters

Dystopian worlds

A 'perfect' world

Dangerous apprenticeships

Doing bad for the greater good

Dual POV

Corrupt societies

Then this book is the one for you!

The concept of this book is so unique and plays beautifully with the idea of the underlying imperfections in a seemingly perfect world. There were brief moments where I was loosing interest, but somehow they would be the exact times the curveball I was craving would arrive! If it hadn't hit on a big pet peeve of mine, this could have been a perfect 5 stars.

Blurb

'Thou Shalt Kill'

'What if death was the only thing left to control?

'In a perfect world, the only way to die is to be gleaned by a professional scythe. When Citra and Rowan are chosen to be apprentice scythes, they no they have no option but to learn the art of killing. However, the terrifying responsibility of choosing their victims is just the start.

'Corruption is the order of the day and Citra and Rowan need to stick together to fight it.

'Then they are told that one of them will have to glean the other...'

When I got settled into the story I forgot the end of that blurb, and the reveal came as such a shock until I realised I already knew 😂.

Warnings

There is a lot of violence in this book, not excruciatingly graffic, since that isn't my thing, but still frequent. There is also talk of suicide, referred to as 'self-gleaning', and descriptions of enjoying and becoming desensitised to violence.

If you think any of these topics may affect you this series may be worth a skip.

I feel this is suitable for 15/16 years and upwards.

The Downside

If I do anymore reviews in the future, you will learn that I'm a little bit of a romance cynic- if there isn't space to fully develop the relationship without it overpowering the story, then I don't see the benefit in having it. The main relationship in this story felt empty to me for the level of sacrifice it created. Something was missing, and it felt like the epitome of forced proximity. Probably won't be a popular opinion, but I honestly feel they would have been better off as friends. Like I said, if there isn't space to develop the relationship in the plot, it isn't necessary.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed this book, and I'm glad I impulse bought the series since I definitely will continue it! Lots of interesting concepts, and a refreshing break away from the standard fantasy/science fiction.

Fans of the Hunger Games and Divergent will definitely appreciate it, but even if dystopian isn't usually your thing, if you have any interest in mystery at all I'd encourage you to give it a shot.

Thank you very much for reading, I hope I helped!

My first full review so any criticism is welcome! Reblog if you'd like me to do the same for other books

Also, stuck between reading the Raybearer sequel or The Box in the Woods next, any advice?

🧡💛🤍💙🖤

[mhaikkun]

full-time model, part-time thief

[clownowo]

Cannot wait for Splatoon 4's four person idol group: Kessoku Band

bonus heads from when i was designing them:

[animatedjen]

When we were fighting Dagan, those... hallucinations. What were they for you? Our friends, suffering because they followed me. And I couldn't do anything to stop it.

[eli-zip]

Honestly, the first thing I thought of with the colour loss.

[electrozeistyking]

WHEN YOU COULDN’T SAY A THING BEFORE?

(i move fast with these things, holy moly. also i did not forget the loops! i just didn’t feel like including them :3)

[hummus-png]

[pinkd3mon]

Magolor and Marx go to burger king

[theborgqueen2]

"I was wondering... just how close do we get."

"Let's just say there are some barriers we never cross."

That wasn't the answer she wanted him to give.

And it wasn't the answer he wanted to give her.

This is INSANE.

[cali-kabi]

~ Paper Mario Thousand Year Door🌟Chapter 2: The Great Boggly Tree 🌲

I actually been on a huge massive art block on these ;w; but I’m planning to make a picture for each of these chapters ^^💫

[pixelatedraindrops]

A highly feverish Yuma and Makoto 🌡️ (39.05 c)

This was an art trade I received from BBQchap0 on twitter ✨

Small Rambling below

original and copy, same body, same mind, same frail immune system (they often get sick at the same time)

The 2 worlds greatest minds are going to have to take some time off working today. They’ve unfortunately both been afflicted by a sudden spiking fever and can hardly move. As they lay in bed, fatigued, aching, and sweating through their clothes, they could only struggle to try to help themselves.

This is such an attractive piece. I think I’m in love...

I could go on about this but, I'm literally about to combust 😳💦

In shorter words:

This is the most lovely art trade I have ever gotten and one of the most gorgeous pieces of art I've ever gotten in my entire life.

I cannot praise it enough, this belongs in a legit art gallery... I'm so honored to have gotten something this pretty I could cry...

💕💦(┬┬﹏┬┬) 💦💕

HOW did they make these disheveled sick boys look so BEAUTIFUL??? I can legit FEEL their struggle, its too good I could die

What a vision…makoto's uninterested yet tired expression...yuma with the thermometer in his mouth as his clone weakly assists him...and those glorious skin flush tints of red and pink coupled with the beads of sweat and messy hair…

AND THOSE COLORS…

Yeah. I’m not normal 🫠

Its…perfection

[endlesslytired]

stellaron hunter and astral express crossing over!

forgor to add but, previous post.

bonus, cross universe moment

[kenobihater]

of all the star wars movies, which of them do y'all 1) enjoy the most 2) consider the best quality and 3) think you've rewatched the most. add your answers in the reblogs or replies, i'm genuinely curious how much of an overlap there is within everyone's three answers. mine don't overlap at all! they're revenge of the sith, empire strikes back, and the force awakens :^)

[nshi-ao3]

And Joker pounced upon him, knocking them both to the ground. The Miqo’te’s momentarily dazed face was dusted with traces of pink as he spluttered face-first against the grass. Cackling like a demented madman, Joker wrestled the crystal back from his slackened grip. And then he was the one prancing away, his ‘victorious spoils’ tight in his hand and whooping. The Miqo’te glared at him from the ground, cat ears folded low against his head as he pushed himself up with his arms. He sprung back to his feet, lunging after the fire crystal. “G-give it back!” “Nuh-uh!” Joker chided in a sing-song tone, holding it up and away from the slight Miqo’te, who was just too short to quite reach it, fingers grazingly uselessly at Joker’s palm.

A silly illustration of the moment Joker and G'raha first met in my Persona 5 x Final Fantasy XIV fanfiction. Don't steal from a thief, silly!

[howtosingit]

carlos reyes secret tattoo reveal

[chronicbeans]

My sibling is playing the Penacony part of Honkai Star Rail rn. I know nothing about the bigger Honkai Lore or anything, but I'm watching it and I just thought like...

If you know, you know.