Brittany's Book Corner

'Scythe' by Neal Shusterman

This week, I’m trying to be poetic — for my last book review to be featured in The Tropolitan, I will be reviewing the beginning of a new series. New for me, at least.

Neal Shusterman’s novel, “Scythe,” and all of its sequels were recommended to me by my best friend. The excitement was immediate and palpable, and I knew from the description that I had to read it as soon as possible.

It is quite a popular novel, but for those who have yet to read it, it is set in a utopian world in which no one dies of natural causes. Instead, individuals called scythes are given the authority to kill people for population control. Two teenagers, Citra and Rowan, must compete with each other to become a full-fledged scythe. It only goes downhill from there.

My friend’s excitement was well-placed. To say “Scythe” is well-written would be a bit of an understatement. The pacing is beyond perfection, since so many things were happening at once, but I was never confused despite all the moving parts and important people. There were journal entries from almost every character, so it felt as though I was able to gain a more complete understanding of each of them despite not reading from their perspective.

Hilariously, I think the use of color in character description went a long way in helping me differentiate between all the players. Shusterman’s style is pleasing in its simplicity, allowing for an easy read with an interesting plot to keep any boredom at bay. Nevertheless, there is a literary aspect to “Scythe” that will please readers who enjoy full-circle moments.

The symbolism is expertly executed, and the setup and payoff of certain plot points are extremely satisfying.

Every moment of reading was tense and exciting. The dynamics between characters were constantly surprising, and the romance, although a bit forced in the beginning, was an enjoyable break from the inherent violence of the concept.

Of course, there are certain aspects that I don’t like, but I think that these come down to a difference in writing style. I believe the use of capitalization is a bit questionable in some areas, and there are certain aspects of the world building that are not my favorite. However, the rest of Shusterman’s creation is exciting, and the pure fun of it makes up for any detail that is lacking.

Now, this is not to say “Scythe” is for everyone because it isn’t. As you can expect, there is plenty of death and murder in this book. However, the violence never crosses the line into actually being “violent.” There is a certain decorum to Shusterman’s description that allows the reader to imagine the actions without seeing the gore.

If you are a fan of thrillers or science fiction, this is the book for you. In fact, I would say that most people might be inclined to like “Scythe” as long as they are not particularly squeamish. Whether or not you choose to read it, though, it is nice to know that there is an option that is just pure, undeniable fun.

Rating: 9/10