In the near future, everything is controlled by an almost omniscient AI, called the Thunderhead. Hunger, death, and corruption have all been conquered. In order to control population size, the Scythedom was created. The Scythedom is the only organization that is not controlled by the Thunderhead and it consists of people who have been appointed the role of scythe. Scythes are the only people truly allowed to kill, and there are many different views on what a good scythe is within the Scythedom.
Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in the chilling sequel to the Printz Honor Book Scythe from New York Times bestseller Neal Shusterman, author of the Unwinddystology.
The Thunderhead cannot interfere in the affairs of the Scythedom. All it can do is observe—it does not like what it sees.
A year has passed since Rowan had gone off grid. Since then, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. His story is told in whispers across the continent.
As Scythe Anastasia, Citra gleans with compassion and openly challenges the ideals of the “new order.” But when her life is threatened and her methods questioned, it becomes clear that not everyone is open to the change.
Characters:
Scythe Anastasia/Citra Teranova: Citra is a new scythe, but definitely making waves. She gives her “victims” a month to put their affairs in order before she gleans them. In this book, there is someone out to kill her and her mentor, Scythe Curie.
Rowan Damisch/ “Scythe Lucifer”: After not being selected, but being granted immunity for one year by Citra, Rowan has made it his mission to glean the Scythes who are cruel, or otherwise find too much pleasure in their job
Scythe Goddard and Scythe Rand: both were presumed dead by Rowan’s hand, yet managed to survive. By tricking Rowan’s friend Tyger, Rand managed to graft Goddard’s head onto Tyger’s body, thus bringing him “back to life” and setting him up to be nominated for the lead Scythe of Midmerica. Citra manages to delay his nomination by suggestion he’s not really a Scythe–only his head and brain have been properly trained. Goddard is livid.
Greyson Tolliver: has always been in service to the Thunderhead. But the Thunderhead uses him to warn Citra and Curie of the plan against them (the Thunderhead is supposed to have no dealings in the world of the Scythedom, but believes Citra is special, and uses a convoluted way to get Greyson to deliver his message). Greyson essentially gives up his existance and is branded an “Unsavory” and is able to track the plot. At the end of the book, the Thunderhead finally reaches out to him directly again, though we don’t know for what reason.
End of the Book: All of the major Scythes of the world are gathered for an annual(?) conference, at which Citra’s claim against Goddard will be heard. The World Council declares him ineligible, and that he must spend a year as an apprentice first. But, Goddard has been planning for months to destroy all the lead Scythe’s of the world, leaving himself the only survivor, and the only one who knows the verdict. Scythe Curie manages to get Citra and Rowan into an airtight box, that sinks to the bottom of the ocean. She knows they will become “deadish”, but their bodies will remain intact inside the box. When their remains are found (in months, years, thousands of years??), they will be revived. The book ends with them at the bottom of the ocean, Goddard ready to take over the world, and Greyson being called back to the Thunderhead’s side.