Audible Book Review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

This pulled my emotions back and forth!

Scythe
By: Neal Shusterman
Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Series: Arc of a Scythe, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 03-14-17
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Death, Dystopia, Teen & YA
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.

Publisher's Summary
Two teens must learn the "art of killing" in this Printz Honor-winning book, the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New York Times best-selling Unwind Dystology series.
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: Humanity has conquered all those things and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life - and they are commanded to do so in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe - a role that neither wants. These teens must master the "art" of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
Scythe is the first novel of a thrilling new series by National Book Award-winning author Neal Shusterman in which Citra and Rowan learn that a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.
©2016 Neal Shusterman (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Citra and Rowan live in a world where there is no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery and no death. People can become deadish but are able to be revived and restored. The Scythes are an honored group who “glean” or kill people to maintain population control. They have a set of rules they are to follow and they are the only group outside of the control of the Thunderhead which is the AI that controls all other aspects of the society.

Citra and Rowan are teens from different family situations. Citra lives with caring parents and a younger brother. She is a strong student who likes to always do well even though there is little reason for creativity and innovation. Her full family is on tenterhooks when a Scythe appears at their door although it turns out he isn’t there to glean any of them.

Rowan is a middle child from a large family. He is a loyal friend who has always managed to get by without being of interest or notice. One morning is in the wrong place when a Scythe comes to his high school to glean another student. Rowan chooses to stay with the luckless boy, not realizing that the other students will hold him responsible.

A few months later Citra and Rowan are invited to become apprentices to Scythe Faraday. Both young people are appalled but intrigued. They can say “no” but there are advantages to saying “yes”. Thus they reluctantly begin their training in all methods of delivering death: weapons, poisons, physical combat. They must also learn the basis for choosing those to glean and the compassion to deal with the deaths.

Citra and Rowan attend the first of three annual Scythe conventions and discover that not all Scythes are like their mentor. In fact, there appears to be a growing rebellious faction that is setting Scythe protocols on edge. Some members object to Faraday taking two apprentices. This faction ends up setting Citra and Rowan in competition with a terrible consequence. This event triggers other terrible events that split the team forcing Rowan to a new mentor where he will suffer and struggle.

How will Citra and Rowan fare under their new training? What will happen when the final convention and choosing arrives?

I was quickly pulled into the uniqueness of this story. It is dark and difficult reading at times but I found it worth sticking to the end. I liked how chapters were separated and introduced by journal entries from different Scythes. These fill in some history, personal feelings and ethical dilemmas that are faced by the Scythes. I enjoyed the developmental growth of the teens and there are Scythes to admire and some to truly dislike. There is intrigue, violence and even light humor. The story ends but leaves issues for the next book which I am eager to pick up. I recommend this to fans of dystopian.

Audio Notes: Greg Tremblay does an excellent job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and fitting personalities. I totally enjoyed the audio and plan to listen to the next books in the series.

Source: 1/27/18 Audible Sale $3.95. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019Audiobook and #SciFiMonth November 2019 goals.