Series Review: Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman

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Author: Neal Shusterman

Genre: Dystopian

Age Group: Young Adult

Number of Books: 3
    Book #1: Scythe
    Book #2: Thunderhead
    Book #3: The Toll

The Arc of a Scythe series takes place in a world where artificial intelligence rules and humanity has conquered everything--even death. The Thunderhead--the name given to the modern-day cloud when it developed consciousness--had created a perfect utopia. But in order to curb the growing population, people must be ended, hence the creation of scythes, who are basically respected assassins.

The first book of this series is hooking once you get into it. Citra, one of the main characters, is strong and smart and awesome without being unlikable. Rowan, the other main character, has one of the best development arcs in all the YA fiction I've read so far. The second book is just as good, although I missed Volta... no comment on what happened to him. Unfortunately, the third book just doesn't meet the same standards as its predecessors. The thing's 160,000 words! That wouldn't be a problem if it were really good, but most of it felt like one giant epilogue (although I'd be a liar if I said I didn't like Jeri). There were too many points of view in my opinion, and it was hard to care enough to keep track of all that was happening when I wasn't invested in a lot of the narrating characters. Overall, the series gets seven out of ten stars--not a bad rating, but it could have done better.

If you like the Unwind series, far-in-the-futures dystopias, and reading about people learning to fight, Arc of a Scythe is a great series to try. 

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