Thunderhead
Ratings256
Average rating4.3
Scythe was very good; Thunderhead was great.
Scythe could have worked well as a standalone novel, but Thunderhead—for better or worse—has massive cliffhangers on several fronts. Looking forward to seeing how this all plays out in book 3.
“I have yet to come across a living vibration, but if I do, I will certainly have many things to ask it. Although I expect its responses may be, well, monotonous.”
Some of the major plot twists are really goofy and undermine the tension that should be building. Citra and Rowan continue to have no romantic leanings, but it's stated they exchanged “I love yous” between books. I strongly believe Neal Shusterman's agent or publisher said he had to include a romantic pairing or it wouldn't sell. So he added a few sentences and called it a day.
Instead of Scythe journal entries, the Thunderhead itself waxes philosophical between every chapter. I enjoyed the AI perspective for the most part. A few new characters are introduced, one of which is totally dedicated to the Thunderhead, so we get a new perspective on the all powerful system that the characters couldn't interact with in the first book.
I enjoyed this one even more than the first. It has a ton of action and great characterizations - and while it ended quite abruptly and without any real closure, that just makes me more excited to read the next installments! I definitely recommend this series.
Well done second book in the series. Some of it was a bit over the top, but the world is too so it worked. I look forward to how this will all resolve.
The last 90% of the book... so much was happening at once but it didn't feel rushed at all. I really liked it. So much sadness it got me tearing up.
Despite being scythe lucifer, Rowan didn't shine as much in this book. Instead we were introduced a new character, Greyson. Him and the Thunderhead are my favourite throughout the book.
I'm enjoying how well the author is playing out a very human drama within the carefully constructed world where human drama feels completely unnecessary. But, humans gonna human.
The story constantly gives the reader opportunities to think about what it means to be human, to have faith, to hold to convictions, to trust, etc. All while entertaining the future where our every need is taken care of.
The excerpts from the Thunderhead are a delightful alternative view of the story - like the scythe journals in the first book.
This was so good! Just as interesting as the first one for me, it didn't have that middle book of a series slump you so often see. Loved how much background and detail of the world we got in this book and loved learning so much more about the Thunderhead.
“Death must exist for life to have meaning.”
I love the world that the author created because it is twisted and philosophical. There are so many criticisms about humanity and our behaviour. How is easy to corrupt the system and people. The most fascinating thing is how people decide to become gods and decide for others: ether they live or die.
I really recommend this book for people who enjoy distipia and young adult.
Holy shit. The ending left me totally bewildered. I loved it.
There are so many things great about this book, it was funny and still very serious. The way the thoughts of the thunderhead are shown really made it a character and how it loved and hated and how powerless it feels.
Another thing about this that I really liked was the way the scythes are named. And they way Citra's names and how she is referred to in the book is an important way to show how she views herself and how the people addressing her view her.
I cannot wait to read the next one, fuck I have to know how this ends.
Whoever is reading this, be careful, there are major spoilers ahead.
The funny thing about the great concept of the book is that it is not everything to make it great. And this part, it was different. It was interesting to see the point of Thunderhead on all that is happening, on his role and his limitations.
However, I was not impressed with the certain points of the plots. I believe with the level of technology in the Scythe settlement constant resurrections are a given. But do Goddard and Rand really needed to come back alive after being burned? Especially after the fire was supposed to make them unressurectable. Why couldn't there be other villains? Why keep such a focus on the dead ones if you had such an opportunity to broaden the world?
Nevertheless, the ending of the book was epic, even if it slightly reminded me of the Titanic's drowning. Such destruction. Well, I still don't understand what Thunderhead wants to accomplish by marking all people besides Greyson as unsavories, but I'm curious to see.
Thunderhead provided where Scythe did not. To be honest I wasn't sure if it would be worth continuing the series but I ended up picking it up again after all of the hype over the release of [b:The Toll 43822024 The Toll (Arc of a Scythe, #3) Neal Shusterman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558117336l/43822024.SY75.jpg 59222476]. Wow. This is a major improvement from the first book. This is where the plot really took off. I understand now that Scythe was just laying the groundwork for the rest of the series. So much happened and was honestly so fun to read.
My weakness... when a book ends in catastrophe and chaos. I am nothing if not predictable.
Simply outstanding
One of my favourite books of all time. I can't understate how incredible every chapter in this book is. Something is always happening, the story is always progressing and you'll be forever falling more and more in love with this world and its characters.
Neal Shusterman has written a truly breathtaking book that has one of the most fulfilling and epic endings I've ever read. Never more have I wanted to read the next book. Pre-ordered for me and my partner straight away!!
On continue à en apprendre plus sur l'univers des faucheurs et sur cette Terre un peu différente de la nôtre.
La fin est très prenante et plutôt inattendue. Pressé de lire la suite.
——————–
We continue to learn more about the universe of the reapers and about this Earth a little different from ours.
The ending is very gripping and rather unexpected. Eager to read more.
For YA, this series tackles some pretty deep philosophical questions. I thought this second installment did an excellent job continuing the tropes and themes from the first—especially because it moved away from the romantic aspects of the first book. The addition of a new, deeply complex character helped carry us away from this being a love story and brought us Into more morally exploratory territory. The ending feels like it jumped the shark, but I'm excited to see how the third book goes.
This is a really great world and I am enjoying it immensely.
I am just furious I have to wait for the third book to come out...
Het vervolg op Scythe is een compleet ander boek dan zijn voorganger. Nieuwe personages worden geïntroduceerd en we leren hoe de Thunderhead denkt. De Thunderhead is de tegenhanger van de Zeisen: daar waar de Zeisen de mensen doden om de balans te bewaren, staat de Thunderhead, een empathisch A.I., in voor al de rest: eten, welvaart, huisvesting, etc.
Grappig vond ik dat de Thunderhead, een ‘supercomputer', gecreëerd werd door de mens in het jaar 2042. Wie The Hitchhicker's Guide kent, snapt de referentie wel ;-)
De wending die het verhaal neemt is onverwacht en daarom goed. Ik was wel verbaasd door het einde, een gigantische cliffhanger. Op één of andere manier dacht ik dat een “Arc” een tweeluik was en gezien deze serie “Arc of Scythe” heet, dacht ik dat dit boek het sluitstuk was. Niet dus, en best ook, want die cliffhanger is echt bijzonder. Ik ben echt benieuwd hoe het verder gaat!
This review is also featured at Behind the Pages: Thunderhead
Rowan and Citra have different ideas on how to fix the Scythedom. While Rowan prefers to wipe out the scythes who cheat the system, Citra prefers to work from the inside and influence scythes to follow the old ways. But both are earning a name for themselves and have enemies watching their every move. And if either of them lets down their guard, those same enemies won't hesitate to end them. But the Thunderhead sees everything, even if it cannot interfere in Scythe affairs. But it can certainly use humans to navigate around the system parameters it was given. The only question is, is it too late?
The first book focused on building the world of the Scythes. Having readers learn the political atmosphere that surrounded them. In Thunderhead, readers' views of the world are expanded by showing the strengths and weaknesses of the Thunderhead system that maintains the world. Instead of reading journals of the Scythes in between chapters, readers are allowed snippets of thoughts from the Thunderhead as it explains its actions based on its programming. And readers are shown that it might just have the capability for emotions. I found it fascinating how the Thunderhead operated and drew conclusions. And all the while there is that hint of humor bubbling beneath the surface.
Without having to lay down the foundations of world-building, the second book in Arc of the Scythe was faster paced. The narrative has expanded to include Scythes from previous novels along with Rowan and Citra. The story also takes a step further into showing the corruption that can occur despite the fact the world remains a near perfect place. The underbelly of human society is exposed. The Unsavories, people who have committed acts that have labeled them as trouble. And one such Unsavory, Greyson Tolliver, may be the only person who can save the Scythes.
As I read the last page of this book, I was speechless. The villainous arc that took place within these pages was disturbing and so anger inducing that I can't wait to read the next. I need to know if justice will be served and what is going to happen to the characters. Neal Shusterman has effectively hooked me into this world of death and political upheaval.