YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in the second novel of the chilling New York Times bestselling series from Neal Shusterman, author of the Unwind dystology.

Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. In the year since Winter Conclave, he has gone off-grid, and has been striking out against corrupt scythes—not only in MidMerica, but across the entire continent. He is a dark folk hero now—“Scythe Lucifer”—a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames.

Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the “new order” scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone—or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being “deadish” so she can communicate with the Thunderhead—the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?

Seeing this reminds me how much I enjoyed part one.

Karen wrote: "Seeing this reminds me how much I enjoyed part one."

I loved Scythe. I couldn't wait for this book but at the same time, I was really freaking nervous.

I'm posting my review so I'm doing the updates now. Still open to discussion though.

Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[I've been so afraid that Rowan had a psychotic break and went rogue. It's a relief to know that he's quite sane. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[I love love LOVE the Thunderhead. (hide spoiler)]

End of Part 2
(view spoiler)[I have a really bad feeling about Rand. She going to use Tyger against Rowan somehow and I don't want that. (hide spoiler)]

End of Part 3
(view spoiler)[We're not even halfway, how can everything already be going wrong? You're supposed to wait before torturing the characters! At least in the second book. (hide spoiler)]

End of Part 4
(view spoiler)[This can't possibly be real. I didn't like Tyger but come on! Fucking Goddard?! Why are you doing this to us Neal Shusterman? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 42 + Thunderhead excerpt
(view spoiler)[WHY?! Why couldn't you let the Thunderhead remain pure and good? This is what I've been afraid of. The Thunderhead is too freaking dangerous to go rogue. Please don't turn into Skynet... (hide spoiler)]

Quirks wrote: "I'm posting my review so I'm doing the updates now. Still open to discussion though.

Chapter 2
[spoilers removed]"

I am not enjoying the audio and my copy should arrive in a day or so, so I'll respond to your comments/add thoughts. So want to not be disappointed with this!

13%

(view spoiler)[ I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. HOW DID RAND SURVIVE??? And please tell me that Goddard is actually dead. What a huge plot twist. (hide spoiler)]

Copy finally arrived yesterday so I’ll try and get caught up!

68

(view spoiler)[ OH NOOOO. PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE REAL. I DON'T WANT GODDARD TO WIN (hide spoiler)]

70%

(view spoiler)[ I have half a mind to not finish this book just because I don't want to see my babies get hurt ;u; (hide spoiler)]

92%

(view spoiler)[FINALLY SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENED. But I still have a bad feeling about what's going to happen next. We still know what Scythe Rand means that it would be worst if Scythe Goddard doesn't get his way. (hide spoiler)]

Maica wrote: "92%

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah! I was so happy when this happened, but equally wary because Goddard is always up to something. (hide spoiler)]

Maica wrote: "68

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Why did Goddard even have to be alive?! I fucking hate that guy! (hide spoiler)]

Ch1-5. It’s clear the Thunderhead knows what they’re doing, so why aren’t they stopped?

Karen wrote: "Ch1-5. It’s clear the Thunderhead knows what they’re doing, so why aren’t they stopped?"

Thunderhead can't interfere with the Scythedom.

Up to ch11. I may be remembering this wrongly, but isn’t the Thunderhead able to get involved if it chooses? After the incident with Grayson I don’t think I entirely trust it.

No, it's strictly not allowed. As the Thunderhead puts it, it is responsible for life and has no business with death. Thunderhead and Scythedom are completely separate.

Up to ch29. Inevitable that some familiar faces are involved in these horrors. Do wonder how Rowan and Greyson are going to end up used.

Up to ch33. So much talk of ritual though so many are trying to do their own thing.

Up to ch39. (view spoiler)[ Goddard...skin crawling. Hope he doesn’t get away with this. (hide spoiler)]

Finished. Wow! Loved this...again...

Could you put spoiler tag with the ch 39 one? I don't want someone to accidently be spoiled.

Quirks wrote: "Could you put spoiler tag with the ch 39 one? I don't want someone to accidently be spoiled."

Done.

Karen wrote: "Quirks wrote: "Could you put spoiler tag with the ch 39 one? I don't want someone to accidently be spoiled."

Done."

Thanks!

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Reading from the 10th of March 2018

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I'm a little early, but I'm listening to it so it'll be a little slow going. Part 1 (view spoiler)[ Rowan is awesome, going by Lucifer and killing bad Scythes. I'm also liking getting the Thunderhead's POV. It's kind of like Illuminae when we get AIDAN's POV. It's interesting the Citra gives her gleanings a month to get their things in order. I feel like it's kind of 50/50. It's nice so they can say goodbye and figure some stuff out, but it would be scary knowing you're going to die soon. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ That sucks for Grayson that he got punished for saving Cutie and Citra, but there's obviously a reason the Thunderhead is doing this. I wonder what Tyger is training for. Not to be an actual Scythe, unless there's some kind of secret movement maybe... (hide spoiler)]

Part 3 (view spoiler)[ Grayson is dead? Now he has to live as Slayde, geez. That's crazy that his 'handler' just happened to be gleaned. I wonder if there's more to it. I hope he saves Citra and Marie again. And now Rowan is caught because he let himself get caught up in emotions. Agh I'm getting so worried for everyone! (hide spoiler)]

Part 4 (view spoiler)[ Oh my god. I was worried for Tyger but I didn't think it would be so horrible. I hate Goddard ugh! I hope Rowan gets free and kills him and Rand. Poor boys. At least Grayson is okay for now. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "I'm a little early, but I'm listening to it so it'll be a little slow going. Part 1 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, I'm not sure if I'd want 30-days notice of my impending death. I'd never get any sleep! (hide spoiler)]

Part 1 (view spoiler)[ Why isn't Scythe Rand dead?! (hide spoiler)]

Part 3 (view spoiler)[ I thought the AWful clubs concept was pretty weird and creepy. (hide spoiler)]

Part 4 (view spoiler)[ I'm sorry, but every scene Tyger's in I can't help but think what an airhead he is. I am actually not crushed that they got rid of him. I was wondering what Rand had in store for him. Too bad Goddard's back, though. Why won't these baddies just stay dead! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ This one was pretty lacklustre for me. There wasn't a very strong focus on Citra and Rowan as I had expected, based on the book cover.

Reading the ending reminded me of the Titanic.

I wasn't planning on reading the next one, but after the ending, my curiosity has been piqued.

Faraday to the rescue in the next one! Even though Curie self-gleaned, I still think that we'll see her again. Maybe it's just wishful thinking? I'm actually surprised she decided to save Rowan, too. She didn't seem to like or trust him.

So Citra & Rowan will die and rise again. They will forge a new beginning together.

The book ends w/ Tolliver getting his real identity re-instated. He sure is getting a lot of air time. I'm pretty indifferent to him so far. (hide spoiler)]

Part 1 (view spoiler)[ Citra giving her gleanings a month to live before she actually gleans them is very interesting. It would be hard knowing that you are going to die, but at the same time I think it would be nice to say goodbye and things? Idk. Getting the Thunderhead's POV is interesting, but him turning off cameras will be interesting, especially since that is where Tyger is. Also, him talking about the Texas accents has me chuckling. That's great. Butttttt, Scythe Rand is totally going to turn him into a prostitute I feel like and he literally doesn't get it. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ I still don't want to believe that Tyger is training to be a scythe. Poor Grayson being punished for something the Thunderhead wanted him to do. That stinks, but I hope he makes the most of it. He honestly seems like a good egg. (hide spoiler)]

Part 5 (view spoiler)[ Citra (Anastasia I guess) is a genius! I hope Scythe Curie won the vote anyway, but maybe Goddard will make a mistake and people will see how crazy he is. Poor Rowan, being killed again and again. Maybe he'll escape soon. And Grayson too. Everyone is sad right now geez! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Oh my god. Why can't the Thunderhead just talk to people?! Now the Head Blades are all dead, including Marie. And Goddard just got away with it. At least Anastasia and Rowan should be revived and Grayson can now speak to the Thunderhead again. Ugh, I don't want to wait for a year! (hide spoiler)]

Part 3 (view spoiler)[ Greyson though. :C Poor lad is now sitting here living a life he doesn't want. (hide spoiler)]

Grace wrote: "Part 4 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree with really wishing the bad individuals would stay dead. But, I'm a little upset about Tyger? Not a lot because he was an airhead, but I feel like his heart was in the right place and all of that. He was just too foolish to understand how much trouble he was in and all of that. (hide spoiler)]

Erin wrote: "Grace wrote: "Part 4 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I agree :(

Finished (view spoiler)[ I WANT THE NEXT BOOK NOOWWWWWWW.

Okay so everyone is dead except Goddard. The Thunderhead marked everyone unsavory and will now only talk to Greyson. I just... I need to know. Also, how long is it before Rowan and Citra are found? Or is that what the Thunderhead is talking to Greyson about? Idk, but MidMerica has to be in a mess along with a lot of other regions. (hide spoiler)]

Started it :) Don't know if I'm not too late but it hasn't been 2 weeks so I think it's okay?

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Reading from the 22nd of July 2018

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Part 1: (view spoiler)[ I love getting back into this world! Citra & Rowan have come so far. I also love getting to see more of Scythe Curie. This book is really good so far! (hide spoiler)]

Part 2: (view spoiler)[ Tyger is into something bad, I just don't know what it is! (hide spoiler)]