Thunderhead
**Thunderhead is the sequel to Scythe by Neal Shusterman. Kim’s review of Scythe is here. Jessica will be listening to the audiobook of Scythe very soon.
Author: Neal Shusterman
Published: November 21, 2017
504 pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
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 Unwind dystology. 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. Will the Thunderhead intervene? Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel?
Kim’s Review:
A year has passed since I read Scythe for the first time. I counted down the days until Thunderhead would be released. I jumped up and down when I opened the box and there it sat in all its gorgeous glory. I opened it and descended into the world of Scythes gleaning and the Thunderhead guiding and the human population living. Scythe Lucifer spends his time trying to save Scythedom from corruption and murder. Citra tries to embrace Scythe Anastasia and grow into her own method of gleaning. Scythe Curie carefully guides and teaches her former apprentice, turned junior Scythe while trying to keep up with her own gleaning. And in this book, the Thunderhead is revealed. Its thinking, and strangely, its feeling comes out in great detail! It cares for the world and humans and it works constantly to care for them and protect them, all while trying to preserve privacy and freedom.
I was fascinated by the way Shusterman compares Thunderhead to God, yet focuses on the differences between the two. And then, at page 450, when I realized that there weren’t enough pages to resolve the story, my stomach started to clench. And no, the story didn’t resolve, this isn’t a duology, there’s another book in the series . . . and it doesn’t come out until 2019!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to throw the book across the room and curse the name of Neal Shusterman with every evil thing and swear word I could possibly think of!!!!!!!! I’m never going to make it, I’m gonna die of anticipation, that’s it. I would talk about all the philosophy and logic and ethics and deep thinking that were in Thunderhead, but I’m just too mad. I would highly suggest waiting to read this series until the next book comes out . . . oh gosh, what if that’s not the last book in the series????
GRRRRRRRRRRR!! That’s it, no more reading!!! I can’t take the stress!!! Ok, let’s get back to a professional review. I would absolutely recommend this series to anybody. I would save this for more mature teens, not because of objectionable elements, but because more mature thinking is required. An excellent book and series . . . so excellent that it draws you in and envelops you just to keep you hanging off a dang cliffhanger!
Purchase Links
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Kim and Neal Shusterman at a recent book signing in Charleston:
