Thunderhead

The first book in this series, Scythe, was one of the books my students have really gravitated towards. What's not to love?- kids their age becoming what are basically grim reapers. Throw in a little love story that can only end in tragedy and you have a hit on your hands. In this sequel, we get to hear a new point of view- the all seeing Thunderhead. AI that basically keeps society running, all the while adhering to some very strict rules. It will not interfere in the doings of the Scythes. And Scythes seem to be turing away from their original purpose and rules and turning towards a lawlessness that while the Thunderhead disagrees with, it will not get involved. Well, almost never. The Thunderhead finds way around it's own rules and tries to set people on a path that will help keep society from imploding.  Citra is finding her way as Scythe Anastasia. Her gleanings have attracted the attention of the other Scythes. Rowan has taken on  the robes of Scythe Lucifer and is determined to glean Scythes that are breaking the rules. This puts him in great danger. When Citra finds herself the target of an assassination, the Thunderhead sends Greyson Tolliver to warn her. By doing so, Greyson gives up the life he desires to save hers. To make matters worse, some dead Scythes find a way back to wreak havoc upon the Scythedom. Citra must use all her cunning to keep Rowan from being caught while saving humanity from the evil that has been unleashed upon it. This was an interesting sequel that I enjoyed reading, especially the author notes from each chapter at the end of the book. And while Rowan and Citra do not spend much time together in the pages of the sequel, I am sure they will get some time in the next book. Characters live, characters die and the Thunderhead lives on becoming more and more human as he goes.... I love Neil Shusterman's books. He knows how to tell a story that makes you question humanity and all it's foibles. Happy reading my friends.